LENTEN REFLECTIONS Archives -

EASTER SUNDAY ALLELUIA!

INTRODUCTION

The Resurrection of Jesus is the central pillar of our Faith. “If Christ did not rise, our Faith is in vain.” I Cor. 15:14.

In His resurrection, Jesus overcame death, the consequence of sin.

Because of Jesus, we are no longer bound to sin or death but are liberated from both sin and death through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Hebrews 6:5, Paul writes, “As in Adam all die, so also, in Christ, shall all be made alive. We live now not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.”

Christ’s resurrection takes place in history, in real time, and in real space. This real historical event is attested to by hundreds of eye witnesses after his resurrection. Acts 1:22

Some of the historical facts to support the resurrection are: the empty tomb and burial cloth discovered by John and Peter John 20:2

The eyewitness account of Mary Magdalene John 19:31, and the eyewitness accounts of the apostles in the upper room, Easter evening. John 20:19-23

HE IS RISEN ALLELUIA!

REFLECTION

The final enemy Jesus must face down is death by His own death, a death on the cross.

Oh death, where is thy sting! 1 Corinthians 15:55

“Faith in the Resurrection is the basis of our hope in the inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” I Peter 1:4

For those disciples who follow Jesus…the same fate awaits…a glorious resurrection of our bodies on the last day…eyes have not seen…ears have not heard what await those who love Jesus…1 Corinthians 2:9

He is risen…He is alive…He goes before us….do not be afraid… the risen Lord has not gone away…He remains with us in the sacraments…in our faith…in our prayers

EYE WITNESSES TO THE EMPTY TOMB

“On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw the burial cloths and the cloth that covered his head. They did not yet understand the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead and they returned home. John 20:3-4

.But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been.

And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”

MARY!

She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.” John 20:1-18

REFLECTION

Mary was weeping because she could not find her Lord…

How do I feel when the Lord does not seem near?

Jesus appears to Mary. Mary did not recognize Him until He addressed her by name…

Listen for when Jesus calls us by name because He does…sometimes in a whisper

Gently Jesus admonishes Mary…she must not cling to him…soon He will be ascending to the Father. Mary must remain his disciples without His physical presence….

Do we today believe in faith that Jesus is present in our lives?

Rejoice and be glad, for Jesus died and rose for each one of us!

May the infinite love of our Risen Lord give us all reason to embrace the mystery of faith and be faithful witnesses to Jesus Christ, Savior of the world!

CHRIST VICTORIOUS

WE ARE AN EASTER PEOPLE AND ALLELUIA IS OUR SONG

GOOD FRIDAY

HOLY WEEK

AGONY IN THE GARDEN

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,^* and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,^* and began to feel sorrow and distress.

Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death.^* Remain here and keep watch with me. He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father,^* if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.

Matthew 26:36-39

BETRAYAL ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

They came out to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane like he was a robber, led by Judas his betrayer who betrayed him with a kiss.

Jesus showed no animosity to Judas but called him friend.

In chains they brought Jesus before the high priest where he was mocked, struck and spat upon. The chief priests and elders condemned Jesus to death. Meanwhile in the high priest’s court yard Peter denied he even knew Jesus three times before the cock crowed. Peter repented and wept bitterly.

REFLECTION

We begin our Good Friday reflections with betrayal. In the Garden Jesus’ best friends fled. Judas whom He loved betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Later, Peter chosen to head Jesus’ church would deny in the courtyard three times before the cock crowed.

Do I ever betray Jesus and turn my back on him?

Do I repent and ask for forgiveness, return to Jesus like Peter?

Or do I stay away and separate myself from Jesus?

The Jewish leaders took Jesus before Pilate the Roman Governor, because under Roman law the Jews had no right to carry out the death penalty. Pilate found no guilt in Jesus and tried to trade Jesus for a horrific revolutionary and murderer, Barabbas, but incited by the chief priests, the crowd cried out for Barabbas.

Pilate feared the crowds, so he had Jesus scourged. Once more, Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!”

The chief priests and the guards cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood….

BEHOLD THE MAN!

REFLECTION

Still fearful of the crowd, but not wanting the blame, Pilate chose the ritual of washing his hands of this affair. Pilate tried to excuse himself from any guilt.

Just because Pilate says he is innocent of this man’s blood does not make it so!

Do I claim innocence when I sin or make excuses like it wasn’t that bad or blame others?

Jews over the centuries have been accused as “Christ killers

Jews are not collectively responsible for Jesus’ death. Catholic Catechism #597-598

All of us sentenced Jesus to death for our sins..”

