Lent #27 - The Works We Do

Turning words into works not always a difficult task - it takes some planning - selecting the project - often recruiting others to guarantee the success - making a final commitment.  There are so many opportunities available - one only has to ask - before one knows it - you are involved.  Some projects may be harder - more difficult to complete - always something almost anyone can do.  The number of groups seeking volunteers for community focused projects is endless - schools - sport clubs - youth groups - health - church focused groups - you name it - somebody is seeking people to lend a hand so their efforts are successful.  Over the years our family has participated in numerous events - scouts - sports - church groups - raising funds to benefit others - selling wreaths at Christmas - sitting at store entrances - asking for donations - most fairly easy.  One event that took more energy was walking in the yearly - March for Babies - fund raiser to help babies born prematurely - helping families with preemies - large financial expenses to cope with.  Happily the family was willing to assist - with brothers - sisters - cousins all joining in on the project.  Many hands make light work - working with friends - family - always a fun time.

Family Team Cugini - March for Babies 

As Christians - as those seeking to become Christian this Easter - it is imperative that this be ingrained in our minds - hearts - following the Gospel message of Jesus - following His example of how to live a life completely formed in Scripture - Tradition - living a life based in Worship - Service to others.  This Lent look around - somebody is looking for your help.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #26 - Words Are Not Enough

Today - the Fourth Sunday of Lent - Holy Scriptures - very powerful filled with meaning for everyone. The Lord speaking to Samuel - not as man sees does God see.  Paul instructing the Ephesians - live as children of the light - Gospel - Jesus opening the eyes of the blind - giving sight to those who see.  This Sunday also the second scrutiny for the catechumens - asking them to consider how well prepared they are on their journey towards baptism - confirmation - Eucharist.  For those - already full members of the Church - asking us to consider our own journey - have we followed what we were taught - are we being the active disciples - members of  the community - leading others to Christ.  All of us have heard the -Words - have we really listened to what we heard.  A difference in hearing - listening - contemplating - what those words were asking us to do.  For the catechumens - have  those words encouraged them on the journey - inspired them to make a real commitment to Christ.  For us - are we still deeply committed to the words we heard years ago that brought us to this day.

Jesus told His disciples - words not enough - once one hears - action demanded.  What naturally follows words - are works.  Inspired - encouraged by the Holy Spirit - words spoken by God - Jesus - our eyes having been opened - the darkness wiped away - born again as children of the light - we see - we believe.  In Lent - hours spent in prayer - meditation - study - adoration - leading to works of charity - service - to others.  For each of us - are we only saying words - or - have our words born fruit in the works we are doing.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #25 - A Little Humility Please

One thing social media has done is to help those - quite ordinary - inflate their egos - posting hundreds of crazy comments about themselves in an effort to make themselves look - better - more popular - more interesting - than they really are.  Not being happy with a normal life which most find very pleasing - these people forget the value of real friends - seeking instead - fame - popularity - over enduring lasting relationships.  We have been warned "for all who exalt themselves - will be humbled - all who humble themselves - will be exalted" (LK 18:14)

Jesus reminds us constantly that "He came that we might have life and live it to the fullest" (John 10:10) - does not mean that we will become wealthy - famous - exalted.  Living a full life means experiencing all that life has to offer - the bad - as well as the good.  None of us can expect to ever be perfect - nor can we expect our lives to be perfect.  As C.S. Lewis wrote in the graphic displayed above - think of yourself - yes - think of others - how you can help them - just as much - perhaps more.  One thing to focus on this Lent - humility - swallow one's pride - look outwards - not inwards - you might be surprised at the wealth waiting for you.  Jesus at your side - amazing things can - will - happen.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #24 - Not My Will..

When God created Man - one of the best gifts - to humankind - the gift of free will.  As much as God wants us to follow - worship Him - He will not force us to do anything we don't want to do - including things that He knows would be best for us.  He wishes to have people who chose to follow Him - not puppets - who blindly jump when He pulls their strings.  For humans that can be a challenge - doing what one knows is right - struggle between choosing attractive options - maybe not best for them - not as God would have them chose.  As a human - Jesus had the same challenges with which to cope.  With His experiences learned from living with people - knowing what others might often choose - Jesus had to balance His life experiences - knowing all along what the plan was that His Father had - do His will or make another decision.  In the end - when push came to shove Jesus knew He had only one choice - Not my will.....(Lk 22:42).

