Saturday, March 23, 2024
Saturday in passion Week
PURIM
1 Maccabees, Chapter 13, Verse
17-18
17 Simon knew that they were speaking
deceitfully to him. Nevertheless, for FEAR
of provoking much hostility among the people, he sent for the money and the
boys, 18 lest the people say, “Jonathan
perished because I would not send Trypho the money and the boys.”
Simon
Maccabee now with the assumed death of his brother Jonathan becomes the next
leader of the Jews but unlike his brother Jonathan does not become the high
priest. Yet because it is not certain that his brother is dead, he is prepared
to pay the ransom that Trypho demands which is money and two
of Jonathan’s sons as hostages which guarantee that when Jonathan is set free,
he will not revolt against Trypho. Trypho invades the land of Judah
bringing Jonathan along as prisoner. If Simon refuses the exchange the people
will hold him responsible for Jonathan’s death. If he accepts, he is making a
deal with a deceitful, treacherous, and ambitious animal called Trypho. Simon
has no choice and pays. Trypho of course reneges, marches, and ravages as he
goes. Simon delays his march on Jerusalem. Thus, Trypho prevented from taking
the city of God, like Napoleon at the attempted taking of Moscow must retreat
back to Syria when a seasonal snowstorm comes and before he goes kills Jonathan
and probably his sons as well. This is tribalism at its worst.[1]
Tribalism and
Fear - Unworthy of Christianity[2]
Marilynne Robinson, noted author, express’s some of her
fears to what is happening today in many of the churches and inside many of us,
namely, new forms of tribalism and fear are reducing our wondrous God to a
‘tribal deity’ and our own ‘local Baal’.
The God of all nations, all families, and all peoples, she
asserts, is too frequently being invoked by us as a God, more exclusively, of
my own nation, my own family, my own church, and my own people. She cites
various examples of this, including her own sadness at how sincere Christians
cannot accept each other’s authenticity: “I must
assume that those who disagree with my understanding of Christianity are
Christians all the same, that we are members of one household. I confess that
from time to time I find this difficult. This difficulty is owed in part to the
fact that I have reason to believe they would not extend this courtesy to
me.”
This, she rightly asserts, is unworthy of God, of
Christianity, and of what’s best in us. We know better, though we usually don’t
act on that and are thus indicted by what Freud called “the narcissism of minor
differences.” And this takes its root in fear, fear of many
things. Not least among those fears is our fear of the secularized world and
how we feel this has put us on a slippery slope in terms of our Christian
heritage and our moral values. To quote Robinson here: “These people see the
onrush of secularism intent on driving religion to the margins, maybe over the
edge, and for the sake of Christianity they want to enlist society itself in
its defense. They want politicians to make statements of faith, and when
merchants hang their seasonal signs and banners, they want them to say
something more specific than ‘Happy Holidays’.
Robinson, however, is distrustful of enlisting political
power to defend Christianity. Why because “this country [the United States] in
its early period was largely populated by religious people escaping religious
persecution at the hands of state Churches, whether French Huguenots, Scots
Presbyterians, English Congregationalists, or English Catholics”. She
adds: “Since my own religious heroes tended to die gruesomely under these
regimes. I have no nostalgia for the world before secularism, nor would many of
these ‘Christian nation’ exponents, if they looked a little into the history of
their own traditions.”
Inside our fear of secularism, she suggests, lies a great
irony: We are afraid of secularism because we have, in fact, internalized the
great prejudice against Christianity, namely, the belief that faith and
Christianity cannot withstand the scrutiny of an intellectually sophisticated
culture. And that fear lies at the root of an anti-intellectualism that is very
prominent inside many religious and Church circles today. How much of our
fear today about Christianity being on a slippery slope can be traced back to
this prejudice.
Why are we so afraid of our world and of secularized
intellectuals This fear, she asserts, spawns an antagonism that is
unworthy of Christianity. Fear and antagonism are very fashionable within
religious circles today, almost to be worn as a badge of faith and loyalty. And
is this a sign of health?
No. Neither fear nor antagonism, she submits, are “becoming
in Christians or in the least degree likely to inspire thinking or action of
the kind that deserves to be called Christian”. Moreover, “if belief in
Christ is necessary to attaining of everlasting life, then it behooves anyone
who calls himself or herself a Christian, any institution that calls itself a
Church, to bring credit to the Faith, at very least not to embarrass or
disgrace it. Making God a tribal deity, our local Baal, is embarrassing and
disgraceful.”
