2nd Sunday of Lent (a)
This Week’s Liturgy Calendar.
The Season of Lent.
Sunday 12th March: Second Sunday of the Lent (a)
In the first reading, God demands a radical change from Abraham. He is called to leave all his comforts and security and go on a pilgrimage of faith and hope to a promised land which will not be given to him but to the new people to be born from him.
The second reading is from St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy. God calls us to accept and spread the Gospel of Jesus and to suffer for it. If we suffer with Jesus, we shall also live with him.
The brief glimpse of his future glory strengthens Jesus on his journey through suffering and death to the Resurrection. At the same time, Jesus strengthens the faith and hope of his disciples and of each one of us on our own journey of faith.
Monday 13th March: Monday of second week of Lent.
Acknowledging sin, being sorry for it and seeking forgiveness is a reality that can only exist where there is genuine friendship and the awareness that this friendship has been hurt or even destroyed. Without friendship with God and with people, sin remains only a thing to wiped off, sorrow is little more than a superficial regretting of something that should not have happened and forgiveness is erasure of the past. Sin, sorrow and pardon must be seen in the light of the covenant relationship with an all merciful God who loved us first; with our neighbour with whom we are taken up in this union of life and love with God.
Tuesday 14th March: Tuesday of second week of Lent.
When we know our faith and practice our religious duties and observances, when we go to Mass and the sacraments and practice penance during Lent – are we good Christians? Only if our heart is in what we do can we say yes. If we act as we believe and do what we say – we can say yes. If our faith affects our everyday living and our relations with our neighbour – then we can say yes. If we are playing our part in the building up of the Kingdom of God – then we can say yes. Otherwise, our faith and our lives are hypocritical.
Wednesday 15th March: Wednesday of second week of Lent.
A prophet is always an annoying person. His mission is to call attention to the signs of the times – to denounce what needs to be denounced; to prod into action when apathy is the norm. His task is unpleasant and unpopular. He may even be killed. That was the lot of the prophets before Jesus and of Jesus himself. Through his death, however he wins glory and brings life to us all. Those who follow him have to share in this life. They must learn to serve and that may have to suffer and even die.
Thursday 16th March: Thursday of second week of Lent.
Those who place their faith in themselves and in the means they possess are not open to God or to his Kingdom. They adore the Golden Calf and their own gods. They fail to see the needs of those around them. That is why God condemns them. We must learn to see the unspoken needs of those who dare not voice their poverty or their distress.
Friday 17th March: Feast of St. Patrick
The Apostle of Ireland, as he is sometimes called, was born in Britain (either Wales or Scotland) around the year 385. At the age of sixteen, he was captured by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland where he was assigned as a shepherd to care for the flock. He became a catholic and later escaped to spend some time in France as a disciple of St. Germain of Auxerre. He was ordained a priest, then a Bishop and sent back to Ireland arriving there in 432. He preached and brought many of the tribal chiefs to Catholicism and was successful in adapting the Gospel to Irish culture. He convoked a Synod and handed over government of the church to other Bishops It is believed he died on this date in 461 and was buried in Stanford Lough where he had built his first church. Although venerated in Ireland from an early date it was only in 1632 he was listed in the Roman calendar.
Saturday 18th March: Saturday of second week of Lent.
When we forgive those who have hurt us, often some scars still remain and take a long time to heal. We find it difficult to treat the person who has wronged us as if he has done no wrong. God does. He remains faithful to the love he has promised us. He is always ready to excuse to forgive, to welcome the returning sinner.
