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Take five minutes to feed your faith every day. Remove this page from the
bulletin and put it where you’ll see it each day—on your refrigerator,
nightstand, or desk, or next to an easy chair. Invest just five minutes a
day, and your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time.
Take
Five for Faith
Invest just five minutes a day, and
your faith will deepen and grow-a day at a time.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Second Sunday of Lent
See beyond the surface
Peter gets the Transfiguration wrong, as he does so many things at first. Upon seeing a glimpse of Jesus’ glory, his impulse is to mark the spot, to memorialize it with a shrine. We can understand that, though today we take digital photos and videos, vainly trying to capture a place, a person, or a moment that can never be held—except in the heart. In Lent we remember that our faith is not only a matter of medals, holy cards, a rosary hung from the car’s rearview mirror or worn as a necklace. These do not sum up our faith any more than children are their photographs. Tokens remind us of someone or something important; at their best, they move us to an act of love. Those in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process are not supported only by browsing through photos in our parish directory but by seeing faith in action: on the street, at work, in the homes of believers.
Today’s readings: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1 or 3:20-4:1; Luke 9:28b-36
“Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.”
Monday, March 1
Lenten weekday
Tell it like it is
The biggest saints were often some of the biggest sinners. The difference between them and us may be that they sought liberation through confessing their wrongdoing. Holding onto sin means letting it hold onto us, or as Saint Alphonsus Liguori said, “After we have offended God, the devil labors to keep the mouth closed.” The sixth-century monk John Climacus was even more picturesque about it: “Eggs warmed in dung hatch out. Unconfessed evil thoughts hatch evil actions.” Don’t let the spirit of jealousy, resentment, or dishonesty hatch out! Run, don’t walk, to the sacrament that liberates!
Today’s readings: Daniel 9:4b-10; Luke 6:36-38
“Ah, Lord, great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong.”
Tuesday, March 2
Lenten weekday
Understanding God
Although the Pledge of Allegiance has been around since 1892, the words “under God” were not officially added by Congress until 1954. While some have criticized the move as breaching the church-state divide, the notion that we are all under a Supreme Being in fact encourages the egalitarian spirit the United States is known for. The idea that no one is above God reinforces the American belief that no one is above the law either. The sense that we are a people living under God can help us see each other as brothers and sisters and motivate us to work for greater equality and justice for all.
Today’s readings: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20; Matthew 23:1-12
“You have one teacher, and you are all students.”
Wednesday, March 3
Feast of Katharine Drexel, virgin
The best of both worlds
Katherine Drexel (1858-1955) went beyond herself in many ways. Beyond her economic class—she gave away millions of dollars of her inheritance to charities. Beyond her race—she founded a religious order of women to help African Americans and Native Americans. When she was 77, however, her life of service changed to one of quiet and prayer after she suffered a heart attack. Katherine’s story shows the importance of both prayer and service, contemplation and action. Find that balance in your own life.
Today’s readings: Jeremiah 18:18-20; Matthew 20:17-28
“Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.”
Thursday, March 4
Lenten weekday
Be a good steward of yourself
In the season of Lent, tradition calls on Christians to fast. Fasting has a long history, going all the way back to biblical times. Jesus fasted in the wilderness before embarking on his ministry. As a spiritual discipline fasting points to a period of preparation—in Lent, preparation to celebrate the Easter mysteries. It reminds you to clear away distractions and look more closely at yourself and where things come from and where they go. Think of all the “resources” in your life: time, money, food, possessions, even love. Are you using them well? Now’s the time to find out.
Today’s readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Luke 16:19-31
“I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all . . . according to the fruit of their doings.”
Friday, March 5
Lenten weekday
No regrets?
You may be tempted to believe you have “failed” Lent; you might have relaxed your resolutions or Lenten practices. But you should not think that your Lent is over the instant you stumble. The third- and fourth-century church father Saint John Chrysostom reminds us that our task is rather simple: “Have you sinned? Mourn and annul the sin. How toilsome is this? . . . I am not telling you to cleave the oceans, or to navigate slowly into port from the high seas, or to march, or to depart on an endless journey . . . Then what? Mourn the sin.” Always be willing to reevaluate your goals for this Lent, keeping in mind that repentance is all that is asked of you.
Today’s readings: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
“Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?’ ”
Saturday, March 6
Lenten weekday
Restrain a prodigious appetite
The gospel story of the “prodigal son” provides a vivid illustration of the limits of acquisitiveness and self-indulgence. The son first demands his inheritance from his father while his father is still alive (ouch!). If that weren’t enough, he then quickly runs through it in the biblical equivalent of a Las Vegas weekend splurge. Only when he hungers to fill his empty stomach does he come to his senses. In a similar way, feeling a bit of hunger—the effect of the traditional Lenten discipline of fasting—might help us reflect on our own shortcomings and make adjustments and amends as necessary. Consider skipping a meal today for the sake of your spirit.
