Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Father in heaven, your servant, Pope Benedict XVI has asked the faithful during this lenten season to show concern for each other – “from every point of view: physical, moral, and spiritual”. He urges us “not to remain silent before evil.” Grant us your grace to do as the Holy Father says, and “renew our journey of faith” during lent – “both as individuals and as a community, with the help of the word of God and the sacraments.”
As we approach Ash Wednesday, let us reflect on Pope Benedict XVI’s 2012 Lenten Message. He draws his reflection from the New Testament’s Letter to the Hebrews (10:24): “Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works.”
In our latest issue of CCSJ’s Newsletter, CCSJ shares this Lenten Message with readers. Central to our Catholic identity are love and service (see Matthew 25:35-36). Today’s Gospel (Mk 2:1-12) demonstrates the kind of love we should have for our neighbour.
Gospel: Matthew 4, 1 – 11
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
Have you read the Holy Father’s 2011 Lenten Message? The title of his message is taken from St Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: “You were buried with Him in Baptism, in which you were also raised with Him”. (Col 2:12)
CCSJ’s Lenten Newsletter will be distributed shortly and can be accessed on our website. The following is my introduction to the Newsletter: “As Zenit reports: ‘Pope Benedict XVI is proposing a journey with the Word of God this Lent and a deepening in the mystery of baptism. The Holy Father noted a ‘particular connection’ between baptism and Lent, ‘as the favourable time to experience this saving grace.’
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ
Some time ago, Fr Matthew D’Hereaux, who was then a member of CCSJ, asked me to run a one-day retreat for members of his Prison Ministry team. I decided to focus on the very moving parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:1-3. 11-32 – see today’s Gospel). Are we open to the many messages in this parable?