Jesus redeems us by his sacrificial blood. His blood of redemption will wash over all.

Jesus Christ is Redeemer of the whole world!

Jesus is led out to be crucified, carrying the crossbeam of the cross himself. Because of the severe scourging at the pillar, Jesus soon falters and the soldiers force Simon of Cyrene to assist in carrying the cross. At the place of the skulls, Golgotha, where executions were frequently carried out, Jesus was stripped of his clothes, tearing the scourging wounds apart only increasing the pain.

Simon of Cyrene in town to enjoy Passover festival never expected to have the cross of a criminal thrust upon him.

We never know where our crosses will come from, be ready!

The soldiers nailed his hands to the cross beam, attached the cross beam to the vertical beam already in place then nailed his precious feet. The soldiers then cast lots for His discarded garments. “They divide my garments among them and cast lots.” Psalm 22

What a difference a few days make. Today Jesus’ precious feet are nailed to a cross. A few days ago in Bethany in the home of Lazarus, they were anointed by Mary and embraced with love and kisses.

“They will look upon whom they have pierced…when I am lifted up,

I will draw all things to me…who ever looks upon me and believes will be saved”

John 12:32

WERE YOU THERE WHEN THEY NAILED HIM TO A TREE?

Not only was Jesus mocked by the men executed with him but by the crowd, soldiers, chief priests, and scribes, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Mark 15:29-39.

Jesus overcame hate with love, death with his own life. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:31. Jesus forgave the Good Thief in his dying moments and promised him a room in his mansion in paradise.

Do I forgive others, even unpleasant ones?

Before His death on the cross, Jesus looked on His mother and the disciple He loved and said, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” John 19:25

From the cross Jesus gives us one of our greatest gifts, His Mother Mary!

Don’t forget Mother Mary when you need something from the Son!

Bowing His head Jesus expired. “it is finished, and giving a loud cry, Father into your hands, I commend my spirit.” When the centurion who stood facing him saw how Jesus breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:37-39. The veil in the temple that divided the holy of holies from the people was torn in two.

The centurion gave witness, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

What prompts us to recognize God in our lives?

Do we ever bear witness to these God events to others?

The veil in the temple that divided the holy of holies from the people was torn from top to bottom in two. No longer is God separated from his people by some veil, Jesus is the New Temple. Jesus is available now to everyone who seeks Him.

JESUS IS PRESENT IN OUR EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES.

JESUS IS PRESENT IN THE MASS.

JESUS IS PRESENT IN OUR SACRAMENTS.

BURIAL OF JESUS

Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the Sanhedrin council, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Having bought a linen cloth, Joseph took Jesus down, wrapped him in the linen cloth and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where he was laid.

CONCLUSION

The burial of Jesus is not the end of the story. We get a hint because two Marys are checking out where they are burying Jesus and just like any good novel we wait to see what happens next, what are these ladies going to do with this knowledge?

Jesus descended to the abode of the dead to announce the good news…that soon those in Sheol will join Him in the exodus to eternal life…neither the tomb nor death will hold Jesus…He has conquered sin, and its sting…death…from the darkness of death a new hope will shine, the light of the resurrection. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!

Seek the LORD while he may be found,

call upon him while he is near.

Isaiah 5:6

HOLY THURSDAY

HOLY WEEK

INTRODUCTION

Two of our seven sacraments, Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders, were instituted on Holy Thursday. Jesus at the Passover meal took bread and wine and told his disciples to eat and drink, for this was his body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins, “Do this in remembrance of me” Luke 22:19

These words, “Do this in remembrance of me” are the foundation for our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist today and established the ministerial priesthood (Holy Orders) whereby this command will be carried out through the successors of the apostles until the end of time.

TAKE AND EAT; THIS IS MY BODY

MATTHEW 26:26-30

When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover^* with you before I suffer… Then he took a cup,^* gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; ….Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. LUKE 22:14-20

In St. John’s Gospel we don’t find the institution of the Eucharist but we find Jesus, Servant of servants, washing the feet of His disciples and telling them to do likewise.

Jesus washing the feet of his disciples represents the service and charity of Christ, who came ‘not to be served, but to serve.’ Matthew 20:28

And at supper, Jesus…Rose from his place, and, taking off his upper garments, tied a towel round his waist. He then poured some water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel which was tied round him…..

