Today's Mass Readings - Sunday, March 9, 2014 with Reflection

First Sunday of Lent

1^ST READING - Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

7 The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. 8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and he placed there the man whom he had formed. 9Out of the ground the Lord God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 3: 1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that the Lord God had made. The serpent asked the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?” 2 The woman answered the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, “ ‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die! 5 No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is evil.” 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

P S A L M - Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17

R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R)

2^nd READING - Romans 5:12-19

12 Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned — 13 for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. 14But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come. 15 But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one, the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many. 16 And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned. For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation; but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal. 17 For if, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. 18 In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. 19 For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one, the many will be made righteous.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:1-11

1 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. 3 The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” 4 He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’ ” 8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, 9 and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” 10 At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

SABBATH

REVIVED, RECONCILED, REUNITED! A man takes his pet to the veterinarian after a car ran over it. He lays the body on the exam table and the vet examines it, listening for the heart, and solemnly says, “I’m very sorry, Mr. dela Cruz, but I’m afraid your pet is dead.” Mr. dela Cruz, very distraught, exclaims, “How can you be sure? You haven’t done any tests or anything! I want to be sure!”        So the vet leaves the room and then re-enters with a Labrador Retriever. He leads the dog to the table, and the dog sniffs up and down, then turns away. He then leaves with the dog and returns with a cat, and proceeds to wave the cat back and forth over the dead pet. No response. Again, he leaves the room. By this time the man has faced the fact that his pet is indeed dead.        The vet returns and says once more how sorry he is, then he presents the owner with a bill for P50,000. Mr. dela Cruz protested, “Fifty thousand pesos just to tell me my pet is dead?” The vet replies, “Well, it would have been only P500 for the office call, but the lab work and cat scan were extra!”        Whenever we sin, something in us dies. In the book of Genesis, Yahweh warned the first man and woman, “…you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17). John, in his epistles, warns, “If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death” (1 John 5:16). Mortal is Latin for mortis, or death. Sin kills the life of God in us. Sin compromises our life in the Spirit.        What revives the life of God in our soul? With the sacrament of reconciliation, the break is healed and our integrity is restored and we are once again made whole. The season of Lent’s call for prayer, fasting and almsgiving attunes us to our inner life where the angelic and the animal in us live in harmony and integration. Be revived, reconciled and reunited with God! Fr. Joel Jason REFLECTION QUESTION: The season of Lent is a time for visiting churches. Have you scheduled a visit to the confessional box where God’s reconciling mercy is waiting for you? Lord, thank You for the sacrament of reconciliation. Thank You for always waiting for me there.

St. Frances of Rome, religious, pray for us.

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Possessed or diseased? How the Church decides

