Sunday Reflection – 27 January – The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – First Reading: Nehemiah 8:8–10
“Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine…” Nehemiah 8:10
“For it is a holy day of the Lord for us when we take pains to hear and carry out His words. On this day it is proper that, however much outwardly we have endured the obstacles of tribulations, we should be “rejoicing in hope,” in keeping with the apostle’s saying: “As if sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” On this day we are also commanded to eat fat food and drink sweet drink, that is, to rejoice over the abundance of good action bestowed on us by God and over the very sweetness of hearing God’s Word” ., St Bede the Venerable (673-735) Father & Doctor (On Ezra and Nehemiah, 3.)
By Blessed James Alberione (1884-1971) (Founder of the Pauline Family)
Honour Jesus Truth, Way and Life at Mass
The Eucharistic Celebration is the centre and principal act of worship….
There are many methods for participating in the Mass.
A suggestion:
a) From the beginning to the Gospel,
honour Jesus Truth
by meditating and applying the sacred doctrine, especially the Epistle and the Gospel.
b) From the Gospel to the “Our Father,”
honour Jesus, Way to the Father, especially in the Passion and prayer.
c) From the “Our Father” to the end,
honour Jesus, Life of the soul,
by receiving Communion and its sanctifying and healing grace.
Then Live a Eucharistic Day
It is a good practice to make the Host the day’s foundation.
This means making the day Eucharistic.
Spend the morning [after Mass] in thanksgiving,
displaying the fruits of a holy joy,
working “through Him, with Him and in Him,”
to the glory of the most Blessed Trinity.
From midday to the following morning
start your preparation by offering, sanctifying and carrying out your various duties
with your heart in tune with the Dweller in the tabernacle.
AnaStpaul 