Saturday Third Week of Lent
Exodus, Chapter 3, Verse 6
I am the God of your father, he
continued, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses
hid his face, for he was AFRAID to
look at God.
This
is Moses first encounter with the Living God. Moses responded with natural fear thus he tried to hide himself just
as Adam did in the garden. Yet, how does one hide from God. The beginning of
Holiness is to not try to hide but to face our Lord manfully and admit we are
what we are, and He is what He is. After this Moses was 100 percent for God; he
was His man. Moses here began a journey with God that eventually led to the
birth of Christ true God and true man and we beheld him face to face.
Today
try and be 100% for God.
As iron,
cast into the fire, loses its rust and becomes bright with the flame, so too a
man who turns his whole heart to Me is purified and all sluggishness and
changed into a new man.[1]
Saturday Third Week of Lent
Prayer. GRANT, we beseech Thee, O Almighty
God, that they who, to mortify their flesh, abstain from food, may, following
justice, abstain from sin.
EPISTLE. Daniel xiii.
1-62.
In
those days there was a man, that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim; and
he took a wife whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very
beautiful woman, and one that feared God. For her parents being just, had
instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses. Now Joakim was very
rich and had an orchard near his house: and the Jews resorted to him, because
he was the most honorable of them all. And there were two of the ancients of
the people appointed judges that year, of whom the Lord said: Iniquity came out
from Babylon from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people. These
men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that had any matters of judgment
came to them. And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and
walked in her husband’s orchard. And the old men saw her going in every day,
and walking: and they were inflamed with lust towards her: and they perverted
their own mind and turned away their eyes that they might not look unto heaven,
nor re member just judgments. So, they were both wounded with the love of her,
yet they did not make known their grief one to the other: for they were ashamed
to declare to one another their lust, being desirous to have to do with her:
and they watched carefully every day to see her: and one said to another: Let
us now go home, for it is dinnertime. So, going out, they departed one from
another. And turning back again, they came both to the same place: and asking
one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: and then they agreed upon
a time, when they might find her alone. And it fell out, as they watched a fit
day, she went in on a time, as yesterday and the day before, with two maids
only, and was desirous to wash herself in the orchard: for it was hot weather.
And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid themselves and
were considering her. So, she said to the maids: Bring me oil, and washing
balls, and shut the doors of the orchard, that I may wash me. And they did as
she bade them: and they shut the doors of the orchard and went out by a back
door to fetch what she had commanded them, and they knew not that the elders
were hid within. Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and
ran to her, and said: Behold the doors of the orchard are shut, and nobody
seeth us, and we are in love with thee: wherefore consent to us and lie with
us. But if thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man
was with thee, and therefore thou didst send away thy maids from thee. Susanna
sighed and said I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is
death to me: and if I do it not, I shall not escape your hands. But it is
better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the
sight of the Lord. With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the
elders also cried out against her. And one of them ran to the door of the
orchard and opened it. So, when the servants of the house heard the cry in the
orchard, they rushed in by the back door to see what was the matter. But after
the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed; for never had there
been any such word said of Susanna. And on the next day, when the people were
come to Joakim her husband, the two elders also came full of wicked device
against (Susanna, to put her to death. And they said before the people: Send to
Susanna, daughter of Helcias the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent, and
she came with her parents, and children, and all her kindred. Now Susanna was
exceedingly delicate, and beautiful to behold. But those wicked men commanded
that her face should be uncovered (for she was covered) that so at least they
might be satisfied with her beauty. Therefore, her friends and all her
acquaintance wept. But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people,
laid their hands upon her head. And she weeping looked up to heaven, for her
heart had confidence in the Lord. And the elders said: As we walked in the
orchard alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the doors of the
orchard, and sent away the maids from her. Then a young man that was there hid
came to her and lay with her. But we that were in a corner of the orchard,
seeing this wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together. And as
for him we could not take him because he was stronger than we and opening the
doors he leaped out: but having taken this woman, we asked who the young man
was, but she would not tell us: of this thing we are witnesses. The multitude
believed them as being the elders and the judges of the people, and they
condemned her to death. Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said: O
eternal God, Who knowest hidden things, Who knowest all things before they come
to pass, Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me: and behold
I must die, whereas I have done none of these things which these men have
maliciously forged against me. And the Lord heard her voice. And when she was
led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy,
whose name was Daniel. And he cried out with a loud voice: I am clear from the
blood of this woman. Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said:
What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken?
But
he standing in the midst of them, said: Are ye so foolish, ye children of
Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth, you have condemned
a daughter of Israel?
