Rev. Lawrence F. Kolson, Pastor Rev. Paul J. Breczinski, Associate Pastor

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1 Rev. Lawrence F. Kolson, Pastor esus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high J mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. Mark 9:2-10 Rev. Paul J. Breczinski, Associate Pastor pbreczinski@archbalt.org Deacon Frank R. Laws franklaws@comcast.net Sr. Angela DeFontes, Pastoral Associate redsdef@comcast.net Mrs. Kellie A. Reynolds, Pastoral Associate kreynolds@archbalt.org Sunday Masses 4:30pm and 6:00pm on Saturday 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:15am, 10:45am & 12:15pm 10:45am in School Hall (September May) Daily Masses 7:30am Monday - Saturday Confessions Every Saturday 3:45pm to 4:15pm and by appointment Parish web site: ststephenbradshaw.org 8030 Bradshaw Road, Bradshaw, MD 21087

2 February 25, 2018 The Second Sunday of Lent Website Address: Ststephenbradshaw.org Parish Office ; Fax: ; Office hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30am - 4:00 pm No Saturday hours Sunday 8:00am - 2:00 pm St. Stephen Parish School Grades Pre-K 3 through 8th grade Mrs. Mary Patrick, Principal info@ssschool.org; Fax: Office of Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation Pam Franke; pfranke@archbalt.org Business Manager Mr. Robert Melewski, bobmelew@aol.com Youth and Young Adult Ministry Robin Urbanski; stephenyouthasst@hotmail.com Director of Music Mr. Robert Hott, Director ; rhott@aol.com Mr. Paul Baroody, Assistant Organist Ms. Susanne Rising, Choir Director Mr. Gregory Russell, Contemporary Music Leader Convent Parish Council Drew Bonthron, Chairperson; drew.bonthron@gmail.com See full listing of council members and their contact information on parish web site. Mission Statement We, the parish of St. Stephen, will carry out the mission of Jesus Christ as a welcoming, worshiping, Catholic community by sharing, growing and living the Gospel. PARISH REGISTRATION: If you are interested in joining the St. Stephen parish community, please contact the Parish Office at or register online at BAPTISM: Baptisms are celebrated every Sunday at 1:45 P.M. Parents must be members of St. Stephen s Parish. One Godparent must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic. Both must be Christian and at least 16 years old. Parents and Godparents must attend a Baptism preparation Program. Please call the Parish Center ( ) for more information. MARRIAGE: Couples planning to marry must contact one of the priests or deacons at least 6 months prior to the tentative date of the wedding. Participation in a marriage preparation program is required. PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick should be administered at the beginning of a serious illness. Please notify the parish office when a parishioner is in the hospital. If you are unable to attend Church and wish to receive Holy Communion at home, please contact the office. Resources For Pregnancy Assistance: Birthright, 38 E. Gordon St., Bel Air. Call or Center for Pregnancy Concerns, 442 Eastern Blvd., Essex. Call Women s Care Center, 7625 Belair Road Baltimore. Call For Food Assistance: Helping Hands Food Pantry, 7901 Bradshaw Rd, Upper Falls, FAITH FORMATION CLASSES Sunday Mornings (9:15 & 10:45) for Pre K-Grade 8 Children must attend grades 1 and 2 before receiving First Reconciliation and First Communion. Tuesday Evenings (7:00-8:15) for Grades 7-12 To register for Faith Formation classes, please call or pfranke@archbalt.org. CONFIRMATION: The sacrament is conferred on our 8th grade and high school youth. Teens must attend 2 years of Faith Formation (or Catholic/Home School Religion) before receiving Confirmation. For more information, please contact Mrs. Robin Urbanski at or stephenyouthasst@hotmail.com. RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA): This process is designed to prepare adults to join the Catholic Church. In addition, RCIA prepares those people who were baptized as Catholics but who have never received First Communion or Confirmation. For information, please contact Sr. Angela DeFontes at Courage Ministry Courage is a ministry to people with same -sex attractions who are looking for support to live chaste lives according to the teachings of the Church. For information, go to their website, Dominican Father Carleton Jones, pastor of Ss. Philip and James Church in Baltimore, is the local Courage chaplain. He is available for confidential inquiries or conversations at , extension 0. Voice mail messages should include a first name and a private number to return the call.