When he had washed their feet… he spoke to them again. “Do you understand what I have been doing to you?” he asked. “You yourselves call me ‘the Teacher’ and ‘the Master’, and you are right, for I am both. If I, then—’the Master’ and ‘the Teacher’—have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet…In truth I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger than the man who sends him. JOHN 13:1-1

A SERVANT IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS MASTER

REFLECTION

Jesus Christ, is the fullest revelation of God that we can possess on earth. The Eucharist is the sacramental means to abide in Jesus. “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6:54

When I receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion, what are my thoughts, prayers….

Do I believe I am truly receiving Jesus or some symbol?

In the Mass, divinity and humanity are reconciled. We, along with the priest offer Jesus’ body and blood to the Father in atonement for our sins and the sins of the world. What a Loving Compassionate God and Father that allows us, invites us, to participate in our own redemption.

Will this make a difference in the next Cross I bear, the next Garden of Gethsemane I experience?

Communion with Christ is a wedding banquet. Jesus is the bridegroom; the Church is the Bride.

Jesus said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:12-14

What about our wedding garment? Are we prepared to meet Jesus sacramentally? Are we prepared to meet Jesus in person when we transition from earth to eternity?

The Church includes A vast cloud of witnesses, the Church triumphant, those already in heaven, the Church suffering, those in purgatory being perfected, and Church militant, those on earth on the way. Hebrews 12:1

No one gets to heaven by their self. What am I doing to help others?

God loves us with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

How do I love others? Do I have stipulations or conditions? Why?

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; Bread of Life Discourse JOHN 6:51

How do I react to these words of Jesus in Bread of Life discourse?

PALM SUNDAY (PASSION SUNDAY)

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

JESUS TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM

“….the great crowd that had come to the (Passover) festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!” Jesus sat upon a young donkey; as it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” John 12:12-16

INTRODUCTION

Palm Sunday begins Holy Week… So many mysteries to ponder. From the triumphant entrance into Jerusalem to the Last Supper and the Eucharist, Good Friday, Christ Crucified, and then Easter Sunday, new beginnings… new life, eternal life!

Palm Sunday Mass displays a mixture of triumph and suffering. Before Mass begins is a Gospel reading and distribution of palms that describes Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem for the Passover feast.

“Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king^* is coming to you, a just savior is he, Humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” Zachariah 9:9

WHO IS THE KING OF GLORY?

Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty
Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory

PSALM 24

REFLECTION

Jesus makes His triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. It is a remarkable event recorded by all four Gospels. Now is His hour. He is in full command of fulfilling His Father’s will. He allows people to praise Him even if that devotion may fade and change into condemnation.

Jesus is King of Glory! Man-kind could not do it on their own. Abraham couldn’t do it. Moses couldn’t do it. David couldn’t do it. It took Jesus, the Word Incarnate, son of God, son of Mary to open the gates of heaven to all of us so we too may walk the path of GLORY!

The Jews recognized Jesus’ sovereignty by calling him the Son of David, and also by spreading their cloaks before him. This was the ancient custom; people threw down their garments to make a carpet for the royal procession.

We recognize his sovereignty by laying our hearts before him, throwing down our wills in absolute surrender, and asking Jesus to govern everything we think, say and do.

CONCLUSION

Palm Sunday is sometimes called Passion Sunday for good reason. While Jesus is King of Glory and our Savior and Redeemer we get a glimpse in the Mass readings of today the Passion of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew.

FROM HOSANNA TO CRUCIFY HIM

They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him.

Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand.

And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

They spat upon him^* and took the reed and kept striking him on the head.

And when they had mocked him,

they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes,

and led him off to crucify him.

Matthew 27:28-31

Hope springs eternal, a week from now Jesus will make another triumphant entrance and deliverance on Easter Sunday. Jesus will rise triumphant over sin and death. How great a Savior we have!

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

LENTEN PRACTICES

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JESUS PRAYS AND FASTS 40 DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS

BACKGROUND

The Bible has a great deal to say about both fasting and praying, including commands to fast and pray. Prayer and fasting are combined in the Old Testament in times of mourning, repentance, and deep spiritual need

The followers of John the Baptist fasted and prayed. Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness. Jesus’ disciples fasted and prayed after the Resurrection.

Biblical fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food. The literal Hebrew translation would be “not to eat.” The literal Greek nesteia means “no food.”.

