Repeating The Repenting

 

I am the Lecturer for our local Knights of Columbus council. At our General Meeting earlier this month I gave a brief exhortation to my brother Knights in attendance. While a bit off the cuff, I did know what I wanted to say.

I used as a reference the Gospel Reading for today, Ash Wednesday, and the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). Relying on a bit of Lectio Divina, I made note of the fact our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said, "When you give alms,...(W)hen you fast,...(W)hen you pray....". He did not say "if". The three pillars of our Lenten observance are not optional for the Church nor my brother Knights during this time (or any time, for that matter). Granted, many of them are beyond the age of observing the fasting requirement (ages 14-59), but the abstinence requirement is still there.

As for the other passage, I did read parts of it out loud. At the end, I asked them which one of the two were they going to be this year. It is the same question I ask of you, dear reader. It is the same question I ask myself.

It is said the difference between a sinner and a saint is while the sinner thinks he is a saint, the saint knows he is a sinner. It is under this understanding the Church bestows upon us this time of repentance, this time of preparation before Easter, to re-form and conform our lives to be more like Christ. Throughout these next 40 days, we are given the opportunity to work on our shortcomings and become more perfect as God is perfect, more holy as God is holy.

Rend you hearts, not your garments.

Take up your cross; grace is there for the asking.

"Remember you are dust, and unto dust you will return."

DR Squared: Ash Wednesday

First Reading:  Joel 2:12-18

Now therefore saith the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, Gather together the people, sanctify the church, assemble the ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that suck at the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of her bride chamber. Between the porch and the altar the priests the Lord's ministers shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them. Why should they say among the nations: Where is their God? The Lord hath been zealous for his land, and hath spared his people.

Responsorial Psalm:  Cf. Psalm 51 (50):3a; V. 3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17

R.  Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy.

V.  Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy.

      And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

     Wash me yet more from my iniquity,

     and cleanse me from my sin.

V.  For I know my iniquity,

     and my sin is always before me.

     To thee only have I sinned,

     and have done evil before thee:

V.  Create a clean heart in me, O God:

     and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

     Cast me not away from thy face;

     and take not thy holy spirit from me.

V.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation,

     and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

     O Lord, thou wilt open my lips:

     and my mouth shall declare thy praise. 

Second Reading:  2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2

For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God. Him, who knew no sin, he hath made sin for us, that we might be made the justice of God in him. And we helping do exhort you, that you receive not the grace of God in vain. For he saith: In an accepted time have I heard thee; and in the day of salvation have I helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in heaven.  2 Therefore when thou dost an almsdeed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.  3 But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.  4 That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.  5 And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee. And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 3/5/2025.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of The Seven Founders Of The Order Of Servites, Religious

First Reading:  Romans 8:26-30

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what the Spirit desireth; because he asketh for the saints according to God. And we know that to them that love God, all things work together unto good, to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints. For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son; that he might be the firstborn amongst many brethren. And whom he predestinated, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm  34 (33):2a OR 9a; V. 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R.  I will bless the Lord at all times,

OR

R.  O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet:

V.  I will bless the Lord at all times,

     his praise shall be always in my mouth.

     In the Lord shall my soul be praised:

     let the meek hear and rejoice.

V.  O magnify the Lord with me;

     and let us extol his name together.

     I sought the Lord, and he heard me;

     and he delivered me from all my troubles.

V.  Come ye to him and be enlightened:

     and your faces shall not be confounded.

     This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him:

     and saved him out of all his troubles.

V.  The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him:

     and shall deliver them.

     O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet:

     blessed is the man that hopeth in him.

V.  Fear the Lord, all ye his saints:

     for there is no want to them that fear him.

     The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: 

     but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 19:27-29

Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you, who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Sixth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  James 1:12-18

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive a crown of life, which God hath promised to them that love him. Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils, and he tempteth no man. But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured. Then when concupiscence hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin. But sin, when it is completed, begetteth death. Do not err, therefore, my dearest brethren. Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creatures.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 94 (93):12a; V. 12-13a, 14-15, 18-19

R.  Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct, O Lord:

V.  Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct, O Lord:

     and shalt teach him out of thy law.

