THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO MOSES, GRACE AND TRUTH CAME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

SCRUTATIO SCRIPTURAE

A Scrutatio for 2^nd Sunday of the CHRISTIAN SEASON OF LENT

Readings from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer
Genesis 22:1-14 / Psalm 16:5-11 / Romans 8:31-39 / Mark 8:31-38

Readings for the Pauline/Vatican II Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13 and 15-18 / Psalm 116:10+15, 16-17 and 18-19 / Romans 8:31b-34 / Mark 9:2-10

Readings for the Tridentine Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Introit: Psalm 25:6, 3, 22 and 1-2

Lesson: I Thessalonians 4:1-17 

Gradual: Psalm 9:19 and 3

Tract: Psalm 106:1-2

Gospel Matthew 17:1-9

Offertory: Psalm 119:47-48
Communion Antiphon: Psalm 5:2-4

Let us meditate on this sermon written by Leo the Great, the Blessed Successor to the Blessed Apostle Peter as Bishop of Rome (I Peter 5:13) from September 29, 440 to November 10 461 A.D., entitled: 

THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO MOSES, GRACE AND TRUTH CAME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

The Lord reveals his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses. His body is like that of the rest of mankind, but he makes it shine with such splendor that his face becomes like the sun in glory, and his garments as white as snow.

The great reason for this transfiguration was to remove the scandal of the cross from the hearts of his disciples, and to prevent the humiliation of his voluntary suffering from disturbing the faith of those who had witnessed the surpassing glory that lay concealed.

With no less forethought he was also providing a firm foundation for the hope of holy Church. The whole body of Christ was to understand the kind of transformation that it would receive as his gift. The members of that body were to look forward to a share in that glory which first blazed out in Christ their head.

The Lord had himself spoken of this when he foretold the splendor of his coming: Then the just will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Saint Paul the apostle bore witness to this same truth when he said: I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not to be compared with the future glory that is to be revealed in us. In another place he says: You are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

This marvel of the transfiguration contains another lesson for the apostles, to strengthen them and lead them into the fullness of knowledge. Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets, appeared with the Lord in conversation with him. This was in order to fulfill exactly, through the presence of these five men, the text which says: Before two or three witnesses every word is ratified. What word could be more firmly established, more securely based, than the word which is proclaimed by the trumpets of both old and new testaments, sounding in harmony, and by the utterances of ancient prophecy and the teaching of the Gospel, in full agreement with each other?

The writings of the two testaments support each other. The radiance of the transfiguration reveals clearly and unmistakably the one who had been promised by signs foretelling him under the veils of mystery. As Saint John says: The law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. In him the promise made through the shadows of prophecy stands revealed, along with the full meaning of the precepts of the law. He is the one who teaches the truth of prophecy through his presence, and makes obedience to the commandments possible through grace.

In the preaching of the holy Gospel all should receive a strengthening of their faith. No one should be ashamed of the cross of Christ, through which the world has been redeemed.

No one should fear to suffer for the sake of justice; no one should lose confidence in the reward that has been promised. The way to rest is through toil, the way to life is through death. Christ has taken on himself the whole weakness of our lowly human nature. If then we are steadfast in our faith in him and in our love for him, we win the victory that he has won, we receive what he has promised.

When it comes to obeying the commandments or enduring adversity, the words uttered by the Father should always echo in our ears: This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him.

