A Thirst for Holiness: reflections and insights on the Third Sunday of Lent

Hello there, again!

I will post twice this week. This one is for the Third Sunday in the Lenten Season, while I will also post tomorrow the propers on the Solemnity of the Annunciation. It's also been a year since I graduated from college, so pardon me if I will intersperse in these back-to-back reflections some "throwback thoughts" that I failed to write on a Thursday (well, I hope you all know what I mean).

Here we go…

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READINGS AND PROPERS

Extraordinary Form (Third Sunday in Lent)

[STATION AT ST. LAWRENCE'S OUTSIDE THE WALLS]

INTROIT ¤ Ps. 24. 15, 16

Oculi mei semper ad Dominum, quia ipse evellet de laqueo pedes meos: repice in me, et miserere mei, quoniam unicus et pauper sum ego. -- Ad te, Domine, levavi animam meam: Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam. V.: Gloria Patri . . . -- Oculi mei semper ad Dominum . . .

My eyes are ever towards the Lord: for He shall pluck my feet out of the snare: look Thou upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am alone and poor. -- (Ps. 24. 1, 2). To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me be not ashamed. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- My eyes are ever towards the Lord . . .

The Gloria is not said.

   COLLECT.--We beseech Thee, O almighty God, look upon the desires of Thy humble servants: and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to be our defense. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth . . .

EPISTLE ¤ Ephesians 5. 1-9

Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians.

[Let us live as children of the light, performing actions good, just and true.]

   Brethren, Be ye followers of God, as most dear children: and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us and hath delivered Himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness. But fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints: or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no purpose: but rather giving of thanks. For know you this, and undersatnd, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person, which is a serving of idols, hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief. Be ye not therefore partakers with them. For you were heretofore darkness: but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light: for the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and justice, and truth.

GRADUAL ¤ Ps. 9. 20, 4

Exsurge, Domine, non praevaleat homo: judicenter gentes in conspectu tuo. V.: In convertendo inimicum meum retrorsum, infirmabuntur, et peribunt a facie tua.

Arise, O Lord, and let not man be strengthened; let the Gentiles be judged in Thy sight. V.: When the enemy shall be turned back, they shall be weakened and perish before Thy face.

TRACT ¤ Ps. 122. 1-3

Ad te levavi oculos meos, qui habitas in coelis. V.: Ecce sicut oculi servorum in manibus dominorum suorum. V.: Et sicut oculi ancillae in manibus dominae suae: ita oculi nostri ad Dominum Deum nostrum donec misereatur nostri. V.: Miserere nobis, Domine, miserere nobis.

To Thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven. V.: Behold as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters. V.: And as the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress: so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until He have mercy on us. V.: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

GOSPEL ¤ Luke 11. 14-28

† Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke.

[Our Lord is in open conflict with Satan. He disarms him and expels him from the body of one possessed.]

   At that time Jesus was casting out a devil, and the same was dumb. And when He had cast out the devil, the dumb spoke, and the multitudes were in admiration by it. But some of them said: He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils. And others, tempting, asked of Him a sign from heaven. But He, seeing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation, and house upon house shall fall. And if Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because you say that through Beelzebub I cast out devils. Now if I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out? But if I by the finger of God cast out devils; doubtless the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things are in peace which he possesseth. But if a stronger than he is come upon him and overcome him, he will take away all his armor wherein he trusted, and will distribute his spoils. He that is not with Me, is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places without water, seeking rest: and not finding, he saith: I will return into my house whence I came out. And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and entering in they dwell there. And the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. And it came to pass, as He spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to Him: Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the paps that gave Thee suck. But He said: Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.

OFFERTORY ¤ Ps. 18. 9-12

Justitiae Domini rectae, laetificantes corda, et judicia ejus dulciora super mel et facum: nam et servus tuus custodit ea.

The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts, and His judgments are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb: for Thy servant keepeth them.

   SECRET.--May this victim, O Lord, we beseech Thee, cleanse away our sins: and sanctify the bodies and minds of Thy servants for the celebration of the sacrifice. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity . . .

PREFACE

Preface for Lent

Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui corporali jejunio vitia comprimis, mentem elevas, virtutem largiris et praemia: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli, coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti jubeas deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes:

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards; through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:

COMMUNION ¤ Ps. 83. 4, 5

Passer invenit sibi domum, et turtur nidum ubi reponat pullos suos: altaria tua, Domine virtutem, Rex meus, et Deus meus: beati qui habitant in domo tua, in saeculum saeculi laudabunt te.

The sparrow hath found herself a house, and the turtle a nest, where she may lay her young ones: Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God: blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, they shall praise Thee for ever and ever.

   POSTCOMMUNION.--In Thy mercy, we beseech Thee, O Lord, do Thou from all guilt and peril absolve us, whom Thou grantest to be sharers in so great a mystery. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who . . .

Ordinary Form (Third Sunday of Lent)

Prophecy: Ex. 17:3-7

In those days: the people were thirsty there for want of water, and murmured against Moses, saying: Why didst thou make us go forth out of Egypt, to kill us and our children, and our beasts with thirst? And Moses cried to the Lord, saying: What shall I do to this people? Yet a little more and they will stone me. And the Lord said to Moses: Go before the people, and take with thee of the ancients of Israel: and take in thy hand the rod wherewith thou didst strike the river, and go. Behold I will stand there before thee, upon the rock Horeb, and thou shalt strike the rock, and water shall come out of it that the people may drink. Moses did so before the ancients of Israel: And he called the name of that place Temptation, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and for that they tempted the Lord, saying: Is the Lord amongst us or not?

