Lenten Meditations: Third Sunday in Lent

Mar 24, 2019 by Jill

                         Psalm                           Old Testament                       Epistle                          Gospel

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT – First Sunday of the Scrutinies

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:  On this Sunday is celebrated the first scrutiny in preparation for the Baptism of those adults admitted as catechumens who are to be receive the Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil. They take place immediately following the homily and are celebrated in order to deliver the candidates from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.  These rites complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: In today’s gospel we will hear again the urgent call of the Christ to change our way of life, to repent, to begin a new relationship with God our Father. Jesus challenges the traditional view that if something bad happens to you then it must be some form of punishment from God. Jesus makes it clear that he rejects this idea and so should we. While it is an easy way to explain away things, it is a cheap way out of a difficult question. Instead We must learn just as Jesus instructs that any experience of hardship should be a reminder to us of the need to repent. We are reminded again of the call to repent is the call to turn over a new leaf, whereby; reconciliation is the fruit of this turning around and offers a new beginning where the whole body of Christ endeavors to establish the kingdom of God. True repentance is not about being obsessed with sin – it is about recognizing where God is at work in our lives and responding to him. This Sunday of the first Scrutiny’s reminds us with this Gospel that we must meet the challenge to let ourselves be transformed by God and convert our life so that the transformation through His Word and saving act is evidenced on our own  conversion  so can we share in His “victory”

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  Almighty God, free us them from the spirit of deceit so that, admitting the wrong they have done, we may attain purity of heart and advance on the way to salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “We are not converted only once in our lives, but many times and this endless series of conversions and inner revolutions leads to our transformations”. — Thomas Merton

Lenten Discipline –    Read the Scrutinies for today at  https://www.crookston.org/documents/ministriesoffices/worship-a-liturgy/rcia/253-rcia-scrutinies-1-3/file    as a preparation for a Lenten Confession and Examination of Conscience. Assess yourself by commission and omission. How have I honored the disciplines  of Lent?

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