3 February 25, 2018 The Second Sunday of Lent Page 3 MASS SCHEDULE March 3 and 4, 2018 The Third Sunday of Lent SATURDAY CONFESSIONS 4:30PM Fr. Joseph Rossi, S.J. Fr. Joseph Rossi, S.J. 6:00 PM Fr. Joseph Rossi, S.J. SUNDAY 7:00 AM Fr. Lawrence Kolson 8:00 AM Fr. Lawrence Kolson 9:15 AM Fr. William O'Brien 10:45 AM Fr. Paul Breczinski 10:45 AM HALL Fr. William O'Brien 12:15 PM Fr. Paul Breczinski (Schedule is subject to change - check the parish web site ) Sign of Peace During the flu season, don t be offended if someone chooses not to shake hands with you during the Sign of Peace. An appropriate gesture for those who are concerned about spreading the flu virus might be to bow gently to those around you, and with a smile say Peace be with you, or Peace of Christ. Our parish prayer box is located at the back of the church on the St. Joseph side. Use the note paper and pencils provided to submit your intentions so that we can pray for them. Parish Theme : Living as Missionary Disciples: Accompanying Others Pope Francis [urges us] to accompany people on their spiritual journey. [In his new book, To Light a Fire on the Earth, Bishop Robert Barron reminds us that] the people who have left the faith are not in a thriving, vigorous new belief system. They left a Church they did not understand for an alternative secularism that is failing them. Secularism doesn t just disappoint people it imperils them. When you suppress the desire for God, which secularism does necessarily, it s very dangerous psychologically, Barron says. I see it all the time in the form of addictions and depressions [in some people]. So, I m doing this out of deep concern for people. It s dangerous stuff, to shut down the aspiration toward God. So that s the first thing a would-be evangelist needs to know: We truly have something to offer. Barron practices what he preaches, teaching the faith in a way that is down to earth. He insists that if kids can memorize Star Wars characters, they can learn the Bible, too, and for adults he references Dante and Clint Eastwood, the Chartres Cathedral and baseball, John Henry Newman and Bob Dylan. Catholics spend too much time [talking about] Church rules and not enough time focused on the one who gives meaning to those rules, says Barron. When you talk to the younger generation about what turns them on [they respond], Yes, tell me the story of Maximilian Kolbe again! Or, better, the story of Jesus Christ. Only when you ve had that experience of falling in love with something, Barron believes, will learning the rules that support it make sense. In short, Barron says only affirmative orthodoxy is capable of accompanying others. Instead of condemning the unevangelized he would rather relate with joyous verve, and extend an invitation to receive all of Christ s gifts through his Church. Which is exactly what it means to accompany others. From aleteia.org Lent at St. Stephen Eucharistic Adoration: All are welcome to come to the convent chapel on Thursdays any time from 6:00-7:30pm to pray and spend time with our Lord. Stations of the Cross on the Fridays of Lent: March 2, 9, 16, 23, at 7:00pm in the church. OUR PARISH FAMILY February 10/11 Mass attendance: 1,126 Use Bishop Robert Barron s resources to make this Lent a time of personal growth in spirituality. Word on Fire ENGAGE is being sent to all parishioners this Lent. It offers messages, bible studies and access to excellent video content from Bishop Barron s Word on Fire, a global ministry which reaches millions of people by utilizing the tools of new media. If you are not getting messages from our parish (from Lent ), here s how to sign up: Send a text message to the number (in the US) and enter SSC in the message or subject line and you will get a text message back to complete your registration. When you finish registration, join the LENT group to get access to this material. OR use the link on the Parish Website with the FlockNote icon, Uno the sheep! When you finish registration, join the LENT group to get access to this material. Take a look and please let us know how you like it. This is only a pilot program and all access will end on Easter (April 1, 2018).