Responsorial: Ps. 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R: If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

Come let us praise the Lord with joy:

let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving;

and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.

Come let us adore and fall down:

and weep before the Lord that made us.

For he is the Lord our God:

and we are the people of his pasture

and the sheep of his hand.

To day if you shall hear his voice,

harden not your hearts:

As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness:

where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.

Epistle: Rom. 5:1-2, 5-8 (1-8)

Brethren: Being justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access through faith into this grace wherein we stand: and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God.

(And not only so: but we glory also in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience trial; and trial hope;)

And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost who is given to us. For why did Christ, when as yet we were weak, according to the time, die for the ungodly? For scarce for a just man will one die: yet perhaps for a good man some one would dare to die. But God commendeth his charity towards us: because when as yet we were sinners according to the time.

Gospel: Jn. 4:5-42

At that time: Jesus cometh to a city of Samaria, which is called Sichar, near the land which Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well. It was about the sixth hour.

There cometh a woman of Samaria, to draw water. Jesus saith to her: Give me to drink. For his disciples were gone into the city to buy meats. Then that Samaritan woman saith to him: How dost thou, being a Jew; ask of me to drink, who am a Samaritan woman? For the Jews do not communicate with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her: If thou didst know the gift of God and who he is that saith to thee: Give me to drink; thou perhaps wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith to him: Sir, thou hast nothing wherein to draw, and the well is deep. From whence then hast thou living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank thereof, himself and his children and his cattle?

Jesus answered and said to her: Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but he that shall drink of the water that I will give him shall not thirst for ever. But the water that I will give him shall become in him a fountain of water, springing up into life everlasting.

The woman said to him: Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come hither to draw. Jesus saith to her: Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

The woman answered and said: I have no husband. Jesus said to her: Thou hast said well: I have no husband. For thou hast had five husbands: and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband. This, thou hast said truly.

The woman saith to him: Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers adored on this mountain: and you say that at Jerusalem is the place where men must adore.

Jesus saith to her: Woman, believe me that the hour cometh, when you shall neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, adore the Father. You adore that which you know not: we adore that which we know. For salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh and now is, when the true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father also seeketh such to adore him. God is a spirit: and they that adore him must adore him in spirit and in truth.

The woman saith to him: I know that the Messias cometh (who is called Christ): therefore, when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Jesus saith to her: I am he, who am speaking with thee.

And immediately his disciples came. And they wondered that he talked with the woman. Yet no man said: What seekest thou? Or: Why talkest thou with her?

The woman therefore left her waterpot and went her way into the city and saith to the men there: Come, and see a man who has told me all things whatsoever I have done. Is not he the Christ? They went therefore out of the city and came unto him.

In the mean time, the disciples prayed him, saying: Rabbi, eat. But he said to them: I have meat to eat which you know not. The disciples therefore said one to another: Hath any man brought him to eat? Jesus saith to them: My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, that I may perfect his work. Do not you say: There are yet four months, and then the harvest cometh? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and see the countries. For they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages and gathereth fruit unto life everlasting: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. For in this is the saying true: That it is one man that soweth, and it is another that reapeth. I have sent you to reap that in which you did not labour. Others have laboured: and you have entered into their labours.

Now of that city many of the Samaritans believed in him, for the word of the woman giving testimony: He told me all things whatsoever I have done. So when the Samaritans were come to him, they desired that he would tarry there. And he abode there two days.

And many more believed in him, because of his own word. And they said to the woman: We now believe, not for thy saying: for we ourselves have heard him and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.

 

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REFLECTIONS AND INSIGHTS

We thirst. We always will. It comes in different aspects; but the greatest thirst that we may experience is the thirst for holiness.

In the Gospels of both Forms, we see that this thirst for holiness is both transcending all others (as the Lord endorsed the everlasting "water" in which those who drink it shall never thirst anymore); and is constant (wherein the Lord also cast out demons and explained that apart from Him, no man can do anything (cf. Jn. 15:5)).

The concept of being thirsty is mainly located in the Readings of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite: starting from the story of the Israelites grumbling out of thirst that they threatened Moses to do something lest he be stoned by them; to the exhortation of St. Paul to the Romans that we thirst for grace and that only God can satisfy it by sending His only Son to take away the sin of the world and pour out the Holy Spirit to all men; to the story of the Samaritan woman whom Jesus have conversed one (very) hot afternoon. (Well, we have to understand that Israel and the Palestine area is part desert, part hills, and part lowlands; so I hope you got what I said.)

As for the two readings of the Old Rite, we tackle in the Gospel that Jesus casted out demons in His own power; yet some in the crowd criticised Him for casting out demons in the name of Beelzebub. Because of this, He explained that "a house is not a house if its members are divided". This also means the same for Holy Mother Church, which is suffering division from within as much as She is suffering persecution from without. In the end most of those who witnessed our Lord speak praised Him, and in the case of the woman mentioned near the end of the Gospel, praised the Blessed Virgin Mary, in whose womb He was bourne.

