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Message of the Day
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What God asks is a will which will no longer be divided between Him and any creature, a will pliant in His hands, which neither desires anything nor refuses anything, which wants without reservation everything which He wants, and which never, under any pretext, wants anything which He does not want.
- Francois Fenelon ("Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.")
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Readings of the Day
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Sirach 35:1-12; Psalm 50:5-6, 7-8, 14,
23 Mark 10:28-31 At that time Peter began to tell Jesus, ‘What about us? We have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land – not
without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.
‘Many who are first will be last, and the last
first.’ USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“The just one's sacrifice is most pleasing, nor will it ever be forgotten.” —Sirach 35:6
The heart of love is sacrifice. Jesus was sacrificed on
Calvary in the greatest act of love in history. The Lord calls us to offer our bodies to Him as living sacrifices (Rm 12:1). We are called to sacrifice “homes, brothers and sisters, mothers, children and property” for Jesus and the Gospel (Mk 10:30). “He who observes the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. In works of charity one offers fine flour, and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise” (Sir 35:1-2). Good deeds and generosity are also sacrifices, and “God is pleased by
sacrifices of that kind” (Heb 13:16). Through Jesus, we can “continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which acknowledge His name” (Heb 13:15). Prayer: Jesus, may I give, pray, and work sacrificially. May the word for this coming Lent be “sacrifice.” Promise: “In generous spirit pay homage to the Lord, be not sparing of freewill gifts. With
each contribution show a cheerful countenance.” —Sir 35:7-8 Presentation Ministries
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Spiritual Reading
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The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life, by Brother Lawrence (1611 - 1691). Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
https://ccel.org/ccel/lawrence/practice/practice Fourth Conversation
As he proceeded in his work, he continued his familiar conversation with his Maker, imploring His grace, and offering to Him all his actions. When he had finished, he examined himself how he had discharged his duty; if he found well, he returned thanks to GOD; if otherwise, he asked pardon; and without being discouraged, he set his mind right again, and continued his exercise of the presence of GOD, as if he had never deviated from it. “Thus,” said he, “by rising after my falls, and by frequently renewed acts of faith and love, I am come to a state, wherein it would be as difficult for me not to think of GOD,
as it was at first to accustom myself to it.”
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