Sunday, February 22nd
To complete today's challenge, find time to prayerfully read through the reflections below, attend a recovery meeting, and share what's on your heart and mind on today's discussion board.
REFLECT
Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel reading, someone in the crowd lets Jesus know his mother and brothers are there to see Him. The Lord responds to the crowd, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it” (Luke 8:21).
In the darkness of addiction, I remember feeling at a complete loss about how to live life. The gift of Catholic in Recovery is that we find God’s family—we connect with those who hear and act on the word of God. We gather to live life through the blessings of working the Twelve Steps with Jesus and participating in the sacraments of the Church. We also learn about the power of our baptism and its relation to Steps 1, 2, and 3. Our baptism enables us to break free from our addictions, compulsions, unhealthy attachments, and sin in general, moving from the “bondage to self” toward the freedom to do God’s will.
When active in our addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments, it’s hard to recall our baptismal call due to the loud demands to satisfy our flesh-driven cravings. Step 1 helps us unravel our addictive mindset, moving from chaos toward the light of reason. We move beyond the curtain of denial toward grace, bringing sure-footedness on solid ground. Step 2 keeps our eyes on Jesus and transforms our perspective. Step 3 helps us surrender, acknowledging Christ in our hearts and God’s precious gift to us—our identity as baptized children of the Father. In other words, by actively working Steps 1, 2, and 3, we begin participating in and accepting the precious promise of our baptism. May we recognize our baptismal promise today and “hear the word of God and act on it” so that we too may embody what we encounter in today’s first reading: “Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hand of the LORD; wherever it pleases him, he directs it” (Proverbs 21:1).
Reflection Questions
- How have Steps 1, 2, and 3 helped you to embrace God’s will for your life? How have they helped you recognize the power of your baptism?
- What unhealthy attachments are blocking the light of Christ within you? What can you do today to reclaim that light?
Daily Mass Readings
First Reading: Proverb 21:1-6, 10-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44
Gospel: Luke 8:19-21
Reflection by Karen D.
Saint Maurice and Companions, Martyrs
(d.c.287) — Maurice was the commander of the Theban Legion, soldiers from Upper Egypt in the Roman Empire, who were called in to put down a revolt in modern-day Switzerland. According to legend, the entire legion, consisting of up to 6,600 men, refused to offer sacrifice to pagan gods and to the emperor before going into battle, and they refused to slaughter the people there. Emperor Maximian decimated the legion (had every tenth person executed), and when they continued to refuse, he massacred the entire legion.
Saint Maurice and his legion exemplify fortitude. The virtue of fortitude is standing up for the right thing as well as perseverance through what is difficult for the sake of the good. How are we growing in fortitude in recovery?
“We are your soldiers, O emperor, but God’s servants…We owe military service to you, but just living to Him…No way can we follow an emperor in this, a command for us to deny God our Father, especially since our Father is your God and Father whether you like it or not” (Saint Maurice as quoted by Saint Eucharius, Bishop of Lyons, successor of Saint Irenaeus).
Reflection by Brad Farmer
Other Saints
Discuss
Share your thoughts and connect with others on this journey.
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I am on day 4 of my new recovery journey and have not yet noticed a pull back toward my behaviors that caused my relapse, however I remember from today's gospel that it was after Jesus completed 40 days that the devil tempted him. I believe that it will be after lent that temptation will be stronger to drive me away from God.
Prayer and fasting will keep me closer to God by keeping me focused on His unconditional love for me and my recovery into to person he created me to be.