So what is the bottom line?

We thirst for Christ.

He Himself who exclaimed "I thirst" in the cross, is the one who satisfies our thirst for grace, which only comes from Him. Although only the priest can drink the Blood of Christ in the appearance of wine at Mass, we believe that we are receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus every time we receive Holy Communion; that although His Body is broken and divided and although we cannot receive Him in the appearance of wine, we still receive Him whole and entire.

In a rather poor (and maybe unofficial) comparison, we who thirst for Christ are divided by our whims, specifications, talents, graces, and vocations, yet we remain (and continually strive to be) united under one roof: the Church. We remain to be the Mystical Body of Christ because we always long for Him who is the Head of that Mystical Body.

In a personal note: The mercy of the Lord gave me hope, and although I am not paid for devoting more than six hours just to compose these reflections, in addition to being not recognised for being a staunch Catholic in a school which should be promoting their products who promote Catholicism in the real world as result of the inspiration they have within the classroom, I feel contented that I have done my little and insignificant opinion and insight on the written Word of God and infusing in it insights on the Most Holy Eucharist. (Besides, it is no longer important if I have been given due credit or not.) Although I commit shortcomings in my personal life which affects my life in the online ministry, there is still this inner voice which tells me "Ian Joseph, My son: courage! Learn My ways  and continue to fight for My Church!" And up to this day, I still obey it.

This only means that everyone (yes, every single mortal on earth!) who thirsts for Christ, for the holiness which He Himself practiced, is welcome to drink in the Fountain of Life. For some reason, we can be that Samaritan woman or the woman who praised Mary in both Gospels. We are unknown to many, but the Lord bids us to come and drink for He knows us before we were even conceived. We may have sinned (and I am not ashamed to tell that I am a very dirty sinner), yet the Lord invites us still to drink and be cleansed. We may have some resentment to the Church because we are either disappointed that She cannot defend herself from the persecutions of this world or we are disappointed of her erring sons and daughters--or even both; her Bridegroom still calls us to learn His ways and be filled by the water He gives.

Now, we ask: Am I continuing to be brave by trusting in God's mercy through His invitation to holiness? Will I imitate the Samaritan woman who turned her back from her sinful past to follow the Lord, or the woman who praised Mary, His Mother?

 

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PRAYING THE COLLECT
 

We beseech Thee, O almighty God, look upon the desires of Thy humble servants: and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to be our defense.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen. 

Glory obtained through death: A Retrospect for the Second Sunday of Lent

As much as I wanted to have these reflections dished out on time, I cannot do so. I told the reason why last week, and this might continue for the next few months. I am also abstaining from going online all the time as part of my Lenten penance. But rest assured that I will do everything in my power to do these, even if they are merely retrospects at the end of each Sunday, so that you may have something to think about for the rest of the week. (Of course, I won't do that for Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.)

Moving forward, this is the retrospect for today:

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READINGS AND PROPERS
 

Extraordinary Form (Second Sunday in Lent)

Second Sunday in Lent

Purple

First Class

[STATION AT ST. MARY'S IN DOMINICA]