4 February 25, 2018 The Second Sunday of Lent Page 4 ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL Mary Patrick, Principal Fax: mpatrick@ssschool.org Website: Sunday, February 25: Drama Practice 2:00-6:00 pm Monday, February 26: Art Club 3:00-4:15pm Tuesday, February 27: Drama Practice 3-5pm Wednesday, February 28: Robotics Club 3-4pm Applications and Registrations: If you would like to know more about our school, contact Mrs. Zachmeier at or see our website at St. Stephen School serves students in Pre-K 3 through 8th grade. Winter Weather Closings If Baltimore County Schools are closed or have a 2 hour delay due to weather, there will be no daily 7:30 AM Mass. The St. Stephen Parish Office will also follow the school closing schedule for Baltimore County Schools. If Baltimore County schools close, delay or have early dismissal due to inclement weather, the Parish Office will also. Thank you for your patience during this snowy time of year. WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS DAY DATE MASS INTENTION MON 26-Feb 7:30AM Sr. Rose Mary Eve Holter (L) TUE 27-Feb 7:30AM The Harkins Family (L&D) WED 28-Feb 7:30AM Parish THU 1-Mar 7:30AM St. Stephen Society FRI 2-Mar 7:30AM Jerome Meusel (D) SAT 3-Mar 7:30AM Dale Harkins & Inskeep Family SAT 3-Mar 4:30PM Mary Leo (D) SAT 3-Mar 6:00PM Beth Wilson (D) SUN 4-Mar 7:00AM SUN 4-Mar 8:00AM SUN 4-Mar 9:15AM Newly Weds SUN 4-Mar 10:45AM Michael Dietz & Family SUN 4-Mar HALL 10:45AM SUN 4-Mar 12:15PM Thomas A. Bernoski (D) God s Gift of His Word Readings for next Sunday, the Third Sunday of Lent First Reading: Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 Gospel: John 2:13-25 These readings might help you as you ask yourself the questions of the week: Teens/Adults: When has the message of the cross seemed absurd to you, and when have you seen its wisdom? Children: What puzzles you in the gospel stories? Which story makes you the most hopeful? Service Opportunities Kenya Day Planning Meeting this Sunday, February 25 in the youth and young adult office from 10:15-11:15. All are welcome as we plan for our next Kenya Day! Coupons in Flight! Cutting coupons help support US military families stationed around the world: First Sunday of the Month (next Sunday, March 4) in the 2nd floor of the school, 9-10am. In 2017, we sent 78.5 lbs of coupons to service men and women! Can t join us to clip? we ll collect your coupons from the past 4 months: drop them into the collection box in the donation room under the parish center porch. Please note: The coupons must be cut just inside the black dotted/solid line, please do not cut off the corners. For more information, please contact Ms. Mary Marston at moistureproof@verizon.net Scouting for Food/Harvest for the Hungry is the annual outreach project of our scout troops. Watch for information about their annual grocery collection at all Masses! Be a Voice for the Vulnerable in Maryland! Join us at the Maryland March for Life in Annapolis. On Monday, March 12, a bus will leave St. Joseph Fullerton Church parking lot at 4pm and return by 9:30pm. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children and students. This amazing evening includes: Mass at 5:15 at St. Mary s Church; a short peaceful, prayerful walk to Lawyers Mall to hear dynamic speakers; and a free Chick-fil-A meal and Pro- Life Resource Fair at St. Mary s School. Pre-registration required. Please contact Becky Drinks at St. Joseph Parish ( ) or bdrinks@stjoefullerton.org. Registration Deadline: Thursday, March 8.

