The Necessity of Conversion
Sixth Sunday in Orindary Time
The meditation of the Word of God for today helps us deepen our understanding of sin and of the necessity of conversion.
In the Gospel the leper humbly recognizes his impurities and at the same time confesses the power of God, falling to his knees before Jesus, the sign of his recognition that he sees Jesus as the Savior, and that without Him he is lost. What God sees is the interior purity. For God no one is impure or excluded. All are called to be part of a community.
The Lord asks us to be able to get closer to those we have excluded from our community. After the encounter with Jesus, once the leper has lost his status as impure, he is reintegrated in the community. And though the Lord asked him not to say anything to no one what had happened to him, the leper converts into a new disciple of Jesus and begins to reveal his experience. Who discovers Jesus as his Savior, he can do no less than proclaim the Good News to the entire world. Only by recognizing the leprosy within us and have the desire and will to be cured, will we be able to grow near to Jesus Christ, with the humility and faith of the Leper and be able to be cured by Him.
Preparation for Lent
Reflecting on the words of Pope Francis:
“Why the Cross? Because Jesus took on all unrighteousness, uncleanness, the world’s sins, including the sins of each of us and he cleansed them, cleansed them with His Precious Blood, his mercy and the love of God … Jesus on the Cross feels the weight of evil, and with the strength of God’s love conquers, he destroys it with his Resurrection.” ~ Homily, March 24, 2013
Each year, the Church invites us to a journey consisting of forty days. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18th. All members of our community and parish are invited to this special day and each of us begins this journey at a different point in the stage of one’s life. We are all called to the “conversion and repentance” during the strong season of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. Repent and believe in the Gospel! We wish you all spend a good Lent in spirit of internalization, conversion and renovation.
Readings for the Week
Monday: Gn 4:1-15, 25; Ps 50:1, 8, 16bc-17, 20-21; Mk 8:11-13
Tuesday: Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10; Ps 29:1a, 2, 3ac-4, 3b, 9c-10; Mk 8:14-21
Wednesday: Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-6ab, 12-14, 17; 2 Cor 5:20 — 6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Thursday: Dt 30:15-20; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 9:22-25
Friday: Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51:3-6ab, 18-19; Mt 9:14-15
Saturday: Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-6; Lk 5:27-32
Sunday: Gn 9:8-15; Ps 25:4-9; 1 Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15
Saints & Special Observances
Sunday: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday: Presidents’ Day
Tuesday: The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order; Mardi Gras; Shrove Tuesday
Wednesday: Ash Wednesday; Fast and Abstinence; Almsgiving
Thursday: Chinese New Year 4713
Friday: Abstinence
Saturday: St. Peter Damian