INTROIT ¤ Ps. 24. 6, 3, 22
	Reminiscere miserationum tuarum, Domine, et misericordiae tuae, quae a saeculo sunt: ne unquam dominentur nobis inimici nostri: libera nos, Deus Israel, ex omnibus augustiis nostris. -- Ad te, Domine, levavi animam meam, Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam. V.: Gloria Patri . . . -- Reminiscere miserationum . . .	Remember, O Lord, Thy bowels of compassion, and Thy mercies that are from the beginning of the world, lest at any time our enemies rule over us: deliver us, O God of Israel, from all our tribulations. -- (Ps. 24. 1, 2). To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me be not ashamed. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- Remember, O Lord . . .
The Gloria is not said.
COLLECT
	Deus, qui conspicis omni nos virtute destitui: interius exteriusque custodi; ut ab omnibus adversitatibus muniamur in corpore, et a pravis cogitationibus mundemur in mente. Per Dominum . . .	O God, who seest that we are wholly destitute of strength, keep us within and without: that we may be defended in body from all adversity: and cleansed in mind from evil thoughts. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth . . .
EPISTLE ¤ I Thess. 4. 1-17 Lesson from the First Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians. Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Thessalonicenses. [God our Creator and our Lord "hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification, in Christ Jesus our Lord."]
	Fratres: Rogamus vos, et obsecramus in Domino Iesu, et quemadmodum accepistis a nobis quomodo oporteat vos ambulare, et placere Deo, sic et abuletis, ut abundetis magis. Scitis enim quae praecepta dederim vobis per Dominum Iesum. Haec est enim voluntas Dei, sanctificatio vestra: ut abstineatis vos a fornicatione, ut sciat unusquisque vestrum vas suum possidere in sanctificatione, et honore: non in passione desiderii, sicut et gentes, quae ignorant Deum: et ne quis supergrediatur, neque circumveniat in negotio fratrem suum: quoniam vindex est Dominus de his omnibus, sicut praediximus vobis, et testificati sumus. Non enim vocavit nos Deus in immunditiam, sed in sanctificationem: in Christo Iesu Domino nostro.	Brethren, We pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus that, as you have received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more. For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from fornication, that every one of you should know how to possess his vesel in sanctification and honor; not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God: and that no man overreach nor circumvent his brother in business: because the Lord is the Avenger of all these things, as we have told you before and have all testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification: in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GRADUAL ¤ Ps. 24. 17, 18
	Tribulationes cordis mei dilatatae sunt: de necessitatibus meis eripe me, Domine. V.: Vide humilitatem meam, et laborem meum: et dimitte omnia peccata mea.	The troubles of my heart are multiplied: deliver me from my necessities, O Lord. V.: See my abjection and my labor; and forgive me all my sins.
TRACT ¤ Ps. 105. 1-4
	Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus: quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius. V.: Quis loquetur potentias Domini: auditas faciet omnes laudes eius? V.: Beati qui custodiunt iudicium, et faciunt iustitiam in omni tempore. V.: Memento nostri, Domine: in bene placito populi tui: visita nos in salutari tuo.	Give glory to the Lord, for He is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. V.: Who shall declare the powers of the Lord: who shall set forth all His praises? V.: Blessed are they that keep judgment and do justice at all times. V.: Remember us, O Lord, in the favor of Thy people: visit us with Thy salvation.
GOSPEL ¤ Matth. 17. 1-9. † Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. † Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum. [Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Thabor: manifestation of the divinity of Jesus.]
	In illo tempore: Assumpsit Iesus Petrum, et Iacobem, et Ioannem fratrem eius, et duxit illos in montem excelsum seorsum: et transfiguratus est ante eos. Et resplenduit facies eius sicut sol: vestimenta autem eius facta sunt alba sicut nix. Et ecce apparuerunt illis Moyses et Elias cum eo loquentes. Respondens autem Petrus, dixit ad Iesum: Domine, bonum est nos hic esse: si vis, faciamus hic tria tabernacula, tibi unum, Moysi unum, et Eliae unum. Adhuc eo loquente, ecce nubes lucida obumbravit eos. Et ecce vox de nube, dicens: Hic est Filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi bene complacui: ipsum audite. Et audientes discipuli, ceciderunt in faciem suam, et timuerunt valde. Et accessit Iesus, et tetigit eos, dixitque eis: Surgite, et nolite timere. Levantes autem oculos suos, neminem viderunt, nisi solum Iesum. Et descendentibus illis de monte, praecepit eis Iesus, dicens: Nemini dixeritis visionem, donec Filius hominis a mortuis resurgat.	At that time Jesus took Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: and He was transfigured before them. And His face did shine as the sun, and His garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with Him. Then Peter answering said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him. And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face and were very much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said to them: Arise, and fear not. And they, lifting up their eyes, saw no one, but only Jesus. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man till the Son of Man be risen from the dead.
OFFERTORY ¤ Ps. 118. 47, 48
	Meditabor in mandatis tuis, quae dilexi valde: et levabo manus meas ad mandata tua, quae dilexi.	I will meditate on Thy commandments, which I have loved exceedingly: and I will lift up my hands to Thy commandments which I have loved.
SECRET
	Sacrificiis praesentibus, Domine quaesumus, intende placatus: ut et devotioni nostrae proficiant, et saluti. Per Dominum . . .	Look favorably upon these present Sacrifices, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that they may profit us both unto devotion and salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth . . .
PREFACE Preface for Lent
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui corporali ieiunio vitia comprimis, mentem elevas, virtutem largiris et praemia: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem maiestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli, coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti iubeas deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes:	It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards; through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION ¤ Ps. 5. 2-4
	Intellige clamorem meum: intende voci orationis meae, Rex meus, et Deus meus: quoniam ad te orabo, Domine.	Understand my cry: hearken to the voice of my prayer, O my King and my God: for to Thee will I pray, O Lord.
POSTCOMMUNION
	Supplices te rogamus, omnipotens Deus: ut, quos tuis reficis sacramentis, tibi etiam placitis moribus dignanter deservire concedas. Per Dominum . . .	We humbly beseech Thee, almighty God, that we whom Thou dost refresh by Thy Sacraments may worthily serve Thee by lives well pleasing to thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth . . .

Ordinary Form (Second Sunday of Lent)

Prophecy: Gen. 12:1-4a

The Lord said to Abram: Go forth out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and out of thy father's house, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, and IN THEE shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. So Abram went out as the Lord had commanded him, and Lot went with him.

(Abram was seventy-five years old when he went forth from Haran.)

Responsorial:

Ps. 33:4-5, 18-19, 20+22
R: Lord, let Thy mercy be on us as we place our trust in Thee

The word of the Lord is right,

and all his works are done with faithfulness.

He loveth mercy and judgment;

the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.

Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him:

and on them that hope in his mercy.

To deliver their souls from death;

and feed them in famine.

Our soul waiteth for the Lord:

for he is our helper and protector.

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us,

as we have hoped in thee.

Epistle: II Tim. 1:8b-10

Beloved: Be not thou ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but labour with the gospel, according to the power of God. Who hath delivered us and called us by his holy calling, not according to our own works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the times of the world: But is now made manifest by the illumination of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath destroyed death and hath brought to light life and incorruption by the gospel.

Gospel: Mt. 17:1-9

At that time: Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him. And the disciples hearing fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them: Arise, and fear not. And they lifting up their eyes, saw no one, but only Jesus. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead.