Fear and antagonism do nothing, she adds, to draw respect
to Christianity and our churches and to the extent that we let them be
associated with Christianity, we risk defacing Christianity in the world’s
eyes. But saying that in today’s climate is to be judged as unpatriotic.
We are not supposed to care what the world thinks. But it is the world we are
trying to convert. And so, we need to be careful not to present Christianity as
undignified, xenophobic, and unworthy of our wondrous, all-embracing God.
Why all this fear, if we believe that Christianity is the
deepest of all truth and believe that Christ will be with us to the end of time
Her last sentences capsulize a challenge we urgently need today.
“Christianity is too great a narrative to be reduced to
serving any parochial interest or to be underwritten by any lesser tale.
Reverence should forbid its being subordinated to tribalism, resentment, or
fear.”
Saturday in passion Week.
Prayer.
MAY Thy right hand defend Thy suppliant
people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and worthily instruct them, being purified in
Thy sight, that by present consolation it may profit for future good things.
Amen.
EPISTLE. Jer. xviii. 18-23.
In those days the impious Jews said:
Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: for the law shall not perish
from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet:
come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his
words. Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries. Shall
evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit for my soul? Remember
that I have stood in Thy sight, to speak good for them, and to turn away Thy
indignation from them. Therefore, deliver up their children to famine, and
bring them into the hands of the sword: let their wives be bereaved of
children, and widows: and let the husbands be slain by death: let their young
men be stabbed with the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard out of their
houses: for Thou shalt bring the robber upon them suddenly: because they have
digged a pit to take me and have hid snares for my feet. But Thou, O Lord,
knowest all their counsel against me unto death: forgive not their iniquity,
and let not their sin be blotted out from Thy sight: let them be overthrown
before Thy eyes ; in the time of Thy wrath do Thou destroy them, O Lord our
God.
GOSPEL. John xii. 10-36.
At that time a great multitude, that was come to the festival-day, when
they had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm-trees
and went forth to. meet Him, and cried: Hosanna, blessed is He that cometh in
the name of the Lord, the King of Israel. And Jesus found a young ass, and sat
upon it, as it is written; Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold thy King cometh
sitting on an ass s colt. These things His disciples did not know at the first:
but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were
written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. The multitude
therefore gave testimony, which was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the
grave and raised him from the dead. For which reason also the people came to
meet Him: because they heard that He had done this miracle The Pharisees
therefore said among themselves: Do you see that we prevail nothing? behold,
the whole world is gone after Him, Now there were certain gentiles among them
who came up to adore on the festival-day. These therefore came to Philip, who
was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying: Sir, we would see Jesus.
Philip cometh and telleth Andrew. Again, Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But
Jesus answered them, saying: The hour is come, that the Son of man should be
glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the
ground die, itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much
fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in
this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to Me, let him
follow Me: and where I am, there also shall My minister be. If any man minister
to Me, him will My Father honor. Now is My soul troubled. And what shall I say?
Father, save Me from this hour. But for this cause I came unto this hour.
Father, glorify Thy name. A voice therefore came from heaven: I have both
glorified it and will glorify it again. The multitude therefore that stood and
heard said that it thundered. Others said, an angel spoke to Him. Jesus
answered, and said: This voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes. Now
is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself. (Now
this He said, signifying what death He should die.) The multitude answered Him:
We have heard out of the law, that Christ abideth forever: and how sayest Thou:
The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man? Jesus therefore said
to them: Yet a little while the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the
light, that the darkness overtake you not. And he that walketh in darkness
knoweth not whither he goeth. Whilst you have the light, believe in the light,
that you may be the children of light. These things Jesus spoke, and He went
away, and hid Himself from them.
Preparing for Battle[3]
Know Your Weapons
The weapon of Sacred Sacramentals
·
Sacramentals
include certain actions, such as the Sign of the Cross and other blessings, as
well as objects that have been blessed, such as holy water, oil, salt, candles,
incense, rosaries, crucifixes, scapulars, and religious images.
·
In
an exorcism, the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus
Christ that a person or object be protected against the Devil’s power and
withdrawn from his dominion.
·
The
Sign of the Cross is the most terrible weapon against the Devil.
·
The
Church displays images of the cross so that we can have it continually in front
of our minds to recall to us just what our souls are worth and what they cost
Jesus Christ.
