3/18/2020 Lenten Luminaries
Posted on Mar 18, 2020
by ACS
[Moses spoke to the people and said:
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.”] (Duet. 4:1)
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.”] (Duet. 4:1)
Today Moses reminds the Israelites to be faithful to God and His commandments. By obeying God’s commandments the Israelites stay connected to God, the source of life. So by remaining faithful to God’s commandments, the Israelites will live.
This is true for us as well. Jesus calls Himself the vine and He calls us the branches (cf. Jn. 15:5). Just as a branch dies when separated from the vine so too do we if we are separated from Him. We probably won’t die physically if we disconnect ourselves from Jesus, but we most definitely will die spiritually. According to Jesus spiritual death is far worse than physical death (cf. Mt. 10:28).
So what am I going to do to stay connected to Jesus in the remaining weeks of Lent? Unfortunately Masses in the Diocese are cancelled, so what am I going to do to stay connected? Prayer with my family on Sunday mornings? Televised Masses? Rosary?
P.S. Daily and Sunday Mass readings can be found at