As His modern day disciples - struggling to make the correct decisions - sometimes a challenge.  Most of us have to admit - some past decisions have been questionable - if we could go back - we would not make the same decision a second time.  On our Lenten journey we choose how - when - we spend time with our Lenten exercises.  How many things - how long we are actively engaged - our decision.  Bottom line - God will not force us to do anything we do not want to do - He will nudge - give us hints - still our decision in the end.  With very difficult decisions - in the end best to stop fighting with God - instead - do as He has asked us - place our trust in Him - finally say - Not my will...

Deacon Dale 

Lent #23 - Weight Control

The majority of people today - everywhere - coping with all sorts of weight problems.  Bad diet - lack of exercise - foods filled with nutritional time bombs - old food myths - busted daily.  Low fat - no fat - bad tasting food - flavor added - sugar - sweet - dangerous - culprit.  For those who have understanding - realize - what tastes - sweet - looks pretty - shines like gold - not necessarily good.  There are other - just as important issues facing all of us.  Regarding impatience - being in a rush - constantly - going - too fast - ignoring warning signs.  Everyone - needs to chill - learn how to wait - control those urges - do it now - not always a good choice.  Planning ahead - not waiting until the last minute - developing better plans - becoming tolerant of others who failed to plan - in a hurry - rushing into danger.

Prayer is a great tool to help one learn - patience - tolerance - acceptance. In Paul's letter to the Ephesians he wrote "I therefore - beg you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called - with all humility - gentleness - with patience - bearing with one another in love" (Eph 4:1-2)  In prison - Paul had lots of time to think - pray - consider his life.  We may not be in prison - rather trapped in preconceived ideas - thoughts - situations that demand - waiting.  In Lent - each of us - should take on the attitude of - patience - place ourselves in the Lord's presence - wait for Him - to speak to our hearts - minds. In quiet time - in prayer - meditation - sitting in Adoration - in front of the Blessed Sacrament - we learn to sit in waiting.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #22 - Seeking Greatness

The majority of people are very happy living normal - quiet lives - doing mundane everyday things - taking care of those they love - basically - keeping it simple - honest.  A few - energetic - highly motivated - by money - fame - fortune - not happy with that life - instead spend their energy - seeking greatness.  Out of those - few succeed to the level sought - end up - very unhappy - miserable.  On the surface - media - especially social media - these days - makes it look - too easy - too important - to become - important - an influencer - wealthy financially - with thousands of total strangers - becoming - friends.  Unfortunately - fame - fleeting - fickle - does not last - quickly replaced by the newer - better - bigger - in the moment.

God sent Jesus - to walk - live among His people - to give direction - set them on the correct path of life.  Many ignored His words - for those who listened - took His words to heart - peace - forgiveness - a fullness of life became - a reality.  For over two thousand years that same story - told over - over again.  Even today - that same story Jesus shared - being shared this very moment.  He shared God's commandments - how to live - act - warned that those who ignored would be - the least - but "whoever obeys - teaches - these commandments - called the greatest - in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matt 5:19).  Today - as you continue your Lenten journey - heed these words - just as true in 2023 as the day Christ spoke them.  Do as He commanded - greatness will be yours. 

Deacon Dale 

Lent #21 - Lucky 7s

Throughout history - the number seven has been considered very special - special to the point that it is consider lucky.  Seven appears in various religions - myths - historical stories.  Research points to the story of creation - God created the world - the heavens - the entire universe - in six days - rests on the seventh - final day.  Therefore seven understood to mean the perfect completion of His creation - making the number seven - the perfect number.  Being perfect - belief that anything perfect - also lucky.  In Holy Scripture we read (Matt 18:21-22) Peter asking Jesus "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." 