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RETROSPECT

Just like last Sunday, the Gospel of both Forms of the Roman Rite of the Mass tackle the same Gospel: The Transfiguration of our Lord, the Fourth Mystery of Light which Bl. John Paul II, in his authority as Supreme Pontiff, promulgated in his encyclical "Rosarium Virginis Mariae".

As what I heard from a sermon today at Mass, the priest preached that "what Jesus denied Satan to see, His Apostles have seen." Maybe the connection that we can reckon (or at least I do) from the readings we have read in the two weeks that passed is that Jesus manifested Himself, in a brief glimpse at least, to all of creation: as the ultimate Terror of demons and as the Light of the world.

But for it to happen, Jesus have to suffer and die. Because it is in His stripes that we would be healed. (cf. Is. 53:5). It is a glory only to be obtained through death.

So what is Moses and Elias doing in that scene? Why are they talking to the God they have not seen in their own lifetime?

In Scripture, St. Jude (Thaddeus, if I'm not mistaken) wrote that St. Michael guarded the body of Moses from Satan (see Jude 1:9). This can be a plausible theory that the Leader and Judge of the pilgrim Israelites was assumed to heaven, just like Enoch in the Book of Genesis, and as our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, in a glorious manner. As for Elias, we know the story of his disappearance from earth: he was assumed to heaven in a chariot of fire. Now taking a place of honour in His Father's House, Jesus acknowledged them both as His ancestors and His servants.

Then interrupted Peter, the reluctant Prince of the Apostles: "Lord, it is good for us to be here!" I remember during my High School retreat in one of the two retreat houses overlooking Mount Batulao (the Salesian one, that is. The other is Caleruega, the Dominican retreat house, which I have also visited due to my College retreat), I have seen the same words posted on the walls. And I can also relate to the first Supreme Pontiff why in the world he have said it in the presence of the greatest holy people in the Jewish hagiography. Jesus's presence was so glorious that Peter, James, and John cannot believe that their Lord have to die so that they can see Him like that when He will rise again. As for me, a retreat to the mountains make me say the same words, not because I have nothing to say, but because I can meet the Lord more closely; I might even realize at that time, though subliminally, that the Lord retreated to the mountains every single time the people would like to declare Him their King. At least I have realized this as I reflect on the Gospel as I am typing this.

Now, as Peter reluctantly said the words above, the Father's voice was heard, and the Holy Spirit, in the form of a cloud, appeared. It looks like Peter has received an answer from the Holy Trinity, who has shown Himself again. (The first time might be at the time of Abraham, appearing as a triad of pilgrims, the same Lord who told Abraham to leave the abode of his father and venture to the Promised Land, as read today in the First Reading of the New Rite; the second is at the Nativity of the Son of God at Bethlehem--the Father as the Source of light, the Holy Spirit might be the light that shone on the Infant Lord; the third is at the baptism at the Jordan, where the Father spoke and the Holy Spirit came down on the Son, as the heavens opened, in the form of a dove.) This time, the Father not only introduced His Son to the Apostles, He have also given them a command: "Listen to Him!"

Today, the same command is also directed to us.

We not only listen to God's written word, in which we hear from our priests as they preach it in the pulpit, but we are also invited to receive the Word made Flesh in the Holy Eucharist. Let us, then, challenge ourselves to reflect on these words as the priest, in persona Christi, changes the substances of bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, who not only illumined Himself on Mount Tabor, but also on every altar where the Holy Mass is offered every single day. Let us challenge ourselves to recall the command the Father told about His Son on the mountain every time we see our Lord elevated in the Consecration: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: Listen to Him!"

And so we ask: Am I choosing bravery of soul by combating evil through avoiding occasions of sin and by worthy reception of the Lord in Holy Communion? Am I willing to obey the command of the Father to listen to His beloved Son and living my life in the Holy Spirit?

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PRAYING THE COLLECT

O God, who seest that we are wholly destitute of strength, keep us within and without: that we may be defended in body from all adversity: and cleansed in mind from evil thoughts.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen. 

Temptation and pride: reflections and insights for the First Sunday of Lent

First of all, I would like to apologize for not posting for three consecutive weeks. A concoction of being uninspired, not properly disposed, stress from work, and a very sloppy internet connection at home prevented me to do my reflections.

Moving forward, we now enter the Season of Lent: a season of fasting, abstinence, almsgiving, self-mortification, and denial of selfish thoughts. (I really inserted the last one since this season is all about reducing our ego more and letting God reign in our hearts more fervently, so that we can rightfully celebrate Easter with worthy hearts.) It always starts on Ash Wednesday, and it reminds us that we do not have to be too showy when we do things for the Lord. It also requires us Catholics to abstain from food from warm-blooded animals on all Fidays of Lent, as well as to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. (The practice of fasting every Friday of Lent and abstaining on all Fridays of the year is optional, but can be a welcome practice for Catholics.)

So before I start this reflection, I would like to suggest a "Lenten Challenge" for all those who are reached by this blog: From the First Sunday of Lent up until Easter Vigil, let us challenge ourselves to (1) give up something we really want to do, and (2) avoid our most frequent sins. For my part, I would limit my use of social media for the whole of this season, cut my expenses, and destroy my innuendos. Most importantly, as we challenge ourselves with these, it can also be suggested to work hard for our salvation and pray harder than before. Of course, we should not forget our secular duties since this is part and parcel of our life of holiness. Rest assured that I will focus more on the daily grind since this is a must for a Christian workman like me. (Oh, did I forgot to mention that the Feast of St. Joseph is also near? It's going to be celebrated on the 19th.)


