Holy Week

Palm Sunday - branches waving in the breeze - singular thin strips of green palm branches - multiples grouped together - in some places - entire palms - tightly gripped by - children - adults - people of all ages - genders - mixed ethnicities - Christians - around the World - celebrating the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem - at Holy Mass - sprinkled - blessed - during the entrance rite.  I have visited Jerusalem three times - never greeted with a single palm - rather very much like entering any city one might visit - except for the sidewalk vendors offering their wares - 3 for $1 - 12 for $5 - typical tourist hustle.  People - buildings - vehicles - some noise - often congestion - feeling slightly disorientated - trying to assume some balance of ones surroundings.  Jerusalem - Holy Ground - walking in the steps of Jesus - Himself.  One experience - everyone should have - if possible - connecting to our roots.

For the past five weeks we have been walking in the desert with Jesus - trying to navigate the various roadways that is Lent - praying - meditating - spending time alone with God - seeking holiness.  This is our last hurrah - the final week- three more days until Lent ends - the Triduum begins - the three holiest days on the Christian calendar - then - Easter - the golden ring at the end of our journey.  At this time - not much left to do - except - pray - Adore - focus - our hearts - minds - on Jesus.  Our Lord's entrance into Jerusalem - the beginning of our entrance - into New Life.  Our journey - started over two thousand years ago - with Jesus leading the way.  Now it is up to us - how to make the best use of our time this week - leading to celebrating with Jesus - His  Easter Victory.

Deacon Dale 

The Son

This is what our faith is all about - The Son - the Son of Mary - the Son of God - The One - who existed before time - beyond time - eternally present in all the lives of anyone who ever lived.  He was there with His Father when the world - the Heavens - all that exists - was created.  He who comes from the Father - is the Father - the Holy Spirit - One in Three Persons - the One we can never ever understand.  To Him - be glory and honor - for ever and ever - Amen.  No one will ever completely understand - Jesus - God - The Holy Spirit - an impossible task - for mankind.  It is not for us to understand - that is not what we have been asked to do.  Our task - to accept Him - as Lord - Savior - to Worship - Adore - Him - for what He has done - will do - in all our lives.  For many - an easy task - for all too many - extremely difficult.  All one has to do is proclaim - Have Mercy On Me Lord - I am A Sinner - Forgive Me My Sins - Heal Me - Create A New Heart In Me.  Jesus I Trust In You.  Period

Jesus stands waiting for each one of us to make that simple statement. He asks no money - No demands - you do not have to do anything - it is a come as you are invitation.  Clean - dirty - wealthy - poor - believer - unbeliever - makes no difference.  Whether you believe it or not - He loves you just as you are - Period.  He waits - He knocks at the door of our heart - will you let Him in?

Deacon Dale  

Our Mother

Mary - the Mother of Jesus - hand picked by God to be the Christ Bearer - a role model for all mothers - our adopted mother - the Mother of Our Lord.  When we invited Jesus into our hearts - we also invited His Mother - to be our Mother.  As a role model - Mary showed all women - all mothers - how to support her family - husband - son.  When one considers that she gave God permission to bless her with His Son - at the early age of fourteen or so - it shows how mature - developed she was - trusting in Him - completely.  For us - guiding us to also trust - accept - all that He asks of us.

Being a Mother - a full time job - on call - twenty-four hours a day - three hundred sixty five days a year.  It is one of the most exhausting things a woman can do - also the most rewarding.  Just as Mary looked on Jesus on the Cross - tears in her eyes - also memories of Him at the wedding at Cana - His first miracle - His head nestled in her arms - loving - fond memories - memories that we can relate to - with our own mothers.  In honoring Mary - in a way we also honor our own mothers.  I know for myself - my mother - bearing my older brother in 1943 - myself and twin in 1945 - another set of twins in 1947 - five children in forty-nine months - and everything we put her though - adding another brother in 1957 - definitely a saint in her own right.  For Saint Mary - and all the other mothers/saints who followed her we pray..

