Bethania 102

Mass readings for March 27, 2026, are for Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent, a day of abstinence from meat (age 14+). They include Jeremiah 20:10-13 (prophet's trust amid plots); Psalm 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7 ("In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice"); John 6:63c, 68c (verse before Gospel); and John 10:31-42. Key Verse “Believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (John 10:38). Gospel Reflection Jesus defends his divinity against stoning, urging focus on his works despite blasphemy charges, leading some to faith across the Jordan. This Lenten confrontation reveals our selective hearing—do we demand signs while ignoring Christ's evident deeds in Scripture, sacraments, and lives around us? Assess tendencies to plot against truth through criticism, tribalism, or excusing unbelief, akin to the Jews' rigidity. Foster amendment by examen: catalog his "works" in your week, priorit...

HOW TO USE THE "LORD'S PRAYER" AS A SPIRITUAL WEAPON: This article originally appeared on Fr. Dwight Longenecker’s blog “Standing on My Head,” and is reprinted with permission. Visit his website, browse his books, and be in touch at dwightlongenecker.com I once attended a seminar on the deliverance ministry conducted by the author and psychiatrist Kenneth McCall. During the questions and answers three rather excitable women told Dr. McCall that there was a witches coven meeting in their town and they wondered how to get rid of it. Dr. McCall was a very softly spoken man with a deep spirituality. He said quietlydk, “In my experience, in most cases, all that is necessary to rid a place of evil is for a small group of committed Christians to gather and pray silently together and then repeat the Lord’s Prayer together concentrating on the phrase, “Deliver Us From Evil.” He smile, “That usually works. Any further questions?” I think the ladies were a bit disappoint...

Introduction Saint Mother Teresa, also known as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, was a remarkable and inspirational figure whose life serves as a shining example of selflessness, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the service of the poor and marginalized. Born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, North Macedonia, as Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, she went on to become one of the most revered and beloved figures in the history of the Catholic Church. In 2016, she was canonized as a saint, a testament to her enduring legacy and the impact she had on countless lives around the world. Early Life and Calling Mother Teresa's journey towards sainthood began early in her life. Raised in a devoutly Catholic family, she felt a calling to religious life from a young age. At the age of 18, she left her home and family in Skopje to join the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India. It was here that she adopted the name Sister Mary Teresa, and her journey of faith and service tru...