Historically, Lent was the retreat-like final preparation period for catechumens, those being initiated into the Church and into the Paschal mystery at the Easter Vigil.  Naturally enough, it became in time a renewal period for the already baptized faithful, the sponsoring community being inspired by the conversion of the catechumens. It was also a time of penance for those enrolled in the order of the penitents, an early form of the Sacrament of Penance, limited to serious sinners.  The whole Church came to adapt Lent as a penitential season whereby the faithful initiated both catechumens and serious sinners in doing penance.

The word Lent is from the Anglo-Saxon lencten (spring).  Lenctentid (springtide) was the Saxon name for March because March is the month in which days begin to lengthen (also a root of “lent”).  The Great Fast, falling as it does largely in the month of March, adopted and adapted the term.

Reading I: Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24-25
Psalms: 41:2-5, 13-14
Reading II: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

Today’s Gospel makes explicit what has been implied in preceeding weeks. Namely, that in healing the sick and casting out demons, Jesus is manifesting God’s forgiveness of His people’s sins.

They had wearied of God, refused to call on His name, we hear in today’s First Reading. Despite that, God promised to remember their sins no more.

Sin is often equated with sickness in Scripture (see Psalm 103:39). And today’s Psalm reads like a foretelling of the Gospel scene – the man is helped on his sickbed, healed of his sins, and made able to stand before the Lord forever.

The scribes know that God alone can forgive sins. That’s why they accuse Jesus of blasphemy. He appears to be claiming equality with God. But the Gospel today turns on this recognition. The scene marks the first time in the gospels that Jesus commends the faith of a person or persons who come to Him (see Matthew 9:2; Luke 5:20).

With the eyes of faith, the paralytic and his friends can see what the scribes cannot – Jesus’ divine identity. He reveals himself as the “Son of Man” – alluding to the mysterious heavenly figure the prophet Daniel saw receive kingship over all the earth (see Daniel 7:13-14).

His retort to the scribes even echoes what God said to Pharaoh when He sent plagues upon Egypt: “That you may know that I am the Lord” (see Exodus 8:18; 9:14).

As Paul says in today’s Epistle, Jesus is God’s great Amen. Amen means “so be it.” In Jesus, God has said, “So be it,” fulfilling all His promises throughout salvation history.

We are the new people He formed to announce His praise. He calls each of us what Jesus calls the paralytic – His child (see 2 Corinthians 6:18).

But do we share this man’s faith? To what lengths are we willing to go to encounter Jesus? How much are we willing to sacrifice so that our friends, too, might hear His saving word?

Who is the Son of Man?
Jesus calls himself the “Son of Man” in the Gospel for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (see Mark 2:10). What does that mean?

The term appears more than 100 times in Scripture, often as another way of saying “man” or “human” (see Numbers 23:19; Psalm 8:4).

But Jesus is referring to the prophet Daniel’s mysterious vision of “one like a son of man.” In Daniel’s vision, the son of man travels on the clouds of heaven and is presented before God. He receives from God “an everlasting dominion” and “nations and peoples of every language serve him” (see Daniel 7:13-14).

The Son of Man is the king of heaven and earth, as Jesus makes clear. The son has authority to forgive sins (see Mark 2:10), is Lord of the sabbath (see Mark 2:28) ,and will judge people according to their deeds (see John 5:27; Matthew 25:31).

As the Son of Man, Jesus is enthroned in heaven, seated at the right of the Father – as He promised He would be (see Mark 14:62; Acts 7:56). - Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

Saints of the Week:

Bl. Alvarez of Corova, St. Wulfric, St. Severian, St. Margaret of Cortona, St. Polycarp, St. John Theristus, St. Tarasius

Pray for Priests:

Fr. Vincent McKiernan CSP, Msgr. Kenneth Grimes – Deceased, Msgr. George Schlegel, Msgr. Frank Meagher, Msgr. Tiburtius Goebel – Deceased, Fr. Mark Ghiloni, Fr. Donald Maroon

LOVE

What is love?  Some define it as caring and concern, others as friends and companionship.  Your date might try to convince you that love is about sex while your parents remind you that it’s about sacrifice.  But there’s no doubt where the Bible stands on this one!  1 John 4:8 tells us that

What is love?  Some define it as caring and concern, others as friends and companionship.  Your date might try to convince you that love is about sex while your parents remind you that it’s about sacrifice.  But there’s no doubt where the Bible stands on this one!  1 John 4:8 tells us that “God is Love”.

