Lent #30 - All Ready?

We are now well into the fourth week of Lent and very soon Lent will be over and we will be celebrating Holy Week and Easter.  By now everyone should be well entrenched in their spiritual exercises - fasting - prayers - meditations - devotions - quiet time - being able to be present to God.  For the past weeks so much has been happening - Holy Mass - penitential services - gatherings with others - seeking God - Jesus - in shared experiences.  In these final weeks of Lent - time to focus - attention - energy - leave all distractions behind - dive deeply into all that Lent is intended to be.

Jesus calls each of us to constantly improve our personal relationship with Him - His Father - Holy Spirit.  For many a lifetime of study - prayers - meditations - still lots to learn - experience.  In the end it is not about quantity - rather quality - all time spent with Jesus - extremely valuable.  Just as one may spend hours - days - weeks - at the gym developing their physical body - so too is it important to go to your personal spiritual fitness room - daily - developing your entire body - mind - spirit - into one unified holy person.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #29 - Seeking Faith

When one comes to Faith - has an experience - decides that it is time to learn more - about God - Jesus - the Holy Spirit - that can be a very daunting task.  Just trying to understand the Trinity - the entire idea that God is One person - yet - three persons in One.  How can this be - nobody - can ever make sense of the Trinity - how it exists - where it has its origin - how it gained its power - all one giant Mystery.  As an avid fan of sci-fi - mystery books - scientific explorations - mathematic logic - my poor small human mind - never will understand - comprehend - God.  Oh I can make assumptions - they will be wrong - I can discuss with those who have better educations - we will be wrong - never - will any of us ever truly understand God.  Faith - now that is easier I think - there is some logic - studies - that explain how one develops faith - grows in faith - lives a life of faith.  

Most of us grew up in religious families - in different denominations - varying structures of faith.  As children we were told point blank what we were suppose to believe - never questioned our parents - we couldn't because they did not have the answers either.  When people questioned Jesus - He shared stories - spoke in parables - attempting to explain.  The majority of the time - the Mystery was still as clear as mud.  His final answer to His followers - Trust in Me.  Now thousands of years later - it is all still a - Mystery.  All we can do is respond - Jesus I Trust in You.  In time our Faith will grow - even when we fail to understand - the peace in our hearts - minds - will fill that void.

Deacon Dale 

Lent #28 - Rise And Get Up

In today's Gospel we hear the story of the man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years - unable to walk - move about - forced to beg for a living.  Like others burdened with one illness - or another - he chose to lay by the pools at Bethesda - encouraged by stories that when the water bubbled up - moved by some sort of healing power - the first one to jump in the water would be healed.  It is not known if anyone ever was healed -  besides the natural fact that water cleanses - refreshes - it is possible that some minor issues may have been made better by the natural nature of water. When Jesus approached that specific man He did not automatically heal the man.  First he approached - asked him - do you want to be healed? Only after Jesus heard his yes - did He tell the man - rise and get up - take your mat with you.

Even today many come to God - Jesus - expecting cures for any and all issues.  They may be seeking physical - emotional - spiritual - financial - answers - often walking away - disappointed.  Jesus is not some sort of vending machine that grants healing - answers - on demand. Before one can receive any answer from God  - they have to first prepare their minds - hearts - approach in humility.  One needs to approach with the heart of a true believer - leaving any attitude - expectation - behind - placing  their wishes - desires respectfully at His feet.  Very often what some ask for - not what they really need - God knows our hearts - needs - better than we know ourselves. As we continue our Lenten journey - we are reminded - again and again - do not cripple ourselves with worries - concerns that we cannot fix ourselves - rise up - leave those things behind - take up the hope that is in Jesus - in time you will receive your answer.  God does answer all prayers - in His time.

Deacon Dale 

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