IN CHRIST WE SUFFERED TEMPTATION, IN HIM WE OVERCAME THE DEVIL

SCRUTATIO SCRIPTURAE

A Scrutatio for the 1^st Sunday of the CHRISTIAN SEASON OF LENT

Readings from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Genesis 9:8-17 / Psalm 25 / I Peter 3:18-22 / Mark 1:9-13

Readings for the Pauline/Vatican II Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Genesis 9:8-15 / Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7 and 8-9 / I Peter 3:18-22 / Mark 1:12-15

Readings for the Tridentine Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Introit: Psalm 91:15-16 and 1 

Lesson: II Corinthians 6:1-10  

Gradual: Psalm 91:11-12

Tract: Psalm 91:1-7, 11-16

Gospel 

Mathew 4:1-11

Offertory: 

Psalm 91:4-5

Communion Antiphon: Psalm 91:4-5

From the passage of a sermon written by the former prodigal son of the saintly woman named  Monica, the Cassanova of Thagaste, transformed by GOD'S GRACE to be HIS Valiant Bishop of Hippo Regius and Doctor of HIS Holy Church, Aurelius Augustinus, entitled:

IN CHRIST WE SUFFERED TEMPTATION, IN HIM WE OVERCAME THE DEVIL

Hear, O God, my petition, listen to my prayer. Who is speaking? An individual, it seems. See if it is an individual: I cried to you from the ends of the earth while my heart was in anguish. Now it is no longer one person; rather, it is one in the sense that Christ is one, and we are all his members. What single individual can cry from the ends of the earth? The one who cries from the ends of the earth is none other than the Son’s inheritance. It was said to him: Ask of me, and I shall give you the nations as your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as your possession. This possession of Christ, this inheritance of Christ, this body of Christ, this one Church of Christ, this unity that we are, cries from the ends of the earth. What does it cry? What I said before: Hear, O God, my petition, listen to my prayer; I cried out to you from the ends of the earth. That is, I made this cry to you from the ends of the earth; that is, on all sides. Why did I make this cry? While my heart was in anguish. The speaker shows that he is present among all the nations of the earth in a condition, not of exalted glory but of severe trial.

Why did I make this cry? While my heart was in anguish. The speaker shows that he is present among all the nations of the earth in a condition, not of exalted glory but of severe trial.

Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial. We progress by means of trial. No one knows himself except through trial, or receives a crown except after victory, or strives except against an enemy or temptations.

The one who cries from the ends of the earth is in anguish, but is not left on his own. Christ chose to foreshadow us, who are his body, by means of his body, in which he has died, risen and ascended into heaven, so that the members of his body may hope to follow where their head has gone before.

He made us one with him when he chose to be tempted by Satan. We have heard in the gospel how the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Certainly Christ was tempted by the devil. In Christ you were tempted, for Christ received his flesh from your nature, but by his own power gained life for you; he suffered insults in your nature, but by his own power gained glory for you; therefore, he suffered temptation in your nature, but by his own power gained victory for you.

If in Christ we have been tempted, in him we overcame the devil. Do you think only of Christ’s temptations and fail to think of his victory? See yourself as tempted in him, and see yourself as victorious in him. He could have kept the devil from himself; but if he were not tempted he could not teach you how to triumph over temptation.

News from Taizé 

Wednesday 18 February 2015

• Taizé: In February, the big weeks begin again
• Pilgrimages in Russia and Ukraine
• Taizé 2015: on and around the 12 May
• Taizé 2015: three special meetings this summer
• Visits in the UK
• Commented Bible Passage: "God, Take Care of the Violence in Me"
• For the Diary
• Prayer

Taizé: In February, the big weeks begin again

After the usual mid-winter slowdown the big weeks have begun again. Over the past two weeks, more than 3,000 young people have passed through Taizé, most of them young French and Portuguese students. The largest groups were from Toulouse, Saint Denis (the northern and eastern suburbs of Paris) and Lyon in France, Viseu and Santarem in Portugal. The bishops of Angers, Rodez and Saint Denis also came along to accompany the young people. Other countries were also well represented, including the Czech Republic, Korea and the USA, with a group of thirty teenagers from New York.

On the first day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18, a prayer was held in Taizé, in the Church of Reconciliation, in the presence of the Bishop of Autun and the reformed pastor of Chalon-sur-Saône. As this year the theme for the week was prepared by Christians from Brazil, two brothers who have spent time living there led a meeting on the life of the fraternity in Alagoinhas.

