Depending where you live you may be experiencing a lot of cloudy days or as we are in Arizona - mostly sunny days. Our time out here this year has been very different from previous years - cooler than normal - more rain days - lower activity level. For the most part - even when temperature is lower - there is still a lot of sun. The sun not only gives us brighter days - also adds to the comfort when outside. Sunlight - everywhere - a gift to almost everyone - boosting one's mood. Arizona seems to have a lot more happy people than other parts of the country - possibly due to the fact that there is constant sun. No seasonal affective disorder here - happiness prevails among most.
In these days of Lent as we reflect on our lives - what we have done - things ignored - what we should have done - things we could have done - those that we might do - we pause and ask - was that selfish - sinful. The answer depends on you - the situation - circumstances. So many of us tend to beat ourselves up - not helping enough - not spending enough time in prayer - not fasting as often as others. As we reflect on all these concerns - we look to the Son - the light He brings into our lives. God did not create us so that we would be unhappy - sad. Rather as Jesus reminds us - He came that we might have life and live it to the fullest. Even when the days are cloudy - God sends the Light of Jesus to each of us - reminding us to rejoice - to bathe ourselves in His Son's light.
Deacon Dale
The majority of people have various levels of faith - about different things. Faith that their favorite sports team will win the game - faith that their family is a happy unit - faith that their job is safe - faith that so many things will remain the same - improve in the future. Faith is an intangible thing that cannot be seen - felt. Faith may be lost - gained - in a moment. In today's scriptures we are reminded - hear - observe the statutes - decrees - teach your children - honor - keep the commandments - life will go well.
Yes we are in unprecedented times - everyone concerned about Coronavirus - completely afraid - scared - some laughing at it as if it is a fake concern. For the first time in our lives - church services cancelled - weekend Mass - banned - large groups discouraged. In all this we are still in the early weeks of Lent. Even though we need to be concerned about the pandemic - we also need to be concerned about our spiritual lives. We cannot allow this virus to consume our every thought - we need to pray - trust in God that we will emerge from this season of Lent - stronger in our faith - trust in God. Jesus is the ultimate physician - we pray that through Him - this world will be healed.
Deacon Dale
There is a lot of concern about many things - for those trying to observe a faith filled Lent - always the concern of what to do - when to do it - how much is enough, Prayer - fasting - alms giving - how many times to pray - what prayers - how much to fast - what to avoid - making donations to help others - where to draw the line. To each of the above - depends on the individual - their circumstances - wants - needs. No two people are alike - no one situation exactly like another - to each - the answers - only apply to them - up to them to make that determination.
Jesus said if we had faith the size of a mustard seed - very tiny compared to other seeds - we could move mountains - do amazing - wonderful things. All He asks of us during Lent is to focus on our personal relationship with Him - His Father. The time we spend - place - completely up to us. No right answer - no wrong answer - as long as we just do it.
Deacon Dale
It is very hard this Lent to focus one's mind - spirit - on spiritual exercises - when everyone is being bombarded from all sides about the Coronavirus. Unfortunately there is so much misinformation - guessing - experts - amateurs - selfish - greedy - people looking to scare - make a quick dollar - it makes one's head spin. In the midst of all this - precious time wasted - better spent quietly - doing constructive things. Reading - meditating - praying - being quiet - all better uses of time.
Worry is not from The Lord - a tool of the devil - disrupting otherwise peaceful lives. Right now too many worry - when will this end - will I be infected - will I survive. We have gone through this before - survived. Some did not make it - those same people - those who were in the process of dying anyhow. All of us begin the dying process the day we are born. We are born to die - no one immortal - most live fairly long lives. When will this current virus be a thing of the pass. The cap is just off the pen - the ink has not yet started to run. It will be months before life returns to normal - in the meantime remain - people of Hope.
