|
|
Post by Admin on Mar 19, 2018 10:07:13 GMT
MONDAY IN THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT. LESSON. (Jonas iii. 1 — 10.) In those days the word of the Lord came to Jonas the second time, saying: Arise, and go to Ninive the great city: and preach in it the preaching that I bid thee. And Jonas arose, and went to Ninive according to the word of the Lord: now Ninive was a great city of three days journey. And Jonas began to enter into the city one day's journey: and he cried, and said: Yet forty days, and Ninive shall be destroyed. And the men of Ninive believed in God and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least. And the word came to the King of Ninive: and he rose up out of his throne, and cast away his robe from him, and was clothed in sackcloth, and sat in ashes.And he caused it to be proclaimed and published in Ninive from the mouth of the king and of his princes,saying: Let neither men nor beasts, oxen, nor sheep,taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water. And let men and beasts be covered with sackcloth,and cry to the Lord with all their strength, and let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the iniquity that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn, and forgive: and will turn away from his fierce anger, and we shall not perish? And God saw their works, that they were turned from their evil way: and the Lord our God had mercy on the people.
INSTRUCTION. In this lesson is plainly shown the great effect produced by true penance; it took away many and grievous vices from a great city, appeased the wrath of God, turned aside His scourge, yes, even obtained grace and reconciliation, so that the Ninivites from slaves of the devil were made friends of God; from an unjust, godless, infidel, vicious people they were changed to a just, pious,faithful, holy nation. "If," says St. Bernard, "we turn to penance, we make the angels rejoice. Hasten, therefore, brethren, hasten; not the angels only, but even the Creator of the angels awaits you." Hasten to penance, that the Ninivites may not some day bear witness against you.[Matt. xii. 41.]
GOSPEL. (John vii. 32 — 39.) At that time, the rulers and Pharisees sent ministers to apprehend Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them: Yet a little while I am with you: and then I go to him that sent me. You shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither you cannot come. The Jews therefore said among themselves : Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What is this saying that he hath said: You shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, you cannot come? And on the last and great day of the festivity, Jesus stood and cried, saying: If any man thirst, let him come come, and drink. He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Now this he said of the Spirit which they should receive who believed in him.
EXPLANATION. In this gospel, Jesus, tells the Jews that He will soon return to the Father, meaning that He would die, rise from death, and ascend into heaven; then will they seek, but not find Him, because they did not recognize Him as the true Messiah, and they could not go whither He was going, into heaven, because they remained in their sins. Oh how terrible is the blindness of man, who knows not the time of grace and visitation, who despises the hand God stretches out towards him, and gives no heed to the call to penance! Hear what God Himself says:Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded. I also will laugh in your destruction, when sudden calamity shall fall on you, when tribulation and distress (of death and judgment) shall come upon you: then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning (to seek me), and shall not find me. (Prov. i. 24—28.) |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Mar 20, 2018 9:41:36 GMT
TUESDAY IN THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT.
LESSON. (Dan. xiv. 28 — 42.) In those days, The people of Babylon came to the king and said to him: Deliver us Daniel, who hath destroyed Bel, and killed the Dragon, otherwise we will destroy thee and thy house. And the king saw that they pressed upon him violently: and being constrained by necessity he delivered Daniel to them. And they cast him into the den of lions, and he was there six days. And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given to them two carcasses every day, and two sheep: but then they were not given unto them, that they might devour Daniel. Now there was in Judea a prophet called Habacuc, and he had boiled pottage and had broken bread in a bowl: and was going into the field, to carry it to the reapers. And the angel of the Lord said to Habacuc: Carry the dinner which thou hast into Babylon to Daniel, who is in the lions' den. And Habacuc said: Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do I know the den. And the angel of the Lord took him by the top of his head, and carried him by the hair of his head, and set him in Babylon over the den in the force of his spirit. And Habacuc cried, saying: O Daniel, thou servant of God, take the dinner that God hath sent thee. And Daniel said: Thou hast remembered me, O God, and thou hast not forsaken them that love thee. And Daniel arose and ate. And the angel of the Lord presently set Habacuc again in his own place. And upon the seventh day the king came to bewail Daniel: and he came to the den, and looked in, and behold Daniel was sitting in the midst of the lions. And the king cried out with a loud voice, saying: Great art thou, O Lord the God of Daniel. And he drew him out of the lions' den. But those that had been the cause of his destruction, he cast into the den, and they were devoured in a moment before him. Then the King said: Let all the inhabitants of the whole earth fear the God of Daniel: for he is the Saviour, working signs, and wonders in the earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions' den.
