St. Ephrem (Feast Day June 9)

c. 306-June 9, 373

Ephrem was born around the year 306 in Nisibis, a city in what is now Turkey. When the Persians invaded his homeland, Ephrem moved to Edessa. He was a deacon of the Church. He was called upon to help distribute food during a famine, ensuring no one was hoarding food or starving.

He is known as "the harp of the Holy Spirit" because of his gift for writing beautiful hymns. Ephrem was one of the first early writers of his time to have a devotion to Mary. In addition to hymns, Ephrem wrote commentaries on the Bible and theological poetry. He supported himself by making sails for ships while living a very simple life. He used his gifts of writing and teaching and even his hymns to teach others about the faith.

In 373, Ephrem died serving the sick and dying who were victims of a plague that struck the city. Pope Benedict XV named St. Ephrem a Doctor of the Church in 1920. He is the only deacon to have that title.

• Today's Gospel begins by saying that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit when he returned from the Jordan. Do you think the Holy Spirit helped Jesus resist the devil's temptation? In what way can the Holy Spirit help us to resist temptation?

• What would being in the desert for 40 days be like?

• Jesus really knows the Scriptures. Each time the devil tempts Jesus, Jesus responds with a Scripture passage. What is one thing you can do to grow in your knowledge of Scripture?

• St. Ephrem used his gift of writing to share his faith. What talents do you have that can help you share the faith?

Exercise Time!

Jesus needed physical and spiritual strength to endure the temptation in the desert. Do some physical activity today to build your strength and stamina.

Schedule a time to exercise as a family. Some ideas include:

• Bundle up and go for a walk outside.
• Do an easy exercise video together.
• Play a Simon Says exercise game.

Make chore time exercise time by picking things up, vacuuming, scrubbing, etc. Set a time limit or make it a contest to see who finishes first. This not only gets the heart pumping but also gets things done!

Spanish Artichoke Chicken Lasagna

St. Ephrem helped distribute food so that no one went hungry; fill up on this hearty lasagna dish today.

1 pound lasagna noodles
3 Tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 cup grated parmesan
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
½ pound frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and drained
1- 15 oz. can artichoke hearts, chopped
2 pints ricotta
4 cups shredded mozzarella

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain and cool. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Then add flour and whisk until golden brown, 1 minute more. Pour over milk and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and let thicken, 2 to 4 minutes. Add parmesan and stir until creamy. Add shredded chicken, spinach and artichokes and stir until combined. Assemble lasagna in the following order in a large baking dish: sauce mixture, lasagna noodles, ricotta, chicken mixture, and mozzarella. Repeat for three layers, ending with mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake until warm and bubbly, 35 minutes. Broil until cheese is golden -- 2 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

We Hunger and Thirst for Holiness

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation:
you make us hunger and thirst for holiness.
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation:
you call us to true fasting:
to set free the oppressed,
to share our bread with the hungry,
to shelter the homeless and to clothe the naked.
Help us grow closer to you this Lent.

Amen.

(Adapted from Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers.)

At Mass, the bread, which is in the form of a small white host, becomes the Body of Christ. This happens during the consecration. Watch how carefully the priest holds the host during the Eucharistic prayer.

Jesus fasted for forty days in the desert. Pick one day this week and fast from something (i.e., TV, social media, a particular food or drink, etc.) as a family. Offer the fast for a particular prayer intention (i.e., the health of a grandparent, a neighbor going through a rough time, for someone to come to know Jesus, etc.).

The word "Lent" comes from an old English word *lencten* which means to lengthen. It refers to the lengthening of days in springtime. Over time, this secular word became synonymous with the liturgical season of Lent, which happens during spring.