The Gospel this weekend was a continuation of the great “Sermon on the Mount.” Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world.” It’s true, we are called to make the world a better place. But, as St. Paul said in the second reading, it’s not so much by our talents and knowledge, but it is eternally more about “a demonstration of Spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:4-5).

“The power of God.” Fr. John Hardon wrote,

Putting aside that the numbering is not exact, we generally talk about Lent being forty days. Like me, you have probably wondered “why forty?” What’s so special about forty? The obvious answer is that Our Lord spent forty days fasting in the desert before He began his public ministry. He set apart that time to prepare Himself and as an example for us. So, that’s what we should do.

Every Lent people want to acquire a deeper prayer life. For many, this includes the desire to pray the rosary daily. Now that we are several days into Lent, how is that Lenten resolution going? Have you prayed it faithfully every day since Ash Wednesday? After you finish praying, do you feel like you really prayed it? Or did you find that you were distracted and didn’t focus on the mysteries being prayed?

It is a time of conversion and freedom from our selves mostly. Let us allow ourselves to be guided by a few thoughts from the once bishop of Aachen, Germany, Klaus Hemmerle (1929 – 1994).

Klaus_Hemmerle_BishopsKlaus Hemmerle played an essential part alongside Chiara Lubich in introducing the life of communion among the bishops who follow the spirituality of unity. We present some passages taken from his book, Klaus Hemmerle, La luce dentro le cose (The Light Within Things,) published by Città Nuova (Rome, 1998).

We live in an indoctrinated age of novelty and dissatisfaction. We are always looking ahead to what is new and then find ourselves achingly tired with it only moments after its arrival. With this comes the growth in the popularity of various trends found in the staple aspects of human life, such as parenting, education, governance, or even art.

While rumors of Patriarch Grègoire III Laham’s resignation have been denied, there is talk of a resignation letter on its way to Rome. An emblematic case of "internal struggle" within the hierarchies and clergy of many Christian communities in the Middle East.

When President Donald Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network in January 2017, he would give Middle East Christians priority refugee status, he was sharply criticized for religious favoritism and prejudice. Even a few high-profile American Christian leaders questioned his judgment.

Trump’s executive order on refugees did not mention Christians, but referenced religious “minorities.” That means mostly Christians, Shi’it Muslims and Yazidis.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA are a growing cause of concern in healthcare. Infections are easily spread in crowded conditions, including hospitals, and so-called “superbugs” have evolved a resistance to traditional antibiotics.

Now scientists think they may have discovered a way to limit microbial transfer – and it relies on something as simple and as widely available as salt.

At The Atlantic, Michael Hingston summarizes the findings that are generating real excitement in the healthcare community:

At the Angelus Pope Francis told faithful to overcome evil with the Holy Scriptures and warned them against “the devil’s poisonous darts”

The first Sunday of Lent recalls the temptations of Jesus, and thereby creates a time of evaluation for all Christians: Where have my own religious convictions been blurred or compromised by dark thoughts?

Today, March 5, Christians throughout the world observe the First Sunday of Lent. In the liturgy, the temptations of the Lord Jesus in the desert are recalled by believers. Such a solemn recollection should cause an evaluation within the heart of every Christian disciple: Where have dark thoughts blurred or compromised my religious convictions?