EXPLANATION. The Babylonians worshiped the detestable idol Bel, whose priests deceived the people. Daniel unmasked the deceits of the priests, destroyed the idol and its temple, at which the Babylonians became furious, and forced the king, who was well disposed towards Daniel, but who had the heart of a coward to cause him to be thrown into the lions' den. God did not desert His faithful servant, but preserved him unharmed in the midst of the lions, and fed him in a miraculous manner. Fulfil your duties faithfully, beloved Christians, always promote the honor of God, and destroy the works of Satan. Fear nothing, God never deserts His own.
GOSPEL. (John vii. i — 13.) At that time, Jesus walked in Galilee, for he would not walk in Judea: because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was at hand. And his brethren said to him: Pass from hence, and go into Judea: that thy disciples also may see thy works which thou dost. For there is no man that doth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly: if thou do the things, manifest thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him. Then Jesus said to them: My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you: but me it hateth: because I give testimony of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go you up to this festival day, but I go not up to this festival day: because my time is not accomplished. When he had said these things, he himself stayed in Galilee. But after his brethren were gone up, then he also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. The Jews therefore sought him on the festival day, and said: Where is he? And there was much murmuring among the multitude concerning him. For some said: He is a good man. And others said: No, but he seduceth the people. Yet no man spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
EXPLANATION. Even the brethren, that is, the relatives of Christ did not believe in Him, and desired, therefore, that He should go to Jerusalem, and perform miracles, that the high council might give judgment, whether He was the true Messiah. But Jesus answered them: My time, (to die and by my death and resurrection to convince the whole world of my mission), is not yet come; but your time is always ready, that is, you take part with my enemies because you are children of the world , they love the world and hate me, because. k I reprove and punish its sinful works; but you they hate not, you have nothing to fear from them, because you also love the world. The truth of Christ's words is verified even to-day. He who takes sides with the reckless children of the world has nothing to fear from them, but he who avoids their society is persecuted and slandered. Blessed shall you be, says Jesus, when men shall hate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Be glad in that day and rejoice: for behold, your reward is great in heaven. (Luke vi. 22. 23.) |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Mar 21, 2018 9:10:29 GMT
WEDNESDAY IN THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT.
LESSON. (Lev. xix. i., 2., 10 — 19.) In those days, The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the assembly of the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: I am the Lord your God. You shall not steal. You shall not lie, neither shall any man deceive his neighbor. Thou shalt not swear falsely by my name, nor profane the name of thy God; I am the Lord. Thou shalt not calumniate thy neighbor, nor oppress him by violence. The wages of him that has been hired by thee shall not abide with thee until the morning. Thou shalt not speak evil of the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind: but thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, because I am the Lord. Thou shalt not do that which is unjust, nor judge unjustly. Respect not the person of the poor, nor honor the countenance of the mighty. But judge thy neighbor according to justice. Thou shalt not be a detractor nor a whisperer among the people. Thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbor; I am the Lord. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, but reprove him openly, lest thou incur sin through him. Seek not revenge, nor be mindful of the injury of thy citizens. Thou shalt love thy friend as thyself. I am the Lord. Keep ye my laws, for I am the Lord your God.
EXPLANATION. There have been and are people who assert, that the commandments of God cannot be observed. To this the council of Trent answers: "God commands nothing that is impossible, but He encourages us to do what we can, and to ask His assistance for that which is difficult,and He will aid us in fulfilling the same." (Sess. yi. c. xi.) His commandments are not difficult; His yoke is sweet, and His burden light.
PRAYER. O Jesus! whose will it is, that I shall take up Thy yoke, if I wish peace for my soul, grant me the grace to bear it joyously after Thee to my life's end. Amen.
GOSPEL. (John x. 22 — 38.) At that time, It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem: and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. The Jews therefore came round about him, and said to him: How long dost thou hold our souls in suspense? if thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them: I speak to you, and you believe not the works that I do in the name of my Father, they give testimony of me: but you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice: and I know them, and they follow me: and I give them life everlasting; and they shall not perish for ever, and no man shall pluck them out of my hand. That which my Father hath given me, is greater than all: and no man can snatch them out of the hand of my Father. I and the Father are one. The Jews then took up stones, to stone him. Jesus answered them: Many good works I have shewed you from my Father, for which of those works do you stone me? The Jews answered him: For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy: and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: I said, you are gods? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God was spoken, and the Scripture cannot be broken: do you say of him, whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world: Thou blasphemest: because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father; believe me not. But if I do: though you will not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.
