Almost everyone who has a home has some sort of garden to manage. It might be shrubs - flowers - winding their way around the house - perhaps decorative trees to provide shade. Those with enough property - often have a separate garden set to the side in which they grow whatever their hearts desire. Flowers - herbs - vegetables - pretty plants to admire - food to eat. Whichever garden is planted - needs attention if it will become the garden of one's dream. Tilling - weeding - fertilizing - irrigating - combined together - insures a fruitful yield.
During Lent we are asked to look at the garden of our lives - what grows in our minds - hearts - what needs attention - what is doing well. Spending time in prayer - contemplating those things that need work - seeking answers to self improvement. For those of faith - an easier job than for those with no faith. With faith - Jesus stands at one's side - guiding - urging - helping to first recognize - then fix what may be needing improvement. His love is the ground that your faith is planted in - His Holy Spirit - the water that rains down from heaven to nurture the seeds of faith - planted in His love. As this time of Lent comes to an end - the time to harvest - those seeds planted - now a full grown crop - very near. A few days more - harvest time. Now is the time to finish this task - prepare to meet Jesus - face to face at Easter
Deacon Dale
When we were little kids there would be occasions when an argument would break out between each other. As in any argument - disagreement - the first tools of battle - words - words carelessly thrown about like balls - sticks - stones. When words were not enough - actual sticks - stones - whatever was nearby. Many of us remember the mantra - sticks and stones may break my bones - words will never hurt me - a taunt that physical objects could inflict pain - but words were just words - not fatal in a fight. So it is as adults that fights start with - words - arguing one point against another - a debate - in most cases a verbal conflict - frequently settled through negotiation - discussion - peaceful resolution. In those rare moments when peaceful resolution not attained - the argument escalates. Once escalated - the conflict may become physical - hand to hand combat - worse case scenario - actual battle - war. Never a winner in war - losses rarely justify the win - peaceful resolution preferred.
Jesus was frequently the object of anger - those in power - afraid that He would take their power - control - away from them. In today's Gospel Jesus - once again - in a dispute with some leaders - losing a debate about Abraham - in frustration picking up stones to throw at Him. Makes one think - for over two thousand years we have not progressed beyond throwing stones at each other. In this period of Lent we need to reflect - contemplate - those things that caused us to become angry - throw rocks at others. If recent - now a good time to reconcile - if an old conflict - never too late to say sorry - resolve old conflicts - use those stones to build - rebuild relationships - with family - friends - God.
Deacon Dale
Really - this is the new normal? I certainly hope not - there is no way that what we are currently experiencing can be called normal. Isolation - empty grocery shelves - paranoid people all over the place - those who are preparing - those ignoring - no way is this normal. This is chaos - disruption to what life is suppose to be. What we are experiencing is a battle - life against death - rational against irrational - brilliance against ignorance.
This is not the life that God has planned for us - He is not the one who caused this problem. People - who made mistakes - bad decisions - misinformation - the ones - creating - stirring the pot of confusion - fear. Worry is not of the Lord. In John 14:1 Jesus told us "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me." In these days of fear - confusion - focus your eyes on Him who saves you - He will not leave you an orphan - He will not leave you alone. In strength - as people of Hope remind yourself and those around you - Jesus I Trust In You - Amen
Deacon Dale
Everyone who owns or rents a home - apartment - always purchase insurance to protect their dwelling - possessions. In addition to insurance many add home security systems - burglar alarms - cameras - so they can monitor their places. On long trips - many notify neighbors - family - to help watch over their home while gone. It is not being paranoid - rather prudent - part of being a good steward of what you possess.
In these days of the pandemic - the same goes for adding an additional level of protection - calling for the blessings of God to wrap your home in a bubble of protection. In the Hebrew Scriptures in Exodus 12:23 the Israelites were told to put blood from the lamb over the top and sides of the door frame so that the Angel of Death would pass over their homes and keep everyone inside safe when he was seeking the lives of the Egyptians who were oppressing them. In a similar vein - as Jesus - the Lamb that was slain - we are suggesting that Christians place the image of the Divine Mercy on the outside of their front doors - in hopes that Jesus will protect those homes from this illness - to Seal the Doors.
