'Tis the Monday of the Third 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 Third Week of Lent
The Second Book of Kings, chapter five, verses one thru fifteen(a/b);
Psalm Forty-two (R/. see: three), verses two, three & Psalm Forty-three, verses three, four;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter four, verses twenty-four thru thirty.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus’ hometown rejects him as a prophet. And I want to say a word about your role as a prophet.Video reflection by Monsignor Jams Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.
When most lay people hear about prophecy, they sit back and their eyes glaze over. "That’s something for the priests and the bishops to worry about; they’re the modern-day prophets. I don’t have that call or that responsibility."
Well, think again! Vatican II emphasized the universal call to holiness, rooted in the dynamics of Baptism. Every baptized person is conformed unto Christ—priest, prophet, and king. Whenever you assist at Mass, you are exercising your priestly office, participating in the worship of God. Whenever you direct your kids to discover their mission in the Church, or provide guidance to someone in the spiritual life, you are exercising your kingly office.
As a baptized individual, you are commissioned as a prophet—which is to say, a speaker of God’s truth. And the prophetic word is not your own. It is not the result of your own meditations on the spiritual life, as valuable and correct as those may be. The prophetic word is the word of God given to you by God.
Reflect: How would you evaluate your role as prophet—that is, a speaker of God’s truth?
"Easter of Hope" Reflection (Array of Hope):
In Today’s Gospel, Jesus compares himself to Elijah and Elisha, two prophets who were not welcomed by their own people. The prophets of the Old Testament were constantly rejected by their people because they spoke the hard truth. They continuously defended the poor and powerless.Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 64
They comforted those who were afflicted, and they "afflicted" those who were comfortable. Elijah even defended God's plan for marriage and doing so put his life in danger. It was not an easy task for them, but God sent forth His Spirit to give them the grace and courage to address the social concerns of their day. We are called to be the prophets, challenging our fellow brothers and sisters to look beyond their own interests and tend to the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
Are there any injustices you see? Do you need to be a voice for the voiceless? As we continue journeying through the season of Lent, let us think about our roles as God’s prophets. Consider helping those who are in need. In turn, you will share the love God has for you with others. Let us look to St. Teresa of Kolkata as a true prophet of this age and example of faith. Her selfless acts of love towards the poor and marginalized exemplified God’s love for mankind. She understood her calling to promote the life and dignity of all humanity from the moment of conception to natural death.
Today’s Tip: Do an act of service for another. Visit your local soup kitchen and serve those in need.
The Book of Exodus, chapter twenty-seven, verses one thru eight.
Commentary: The Altar of Burnt Offering (Exodus, 27:1-8).
Scripture Study—The 3:16 Project
The Book of the Psalms, chapter three, verse eight.
Deliverance belongs to the LORD;Commentary: Psalm 3 does not have sixteen verses; so, we bring you the verse closest to the hypothetical sixteen: in this case, number eight.
Your blessing be upon Your people!
Selah!
'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.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'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.
'Tis also the commemoration of Blessed Giovanni de Surdis Cacciafronte, Bishop & Martyr, O.S.B. (1125-1184, Anglicized as John Sordi), Bishop of Vicenza (1179-1184), Bishop of Mantua (1174-1177), martyred by one Pietro, whom he had rebuked for embezzling Church funds: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Vicenza, & Diocese-link Mantua & Wikipedia-link Mantua.
'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)
"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feel to hasten to the poor & needy. It has eyes to see misery & want. It has the ears to hear the sighs & sorrows of men. That is what love looks like."Chesterton Quote o' the Day
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast: 28 August)
"The goodness of God makes impossible the evil thing called despair."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
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