“Remember not the events of the past . . . see, I am doing something new!” says the prophet speaking of the Lord in this Sunday’s first reading. In an election year President Barack Obama put aside past efforts at bipartisanship and unveiled a new budget Monday that provides a sharp contrast between his priorities and those of Republicans . . .

“Blessed is the one who has regard for the lowly and the poor,” the psalmist says this Sunday. Early Monday Greece’s parliament approved another round of punishing budget cuts to secure more international rescue funds for the economically hobbled nation. Buildings were set ablaze as thousands filled the streets of Athens claiming that the curtailments fell on those least able to afford them . . .

In the Second Letter to the Corinthians Saint Paul refers to God as “the one who gives us security with you in Christ.” A breakdown of security in Honduras has led to notoriously high crime and overcrowded and dangerous prisons. Tuesday night a fire tore through a federal prison in Comayagua, burning and suffocating hundreds of men in their locked cells as rescuers desperately searched for keys . . .

In this Sunday’s gospel Jewish scribes express outrage when Jesus forgives a paralyzed man’s sins: “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.” Vatican officials are none too pleased that some insiders are talking freely and revealing unflattering information about sensitive Vatican matters . . .

“I really am appreciative of what the president did last Friday. I’m optimistic and hopeful, and I feel the religious liberty issue is addressed.”

Fifty-six percent of Americans say they would vote out every member of the U.S. Congress if they could. The disapproval rating of Congress now stands at 80 percent.