Saturday, March 7th
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
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
The Blessed Mother has played a powerful and influential role in my recovery over the years, helping me to overcome one of my most difficult addictions. I’ve had more than a few! I often refer to Mary as the great “wooer” and Jesus as the great “wower”! Together, Jesus and Mary have wowed me and wooed me into a deeper recovery and faith that has transformed my life and freed me from the bondage of my addictions, allowing me to “cry out to God with [great] joy” (Responsorial Psalm).
When I chose to surrender and get sober 22 years ago, many people in my life stopped talking to me. Some in my family were resentful of me because I kept my distance from them due to their active addictions. The sober people in my early recovery (and still today) were like the loving hands and arms of Jesus and Mary who showed me unconditional love. They, like Paul to Timothy, took me under their sober wings and taught me the ways of sobriety and faith.
Jesus, together with his mother Mary, has “chosen” those of us in recovery for Himself because we have been rejected by the world and because He truly loves us as His own. He assures us in today’s Gospel reading not to fear when we are rejected and persecuted by others because He has “chosen [us] out of the world” to be His own (John 15:19). Jesus loves us more than anyone will ever love us. What more could Jesus do to show us how much He loves us more than dying on a cross?
Reflection Questions
- Who were or are the sober people in your life who, like Saint Paul to Timothy, have taught, or are teaching, you the ways of sobriety and faith? How has their unconditional love helped you to become aware of Jesus and Mary’s unconditional love?
- How have Jesus and Mary wowed and wooed you in your recovery and faith?
Daily Mass Readings
First Reading: Acts 16:1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 5
Gospel: John 15:18-21
Reflection by Marty T.
Saint Pachomius of Tabenna
(c.290-c.346) — Saint Pachomius is considered the founder of cenobitic (communal) monasticism. He went to the desert to seek God but was inspired to create a place for others to join in community, a monastery. He wrote a rule of life said to be dictated by an angel that Saint Benedict and Saint Basil would later build on to create their more well-known rules.
Recovery is done in a community, not self-help islands. “The therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel” (Narcotics Anonymous). We need our sponsor and our fellows to help us see clearly and stay on course. As we can attest in active addiction, trying to do it alone didn’t work for us.
“It is patience that reveals every grace to you, and it is through patience that the saints received all that was promised to them” (Saint Pachomius).
Reflection by Brad Farmer
Other Saints
Discuss
Share your thoughts and connect with others on this journey.
Log in to join the discussion.
I relate to both in my sinful ways. My sin is always before me. Tempting me, trying to keep me away from the truth, from the love of God.
I related to the younger son in that although I would binge drink, God my Father was always there to help me battle out of the binge and come to HIs loving embrace. I relate to the older son in that I would allow the devil to entice me into feelings of envy, judgement, resentment, etc. which would begin to disrupt my relationship with God and eventually go on another binge. Since my recovery and working the steps, I have completely accepted my past including a formal confession and absolution, so I live completely for God now.