Friday in the Second Week of Lent
Matthew, Chapter 21,
verse 26:
26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we FEAR the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
The chief priests and the elders of the
people were master politicians during Christ’s time. Some of them were faithful
in thought word and deed, but many were as Christ pointed out like marble
sepulchers which are pretty on the outside but inside full of death and
rottenness within. Many of them put on the airs of piety but in reality, were
agnostic in nature.
“He told them to be good, not to compromise
themselves, to stick by one another, to be fearless, and that God is the only source of goodness, the
only standard of conduct. 'Be not afraid,'
he said. Millions shouted in response, 'We want God! We want God! We want God!'
The regime cowered. Had the Pope chosen to turn his soft power into the hard
variety, the regime might have been drowned in blood. Instead, the Pope simply
led the Polish people to desert their rulers by affirming solidarity with one
another. The Communists managed to hold on as despots a decade longer. But as
political leaders, they were finished. Visiting his native Poland in 1979, Pope
John Paul II struck what turned out to be a mortal blow to its Communist
regime, to the Soviet Empire, [and] ultimately to Communism."[1]
Friday in the Second Week of Lent[2]
Prayer. GRANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty
God, that, purified by the holy fast, we may celebrate the coming festival with
pure hearts.
EPISTLE. Gen. xxxvii. 6-22.
In
those days Joseph said to his brethren: Hear my dream which I dreamed. I
thought we were binding sheaves in the field: and my sheaf arose as it were and
stood, and your sheaves standing about, bowed down before my sheaf. His
brethren answered: Shalt thou be our king? or shall we be subject to thy
dominion?
Therefore,
this matter of his dreams and words ministered nourishment to their envy and
hatred. He dreamed also another dream, which he told his brethren, saying: I
saw in a dream, as it were, the sun, and the moon, and eleven stars worshipping
me. And when he had told this to his father, and brethren, his father rebuked
him, and said: What meaneth this dream that thou hast dreamed? shall I and thy
mother, and thy brethren worship thee upon the earth?
His
brethren therefore envied him: but his father considered the thing with
himself. And when his brethren abode in Sichem, feeding their father’s flocks,
Israel said to him: Thy brethren feed the sheep in Sichem: come, I will send
thee to them. And when he answered: I am ready; he said to him: Go and see if
all things be well with thy brethren, and the cattle: and bring me word again
what is doing. So being sent from the vale of Hebron, he came to Sichem: and a
man found him there wandering in the field and asked what he sought. But he
answered: I seek my brethren, tell me where they feed the flocks. And the man
said to him: They are departed from this place: for I heard them say: Let us go
to Dothain. And Joseph went forward after his brethren and found them in
Dothain. And when they saw him afar off, before he came nigh them, they thought
to kill him. And said one to another: Behold the dreamer cometh. Come, let us
kill him, and cast him into some old pit, and we will say: Some evil beast hath
devoured him: and then it shall appear what his dreams avail him: and Ruben
hearing this, endeavored to deliver him out of their hands, and said: Do not take
away his life, nor shed his blood: but cast him into this pit, that is in the
wilderness, and keep your hands harmless: now he said this, being desirous to
deliver him out of their hands, and to restore him to his father.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxi. 33-46.
At that time Jesus spoke
this parable to the multitude of the Jews and the chief priests: There was a
man a householder who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge round about it, and
dug in it a press, and built a tower, and let it out to husband men: and went
into a strange country. And when the time of the fruits drew nigh, he sent his
servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits thereof. And the
husband men laying hands on his servants, beat one, and killed another, and
stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the former: and they
did to them in like manner. And last of all he sent to them his son, saying:
They will reverence my son. But the husbandmen seeing the son, said among
themselves: This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and we shall have his
inheritance. And taking him, they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and
killed him. When, therefore, the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he
do to those husbandmen?
They say to Him: He will
bring those evil men to an evil end: and will let out his vineyard to other
husbandmen, that shall render him the fruit in due season. Jesus saith to them:
Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected,
the same is become the head of the corner? By the Lord this hath been done, and
it is wonderful in our eyes. Therefore, I say to you, that the kingdom of God
shall be taken from you and shall be given to a nation yielding the fruits
thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone, shall be broken but on whomsoever
it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and
Pharisees had heard His parables, they knew that He spoke of them. And seeking
to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes: because they held Him as a
prophet.