Sr. Marie-Thérèse Noblet   Unhinged or unholy? Fiend or fraud? That’s what authorities had to decide about the Carmelite nun Marie-Thérèse Noblet (1889-1930). She suffered sudden diseases that were as suddenly cured, chokings, night beatings, unclean visions of blasphemous scenes, violent shakes witnessed by onlookers, foul assaults from filthy beasts, including one she recalled as “full of terrible beauty with eyes full of hate.”   Sr. Jeanne of the Angels   Then there’s Sr. Jeanne of the Angels, the 17th-century prioress of her Ursuline convent, plagued by diabolical visits with an explicitly erotic element, which spread, epidemic-like, to the Ursuline sisters under her care, whose convulsive attacks and obscene contortions scandalized all who witnessed them. Were these sisters possessed? Deranged? Or merely deceitful? That’s the first question exorcists must answer — the question addressed in True or False Possession? by the world-famous French neuropsychiatrist Jeanne Lhermitte, a man not only conversant with the tangled workings of the human mind but also a pious Catholic, convinced that demons exist and that they can — and do — afflict and even infest humans.     Genuine demonic possessions, admits Lhermitte, evade the explanations and exceed the competence of even the wisest physicians: they must not be handled in the clinic, but by the Church.  At the same time, exorcisms will not help the symptoms of those who are mentally ill.   With sober clarity and reserve, he reviews the detailed clinical records of scores of cases that alarmed our forefathers as well as the cases of people he’s examined personally. By means of these cases, Lhermitte illuminates the criteria the Church holds to be decisive signs of genuine possession . . . and those other cases that assure us that the influence of the demon is sought in vain — despite the filth and fits, shrieks and slobbering.   "If you want to know the difference between true demonic possession and mental illness, then this is the book for you." Msgr. John Cihak, S.T.D. Pontifical Gregorian University "This book is essential reading for anyone involved in the Church's ministry of exorcism, and for readers who want to better understand the mysterious phenomenon of demonic possession." Dr. Aaron Kheriaty Author of The Catholic Guide to Depression "This book contains much to be considered both by medical experts as well as those engaged by the Church in deliverance ministry." Abbot Eugene J. Hayes St. Michael's Norbertine Abbey "As a psychiatrist, Lhermitte builds on the Catholic understanding of true possession and helps to treat the always troubling mixture of illness, sinfulness, and the demonic present in such patients." Rev. Dennis McManus St. John the Evangelist Seminary   True or False Possession?: How to Distinguish the Demonic from the Demented List Price: $14.99  -  160 pages Paperback and eBook   Order online HERE Save 30% when you order the set: Regular Price: $29.90 Order the set  at this link for only $19.99   In Who is the Devil?, Nicolas Corte gives you incontrovertible proof that Satan exists, that he and his legions of devils assault you daily, and that by means of relentless attacks — overwhelming and subtle — they intend to corrupt you, damn you, and drag you into Hell along with those you love and all the rest of mankind. With God’s help — and the help of the good angels, who are truly your friends and guardians — you can repel the Devil; but to succeed, you must first come to understand Satan’s devious ways and recognize his subtle paths of attack. Armed with that knowledge, which Nicolas Corte gives you here, you’ll soon be able to identify temptations early and equip yourself to repel them long before they grow strong enough to overthrow you. Soon, the Devil’s trials will cease to be for you occasions of sin, becoming instead (as they did for scores of saints) providential opportunities for genuine spiritual victories. In the pages of Who is the Devil? Nicolas Corte will also show you: Why, if you are Christian, you must believe in devils   Your own personal devil? Did you know it’s not just Satan trying to bring you down?   A simple way to banish fear of the Devil . . . no matter how scarlet your sins   How far the “kingdom of Satan” extends into this world (You’ll be surprised!)   Why even as we fall into sin, we remain “like unto angels”   How some angels sinned, and why — unlike our sins — theirs are unforgiveable   Witches and sorcerers: the powers they don’t really have (and the dangerous ones they do!)   How, long before the Internet, the Devil assaulted St. Anthony with obscene images. The saint repelled them (and shows how we can, too)   Satanism: what it really is and how — unknowingly — even ordinary folks like us fall into it   Exorcisms and the priests who perform them: actual cases considered   The eye-opening dangers of Black Magic and Black Masses   The even greater perils involved in doubting Satan’s existence   Finally: how, despite the subtlety and raw power of Satan and his minions, you can be assured of salvation Order the set HERE for only $19.99     Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com   Save up to 40% when you join Sophia's

Why and How to Make a Retreat

by Father John McCloskey

What is a Catholic retreat and why do you need one annually? Since we're about to begin Lent, these are two good questions. Let's begin with a brief history lesson.

What we call a retreat consists of a series of days passed in solitude and consecrated to practices of asceticism, in particular to prayer and penance. Such "desert" experiences are as old as Christianity itself – and in fact predate it, although we won't walk through all the Old Testament prototypes, such as the Israelites' forty years in the desert with Moses and the wilderness experiences of prophets such as Elijah. For Christians, the New Testament example of Jesus' forty days in the desert following his baptism by John has found many imitators in all ages.

Among many other examples are: St. Francis of Assisi (whose retreat on Mount Alverno culminated in receiving the Stigmata); St. Ignatius of Loyola, who used his own experiences to develop the thirty-day Spiritual Exercises; and St. Francis de Sales, who spread the "Exercises" to the laity as a means for their growth in holiness in the middle of the world.