Two weeks later, at the end of the annual Community Council, the brothers visited the Sisters of St. Andrew in Ameugny as they do each year. The previous afternoon they spent in Chalon-sur-Saône, with a prayer in one of the parishes of the town and a visit to the Muslim community. This meeting was particularly important after the tragic events of the beginning of the year in Paris - to experience the warm welcome of the imam and other members of the community gathered there on that Saturday afternoon.

Pilgrimages to Russia and Ukraine

During the Prague European Meeting, Brother Alois made the following invitation: "Young people from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, belonging to different churches, are among us. Together with them, we know that Christ is our hope and our peace. So, with a few of my brothers and young adults from different countries of Europe, we will go on pilgrimage to celebrate with them at home the Resurrection of Christ during the Orthodox Easter next April 12"

The two stages of the pilgrimage, either in Russia from 8 - 12 April, or in Ukraine from 15 - 19 April, are open to around a hundred young adults aged between 18 and 35. There are still a few places remaining but time is getting short for the formalities. If you are thinking about taking part please write as soon as possible to the welcome team.

Taizé 2015: on and around the 12 May

2015 will be a special year for the community, with several important celebrations planned during the year. The first will be the centenary of Brother Roger’s birth, on the 12 May 1915 in the Swiss village of Provence.

In Taizé, for this anniversary, the community is inviting those living in the greater region around Taizé (between Dijon and Lyon, Moulins and Geneva) to come and celebrate. On Sunday 10 May, from 3pm onwards, various workshops will present Brother Roger’s life. There will also be a special programme adapted for children and teenagers. At 5.30pm the community and all those present will come together for a prayer of thanksgiving.

Elsewhere in the world, on or around the 12 May, to remember Brother Roger and to put into practice his call to follow Christ, young people are invited to organise a prayer and to do something together for other people, showing solidarity with those in need. We would like to include these different initiatives on our website – please write, with details of places and dates, to info2015 taize.fr.

Taizé 2015: three special meetings this summer

* Reflection Week on the Relevance of a Religious Vocation. From 5 to 12 July 2015, an international gathering for young people 40 and under living a monastic or religious life, both those in formation as well as those already committed for some years, with the help of leaders from Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant congregations, communities and monasteries.

• Youth Gathering for a New Solidarity. From 9 to 16 August 2015, commemorating Brother Roger’s life, thousands of young adults between 18 and 35 will come to Taizé, as well as people involved in working for greater solidarity, representatives of international organisations, Church leaders, believers from other faiths, young people from different cultures. There will also be workshops on art and creation. On Sunday 16 August, during the afternoon, this gathering will conclude with a prayer of thanksgiving, open to all, in memory of Brother Roger, in the presence of Church leaders. A more detailed programme can be found on the webite.

• Colloquium on Brother Roger’s Contribution to Theological Thought. From 30 August to 6 September 2015, an international colloquium for young theologians 40 years old or under: theology students, researchers, or those already serving in Church ministry for several years. Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic theologians from various countries will be in Taizé to shine light on different aspects of Brother Roger’s thought which could make a contribution to theological research.

Visits in the UK

In March a brother of the Community will be at a weekend meeting in Birmingham, "You are the Salt of the Earth", and he will also take part in gatherings in other places. At the same time, Raquel from Portugal and Wiebke from Germany, two of the volunteer team at Taizé will be visiting 18 schools in England and Wales which are interested in the School and College Weeks. A 20-minute film which was shot by young people themselves during a stay at Taizé last summer has just been released: One Week in July.

Commented Bible Passage: "God, Take Care of the Violence in Me"

Words are sharpened weapons. The singer of this psalm decided to use language for that purpose. Not to attack, but to defend himself. He has no other protection from the violent and the untruthful, so he tries to find in God what the evildoers have taken from him. What did they take? The very possibility of communicating. Violence attacks in us our ability to build bridges and leave isolation behind.

