1st WEEK OF LENT
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet)
St. Frances of Rome, religious
Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8
Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
1st Reading: Est C: 12, 14-16, 23-25
Seized with anguish and in her fear of death, Queen Esther likewise had recourse to the Lord.
Then she prayed to the Lord God of Israel: My Lord, you who stand alone, come to my help; I am alone and I have no help but you. Through my own choice I am endangering my life.
As a child I was wont to hear from the people of the land of my forebears that you, O Lord chose Israel from among all peoples, and our fathers from among their ancestors to be your lasting heritage; that you did for them, all that you have promised.
Remember us, Lord; reveal yourself in the time of our calamity. Give me courage, King of gods and master of all power. Make my words persuasive when I face the lion; turn his heart against our enemy, that the latter and his like may be brought to their end.
Save us by your hand; help me who am alone and have none but you, O Lord.
Gospel: Mt 7:7-12
Jesus said to his disciples, “Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Would any of you give a stone to your son, when he asks for bread? Or give him a snake, when he asks for a fish? However bad you may be, you know how to give good things to our children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
“So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there, you have the law and the prophets.“
REFLECTION:
Prayer Power
It is when we are on our knees praying that we are most powerful! I am sure that we all have at one time or another experienced the power of prayer. Many times we reach a point when we realize we are simply powerless. When tragedy or calamity threaten us and we have nowhere to turn to we cannot but go down on our knees and pray for Divine intervention. We pray “Please, Lord, maawa ka!“
Esther in our first reading was in such a predicament. Her people were in danger of being exterminated. She was their only hope. She was asked to speak to the King even though not summoned, and beg for mercy for her people. She prays, and miracle of miracles she is given an audience and she gets what she prays for!
“Ask, and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find, Knock and the door shall be opened unto you“ says the Lord. Sometimes we take prayer for granted and may even think of prayer as the way of weak. But in truth, prayer is the strongest weapon given to us. In prayer we gain our strongest ally, God himself! And if God is on our side, can there be anyone stronger than God?
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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