5 February 25, 2018 The Second Sunday of Lent Three Reasons to go to Confession [Many people] are embarrassed or afraid to go to confession. They avoid it as long as possible, and make excuses for not going. If that s you, here are three reasons you should go to confession as soon as possible. 1. A new beginning No matter what you ve done (think of the worst thing you could possibly do), you can find mercy and healing in the sacrament of penance. When you walk out of the confessional, you are as sin free as you will ever be. Why would you not want that gift? Even if you haven t committed any serious sins, going to confession is like taking a bath. While they don t kill us spiritually, venial sins wound our soul and make it dirty, so to speak. Don t let your soul become smelly and dusty with venial sins. Go to confession. 2. Concrete forgiveness Our Lord does not keep us guessing about whether or not we are forgiven. When the priest utters the words of absolution, your soul is instantly and completely healed. Sacramentally, Jesus is present in the confessional in the person of the priest. If he were here on earth, wouldn t you ask him for forgiveness? If you want to experience the Divine Mercy in a real way, confession is the way to do it. 3. You receive graces There is a mistaken notion that confession is just getting rid of our sins. But that s not true. We not only have our sins taken away and cast into the bottom of the sea, we also receive graces from Christ that we desperately need to live a holy life. The more you go to confession, the more graces you receive. from catholicexchange.com Q & A Q. During the Transfiguration, what were Jesus, Moses, and Elijah talking about? A. According to the Gospel of Luke, they were discussing the paschal mystery they had prophesied namely, Christ's imminent passion, death, and resurrection, the "things he was to accomplish in Jerusalem." And, of course, right after the Transfiguration he teaches his apostles how it would be necessary for him to suffer and die and be raised up. Thus, the apostles inherit the revelation of the prophets, even if at the time they were not ready for this revelation. Fr. Charles Grondin, Catholic Answers (Catholic.com) Harford County Parishes Lent Reconciliations and Reconciliation Services 2018 St. Ignatius: March 19, 7:00PM in the church (Also every Saturday at 3:00PM) St. Mark: March 5, 7:00PM in the church (Also every Saturday at 3:00PM) St. Mary: March 29, 7:00PM in the church (Also every Saturday at 3:30PM) Page 5 St. John: March 23, 3:00PM- 8:00PM (Also Every Saturday at 4:00PM) St. Patrick: Fridays of Lent, February 16 - March 23, in the church from 5:30PM to 6:30PM (Also every Saturday at 3:00PM) St. Joan of Arc: February 27, Parish Reconciliation Service 7:00PM in the church (Also every Saturday at 4:15PM) St. Margaret: February 27, 7:00 pm (Also every Saturday at 2:30-3:30 pm) St. Stephen: March 21 - Day of Reconciliation from 3PM to 5PM and 7PM to 9PM (Also every Saturday at 3:45PM) St. Francis de Sales: March 20, 7:00PM (Also every Saturday at 3:45PM) Prince of Peace: Every Saturday at 3:00PM Holy Spirit: Every Saturday at 4:00PM Parish Pastoral Council Elections We are looking for candidates to stand for election in May to fill three-year terms on the Parish Pastoral Council beginning June Any interested candidate must (1) have attained the age of sixteen years by the date of elections; (2) be baptized, confirmed, and officially registered as a member of the parish in good standing; (3) maintain a posture not inconsistent with Church teachings; and (4) be a contributing member of the parish. If you are interested in being a candidate, know of someone who may be interested, or just want additional information, please contact Michele Dobson at or at micheledobson406@verizon.net by March 12, 2018 SAVE THE DATE for the May Procession and Crowning of Mary on Sunday, May 6 immediately following 12:15 PM Mass. Let us all come together parish, school, young and old give honor to Our Blessed Mother in her month of May. More details to come or call Jo Anna Schmidt at

6 February 25, 2018 The Second Sunday of Lent Page 6 We are all here to walk each other home Sr. Kathy Dauses will speak as a Missionary Disciple and describe how we all walk each other home in the last part of our earthly journey. We share in the ministry of presence which takes place through listening, befriending, proclaiming the Gospel, and making an invitation to faith, Sr. Kathy Dauses is a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, a member of St. Stephen Parish, and has been the hospice chaplain in the inpatient unit at Stella Maris for 14 years. Wednesday, February 28 in the Hall. Join us at 6:30 refreshments; the presentation begins at 7pm. All are welcome! Please RSVP at or call the Parish Center at ENCOUNTER SAFIATA SHARE THE JOURNEY: CRS Lenten Rice Bowl Drive In Burkina Faso, we encounter Safiata, a mother, grandmother and farmer who relies on the money she makes from her crops to put her children through school. How can our purchases this Lent support farmers and artisans? How can you support those, worldwide, who are forced to flee their homes to find safety or better opportunities? Visit crsricebowl.org for more. Rice bowls due the weekend of April 7 th and 8 th. Please send checks or cash, no change. **Please join us for Rice Bowl Wrap Up on April 6 th from 6:30-8:30 for fellowship and a lite dinner as we sample some soups from the regions that your financial support helps. Please use Sign up Genius on the parish website to RSVP.** Your CRS rice bowl donations go to help people like Safiata. In Tougouri Commune of Burkina Faso, Safiata Abore sits near onions that were harvested from her farm. Safiata, 58 years old, is the mother of 9 children and 16 grandchildren. As a widow, she is the primary caretaker for many of them who continue to live in the household. Farming and selling a portion of her harvest is the primary way Safiata can earn the income necessary to buy food for her family and pay their school fees. Safiata has three plots of land, one of which she received from Catholic Relief Services' Helping Hands project. Photo by Michael Stulman/Catholic Relief Services The community has been able to maintain an irrigation system by contributing 15,000 CFA per year, or approximately This helps Safiata and more than 120 farmers increase their harvest and income. CRS trained the women, including Safiata, in how to organize and use Savings and Internal Lending Communities, also known as SILC, to help members pool their money, save over time and borrow to meet pressing needs or to develop business opportunities.

