March 10, 2016

March 10

March 10, 2016:  Thursday, 4th week, Lent
  • "Golden calf" tie pin (1st reading, psalm)
  • "Hands" tie:  God led Israel with a strong hand (1st reading)
  • Purple suspenders:  Lenten season
Listen

Pope Francis video message
The family is one of the most precious assets of humanity, but perhaps the most vulnerable.  When a family is exposed to economic, health, or other difficulties, the children grow up in an environment of sadness.  Pray that families in need may receive the necessary support and that children may grow up in healthy and peaceful environments.” 
Watch it (en español)

 Read
  • Ex 32:7-14  Lord/Moses:  “Go to your people; they've become depraved, worshiping a molten calf as God.  Let my wrath blaze up and consume them.” / “Why blaze up against your own people?  The Egyptians will say, ‘He brought them out to kill them’? Remember the covenant with your servants, and relent.  So the Lord relented.
  • Ps 106:19-23  "Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people."  Our fathers adored a molten image, forgetting God and his wonders.  The Lord spoke of exterminating them, but Moses turned back his wrath.
  • Jn 5:31-47  Jesus:  Another testifies on my behalf, and his testimony is true.  John testified to the truth, and you rejoiced in his light, but the works the Father gave me are even greater testimony that he sent me.  He too has testified, but you've neither heard nor seen him because you don't believe.  Even the Scriptures testify, but you don't want to come to me for life.  I came in my Father's name, but you don't accept me. Moses will accuse you; if you'd believed him, you'd have believed me.
Reflect
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Full gospel":  We must believe in the Word of God.   Jesus, remove the veil from my eyes so that we can understand the Scriptures....
  • Passionist:  We’ve built lucrative industries around changing our appearance to “fit in” or be more acceptable to others.  Is that worshiping a golden calf molded out of youth and a narrow beauty standard?  We blind ourselves to the wisdom, courage, and depth of older people and deny the weathered beauty of a wrinkled face or gray hair.  We teach that lovability and respect are dependent on appearance, and becoming more lovable lies in enhancing your appearance.  Do we know what effects the chemicals and procedures have on our bodies and the environment?  What if the money spent on them was spent on helping those in need?  What idols are we building?  How do we worship them?  What can we do to change for the better?  Perhaps paying more attention to someone others consider less attractive, raising money for professionals who offer free prosthetics and procedures that allow the poorest of the poor to live a normal life?  Donating toiletries to homeless shelters?  Combat appearance-based bullying?  The issues evade easy solutions, but we can break a chip off the golden calf....
    The Martyrdom of St. John Ogilvie
    D'Aloisio Mayo
  • DailyScripture.net:  "The Father's witness to Jesus":  Jesus answers the charges against him with the evidence of witnesses:  John the Baptist, Jesus' own signs and miracles, and God the Father.  He asserts the Scriptures point to him as Messiah.  The scribes and Pharisees didn't believe what Moses had written. They desired the praise of their own people; they were focused on themselves and blinded to God.  Their preoccupation with their own position made them unable to understand God's word.  God reveals himself to the lowly, to those who trust in God alone.  "As Christians, our task is to make daily progress toward God.  Our pilgrimage is a school in which God is the only teacher, and it demands good students, not ones who play truant.  In this school we learn something every day:  we learn from commandments, examples, and sacraments; they're remedies and study materials" (Augustine).
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