Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readings for Sunday of the 5th Week in Lent: Year 1
Morning Psalm 118; Evening Psalm 145;
Jeremiah 23:16 to 32; 1st Corinthians 9:19 to 27; Mark 8:31 to 9:1
“He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
The message here is that we ought to focus our lives on some loving and noble cause more than we are willing to just do that that is beneficial only to our own personal wellbeing. Our cross is that loving and noble cause. It was for our Lord Jesus and he is asking us to find our own cross, and follow Him in the Way of His dedication of love and righteousness.
Part 2 of 2
Eucharistic Readings for the 5th Sunday in Lent: Year B
Jeremiah 31:31to 34; Psalm 51:1 to 13 or Psalm 119:9 to 16; Hebrews 5:5 to 10; John 12:20 to 33
“They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.” (John 12: 21 and 22)
Taking a child fishing is perhaps one of the happiest moments a fishing person can have with a child. It ranks right up there with a baby taking their first step, or a child learning to ride a bicycle. When the fish is caught, patience is required of the experienced fisherman. We must let the child experience “bringing it in” and, taking it off the hook. It’s all a part of fishing.
The Greeks in today’s Gospel lesson have bit the hook of Philip who is being taught by Andrew, (a fisherman by trade), how to fish. Jesus himself is the Master Fisherman. And while Jesus goes on to talk about how sad he is that he has to depart back to his eternal realm, there has to be some degree of happiness about the fishing seed that has been planted and how it will continue to multiply over and over again.
As you live out your Church life, people will approach you about wanting to see your Jesus. When this happens, and it will, take them to the priest or the wardens of your parish and invite them to a Sunday service. Our Lord Jesus will take it from there. Jesus trained us to be fishermen for the kingdom. The fishing seed is planted. It is now time for you to bloom. It’s all a part of fishing.
Let us live to love, more than we just love to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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