7 February 25, 2018 The Second Sunday of Lent Page 7 Youth Ministry Youth Ministry contact info: Mrs. Kellie Reynolds:kreynolds@archbalt.org (best) or Monthly Online Newsletter: Each month we will POST ONLINE a Youth Ministry newsletter, and you can access this anytime from the website. Scroll down from the monthly calendar on the Youth Ministry home page: Palm Sunday Passion Play: Youth in grades 6-12 are encouraged to participate in the annual Palm Sunday Passion Play on Sunday March 25 at 10:45a and 12:15p. Rehearsals will begin on Tuesday, February 27 in the Church, 5:30pm - 6:30. Please RSVP to the Youth Ministry Office at or stephenyouthasst@hotmail.com - space is limited. Faith Formation Notices Tuesday Night (and Sunday Morning) Faith Formation parents: Did you know the Convent Chapel is open on the 2 nd Tuesday of the month for special spiritual events for parents just like you? Mark your calendars for our sessions on March 13, April 10, May 8, and June 5 (first Tuesday of June), 7-8:15pm. Confirmation Notices Confirmation retreats begin this month! An will be forthcoming inviting each participant to bring an item to share for your retreat day. Stay tuned! Last Confirmation session for the Sunday group will be next Sunday, February 25. Young Adult Ministry (ages 18-39) Young Adult Ministry contact info: Mrs. Kellie Reynolds - kreynolds@archbalt.org (best) or Follow us on Like our Facebook Page: ststephenyoungadultministry Check out our Pinterest Page: ststephenmd Follow us on Service and Social Justice Committee: Are you interested in Catholic Social Teaching and how that teaching can inform current events of our community and world? If you would like to serve on this parish committee that meets once a quarter as well as assist with our many parish service projects, please contact Kellie Reynolds or (best) kreynolds@archbalt.org. Moms Ministry: Will meet in the Youth and Young Adult Ministry office, parish center basement on Mondays; next meeting is this Monday, February 26. New to the parish, area, a new mom, or just new to this ministry? Please join us! For more information contact Liz Pippin at greenpup83@hotmail.com. Moms Ministry Moms Ministry Is reading and discussing the book Those Who Saw Her: Apparitions of Mary by Catherine M. Odell. The next gathering in the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office will be Monday, February 26. If you have not had a chance to join us before, please feel welcome to drop in at anytime! Need more info, contact Mrs. Liz Pippin at greenpup83@hotmail.com Confirmation 2018 Date at St. Stephen: May 5 th Tarzan at John Carroll Based on Disney's epic animated musical adventure and Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan of the Apes, Tarzan features heartpumping music by rock legend, Phil Collins, and a book by Tony Award-winning playwright, David Henry Hwang. High-flying excitement and hits, like the Academy Award winning "You'll Be in My Heart," as well as "Son of Man" and "Two Worlds," make Tarzan an unforgettable theatrical experience. For further information and tickets for performances on March 7 pm and March 2pm: Or contact Director of Theatre & Dance Programs, Kim Brueggemann (kbrueggemann@johncarroll.org) or , ext