David prayed and fasted over his sick child 2 Samuel 12:16. Queen Esther used her position as queen to urge Mordecai and the Jews to fast for her as she planned to appear before her husband the king to rescue the Jewish people from destruction. Esther 4:16

Prayer goes hand in glove with fasting. You may recall the disciples who were given power over demons came back to Jesus and admitted they could not cast out this one malicious stubborn demon. They asked Jesus why they couldn’t do this because He had sent them out earlier to do that very thing. Jesus said this kind can only be cast out with prayer. Mark 9:9

REFLECTIONS

Fasting may include other things than food and drink. There are other things you may refrain from, for example, talking bad about someone, not watching your favorite TV shows, not dwelling on your real or perceived wounds….

Fasting may lead to generosity. For example, selfless acts of charity, Food banks, clothing drives, visit the sick, talk or call someone you haven’t contacted in a while, work on reconciling family disputes,…

Fasting to focus on God matters greatly. I was created by God to know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy for all eternity with Him in the next. Well, I better stop being a stranger. I certainly don’t want to have to introduce myself to God when I pass on from this life….or hear Him say,

AMEN, I DON’T KNOW YOU. MATTHEW 25:12

In today’s self-centered, self-indulgent, all-about-me world, the concept of fasting is very foreign and many Christians resist it. But according to Scripture fasting is supposed to be a normal part of our spiritual life here on earth.

Fasting gives strength against sin, represses evil desires, repels temptation, humbles pride, cools anger, and fosters all the inclinations of a good will Pope St. Leo the Great …..”

It was food the devil used to entice Adam and Eve to sin. Food, appetite of the flesh, got us into this mess, Adam and Eve, although given dominion over every other animal and vegetation, chose their will, to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life, over God’s will. Like Adam and Eve, we too try all kinds of attractive goods that will fill our emptiness.

“MY HEART IS RESTLESS UNTIL IT RESTS IN THEE.”

ST AUGUSTINE

Jesus’ 40 day retreat in the wilderness, facing temptation shows His human side. Jesus was tempted by Satan with the usual temptations that we all face, to choose riches, power, our self over God and others. Jesus rejected Satan on all counts and sent him fleeing back to where he came from!

Fasting brings spiritual strength to combat temptations that will arise. Fasting enables a person to refocus their attention back to the things of God. Jesus, himself, said that man does not live by bread alone but every word that comes from the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4.

Prayer must always accompany fasting. Pray for the grace to fast. Pray that your fast will move mountains in your life and the lives of others. Pray the Scriptures! PRAY!PRAY!PRAY!

Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
MATTHEW 26:41

ASH WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2024

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE DUST,
AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN”

On Ash Wednesday when ashes are placed on our forehead, we might hear either “Remember” that you are dust and to dust you shall return or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

You are dust and to dust you shall return reminds me everything I have I owe to God, I am nothing without God, my life and its gifts are all due to God’s generosity.

You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

“Repent and believe in the Gospel” Mark 1:15 means that I must give up many of my self-serving ways to follow and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not my will be done but thy will!

Acknowledging God’s existence is sometimes hard because we have to accept the consequences of believing in a God who loved us into existence. He made us with a purpose. The full revelation of the Father is Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of the Father, the Word Incarnate.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Mark 16:24

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. Matthew 16:24-27

God calls us out into the desert of Lent like Moses to test us to see where our hearts are.

“You shall remember the way which the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart. Deut. 8:2

God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts. But our world is afraid of silence and full of noise and spectacle. Lent is a time to return to God from the snares of this world. Lent offers more time each day for quiet. In solitude we will hear God’s whisper as Elijah did….

The LORD said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound. 1 Kings 19:12

Make space for God in your interior life; talk to him and tell him you love him. Take more time for quiet prayer each day.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; 2 Corinthians 6:2
PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit lead us on a true journey of conversion, Almighty and ever living God,
give us hearts hungry to serve you and those who need what we have to give. Let us pray for one another that, by sharing in victory of Christ, we will share in the full joy of Easter.

ALLELUIA, HE IS RISEN!

HOLY SATURDAY

HOLY WEEK

INTRODUCTION

Jesus did not go to sleep from Good Friday until Easter Sunday. He has a mission from the Father to announce his victory over sin and death to those in the abode of the dead, Sheol in Hebrew, Hades in Greek and Hell in English.

According to Church Tradition, after dying on Good Friday, Jesus descended to the depths of the dead to preach His message to them, liberating all holy men and women held captive in past centuries Jesus did not descend into hell to save those who already have chosen damnation,

The People in the abode of the dead are deprived of the vision of God. The experiences of those in the abode of the dead are different, some await the bosom of Abraham and some await damnation eternal separation from God. Catechism of the Catholic Church #631-637

There is an Ancient Homily from 2^nd Century for Holy Saturday which is copied below. The writer of this ancient homily pondered the moment when God died in the Flesh—when Jesus’ soul left His body and descended into the netherworld to rescue Adam, Eve, and all the souls of the just who have been waiting for thousands of years, shut out from heaven because the Messiah had not yet come.

