February 10
Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin
First Reading
Song of Songs 8:6-7
Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; For stern as death is love, relentless as the nether world is devotion; its flames are a blazing fire. Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away. Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love, he would be roundly mocked.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 148:1bc-2, 11-13a, 13c-14
R. (see 12a and 13a) Young men and women, praise the name of the Lord.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights;
Praise him, all you his angels,
praise him, all you his hosts.
R. Young men and women, praise the name of the Lord.
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men, too, and maidens,
old men and boys.
Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted.
R. Young men and women, praise the name of the Lord.
His majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has lifted up the horn of his people.
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones;
from the children of Israel, the people close to him. Alleluia.
R. Young men and women, praise the name of the Lord.
Alleluia
John 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."
Give a Mass Offering
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
“O bless the Lord, my soul!”
Readings & Reflection
Yesterday, we saw the Pharisees and Scribes overly concerned with ritual purification and what a person takes into their body. Today, Christ teaches us that it is not what goes into a person that can defile them, but rather what comes out of them.
This reference is to food that simply passes into the stomach and out into the latrine. It does not enter one’s heart, but the Word of God does enter one’s heart! What comes from our mouth often defiles us. When we think about the hate and distrust that we can utter, the uncharitable words towards others, these things insult God and make us impure. Jesus states “From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly.”
As we approach the season of Lent, I would invite all of us to look at these weaknesses as true sins against others, God, and ourselves. Let our prayer this Lenten Season help us move closer to a purity that is reflected in what does come from our hearts and exits through our mouths. Remember, God intends our mouths for praise!
Peace,
Fr. John Kurgan
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Scholastica, virgin
Read the story of Saint Scholastica
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