March 9, 2019

March 9

March 9, 2019:  Saturday after Ash Wednesday

See 17 connections with today?
Legend below
Listen

For Psalm 86
    • Mighty Lord/ Foley [needs banjo]; use free Spotify login
  • You say/ Daigle (Creighton reflection)
Read

  • Is 58:9b-14  If you remove oppression... and satisfy the afflicted, the Lord will guide and renew you.  If you honor the sabbath, you'll delight in the Lord, and I'll nourish you.
  • Ps 86:1-6  "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth."  Have mercy on me.  I lift my soul to you; gladden it.  Attend to my pleading.
  • Lk 5:27-32  Jesus to Levi:  “Follow me”; he left everything and followed.  He gave a banquet for him with tax collectors and others; Pharisees complained:  “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”  Jesus:  “The healthy don't need a doctor; just the sick.  I came to call sinners.”
Reflect
  • Creighton:  Tax collector Levi, open to Jesus' invitation to become an apostle, said yes.  His yes meant he had a transformation of heart and mind.  What made it possible?  I believe it was an experience and his ability to quiet himself, listen, and act.  Lord, help me pause, be silent, listen to you, reflect on past weeks, view my experiences from a different perspective, refocus, and redirect my actions away from my own needs.  Guide me when I say yes.  “You Say” describes this well.  Saying yes means my mind and heart have been transformed.
OTOH, tax collector Levi did his own thing, making money by collecting taxes for the Roman empire.  When Jesus invited him to repent, he left his selfishness behind become a disciple of Jesus.  Jesus invites us to leave behind the slavery, emptiness, and boredom of selfishness.  May we accept his invitation to freedom and walk away from preoccupation with self, to salvation.
  • Passionist:  "The swirl of Lent, a stream of grace":  Lent is like a stream running to the Triduum; sources feed the stream that takes me into the mystery of God’s love.  At the Triduum the entire mystery of Jesus' death and resurrection is present:  victory even on the Cross, marks of the wounds even at the resurrection.  Our preparation forms the stream of grace guiding us into God's gifts for us, God's embrace.  Today Isaiah says, raise others up.  Live the Sabbath:  walk with God in the garden. In Jesus this time is realized; the garden gates are open.  May our preparations flow back to us and draw us on.  May we hear "Come follow me; return to me..." today and respond, not following our own ways.  Jesus lets grace flow.
    St. Frances of Rome giving alms/ Gaulli
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Jesus calls sinners to follow him":  When we bless others, especially those needing help, God blesses us.  The religious leaders were upset with Jesus' behavior towards public sinners.  Orthodox Jews avoided them, didn't do business with them, didn't give them anything.  Jesus' association with tax collectors and sinners shocked their sensibilities.  When they challenged him, he told them a doctor goes to the sick.  Jesus sought out those in greatest need.  Jesus came as Divine Physician and Good Shepherd to care for us and restore us.  The orthodox were so preoccupied, they neglected to help the people who needed it most.  Jesus came to call sinners, not the "righteous."  Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they despised; all have sinned.  Thank God for his mercy; seek others' good.  "By 'follow' [Jesus] meant not so much the movement of feet as of the heart, carrying out a way of life.  One who says he lives in Christ ought to walk as Christ walked, not aim at earthly things or pursue perishable gains, but flee base praise, embrace contempt of all that is worldly for the sake of heavenly glory, do good to all, inflict injuries on no one, patiently suffer injury, ask God’s forgiveness for those who oppress, seek God's glory, and uphold what helps you love heavenly things.  In this way Matthew became a follower of One who had no riches. The Lord who outwardly called Matthew inwardly bestowed on him the gift of an invisible impulse so he could follow" (Bede the Venerable).
  • Universalis:  St. Frances of Rome, married 40 years, had three sons, distributed gifts to the poor, ministered to the sick, founded convent she retired to as widow; known for humility, detachment, obedience, patience, contemplative spirit.  See also Wikipedia.
    Dress legend
    • 'Feet' pin:  Hold back your foot from following your own pursuits (1st reading)
    • 'Wheat' pin:  If you give your bread to the hungry, remove oppression, and satisfy the afflicted,... (1st reading)
    • 'Street lamp' tie bar:  ...then light shall rise for you,... (1st reading)
    • 'Helm' tie pin:  ...and the Lord will guide you always... (1st reading)
    • 'Alps' pin:  ...and make you ride on the heights of the earth (1st reading)
    • Blue shirt:  If you remove oppression, share your bread, and satisfy the afflicted,... you'll be like a spring whose water never fails (1st reading)
    • 'Car with mouth' pin:  The mouth of the Lord has spoken (1st reading)
    • 'Boundless mercy' pin:  Have mercy on me, Lord,... (psalm)
    • 'Phone' tie bar:  ...for I call to you all day (psalm); I came to call sinners (gospel)
    • 'Celebrate teaching' pin:  Teach me Your way,... (psalm)
    • 'Walker' tie pin:  ...that I may walk in Your truth (psalm)
    • 'Money bag' tie pin:  Jesus saw tax collector Levi; tax collectors at Levi's banquet (gospel)
    • 'WWJD' pin:  "Follow me" (gospel)
    • 'Silverware' tie bar:  Levi gave a great banquet for Jesus... (gospel)
    • 'Doctor's office' tie:  Only the sick need a doctor (gospel)
    • Purple suspenders:  Lent
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