·
Blessings
and blessed objects. Both the blessings that are properly given by clergy (such
as those in the Liturgy) and the blessings spoken by lay people as part of
their daily lives (such as a table grace) are important sacramentals.
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.
o
Phoenix
·
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
Pray
for Ukraine, Russia and the World for the Victory of the Holy Spirit
In Hungary today is the feast of Our Lady of Victories, (there are nine separate days in honor of Our Lady of Victory, the main being October 7) Today's feast commemorates the victory in Hungary. On August 6, 1716, Prince Eugene of Savoy defeated a large invading Ottoman army at Peterwardein, Hungary. The victory set the stage for the reconquest of Hungary from the Turks.
O Mary, merciful Refuge of Sinners and Mother of all mankind! Behold how many souls are lost every hour! Behold how countless millions of those who live in India, in China, and in barbarous regions do not yet know Our Lord Jesus Christ! See, too, how many others are far from the bosom of Mother Church, which is Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman! O Mary ... life of our hearts ... let not the Precious Blood and fruits of Redemption be lost for so many souls!
Grant that a ray of Heavenly light may shine forth to enlighten those many blinded understandings and to enkindle so many cold hearts. Intercede with thy Divine Son, and obtain grace for all pagans, Jews, heretics, and schismatics in the whole world to receive supernatural light and to enter with joy into the bosom of the true Church. Hear the confident prayer of the Supreme Pontiff that all nations may be united in one faith, that they may know and love Jesus Christ, the blessed fruit of thy womb... And then all men shall love thee also, thou who art the salvation of the world, arbiter and dispenser of the treasures of God ... And, glorifying thee, O Queen of Victories, who, by means of thy Rosary, dost trample upon all heresies, they shall acknowledge that thou givest life to all nations, since there must be a fulfillment of the prophecy: "All generations shall call me blessed." Amen.
The Rosary is the foremost daily method of meditative prayer used by popes and saints alike. There are many forms of praying the Rosary such as the “The Seven Sorrows” Rosary and recently Pope John Paul II added the luminous mysteries. The Rosary has even been adapted to pray for the United States. Pious Germans have the custom of improvising a mystery-specific insertion for each Hail Mary. For example, while meditating on the annunciation, they pray, “Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus” (and they insert the words) “who died for our sins” then start again with “Holy Mary...The Rosary works, on a human level, because it engages the five senses. It involves our speech and our hearing. It occupies our mind and incites our emotions. We feel the beads with our fingertips. If we pray before a sacred image or better before the Blessed Sacrament we are transported into the lives of Mary and Jesus. The Rosary works best when we stop working and abandon ourselves like children to the time we are spending with our mother. The best place to pray the Rosary is with the family. Mother Teresa of Calcutta after enduring a vision of Calvary stated that Mary reassured her to: “Fear not. Teach them to say the Rosary—the family Rosary—and all will be well.” To God and to the Blessed Virgin, all our efforts at prayer are precious, when we persevere in praying the Rosary, we become like little children, children of Mary, children of our heavenly Father.
·
Seven Sorrows of Mary Rosary
Atheist
Day[7]
Agnostic Holiday
Christmas. Basant. Diwali.
Eid al-Adha. Easter. Yom Kippur. Vesak. Hanukkah. Ramadan. There is no shortage
of religious holidays celebrated every year. According to recent studies, there
are approximately 7.1 billion people currently living in this world, 31% of
whom are Christians, 23% of whom are Muslims, 13% of whom are Hindus, and
almost 7% of whom are Buddhists. There are also millions of other people who
follow religions such as Judaism, Jainism, and Spiritism. But what about those
of us who do not believe in a god or gods? An estimated 2% of the world’s population does not adhere to any
religion.
Last
Words of famous Atheists[8]
Thomas
Hobbs [political philosopher]
· I say again, if I had the whole world at my disposal, I would give it to live one day. I am about to take a leap into the dark."
Thomas
Payne [the leading atheistic writer in American colonies
· "Stay with me, for God's sake; I cannot bear to be left alone, O Lord, help me! O God, what have I done to suffer so much? What will become of me hereafter? "I would give worlds if I had them, that The Age of Reason had never been published. Lord help me! Christ help me! …No, don't leave; stay with me! Send even a child to stay with me; for I am on the edge of Hell here alone. If ever the Devil had an agent, I have been that one."