Deacon Dale 

Our Father

Everyone has a father - somewhere - living or dead - would not exist - without a father.  Most of us have fond memories of our father - some not so blessed - happy memories few and far between.  Growing up - always a bonus when dad was around - helping - teaching - guiding us along the path of life.  For those with absentee fathers - another story - lots of disappointment - lack of male influence.  For those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord - Savior - know that they have a Father in Heaven - who has always been there - will always be there - just for them.  God is not - has never been - an absentee Father.  He created the world - all that is in it - just for us - worthy of  our praise.

In God we have a Father - worthy of our love - praise - adoration.  Always there - never disappointing - listening to our every prayer - conversation that we direct to Him.  In faith - we offer to Him - the prayer Jesus taught His disciples 

Today is an excellent day to offer this prayer to Him - the Author of Life - the One - who has always been there for us - since the beginning of time.

Deacon Dale 

Reading Scripture

If you want to know anything about anyone - need to do the research - dig in - dig deep - go the extra mile.  To learn about Jesus - need to read about Jesus - to learn about God - need to read about God - best source - the Bible.  One would think that is all you should need to read - not true.  The Bible is the inspired Word of God - the Books of the Bible - not necessarily in good chronicle order.  To understand what the Bible actually says - one needs to read with a plan.  Many people assume they start with Genesis - continue straight through to Revelation.  Doing that creates a lot of questions - confuses many - majority quit before they get through the Old Testament - the Hebrew Scriptures.  One good way would be to follow the podcasts with Father Michael Schmitz - currently the number one podcast listened to.  His style of reading Scripture - blending in an excellent reading style - combined with an organized approach - makes Scripture come alive - not always in a clear manner - more in a real manner.  Passages that confuse - seem to conflict with the common idea of who - what God - Jesus - is - are numerous.  Father Michael has a way to put it in proper perspective.  In addition - other books - available to fill in the blanks. 

Getting to know  the history - theology - behind religion - helps to broaden one's perspective - understanding God - His Son - The Holy Spirit.  God has a plan for our life - the Bible is a long love letter - from God - to each of us.  The way to a joyful - peaceful life - the road we should follow - laid out in the Bible. The majority - have a Bible - today would be a good day to get acquainted with it.  Father Mike's podcast is available for free - just click this link and get started with him today.  https://ascensionpress.com/pages/biy-registration

Deacon Dale 

Doing His Will

OK - things are looking good - on track - focused - praying more - time in Adoration - doing Bible in a Year - Hey - This is how we do Lent - correctly.  Feeling good about one self - really doing well - this must be what it means - to do His will.  Doing some spiritual reading - learning new prayers - spending more time in prayer - lighting candles - meditating - all going well. At this point - definitely on track - getting closer to the goal - doing well.

Jesus calls us to follow him - to walk with him - to accept Him - as Lord - Savior - easier than it sounds.  There are so many distractions - things that get in the way - some legitimate - some not.  For some - a very easy task - for many - much more difficult.  As the saying goes - Rome was not built in a day - in a similar way - we should not expect things to change over night.  All journeys - begin with that first step - big - little - does not matter.  The important thing - take that first step.  Here we are - together - past that first step - well on our way to - holiness - doing His will.

Deacon Dale 

B-C-E

B - C - E - Baptism - Confirmation - Eucharist - that is what Lent is all about.  Lent was originally a period of prayer - reflection - for those who were considering joining the Catholic Church. Nothing more - nothing less.  Eventually it was decided that - in addition to the - Catechumens -  those who were already members of the Church - should also be involved.  The  faithful of the congregation - asked to pray for those in the process of committing their selves - to Jesus - in return those in the RCIA - asked in turn to pray for all those who were already active members of the Church.  Basically parishioners praying for those who wished to become parishioners.  Each one - pray for - each one.  Thus the current members became involved with those seeking membership.  At this point - Lent - involving the entire parish community.  New people - gain faith - community - existing people - renewing the faith they had already attained.  Faith begetting Faith.  Sounds complicated - not - very simple in practice.

