Commentary: The English word "Lent" is of Germanic origin, from the Old English (A.K.A. Anglo-Saxon) lencten & related etymologically to the Dutch lente & the German lenz, both meaning "spring" (the season, not the water source or the metal curly-cue). The Latin name, Quadragesima, means "fortieth," referring to the penitential season's length.
Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year B
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter thirty-one, verses thirty-one thru thirty-four;
Psalm Fifty-one, verses three & four, twelve & thirteen, & fourteen & fifteen;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter five, verses seven, eight, & nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twelve, verses twenty thru thirty-three.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, our Gospel for today contains one of the most beautiful and terrible summations of the Christian message: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
And now this one upon whom the crowds had pinned their hopes is speaking of falling to the earth and dying. And then it gets stranger. “The man who loves his life loses it, while the man who hates his life in this world preserves it to life eternal.” Come again?!
Just when we are raising you up, you’re talking about falling down; just when we are showing you that your life has come to its fulfillment, you’re talking about hating this life.
To understand what all this means, we should go back to the grain of wheat that falls to the earth. A seed’s life is inside, yes, but it’s a life that grows by being given away and mixing with the soil around it. It has to crack open, to be destroyed.
Jesus’ sign is the sign of the cross. The Death that leads to Transfiguration.
Video reflection by Jeff Cavins: Encountering the Word.
Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D.: Breaking the Bread.
Mass Readings—Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A: Third Scrutiny
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter thirty-seven, verses twelve, thirteen, & fourteen;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty, verses one & two, three & four, five & six, & seven & eight;
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses eight thru eleven;
The Gospel according to John, chapter eleven, verses one thru forty-five
(or, the Gospel according to John, chapter eleven, verses three thru seven, seventeen, twenty thru twenty-seven, & thirty-three(b) thru forty-five).
Mass Journal: Week Twelve
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church wastes no time in addressing this truth. The opening point of Chapter One, Section One, reads, "The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God & for God; & God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will man find the truth & happiness he never stops yearning for.†
Otherwise, 18 March would be the festival of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (circa 313-386), who attended & was vindicated by the First Council of Constantinople, which refined & reaffirmed the Nicene Creed: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Council & Wikipedia-link Creed.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Edward the Martyr (circa 962-978), King of England, martyred at the behest of his wicked stepmother, the queen dowager Ælfthryth: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Salvador of Horta, Religious, O.F.M. (1520-1567; A.K.A. Salvador Pladevall i Bien, also spelt Salvator): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
'Twould also be the festival of Blessed John Thules, Priest & Martyr (circa 1568-1616, also spelt Thulis), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king James VI & I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales, also one of the Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV, Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"May the Lord today, give us all the grace to rise from our sins, to come out of our tombs; with the voice of Jesus, calling us to go out, to go to Him."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope Francis
"Turn your eyes back upon yourself, & you will not judge the doings of others."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Receive communion by making a throne: one hand under the other, ready to receive our great King."
—St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Doctor of the Church (313-386, feast day: 18 March)
No comments:
Post a Comment