I suggest a slow read, stopping often to ponder and pray in thanksgiving for such a great and good God that will go to any depths to rescue us.

THE LORD’S DESCENT INTO HELL

ANCIENT HOMILY FOR HOLY SATURDAY

“What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.

Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam’s son.

The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ And Christ in reply says to Adam: And with your spirit.

And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.

I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.

For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.

Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.

‘See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back.

See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.

`I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side, for you, who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side.

My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you.

But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven.

I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life.

I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.

“The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages.”

LENTEN PRACTICE OF FASTING

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

JESUS PRAYS AND FASTS 40 DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS

BACKGROUND

The Bible has a great deal to say about both fasting and praying. Many of the Old Testament heroes and heroines of the faith, fasted and prayed. The followers of John the Baptist fasted and prayed. Jesus fasted and prayed. Jesus’ disciples fasted and prayed after the Resurrection. Prayer and fasting are combined in the Old Testament in times of mourning, repentance, and deep spiritual need.

David prayed and fasted over his sick child

2 Samuel 12:16.

Early on in the New Testament of the Gospel of Luke we see the Presentation of Our Lord in the temple. In Luke’s account, Jesus was welcomed in the temple by two elderly people, Simeon and the widow Anna. They embody Israel in their patient expectation; they acknowledge the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, Throughout the New Testament fasting and prayer are often mentioned together as with the widow, Anna, who worshiped day and night fasting and praying.”

PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE

When the days were completed for their purification^* according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” Luke 2:22

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38

Prayer is essential with fasting. You may recall the disciples who were given power over demons came back to Jesus and admitted they could not cast out this one malicious stubborn demon which Jesus then did exorcise. They asked Jesus why they couldn’t do this. Jesus said this kind can only be cast out with prayer. Mark 9:9

Fasting, joined together with fervent prayer from the heart, demonstrates just how serious our prayer is. When a Christian practices the sacrifice of self-denial, he is joining himself to the sacrifice of the Cross, the power for good is unleashed and miracles are allowed to happen where half-hearted prayer alone could not succeed:

CONCLUSION

It was our appetite of the flesh that got us into mess we are in. “The woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6

Denying my willfulness, to focus on God matters greatly because I was created by God to know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy for all eternity with Him in the next.

God created us and has given each one of us a mission. Let’s not get in the way of that mission by putting our own desires and wants before God’s will.

Fasting, self-denial may include more than food and drink. There are many things we may deny ourselves from, for example, talking bad about someone, not watching your favorite TV shows, not gossiping on social media, not dwelling on my real or perceived wounds

Pray for the grace to fast. Pray that your fast will move mountains in your life and the lives of others. Pray in words of Scripture, pray from prayer books, pray in your own words pray before the Blessed Sacrament, pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary, PRAY!PRAY!PRAY!

Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

MATTHEW 26:41

ASH WEDNESDAY

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE DUST, AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN”

On Ash Wednesday when ashes are placed on our forehead, we might hear either “Remember” that you are dust and to dust you shall return or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

You are dust and to dust you shall return reminds me everything I have I owe to God, I am nothing without God, my life and its gifts are all due to God’s generosity.

You have anointed my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5

“Repent and believe in the Gospel” means to me that I must give up many of my self-serving ways to follow and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not my will be done but thy will!

Acknowledging God’s existence is sometimes hard because we have to accept the consequences of believing in a God who loved us into existence. God is our maker. He made us with a purpose. As the old TV show said “Father Knows Best”

The full revelation of the Father is Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of the Father, the Word Incarnate. Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

God calls us out into the desert of Lent to test us to see where our hearts are like Moses.

“You shall remember the way which the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart. Deut. 8:2

God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts. But our world is afraid of silence. We are flooded with noise, distractions, spectacle…We have a tendency to be constantly busy, actively doing something. Lent is a time to return to God from the snares of this world. Lent offers more time each day for quiet. In solitude we will hear God’s whisper as Elijah did….

The LORD said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound. 1 Kings 19:12

Make space for God in your interior life so that you can hear his voice, notice his goodness and beauty, talk to him and tell him you love him. Take more time for quiet prayer each day. Stop by the chapel each day for just a few minutes of silence resting in his Presence before the Blessed Sacrament.