Deacon Dale
This new terminology - social distancing - what is the fuss? I see a lot of people - complaining that large venues have been banned in light of the COVID19 pandemic. The President - Governors - Mayors - all mandating - social distancing. The outcries - unbelievable - conspiracy - government regulating our lives - our freedoms - unfair! That is what my children would often say as mom and dad would lay down the rules - rules to protect them - keep them safe - healthy. They were only children - did not have the knowledge - experience to know what we knew - thus the cry - unfair! I find it unbelievable that in this day and age - knowledge readily available - adults - those who think they are adults - crying unfair. I am no stranger to large events - most recently standing with 200,000 strangers - waiting to see Pope Francis at the Vatican. Did I really want to be in that crowd - did I really want to find the right spot - get close to the Pope - did I really think that the other 199,999 people added to my experience - No! My preference - one on one - nobody else around. When we attend sporting events - how many people do we interact with - maybe a handful - why the need for a crowd? Bottom line - the need to feel involved. If large groups were allowed right now - the spread of COVID19 would be monumental - the affect - mass deaths - all because we had to be there - to be a faceless number in the crowd. When those deaths - many unnecessary - added up - we should stand trial as being involved in one giant mass murder. Sure - you didn't get sick - but you got the virus - unknown - no symptoms - carried it home to your children - spouse - parents - to the neighbor recovering from surgery - immune system completely comprised - and you brought the virus to them even though they were observing social distancing. In spite of their efforts - your selfishness - caused their premature death.
Although you may miss the game - party - gathering - you will miss your mother more. Think about it - this will pass - in a few months hopefully - all may get back to normal. Until then - follow the guidelines - practice social distancing - stay safe - not just for yourself - for everyone else around you.
Jesus I Trust In You
Deacon Dale
Today's Gospel is about Jesus meeting the woman at the well - the one who had numerous husbands - the current man in the house - not her husband. By all rights - most would condemn her - Jesus doesn't. That should be reassuring to those of us - who sin less - commit small sins - or so we think. As people of God - disciples of Jesus - none of us is immune to sin. The world is a giant bowl of potato chips - each chip - a sin of a different flavor. As the saying goes - you can't eat just one - same goes for sins. When considering what is sinful - the list so long - it has no end. If I sin against my wife by disrespecting her and you - is that one sin or two? If the sinful action is the same but applied to multiple persons - how many times have I sinned. If I lose my temper and in anger shout curse words at someone - if I sneak ahead in a line - which sin is worse. In Proverbs 24:16 we read - a righteous man sins seven times a day - so essentially we are doomed? Tracing our roots back to the Torah - it was common knowledge that none of mankind was perfect - even a righteous person - sinful. Recognizing that we are all imperfect versions of a perfect God - we struggle with sin everyday.
Jesus recognized the woman at the well - just as he recognizes each of us. He knew she was sinful - he knows we are sinful - to her - to us - He offers us His healing power - to atone for what we have done wrong - to avoid the temptation to continue to sin. As we remove one sin from our lives - another appears - another to be reconciled with - to be healed - to move on - like a powerful stream of water - flowing over us - cleansing us of our imperfections - His Holy Spirit - the Living Water of the Gospel - constantly being poured upon each of us - washing us free - to New Life in Christ. Today thank Jesus for seeing your sins for what they are - imperfections in your life - that need to be washed away - to purify all of us - leading all to the Joy of Easter Resurrection - new life in Christ.
Deacon Dale
Never in my lifetime - yours - did we ever think the Catholic Church would cancel Holy Masses - especially on the weekend - a staple for all involved. When I read that Italy was closing everything - except pharmacies - grocery stores - during this pandemic - I never thought that would happen in America. In large cities on the east coast - in the midwest - churches closed - this weekend. In the Chicago area - hundreds of churches closed. It is understandable - wise - difficult - decision by the bishops - seeking to help stem the spread of the Coronavirus COVID19. Better to miss church services - than irresponsibly - assist in the early death of parishioners - neighbors - friends - family.
