5 March First Sunday of Lent
“The tempter
approached and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command that these
stones become loaves of bread.’ Jesus said in reply, ‘It is written: ‘One
does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth
of God’” (Mt 4:3-4).
Communion
Connection –
Jesus is being asked
to assume an attitude of independence rather than one of abandonment to the
Father. In reply, Jesus presents the word of God as bread, as nourishment. This
truth sheds light on our relationship with God’s word. Every time we
receive it and seek to put it into practice, it’s like nourishing ourselves
with the Lord Himself. While bread is the staff of life, so God’s Word
nourishes us and helps us to grow in Christ and for Christ to grow in us.. Adapted
from Word of Life
Additional Catholic
Resources:
-
Word of
Life: http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2002/02/01/commento-di-chiara-lubich-alla-parola-di-vita-del-mese-di-febbraio-2002/
-
Audio
Homily by Bishop Robert Barron: https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/back-to-basics/785/
12 March Second Sunday of Lent
“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright
cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said,
‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’ When the
disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and do not be
afraid’” (Mt 17:5-7).
Communion
Connection –
The
first thing we hear Jesus say after God instructs us to listen is, “Rise, and
do not be afraid.” It is as if those words are meant to serve as a guiding star
for any who accept God’s invitation to follow Jesus. First of all – Rise. Do
not sit idle, do not let fatigue or worry lay you out – but rather, stand tall.
And secondly – Do not be afraid. Do not succumb to fear and anxiety which are
common burdens in a broken life. Instead, let’s move with confidence and surety
in our efforts to follow the will of God.
Additional Catholic
Resources:
-
Audio
Homily by Bishop Robert Barron: https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/the-mystery-of-light/661/
19
March Third Sunday of Lent
“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks this water
will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I
shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a
spring of water welling up to eternal life’” (Jn 4: ).
Communion Connection –
Every moment in which
we seek to live the Gospel is like drinking a drop of that living water. Every
gesture of love for our neighbor is like a sip of that water. That water, which
is so alive and precious, has something special about it. It is a wellspring of
God dwelling within us. It wells up each
time we open our hearts to others through small or big acts of love and it flows
out from us to quench the thirst of others. Adapted from Word of Life
Additional Catholic Resources:
-
Audio
Homily by Bishop Robert Barron: https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/one-who-is-greater-than-our-father-jacob/921/
26
March Fourth
Sunday of Lent
“As he passed
by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him,
‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he
was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so
that the works of God might be made visible through him’” (Jn 9:1-3).
Communion Connection –
Rather than joining in negativity,
Jesus is able to see goodness even in the condition of the man born blind. What
a different viewpoint from we who are tempted to question the presence of God
when we experience hardship in our lives or see it in the lives of others!
Jesus points to the opportunity for the grace of God to be at work. We are
invited to join Jesus in this life-giving perspective. When we see sickness and
brokenness of any kind – instead of doubting the power of God, let us believe
in God who is always faithful and look for the way in which God’s handiwork
will be made visible yet again.
Additional Catholic
Resources:
- Audio Homily by Bishop Robert Barron:
https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/coming-to-see/1028/ - Order of Carmelites Lectio: http://ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/lectio-divina-4th-sunday-lent