I love this weekend's gospel reading! You all know we're praying for a job right now and it is quite comforting to hear Christ remind us that there is absolutely no need to worry about things. "Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself." Thank you, Jesus!
What spoke to you?
I am a huge worrier, so this gospel is the perfect one for me! I should probably plaster it all over my house.
ReplyDeleteI love that reflection, too...it is the reminder I need to trustfully surrender to God's wise & loving Providence. On this last Sunday before the Great Fast/Lent, the Eastern Catholic Churches celebrate Forgiveness Sunday (also called Cheesefare) & remembers the expulsion of Adam & Eve from Paradise. We hear on the Lord's teaching about fasting & forgiveness & enter the season of the fast forgiving one another so that God will forgive us: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses (Matthew 6:14).
ReplyDeleteMany parishes hold Forgiveness Vespers on the eve of Great Lent (which begins on the Monday before Ash Wednesday in the East). After the dismissal at Vespers, there is the beautiful & humbling Rite of Forgiveness. The priest stands beside the ambon & the faithful come up one by one & venerate the icon, after which each makes a prostration before the priest, saying, "Forgive me, a sinner." The priest also makes a prostration before each, saying, "God forgives. Forgive me." The person responds, "God forgives," & receives a blessing from the priest. Meanwhile the choir sings quietly the Paschal Canon. After receiving the priest's blessing, the faithful also ask forgiveness of each other.