Today, for the first time since about 1965, I attended a high Tridentine Mass. The church echoed with the “birdsong” of babies. Everywhere I looked little girls and teenagers knelt with bowed heads like modest little brides. Yes, many white-haired geriatrics like yours truly knelt among them, but we represented the minority. What a scenario. It brought tears to my eyes and a leap to my heart...not to mention a longing. How I wish I could occupy a little cell next door and make this my parish home. Instead, I will return to my Novus Ordo parish tomorrow where Sunday Mass will end with a social hall throng of laughing, chatting parishioners oblivious of the presence of the Lord of the Universe.
Showing posts with label first Sunday of Lent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label first Sunday of Lent. Show all posts
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Sunday Meditation: "Lead us not into temptation..."
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| Temptation of Christ by Sebastiano Ricci |
"Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"I delight to do your will, O God." Psalm 40:8
The Gospel for today describes Satan's temptations of Jesus in the desert. Set the scene. Immediately following the baptism of John, Jesus goes out into the desert to prepare for his public ministry. For forty days he fasts and prays. And then the devil approaches to tempt him.
To be temptations, the allurements offered to Jesus by the devil had to be real. If they weren't they couldn't be temptations. And Jesus was truly tempted. Let's look at each of them.
In the first temptation the devil plays on Jesus' physical hunger. He hadn't eaten for 40 days. He was truly hungry.
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