Fifth Sunday of Lent

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The Responsorial Psalm for the Fifth Sunday of Lent is a renowned hymn of sorrow for sin and repentance:

Psalm 51:3-4,12-15: “Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.”

(Via USCCB.)

It also served as the response for a Mass early in Lent (Friday after Ash Wednesday). That post is here:

Have mercy on me, Lord.

This psalm deserves your great attention.

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My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge

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The Responsorial Psalm for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent offers consolation to those suffering from the acts of others:

Psalm 7:2-3,9-12:
“O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
Lest I become like the lion’s prey,
to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me.

Do me justice, O LORD, because I am just,
and because of the innocence that is mine.
Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,
but sustain the just,
O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.

A shield before me is God,
who saves the upright of heart;
A just judge is God,
a God who punishes day by day.”

(Via USCCB.)

People who follow their own wills and not God’s often wreak havoc upon other people’s lives. If you are trying to lead a good, clean and sober life there will be obstacles. Other people will see your decision to live a life contrary to how they see it should be lived (because it is a threat to them), and will try and derail your path.

You will be an object of scorn and ridicule as they try to drag you back into your old ways.

The Lord, if you trust in Him, will be your safe refuge and will protect you by strengthening your faith. The reassurance you get from a deep prayer life, from reading Sacred Scripture and attending Mass will be the armor you need to cope with the world and its ways.

The world and its followers won’t go away, but you’ll have a defense. And a protector.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Close to the brokenhearted

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The Responsorial Psalm for Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent offers comfort to those experiencing pain:

Psalm 34:17-23: “The LORD’S face is against evildoers to wipe out their memory from the earth.

When the just cry out, the LORD hears and rescues them from all distress.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.

Many are the troubles of the just, but the LORD delivers from them all.

God watches over all their bones; not a one shall be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked; those who hate the just are condemned.

The LORD redeems loyal servants; no one is condemned whose refuge is God.”

(Via USCCB.)

We struggle to do what is right. In the face of great odds, we struggle against those who act against God’s will. Sometimes it is as simple as basic human kindness and decency. We are crushed and dispirited, and lament the apparent pointlessness and futility.

Psalm 34 reminds us otherwise. We shall triumph in the end.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The image of a grass-eating bull

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The Responsorial Psalm for Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent has nice imagery which can be symbolic of someone in relapse.

Psalm 106:19–23: “At Horeb they fashioned a calf, worshiped a metal statue.

They exchanged their glorious God for the image of a grass-eating bull.

They forgot the God who saved them, who did great deeds in Egypt,

Amazing deeds in the land of Ham, fearsome deeds at the Red Sea.

He would have decreed their destruction, had not Moses, the chosen leader, Withstood him in the breach to turn back his destroying anger.”

(Via USCCB.)

The imagery describes the great chasm between those worshipping the One True God versus those who fashion a god for themselves. You have the freedom and liberty that sobriety gives you, and yet because of certain difficulties (“freedom isn’t free”) you turn away from it and slop at the trough of alcohol.

Which “fills your soul” better? The God that created you, or a “god” (the delusions and fantasies of alcohol)
of your own making?

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Solemnity of the Annunciation

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Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation. I wrote about it before:

Solemnity of the Annunciation, Part 1

Solemnity of the Annunciation, Part 2 (On Humility)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Our refuge and our strength

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The Responsorial Psalm for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent is a comforting reminder of where we can find a safe refuge when things are bad:

Psalm 46:2-9: “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.

Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,

Though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging. The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

Streams of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.

God is in its midst; it shall not be shaken; God will help it at break of day.

Though nations rage and kingdoms totter, God’s voice thunders and the earth trembles.

The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.”

(Via USCCB.)

We turned to alcohol to hide from our troubles and worries. It was our refuge, although a false one. It was our strength, although the strength was illusory. We had a “hole in our soul” that cried out for filling, and alcohol was the cheap fix that satiated our desires. And it never filled us up completely as we always were screaming for more.

God is neither false nor illusory, He provides a sure and safe harbor for all those who are willing to put their trust in Him. Just a willingness is all that is needed, He will provide all the strength needed.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

I cried out to you and you healed me

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I include the entire Psalm 30 (except the intro verse) as it is an excellent prayer of thanksgiving to God for all those who have been touched by His healing hand. This serves as the Responsorial Psalm for the Daily Mass for Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent:

Psalm 30:2-13: “I praise you, LORD, for you raised me up and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.

O LORD, my God, I cried out to you and you healed me.

LORD, you brought me up from Sheol; you kept me from going down to the pit.

Sing praise to the LORD, you faithful; give thanks to God’s holy name.

For divine anger lasts but a moment; divine favor lasts a lifetime. At dusk weeping comes for the night; but at dawn there is rejoicing.

Complacent, I once said, ‘I shall never be shaken.’

LORD, when you showed me favor I stood like the mighty mountains. But when you hid your face I was struck with terror.

To you, LORD, I cried out; with the Lord I pleaded for mercy:

‘What gain is there from my lifeblood, from my going down to the grave? Does dust give you thanks or declare your faithfulness?

Hear, O LORD, have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper.’

You changed my mourning into dancing; you took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.

With my whole being I sing endless praise to you. O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.”

(Via USCCB.)

Let this prayer be a reminder and a consolation for anyone who suffers. Trials and tribulations do come to an end, although they seem to last forever.

Everyone suffers, you are strengthened if you learn from the experience. At the very least you better endure “trudging the road of happy destiny”.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Brought us to life with Christ

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The Second Reading for the Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Lent drives home again a repeating theme for Lent, that God is merciful to all who turn to Him in repentance over their sins:

Eph 2:4-10: “Brothers and sisters:
God, who is rich in mercy,
because of the great love he had for us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
brought us to life with Christ — by grace you have been saved —,
raised us up with him,
and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
that in the ages to come
He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace
in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
it is not from works, so no one may boast.
For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works
that God has prepared in advance,
that we should live in them.”

(Via USCCB.)

Just a note for anyone who thinks that the comments about “by grace we are saved” and that it excludes good works: it merely means that God’s grace saves us in the end, and that we cannot merit Heaven by our own works. In other words, we cannot “buy” our way into Heaven by doing good things. However, good works are evidence of our Faith, and is our response to God’s grace working in us. Good works are the “fruits” of our Faith.

Just a thought.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

He will revive us… to live in His presence

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An excerpt from the First Reading for the Mass for Saturday of the Third Week of Lent tells us of the healing nature of repentance and returning to the Lord:

Hosea 6:1-3: “‘Come, let us return to the LORD,
it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;
he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.
He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up,
to live in his presence.
Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;
as certain as the dawn is his coming,
and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!
He will come to us like the rain,
like spring rain that waters the earth.'”

(Via USCCB.)

Sin wounds us and our relationship with God. But God is healing, return to Him and He will “bind our wounds” and revive us so that we can live in His presence.

He heals us so that we can be close to Him.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Not far from the Kingdom

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In the Gospel Reading for Friday of the Third Week of Lent Jesus tells us the best way to get to God:

Mark 12:28-34: “One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’
Jesus replied, ‘The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.’
The scribe said to him, ‘Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’
And no one dared to ask him any more questions. “

Via USCCB.)

If you love God, you will obey Him and follow His commands, regardless of their difficulty. Love is not license to do what you will, nor an emotion (though it can have emotional meanings). Love is sacrificing yourself for another, with the confidence that the other sacrifices for you.

A picture of love is Jesus on the cross.

Crucifix.jpg

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)