3-21-2020 Gospel
Reflection
Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Dear Friends,
It is
interesting that both are in the temple praying. Both are doing the very same thing but it is
the heart, the attitude of their prayer that is different. The current events that have changed
everybody’s lives and circumstances should have humbled us all. We all find ourselves in the distance, crying
out, “O’ God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
The good news is that the Grace of God pours out on the humble of
heart. Bishop Joensen recently defined
the plenary indulgences that are available to us all during this time of isolation
and social distancing, as well as the graces that are received by those working
to stem the tide of this virus.
Following this reflection you will find the specific’s of what is
available to faithful. While these times
are hard and filled with uncertainty we must know they will not last
forever. Better days will come. Pandemics have come and gone. Storms rage for a time and then the sun
shines once again. The humble of heart
call out to our God during the tough times.
We know that apart from God we can do nothing, but with God we can move
mountains. Let us all approach God in
the temple that is our heart and humble ask for his mercy and strength to be
His holy people standing with His holy Son.
Pope’s prayer intention for the Month of March 2020
Catholics in China
We pray that the Church in China may persevere in its faithfulness to the Gospel and grow in unity.
We pray that the Church in China may persevere in its faithfulness to the Gospel and grow in unity.
Plenary Indulgence
Yesterday the Church published a plenary indulgence for people who
are sick with the coronavirus COVID-19, and anyone caring for people who are
sick with the coronavirus COVID-19, and people who are quarantined because of
the coronavirus COVID-19
The conditions for receiving the plenary indulgence are: a spirit
of detachment from any sin (like saying “I hate sin”); the intention to go to
Confession, receive Holy Communion, and pray for the Pope’s intentions as soon
as possible; participate (even via the media) in the celebration of Holy Mass,
or the Rosary, or the Way of the Cross, or if that isn’t possible, to recite
the Creed, the Our Father and the Hail Mary.
During this time of pandemic, a plenary indulgence is also
available to the Catholic faithful who – in addition to having a spirit of
detachment from any sin, have the intention to go to Confession, receive Holy
Communion and pray for the Pope’s intentions as soon as possible – make a visit
to the Blessed Sacrament, or read Scripture for at least 30 minutes, or pray
the Rosary, or make the Way of the Cross, or recite the Divine Mercy chaplet
for the following intentions: an end to the pandemic, relief to those
afflicted, and eternal salvation for those who have died.
Finally, a plenary indulgence is granted to people at the moment
of death, when they are unable to receive Anointing and Viaticum. The only
conditions are that the person be properly disposed, have recited a few prayers
during his/her lifetime, and at the moment of death to hold or look at a cross
or crucifix, if possible.
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