                        Baptism                                Confirmation                              Eucharist 

Now that we have shed the excuses that troubled many in the first four weeks of Lent - now that we have made our commitment to really get serious with Lent - together with those seeking - Baptism - Confirmation - Eucharist - we can appreciate the gift of Faith that we already have - the gift that they will soon receive at the Easter Vigil Mass.  It is an exciting time - a time of rejoicing - a happy time - now recommitted to our daily prayers - time of meditation - sitting at Adoration in Church - doing all that is necessary - to prepare ourselves to celebrate the victory of Jesus - at Easter.  In quiet - we consider our own baptism - confirmation - the gift of receiving Christ in Holy Eucharist.  We pray that in those times when we receive communion - when it has become a routine - we stop - halt in our steps - consider just what we are doing - the gift we receive.  That gift to be celebrated - B - C - E - Because Communion is Everything.  It should never become ordinary - exactly the opposite -  an unbelievable gift - offered to us - each - every time - we attend Holy Mass.  Here I am Lord - I come to do your will.

Deacon Dale 

It's All About You

Yes - it is true - it is all about YOU - where you have been - where you are heading - where your journey will take you. Yesterday I said it is time to get serious - to quit playing games - blaming others - situations - for your failure to take Lent seriously.   So far - this Lent - I have posted thirty-three - minute meditations - in an effort to help kick start Lenten devotions - helping to get back on track - showing many - the true path to salvation.  For some - great success - for others - just another minute read while drinking their morning coffee.  

God calls each and everyone of us - constantly - some hear - respond - others - words falling on deaf ears.  For many - Jesus was sent - a visible sign that God is - Love - Forgiving - Compassionate - waiting patiently for an acknowledgement - that He is there.  Ten days left - Lent is gone - done - finito - finished.  Ten days - not a ton of time - yet - in a flash - in an instant - your heart can be given over to God.  All anyone has to do is admit they are a sinner - ask honestly for forgiveness - invite Jesus into their heart - accept Him as their Lord - Savior.  It can be done - should be done - now.  Anyone can make that commitment - today - now - and still experience the best Lent of their life.  As we continue this journey together - walking through the sands of our lives - not looking for an oasis - instead enjoying the oasis - that is Jesus.  He is all that you need - there - waiting to fill your soul with - Living Water - New Life - in Christ.  

Deacon Dale 

Tri-Cycle

One of the things that is often confusing about Lent is the fact that many churches during Lent will avoid the prescribed readings of the year - instead use Year A - those scriptures more focused on those planning to enter the church at Easter.  Normally the Sunday scriptures follow a three year cycle of A - B- C.  This year we are in Cycle-C - for churches who have candidates in the RCIA program - the option to use Cycle-A often taken - Cycle-A lending it self more closely to - water - light - new life - as those candidates prepare themselves for baptism - confirmation - Communion.  Like many things in life - specific - prescribed cycles - exist.  Just as one typically starts riding a tricycle when young - providing a secure basis - three points - creating balance - preparing one for future cycling - so does the three year cycle of scripture help to create a spiritual balance. 

At this point in Lent - all of us should have experienced that feeling of being balanced in our journey.  We have less than two weeks before Lent ends and we enter the holiest three days of the Christian calendar - the Triduum.  If we haven't gotten serious yet - this is the day to get focused - stop making excuses - getting down to the work that is Lent.  No more excuses - no more delays - today we pick up ourselves - make a commitment to make the most of the few days we have left.  God calls each of us - everyday - He speaks our name - today is the day when we finally respond to His call.  Here I am Lord - I come to do your will.

Deacon Dale 

Removing Barriers

One of the truths of life - barriers - little - giant - pop up when you least expect them.  After weeks of planning - taking everything into consideration - weighing various options - plans should go exactly as expected - once started - everything going as expected - BAM - hit a barrier.  Some barriers have a good purpose - others - no reason for them to exist.  When we go cycling in the mountains there are a few roads that come to a sudden end - obviously a future extension planned - barriers in place that do not say - NO - rather - not now.   As shown in the photo - easy to see what lies ahead in the future. 

As we journey through Lent - not uncommon to run into a few barriers to our plans - things that cause us to deviate from our agenda.  Instead of assuming they are saying - NO - pause - consider -  it might be one of those - not now moments.  It is not unusual when we talk to God - His answer - not yes - instead - wait - not now - maybe later.  Lent is a time to focus on the small things that will make us better - now - not the big things of the future.  As Jesus walked through the desert - as we journey with Him in Lent - baby steps - moving gently around any barriers - we encounter. 

Deacon Dale