COME FOLLOW ME THIS LENT

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; 2 Corinthians 6:2

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit lead us on a true journey of conversion, so that we can rediscover the gift of God’s word, be purified of the sin that binds us, and serve Christ, present in our brothers and sisters in need.

Let us pray for one another that, by sharing in the victory of Christ, we will experience and share in the full joy of Easter.

PREPARING FOR LENT

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

After Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan, He was led by the Spirit into the desert to prepare for his public ministry. There He fasted and prayed for 40 days. During this time, his faith was tested by the Evil One.

Jesus was tempted by Satan with the usual temptations that we all face, to choose the flesh over spirit, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread….Matthew 4:3

To possess the world, rather than being good stewards, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’…Matthew 4:6

The pride of life, placing our will over God’s will. Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9

The Liturgical season of Lent is our 40 day retreat in imitation of Christ. We hope and pray to come into a greater intimacy with God our Father…a deeper awareness of our need for His mercy and an unique time to answer Jesus’ call to conversion.

Repent and believe in the Gospel!

Mark 1:15

The original meaning of the word “Lent” in Old English is springtime. It is possible to understand Lent as a kind of springtime for our spiritual lives; a time when the darkness of sin that can enter our souls gives way to the light of God’s grace

Forty days has importance in the Bible, being found 24 times throughout scripture. In Genesis, Noah experiences the flood for forty days and nights until the earth was cleansed from sin and corruption. Moses spent 40 days in the wilderness of Sinai talking to God and writing down the commandments as God would give them.

ON EASTER SUNDAY EVENING JESUS CHRIST INSTITUTED THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOSE SINS YOU FORGIVE ARE FORGIVEN

“In the evening of the same day…Jesus came and stood among them…Peace be with you…. As the Father sent me…so I am sending you…Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven. For those whose sins you retain, they are retained.'” John 20:19-35

Today, the Church, Jesus founded, is the custodian of conversion, forgiveness of sins, absolution, and reconciliation. It is God’s will that none be lost. I Timothy 2:4

Today, God the Father of mercy awaits our return home. Let us return in the words of the Prodigal Son. I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son… Luke 15:18-19

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives his disciples three spiritual exercises—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—as antidotes to “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” 1 John 2:16

In our modern self-centered, all-about-me world, the concept of fasting is very foreign and many Christians resist it. If Adam and Eve had fasted from the tree of good and evil they would have never lost paradise and intimacy with God, nor passed this inheritance on to us.

By denying ourselves food, we help strengthen our wills —so important in conquering sinful addictions. Fasting brings the appetites of our flesh under control Fasting reminds us who we are and our dependence on God.

Almsgiving is a spiritual remedy for the disordered desire for possessions (“the lust of the eyes”) Almsgiving is not optional for salvation. Jesus does not say in Matthew 6:2“If you give alms…” but “When you give alms…” Jesus assumes that “almsgiving” or other “acts of mercy” will be a regular part of the spiritual life of his followers.

Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:33–34

Jesus clearly teaches that giving to the poor is necessary for salvation. Nowhere is this clearer than in his famous Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. This parable shows the absolute necessity of almsgiving for salvation. “Whatever you did to the least of my brethren, you did to me.” Matthew 25:31–46

THE WIDOW’S MITE

“Amen, I say to you, from her poverty,

has contributed all she had Mark 12:43

Neither fasting nor almsgiving will be of any spiritual value if it is not united to prayer. Pray for the grace to fast, to give alms, and to do works of charity. When a Christian practices the sacrifice of self-denial and joins his sacrifice to the sacrifice of Jesus, the power for good is unleashed in unlimited miraculous ways.

What will your Lenten resolutions be? There are things you might do (commission) and things you may refrain from doing (omission). Here are a few suggestions beyond traditional fasting and almsgiving. You may visit the sick, work on resolving family disputes, reading and praying the Bible, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, attending an extra Mass during week,

There are things you may refrain from such as: talking bad about someone, refrain from seeking attention or praise, refrain from judging others, pray for patience in situations that make you angry like road rage. Watching television shows that appeal to our addictions, playing video games, engaging in social media on the internet….

Lent is the favorable season for renewing our encounter with Christ, living in his word, in the sacraments and in our neighbor. May we utilize to the fullest this holy season of Lent so that when Easter Sunday arrives, we experience a springtime of new life in the Risen Christ.

As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with His death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ.

WHEN CHRIST CALLS A MAN, HE BIDS HIM COME AND DIE!

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

Not my will but thy will be done