As Christians - we claim to be people of Faith - people who trust in God - people who believe Jesus' words - that He came that we might have Life - live it to the fullest. Missing a church service - will not kill us - figuratively - literally. God is much larger than that - He commands us to Love Him - Worship Him - Serve Him - never said it had to be in a church building - never said it had to be in a crowd - never said that we had to put our own health at risk - to Honor Him. As committed Catholics - Christians - the Temple where we first worship Him - in our Hearts - Minds. If we can't - don't worship Him - in the Temples of our Bodies - then all other worship - meaningless. Jesus told us to Worship - with our whole - Mind - Heart - Soul - in the Temple that we call our body. First and foremost - worship - begins at Home - in our bodies. Worship continued in community - in buildings - churches - secondary. Gathering each weekend - Sunday - as the Body of Christ - a reminder to all of us - we are not alone - we - as disciples of Christ - a visible witness to Him - the Author of Life. Even when not in the parish church - our visible witness remains. For those without a church this weekend - there are many services televised - live streamed via computers - phones - tablets. You will miss Holy Eucharist - something that many take for granted - for those who really understand - a very special sacrifice - this Lent.
Deacon Dale
There are always a ton of distractions during Lent that get in the way of our best intentions - work - family - illness - emergencies - helping others. It is inevitable - if it can go wrong - it will. In spite of all this - doing Lent properly - still possible. All it takes is minutes - not hours. Prayer time does not have to be hours - minutes count - seconds matter. What is important - prayer period. The Sign of the Cross - a prayer. A quick Hail Mary - Glory Be - Our Father - prayers that carry more power than hours of words. Jesus I Trust In You - speaks volumes.
Life is filled with so many challenges - making time for faith matters - one of them. Avoiding panic buying during virus pandemic - another. If people would hoard up prayers as much as they hoard toilet paper - world would be in better shape than currently is. This too - will pass - Heaven - will not. Faith in self - others - Jesus - worth more than all the toilet paper in the world. There are options to toilet paper - not to Jesus
Deacon Dale
It is printed on our money - In God We Trust - but do we really? Trust is something that does not happen immediately - it is earned - gained - from experience. Many people have difficulty trusting in God - past disappointments - ignored prayers - paradise gained - lost. It is understandable why some have this feeling - losing loved ones - jobs - financial security. Life is filled with so many variables - at any moment things can change from good to bad - vice versa. God has blessed us with this Earth and all that is in it - He does not micro manage. With His gift of Free Will - we affect many of the changes in our lives. Taking the high road or the low - up to us - God blesses whichever route we take - up to us to make the most of the route we chose to follow. If we choose wrongly - can always go back - make a new decision - follow a different route. When we think God failed us - vice versa - we failed ourselves. Ignoring His clues - things placed before our eyes - our fault - not His. When analyzing our failures - not because He wasn't trust worthy - rather the World - not God failed us.
Jesus had no choice but to trust in God - His Father. There must have been times when He paused - questioned - placed His trust in His Father - who knows all. His trust paid off - just as ours will. Trust in God is golden - a link between Him - us. In these days of Lent - in these days of concerns of the coronavirus - we place our trust completely in God.
Deacon Dale
Now that is something I hear frequently during Lent - giving up - giving up candy - giving up cakes - giving up ice cream - giving up television - giving up Facebook - giving up a hundred other - things. During Lent - we are asked to focus - focus on what really matters - our interior life - that which brings us closer to holiness - closer to Jesus. In today's Gospel - Jesus tells his disciples that he will be giving up His life - for all. There is a discussion about who will share in His Kingdom - finally warned that all will share His fate - in the end.
The hardest thing about Lent is time. Time to pray - time to meditate - time to focus on helping others. Lent can become tedious - difficult - stressful. Giving up - quitting - not an option. When Jesus faced obstacles - He did not give up - instead - prayed more. Like HIm - we need to be faithful to this journey - faithful to Jesus - faithful to God - faithful to ourselves. Giving up - not an option.
Deacon Dale
