Today is the last day of this cycle of Ordinary Time. Tomorrow, the season of Lent commences with the observance of Ash Wednesday. That will be tomorrow. Let us not forget the grace filled ordinariness of today. The readings today suggest wisdom and happiness occur when we place ourselves and our hearts in service of God and those we meet on our mundane day to day encounters. Giving oneself away is indeed a gift.

Next week this platform will offer prayers and meditations on the daily readings and spiritual practices for use during the season of Lent. Much gratitude for everyone who viewed, read, or commented on this blog during the season of Ordinary Time.

Here are the readings for Tuesday, March 4 from the Book of Sirach and the Gospel of Mark.

(painting above “Suffer little Children to Come to Me” by Rembrandt)

Read pages 24 and 25 of the Xaverian Charism Project of the Xaverian Brothers.

Read the obituary for Brother Carlos Magruder, CFX on pages 562 and 563 of the Xaverian Menology.

 

(Above photo of Brother Carlos Magruder CFX from”The Tower”-Mount Saint Joseph High School yearbook)

1. The words in the Book of Sirach and Jesus’ plea in the Gospel of Mark reflect the call not just to patience and temperance, but finding joy in one’s place even if we feel we are not moving ahead as we feel we should. How does the phrase “the last shall be first” translate into day to day living, and not just an eschatological expectation for after we die?
2. Consider the career path of Br. Carlos Magruder. He clearly didn’t stand still and was active until he was very old. Yet how did he still model this disposition of turning towards God and being open to the presence of God wherever he was and whatever he was doing?