Today’s readings: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
“He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating.”
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Third Sunday of Lent
The sweet smell of prayer
We tend to pray for the people we like. Or at least we pray for family and friends, even—or especially—if they’re troublesome. Maybe for Lent we should try praying for the people we don’t like, those at work or school or in the neighborhood who just rub us the wrong way. They are like the unfruitful trees in the gospel story: We encounter them hoping for something sweet, but we get something sour. Our prayers for them are like . . . well, fertilizer. A season of prayer would do them—and us—a world of good.
Today’s readings: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9
“Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.”
Monday, March 8
Feast of John of God, religious
Love first and ask questions later
Saint John of God (1495-1550) had a habit of jumping in to help whenever he saw the need. During a hospital stay he got up to care for the other patients around him. On another occasion, when the same hospital was on fire, he dropped what he was doing, raced to the scene, and rushed into the burning building to carry out patients on his back and then again to try to save the structure. A prayer to John says: “Saint John, help us to act out of love as soon as we feel the promptings of the Holy Spirit.” Have you ever held back when you could have helped? Promise yourself you’ll leap at future chances to do something good.
Today’s readings: 2 Kings 5:1-15b; Luke 4:24-30
“Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.”
Tuesday, March 9
Feast of Frances of Rome, religious
Give it up for Frances
Frances was born in Rome in 1384 to wealthy parents. At an early age she wanted to be a nun, but her parents arranged a marriage instead. She would lose two children to the plague, which sensitized her to the needs of the less fortunate. With her sister she visited the poor and took care of the sick, inspiring other wealthy women to do the same. Frances can serve as our inspiration to practice a little good-old-fashioned Lenten almsgiving.
Today’s readings: Daniel 3:25, 34-43; Matthew 18:21-35
“Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?”
Wednesday, March 10
Lenten weekday
Each one, teach one
God bless those who take the time and trouble to teach! The neighbor who shares the secret to flaky pie crust; the guy at the hardware store who explains the mysteries of doorknob mechanisms; and the high school history teacher who opens up a love for the treasures of the past—all give us something wonderful for the road ahead. The greatest teachers are those who instruct us not only in how-to-do but who-to-be: loving, compassionate, responsible, and just children of God. Consider the best lessons you’ve been taught and pass them along.
Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Matthew 5:17-19
“Whoever [keeps these commandments] and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Thursday, March 11
Lenten weekday
It’s up to you
Lent’s traditional fasting, prayer, and almsgiving can help us slow down and consider whether the thousands of choices we make in a day are in tune with God. In prayer we listen in silence for God’s perspective on how to live. Fasting prods us to abandon quick, self-indulgent answers to life’s questions and problems. Almsgiving asks what we value and whether we are generous. Tuned in to our often automatic decision-making, we may realize how much each choice matters. The amazing ability of a computer is actually the result of myriad “switches,” each set at either one or zero. Change only one, and the result changes. So also we, by paying attention to our choices, may choose to undo some of our scatteredness, our noisiness, our sadness—and soften a stony heart.
Today’s readings: Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23
“Whoever is not with me is against me.”
Friday, March 12
Lenten weekday
Now hear this
When challenged by the scribes to name the most important of the commandments, Jesus begins by quoting the prayer that is known as the Shema Yisrael for its opening words: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.” To this day observant Jews consider the Shema their most important prayer, reciting it twice daily, and it is traditional for Jews to recite it as their last words. If we want to understand the life and times of Jesus, a good place to start is to learn about Judaism. Study up today!
Today’s readings: Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34
“You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other.’ ”
Saturday, March 13
Lenten weekday
Lent, here and now
How’s Lent going for you? Has it been easy to enter into this year, or has it not even been on your radar screen? Wherever you are, it’s OK. Today is a new day. If you’re having difficulty, look to the prophet Hosea. Hosea gives us two things on which to focus our attention and efforts. First, he calls us to be persons of steadfast love. We can express steadfast love by attending a Lenten celebration with our parish community, reaching out to someone in need, or doing something especially considerate for our loved ones. Second, Hosea calls us to knowledge of God; not simply to know about God but to know God, to be in relationship with God. We can do that by being aware, right now, that we are in God’s presence.
Today’s readings: Hosea 6:1-6; Luke 18:9-14
“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
©2010 by TrueQuest Communications, L.L.C. Phone: 800-942-2811; e-mail: mail@takefiveforfaith.com; website: www.TakeFiveForFaith.com. Licensed for noncommercial use. All rights reserved. Scripture quotes come from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
Contributors: Father Paul Boudreau, Alice Camille, Daniel Grippo, Father Larry Janowski, O.F.M., Ann O’Connor, Sean Reynolds, Joel Schorn, Patrice J. Tuohy, and Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M.