Lent #11 - Pray Without Ceasing

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Paul says to pray without ceasing - never stop - never give up on your prayer - be constant - stubborn with your prayers.  That does not mean that you should avoid other tasks in life - rather - even when doing everyday activities - do those in a prayerful way.  When driving on a congested road - pray for patience - when helping others - pray that your efforts - glorify God - in everything you do - with all that you help - make those efforts - a form of prayer.  

Jesus showed His disciples that prayer was key to their relationship with His Father.  In this season of Lent - our number one task - drawing closer to God.  The best way to connect - communicate with God - through prayer. When you take time to improve your prayer life - expand the time spent in prayer - learn new prayers - include more people in your prayer intentions - your prayers become deeper - fuller - add more substance not only to your prayer life - also the life you are seeking to live.  Consider these days of Lent - your prayer workshop.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #10 - Going Beyond Hugs

Yesterday I suggested that if you were a serious committed Christian you would embrace Jesus.  I suggested - one only had to be serious about their faith - commit to Jesus - His mission on Earth.  That is an excellent way - to start - many more opportunities - exist.  One can focus their attention on God - Jesus - Him personally - other persons may be included.  The old neighbor next door who cannot shovel their driveway - cut their grass - drive to the store - unable to attend Church services - Holy Mass - all mean giving up personal time - investing your time - attention on others.  Others - who in Jesus' name -image the Lord - the One you wish to serve.

Too many people spend too much time - majority of their day - in Church - on their knees - in prayer - worshiping God - when so many people - those they can physically touch - hug - offer assistance - are ignored. Jesus told us that He came to serve - not be served (Matt 20:28) - yet opportunities for service to others ignored in the name of worship. Do not get me wrong - all should spend a sufficient time in worshiping God - that time balanced with Christian service.  This Lent - perhaps as part of your Lenten journey - you may find time to add service hours into your Lenten plans,  In doing so - you just might find Jesus.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #9 - Embracing Jesus

One of the greatest experiences in life - a good hug - even better - a great hug.  When God created humans He not only gave us arms to take care of ourselves - also ability to wrap around others - to draw people into our inner circles - to feel their physical closeness - a warm embrace - their presence.  As children - majority of us felt those embraces by parents - siblings - family.  As we grew - those who were allowed to enter into that private space - increased.  In those embraces we experienced - closeness - support - intimacy - love.  As we journey through this season of Lent - one goal - draw closer to God - His Son - Jesus.  Some may have already experienced that - many others - still on  the outside - wondering how to make that happen for themselves.  

Since the beginning - God has made Himself available to anyone who listened to His voice - a voice freely shared with all - not all bothered to listen.  For those who did listen - not all responded to His message.  To those His Word - became flesh - Jesus - who walked among them - made Himself available to all.  For those who sought Him - those who developed a close relationship - able to experience an honest embrace in His arms.  That same possibility exists today - not physically - but in a very personal way - if only one seeks Him.  The challenge this Lent - move your heart  - mind - closer to that of Jesus - to experience that special embrace.

Deacon Dale  

Lent #8 - One Down More To Go

Congratulations - you have completed your first full week of Lent - one week ago you were reminded that 'You are dust and to dust you shall return" as ashes were placed on your forehead.  That evening or perhaps the next morning the ashes were washed off - life returned to normal - or did it?  Did you go home from church with a renewed perspective on your life - where you were going - making plans for your personal Lent journey - or - nothing changed except the fact you attended a Lenten service.  Many people go out of their way to receive ashes - only to leave their observance of Lent at that one experience.  Perhaps you are one that takes the Season of Lent seriously - becoming involved with all that the Church makes available.  Now as we begin the second week of our journey - what are your plans - where do you see yourself in six weeks - at the foot of the Cross?  There are numerous options that we may take - and in that regards - a very personal decision.  For me and my household....... 

Jesus calls each of us - as individuals - to draw closer to Him - improve our personal relationship with Him - with His Father - to commit for the first time - recommit for the fiftieth time - or more.  Every day that we open our eyes - another chance to improve that relationship.  Every day we can make amends - take corrective action - improve upon that which we already have.  Every day we can say "Have Mercy on me Lord - a sinner".  Every day Jesus says to us "turn away from sin - be faithful to the Gospel".  Every day we can celebrate new life - will  this be that day for you?

Deacon Dale 

Lent #7 - The Desert Experience

When we hear that Jesus spent 40 days in the desert - most ask - why?  Presumably the desert is devoid of all life - no people - no plants - no animals - nothing living.  Being in the desert - living in the desert - like being in a vacuum - total silence - no distraction - ability to concentrate - focus on your thoughts - prepare for a future event.  The desert however not totally devoid as suspected - life actually abounds if one knows where to look.  For Jesus - the desert experience gave Him an opportunity to separate Himself from the distractions of life that all experience.  Each year my wife and I withdraw from our normal lives - withdraw to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona.  In that time we are able to eliminate many of the daily distractions of our lives - focus on the quiet - the beauty that exists in our desert.  In the Sonoran Desert - unbelievable beauty - life abounding in the various species of animals - colorful plants - unique rock formations.  In that quiet we have identified our special - Prayer Rock - a secluded place where we sit in prayer - facing the East - opening our minds - hearts to God. In that space - we draw close to Our Lord - Savior.

