Reflections on the Daily Readings 20th February 2023
Monday 20th February
Either part of the problem, or . . .
Imagine being a lifelong Catholic—yet being refused admittance to a Catholic school. Or being asked to move to the back of the church at Mass because of your race. Professor Thomas Wyatt Turner (1877-1978) experienced plenty of discrimination, which is why he helped found the NAACP in 1909 as well as the Federated Colored Catholics in 1924. The latter group pledged their services to the church "for whatever good they were able to effect in the solution of the problems facing the group in church and country." On this World Day of Social Justice, be part of the solution.
Today's readings: Sirach 1:1-10; Mark 9:14-29 (341).
"‘Why could we not drive the spirit out?’ [Jesus] said to them, ‘This kind can only come out through prayer.’ "
Tuesday 21st February
Climb to holiness
Dante Alighieri, writing The Divine Comedy, paid Peter Damian the great honor of placing him in one of the highest circles of Paradise. In fact, Peter is the first of two important monastic figures to greet Dante in “seventh heaven,” the other being Saint Benedict of Nursia. Both represent this heavenly level: spiritual contemplatives who’ve lived a life of temperance and prayer. Dante has Peter and Benedict climbing up and down a golden ladder, reminiscent of the “Ladder of Humility” (12 steps) described in the Benedictine Rule and the “Ladder of Divine Ascent” (30 steps) written by monastic Saint John Climacus. If you need to build a Lenten practice, step up to the task tomorrow.
MEMORIAL OF PETER DAMIAN, BISHOP, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
Today's readings: Sirach 2:1-11; Mark 9:30-37 (342).
“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."
Wednesday 22nd February
Out of the ashes
Happy Ash Wednesday! Yes, it can be a cause for celebration. Best known as the first day of Lent, this day remains sacred to Catholic communities in the West as a day of solemnity following the Carnival season, capped off yesterday with Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday”). Though most often associated with revelry and excess, the season just completed is also a holy one. Carnival is full of Catholic symbolism and festive acknowledgement of God and creation, in keeping with the church year and its marking of spiritual times and seasons. Now, as we enter a period of fasting and abstinence, let’s remember to continue seeking God’s goodness in the rich traditions of the faith. Don’t forget to stop by church for ashes today!
ASH WEDNESDAY; DAY OF FASTING AND ABSTINENCE
Today's readings: Joel 2:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 (219).
“For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.”
Thursday 24th February
Emulate those who stood firm
Polycarp was a bishop, and his death the church’s first recorded martyrdom. He was born in 69, just a few years after Peter and Paul were executed, and Roman authorities burned him to death after what one account calls a “witty conversation” between Polycarp and Statius Quadratus, Roman proconsul. Polycarp became one of what would turn out to be a flood of Christians who have been put to death, and continue to be so, for not renouncing their faith. Sometimes “not renouncing” means publicly living Christian ethics against pressure; sometimes it means stating one’s belief in words. Strive to be a courageous witness for faith, as those who came before us have been.
MEMORIAL OF POLYCARP, BISHOP, MARTYR
Today's readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Luke 9:22-25 (220).
“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”
Friday 25th February
Fast approaching
The practice of fasting during Lent finds its genesis in our Lord's journey into the desert where he fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights in preparation to begin his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-2; Luke 4:1-3). We observe the 40 days of Lent in imitation of Christ's time in the desert. We walk into the desert with Christ and fast so as to have the strength to do good and avoid evil, with the help of God's grace. We strive to atone for our sins and purify our lives in preparation for the celebration of Christ's glorious rising from the tomb.
FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY; DAY OF ABSTINENCE
Today's readings: Isaiah 58:1-9a; Matthew 9:14-15 (221).
“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: . . . Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.”
Saturday 26th February
What’s on your bookshelf?
It is often said that Lent is a time to take spiritual inventory and do a “spring cleanup” as we renew our baptismal promises. The conjunction of Lent with Black History Month and Catholic Press Month affords us an unprecedented opportunity to take spiritual inventory of our bookshelves, too! What books do we have from the black Catholic community that can enrich us, expand our spiritual horizons, and even challenge us? This Lent, consider picking up Uncommon Faithfulness: The Black Catholic Experience (2009) or Black Catholic Studies Reader: History and Theology (2021). Make one of these books or a similar one part of your Lenten renewal.
SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY
Today's readings: Isaiah 58:9b-14; Luke 5:27-32 (222).
“Then the LORD will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land.”
