Second Sunday of Lent
Reflection
From the collection of stories and sayings, “The Desert Fathers”:
A certain brother came to Abbot Silvanusi, and seeing the hermits at work he exclaimed, “Why do you work for the bread that perisheth? Mary has chosen the best part, namely to sit at the feet of the Lord without working.” Then the Abbot said to a disciple, “Give the brother a book and let him read, and put him in an empty cell.” At the ninth hour, the brother who was reading began to look out to see if the Abbot was going to call him to dinner. Hearing nothing, he went to the Abbot and said, “Did the brethren not eat today, Father?” “Oh yes, certainly,” said the Abbot, “they just had dinner.” “Well,” said the brother, “why did you not call me?” “You are a spiritual man,” said the elder, “you don't need this food that perisheth. You read all day, and can get along without food.” Hearing this the brother said, “Forgive me, Father.” And the elder said, “Martha is necessary to Mary, for it was because Martha worked that Mary was able to be praised.”
No matter how much we may desire to stay on the mountain like Peter in today’s Gospel, we have to “come down” to work and labor for the necessities of life. But, the Christian is called to see work as cooperation in God’s ongoing creative action and not a means to self-aggrandizement. Prayer allows us to enter into work as praise.
Prayer
A certain brother came to Abbot Silvanusi, and seeing the hermits at work he exclaimed, “Why do you work for the bread that perisheth? Mary has chosen the best part, namely to sit at the feet of the Lord without working.” Then the Abbot said to a disciple, “Give the brother a book and let him read, and put him in an empty cell.” At the ninth hour, the brother who was reading began to look out to see if the Abbot was going to call him to dinner. Hearing nothing, he went to the Abbot and said, “Did the brethren not eat today, Father?” “Oh yes, certainly,” said the Abbot, “they just had dinner.” “Well,” said the brother, “why did you not call me?” “You are a spiritual man,” said the elder, “you don't need this food that perisheth. You read all day, and can get along without food.” Hearing this the brother said, “Forgive me, Father.” And the elder said, “Martha is necessary to Mary, for it was because Martha worked that Mary was able to be praised.”
Prayer
“Give us this day our daily bread…”
Scripture
Most Rev. Christopher Coyne, Bishop of Burlington
Scripture
First Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Psalm 116:10, 15-19
Second Reading: Romans 8:31b-34
Gospel: Mark 9:2-10
Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website
Psalm 116:10, 15-19
Second Reading: Romans 8:31b-34
Gospel: Mark 9:2-10
Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website
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