In this special time of Lent as we seek to correct our faults - failings - one needs to look at what is known as the sins of omission - things that we should have done - failed to do.  In this regard - one of the hardest things is forgiving those who have sinned against you - done harm to you - physically - mentally - spiritually.  Forgiving others - very difficult - especially when the other person fails to understand why - how they hurt you in the first place.  Quite often their actions - not intentional - done accidentally with out malice - other times - intentional - meaning to cause you harm - hurt feelings. Those intentional actions understandable - hardest to forgive.  As seen above Jesus's answer - remember the magical number of seven - and as often as necessary.  Eventually - with prayer - compassion - strength from His Holy Spirit - possible. You may not be able to forgive the first time you try - over time - Jesus at your side - forgiveness will happen.  Remember the Lord's Prayer - Forgive me my sins - as I forgive those who have sinned against me - take time - pray - let those words sink in this Lent.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #20 - World Classic

Sunday we had the opportunity to attend the World Baseball Classic at Chase Field in Phoenix to watch the baseball game between Canada and Great Britain as part of the World Baseball Classic - an international tournament - being played in Phoenix - Miami - Tokyo - Taichung - in cooperation with Major League Baseball.  It is interesting for those who follow baseball - normally thinking only of the teams that play in the United States - to be able to watch  international teams playing here in our country. This tournament in a small way - shows to peoples of all countries that we are all very similar - not always as different as we may think.

The one World Classic - known around the world for thousands of years - not a sport - rather the Christ Event - that day when God became Man - born of a virgin - He who is Lord - God for all. Religion may be considered a game by those who mock true followers - for those who are sincere - honestly believe - dead serious - much more important than any sporting event.  Jesus came for all - around the globe - young - old - men - women - no matter where one lives - He is there - for you.  Saint - sinner - no difference - all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23)..  In our prayers this Lent - may we constantly pray - Lord have mercy on me a sinner (Luke 18:13) 

Deacon Dale 

Lent #19 - Well Well

Today - the Third Sunday of Lent - Cycle A readings - focused primarily on Catechumens - those preparing for baptism - confirmation - Eucharist.  Lent designed originally for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church.  Today marks the first of three Scrutinies - a period of deep introspection - focusing on the three facets of reception into the Church.  This week - the focus on water - thirsting - being filled with Living Waters.  Israelites wandering in the desert - thirsting for water - Moses with his stick - God pouring His Love into hearts - Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman - asking for Living water.  Water one of the basics of life - with out it - life would cease.  

Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink - told her she should be asking for Living Water

- a gift of the Holy Spirit - the water that flows through all baptized persons. For those of us who are already fully received into the Church - we journey along with the Catechumens - praying for their conversion of heart - a renewal of our own hearts - asking for forgiveness for our sins - praying for those who wish to become Catholic - that their sins also be forgiven - together in Mass - celebrating the Scrutinies - together for mutual benefit.  Come Lord Jesus Come.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #18 - Happy Feet

Dancing your heart out - beautiful partner - great music - for many - awesome experience - happy feet.  Enjoying life to the fullest - experiencing what Jesus wanted us to do.  Music - dancing - not everything that makes for a full - pleasing life.  Many other aspects to consider. Good food - drink - great friends - happy families - pleasant jobs - earning a good salary - being able  to afford the necessities - extras in life - worshiping God - time set apart from worldly obligations.  All these activities consume the majority of many lives.  The time - set apart from life's normal activities - time best shared with others - by oneself - enjoying the sights - sounds of nature - immersing yourself - in quiet - with God.  All that - life lived - experienced - to the fullest.

Too many people - trapped in a merry-go-round life style - too many commitments - not enough time in the day - constant pressure - to do - to excel - to earn - to acquire - often consumes their entire life - no time for themselves.  That is not what Jesus promised.  As we end the second week of Lent - for those who have - no time - time to get off the merry-go-round - just say no - step back from what controls them.  To truly experience the life that Jesus promised - need to realize that often - less is more.  If you are able to do this - take control of your life - how you spend your time - especially with God - Jesus - that will be a Happy FEAT.

Deacon Dale