Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent

Isaiah, Chapter 44, verse 2

Thus says the LORD who made you, your help, who formed you from the womb: Do not FEAR, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

Jeshurun means “upright”.

Have you fallen?

Be resolute!

Get up!

Have your dreams been crushed?

Have your expectations been dulled?

Have the five fears overtaken your mind?

Has the fear of isolation, demons, darkness, suffering and death kept you from holding fast to our Lord?

Rejoice for today is your salvation!

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Mt. 4:17) I hope in the LORD, I trust in his word; with him there is kindness and plenteous redemption. (Ps. 130:5,7)

Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent[1]

Prayer. regard Thy people, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and grant that we, whom Thou commandath to abstain from carnal food, may also cease from hurtful vices.

EPISTLE. Esther xiii. 9-17.

In those days Mardochai prayed to the Lord, saying: Oh, Lord, Almighty King, for all things are in Thy power, and there is none that can resist Thy will, if Thou determine to save Israel. Thou hast made heaven and earth, and all things that are under the cope of heaven. Thou art Lord of all, and there is none that can resist Thy majesty. Thou knowest all things, and Thou knowest that it was not out of pride and contempt, or any desire of glory, that I refused to worship the proud Arnan. (For I would willingly and readily for the salvation of Israel have kissed even the steps of his feet.) But I feared lest I should transfer the honor of my God to a man, and lest I should adore anyone except my God. And now, O Lord, O King, O God of Abraham, have mercy on Thy people, because our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish Thy inheritance. Despise not Thy portion, which Thou hast redeemed for Thy self out of Egypt. Hear my supplication, and be merciful to Thy lot and inheritance, and turn our mourning into joy, that we may live and praise Thy name, O Lord, and shut not the mouths of them that sing to Thee, O Lord our God.

GOSPEL. Matt. xx. 17-28.

At that time: Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart, and said to them: Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death. And they shall deliver Him to the gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and crucified, and the third day He shall rise again. Then came to Him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of Him. Who said to her: What wilt thou?

She saith to Him: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on Thy left, in Thy kingdom. But Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?

They say to Him: We can. He saith to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink but to sit on My right or left hand, is not Mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by My Father. And the ten hearing it, were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them to Him and said: You know that the princes of the gentile’s lord it over them: and they that are the greater exercise power upon them. It shall not be so among you, but whosoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister. And he that will be first among you, shall be your servant. Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a redemption for many.

Lenten Calendar

Read: During Lent, it is important for us to remember the corporal works of mercy, which are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others: as if they were Christ in disguise.

Reflect: What small changes would allow you to perform corporal works of mercy: Can you allocate your time differently, so you have a couple extra hours to volunteer? Do you discard food that could instead be donated to a local soup kitchen? When was the last time you participated in a blood drive?

Pray: With mercy on your mind.

Act: Pick one of the seven corporal works of mercy and do it this week!

Purim[2]

A Jewish Holiday which commemorates Jewish people being saved from extermination in Persia. The story of Purim comes from the Biblical book of Esther. In it, Haman a high-ranking advisor to King Ahasuerus sought to kill all Jews in ancient Persia. He is motivated by an incident in which Mordechai, a Jewish leader, defied the king's orders and refused to bow to Haman. Haman is stopped through the actions of Mordechai and his niece Esther, a beautiful and courageous Jewish woman. Esther initially disguises her Jewish Identity and eventually becomes Queen. Through their actions the King becomes aware of Haman's plot and is persuaded to have him hanged.

Purim Facts & Quotes

· Purim is considered to be a joyous Holiday often accompanied by celebrations, plays, festive food and costume parties.

· Purim holiday is often preceded by fast, referred to as the Fast of Esther. This fast commemorates Esther's three days of fasting in preparation for her meeting with the king. The fast is observed from dawn until dusk on the eve of Purim.

· The story of Purim is told in the book of Esther, which is also known as "the Scroll" (Megillah in Hebrew).

· If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life - this is my petition, and the life of my people - this is my request. (Esther 7:3)

Purim Top Events and Things to Do

· Make a Mishloach Manot (also known as mishloach manos or shalach manos). This is a gift of at least two kinds of food that are ready to eat. Give them out to neighbors, friends and associates.

· Make Hamantaschen cookies. These are pocket triangle shaped cookies that are often made with fruit, poppy seed or cheese filling.

· Attend a Purim Carnival or Festival. Some of the more popular ones are the Carnival at Mamilla (Jerusalem) and Cirque Du Purim in Minneapolis.

· Donate to the poor. It is customary and part of tradition to give at least two gifts to two poor people on Purim.

· Visit a Jewish Museum. Many put on special activities for kids such as plays, performances, and costume parties

Every Wednesday is Dedicated to St. Joseph

The Italian culture has always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass. You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.

· Do the St. Joseph Universal Man Plan.

· Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St. Joseph

Catechism of the Catholic Church

V. Practical indications for the use of this Catechism

20 When small print is used in certain passages, this indicates that these are historical, apologetic or complementary doctrinal expositions.

21 Quotations, in small print, from patristic, liturgical, magisterial or hagiographical sources are intended to enrich the doctrinal exposition. Often these texts have been chosen with a view to direct catechetical use.

22 At the end of each thematic unit, a series of short texts summarize the essentials of the teaching in condensed formulas. These "summaries" are intended to offer suggestions for synthetic formulas that can be memorized in the catechesis of each place.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: For the Poor and Suffering

· 54 Day Rosary for Priest’s and Religious Day 25