February 25
Thursday of the First Week of Lent
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.
Readings
First Reading
Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25
Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the LORD. She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, for I am taking my life in my hand. As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you. Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O LORD, my God.
“And now, come to help me, an orphan. Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish. Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8
R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Gospel Acclamation
Psalms 51:12a, 14a
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!
A clean heart create for me, O God;
give me back the joy of your salvation.
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!
Gospel
Matthew 7:7-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone
when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”
“Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.”
Reflection
Everyone who asks receives! This seems almost unbelievable if we think of this statement in light of our current consumer oriented society. Imagine if you wanted something, you could just ask for it. Perhaps the difference in this statement and that found in Matthew is that what is asked for in the Gospel of Matthew is needed, not just desired.
Lent should cause us to reconsider those things we desire in our life. Are what we desire truly needed or just wanted? Personally, I know I have spent more money than I would care to admit on things that seemed vitally important at the time, and now, years later have proven to be unneeded and even truthfully, unwanted. Imagine if you could recoup the wasted money and time spent on those desires.
The wasted time and thoughts that were lost in the desire of non-needed items is itself a sin. If we had taken even some of that wasted time in pursuit of a deeper relationship with God, we would be so much better for it. The rewards given to God’s children who seek a deep relationship with him are innumerable.
Today, let us turn away from frivolous desire and commit to spend more time with our saving God.
Peace,
Fr. John Kurgan
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