Springtime

I am going to show some Springtime photos during these first days of Lent. Some have been longing for Spring after a long, cold winter.

The first verse of the hymn for this Friday morning prayer is
"The glory of these forty days
We celebrate with songs of praise;
For Christ, by whom all things were made,
Himself has fasted and has prayed."

In the Gospel today the disciples of John approach Jesus and ask, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus answers them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."

We fast in order to seek Jesus and to prepare ourselves to follow him; Jesus wants us to do good to others. Today's prayer over the gifts asks that "through this Lenten Eucharist may we grow in you love and service and become an acceptable offering to you."
May we all grow in love and service during these days of Lent; these are days of preparing to follow Jesus in his way of the Cross and so enter into his joy- let us not forget that the Passion, Death, and Resurrection are not to be separated for this is the Paschal Mystery!

I read in the little Black Book this morning that Jesus was not very careful of his choice of companions at the dinner; not only the Pharisees criticize him, but also the followers of John the Baptist! Jesus had a human heart and none of us like to be the object of critical talk; Jesus does not seem to let it bother him and goes on being himself, open to all, loving and forgiving. A good lesson for me!