Throughout Scripture, we are reminded that love is a decision, not a feeling.  It is something you do, and not just something you say.  John 3:16 is proof that love in fact is the ultimate decision – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life”.

The decision to love God and to love others is the basis for all other decisions in life.  Love is being nice to your little brother when he is annoying you.  Love is cleaning up the kitchen for your mom even though you’d rather watch television.  Love is also treating your friends, neighbors and even your enemies with dignity and respect.  Just imagine what a happier place the world would be if we all made a decision to love each day.  “For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another.”  (1 John 3:11)

What Jesus Did

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit”;  and when He had said this He breathed His last.  - Luke 23:46

No events in the history of the world will ever be more important to the human race than the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus.  His sacrificial death atoned for all the sin in the world and opened up the gates of heaven to everyone who has ever lived, and everyone who will ever live, until the end of time.  And, His resurrection reveals the power of God’s love over sin and death.  Wow!  That’s how much Jesus loves us.

What Jesus Said

He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:37-39

We live in a world of sound bites.  Pop-up ads only last 15 seconds on the Internet.  Cable TV just touches on the headlines.  We even use single letters in place of whole words to text each other.  Maybe it’s our attention span or maybe it’s just that we value getting to the point when communicating with each other.  Isn’t this also true in trying to figure out our purpose in life?  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could grasp, in simple terms, the real truth about what is expected of us while we are here?

Could it be that the people around Jesus had the same basic desire?  They knew the details of all ten of the commandments.  They listened to parable after parable where Jesus explained at length what His words should mean to their lives.  Yet when forced to boil it down by someone who asked Him what the greatest commandment was, the centerpiece of Jesus’ answer was love.  There is an unmistakable lesson for us in what He meant in His answer.  Our love for God and our love for each other is more important than everything else in doing God’s will.  Love God and others.  Now, that’s a sound bite worth remembering.

Saints Relate

St. Valentine – St. Valentine was a Catholic priest who was also a physician.  He was known for curing the sick of ailments through his prayers to God.  (There was another St. Valentine who lived in the same era who is known as St. Valentine, Bishop of Interamna.  Many scholars believe that the two are the same person).

A Point to Ponder

Responding with love to someone who has hurt you will do as much for you as it does for them.

A Disciples Prayer for Love

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the abundance Your love for me creates in my life.  Help me to show my love for You in my love for my family, my friends and my neighbors.  Give me the courage to love my enemies and teach me to love the helpless, the homeless and the poor.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

Pope Benedict XVI said, “The ways of the Lord are not comfortable. But we were not created for comfort, but for greatness.”

He made this statement to a variety of people from all walks of life. But I think this quote can be pointed directly at us, the youth, here as a community on Faceforward, here in Columbus, Ohio. We are the young Church, at the very beginnings of the Lord’s plans for us, and our Holy Father  tells us that these plans the Lord has for us are for greatness.

I have been working in youth ministry, ever since I was a youth in youth ministry, which is seven years, for those of you who are counting, and I have never been more excited for the young Church than I am today. Communities of young people, passionate about their faith are popping up around the world, young people are speaking out and making choices that go against the culture, young people are willing to stand in the face of persecution like the saints and martyrs for the name of Jesus.

Even more excitingly, this is happening in our very own diocese, right here in Columbus!

We as a young Church have heard the call of Jesus, the words of the saints, the preaching of our popes and we are seeking to live the greatness the Lord has for us. The Holy Spirit is moving in a powerful way in our generation and we are so blessed to be caught in His wave of grace.

But how?

How do we find the greatness to which the Lord is calling us? How do we get caught up in the Holy Spirit’s wave of grace? How do we live a life of love for Christ?

Paraphrasing the words from the late, great Blessed Pope John Paul II, Do you feel a desire to do something great with your life? Do you refuse to live a life ground down by mediocrity? Do you have the courage to commit yourself humbly and patiently to improving yourself and society?

