Last Things

Today is the final day of Lent - almost.  Lent officially ends with the celebration of Holy Thursday evening Mass - so a few more hours left - still time.  Today is the day we pick up all our spiritual pieces - the things that we have gathered about ourselves over the last forty days - yes - it is actually more than forty days - we already discussed that issue - here we are at day #43 with our Lenten posts - Sundays have been included -  another three days to go until Easter.  In these last hours of Lent - we rearrange - clean - our spiritual houses - preparer ourselves for the three holiest days of the Christian calendar - the Triduum.  Holy Thursday - Good Friday - Holy Saturday.  In those three days we will focus on three special aspects of the Christian year - how it prepares us to joyfully celebrate the Resurrection - Easter. 

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Jesus has been with us throughout our entire lives - every day - walking next to us - guiding - sending angels - people - to help us on our journey.  Even when we were down - out - when we drifted away from Him - He was never far away from us.  We may abandon Him - we may lose faith - He - always there - hard to believe - that is who He is - what He does.  As we enter the Triduum - may we empty ourselves of all our worries - concerns - turn them all over to Jesus - declare to Him - Jesus I Trust in You.

Deacon Dale 

T.A.C.O. Tuesday

Take - Accept - Christ - Openly - Be not afraid - now is the day the Lord has made - accept - rejoice - He Loves You.  Tuesday - today - tomorrow - then Lent is over for another year.  Now is NOT the time to stop - we are near the finish line - have not crossed it - yet.  Still time for our final prayers - sitting on the back porch - meditating on what this Lent has meant to us - as a group - as individuals.  Did we just cruise through these forty days - getting minimally involved - or - did we jump in feet first - attempting to do everything suggested - coming close to spiritual burn out.  Bottom line - whatever one did - only that individual - God - knows - nobody else's business.  Developing one's spiritual life is not restricted to a forty day experience - each of us - every day of our life - should be talking with God - Jesus - improving our relationship - every single day of our life. If you have not - accepted Jesus into your heart - as Lord - Savior - still time.  The stories are endless - the witnesses - plentiful - sharing what life in Christ - all about. 

Jesus will come to you when ever - where ever - you want. He stands - waiting - time after time - you have been told - still - He - waits. Will today be the day you - Take - Accept - Christ - Openly - Let this Lent end on a positive note. One more day...

Deacon Dale 

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