SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT – March 13, 2022

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION: Imre Gardner, by Dan & Klari Demetzky

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: In this season of Lent, we hear a lot about fasting. On Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday we have a strict fast. On Fridays of Lent (if there is no solemnity that day), we fast by abstaining from meat. And of course, there is a fast of at least one hour before reception of the Eucharist. Why did God prescribe in the Old Testament fasting? Why did it continue in the New Testament (with Jesus’ endorsement)? Why do we still carry on this practice?

Remember Adam and Eve? Humanity’s fall away from God and into sin began with eating. God had proclaimed a fast from the fruit of only one tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17), and Adam and Eve broke it. The tragedy is not so much that Adam ate food, but that he ate the food for its own sake, apart from God, and to be independent of Him. Believing that food had life in itself and thus he could be “like God.” He put his faith in food.

Jesus Christ, however, is the new Adam. In his work of redemption, He is undoing the Sin of Adam and effectively retracing the steps of the History of Salvation. Therefore, at the very beginning of his public ministry he submits himself to a fast of 40 days and 40 nights. By becoming hungry and at the same time being tempted by the devil, He famously says: “Man does NOT live by bread alone” (Mt 4:4; Lk 4:4). In this answer, Jesus shows us what Adam should have said, and, more importantly, how He is now intent on liberating us from total dependence on food, on matter, and on the world. Thus, for the Christian, fasting is harkening back to Adam to remember his sin. However, it also points us to Jesus Christ and His invitation to join Him with our body, mind and spirit in order to recover our true spiritual nature.

Christian tradition can name at least seven reasons for fasting:

• From the beginning, God commanded some fasting, and sin entered into the world because Adam and Eve broke the fast.
• For the Christian, fasting is ultimately about fighting against sin.
• Fasting reveals our dependence on God and not the resources of this world.
• Fasting is an ancient way of preparing for the Eucharist—the truest of foods.
• Fasting is preparation for baptism (and all the sacraments)—for the reception of grace.
• Fasting is a means of saving resources to give to the poor.
• Fasting is a means of self-discipline, chastity, and the restraining of the appetites.

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION (3/6): Sunday offering: $1,525. Special donation: $751. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY in supporting our parish. Thank you for sending in your offertory donation through the mail, or through the PayPal option found on the website: https://www.stelizabethcleveland.org/donations/

A Review of Lenten Regulations for Latin Catholics: 1. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of abstinence from meat and also days of fast, that is, only one full meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. 2. All Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence from meat. 3. The obligation to abstain from meat commences at 14 years old. 4. The obligation to fast commences at 18 years of age and ends at 59 years of age.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially, Jay Kovács, Kathy Szabó, Kamilla Szabó and Anna Melega, Dorothy Fromhercz, Alex Szaday.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED.THIS SUNDAY the 11:15 AM Mass from St. Emeric church will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/saintemeric/ and on the website, https://stemeric.com/

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