Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • March 9, 2018 5 Prices starting at $2,499 ~ with airfare included in this price from anywhere in the USA Many trip destinations: the Holy Land; Italy; France; Portugal; Spain; Poland; Medjugor- je; Lourdes; Fatima; Ireland; Scotland; Eng- land; Austria; Germany; Switzerland; Turkey; Greece; Budapest; Prague; Our Lady of Guadalupe; Colombia; Brazil; Argentina; Domestic Destinations; etc… We also specialize in custom trips for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons (Hablamos Español) 855-842-8001 508-340-9370 www.proximotravel.com anthony@proximotravel.com call us 24/7 In thanksgiving to the Holy Spirit, Blessed Mother and St. Jude, for prayers answered. BAB THANKSGIVING NOVENA TO ST. JUDE O Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St. Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen. Say three Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorias. Publication must be promised. This Novena has never been known to fail. I have had my request granted. Publication promised. RFG 9274 Hwy 49/Airport Gulfport, MS 39503 228-863-5525 1-800-880-2446 FAX: 228-863-9612 www.butchoustalet.com “God so loved, that he gave…” (John 3:16) As we reflect on our faith journey thus far in Lent, a journey that began with promises, prayers and practices designed to help us grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ and prepare for His resurrection glory, we are challenged by the imperative to imitate the God of Love. Lent’s climax leading to Holy Week leaves no doubt that by willingly dying on Good Friday, Jesus demonstrated an unwavering capacity to love us even while we are still sinners. Those six powerful life- changing words (“God so loved, that he gave”) have been demonstrated throughout history and reiterate to us every day that love is a conquering force that changes the hardest sinner, the most complacent bystander and the most zealous doubter. Yet the history of God’s people, including the present, affirms a quote by Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor, “The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference.” Today’s first reading contrasts God’s love with Judah’s cycle of spiritual indifference and rebellion. Its opening verses names the last four of Judah’s kings and reviews their infidelities and abominable practices. Zedekiah, who led the people to worship multiple man-made gods and refused to turn back to the Lord, was the worst of these. His actions drew God’s severest punishment and caused God to raise-up a new generation, those that returned from exile that would start afresh, enjoying God’s compassion, grace, love and protection. God’s anger lasts a moment but his loving-kindness endures without end. God gave Judah another chance by moving the heart of Cyrus, a pagan king, to free the Israelites from captivity, build them a Temple, and unite them once again to their God (2 Chronicles 16:22-23). There must be someone you know who needs generous portions of God’s love and forgiveness despite their infidelities. Don’t hesitate to reach out and apply God’s loving kindness to those most difficult to love. Psalm 137 recognizes that personal rebellion against God led the Jews to captivity. Isolated from temple worship in a pagan land, the Psalmist lost the joy and gladness of a deep committed relationship with God. “How can we sing a song of joy in a foreign land.” Separation from the temple meant separation from God. They were in mourning. Sin is our deliberate choice to separate ourselves from friendship with God, and turn away God’s loving outreach. But, recalling God’s loving kindness and great mercy, the Psalm finishes with a note of hope and a vow to never forget his love and longing for temple worship; “May my tongue cleave to my pallet if I remember you not.” What is entailed in “remembering” God? I encourage people who wish to grow in faith to keep a journal. To record each day where God was present and active in your life, and where you may have missed his presence and/or opportunities to make his name known and serve others, always with a resolve to do better next time. The remembrance part comes when at times (and there will be times) that God feels distant, that prayers do not seem to be heard or answered and discouragement can set in. It is in these times we see in our journal a record of where God was actively present. Knowing God has acted on our behalf before, encourages us to persist in faith with the assurance he will act again. Today’s Gospel gives the full quote from John 3:16; “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.” St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us to love.” Notice the action here, God so loved that he gave.” Love is not passive. It is not a stand back, hands in your pocket, wait and see attitude that relies on wishes or words alone. Love is sacrificial action; patient, kind, not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing or keep a record of wrongs, but rejoices in truth. There is faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:4-13). This Lent and beyond, view your prayers and works through the light of God’s eternal promise of love. Lastly, experience the Stations of the Cross not only during Lent but beyond. Walk the way of the Cross with Jesus and his mother. Attach yourself to the horrific mockery, scourging, humiliation and crucifixion Jesus endured so you could be sin free and have a chance at eternal life. Deeply meditate on the sacrificial love each station depicts. 1st Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 Responsorial Psalm: 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 2nd Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10 Gospel: John 3:14-21 4th Sunday of Lent God so loved… Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries SEE SUNDAY SCRIPTURE COMMENTARIES, PAGE 7