9 March 2013 3rd Week of Lent -- Saturday Jesus condemned as a blasphemer “The high priest tore his clothes, and said, ‘He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses?’ ”(Mt 26:65) How detestable was the hypocrisy of Caiphas and his party! Under an appearance of piety and zeal, they masked their mortal hatred of our Lord and their long-conceived plan of putting him to death. They sought a flimsy excuse for their conduct so as not to enrage the people. Caiphas thought he could find one by begging Jesus to say if he is ‘really’ the Son of God. If Jesus said ‘no’, he can condemn him as an impostor since the people believe him to be God. If he said 'yes', Caiphas would sentence him as a blasphemer. He would then make people believe that he was overwhelmed with horror at the sin. The wicked can be very ingenious! “What is your verdict? They answered, ‘He deserves death’.” (Mt 26:66) The judges who pronounced this sentence were men inflamed with hatred because Jesus had righteously confessed the truth. In this world, the crafty often calumniate and oppress the innocent. God permits this for wise and merciful reasons. In this instance, Caiphas was the instrument by which Jesus should sacrifice his life in reparation to his Father for the sins of mankind. The wicked death sentence opened to us all the gates of eternal life. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp106-7 On generosity If, despite our struggle we still persist in selfishness, we will look again at Our Lady with the desire of imitating her in her generosity, the joy of giving ourselves to others. We must understand better how generosity enriches and widens the heart. And we must realize that selfishness, like a slow-acting poison, acts insidiously but with deadly effect. Close to Mary, we perceive that God has made us for himself. Each time we give ourselves exclusively to our own plans, concentrating on ourselves and our personal affairs while ignoring him, we die a little more. Generosity to God must be shown by generosity to our fellowmen. A characteristic of generosity is knowing how to ignore little irritations that can arise in daily life. Knowing how to smile and make life more agreeable to those around us, although they may be suffering setbacks; give others the benefit of the doubt; accept people as they are. When we approach the altar, let us endeavor to carry with us many deeds of understanding for others, courtesy, generosity and mercy. Our Mother, Mary, will help us discover many opportunities in our everyday occupations of giving ourselves generously to the people around us. Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:192; 2:59-60 Sharing With Others The path to God is not covered with interior joy alone. Man desires to bring others to Him, too. He, therefore becomes a messenger and apostle of the love of God: “Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds”. (Is 12:4) Man obedient to God’s grace discovers the world of God’s works, which are hidden to the eyes of the sinner. Man guided by divine grace also desires ‘to share the nearness to God, which he experiences, with others’. Well, I want to tell you, in Christ’s name -- Have humble and courageous awareness of what the Father has given you. Let this awareness be your strength, your light, your hope. Give the world what the Father has given you: the kingdom of God. Do not weary from continually seeking even the slightest occasions for widening prudent and sincere contacts with that great human and social reality in which you are immersed as leaven. Thus, conduct and carry forward that work of promotion, based on truth, justice and respect for the dignity of the person, which constitutes the necessary premise for the world to have knowledge of Christ in the faith and in the Church ... Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp33-4 Sorrowful Heart of Mary, pray for us! “Invoke the Heart of Holy Mary, with the purpose and determination of uniting yourself to her sorrow, in reparation for your sins and the sins of men of all times. “And pray to her -- for every soul -- that her sorrow may increase in us our aversion from sin, and that we may be able to love the physical or moral contradictions of each day as a means of expiation.” Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 258 The Heart of the World Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! ... Let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us! (Is 25:9) These words of Isaiah invite us to trust in the Lord ... On the mountain of victory he is preparing a festive banquet for all peoples. Tears will be wiped away from all faces and death will be eliminated for ever. Peace will reign. Christ, Son of the Virgin Mary, will be the heart of the world. Let us pray that the Father’s will may be done, making all people children of God through the unifying action of the Spirit. Ref: “Breakfast with the Pope, Daily Readings”, Pope John Paul II, 1995, p120 St Frances of Rome, religious A mother of three children, she zealously performed every duty at home, saying -- ‘A married woman must often leave God at the altar to find Him in her household care.’ (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, p1491) • Foundation of Savigny, in the diocese of Avranches, in Normandy, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, about the year 1112, by the blessed Vitalis, hermit, who was its first abbot.—(Gallia Christi, t. iv.) “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (http://www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Notre Dame de Savigny. France. 1112. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Savigny, France (1112). (http://www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Foundation of Savigny (Normandy, France) in honor of Our Lady. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)