Confidence and Union with God in
Temptation[3]
Nothing is more efficacious against
temptation than the remembrance of the Cross of Jesus. What did Christ come to
do here below if not to "destroy the works of the devil"? And how has
He destroyed them, how has He "cast out" the devil, as He Himself
says, if not by His death upon the Cross?
Let us then lean by faith upon the
cross of Christ Jesus, as our baptism gives us the right to do. The virtue of
the cross is not exhausted. In baptism we were marked with the seal of the
cross, we became members of Christ, enlightened by His light, and partakers of
His life and of the salvation He brings to us. Hence, united to Him, whom shall
we fear? Dominus illuminatio mea et salus mea; quern timebo? Let us say
to ourselves: "He hath given His angels charge over thee to keep thee in
all thy ways."
"Because he hoped in Me (says the
Lord) I will deliver him; I am with him in tribulation, I will deliver him, and
I will glorify him. I will fill him with length of days, and I will show him My
salvation."
Bible
Study[4]
The
Bible is a weapon and in the hands of the untrained, “You could shoot your eye
out kid”. Therefore, the Bible should be handled with care. Using an approved
translation of the Bible; we should approach scripture
reading in light of the liturgy and church Dogmas. “Dogma is by definition
nothing other than an interpretation of Scripture.” (Pope Benedict XVI) Dogmas
are the Church’s infallible interpretation of Scripture. In the 1970’s the
Catholic Church revised its lectionary—the order of scriptural readings for the
Mass. The readings now unfold in a three-year cycle and include almost all the
books of both testaments of the Bible. The great thing about lectionary is that
it presents the scriptures and also teaches us a method of understanding the
Scriptures: Showing us a consistent pattern of promise and fulfillment. The New
Testament is concealed in the Old, and the Old is revealed the New. Perhaps a
good practice would be for us to read the daily scripture in the lectionary,
maybe even before Mass.
Lectio
Divina[5]
"Lectio Divina", a Latin term, means "divine reading" and describes a way of reading the Scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us. In the 12th century, a Carthusian monk called Guigo, described the stages which he saw as essential to the practice of Lectio Divina. There are various ways of practicing Lectio Divina either individually or in groups but Guigo's description remains fundamental.
1.
He said that the first stage is lectio (reading) where we read the Word of God,
slowly and reflectively so that it sinks into us. Any passage of Scripture can
be used for this way of prayer, but the passage should not be too long.
2.
The second stage is meditatio (reflection) where we think about the text we have chosen and ruminate
upon it so that we take from it what God wants to give us.
3.
The third stage is oratio (response) where we leave our thinking aside and simply let our
hearts speak to God. This response is inspired by our reflection on the Word of
God.
4. The final stage of Lectio Divina is contemplatio (rest) where we let go not only of our own ideas, plans and meditations but also of our holy words and thoughts. We simply rest in the Word of God. We listen at the deepest level of our being to God who speaks within us with a still small voice. As we listen, we are gradually transformed from within. Obviously, this transformation will have a profound effect on the way we actually live and the way we live is the test of the authenticity of our prayer. We must take what we read in the Word of God into our daily lives.
These stages of Lectio Divina are not fixed rules of procedure but simply guidelines as to how the prayer normally develops. Its natural movement is towards greater simplicity, with less and less talking and more listening. Gradually the words of Scripture begin to dissolve, and the Word is revealed before the eyes of our heart. How much time should be given to each stage depends very much on whether it is used individually or in a group.
The practice of
Lectio Divina as a way of praying the Scriptures has been a fruitful source of
growing in relationship with Christ for many centuries and in our own day is
being rediscovered by many individuals and groups. The Word of God is alive and
active and will transform each of us if we open ourselves to receive what God
wants to give us.
Holi-Another
Pagan Fest[6]
Holi is
the ancient Hindu Festival of Love and also known as the Festival of Colors.
The origins of Holi lie in ancient Hindu traditions where Holi was
celebrated to mark the arrival of spring. Holi is also related to the
legend of Holika, the evil sister of demon king Hiranyakashipu, who tried to
burn Hiranyakashipu's son Prahlada. Prahlada had maintained faith in god
(Vishnu), while Hiranyakashipu contended that he was god. Wearing a cloak
that guarded her from fire, Holika lured Prahlada into a fire but the cloak
that was guarding Holika flew and protected Prahlada instead. Because of
this Holi also celebrates the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over
ignorance, and love over hate.
