I pray that as Lent continues, we may be the recipients of the grace the Lord wants to bestow upon, and we may be aware of the needs of those around us. Our readings for the Second Sunday of Lent are quite challenging. How many of us are extremely uncomfortable with the notion of human sacrifice? Yet, the bible presents us with the story of Abraham directed to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Remember, God had told Abraham that he would have many descendants. For Abraham this must have been a great conundrum but for God it was a test of Abraham’s faithfulness. Faithfulness to God results in blessings to Abraham, his descendants, and all the nations.
Our Gospel has Jesus sharing with his chosen disciples the news of his upcoming death and resurrection. Dismayed, the disciples hear this message but do not comprehend its meaning. God the Father is now calling for the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, not as a test of Jesus’ faithfulness but as a means of blessings for us. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection our sins are forgiven, heaven is opened to receive us at the end of our lives, and eternal life is won for us. Who could ask for any greater blessing?
I invite you to participate in daily mass, Monday through Friday at 8 AM and 11 AM, Saturday at 9 AM and 5:30 PM, and Sunday at 8 AM, 10 AM, and 12 PM. Confessions are available on Wednesdays 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, and Saturdays from 4:15 PM to 5:15 PM. Stations of the Cross are prayed on Fridays at 7 PM. Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed on Fridays at 3 PM over zoom. Please contact Tina at lindberg@annunciationdc.org for the link.
Members of our Parish Council and staff will be calling parishioners to check on their well-being. If you have changed your contact information, please contact the rectory office at parish@annunciationdc.org to update your information. Please remember our Food Drive on Sunday February 28th from 10 AM to 2 PM.