8 February 25, 2018 The Second Sunday of Lent Page 8 Short Notices The Queen of Families Rosary Guild meeting will be on March 3 from 9:00-10:00am in the Library Learning Cottage on the St. Stephen School lot. If there should be inclement weather that day, the guild meeting will be canceled. Please consider joining the rosary guild ministry to pray, make rosaries for our church as well as missions throughout the world and spread devotion to Our Lady! For additional information, please contact Jo Anna Schmidt at Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us! Catholic Men s Fellowship Conference The 21st Annual Conference of Catholic Men s Fellowship of Maryland will be on Saturday March 10. Featured presenters are Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, Mark Teixeira (former MLB All- Star) and Attorney Hugo Alfaro for a Hispanic breakout session. This year, the conference will be at two locations; the north location is the St. Mary Magdalene Mission on Churchville Road in Bel Air. Visit catholicmensfellowship.com for registration and more information. Prior years have been a sellout, so register today! Ladies of Charity Distributions Ladies of Charity distributions of funds received from the poor boxes and other contributions in January are listed below: Franciscan Center - $400 Helping Hands Food Pantry - $400 House of Ruth - $400 Joseph House Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary - $350 Marian House - $350 The next Ladies of Charity meeting is TBA. 40 Days for Life The spring 40 Days for Life Campaign continues through March 25. You can protect mothers and children vulnerable to abortion through prayer and fasting, peaceful vigils and community outreach, 750,000 people have joined in 40 Days for Life events worldwide! Locally, volunteers pray peacefully near the Whole Women s Health abortion clinic on the public sidewalk in front of the Belair Beltway Plaza, Belair Road in Fullerton. St. Stephen parish is working to cover Wednesday, March 7 with prayer volunteers. Sign up to pray on that day, if possible, to help save lives and convert hearts. Visit 40daysforlife.com/fullerton or contact Anne Fox at or agf1461@gmail.com to sign up. If you can t pray on March 7, please come pray any day during the campaign. To learn more, use the contact information above. Respect Life Corner Pregnant, Need Help? Call Birthright at , the Center for Pregnancy Concerns at or the Women s Care Center at Suffering Post-Abortion Stress? Call Project Rachel at or go to rvbaltimore.org. Do you have an abortion in your past? Come and join us on a walk of healing. Feel free to share as much or as little as you want. There is no judgment, just love. Drop in meeting is held the last Tuesday of each month at the Birthright Office from 6:15 to 7:30 PM. At 38 East Gordon Street, Bel Air. Or call or go to birthrightharfordcounty.org. End of Life Issues? Contact the National Catholic Bioethics Centers at ncbc-offers-free-ethics-consultations or call Top Reasons to Oppose Assisted Suicide Untreated pain is not among the top reasons for taking lethal drugs: According to official annual reports, in 2016, 90% of Oregon patients seeking lethal drugs said they were less able to engage in activities making life enjoyable and were losing autonomy, and 49% cited being a burden on family, friends or caregivers. In Washington, 52% cited being a burden. In both Washington and Oregon concern about pain was cited as the second to last reason for seeking lethal drugs (35%). (continued next week) from usccb.org Good news in the fight against Physician Assisted Suicide! Proponents have backed down and Maryland legislators in Annapolis have held off on filing a physician-assisted suicide bill this session. This is very likely due to an election year with legislators hesitant to take controversial votes. This is also an acknowledgement from proponents that there are strong arguments against this bill and significant opposition around the state on an issue that has failed to pass over the last three sessions. Loving heavenly Father, help us to see the worth of all human beings. We would ask that you provide also the faith, grace and courage to enable us to protect that which is so precious to you. Through Christ our Lord, amen.