We pray - Jesus I Trust in You - that by Your Precious Blood - You will protect all who live inside our dwellings. If you need an image to post on your front door one is available from the Marian Fathers at https://www.thedivinemercy.org/DivineMercyImage It is free and you can print on your home computer.
Deacon Dale
In today's Scriptures from Daniel and today's Gospel the focus is on rightful judgement. Who are those judging - what are the claims - what is true - false - who stands to gain from the final decision. One does not have to be an official judge - plaintiff - defendant - to be involved in situations that require inspection - discovery - final decision. Most of us will frequently be called upon to - pick a side - listen to the arguments - come to a decision. Our days begin with the decision process - what time to get out of bed - what to wear - what to eat for breakfast - do we eat breakfast or skip it - where to go - what to do. Luckily the majority of our decisions do not involve legal matters - rather personal choice - how to arrange our day. On occasion - we might be called to add our voice in helping others to come to a decision. Rarely do we become involved in legal matters - serving court duty. In all these matters - it comes down to who do you trust - can you make your own decisions - do you need help from others - better informed - wiser people.
In matters of faith - we only need to look at Jesus - to trust in His words - instructions - to live a good - proper life. As our role model - Jesus showed us how to live - how to act. In today's Gospel - He did not see the point of stoning the woman to death because of her sins - rather he offered His forgiveness - told her to go - sin no more. He offers that same judgement to all of us - although sinners - we should not dwell on what we did wrong - rather learn from our mistakes - move on with our lives - not repeating what was wrong. As our time in Lent draws to a close - we need to trust that we have been learning how to be better people - to move from sin - into grace - with Jesus walking at our sides. Constantly reminding ourselves - Jesus I trust in you.
Deacon Dale
How many times in your life have you wished that you could start over - go back to the beginning - make different choices - walk a different path. If we were completely honest - most of us would say yes - begin anew - chose a different career - different life - take the high road - the path less traveled. The majority - life experiences - not always as we hoped - careers that never developed the way we expected - lives that were a constant struggle - choices made - too many disappointments. At this point in the world - many world leaders - now regretting bad decisions - watching their citizens dying of an illness - earlier wrong decisions - ruining the lives of many. Doom and Gloom - Hope on the horizon.
For the past three Sundays all the Scriptures have focused on the anticipation of Easter. We have focused on water - light - new life - the baptism liturgy - celebrated with those anxiously looking forward to Baptism - Confirmation - Eucharist. The culmination at the Easter Vigil - when the Elect - would become new creations in Christ - new members in the Christian Community of the faithful. For them - us - a chance to return to Go - on the game board of life - finishing our Lenten experience - renewed - energized - filled with faith - that in the end - all will work out for the good. In anticipation of our Easter celebration - we continue our walk - with Jesus - always at our side - towards a new beginning.
Deacon Dale
I would guess that most people in my age group played the game of hide and seek when they were young. Typically a group of children would gather together - select one to be - it - that person - close their eyes count to ten - the remaining kids - run and hide. At the count of ten - the one person ran all over trying to find everyone in their hiding place. Sometimes - very easy - other times - somewhat difficult. Once everyone was found a new person selected to be - it - the game resumed - lasting for quite some time. At times when seeking a place to hide - very difficult - those who lived on larger property - had numerous buildings - many more places to hide.
In Lent there are always those who would rather hide from God - rather than seek Him out. Afraid of His opinion - fearing harsh judgement - rather run away from Him. Lent is possibly one of the best times to run towards - not away from God. In Lent so many - praying - fasting - doing charitable deeds - seeking His forgiveness - looking everywhere they can think of - to seek - find Him. Truth be told - He is always there - at one's side - never any father away - than the distance of our mind to our heart. One only needs to open one's eyes - ears - mouth - to look for the signs that He is near - to hear His comforting words - to speak your desire for Him. Jesus is there - waiting - for you to make your move. He is not running away - hiding from you - rather - He seeks you with arms open wide.
