John: John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.
Today is Laetare Sunday (Rose Sunday), the fourth Sunday of Lent. Father Frank is always stating that the color is rose, not pink. Rose is the color of Mary.
It's also known as Mothering Sunday and coincides with Mother's Day in Ireland and the UK which makes a lot sense, therefore, it's a moving feast, since Easter is always moving.
Laetare means rejoice and apparently a day where Lenten sacrifices are set aside.
I once asked a deacon why Easter wasn't a set day, like Christmas. He told me that Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox, therefore, it is always moving and fairly pagan.
As we look at the phrase from John's Gospel, it becomes evidence of a core truth. Our gifts within us are from Heaven. Of course, we receive gifts from our parents in the form of DNA. We may have our father's eyes, or our mother's nose, but our spiritual gifts are from Heaven.
How fitting that today, Laetare Sunday, Rose Sunday, Mothering Sunday, Mother's Day in the UK and Ireland (and perhaps Europe), we honor mothers, and especially our Holy Mother Mary, who carried and cared for us as no other mother (holy or human) could. What heavenly gifts mothers are!
March 27
Mark: But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
Luke: son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,
John: John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.
Romans: Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith.
Galatians: As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.