Wacky Wednesday: "Lenten Check In"
'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saints Perpetua & Felicity, Martyrs (died 203), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus, the manner of their martyrdom attested by the ancient & partially autobiographical Passion of Saint Perpatua, Saint Felicitas, & Their Companions: Martyrs-link, Martyr-link Papa, & Martyr-link Foxtrot; Wikipedia-link Passion.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Vibia Perpetua was a married noblewoman, said to have been twenty-two years old at the time of her death, & mother of an infant she was nursing. Felicity, a slave imprisoned with her & pregnant at the time, was martyred with her.'Tis also the festival of Saint Eubulus, Martyr (died 308, of Cæsarea), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Galerius & Maximinus II, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.
'Tis also the festival of Blesseds John Larke & John Ireland, Priests; & German Gardiner, Martyrs (died 1544), martyred in the reign of the English king Henry VIII: Martyr-link Juliett Lima & Wikipedia-link Juliett Lima, Martyr-link Juliett India, & Martyr-link Golf Golf & Wikipedia-link Golf Golf.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Leonid Feodorov, Bishop & Martyr (1879-1935, A.K.A. Leontios), martyred in the reign of the Communist dictator Joseph Stalin, one of the twenty-five Martyrs Killed under Communist Regimes in Eastern Europe: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link XXV.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Lenten Weekday
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter four, verses five thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-seven, verses twelve & thirteen, fifteen & sixteen, & nineteen & twenty;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses seventeen, eighteen, & nineteen.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in our Gospel today, Jesus declares that he would not undermine the Law and the Prophets, but fulfill them. Jesus himself was an observant Jew, and the themes and images of the Holy Scriptures were elemental for him.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
But what is he going to fulfill? Protestant theologian N.T. Wright has pointed out that the Old Testament is essentially an unfinished symphony, a drama without a climax. It is the articulation of a hope, a dream, a longing—but without a realization of that hope, without a satisfaction of that longing.
Israel knew itself to be the people with the definite mission to become holy and thereby to render the world holy. But instead, Israel fell into greater and greater sins, and instead of being the catalyst for the conversion of the world, the world was continually overwhelming and enslaving Israel.
And then came Jesus, who turned out to be, in the most unexpected way, the fulfillment of the dream. From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus affected the gathering of the tribes of Israel through conversion and the forgiveness of sins.
†
Bible Study—Penance
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter fifteen (verses one thru thirty-two).
Commentary: The Parable of the Lost Sheep (15:1-7), the Parable of the Lost Coin (15:8-10), & the Parable of the Lost Son (15:11-32).
Papal Quote o' the Day
"The New Covenant consists exactly in this: in recognizing oneself, in Christ, enveloped in God's mercy & compassion. This is what fills our heart with joy."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope Francis
"May God give us the grace to love Him & save souls for Him."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"We are at Jesus's disposal. If He wants you to be sick in bed, if He wants you to proclaim His work in the street, if He wants you to clean the toilets all day, that's all right, everything is all right. We must say, 'I belong to You. You can do whatever You like.' And this is our strength."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (A.K.A. Mother Teresa, 1910-1997; feast day: 5 September)
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