'Tis the Saturday of the First Week of Lent (meaning "Spring;" the Latin name is Quadragesima, meaning "fortieth"): Quadragesima-link & Wikipedia-link Quadragesima.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the First Week of Lent
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter twenty-six, verses sixteen thru nineteen;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen (R/. one[b]), verses one & two, four & five, & seven & eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses forty-three thru forty-eight.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel tells us to love our enemies so that we may be like the Father. What is the Father of Jesus Christ like? Well, listen: “He makes his sun to rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.”"Easter of Hope" Reflection (Array of Hope):
In every case, his grace comes first, and grace is all that he has to give. This is why the comparison to the sun and the rain is so apt. The sun doesn’t ask who deserves its warmth or its light before it shines. It just shines, and both good and bad people receive it. Neither does the rain inquire as to the moral rectitude of those upon whom it showers its life-giving goodness. It just pours—and both just and unjust people receive it.
Reflect: Is your love like the sun and rain, poured out on all, or is it
conditioned by certain judgments? If it is conditional, pray about what
things keep you from loving more freely and less judgmentally.
Forgiveness can be tough and because of our fallen human nature, we can easily fall into the temptation of holding on to our anger or remaining hostile to those who have hurt us. After a while, this anger can consume us, break up friendships, relationships, and even families. Christ offers us something different; a message of great hope. He encourages us to be humble and to “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” This is much easier said than done, as we all know how difficult it is to forgive someone who has hurts us, let alone pray for them. We need to remember that forgiveness is possible, but we cannot do it on our own, we need the help of God’s grace.'Tis the commemoration of Saints Hilarius of Aquileia, Bishop; Tatian, Deacon; Dionysius; Felix; & Largus; Martyrs (died circa 284), Bishop of Aquileia (276-284), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Numerian & Carinus: Martyr-link Hotel & Wikipedia-link Hotel, Martyr-link Tango, Martyr-link Delta, Martyr-link Foxtrot, & Martyr-link Lima; Diocese-link & Wikipedia-link Aquileia.
Let us look to St. Maria Goretti as a beautiful example of how we are called to live out today’s Gospel. The young virgin was murdered in 1902 when she was just twelve years old. She was assaulted and stabbed to death by a young man named Alessandro. Before dying in the hospital the following day, St. Maria expressed her forgiveness to Alessandro. He remained unrepentant in prison for 8 years, until he had a dream of St. Maria gathering flowers and presenting them to him, which is when he finally accepted her forgiveness. Like St. Maria, we are called to freely forgive others, even if they do not accept it. This pure act will forever serve as a reminder of our own true vocation which is to love all of our brothers and sisters, even those who have wronged us.
Today, think about the one person in your life who has hurt you or you consider to be an “enemy.” Ask God for the grace to love and forgive. When we pray for those who have hurt us, we allow God to take over the situation and entrust it into His care. In turn, we experience a sense of freedom knowing that we are no longer in control. Like St. Maria Goretti, we invite our offenders to experience God’s loving mercy and forgiveness. St. Maria Goretti, pray for us
'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Heribert of Cologne, Bishop (circa 970-1021), fourteenth (XIV) Archbishop of Cologne (999-1021), founder of the Abbey of Deutz (1003): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link & Wikipedia-link Cologne, & Wikipedia-link Deutz.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Tis also the commemoration of Blesseds John Amias & Robert Dalby, Priests & Martyrs (died 1589), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the one hundred sixty Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link Juliett Alpha & Wikipedia-link Juliett Alpha, Martyr-link Romeo Delta & Wikipedia-link Romeo Delta; Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.
'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Jean de Brébeuf, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1593-1649), martyred by Iroquois, one of the eight Martyrs of North America: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link North America & Wikipedia-link North America.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"God's love for us is freely given & unearned, surpassing all we could ever hope for or imagine. His love for us does not depend on whether we have merited or are worthy of it."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)
"Our Lord attended a banquet in Bethany, given by Martha, Mary, & Lazarus. The twelve apostles were there. In the course of the dinner, Mary Magdalen—if she be Magdalen—took perhaps what was the fruit of an evil life, namely some precious perfume, to give it to the Lord. In those days, women often carried precious nard in a bottle about the neck. If one of their beloved ones died, they would break the bottle over the corpse & then sprinkle the corpse with perfume & throw the remains of the bottle on the corpse. Mary Magdalen came to the feet of our Lord, for in those days they reclined at table. She did not do what you & I would do. She did not pour out that precious perfume drop by drop as if to indicate by the slowness of the giving the generosity of the gift. She broke the vessel & gave everything, for love knows no limits. Immediately the house was filled with perfume. It was almost as if, after the death of that perfume & the breaking of the bottle, there was a resurrection. Broken things are precious. We eat broken bread because we share in the death of our Lord & His broken life. Broken flowers give perfume. Broken incense is used in adoration. A broken ship saved Paul & many other passengers on the way to Rome. Sometimes the only way the good Lord can get into some hearts is to break them."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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