So without further ado, The readings and propers for the First Sunday of Lent.


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READINGS AND PROPERS


Extraordinary Form (First Sunday in Lent)


INTROIT ¤ Ps. 90. 15, 16
	Invocabit me, et ego exaudium eum eripiam eum, et glorificabo eum: longitudine dierum adimplebo eum. -- Qui habitat in adiutorium Altissimi: in protectione Dei coeli commorabitur. V.: Gloria Patri . . . -- Invocabit me, et . . .	He shall cry to me, and I will hear him: I will deliver him, and I will glorify him: I will fill him with length of days. -- (Ps. 90. 1). He that dwelleth in the aid of the Most High: shall abide under the protection of the God of Heaven. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- He shall cry to me . . .
The Gloria is not said.
COLLECT
	Deus, qui Ecclesiam tuam annua Quadragesimali observatione purificas: praesta familiae tuae; ut quod a te obtinere abstinendo nititur, hoc bonis operibus exsequatur. Per Dominum . . .	O God, who dost purify Thy Church by the yearly observance of Lent: grant to Thy household, that what we strive to obtain from Thee by abstinence, we may achieve by good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end.
EPISTLE ¤ II Cor. 6. 1-10 Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corithians. Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios. [Lent, with its feastdays and prayers, is the acceptable time, the time of salvation. St. Paul exhorts us that we receive not the grace of God in vain.]
	Fratres: Exhortamur vos, ne in vacuum gratiam Dei recipiatis. Ait enim: Tempore accepto exaudivi te, et in die salutis adiuvi te. Ecce nunc tempus acceptablie, ecce nunc dies salutis. Nemini dantes ullam offensionem, ut non vituperetur ministerium nostrum: sed in omnibus exhibeamus nosmetipsos sicut Dei ministros, in multa patientia, in tribulationibus, in necessitatibus, in angustiis, in plagis, in carceribus, in seditionibus, in laboribus, in vigiliis, in ieiuniis, in castitate, in scientia, in longanimitate, in suavitate, in Spiritu Sancto, in caritate non ficta, in verbo veritatis, in virtute Dei, per arma iustitiae a dextris, et a sinistris: per gloriam et ignobilitatem: per infamiam, et bonam famam: ut seductores et veraces: sicut qui ignoti, et cognoti: quasi morientes, et ecce vivimus: ut castigati, et non mortificati: quasi tristes, semper autem gaudentes: sicut egentes, multos autem locupletantes: tamquam nihil habentes, et omnia possidentes.	Brethren, We exhort you that you receive not the grace of God in vain. For He saith: In an accepted time have I heard thee, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold now is the day of salvation. Giving no offense to any man, that our ministry be not blamed: but in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, in chastity, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of justice on the right hand and on the left: by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet known: as dying, and behold we live: as chastised and not killed: as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many: as having nothing and possessing all things.
GRADUAL ¤ Ps. 90. 11-12
	Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te, ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis. V.: In manibus portabunt te, ne unquam offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum.	God has given His Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. V.: In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
TRACT ¤ Ps. 90. 1-7, 11-16
	Qui habitat in adiutorium Altissimi, in protectione Dei coeli commorabitur. V.: Dicet Domino: Susceptor meus es tu, et refugium meum: Deus meus, sperabo in eum. V.: Quoniam ipse liberavit me de laqueo venantium, et a verbo aspero. V.: Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi, et sub pennis eius sperabis. V.: Scuto circumdabit te veritas eius: non timebis a timore nocturno. V.: A sagitta volante per diem, a negotio perambulante in tenebris, a ruina et daemonio meridiano. V.: Cadent a latere tuo mille, et decem millia a dextris tuis: tibi autem non appropinquabit. V.: Quoniam Angelis suis mandavit de te, ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis. V.: In manibus portabunt te, ne unquam offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum. V.: Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis, et conculcabis leonem et draconem. V.: Quoniam in me speravit, liberabo eum: protegam eum quoniam cognovit nomen meum. V.: Invocabit me, et ego exaudiam eum: cum ipso sum in tribulatione. V.: Eripiam eum, et glorificabo eum: longitudine dierum adimplebo eum, et ostendam illi salutare meum.	He that dwelleth in the aid of the Most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of heaven. V.: He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector and my refuge: my God, in Him will I trust. V.: For He hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters, and from the sharp word. V.: He will overshadow thee with His shoulders, and under His wings thou shalt trust. V.: His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night. V.: Of the arrow that flieth in the day, of the business that walketh about in the dark, of invasion or of the noonday devil. V.: A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee. V.: For He hath given His Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. V.: In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. V.: Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk, and thou shalt trample underfoot the lion and the dragon. V.: Because he hoped in Me I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he hath known my Name. V.: He shall cry to me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation. V.: I will deliver him, and I will glorify him: I will fill him with length of days, and I will show him my salvation.
GOSPEL ¤ Matth. 4. 1-11. † Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. † Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum. [It was in the desert that Satan, wishing to know if the Son of Mary was really the Son of God, tempted our Lord. The devil seeks to tempt us by the lustful desire of the flesh, by the pride of life, and by the lustful desire of the eyes, or avarice.]
	In illo tempore: Ductus est Iesus in desertum a Spiritu, ut tentaretur a diabolo. Et cum ieiunasset quadraginta diebus, et quadraginta noctibus, postea esuriit. Et accedens tentator, dixit et: Si Filius Dei es, dic ut lapides isti panes fiant. Qui respondens, dixit: Scriptum est: Non in solo pane vivit homo, sed in omni verbo, quod procedit de ore Dei. Tunc assumpsit eum diabolus in sanctam civitatem, et statuit eum super pinnaculum templi, et dixit ei: Si Filius Dei es, mitte te deorsum. Scriptum est enim: Quia Angelis suis mandavit de te, et in manibus tollent te, ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum. Aid illi Iesus: Rursum scriptum est: Non tentabis Dominum Deum tuum. Iterum assumpsit eum diabolus in montem excelsum valde: et ostendit et omnia regna mundi, et gloriam eorum, et dixit ei: Haec omnia tibi dabo, si cadens adoraveris me. Tunc dicit ei Iesus: Vade Satana: scriptum est enim: Dominum Deum tuum adorabis: et illi soli servies. Tunc reliquit eum diabolus: et ecce Angeli accesserunt, et ministrabant ei.	At that time Jesus was lead by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was hungry. And the tempter coming said to Him: If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Who answered and said: It is written: Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Then the devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him upon the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him: If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down. For it is written: That He hath given His Angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear Thee up, lest perhaps Thou dash Thy foot against a stone. Jesus said to him: It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again the devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said to Him: All these will I give Thee, if falling down Thou wilt adore me. Then Jesus saith to him: Begone Satan! for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil left Him. And behold Angels came, and ministered to Him.
OFFERTORY ¤ Ps. 90. 4, 5
	Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi Dominus, et sub pennis eius serabis: scuto circumdabit te veritas eius.	The Lord will overshadow thee with His shoulders, and under His wings thou shalt trust: His truth shall compass thee with a shield.
SECRET
	Sacrificium quadragesimalis initii solemniter immolamus te, Domine, deprecantes: ut cum epularum restrictione carnalium, a noxiis quoque voluptatibus temperemus. Per Dominum . . .	We solemnly offer to Thee, O Lord, the Sacrifice of the beginning of Lent, beseeching Thee: that while we restrain our carnal feasting, we may abstain also from harmful pleasures. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end.
PREFACE Preface for Lent
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui corporali ieiunio vitia comprimis, mentem elevas, virtutem largiris et praemia: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem maiestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli, coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti iubeas deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes:	It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards; through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION ¤ Ps. 90. 4, 5
	Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi Dominus, et sub pennis eius serabis: scuto circumdabit te veritas eius.	The Lord will overshadow thee with His shoulders, and under His wings thou shalt trust: His truth shall compass thee with a shield.
POSTCOMMUNION
	Tui nos, Domine, sacramenti libatio sancta restauret: et a vetustate purgatos, in mysterii salutaris faciat transire consortium. Per Dominum . . .	May the holy reception of Thy Sacrament, O Lord, refresh us, that cleansing us from our old life, it may make us to pass into the fellowship of the saving Mystery. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end.


