Thursday, March 19th

As people recovering from addiction and unhealthy attachments, we’ve experienced the love, grace, and mercy that comes when the Lord hears our desperate pleas. As today’s Responsorial Psalm reminds us, “from all [our] distress he saved [us]” (Psalm 34:7). We know He is trustworthy and can perform the seemingly impossible if we submit to His will.

Just like the early apostles of today’s first reading who were miraculously released from prison and told to “tell the people everything about this life,” we too must share our experience, strength, and hope with others with holy boldness (Acts 5:20).

By working the Twelve Steps, we have the means to escape the imprisonment and darkness of reckless, destructive behavior and live in the light that glorifies our loving God who gave His only son for our salvation!

Reflection Questions 

• What obstacles prevent you from going forth with holy boldness to share what God has done for you?
• Are there areas of your life that still linger in “darkness”?  Are you willing to bring any of them to light?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Acts 5:17-26
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Gospel: John 3:16-21

Reflection by Kay P.

(1544-1607) — Cesar was born in a Papal State that is now part of France. He became a soldier at 18 and fought the Huguenots (French Calvinists). After the war, he took some time for painting and poetry, then tried to join the navy but illness prevented him. Having been a fairly virtuous person up to this time, he lived three years in Paris indulging in pleasures. When his brother, a canon (priest), died, Cesar took up his position for the income. He experienced a conversion, was ordained a priest at 38, and became distinguished for teaching catechism. He founded the Fathers of Christian Doctrine, and Saint Francis de Sales called him “a star of the first magnitude in the firmament of Catechesis.”

Pope Saint Paul VI said of this patron of catechists at the beatification address on April 27, 1975, “Perhaps that is the secret of his constancy, or in any case, what always enabled him to over come his difficulties and start off again with increased energy; we are referring to his ‘spirit of repentance.’” Does a spirit of repentance give you renewed energy in recovery?

“Everything in us must catechize and our conduct in life must make us living catechisms” (Saint Cesar de Bus).

Reflection by Brad Farmer