EXPLANATION. By subterfuge, in order that they might catch Jesus in His speech, the Jews repeatedly asked if He were the Christ. Jesus points to His works and tells them that they should therefore believe in Him, but they could not believe in Him, because they did not wish to belong to His flock, and to accept His doctrine, which to them seemed too hard. There are many Christians who have indeed the name, and are counted among Christ's sheep, who are not, because they follow not His doctrine. Those only are His sheep who hear His voice, and faithfully follow Him, to these He gives eternal life, and they will not perish; neither the world, the flesh, nor the devil can take them from His hand. Listen, therefore, to the voice of Jesus, follow Him as a faithful lamb, and He will never abandon you, either in time or eternity. |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Mar 22, 2018 9:55:41 GMT
THURSDAY IN THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT.
LESSON. (Dan. iii. 34 — 45.) In those days, Azarias prayed to the Lord, saying: Deliver us not up forever, we beseech thee, for thy name's sake, and abolish not thy covenant; and take not away thy mercy from us for the sake of Abraham thy beloved, and Isaac thy servant, and Israel thy holy one: to whom thou hast spoken, promising that thou wouldst multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the sea shore: for we, O Lord, are diminished more than any nation, and are brought low in all the earth this day for our sins. Neither is there at this time prince, or leader, or prophet, or holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of first- fruits before thee, that we may find thy mercy: nevertheless in a contrite heart and humble spirit let us be accepted. As in holocausts of rams, and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be made in thy sight this day, that it may please thee: for there is no confusion to them that trust in thee. And now we follow thee with all our heart, and we fear thee, and seek thy face. Put us not to confusion :but deal with us according to thy meekness, and according to the multitude of thy mercy. And deliver us according to thy wonderful works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: and let all them be confounded that shew evils to thy servants, let them be confounded in all thy mighty and let their strength be broken: and let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, and glorious overall the world. O Lord our God.
EXPLANATION. King Nebuchodonosor had caused a statue to be erected, and commanded all his subjects well as the Jews who were his captives, to adore it. Three Jewish youths refused, and by order of the king were cast into a fiery furnace. But wonderfully preserved by God they walked in the midst of the flames unhurt, praising the Lord. One of them, by name Azarias, prayed God to have mercy on His people and deliver them from the hands of the enemy. Let us imitate these three youths, and never bend the knee before the idol of the hour, the lust of the world, and of vanity, let us sacrifice all for the faith, even the last drop of our blood. GOSPEL. (Lk. vii. 36-50) At that time one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee, and sat down to meat. And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment; And standing behind at his feet, she began to wash his feet, with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner. And Jesus answering, said to him: Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. But he said: Master, say it. A certain creditor had two debtors, the one who owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which therefore of the two loveth him most? Simon answering, said: I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said to him: Thou hast judged rightly. And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon: Dost thou see this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she with tears hath washed my feet, and with her hairs hath wiped them. Thou gavest me no kiss; but she, since she came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but she with ointment hath anointed my feet. Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less. And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman: Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.  |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Mar 23, 2018 9:10:38 GMT
FRIDAY IN THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT.
LESSON. (Jer. xvii. 13 — 18.) In those days, Jeremias said: O Lord, the hope of Israel: all that forsake thee shall be confounded: they that depart from thee, shall be written in the earth: because they have forsaken the Lord the vein of living waters: Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed: save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. Behold they say to me: Where is the word of the Lord? let it come. And I am not troubled, following thee for my pastor: and I have not desired the day of man, thou knowest it. That which went out of my lips, hath been right in thy sight. Be not thou a terror unto me, thou art my hope in the day of affliction. Let them be confounded that persecute me, and let not me be confounded: let them be afraid, and let not me be afraid: bring upon them the day of affliction, and with a double destruction, destroy them, Lord our God.
EXPLANATION. The Prophet Jeremias was insulted and persecuted by the Jews, because he fearlessly announced the truth to them; he laments his troubles before God, and is comforted, because the aim of his endeavors was the glory of God, and that if he had effected any good, the honor belonged to God. "Be careful," writes St. Jerome, "to avoid being carried away by the desire of vain glory. Behold what an evil it is, because he who seeks such glory cannot believe! Let us always say, Thou, O Lord, art my glory!" (Epist. ad Eustoch. 22.)
GOSPEL. (John xi. 47 — 54.) At that time, The chief priests and Pharisees assembled in council against Jesus, and said: What do we, for this man doth many miracles? If we let him alone so, all will believe in him: and the Romans will come, and take away our place and nation. But one of them named Caiphas, being the high-priest that year, said to them: You know nothing, neither do you consider that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this he spoke not of himself: but being the high-priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but to gather in one the children of God, that were dispersed. From that day therefore they devised to put him to death. Wherefore Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews, but he went unto a country near the desert, unto a city that is called Ephrem, and there he abode with his disciples.