Return
to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her. So, all the people
turned again in haste, and the old men said to him: Come, and sit thou down
among us, and show it us: seeing God hath given thee the honor of old age. And
Daniel said to them: Separate these two far from one another, and I will
examine them. So, when they were put asunder one from the other, he called one
of them and said to him: O thou that are grown old in evil days, now are thy
sins come out, which thou hast committed before: in judging unjust judgments,
oppressing the innocent, and letting the guilty to go free, whereas the Lord
saith: The innocent and the just thou shalt not kill. Now then, if thou sawest
her, tell me under what tree thou sawest them conversing together. He said:
Under a mastic tree. And Daniel said: Well, hast thou lied against thy own
head: for behold the angel of God having received the sentence of Him, shall
cut thee in two. And having put him aside, he commanded that the other should
come, and he said to him: O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath
deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thy heart: thus, did you do to the
daughters of Israel, and they for fear conversed with you: but a daughter of
Juda would not abide your wickedness. Now therefore tell me, under what tree
didst thou take them conversing together. And he answered: Under a holm tree.
And Daniel said to him: Well, hast thou also lied against thy own head: for the
angel of the Lord waiteth with a sword to cut thee in two, and to destroy you.
With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God,
who saveth them that trust in Him. And they rose up against the two elders (for
Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth) and they did to
them as they had maliciously dealt against their neighbor, to fulfil the law of
Moses: and they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved in that day.
GOSPEL. John viii.
1-11.
At that time:
Jesus went unto Mount Olivet. And early in the morning He came again into the
temple, and all the people came to Him, and sitting down He taught them. And
the scribes and Pharisees bring unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and they
set her in the midst. And said to Him: Master, this woman was even now taken in
adultery. Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what
sayest Thou?
And this they
said tempting Him that they might accuse Him. But Jesus bowing Himself down,
wrote with His finger on the ground: when therefore they continued asking Him,
He lifted up Himself, and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let
him first cast a stone at her. And again, stooping down, He wrote on the
ground. But they hearing this went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And
Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. Then Jesus lifting
up Himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man
condemned thee?
Who said: No
man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no
more.
Lenten Calendar
Read:
The Seven Penitential Psalms, Day Five:
(During times when we wish to express
repentance and especially during Lent, it is customary to pray the seven
penitential psalms. The penitential designation of these psalms’ dates
from the seventh century. Prayerfully reciting these psalms will help us to
recognize our sinfulness, express our sorrow and ask for God’s forgiveness.)
Today
we will focus on Psalm 102.
Reflect: Read a reflection of Psalm 102—Prayer in Time of Distress.
Pray: “LORD, hear my prayer; let my cry
come to you. Do not hide your face from me in
the day of my distress.” (Ps
102:2-3, NABRE)
Act: In this psalm, the psalmist calls
to God in great distress. He acknowledges his weakness in body and spirit
before the Lord. Yet he fixes his sight on the Lord, extolling the Lord’s name and his mercy.
Aids
in Battle[2]
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
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART
FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER
SECTION ONE-PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
2558 "Great is the mystery of the faith!"
The Church professes this
mystery in the Apostles' Creed (Part One) and celebrates it in the sacramental
liturgy (Part Two), so that the life of the faithful may be conformed to Christ
in the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father (Part Three).
This mystery, then, requires
that the faithful believe in it, that they celebrate it, and that they live
from it in a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God. This
relationship is prayer.
WHAT IS PRAYER?
For me,
prayer is a surge of the heart;
it is a simple look turned toward heaven,
it is a cry of recognition and of love,
embracing both trial and joy.
Prayer as God's gift
2559 "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God
or the requesting of good things from God." But when we pray, do we speak
from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a
humble and contrite heart? He who humbles himself will be
exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer, Only when we humbly
acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought," are
we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer.
"Man is a beggar before God."
2560 "If you knew the gift of God!" The wonder of
prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ
comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a
drink. Jesus thirsts: his asking arises from the depths of God's desire for us.
Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with
ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him.
2561 "You would have asked him, and he would have given
you living water." Paradoxically our prayer of petition is a response to
the plea of the living God: "They have forsaken me, the fountain of living
waters, and hewn out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no
water!" Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation
and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God.
Prayer as covenant
2562 Where does prayer come from? Whether prayer is expressed
in words or gestures, it is the whole man who prays. But in naming the source
of prayer, Scripture speaks sometimes of the soul or the spirit, but most often
of the heart (more than a thousand times). According to Scripture, it is the
heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in
vain.
2563 The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live;
according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place
"to which I withdraw." The heart is our hidden center, beyond the
grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human
heart and know it fully. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our
psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is
the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the
place of covenant.
2564 Christian prayer is a covenant relationship between God
and man in Christ. It is the action of God and of man, springing forth from
both the Holy Spirit and ourselves, wholly directed to the Father, in union
with the human will of the Son of God made man.
Prayer as communion
2565 In the New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of
the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son
Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Kingdom is "the
union of the entire holy and royal Trinity . . . with the whole human
spirit." Thus, the life of prayer is the habit of being in the presence of
the thrice-holy God and in communion with him. This communion of life is always
possible because, through Baptism, we have already been united with Christ. Prayer
is Christian insofar as it is communion with Christ and extends throughout the
Church, which is his Body. Its dimensions are those of Christ's love.
Daily Devotions
· Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Conversion
of Sinners
·
Saturday
Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Total Consecration
to St. Joseph Day 32
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
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