Deacon Dale
Yep - just another Friday - except - trapped in the house - no place to go - locked down - self isolating. Not the first Friday for this experience - won't be the last. From the articles I just read - it appears that we are in this virus lock down for multiple months - not weeks. I know that many people are already getting anxious about this - however - there is no option. If we as a nation are to survive this pandemic - then as a nation - we must stick together - cooperate with our governors - mayors - follow their guidelines.
With Jesus - this is all possible. Sure some changes have to be made - very limited time outside the home - running critical errands - milk and bread only good for so many days. For us as Catholics - we need to look at this as a long Lent retreat - days in solitude - time to be alone with Jesus - walking in the desert. For those with other family members - - need to utilize different rooms - give each person their own space - time to be alone. Front porch - a private space - back yard - your private retreat - multiple possibilities exist. Time with family - time alone - all gifts to be appreciated - as we isolate. In Lent we seek Faith - in Jesus we Trust.
Deacon Dale
In this morning's scripture in Exodus we read how the Lord was instructing Moses to go to the people who he had led out of Egypt who had become bored - unhappy with their circumstances - making a molten calf - turning away from God. This resonates with many of us today - especially those who are sheltering in place - quarantined in our homes - waiting for the issue with the coronavirus to calm down. Obviously being bored - trapped - unhappy with the current situations in one's life - nothing new - exclusive for any of us. As we stay sheltered in our homes - have we turned away from - closer to - Jesus? Have we used any of this new found free time to talk to God - to consider our spiritual lives?
Yes boredom can be a serious issue - something to contend with - to overcome - to avoid going stir crazy - giving in to unnatural ways of thinking - acting. We need to constantly remind ourselves that this is Lent - a time set aside - to be quiet - to reflect - to spend more time in quiet with God. There is an abundance of live stream - online resources - available that will nurture our spirits - souls. Daily Mass - Stations of the Cross - recorded and live Homilies - Sermons - Bible Studies - to keep our minds active - connected to God. All are available - twenty-four hours a day - day in and day out. This time - trapped in our homes - a gift - of sorts - a time to relax - calm down - to draw closer to the God who loves us - who heals us - who comes to us in the quiet moments of our lives. Jesus is there - with you - seeking to stir up your spirit - to see in these days of isolation - how crazy He is for you.
Deacon Dale
One thing that most people know - water in the desert - very scarce - hard to find - mostly sand. When we decided to buy a home in Arizona we knew it had two features that we were looking for - warmth in the winter - mountains where we could hike. We had just completed our month long pilgrimage - walking 400 miles of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. The pilgrimage route took us literally through the back yards of Northern Spain - up into the mountains - down into valleys - across old Roman roads - bridges - challenging us most of the way - our first ultra light back packing experience. At the end - spiritually refreshed - enthused with that hiking experience - we wanted to do more hiking. In flat Illinois that was not possible - so we found a place in the warm Sonoran Desert in Arizona. Once there we were able to hike and were surprised with how beautiful the desert is, There is no water - but the plants that survive in the desert are unusual and very interesting - boring cacti that grow beautiful flowers - completely unexpected.
Everyone will - at some time in their life - have a desert experience. One does not have to physically be in a desert - the lonely isolation - feeling completely alone - walking in a space - barren - void of that which distracts. In Lent we are asked to journey with Jesus - to place ourselves mentally - spiritually - in the desert with Him. Contemplating - meditating - on our own life - the path we have been following - making decisions - to stay that path - walk a new direction. For a few - their lives filed with so much - drowning in choices to make - unable to sort through them - lost - with out a paddle - drowning in the desert. Others - through the power of prayer - easily cruising through the desert sands of their mind - floating on the waves of the presence of Christ in their lives - emerging - refreshed - invigorated at the time spent in solitude. Washed ashore - into the arms of Jesus - peaceful - filled with joy - their time in the desert - bringing clarity of thought - swimming in God's love. If you have not entered the desert this Lent - you still have time - Jesus is waiting - you will not drown - He is your life saver.
Deacon Dale