                                 Desert Beauty -   Flowers on a Saguaro Cactus in Sonoran Desert 

 
For those who seek - prayer space available - one only has to take time to locate their special space.  In that sacred space - be it in a desert - on the back deck - in a tropical space - a silent room at home - all may place themselves - in the presence of Jesus.  You pick the space - invite Jesus in - and the rest will  happen.  The quiet - peace - beauty - flows freely as you experience the solitude with Our Lord.  Seek and you will find - a gift on your Lenten retreat.

Deacon Dale 

 

Lent #6 - Hungry

This Sunday - the First Sunday of Lent - the Gospel recalls Jesus spending 40 days in the desert - fasting for the 40 days - at the end - being hungry.  Fasting - being hungry - hand in hand experience - everyone who fasts - denies themselves food - drink - no way to avoid - hunger.  Today 2000 years after His walk in the desert - Jesus still hungers - this time - not for food - rather - disciples - people who will not only accept him as their Lord - Savior - instead  an active follower who is not afraid to share their faith with others.  He seeks - not only ordained - consecrated followers - rather all those who have made a verbal - sacramental commitment to share in His ministry to all around  them.  

As we walk through our own desert - wherever we may be - need to understand that Jesus - God Almighty - the Holy Spirit - always with each of us. Unlike Jesus who felt abandoned - alone in the desert - we are never alone. As we continue our observance of Lent - through our prayers - meditations - charitable acts - we need to shed those things in our lives that slow us down - the sand - pebbles in our sandals - that impede our progress. With His presence in our lives - this journey - very possible.

Deacon Dale  

Lent #5 - Lenten Retreat

Saturday morning the senior group at our parish sponsored a Lenten Retreat for all adults in the parish and friends.  It was well attended and the organizers received many complements.  The main focus of  the retreat - the Seven Last Words of Christ.  The reflections on each Word - prepared by the parish clergy - gave an in depth examination for all to meditate on.  In addition to that featured presentation participants celebrated Morning Holy Mass - prayed the Stations of  the Cross - the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and enjoyed a light breakfast.  Experiencing this event was an excellent way to begin the annual observance of Lent.  Retreats - Evenings of Reflection - Hours in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - Bible Study - to name just a few - very good ways to draw closer to The Lord.

 

God created Mankind to Know - Love Him - Listen to His Word - to do as He asked - Live lives according to His plan.  All have sinned - fall short of the glory of God  (Rom 3:23)  Because we have been born with the tendency to ignore - turn away from God's plan - to think we know better than God - we place ourselves in the state of sin.  One may say it is only human nature - most of us - guilty of thinking we know better - without realizing we are sinning.  In this Lent - all of us - saint - sinner - need to withdraw from the busyness of life - to retreat - that we may place ourselves more deeply in the presence of God.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #4 - It takes Teamwork

A good rule to follow when engaging in any venture - have a travel partner.  Remembering back to my childhood - always remined - do not go swimming alone - for safety sake - security - take someone along - two minds always better than one - if you stumble - a friend to pick you up.  The same goes for our Lenten journey - although you may walk a different path spiritually - does not mean you shouldn't have a journey partner.  Although my wife and I are doing the Catechism in a Year together - that is only one small part of our individual journeys.  She has her own journey to walk - I have mine.  In my previous post I said - It's all about you - your personal experience - that does not mean you cannot walk with someone else who is also pursuing their own journey.

When God created the Heavens and the Earth - He also created Mankind.  A man and a woman - journey partners - not identical - rather similar - each person containing their own identity.  Each had their role to play in His plan for creation.  Alone neither could have achieved their common goal - together - walking a similar - different path - side by side - under His guidance - experiencing life - the challenges - as He intended.  This Lent give a gift to yourself of a journey partner - Jesus - and a plus-one.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #3 - Making it Personal

Failing to Plan - Planning to Fail - a phrase all of us have heard over the years.  For many -  their Lenten experience will be delayed as they concentrate too much on what they should - will be able to do - for Lent.  Rather than getting involved with too much planning - too many details - attempting to design the perfect exercise - better to just - get on with it.  As I mentioned previously - I add more into my Lent - an ongoing process  that evolves on a daily basis.  Whatever I do - in the end - will be just fine with God - as long as whatever I do is with a clean - committed - heart.  I do not have to explain - justify - my efforts to anyone - that is completely between me and God. This also applies to you - your business - your plans for Lent - between only you - God. Whatever - however - you experience Lent - your business - nobody else's.

Jesus came into the world - humbled Himself - for all mankind - for you alone.  If you were the only person who was in need of salvation - He would have still died on the Cross for you.  It is a hard concept to accept - a reality without a doubt.  Your plan for this Lent - honor your personal relationship with Jesus - meditate on that.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #2 - Lenten Study

I have not mentioned this before - Arlene and I have been doing the "Catechism in a Year" with Father Michael Schmitz.  It has been very interesting - Holy Scripture mixed in with the wisdom of the Church Fathers - theologians - Saints - all in one concise book.  Most of the teachings - very familiar - good to review.  A few thoughts - things to consider - reading for the first time.  Nothing objectionable - curious how anyone arrived at those thoughts. Some have done a previous yearly study with Father Mike - "Bible in a Year" - trying to decide which study better to do first.  Some currently doing both - my preference at this point - possibly better to study the Catechism first - just my thinking now - it could change.  Since this started January first - not a Lenten exercise - an interesting addition to the extra things I intend to do for Lent. 

God blesses us in all things - what we actually do - what we intend to do. Any - all efforts - pleasing to God.  Jesus - always at our side - sharing our Lenten journey with us - all the way to completion.  In this Lent - may you come closer to the One who gave His life - that we might experience the fullness of our own life.

Deacon Dale