Modern-day retreats for lay people take many forms, but usually involve a weekend (or sometimes longer) away from home and familiar routines, usually under the direction of a priest, with talks, reflections, and also plenty of "alone time" for prayer and spiritual reading.

Here are some suggestions for an optimal retreat experience, written from my perspective as a priest who has given many dozens of retreats to men and women (separately) over the course of more than three decades. (By the way, I discourage couple retreats. In my experience the members of the couple distract one another and wind up making resolutions for each other rather than for themselves!):

1. I wish I did not have to write this, but make sure you are attending a retreat that is conducted by an organization truly faithful to all the teachings of the Church and our Holy Father.

2. Attend a retreat that is preached and that provides daily Mass as well as the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation – and if possible, some spiritual direction.

3. Try to find a retreat that is at least three days long – and minimize if not eliminate the use of email, texts, and smart phones. I call them Lethal Weapons of Retreat Destruction. Take the oath to abstain!

4. Ask yourself: Why am I doing this? To get some rest? To feel good about myself, to look good to family and friends? Or to grow in the love of the one with whom I hope to spend eternity, Jesus Christ, and to share my love of him and his Church with others?

Shrine to Our Lady at the Shelbourne retreat center, Valparaiso, Indiana

5. Take along the New Testament and at least one spiritual reading book that you intend to finish by the end of the retreat. Also arm yourself with a notebook for recording your impressions and resolutions for your return to the outside world.

6. Despite a certain unavoidable focus on self, remember to pray for friends, family, and those most in need, including general intentions such as an end to abortion and the defense of religious liberty and marriage.

7. If possible, get some exercise, such as a long walk while praying the Rosary. This will help your night's sleep and keep you alert during the meditations and talks.

8. Go with some friends (but don't talk too much – pray for them instead).

9. Follow up after the retreat is over – check your written resolutions weekly (don't make too many) and be honest with yourself and your spiritual director (if you have one) to hold yourself accountable.

10. Start thinking of everyone you want to bring next year. Pray for those you intend to ask and give them plenty of lead time as well as specific dates and places. And why not encourage them to bring their own friends?

11. Familiarize yourself with the example of Pope Francis (yes, he attends an annual retreat too) and read what he says in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Chapter 2: "Goodness always tends to spread. Every authentic experience of truth and goodness seeks by its very nature to grow within us, and any person who has experienced a profound revelation becomes more sensitive to the needs of others. As it expands, goodness takes root and develops. If we wish to lead a dignified and fulfilling life, we have to reach out to others and seek their good. In this sense several sayings of St. Paul will not surprise us: 'The love of Christ urges us on' (2 Cor 5:14), 'Woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel' (1 Cor 9:16)."

Finally, you do not have to spend three years in the desert like St. Paul before setting out to spread the Good News. Go up to Jerusalem, get St. Peter's permission to evangelize, and get to work.

First appeared on The Catholic Thing in March 2014.

Ash Wednesday season of prayer

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, the season of prayer, penance, and reflection before the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday 40 days later.

 This year, Ash Wednesday falls on March 5, 2014. It is a day of fasting and abstinence. Church officials urge the faithful to take the Sacrament of Penance for spiritual renewal in preparation for Easter Sunday on April 20, 2014, the central feast of Christendom.

Catholics observe Ash Wednesday by hearing Mass and having their foreheads imposed with a cross using ashes mixed with either oil of the cathechumens or holy water by priests in violet vestments or lay persons, as a sign of conversion, penance and a reminder of mortality. The ashes used are gathered from burnt palaspas (palm fronds) from the previous year’s Palm Sunday rites.

Ash Wednesday is observed in many countries including in the United States of America, United Kingdom, and Ireland. As in the Philippines, it is a holy occasion, when people traditionally come to church to receive the cross of ashes on their foreheads. Prior to Vatican II in 1965, which made sweeping changes in Church liturgy, the ash imposition was done within the Mass. Because of huge number of devotees queuing up for the ritual, the imposition of ashes is now allowed in designed lines even outside the Church.

