4 March 2018

3rd Sunday of Lent

1st: Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm: 18:8-11
2nd: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25
The Gospel of John 2:13-25

Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.

During his stay in Jerusalem for the Passover many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he gave, but Jesus knew them all and did not trust himself to them; he never needed evidence about any man; he could tell what a man had in him.

Zeal for the house of God

That temple was still a figure only, and our Lord cast out of it all who came to it as a market. And what did they sell? Things that were necessary for the sacrifice of that time. What if He had found drunken men? If the house of God ought not to be a house of merchandise, ought it to be a house of drunkenness?

He then is eaten up with zeal for God’s house, who desires to correct all that he sees wrong there; and, if he cannot correct, endures and mourns. In your house you busy yourself to prevent matters going wrong; in the house of God, where salvation is offered, ought you to be indifferent?
St. Augustine (Catena Aurea)

This week’s feasts
Wed 7 Saints Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs
Thu 8 Saint John of God, Religious
Fri 9 Saint Frances of Rome, Religious

Psalter week III

Readings for 4th Sunday of Lent
1st: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23
Psalm: 136:1-6
2nd: Ephesians 2:4-10
Gospel: John 3:14-21

St. John of God

John Duarte was born in Portugal in 1495, of devout Christian parents. Pious and hardworking he joined the army and fought the Turks to escape his master’s offer to marry his daughter, later he became a shepherd, helped to ransom Christians held captive by the Moors, he sold religious books and pictures when the printing-press was invented. One day he had a vision of the Infant Jesus who gave him the name of John of God and bid him go to Granada. There, he was so deeply moved by the preaching of St. John of Avila that he sold everything he had and began walking the streets beating his breast and calling on God’s mercy; he seemed like a madman until St. John of Avila convinced him to use a different method to atone for his sins. It was then that, during a pilgrimage, the Blessed Virgin revealed to him his vocation, so he returned to Granada searching through the streets for the sick and poor, renting a house which he made into a hospital to look after them. Soon, priests and doctors came to help him. There are stories about heavenly guests visiting this place, even the Archangel Raphael himself is said to have appeared there. Some time later, with a few other followers, the order of the “Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God” was born. Finally, after 13 years of severe mortification, unceasing prayer, and devotion to his patients, St. John died. He was mourned by the whole city.

St. John of God, pray for us.

St. Paul’s Passion of the Lord 2018 is in the making. It will be on 25 March. Please contact Fr. Fernando at 9993 3130.

Parish Lunch Sun 11 March. 1:30, LPH. Bring and share, all are welcome.

Fridays of Lent Mass will be at 11.30am followed by Stations of the Cross.

Cup of soup, roll and cheese at the Coffee Shop on Fridays during Lent after Stations of the Cross. Donation 5€. (Hospice and Caritas).

Paphos Bikers Club Event Sun 4 March 1-6pm at Hogshead Pub and Grill on Bar Street. Live entertainment, raffle, prizes, hog roast lunch €10 to help Hospice. Call Paul on 96551905.

Karaoke night at the Latin Parish Hall with Ian Robertson, Sat 10 March at 6:30pm. €5 admission to help Caritas.

Lenten Mass with the Catenians on Fri 9th March 6pm. Confessions.

Brexit Info meeting with British High Commissioner, Wed 7 March 11:30am at Kamaris Club.

CARITAS is looking for a new storeroom. Call Wendy at 9904 0294. Thank you for your prayers

Mass Times HERE