Ordinary Form (First Sunday of Lent)


Prophecy: Gen. 2:7-9; 3:1-7 (2:7-3:7)
The Lord God formed man of the slime of the earth: and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul.   And the Lord God had planted a paradise of pleasure from the beginning: wherein he placed man whom he had formed. And the Lord God brought forth of the ground all manner of trees, fair to behold, and pleasant to eat of: the tree of life also in the midst of paradise: and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.


(And a river went out of the place of pleasure to water paradise, which from thence is divided into four heads. The name of the one is Phison: that is it which compasseth all the land of Hevilath, where gold groweth. And the gold of that land is very good: there is found bdellium, and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gehon: the same is it that compasseth all the land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river is Tigris: the same passeth along by the Assyrians. And the fourth river is Euphrates. And the Lord God took man, and put him into the paradise of pleasure, to dress it, and to keep it. And he commanded him, saying: Of every tree of paradise thou shalt eat: But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat. For in what day soever thou shalt eat of it, thou shalt die the death. And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone: let us make him a help like unto himself. And the Lord God having formed out of the ground all the beasts of the earth, and all the fowls of the air, brought them to Adam to see what he would call them: for whatsoever Adam called any living creature the same is its name. And Adam called all the beasts by their names, and all the fowls of the air, and all the cattle of the field: but for Adam there was not found a helper like himself. Then the Lord God cast a deep sleep upon Adam: and when he was fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and filled up flesh for it. And the Lord God built the rib which he took from Adam into a woman: and brought her to Adam. And Adam said: This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh. And they were both naked: to wit, Adam and his wife: and were not ashamed.)


Now the serpent was more subtle than any of the beasts of the earth which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman: Why hath God commanded you, that you should not eat of every tree of paradise? And the woman answered him, saying: Of the fruit of the trees that are in paradise we do eat: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of paradise, God hath commanded us that we should not eat; and that we should not touch it, lest perhaps we die. And the serpent said to the woman: No, you shall not die the death. For God doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened: and you shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil. And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightful to behold: and she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave to her husband, who did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened: and when they perceived themselves to be naked, they sewed together fig leaves, and made themselves aprons.