During the imposition of ashes, priests or religious and lay ministers say, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel” or “Remember, you are dust, and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19). The imposition of ash on foreheads dates back to 10th century when ash was a symbol of purification and penitence.

We offer our prayers to the Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio Cardinal G. Tagle, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, headed by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, President; Davao Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, Vice President; Palo Archbishop John F. Du, Treasurer; and Fr. Marvin S. Mejia, Secretary General; and the Filipino Catholic faithful in their solemn observance of Ash Wednesday. MAY GOD BLESS US ALL!

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2014/03/ash-wednesday-season-of-prayer/

Think about....

"God is the Arm that will hold
you at you Weakest,

the Eye that will see you at
your Darkest,
and
the Heart that will Love you
at your Worst."

God bless!

Question: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DUST OR ASH IN ASH WEDNESDAY?

Answer: Dust is the simple reminder of what we are without God. Though we may become dust in the long run (natural deterioration) or become dust by means of force (burned to ash), we accept the truth that we shall return to dust, since God made us out from it.

Thus dust becomes a symbol of TURNING BACK to God, of humility and repentance and of turning back to our original state, back to the Creator whose hand first touched and molded the dust. We hope that in our own returning to dust, God's hand will be near and will still be in charge.

Today's Mass Readings - Sunday, March 2, 2014 with Reflection

1^ST READING - Isaiah 49:14-15

14 Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” 15 Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.

P S A L M - Psalm 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R: Rest in God alone, my soul.

1 [2] Only in God is my soul at rest; from him comes my salvation. 2 [3]He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all. (R) 5 [6] Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from him comes my hope. 6 [7] He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed. (R) 7 [8] With God is my safety and my glory, he is the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God.8 [9] Trust in him at all times, O my people! Pour out your hearts before him. (R)

2^ND READING - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

1 Brothers and sisters: Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; 4 I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The word of God is living and effective; discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Matthew 6:24-34

24 Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? 27 Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? 28 Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. 29 But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ 32 All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. 34 Do not worry abouttomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

SABBATH

STEWARD OF GOD’S MYSTERIES In the conclave of March 2013, our very own Cardinal Tagle was considered to be a papabile, a contender for the papacy. When asked whether he thought he would be elected pope, Cardinal Chito clarified, “It was clear to me that the task of the cardinals is to elect a new pope and not to have yourself be elected pope.”        A servant of God is not a career person. As Paul said in today’s First Reading, he is “an administrator of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1). Simply put, he is a steward. A steward is not self-appointed; he is called.        Blessed John Paul II’s remark at his election as Pope referred to a strong sense of being called as well as unworthiness. Referring to himself in the third person, he said, “They called him from a faraway country.” A “faraway country” was his metaphor for Poland, his native country, an “unknown country,” so unlike the great country where the Popes of the past have originated. He said further, “He was afraid to receive such nomination but he did it in the spirit of obedience to the Lord and total trust in His mother…”        In the Conclave of 2013, many self-proclaimed Vaticanisti (Vatican experts) had their own list of “strong contenders.” When the name “Jorge Bergoglio” (now known as Pope Francis) was announced by the Cardinal Deacon, not a few wondered, “Who?” Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales humorously but insightfully explained why Cardinal Bergoglio was chosen. “I told them it’s because the Holy Spirit does not read social media or watch CNN or BBC.”        When our spiritual leaders forget that they are stewards, administrators of God’s mysteries, careerism creeps in and they become mere Church functionaries. They begin to serve the God of money and not the real God, just as Jesus warned in the Gospel today.        This Sunday, let us pray fervently for our Church leaders. When we do that, the first beneficiary will be the whole People of God. Fr. Joel Jason REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you in a position of leadership? How do you see your role in the light of today’s readings? Lord Jesus, I pray for our Church leaders today. May they remain faithful and obedient to Your call to them.

St. Agnes of Bohemia, pray for us.

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