Voltaire
famous anti-Christian atheist:
· "I am abandoned by God and man; I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months' life." (He said this to Dr. Fochin, who told him it could not be done.) "Then I shall die and go to hell!" (His nurse said: "For all the money in Europe I wouldn’t want to see another unbeliever die! All night long he cried for forgiveness.
Napoleon
Bonaparte, the French emperor, and who, like Adolf Hitler, brought death to
millions to satisfy his greedy, power-mad, selfish ambitions for world
conquest:
· "I die before my time, and my body will be given back to the earth. Such is the fate of him who has been called the great Napoleon. What an abyss between my deep misery and the eternal kingdom of Christ!”
In a
Newsweek interview with Svetlana Stalin, the daughter of Josef Stalin, she told
of her father's death:
·
"My
father died a difficult and terrible death. God grants an easy death only to
the just. At what seemed the very last moment he suddenly opened his eyes and
cast a glance over everyone in the room. It was a terrible glance, insane or
perhaps angry. His left hand was raised, as though he were pointing to
something above and bringing down a curse on us all. The gesture was full of
menace. The next moment he was dead."
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION TWO-THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
CHAPTER
TWO-YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
Article 7-THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT
IN BRIEF
2450 "You shall not steal" (Ex 20:15; Deut 5:19).
"Neither thieves, nor the greedy, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of
God" (1 Cor 6:10).
2451 The seventh commandment enjoins the practice of justice and
charity in the administration of earthly goods and the fruits of men's labor.
2452 The goods of creation are destined for the entire human race.
the right to private property does not abolish the universal destination of
goods.
2453 The seventh commandment forbids theft. Theft is the
usurpation of another's goods against the reasonable will of the owner.
2454 Every manner of taking and using another's property unjustly
is contrary to the seventh commandment. the injustice committed requires
reparation. Commutative justice requires the restitution of stolen goods.
2455 The moral law forbids acts which, for commercial or
totalitarian purposes, lead to the enslavement of human beings, or to their
being bought, sold or exchanged like merchandise.
2456 The dominion granted by the Creator over the mineral,
vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be separated from
respect for moral obligations, including those toward generations to come.
2457 Animals are entrusted to man's stewardship; he must show them
kindness. They may be used to serve the just satisfaction of man's needs.
2458 The Church makes a judgment about economic and social matters
when the fundamental rights of the person or the salvation of souls requires *.
She is concerned with the temporal common good of men because they are ordered
to the sovereign Good, their ultimate end.
2459 Man is himself the author, center, and goal of all economic
and social life. the decisive point of the social question is that goods
created by God for everyone should in fact reach everyone in accordance with
justice and with the help of charity.
2460 The primordial value of labor stems from man himself, its
author and beneficiary. By means of his labor man participates in the work of
creation. Work united to Christ can be redemptive.
2461 True development concerns the whole man. It is concerned with
increasing each person's ability to respond to his vocation and hence to God's
call (cf CA 29).
2462 Giving alms to the poor is a witness to fraternal charity: it
is also a work of justice pleasing to God.
2463 How can we not recognize Lazarus, the hungry beggar in the
parable (cf Lk 17:19-31), in the multitude of human beings without bread, a
roof or a place to stay? How can we fail to hear Jesus: "As you did it not
to one of the least of these, you did it not to me" (Mt 25:45)?
Vinny’s Corner --Party Down
Purim in the Shuk
Celebrate Purim at a shuk-themed celebration for individuals and families.
Hear the Megillah, enjoy an Israeli marketplace experience with foods and activities
Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 4:00 PM
The Shul - 2443 E 4th Street
Admission:
$30/adult $20/child
https://chabadtucson.com/tools/events/register.asp?eventid=16710
*
Full Purim and Megillah schedule at Chabad Tucson:
Shabbos, March 23 2024 - 13 Adar, 5784
8:00 PM Maariv & Megillah
Sunday, March 24 - 14 Adar 5784
8:30 AM Shachris & Megillah (at 9 AM)
11:00 AM Mishloach manot deliveries
4:00 PM Purim in the Shuk & Megilllah
Join the Chabad PV Community for a fun Purim party in the Jerusalem Shuk!
Israeli Purim Dinner
Music & Purim Fun
Megillah Reading
Interactive Israeli Shuk Experience
Juicing Station
Open Bar for Adults
Purim Fun for Toddlers and ChildrenSunday, March 24, 5:00PM
~Free; Suggested Donation :$18; Sponsor $180Coffee with Christ The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: An end
to the use of contraceptives.
·
Saturday
Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
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