Holi Facts &
Quotes
·
The
name Holi stems from Holiya, who was the evil sister of a demon god that tried
to burn her nephew. According to ancient Sanskrit scriptures, Holiya died
in the fire while her nephew was unharmed. Since then, on the eve of
Holi, a bonfire named Holiya is lit to signify the triumph of good over evil.
·
Central
to most Holi festivals are bright colors that are often thrown, sprayed or
painted on. For this reason, Holi is often refered to as the Festival of
Colors.
·
Traditionally
colors were achieved through dyes that were made from turmeric, sandalwood,
flower and leaf extracts, and beetroots. In recent times Synthetic Color
dyes are often used during Holi festivals. These dyes are often toxic or
cause allergic reactions. It's a good idea to rub coconut oil into your
skin beforehand, to prevent toxic color dyes from absorbing.
·
Bhang,
tea made from cannabis leaves, is frequently served at some Holi celebrations
in India and Nepal. Bhang also contains milk, butter and spices (cinnamon or
nutmeg).
·
Holi
is the day to express love with colors. It is a time to show affection. All the
colors that are on you are of love. – Anonymous
Catholics and Holi[7]
With Indians and Hindus
celebrating Holi, a spring festival of colors, today, Bishop Thomas Dabre of
Poona has encouraged the faithful to participate in the celebration, which is
meant to promote spiritual and social harmony. Holi is celebrated with everyone
throwing brightly dyed powders on each other. It marks the setting aside of
differences and grudges in a spirit of reconciliation. Observing the collective
celebratory spirit of Holi which integrates joy, enthusiasm and freedom, Bishop
Dabre said the day “gives a message of joy and happiness.”
Nevertheless, Bishop Dabre
cautioned that “Holi must live the holy joy, and the joy a religion should
spread is not without norms or principles but must be coupled with the
observance of commandments.” The true joy that emanates from religion must
respect the freedom of others; not impose our likes and dislikes on others,” he
reflected. Hindus begin the celebration with a Holika bonfire the evening prior
to Holi, which relates to the myth upon which the festival is based. However,
the throwing of color and water which all Indians participate in is a
manifestation of joy and friendship across religious lines. Bishop Dabre also noted that “religion must
be experienced as a liberating experience of freedom, and this is very
significant in the context of religious terrorism and extremism in different
parts of the world, and in India.”
He lamented the rise of
such groups as the Taliban, Boko Haram, and Islamic State, saying that in these
cases, “religion has become a cause of fear, terror, injustice and oppression.”
In the light of recent persecution and discrimination against Christians in
India, Bishop Dabre lamented that “even in our country, in the name of religion
unreasonable restriction are imposed on the people; force and pressure is
employed to reconvert people and to ban the adoption of a religion of one’s
choice … also gruesome crimes are committed against women and people of the
so-called low caste. Thus, religion has become a matter of grievous concern.
“However, “in such a situation Holi gives an important lesson that religion
must spread true joy and freedom,” he added.
Aids
in Battle[8]
When tempted and tested
The ordinary activity of
the Enemy is to seek the ruin of souls through various kinds of temptation.
These passages offer counsel about how to turn away from evil so that you can
overcome temptation and pass the tests that God allows for your strengthening.
·
Because
He Himself suffered and has been tempted, He is able to help those who are
tempted. We may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 2: 17–
18; 4: 14– 16
·
My
son, if you come forward to serve the LORD, remain in justice and in fear, and
prepare yourself for temptation. Sir 2: 1
·
[Jesus
prayed:] “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that
you should keep them from the Evil One.” Jn 17: 15 RSVCE
·
Blessed
is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been tried, he will receive
the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no man say
when he is tempted, that he is tempted by God; for God is no tempter to evil,
and He Himself tempts no one. But everyone is tempted by being drawn away and
enticed by his own passion. Then when passion has conceived, it brings forth
sin; but when sin has matured, it begets death. Therefore, my beloved brethren,
do not err. Jas 1: 12– 16
·
The
fear of men lays a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD is safe. Pr 29: 25
·
The
Lord knows how to deliver the God-fearing from temptation. 2 Pt 2: 9
·
Have
no anxiety, but in every prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
petitions be made known to God. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest,
brethren, whatever things are true, whatever honorable, whatever just, whatever
holy, whatever lovable, whatever of good repute, if there be any virtue, if
anything worthy of praise, think upon these things. Phil 4: 6– 9
Fitness Friday-Cardio[9]
Recognizing that God, the Father created man on Friday the 6th day
I propose in this blog to have an entry that shares on how to recreate and
renew yourself in strength, mind, soul and heart.
