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Spirituality
February 15, 2007 Edition

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Word to Life
This week's readings
Pope's Prayer Intentions
Prayer for St. Raphael Cathedral
Faith Alive! page

God's challenge: Give and you will receive

Word to Life 

Dan Luby 

"It won't fit," I whined to my mother.

The five-pound bag of flour on the kitchen counter was simply too big for the canister I'd been instructed to fill. Busy as she was with the 1001 steps required for baking, she looked at me patiently.

"Yes, it will," she said. "That canister holds five pounds of flour and a little more, if you know what you're doing."

Seventh Sunday
in Ordinary Time
(Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007)
1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Luke 6:27-38

Clearly, I didn't, so she coached me.

Following her directions, I poured in flour about half way to the top, closed the canister and shook it vigorously, then lifted it slightly and let it drop a few times. Grudgingly, I saw that there was now more room but remained skeptical. When, eventually, all five pounds had been transferred safely to the canister, I was amazed despite myself.

That image of measuring ingredients for baking comes to mind when I hear Sunday's Gospel story where Jesus urges us to "give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap."

The command he gives just before this is perhaps the most daunting in the Christian Gospel: to love our enemies, to forgive our persecutors, to leave the mysterious work of judging hearts to God.

Could any challenge be more sobering? Could any command be more counterintuitive, any standard of behavior more crucifying to embrace?

For we have looked into our own capacity for forgiveness, for mercy to those who have injured us, and we are all too aware of its limits.

Reflection questions

• Who has been an example of unstinting forgiveness in your life?

• What is one way you can practice the discipline of suspending judgment of others?

We shudder to think of all we have to let go of before we can be filled up: resentment, grudges, entitlement, moral superiority.

The good news is that God pledges to find room in our hearts and lives and spirits for the mercy and grace we need to become so generous, so filled with love. And God is not stingy when it comes to grace.


This column is presented in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.


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This week's readings

Week of February 18 - 24, 2007


Sunday, February 18, 2007

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Reading II: 1 Cor 15:45-49
Gospel: Lk 6:27-38

Monday, February 19, 2007
Reading I: Sir 1:1-10
Gospel: Mk 9:14-29

Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Reading I: Sir 2:1-11
Gospel: Mk 9:30-37

Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Ash Wednesday
Reading I: Jl 2:12-18
Reading II: 2 Cor 5:20--6:2
Gospel: Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Thursday, February 22, 2007
Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle
Reading I: 1 Pt 5:1-4
Gospel: Mt 16:13-19

Friday, February 23, 2007
Reading I: Is 58:1-9a
Gospel: Mt 9:14-15

Saturday, February 24, 2007
Reading I: Is 58:9b-14
Gospel: Lk 5:27-32


Pope's Prayer Intentions

February General Intention

Just Distribution of Resources. That the goods of the earth, given by God for all people, may be used wisely and in accordance with justice and solidarity.

February Mission Intention

Fight Against Diseases. That governments of all nations may cooperate to fight diseases and epidemics in the Third World.



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Prayer for St. Raphael Cathedral

O God,
Whose word is like fire,
who spoke to Your servant Moses in the burning bush;
who led Your people Israel out of bondage
      with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night:
hear Your people as we call upon You
in both need and gratitude.

May the Cathedral fire purify Your Church
in the Diocese of Madison
so that our hearts may burn with the knowledge
      that Your Church is built upon the bedrock
of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through the intercession of Saint Raphael,
      Your messenger of healing,
in union with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI,
and with our Bishop, Robert C. Morlino,
may we find comfort in our affliction
and the courage to proclaim
      the Good News of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.

Amen.


For more prayer resources visit the Office of Worship's Web page at www.straphael.org/~office_of_worship/
(Click on the link on the main page.)



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