     That thou mayst give him rest from the evil days:

V.  Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct, O Lord:

     and shalt teach him out of thy law.

     That thou mayst give him rest

     from the evil days:

V.  If I said: My foot is moved:

     thy mercy, O Lord, assisted me.

     According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart,

     thy comforts have given joy to my soul.  

Gospel Reading:  Mark 8:14-21

And they forgot to take bread; and they had but one loaf with them in the ship. And he charged them, saying: Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying: Because we have no bread. Which Jesus knowing, saith to them: Why do you reason, because you have no bread? do you not yet know nor understand? have you still your heart blinded? Having eyes, see you not? and having ears, hear you not? neither do you remember. When I broke the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took you up? They say to him, Twelve. When also the seven loaves among four thousand, how many baskets of fragments took you up? And they say to him, Seven. And he said to them: How do you not yet understand?

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Sixth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  James 1:1-11

James the servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy, when you shall fall into divers temptations; Knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience. And patience hath a perfect work; that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing. But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men abundantly, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind. Therefore let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is inconstant in all his ways. But let the brother of low condition glory in his exaltation:  And the rich, in his being low; because as the flower of the grass shall he pass away. For the sun rose with a burning heat, and parched the grass, and the flower thereof fell off, and the beauty of the shape thereof perished: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 119 (118):77a; V. 67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76

R.  Let thy tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live:

V.  Before I was humbled I offended;

     therefore have I kept thy word.

V.  Thou art good;

     and in thy goodness teach me thy justifications.

V.  It is good for me that thou hast humbled me,

     that I may learn thy justifications.

V.  The law of thy mouth is good to me,

     above thousands of gold and silver.

V.  I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are equity:

     and in thy truth thou hast humbled me.

V.  O! let thy mercy be for my comfort,

     according to thy word unto thy servant.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 8:11-13

And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, asking him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And sighing deeply in spirit, he saith: Why doth this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, a sign shall not be given to this generation. And leaving them, he went up again into the ship, and passed to the other side of the water.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time (Year A)

First Reading:  Sirach 15:15-20  (DR--16-21)

If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee. He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt. Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him:  For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing. The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth all the work of man. He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man license to sin:

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 119 (118):1; V. 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

R.  Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

V.  Blessed are the undefiled in the way,

     who walk in the law of the Lord.

     Blessed are they who search his testimonies:

     that seek him with their whole heart.

V.  Thou hast commanded thy commandments

     to be kept most diligently.

     O! that my ways may be directed

     to keep thy justifications.

V. Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me:

     and I shall keep thy words.

     Open thou my eyes:

     and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.

V.  Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord:

     and I will always seek after it.

     Give me understanding, and I will search thy law;

     and I will keep it with my whole heart.

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of the princes of this world that come to nought; But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which is hidden, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory:  Which none of the princes of this world knew; for if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him. But to us God hath revealed them, by his Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 5:17-37

Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath any thing against thee; Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift. Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing. You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell. And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell. And it hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting for the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery. Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, Thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord. But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God:  Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king:  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

God's Valentine's Day Card

"For God so loVed the world,

         that He gAve

             His onLy 

             begottEn

                   SoN,

                       That whosoever

        believeth In Him

           should Not perish,

        but have Everlasting life."

                John 3:16

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Originally published 2/14/2006.

Re-posted 2/14/2023.

THE Greatest Love Affair

An acquaintance sent this to me a few years ago. It gets to the heart of St. Augustine's statement that our restlessness is quieted only in God. It is a reminder of Who our First Love is and should be. It is the cornerstone of seeking the Kingdom of God by seeking the King. Edited for form; the content is everlasting:

Everyone longs to give himself completely to someone, to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. 

