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Spirituality
March 6, 2003 Edition

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Fr. Stillmank -- Word of God, Word of Life
This week's readings
Pope's Prayer Intentions
Third Millennium Prayer

This week's readings
Week of March 9 - 15

Sunday, March 9, 2003
Reading I: Jb 7:1-4, 6-7
Reading II: 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23
Gospel: Mk 1:29-39

Monday, March 10, 2003
Reading I: Gn 1:1-19
Gospel: Mk 6:53-56

Tuesday, March 11, 2003
Reading I: Gn 1:20-2:4a
Gospel: Mk 7:1-13

Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Reading I: Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17
Gospel: Mk 7:14-23

Thursday, March 13, 2003
Reading I: Gn 2:18-25
Gospel: Mk 7:24-30

Friday, March 14, 2003
Reading I: Gn 3:1-8
Gospel: Mk 7:31-37

Saturday, March 15, 2003
Reading I: Gn 3:9-24
Gospel: Mk 8:1-10


Pope's Prayer Intentions
March General Intention

The Sacrament of Reconciliation: That the people of God and our pastors may grow in the realization of the importance of God's merciful gift of love, the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

March Mission Intention

The local Churches of Africa: That in their current difficult situations, they may feel the urgency of announcing the Gospel coherently and courageously.

Repent:
And believe in the Gospel

photo of Fr. John G. Stillmank
Word of God 
Word of Life 

Fr. John G. Stillmank 

Once upon a time there was a big God up in the sky, and he made everything there is, and he liked it. He made people too, and at first things went well. But then the people had other ideas.

The people the big God in the sky made decided they wanted to be big gods in the sky, too. So they disobeyed the big God, but that didn't work out the way they wanted. Instead of becoming big gods, they lost everything.


"Even though sin entered the world and, with sin, death, God did not abandon his people to the power of sin and death. In spite of disobedience and sin, God still loves us."

The people used to be friends with the big God, but now they were not his friends. The people used to live in a beautiful place the big God made especially for them, but now they could not live there anymore. Everything they needed used to be free and plentiful, but now they had to work hard. They used to be free of pain and disease and death, but now they get sick and eventually they die.

Sad story, isn't it?

It's our story, too, the story of the creation of mankind and our fall from God's grace and friendship. Because Adam and Eve thought they could become "like God," as the serpent tempted them, they lost what they had - except for God's love.

Readings for
First Sunday
of Lent
(March 9, 2003)
Genesis 9:8-15
Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:12-15

Even though sin entered the world and, with sin, death, God did not abandon his people to the power of sin and death. In spite of disobedience and sin, God still loves us. Always has, always will.

The story goes on: But the big God still loved the people he had made, and he sent his messengers and servants to help them become his friends again. Nothing seemed to work well, because the people were very stubborn. Some of his messengers they treated badly. Some of his servants they killed. So the big God in the sky decided to become one of the people by sending his Son to become a man.

The Son of the big God in the sky became a little child and grew up as one of the people. He taught them a new way of living: a way of love and friendship, of mercy and forgiveness, of sacrifice and thanks, of generosity and service. His message was new and powerful, and people could see this was the one way to become friends of the big God in the sky once again.

For they recognized that the man who was the Son of the big God in the sky meant that the big God had come to earth to be with his people once again.

But there was a price. Sin causes death, so the Son of the big God took all the sins that had ever been and all the sins there would ever be and he put them all onto himself and offered himself as a sacrifice of love to the big God in the sky, who is his Father.

Because of the Son's love, the people created by God now became his friends again. The Son formed a special group of people called the Church to continue to tell others his message of love and of the kingdom God was preparing for them. This message is called the Gospel, and the Son told his followers that the kingdom was at hand, and that they should repent of their sins, become obedient again, and believe in the Gospel.

The Son, who is also God, also revealed to his followers that the big God in the sky is their Father, too, and that the Father and the Son send the Holy Spirit, who is also God, to be with his people forever. With their sins forgiven and once more being friends with God, the people lived happily ever after.

This Lent, let's try to make the last line of the story come true . . .


Fr. John G. Stillmank is Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Madison and pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Verona, and St. William Parish, Paoli.


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Third Millennium Prayer

1. Loving and gracious God,
in your providence
you have brought us to a new beginning,
a new millennium ripe for new evangelization.

2. We praise and bless you, Father.
In renewed faith, hope, and love
we give ourselves to you
that you form us in the image of Jesus,
your Son and our savior.

3. As followers of Jesus
help us to have the courage
to push out into the deep water
and lower our nets for a catch.
Teach us to listen to your voice,
to trust in your word,
to leave everything and follow
in the footsteps of Jesus.

4. By the power of your Holy Spirit
help us to work for greater solidarity
with all people throughout the world.
Enrich your Church with lasting measures
of justice, leading us to true peace.

5. May Mary, Mother of the Church,
intercede for us in our desire to say
yes to all that you, Father, ask of us.

This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

William H. Bullock, Bishop of Madison





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