March 4, 2015

March 4

March 4, 2015:  Wednesday, Second Week of Lent
  • 'Hand' tie pin: Into your hands I commend my spirit; in your hands is my destiny (psalm); the Son will be handed over... (gospel)
  • 'Crucifix' pin:  ...to be crucified (gospel)
  • 'Cups' tie:  "Can you drink from my cup?” (gospel)
  • Purple suspenders:  Lenten season
Listen

(with Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement, AKA Work of Mary):  The unity proper to the Work of Mary is anchored in the Eucharist, which gives it its Christian and ecclesial character and without which, unity would be reduced to the human, psychological, and sociological.  The Eucharist guarantees Christ's centrality, and his Spirit moves us.
“Because the loaf is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.”  We gather around the Eucharist, the table of the Word and the Bread of Life.  The Bishop is the principle of unity in the Church, but it doesn't happen without the Eucharist.  We bishops offer our lives for the sheep as the Good Shepherd did; we assume a Eucharistic existence.  Conformed to Christ, we become a living Gospel, and Bread broken for the life of many via preaching and witness.  Christ's love urges us to give our life for others, to go out to meet the marginalized and despised.
Read

  • Jer 18:18-20  “Let's plot against Jeremiah, noting his words to destroy him by his own tongue.”  Heed me, Lord, and listen to my adversaries.  Must good be repaid with evil?  Remember I spoke to you on their behalf to deflect your wrath.
    Can you drink from the chalice...?
    (animate)
  • Ps 31:5-6, 14-16  "Save me, O Lord, in your kindness."  You'll free me from their snare.  Into your hands I commend my spirit.  They're plotting to take my life, but I trust in you.
  • Mt 20:17-28  Jesus to the Twelve, “The Son of Man will be condemned to death, mocked, scourged, crucified, and raised.”  Mother of Zebedee's sons:  “Command that my sons will sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”  Jesus/James and John:  “Can you drink the chalice I'm going to drink?”/“We can.”/“You will, but sitting at my side is for those my Father prepared for it.”  Jesus, when the others got indignant:  “Don't be like rulers who make their authority felt.  Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant.  The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as ransom for many.”
Reflect
  • Creighton:  Jesus flipped the model of leadership:  “To be great, be a servant... The Son came not to be served but to serve”; “The greatest must be your servant.”  Become a servant leader:  sacrifice time, talent, and treasure to lift up those around you.  Stay close to Jesus en route to the cross as others left him out of fear, boredom, or mistrust.  Ask, "What have I done for Christ?  What am I doing for Christ?  What ought I do for Christ?"  (Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 53)​
  • One Bread One Body:  "Service stations of the cross":  Most have an inner desire to serve, but service can hurt and we also want to set limits.  Will I "drink the cup" of crucified service-slavery?
    St. Casimir
  • Passionist:  It’s not easy to give without hope of return, but unselfish love and service is what Jesus asks of and models for us.  May our Lenten discipline help form us as his disciples of Jesus, giving ourselves in service.  May Jesus Crucified inspire us to be humble, generous, joy-filled servants.
  • DailyScripture.net:  Jeremiah met opposition for speaking God's word, as did Jesus from those who opposed his authority.  Jesus reversed the world's thinking:  to be great, serve others.  In his time, servants had no personal choice, but Jesus' model of servanthood is based on freedom, deciding to put others first and serve them with love.  "For freedom Christ set us free; through love be servants of one another" (Gal 5:1,13).  Jesus said he "came not to be served but to serve."  Can I drink Jesus' cup of sacrificial service and death to self, whether via martyrdom or daily sacrifices of Christian life?  "To serve is to reign with Christ."
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)