A Correlation of This Sunday S Readings

Sunday, February 10, 2008

First Sunday of Lent

A CORRELATION OF THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Genesis 2: 7-9; 3: 1-7/Romans 5: 12-19 or 5: 12; 17-19/Matthew 4: 1-11

The liturgical season of Lent is a period of preparation for the solemn celebration at Easter of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The paschal mystery, as it is called, is at the heart of our faith. Through it God reconciled us to himself and offered us the possibility of a new life.

Although originally a much shorter period, Lent eventually came to embrace forty days in memory of Jesus’ forty days in the desert prior to the beginning of his public life. Those forty days were a time of prayer and fasting and of temptation or testing.

The devil tests Jesus in order to see in what sense he is God’s Son. The temptations reach a climax in the third one in which Jesus is offered dominion over the whole world if only he will adore the tempter. His response is decisive: God alone is to be worshiped and served.

The attitude of Jesus in the gospel is dramatcally different from that of Adam and Eve evoked in our first reading. Although made by God and given all the gifts they refuse to accept the limits that are theirs as creatures and want to become like God. Their arrogance leads to their destruction. They lose their innocence and God’s friendship and become prey to violence and death.

In today’s second reading Paul relates and contrasts Adam and Christ. We are all children of the first parents, heirs both of their dignity as creatrures made in God’s image and likeness and of the tragedy of their sin. Through them, Paul says, sin has come into the world, and with sin death.

Paul’s interest is not so much in Adam and Eve as in Christ. He marks the beginning of a new and renewed humanity. Through him and through his obedience to God, the ravages of sin are overcome. Death gives way to the promise of a new life. If by our very existence as human beings we share in the self-destructiveness of Adam and Eve, by faith we are one with Christ. *

* Excerpt from Preparing for Worship 1995 by Daniel Donovan published by Paulist Press, New York/Mahwah.

Lenten Fast and Abstinence

During the Season of Lent, the Church urges all the Faithful to reflect a spirit in penance in their daily life through performing acts of fast and abstinence.

Fasting requires that only one full mean be taken per day. Two other smaller meals may be taken during the day to maintain physical strength, but these two meals together should not equal a full mean in quantity. Fasting obliges all those who have reached the age of 18 and continues to oblige until age 59. Those not specifically obliged to fast are encouraged to join in the discipline of fasting to the extent that they are able.

Abstinence prohibits individuals from eating meat on a particular day. Abstinence obliges all those who have reached the age of 14 and continues to oblige throughout their entire life. Those not specifically obliged to abstain from eating meat are encouraged to join in this discipline in the extent that they are able. Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence. All Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence.

A Holy Hour Meditation

SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION: WHAT GOOD IS IT ANYHOW?

Wednesday, February 13

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Have you ever wondered what sacramental confession and surgery have in common? How patients and penitents alike reach new levels of health though the help of another? Come and find out as Fr. Christopher M. Saliga, OP (health care chaplain, ethicist, registered nurse, and former U.S. Army combat medic) helps us meditate upon the life-giving mystery of metanoia.

Today’s Special Collection

Let Us Make Sure None of God’s Children Ever Feels Alone

The Peter’s Pence Collection enables the Holy Father to respond with emergency financial assistance to our brothers and sister in need through the world. Please make a generous donation today.

Next Sunday’s Special Collection

Next weekend Br. Austin Litke, O.P. will speak on behalf of the Deserving Poor Boys Priesthood Association for the support of Dominican Students preparing for the priesthood. Please be generous to this appeal. Check should be made out to “Deserving Poor Boys Priesthood Association”.

The Academy of St. Joseph

Washington Place

will host an Open House

Tuesday, February 12

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

RSVP (212) 243-5420

Christopher Creaghan Organ Recital

Christopher Creaghan, former Director of Music at St. Joseph’s, will be giving an organ recital at St. Bartholomew's Church at 4:30 PM on Sunday, Feb. 10. The recital is free. St. Bart's is at Park Ave. and 51st St. (one block from 51st St. local stop on the Lex.)

Pax Christi Metro NY Lenten Retreat

Pax Christi Metro New York (PCMNY) invites you to a Lenten retreat with Fr. Joseph Nangle, OFM, from February 29th to March 2nd, at the St. Joseph Renewal Center in Brentwood , Long Island . His theme will be “Engaged Spirituality: Faith Life in the Heart of the Empire.” Please contact PCMNY at 212-420-0250 or by February 19th for details, or visit www.nypaxchristi.org.

Lenten Vespers 2008

Corpus Christi Church

Sundays at 4:00 PM

529 West 121st St.

Between B’way and Amsterdam Aves.

For information call (212) 666-9350

Anyone who needs to report an alleged incident of sexual abuse of a minor by priest, deacon, religious or lay person serving the Archdiocese of New York is asked to contact Sister Eileen Clifford, OP at (212) 371-1000 extension 2949 or Deacon Lawrence O’Toole at (914) 594-4646. Both may also be reached via e-mail at . Information can also be found on the Archdiocesan website, http://ny-archdiocese.org. In keeping with the Archdiocesan policy regarding sexual abuse of minors, this information is provided to ensure that our children remain safe and secure.