Responsorial: Ps. 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. 


Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy.
And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.
Wash me yet more from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.


For I know my iniquity,
and my sin is always before me.
To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee:
that thou mayst be justified in thy words,
and mayst overcome when thou art judged. 


Create a clean heart in me, O God:
and renew a right spirit within my bowels.
Cast me not away from thy face;
and take not thy holy spirit from me.


Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation,
and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.
O Lord, thou wilt open my lips:
and my mouth shall declare thy praise.


Epistle: Rom. 5:12-19
Brethren: As by one man sin entered into this world and by sin death: and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned. For until the law sin was in the world: but sin was not imputed, when the law was not. But death reigned from Adam unto Moses, even over them also who have not sinned, after the similitude of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure of him who was to come. But not as the offence, so also the gift. For if by the offence of one, many died: much more the grace of God and the gift, by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one sin, so also is the gift. For judgment indeed was by one unto condemnation: but grace is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned through one; much more they who receive abundance of grace and of the gift and of justice shall reign in life through one, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as by the offence of one, unto all men to condemnation: so also by the justice of one, unto all men to justification of life. For as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners: so also by the obedience of one, many shall be made just.




Gospel: Mt. 4:1-11
At that time: Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry. And the tempter coming said to him: If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Who answered and said: It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple, And said to him: If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written: That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again the devil took him up into a very high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, And said to him: All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me. Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan: for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and ministered to him.




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REFLECTIONS AND INSIGHTS  


God fashioned us for holiness, but because of the transgression of Adam, we are relegated to die, to suffer, to be tempted.


But as St. Paul said to us, one man may have condemned us to death, but one man also granted us eternal life, and that man is no other than Jesus Christ, the God-Man. Through Him, death no longer became a curse, but is now a gift, a reassurance that since the Divine became one with us except in sin--even to the point of death--we would also partake in His resurrection.


The Gospel of both Forms is one and the same: the temptation of Jesus.


Basically, the temptation of Satan to our Lord are all based on pride. And up to this day, the story does not only apply to us, but the said capital sin is also a looming threat to our souls. 


Personally, I just find it inspiring to have the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians as this Sunday's Epistle in the Old Form:


"In all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, in chastity, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of justice on the right hand and on the left: by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet known: as dying, and behold we live: as chastised and not killed: as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many: as having nothing and possessing all things."


Simply, Paul reminds us to work for the Church and not be overcome by pride. In fact, it is the one message which is applied to myself.


You see, I should have had at least a citation in my graduation from college almost a year ago for being active in promoting the Catholic faith in everything I do, especially in social media. But none of these were recognized. At first, I felt bad because I had the most prominent access to the biggest personalities in Catholic apologetics, in the Latin Mass communities that helped in sowing into some souls in the University of Santo Tomas the "sense of the sacred" (myself included), and most importantly in the pro-life advocacy, even to the point that I have spent a 200-hour internship just to have a connection between the Pontifical University and the governing body of the Episcopal College in these islands; and none of these were honoured just because I have neither Latin honour nor academic achievements.

But when I tried to look at the brighter side of things, I realized that these citations and lauds would not be important or even necessary in the long run since it may have the tendency to be limited to what I have done in college. One of the things that still ring into my mind was when a temporarily-professed nun who studied Engineering in UST for two years before entering the convent told me during the Catholic Social Media Summit last November that I was "a blessing to the Thomasian Community". Well, too much flattering for her part, but I soon realized that I indeed played my part in the salvation of souls as a student in a 21-hectare patch of green amidst the concrete jungle which is Sampaloc, Manila, even if it was too insignificant to cite in the first place. In short, she considered that insignificant role I may have done during my stint as a blessing. 

Somehow, I am learning not to rest on any laurels or pursue on having one because of pride. Even Christ Himself retreated to the mountaintop when the 5,000 would like to proclaim Him King of the Jews after the multiplication of the loaves of bread. As an end to my personal sharing, I have already "moved on" from all the disappointments that may have developed from all these frustrations. These things may still tempt me to be resenting, but I pray to our Lord that I may imitate Him not to take the credit unless He approves it. For some reason, we must always utter these words whenever we achieve something: "Non nobis, Domine; sed Nomine Tuo da gloriam." "Not on us, Lord; but on Thy Name be the glory."


So this is the bottom line: All temptations are based on pride, on the advancement of our egoistic agenda. It is good to know that from the very start of His public ministry, Jesus emphasized the virtue of humility. He challenges us to combat pride by doing a reality check on ourselves whether we are working for the Church because charity rules over us or we are working for the Church only because of the praise we would get from the people. If Jesus--becoming man without abandoning His divinity--was tempted by Satan and successfully condemned its tricks, this means we can also be successful in repealing the Devil's temptations, provided that we stick behind our Lord, our Lady, and all the angels and saints.


And so we ask: Am I brave enough to combat pride by humility and disregard to earthly praise as Jesus and Mary did?


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PRAYING THE COLLECT


 O God, who dost purify Thy Church by the yearly observance of Lent: grant to Thy household, that what we strive to obtain from Thee by abstinence, we may achieve by good works. Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects.




Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen.