EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A

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1 Since October 30, Christ the KING Parish Kampala UG PARISH PRIEST Msgr. Gerard Kalumba ASSISTING PRIESTS Msgr. Joseph Mugambe Rev. Fr. John Bosco Ssembatya Rev. Fr. Arthur Richard Muwonge LEAD CATECHIST Evaristo Mary Baguma CHAIRPERSON LAITY EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A First reading: Isaiah 49:14-15; Yet I will not forget you. Sunday, 26 th February 2017 What a weakness it is to love Jesus Christ only when He caresses us, and to be cold immediately once He afflicts us. This is not true love. Those who love thus love themselves too much to love God with all their heart. --- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Rogers Semakula SECRETARY LAITY John Baptist Ssemitego PARISH EXEC. SECRETARY Mrs. Euphemia Kiwuwa SUNDAY MASSES 07.00am: Luganda 08.00am: English 09.00am: Luganda 10.00am: English 11.15am: English 05.00pm: English (Charismatic) SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Monday - Friday 7:45am (after 7.00am Mass) 12:15pm (before 1:00pm Mass) 1:45pm (after 1:00pm Mass) Saturday 7:45am (after 7.00am Mass) A reading from the Book of Isaiah Zion said, The LORD has forsaken me, my LORD has forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. The Word of the LORD DAILY MASSES: Monday to Friday: 6:30am 7:00am 1:00pm; Saturday: 7:00am 6:00pm

2 Responsorial Psalms: Ps 62:2-3, 6-9; R. In God alone be at rest, my soul. In God alone is my soul at rest; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock, my salvation, my fortress; never shall I falter. R. In God alone be at rest, my soul, for my hope is from Him. He alone is my rock, my salvation, my fortress; never shall I falter. R. In God, is my salvation and Glory, my rock of strength; in God is my refuge. Trust Him at all times all people. Pour out your hearts before Him. R. Second reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; The LORD will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness. A reading from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians Brethren: This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the LORD who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the LORD comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God. The Word of the LORD 2 Remember, Rejoice, Renew

3 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Hebrews 4:12 V. Alleluia. R. Alleluia. V. The Word of the LORD is living and active, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. R. Alleluia Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34; Do not be anxious about tomorrow. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew At that time: Jesus said to His disciples, No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat? or `What shall we drink? or `What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day s own trouble be sufficient for the day. The Gospel of the LORD. Remember, Rejoice, Renew 3

4 THE PARISH PRIEST S REFLECTION Isaiah 49: Corinthians 4:1-5 Matthew 6:24-34 DO NOT BE ANXIOUS: TRUST GOD FOR HE CARES LIKE A MOTHER AND EVEN MORE In the First Reading, Msgr. Gerard Kalumba the Prophet Isaiah reflects on the care and love that a mother has for a child in normal circumstances. Isaiah 49:14 Can a Woman forget her sucking child that she should have no love on the son of her womb? Even where a mother may forget her sucking child God does not forget His children. It is imperative, however, that the children look out for God. The Gospel texts put it bluntly that No one can serve two masters; you cannot serve God and mammon. When we seek God, then there is no need to be anxious. Seeking God is recognition on the human part that we Trust God. The consequences of trusting God are: (a). Having full confidence that our life is cared for by God without fail. We are of Greater value in the sight of God than all other creatures. (b). Anxiety does not add value to our lives instead anxiety triggers bodily ailments like hypertension etc. It triggers social disharmony and mistrust. We close our hearts and we lose Love. We stop cooperating with others. All these situations result into psychological, social and spiritual diseases. We lose our peace and our joy and money; however much we may have, it may not help us to recover these important values and states of life. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and enjoy peace, love, and harmony. Seek His righteousness and enjoy peace, love, harmony, joy, corporation, unity, compassion etc... and then all other human needs will be taken care of: good health and wealth. So we can conclude with the sentiments of St. Paul in the Second Reading from his first letter to the Corinthians: Let us be regarded as Servants of CHRIST and treasurers of the mysteries of God. A Treasurer must be trustworthy. Having put our Trust in God let us leave all judgment to Him and every man will receive his commendation from God. May the Lenten Season that we begin on Ash Wednesday this week assist us to deepen our confidence and Trust in God so that we may get rid of our anxieties. Msgr. Gerard Kalumba Christ the King Parish Kampala 4 Remember, Rejoice, Renew

5 CROSSWORD PUZZLE:WORRY NOT, JUDGE NOT... Would we wish that our own hidden sins should be divulged? We ought, then, to be silent regarding those of others. -- St. John Baptist de la Salle Remember, Rejoice, Renew 5

6 At the beginning of Lent, I asked my confessor for some mortification for this time of fast. I was told not to cut down on my food but, while eating, to meditate on how the Lord Jesus, on the Cross, accepted vinegar and gall. This would be my mortification. I did not know that this would be so beneficial to my soul. The benefit is that I am meditating constantly on His sorrowful Passion and so, while I am eating, I am not preoccupied with what I am eating, but am reflecting on my Lord s death. I would like to explore the key Biblical theme of 40 since we are beginning the 40 days of Lent. There are three things that are stressed during the 40 days of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Forty (40) from the list below is symbolic for trial, testing, and waiting. But in the use of the number 40 there is one underlying focus: it is a journey (see Pope Benedict XVI s comments below), even if physical, it always leads to a spiritual time of growth and change. It rained 40 days and 40 nights during the Flood (Genesis 7: 4) Noah waited 40 days after the waters receded and the Ark settled on Mount Ararat before he sent out the raven (Genesis 8: 3-8) Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebecca (Genesis 25: 20) Esau was 40 years old when he married his two wives (Genesis 26: 34) The Israelites ate Manna 40 years in the Desert (Genesis 16: 35-6) Moses spent 40 days and nights on 6 Remember, Rejoice, Renew THE BIBLICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF 40 DAYS OF LENT Saint Faustina writes in diary Entry 618: Mount Sinai (Exodus 24: 18) comes down to the Golden Calf, break the tables. Then in Exodus 24: 28 he returns and fasts 40 days and 40 nights. The scouts from the 12 tribes spied out the Promised Land 40 days before they returned a bad report (Numbers 13: 25) Therefore, the Israelites were required to spend 40 years wandering in the Wilderness (Numbers 14: 33; Deuteronomy 29: 4) Joshua was 40 years old when he spied with the scouts (Numbers 13: 5; Joshua 14: 7) Goliath taunted Israel 40 days before his defeat by David (1 Samuel 17: 16) King David reigned for 40 years (2 Samuel 5: 4) King Solomon reigned for 40 years (1 Kings 11: 42) Jonah preached to Nineveh for 40 days before they repented (Jonah 3: 4) Elijah fasted 40 days in the wilderness (1 Kings 19: 8) Purification of Mary is 40 days after birth of Jesus (Leviticus 12: 1-4) (Luke 2: 22-4) Jesus spent 40 days Fasting in the Desert after His baptism (Matthew 4: 1-2) Jesus also spent 40 days on earth following His Resurrection (Acts 1: 3) Jesus, by tradition, spent 40 hours in the tomb. In his address on Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2007, Pope Benedict XIV stated:

7 Ash Wednesday, which we celebrate today, is for us Christians a particular day, characterized by an intense spirit of recollection and reflection. We begin, in fact, the Lenten journey, time of listening to the word of God, of prayer and of penance. They are 40 days in which the liturgy will help us to relive the important phases of the mystery of salvation. ardent prayer. In the liturgy itself and in liturgy=centered instructions, these baptismal and penitential themes should be more pronounced. (SC 109) We wish you a fruitful Lenten season. Michael Nuwagaba Communications Office. They are 40 days in which the liturgy will help us to relive the important phases of the mystery of salvation. In fact, Vatican II in Sacrosanctum Concilium (On Sacred Liturgy) declares: The Lenten season has a twofold character: (1) it recalls baptism or prepares for it; (2) it stresses a penitential spirit. By these means especially, Lent readies the faithful for celebrating the paschal mystery after a period of closer attention to the Word of God, and more ECUMENICAL WORKSHOP -To all Leaders of Kampala Vicariate: There is a Workshop on Ecumenism today Sunday, 26th February 2017 at Old Kampala Parish. Starting with Mass at 10.00am. The Pastoral Council of Deaneries at the Vicariate and all Pastoral Councillors are invited and encouraged to attend. Remember, Rejoice, Renew 7

8 WEEKDAY SAINTS & READINGS OF THE WEEK READINGS Monday 27th February 2017 Ordinary Weekday (Mass of Choice): First reading: Sirach 17:24-29; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 32:1-2, 5-7; Gospel: Mark 10: Tuesday 28th February 2017 Ordinary Weekday (Mass of Choice): First reading: Sirach 35:1-12; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 50:5-8, 14, 23; Gospel: Mark 10:28-31 Ordinary Time I ends after Compline. Celebrations to be planned and organised: CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (Election and Scrutinies) LENNTEN CAMPAIGN PENITENTIAL CELEBRATIONS STATIONS OF THE CROSS Wednesday 01st March 2017 ASH WEDNESDAY: First reading: Joel 2:12-18; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 51:3-6, 12-14, 17; Second reading: 2 Corinthians 5: :2; Matthew 6:1-6, Other Masses are not permitted, except funeral Masses. Thursday 02nd March 2017 Thursday after Ash Wednesday (Mass of Lent): First reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Responsorial Psalm: Ps.1:1-4, 6; Gospel: Luke 9:22-25 Friday 03rd March 2017 Friday after Ash Wednesday (Mass of Lent): First reading: Isaiah 58:1-9a; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 51:3-6, 18-19; Gospel: Matthew 9: Saturday 04th March 2017 Saturday after Ash Wednesday (Mass of Lent): First reading: Isaiah 58:9-14; Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 86:1-6; Gospel: Luke 5: The memorial of St. Casimir may be Celebrated as a Commemoration Vigil Mass of the First Sunday of Lent Year A Sunday 05th March 2017 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A: First reading: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Responsorial Psalms: Ps 51:3-6, 12-14, 17; Second reading: Romans 5:12-19 (or 5:12, 17-19); Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11. Other Masses are not permitted, not even funeral Masses. CHOIR S ANNOUNCEMENT St. Joseph s Choir, The Choir that Sings During the 8.00am Mass On Sundays Would Like to Invite New and Interested Members to Join The Choir. Contact Their Director Mr. Kivumbi Edward On: Choir Practice Days Are; Tuesdays & Fridays at 5.30pm and Sundays at 9.15am. Christ the King Parish, Kampala Tel: Plot 3 Colville Street, P. O. Box 2551, Kampala - Uganda info@christthekingkampala.org