But God, to the Christian, says, "No, not until you are satisfied with living for Me and being loved by Me alone and having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone. 

"I love you my child; and until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. 

"I want you to stop planning and stop wanting, and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan ever existing--one that you cannot even imagine. 

"I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you--just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things--keep experiencing that satisfaction in Me, knowing that I AM--keep learning and listening to the things that I tell you. 

"You must wait. Do not be anxious. Do not worry. Do not look around at the things others have gained for themselves or that I have given them. Do not look at the things you want. Just keep looking at Me or you will miss what I want to show you. 

"And then, when you are ready, I will surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would ever dream of. You see, until you are ready (and even at this minute I desire to have you both ready at the same time), until you are both satisfied with Me and the life that I have prepared for you, you will not be able to experience the love that exemplifies our relationship with Me--and this is perfect love. 

"And, dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me and to enjoy the everlasting union of beauty and love. 

"I AM GOD. Believe and be satisfied."

St. Anthony

Then, every day will be Valentine's Day.

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Originally posted 2/14/2007.

Re-posted 2/14/2023.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saints Cyril, Monk, And Methodius, Bishop

First Reading:  Acts 13:46-49

Then Paul and Barnabas said boldly: To you it behoved us first to speak the word of God: but because you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord hath commanded us: I have set thee to be the light of the Gentiles; that thou mayest be for salvation unto the utmost part of the earth. And the Gentiles hearing it, were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to life everlasting, believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout the whole country.

Responsorial Psalm:  Mark 16:15; V. Psalm 117 (116):1bc, 2

R.  Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

V.  O praise the Lord, all ye nations:

     praise him, all ye people.

V.  For his mercy is confirmed upon us:

     and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 10:1-9

And after these things the Lord appointed also other seventy-two: and he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come. And he said to them: The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest. Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way. Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house. And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 2/14/2025.

DR Squared: Saturday Of The Fifth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34

And Jeroboam said in his heart: Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David, If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem: and the heart of this people will turn to their lord Roboam the king of Juda, and they will kill me, and return to him. And finding out a device he made two golden calves, and said to them: Go ye up no more to Jerusalem: Behold thy gods, O Israel, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other in Dan:  And this thing became an occasion of sin: for the people went to adore the calf as far as Dan. And he made temples in the high places, and priests of the lowest of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. And he appointed a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, after the manner of the feast that was celebrated in Juda. And going up to the altar, he did in like manner in Bethel, to sacrifice to the calves, which he had made: and he placed in Bethel priests of the high places, which he had made. After these words Jeroboam came not back from his wicked way: but on the contrary he made of the meanest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he filled his hand, and he was made a priest of the high places. And for this cause did the house of Jeroboam sin, and was cut off and destroyed from the face of the earth.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 106 (105):4a; V. 6-7ab, 19-20, 21-22

R.  Remember us, O Lord, in the favour of thy people:

V.  We have sinned with our fathers:

     we have acted unjustly, we have wrought iniquity.

     Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt:

     they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies:

V.  They made also a calf in Horeb:

     and they adored the graven thing.

     And they changed their glory

     into the likeness of a calf that eateth grass.

V.  They forgot God, who saved them,

     who had done great things in Egypt,

     Wondrous works in the land of Cham:

     terrible things in the Red Sea.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 8:1-10

In those days again, when there was a great multitude, and had nothing to eat; calling his disciples together, he saith to them:  I have compassion on the multitude, for behold they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat. And if I shall send them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way; for some of them came from afar off. And his disciples answered him: From whence can any one fill them here with bread in the wilderness? And he asked them: How many loaves have ye? Who said: Seven. And taking the seven loaves, giving thanks, he broke, and gave to his disciples for to set before them; and they set them before the people. And they had a few little fishes; and he blessed them, and commanded them to be set before them. And they did eat and were filled; and they took up that which was left of the fragments, seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand; and he sent them away. And immediately going up into a ship with his disciples, he came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.