Then, my friends, say “yes” to all the Lord has for you. Get involved in your schools, your parishes, your youth ministry programs, find ways to actively seek Christ in your daily life, pray often, and find opportunities to experience God more deeply.

Among the many opportunities out there I would like to offer you, in my humble opinion, one of the best opportunities out there: Catholic Youth Summer Camp. But don’t take it from a 23 year old, graduate from college. Listen to your peers:

“CYSC is seriously the best week of my life.” Mary Grace Palmer, Bishop Hartley

“CYSC is a lot about being the best Catholic you can be, but it is also about having fun while doing it…” Michelle Kaiser, Bishop Ready

“Catholic Youth Summer Camp changed my life.” Carol Reith, Bishop Watterson

So, imagine yourself rolling down a hill in a giant hamster ball, or maybe, speeding across a lake on a jet ski. How about doing high adventure activities all day long for a week?

Catholic Youth Summer Camp, CYSC, offers a unique experience of faith for middle school and high students all around Columbus. By day you’re racing through the woods of Northern Ohio on a zip line, flying down a giant water slide, or running across a paintball field with paintballs zooming past your head. By night you are opened to a deep experience of Christ through the sacraments, talks, dramas, and even a funny skit or two. If you want to join the revolution of holiness and encounter Christ’s call to greatness, than I highly suggest coming to CYSC this summer for a week that will change your life.

Dates
High School
June 10-15
June 17-22

Middle School
July 23-28
July 29- August 3

For more information, like “Catholic Youth Summer Camp” on facebook, or visit our website, www.cysc.com.

Once more, we are not called to comfort or mediocrity. We are called to a life of greatness, excellence, and abundance, a life that can only be found in Jesus Christ. I invite you, young people of Columbus, Ohio, to experience the greatness that Christ has called you to in every aspect of your life because life in Christ is never dull, but is the greatest adventure of all. So, come, and LIVE THE ADVENTURE.

Reading I: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

In the Old Testament, leprosy is depicted as punishment for disobedience of God’s commands (see Numbers 12:12-15; 2 Kings 5:27; 15:5).

Considered “unclean” – unfit to worship or live with the Israelites, lepers are considered “stillborn,” the living dead (see Numbers 12:12). Indeed, the requirements imposed on lepers in today’s First Reading – rent garments, shaven head, covered beard – are signs of death, penance, and mourning (see Leviticus 10:6; Ezekiel 24:17).

So there’s more to the story in today’s Gospel than a miraculous healing.

When Elisha, invoking God’s name, healed the leper, Naaman, it proved there was a prophet in Israel (see 2 Kings 5:8). Today’s healing reveals Jesus as far more than a great prophet – He is God visiting His people (see Luke 7:16).

Only God can cure leprosy and cleanse from sin (see 2 Kings 5:7); and only God has the power to bring about what He wills (see Isaiah 55:11; Wisdom 12:18).

The Gospel scene has an almost sacramental quality about it.

Jesus stretches out His hand – as God, by His outstretched arm, performed mighty deeds to save the Israelites (see Exodus 14:6; Acts 4:30). His ritual sign is accompanied by a divine word (“Be made clean”). And, like God’s word in creation (“Let there be”), Jesus’ word “does” what He commands (see Psalm 33:9).

The same thing happens when we show ourselves to the priest in the sacrament of penance. On our knees like the leper, we confess our sins to the Lord, as we sing in today’s Psalm. And through the outstretched arm and divine word spoken by His priest, the Lord takes away the guilt of our sin.

Like the leper we should rejoice in the Lord and spread the good news of His mercy. We should testify to our healing by living changed lives. As Paul says in today’s Epistle, we should do even the littlest things for the glory of God and that others may be saved. - Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

Saints of the Week

Sts. Cyril and Methodius, St. Claude la Colombière, Blessed Luke Belludi, Blessed John of Fiesole

Pray for Priests

Fr. Rocco Petrarca, Fr. Bernard McClory, Msgr. William Dunn, Msgr. Stephen Hawkins – Deceased, Fr. Jack Maynard, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen – Deceased, Fr. J. Lawrence Reichert