9 Second Sunday of Lent February 25, 2018 God s Test of Obedience By Mary Katharine Deeley The Apostle Paul was absolutely certain the love of God would find us no matter what happened and that if we had any role model and ancestor in faith, it was Abraham. The stories are familiar. Abraham left his ancestral home to find a land promised him by a God who had only recently revealed himself. Abraham believed a child would come to him and Sarah, though both were old. Finally, he showed he would give everything in obedience to God when he was asked to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. Sunday Readings Genesis 22:1 2, 9a, 10 13, Do not lay your hand on the boy, said the angel. Romans 8:31b 34 He who did not spare his own Son how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Mark 9:2 10 [God said,] This is my beloved Son. Listen to him. This last story is troublesome to us. Would God require human sacrifice? We can understand this as a story of faith in two ways. The traditional interpretation is that God requires everything from us and wants nothing to come between us and our love of God. God s test of Abraham is a test of obedience. Will we give our all? The second way of seeing the story begins with our understanding that many of the surrounding nations practiced child sacrifice. It may not have been a surprise when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, since his neighbors were doing it, too. But at the critical moment, when the angel calls out to tell Abraham to stop, he does. The Lord wants a different relationship with his people. Abraham s faith is shown as much in his obedience to the second order as to the first. God doesn t want us to be just like everyone else. Rather, God wants us as his own people, following the path he carves for us even if it means going against the tide. + We can understand the story of Abraham s faith in two ways. A Word From Pope Francis Lent is a special time for recalling the gift of our baptism, when we became children of God. The Church invites us to renew the gift she has given us, not to let this gift lie dormant as if it were something from the past or locked away in a memory chest. Homily, February 14, 2016 Are we willing to stay peacefully within God s plan, even if it means sacrifice? Do we trust God s plans more than our own? Is there anything more beloved by us than God s loving plan for us? 2018 Liguori Publications l Liguori.org

10 Belonging to God By Kathy Coffey The First Commandment: I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me (Exodus 20:2 3). Newspapers carried the story of a father who was boating with his son and the boy s friend. When a strong, unexpected current carried the children overboard, the dad rescued them both. But after dragging them to safety, he could not save himself and drowned. We can speculate about the gratitude the son, his friend, and their families will carry throughout their lives. Every breath they take is, in some sense, a gift of and a tribute to the heroic father who saved them. When people do us a big favor, we can rarely repay them. We breathe gratitude and cannot say thanks enough. The extreme thankfulness that recipients must feel gives us a clue about the First Commandment. When we read about God freeing the Hebrews from Egypt, it s hard to relate. Few of us know slavery firsthand. Hearing about people who are slaves today, many of them children, we re appalled. We can only imagine what it means when someone unlocks the prison door and says, You re free. To forget such a liberator would be the worst ingratitude. Awareness, Gratitude After a gift like the one the Hebrew people received, how could they ignore God? How could they even think of worshiping anyone or anything else? Before we get too high and mighty, scorning those ungrateful Jews, we should look at the ways God has freed us. Our situation may not be as obvious as imprisonment, but there are other, subtler forms of slavery. Some are caught in addictions to gambling, smoking, drugs, or alcohol. Others are trapped in unhealthy habits, fears, or relationships. From all of these, God is the ultimate liberator, freeing us in ways that surpass what we can do for ourselves. Whatever our particular circumstances, God has freed us from something. And how gratefully do we respond? We probably need a reminder to put God first as badly as the Hebrews did. If we say we belong to God completely and wholeheartedly, how do we show it? Do we set aside time each day to reflect on God s ongoing action in our lives? (For harried commuters this can be done at stop signs.) Do we fall asleep naming the ways God was present in our days and the blessings he brought? If we take this commandment seriously, it will be reflected in our calendars and checkbooks. How do we spend our time and money? Whatever our circumstances, God has freed us. Learning From Jesus If we really want to know what this commandment means, we should look at the way it operates in Jesus life. He is passionately caught up in the love of his Father; his primary goal is pleasing God. Inspired and heartened by God, he responds constantly to God s initiatives. Prayer punctuates his life; he often withdraws to renew his delight in God and be strengthened by their time together. During this time, he must experience God s love, listen for God s guidance, imagine God s face. Jesus shows us what it means to belong to God. During his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, every human instinct rebels against the course ahead, but he holds fast to whatever the Father asks. If we can share in his all-consuming love, it places us in the house of God at all times. As Jesus joy and compassion shows us, that s a far better place to live than the house of slavery. + Lord, you watch over me and love me as your child. Help me to see all people as your children and treat them with gentleness, love, and respect. From Mindful Meditations for Every Day of Lent and Easter, Rev. Warren J. Savage and Mary Ann McSweeny WEEKDAY READINGS February 26-March 3 Mon. Lenten Weekday: Dn 9:4b 10 / Lk 6:36 38 Tue. Lenten Weekday: Is 1:10, / Mt 23:1 12 Wed. Lenten Weekday: Jer 18:18 20 / Mt 20:17 28 Thu. Lenten Weekday: Jer 17:5 10 / Lk 16:19 31 Fri. Lenten Weekday: Gn 37:3 4, 12 13a, 17b 28a / Mt 21:33 43, Sat. Lenten Weekday: Mi 7:14 15, / Lk 15:1 3, February 25, Liguori Publications, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO Scripture quotations in this publication are from New American Bible, revised edition, 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. Pope Francis quotation is used with permission and copyright 2018 Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved Liguori.org.

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