First Saturday of Lent

3 March 2012

Today is also the Feast Day of St. Katherine Drexel.
Please follow the link to the right to learn more about this American Saint who once walked in our own town.

Today's story tells us of Jacob & Esau.
The scriptural basis for this story can be found in Genesis 25.

"And Isaac beseeched the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And he heard him, and he gave conception to Rebekah. But the little ones struggled in her womb. So she said, “If it was to be so with me, what need was there to conceive?” And she went to consult the Lord. And responding, he said, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be divided out of your womb, and one people will overcome the other people, and the elder will serve the younger.” Now the time had arrived to give birth, and behold, twins were discovered in her womb. He who departed first was red, and entirely hairy like a pelt; and his name was called Esau. At once the other departed and he held his brother’s foot in his hand; and because of this he was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when the little ones were born to him. And as adults, Esau became a knowledgeable hunter and a man of agriculture, but Jacob, a simple man, dwelt in tents.  Isaac was fond of Esau, because he was fed from his hunting; and Rebekah loved Jacob."

Readings for the Day:
     Deuteronomy 26:16-19
     Psalm 119:1-8
     Matthew 5:43-48

Collect for the Day:
"God of love, you called Saint Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the Gospel and to bring the life of the Eucharist to the Native American and African American peoples; by her prayers and example, enable us to work for justice among the poor and the oppressed, and keep us undivided in love in the Eucharistic community of your Church. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."