EXPLANATION. With each day the hatred of the Jews increased and the more wonderful were the deeds our Saviour performed the more determined were they to put Him to death. They held a council, therefore, at which the high-priest Caiphas prophesied the death of Jesus for the salvation of the whole world, in these remarkable words: "It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." Caiphas was a wicked man, yet, because he was high-priest, he prophesied. Thus the Holy Ghost operates by means of the holy Sacraments, through good and bad priests, using them as His instruments to effect good. |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Mar 24, 2018 10:27:51 GMT
SATURDAY IN THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT.
LESSON. (Jer. xviii. 18 — 25.) In THOSE days, The wicked Jews said to one another: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet: come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words. Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries. Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit for my soul? Remember that I have stood in thy sight, to speak good for them. and to turn away thy indignation from them. Therefore deliver up their children to famine, and bring them into the hands of the sword: let their wives be bereaved of children, and widows: and let the husbands be slain by death: let their young men be stabbed with the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard out of their houses: for thou shalt bring the robber upon them suddenly: because they have digged a pit to take me, and have hid snares for my feet. But thou, O Lord, knowest all their counsel against me unto death: forgive not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from thy sight: let them be overthrown before thy eyes, in the time of thy wrath do thou destroy them. O Lord, our God. EXPLANATION. The Church regards the Prophet Jeremias as a type of our Saviour; she, therefore, makes use of this lesson in which the prophet turns to God for help and prays Him to send misfortunes and sufferings upon the Jews that they may be converted. Jeremias' enemies sought to put him to death, that they might no longer hear his reproaches. Never wish evil to your enemies, except with this motive, that they may see their injustice and be converted to God.
GOSPEL. (John xii. 10 — 36.) At that time, The chief priests thought to kill Lazarus also: because many of the Jews by reason of him went away, and believed in Jesus. And on the next day a great multitude, that was come to the festival day, when they had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem: took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried: Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord , the King of Israel. And Jesus found a young ass, and sat upon it, as it is written: Fear not daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh sitting on an ass's colt. These things his disciples did not know at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of him: and that they had done these things to him. The multitude therefore gave testimony, which was with him when he called Lazarus out of the grave, and raised him from the dead. For which reason also the people came to meet him: because they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves: Do you see that we prevail nothing? behold, the whole world is gone after him. Now there were certain Gentiles , among them that came up to adore on the festival day. These therefore came to Philip who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying: Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: again Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But Jesus answered them saying: The hour is come that the Son of Man shall be glorified. Amen, amen I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground, die; itself remaineth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to me, let him follow me: and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honor. Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause I came unto this hour. Father glorify thy name. A voice therefore came from heaven: I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The multitude therefore that stood and heard, said that it thundered. Others said: An angel spoke to him. Jesus answered, and said: This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself. (Now this he said, signifying what death he should die.) The multitude answered him: We have heard out of the law, that Christ abideth forever: and how sayest thou: The Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man? Jesus therefore said to them: Yet a little while, the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, that the darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things Jesus spoke: and he went away, and hid himself from them. EXPLANATION. The raising of Lazarus from the dead brought many to believe in Jesus, even Gentiles came to see Him and hear His teachings. This increased the hatred of the Pharisees to the highest degree, and not only Jesus but Lazarus was to be put to death, they hoping thereby to extinguish every recollection of his having been restored by Jesus. The hour had however come when Jesus, according to the eternal decrees of God, was to give Himself up voluntarily to death, and willed to be like a grain of wheat buried in the earth, that through the fruits of His death, that is, His merits, the sinner might receive life. By the words: He that loveth his life, shall lose it, Jesus wishes us to understand that he who yields to the evil inclinations of his heart, shall perish, but he who overcomes and governs them, shall be saved; such are His true servants and followers. In reply to the prayer Jesus made, that His Father should glorify Him, a voice from heaven was heard which the sensual Jews did not understand, for God's voice is understood only by him who humbly and willingly receives it. By the words: And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, (on the cross) will draw all things to myself, Jesus teaches us, that by His merits, His example, and the power of His love, He will draw our souls to Himself. O let yourself be drawn to Him by the grace which He offers you so often, and by the love which He shows you on the cross. Say often to Jesus with St. Augustine: "Lord, take me from myself, and give me to Thyself," make me one with Thee and Thy love, permit not that I be separated from Thee, and fall into darkness, whence there is no deliverance.  |
|
