Ash Wednesday
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
After reading today's reflections, make sure to listen to Pete S.'s personal reflection.
Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Today’s reading speaks of Joseph of the Old Testament and the trials God allowed him to endure at the hands of his brothers, which prepared Joseph for his life to come. Today’s Responsorial Psalm summarizes God’s plan for him and his family. Today’s readings call to mind our need to be purified before our loving God—our need to become spotless before entering His kingdom. As Saint Pope John Paul II explained during a General Audience in 1999, “For those who [at death] find themselves in a condition of being open to God, but still imperfectly, the journey toward full beatitude requires a purification, which the faith of the Church illustrates in the doctrine of purgatory.” Saint Pope John Paul II continues, referencing 1 Thessalonians and encouraging us to “be perfect like the heavenly Father during our earthly life… sound and flawless before God the Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” Whether during this life or in purgatory, the Lord gives us opportunities to remove the marks sin has left on our soul, calling to mind the seventh step when we ask God to remove our defects of character.
Purgatory prepares us to be with God. But isn’t our life on earth a type of purgatory, too, especially for those of us who are fortunate enough to find recovery? By working the Twelve Steps from time to time and working Step 11 and Step 12 continuously, aren’t we undergoing a type of in-life purgatory? We’ll continue this purgation process for the remainder of our lives, giving us a jump start on purgatory should God see that we still need purification when we die. As Saint Faustina, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, and Saint John of the Cross remind us, we can let our sufferings here and now purify us and draw us closer to eventually seeing God’s holy face after death.
We can consider God’s love for our fellows who are suffering as well as our loved ones who have passed from this world. Souls’ yearning for God in purgatory is so intense that it actually pains them to not be with the Lord. As St. John Chrysostom instructs us, “Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them” (CCC 1032). Therefore, let us call to mind our loved ones both alive or in purgatory, and offer up today’s prayers, sufferings, and acts of service for their sake and the sake of all souls.
Reflection Questions
- What aspects of your recovery help you “live out” your purgatory here on earth?
- Who are your deceased loved ones that you feel inclined to pray for? What can you offer up for them today for their sake?
Daily Mass Readings
First Reading: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
Reflection by Marcia G.
Saint Colette of Corbie
(1381-1447) — Nicolette Boellet, named after Saint Nicholas of Myra, was born in Corbie, France, when her parents were already in their 60s. She was orphaned at 17 and tried to join the Beguines and the Benedictines, but was dissatisfied with each. At 21, Colette joined the Third Order of Saint Francis and lived as a hermit for four years, during which time she received dreams and visions of Saints Francis and Clare calling her to reform their order. She became a Poor Clare, carried out reforms, and founded monasteries. Colette helped Saint Vincent Ferrer restore a papal schism, had a devotion to Christ’s Passion, and would fall into ecstasy after receiving the Eucharist.
Restoring discipline can be difficult once one has given up maintaining it. In 12-step recovery, we do a searching and fearless moral inventory (Step 4) and watch for patterns in our defects of character (Step 6). We humbly ask God to remove them (Step 7). What disciplines have aided you in your recovery?
“We must faithfully keep what we have promised. If through human weakness we fail, we must always without delay arise again by means of holy penance, and give our attention to leading a good life and to dying a holy death” (Saint Colette).
Reflection by Brad Farmer
Other Saints
Discuss
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Thank you very much for these deep and thought-provoking reflections. As a homeschooling family, I used to take my kids to the Smithsonian Gallery of Art, to appreciate and ponder on the breathtaking and faith-filled artwork of Fra Angelico. I never truly researched more information about him beyond admiring his paintings. Now that I know, I will surely share them with my family. Like Fra Angelico, my family and I will seek purity in our lives during this Lenten season, especially in our thoughts, words, and actions. As a family member of a lust addict, I will endeavor to take the steps to increase purity and avoid the near occasions of sin by reducing our usage of technology and entertainment. I look forward to journey on this Lenten Recovery Challenge. May God continue to bless the CIR+ ministry and everyone else in the challenge. And may your Lenten season be a fruitful, faith-filled, and transformative one.
I think about secrets in our family growing up...so many shame filled secrets. My dad use to go downstairs late at night and eat chips from a large tin container. Then mom would wake up and go downstairs and yell at him shaming him because he was so overweight. My mom's secret was sneaking wine in a red solo cup through the day which we thought for years was just juice. My secrets were always involving food. Someone would ask, "who ate all the ice cream or whip cream or etc. ," I'm here just starting my recovery from OE to health because my girls are now asking, "who ate my chips or ice cream or etc...". I need to bring this secret into the light and get recovery to health! Thank you for letting me share.