'Tis the Monday 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—Monday of the First Week of Lent
The Book of Leviticus, chapter nineteen, verses one, two, & eleven thru eighteen;
Psalm Nineteen, verses eight, nine, ten, & fifteen
(R/. the Gospel according to John, chapter six, verse sixty-three[b]);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses thirty-one thru forty-six.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, we see King Jesus judging the nations. To those on his right, he will say, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food…" The righteous will ask when they performed these acts of love for the Lord. He will reply, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.
To those on his left, he will say, "Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food…" These people wonder when they neglected the Lord so thoroughly. Then comes the answer: "Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me."
To love Christ is to love the ones whom Christ loves. The very drama of the parable is intended to stir us out of any complacency and beguile us out of any confusion on this score.
Reflect: Is it possible to love God and not love your neighbor? Why or why not?
"Easter of Hope" Reflection (Array of Hope):
In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us out of our selfishness and shows us the importance of serving others. We inherently know this, but often our good acts become too familiar and we become complacent. As St. John of the Cross reminds us: "In the evening of life, we will be judged by love alone."Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 50
What has become routine for you? Think about your own life. How can we open our eyes to live more attentive to the needs of those set before us? Who are the people that God has placed in front of you? Will you ignore them? Or will you love them? We sign up to work at the soup kitchen on Sunday, but we avert our gaze from the homeless man on the street. We bring a bag full of old clothes to the thrift store, but gossip about anyone not wearing the latest fashions. We start Bible studies in prisons, but we fail to forgive someone who has wronged us. The Works of Mercy can become a checklist rather than a way of life. But the Gospel says that those who were set apart as the righteous ones were not aware of when they had served Jesus. They were not simply following a list of responsibilities, but truly loving those set before them, seeing Christ in each person.
Today’s Tip: Choose one Corporal Work of Mercy to perform today.
The Book of Exodus, chapter twenty-one, verses twelve thru thirty-two.
Commentary: Laws concerning Violence & Harm (Exodus, 21:12-32).
Scripture Study—The 3:16 Project
The First Book of Samuel, chapter chapter three, verse sixteen.
But Eli called Samuel & said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am."'Tis the commemoration of Saint Fregna the White, Abbot (died circa 623, A.K.A. Fergno Britt mac Faílbi), fourth (IV) abbot of Iona Abbey (605-623): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link Iona & Wikipedia-link Iona.
'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Chad of Mercia, Bishop & Abbot (circa 620-672, the "Apostle of Mercia;" also spelt Ceadda, A.K.A. of Lichfield), fifth (V) Bishop of Lichfield (669-672), second (II) Bishop of York (664-669), second (II) abbot of Lastingham Abbey (664): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Lichfield, Wikipedia-link York, & Wikipedia-link Lastingham.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Brother of Ss. Cedd [26 October] & Cynibild [also 2 March].
'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Cynibild of Laestinggaeu, Priest (circa 622-664; also spelt Cynibil, A.K.A. of Lastingham): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Brother of Ss. Chad [also 2 March] & Cedd [26 October].
'Tis also the commemoration of Saint John Maron, Bishop (628-707, A.K.A. the Sarumite), first (I) Maronite Patriarch of Antioch & all the East (686-707, sixty-third [LXIII] bishop of Antioch overall): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Antioch, & Church-link Maronite & Wikipedia-link Maronite.
'Tis also the commemoration of Blessed Charles the Good, Martyr (circa 1083-1127, Count Charles I of Flanders), martyred by the price-gouging Erembald family: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Son of the martyr St. Canute [10 July].
'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Agnes of Bohemia, Abbess, O.S.C. (circa 1205-1282, A.K.A. of Prague), founding abbess of the Convent of Saint Agnes (1234-1282; originally, of the Holy Savior) & the Military Order of the Crusaders of the Red Star (1233): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Saint Agnes & Wikipedia-link Crusaders of the Red Star.
Commentary: First cousin of St. Elizabeth of Hungary [17 November] & thus first cousin once removed of Bl. Gertrude of Aldenberg [13 August].
'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Angela of the Cross, Virgin, H.C.C. (1846-1932; A.K.A. Angela Guerrero y González, María de los Angeles), foundress of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross (H.C.C.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link H.C.C.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"Do not be deaf to the Lord's call. If He calls you to follow this path, do not pull your oars into the boat, but trust Him."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope Francis, S.J. (b. 1936, r. 2013-present)
"To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement."Chesterton Quote o' the Day
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast: 28 August)
"Grey is a colour that always seems on the eve of changing to some other colour; of brightening into blue, or blanching into white, or breaking into green or gold. So we may be perpetually reminded of the indefinite hope that is in doubt itself, and when there is grey weather on our hills or grey hair on our heads perhaps they may still remind us of the morning."Catholic Quote o' the Day
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
"Nearly 2500 years ago, the Athenian general Thucydides wrote, ‘We must remember that one man is much the same as another, & that he is best who is trained in the severest school.’ In a similar way, temptation is a test of love. Through fighting well, you prove your loyalties. With purity & self-control, you are free to love. When a man controls his passions, he finds peace."
—Jason Evert (fl. 2020)
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