Is interval training more effective than steady-state cardio
training for fat loss?
·
Exercise combined with diet modifications has been shown to
be more effective than either alone for promoting weight loss.
·
Establishing exercise habits during the weight loss phase can help
prevent weight regain and yo-yo dieting down the road. One of the most
common excuses for lack of exercise is a lack of time.
·
These results show that the type of cardio performed for fat loss
(intervals vs. steady state) probably doesn’t matter as much as the number of
calories burned in the exercise session. Moreover, the overall amount of fat
loss is small.
·
Focus should be placed on how the exercise session impacts other
areas of life, such as appetite, food intake, and leisure-time physical
activity.
·
Focus should also be placed on whether you can see yourself
sticking with your chosen exercise modality for the long-term.
·
Exercise may not be all that for fat loss, but it certainly
impacts fitness and health improvement. As such, all forms of exercise should
be encouraged despite their relatively minimal contribution to fat loss.
·
Strength training is especially important for developing lean body
mass.
· High-intensity training such as interval endurance training appears to be more effective at reducing inflammation and increasing insulin sensitivity than lower-intensity training such as steady-state cardio.
Evidence has shown that exercise has additional benefits on
health that warrant its inclusion in daily life, such as reducing inflammation
and increasing insulin sensitivity. Moreover, high-intensity exercise appears
to be more effective than lower intensity exercise at inducing these beneficial
changes, which might be one reason to prefer interval training over
steady-state even if fat loss would be similar. Ultimately, though,
adherence is key. Thus, enjoyment and personal preferences when it comes to
exercise are what’s most important
Tomorrow is the Feast of St.
Joseph. Do the
St.
Joseph Universal Man Plan.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
SAW. The
necessary adaptations
24 For its very purpose, this catechism does not propose
to give an adapted response, both in content and in method, to the demands
arising from the different cultures, ages, spiritual life, social and ecclesial
situations of those who is directed the catechesis. These indispensable
adaptations correspond to catechisms specific to each place, and even more so
to those that take charge of instructing the faithful:
"He who
teaches must become all things to all, in order to win them all to Jesus Christ
[...] Above all, let him not imagine that only one class of souls has been
entrusted to him, and that, therefore, it is lawful for him to teach and to
train all the faithful equally in true piety, with a single method and always
the same! Let them know well that some are, in Jesus Christ, as newborn
children, others as adolescents, others finally as possessors of all their
strength [. ..] it is necessary to take into account carefully who may need
milk and who may need other more solid food [...] The Apostle [...] pointed out
that it should be considered that those who are called to the ministry of
preaching must, at the transmit the teaching of the mystery of faith and the
rules of customs,accommodate his words to the spirit and intelligence of his
listeners" (Roman Catechism , Preface, 11).
Above all,
Charity.
Full Worm Moon
According
to the almanac we are having a Full Worm Moon-plan to take your family or
grandchildren fishing! Hummingbirds are migrating North now; look for them.
Daily Devotions
· Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Conversion
of Sinners
·
54 Day Rosary
for Priest’s and Religious Day 27
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Total Consecration
to St. Joseph Day 32
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 4 day 6
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Make reparations to the Holy Face
[1] Angelo M.
Codevilla, "Political Warfare: A Set of Means for Achieving Political
Ends", in Waller, ed., Strategic Influence: Public Diplomacy,
Counterpropaganda and Political Warfare (IWP Press, 2008.)
[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896
[4] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40
Catholic Customs and their biblical roots. Chap. 16. Bible Study.
[7]https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/indian-bishop-encourages-celebration-of-color-festival-in-joy-freedom-67669
[8]Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual
Warfare. TAN Books.
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