For the Diary

• On Sunday 8 March at 4.30pm brother Alois will be giving one of the Lent conferences at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on the theme of "A life which becomes a sign".

Prayer

On the road towards Easter we would like to follow your light, Christ Jesus. Even with only a little faith, we would like to listen to you when you say to us : "Turn to God and trust in the Gospel."

REPENT

SCRUTATIO SCRIPTURAE

A Scrutatio for ASH WEDNESDAY, the 1st day of the CHRISTIAN SEASON OF LENT

Readings from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer
Joel 2:1-2,12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12 / Psalm 103 / 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 / Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

Readings for the Pauline/Vatican II Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Joel 2:12-18  / Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13 and 17 / 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 / Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Readings for the Tridentine Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Introit: The Book of Wisdom 11:24 -27 and Psalm 57:1 

Lesson: Joel 2:12-19  

Gradual: Psalm 57:1 and 3

Tract: Psalm 103:10 and 78:8-9 

(Please kneel at verse 9)

Gospel 

Mathew 6:16-21

Offertory: 

Psalm 30:1-2

Communion Antiphon: Psalm 1:2-3

We are now entering the CHRISTIAN SEASON OF LENT.

A Season of שוב-SHUV, of RETURN, A RETURN TO THE HOUSE OF OUR ALMIGHTY FATHER THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE, CONFESSION, AND RECONCILIATION:

SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION, PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION-PART I

SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION, PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION-PART II 

SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION, PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION-AS WITNESSED BY THE EARLY CHURCH

Let us meditate on this sermon from a letter to the Church in Corinth, written by Clement, the Blessed Successor to the Blessed Apostle Peter as Bishop of Rome (I Peter 5:13) during the years 92 to 99 A.D., entitled: 

REPENT

Let us fix our attention on the blood of Christ and recognize how precious it is to God his Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world.

If we review the various ages of history, we will see that in every generation the Lord has offered the opportunity of repentance to any who were willing to turn to him. When Noah preached God’s message of repentance, all who listened to him were saved. Jonah told the Ninevites they were going to be destroyed, but when they repented, their prayers gained God’s forgiveness for their sins, and they were saved, even though they were not of God’s people.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the ministers of God’s grace have spoken of repentance; indeed, the Master of the whole universe himself spoke of repentance with an oath: As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the death of the sinner but his repentance. He added this evidence of his goodness: House of Israel, repent of your wickedness. Tell the sons of my people: If their sins should reach from earth to heaven, if they are brighter than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, you need only turn to me with your whole heart and say, “Father”, and I will listen to you as a holy people.

In other words, God wanted all his beloved ones to have the opportunity to repent and he confirmed this desire by his own almighty will. That is why we should obey his sovereign and glorious will and prayerfully entreat his mercy and kindness. We should be suppliant before him and turn to his compassion, rejecting empty works and quarreling and jealousy which only lead to death.

Brothers, we should be humble in mind, putting aside all arrogance, pride and foolish anger. Rather, we should act in accordance with the Scriptures, as the Holy Spirit says: The wise man must not glory in his wisdom nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches. Rather, let him who glories glory in the Lord by seeking him and doing what is right and just. Recall especially what the Lord Jesus said when he taught gentleness and forbearance. Be merciful, he said, so that you may have mercy shown to you. Forgive, so that you may be forgiven. As you treat others, so you will be treated. As you give, so you will receive. As you judge, so you will be judged. As you are kind to others, so you will be treated kindly. The measure of your giving will be the measure of your receiving.

Let these commandments and precepts strengthen us to live in humble obedience to his sacred words. As Scripture asks: Whom shall I look upon with favor except the humble, peaceful man who trembles at my words?

Sharing then in the heritage of so many vast and glorious achievements, let us hasten toward the goal of peace, set before us from the beginning. Let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Father and Creator of the whole universe, and hold fast to his splendid and transcendent gifts of peace and all his blessings.