Fifth Sunday of Lent

 The Fifth Sunday of Lent - the Third Scrunity for those in OCIA - the final scrunity to help prepare those seeking to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil - to become fully - Roman Catholic.  For the rest of the Church - those sitting in  the pews - praying for the Elect that they will become the fully devoted Catholic that they claim to be.  For those not quite so sure of how devoted  they are - time to join the entire congregaation in prayers for everyone -  old - new -  sitting on the fence - that this Lent will become the memorable one of your life. 

 Just as those in the Phoenix, Arizona area - experiencing temperatures that the majority have never experienced during March with temperatures hitting 105 and above - 25 degrees higher than normal - may the Fire of the Holy Spirit fill all with unbelievable Grace - Peace - Joy - as they continue their Lenten Journey - Jesus at their side - walking closer to that day - of baptism - communion - confirmation - with the same joy that Lazarus experienced at his resurrection.

Deacon Dale 

Let Down - Click Bait?

If you spend any time on the Internet now a days you will often come across headlines that want to astound - surprise - draw you deeper into the article.  "Man opens can and what he finds???" - not as big a surprise as one might expect - often the lure - leads to an empty line - no hook at the end - no meat with the potatoes - disappointment.  Everyone is working hard to attract readers to their commentary - article - blog - competing for their attention.  Most recently a photo with an intriguing tag line - click - nothing except a half dozen or more links to click - that take you nowhere - click bait.

Jesus faces the same issues - He wants our attention - competing with the attractions of  the World - things that assault our senses - filled with empty promises. Once in a while truth wins out - the false attractions - fail to satisfy - what is real - stands head above the crowds. With Jesus - no disappointment - no let down - no false stories. What you see - what you get - His love - compassion - healing - forgiveness - New life - fresh air - renewal. As we end this week of Lent - seek the truth - that is Jesus.

Deacon Dale 

Spring Break

 Spring Break - time away from work - studies - daily obligations. For most a well deserved time of respite - relaxation - travel - visiting new places - enjoying a holiday.  Everyone deserves respite time - time for themselves - away from routine obligations - time to think - play - spend time with family - friends - staying home - a stacation - traveling away - a vacation. Some people - mostly younger adults - carry the spring break time to excess - traveling to the shores - warmer climates - time to lose themselves - their maturity - for the sake of excessive drinking - games - losing control - of morals - making bad decisions. For the beach communities - invaded by youth - out of control - a serious issue - for police - residents - those who exercise restraint. Spring break - originally a break from routine - never intended as a break from common sense - morality.

God wants us to enjoy our lives - His creations - the beaches - the lakes and oceans - the warm climate - fresh air - within reason. Even too much of a good thing - may become bad. Gathering in groups - nice - too many forming a group - uncontrollable mob. As we continue our Lenten exercise - here at home - away on spring break - Jesus asks us - in all things - moderation - consideration for others - reasonableness in our activities.  There is nothing wrong with good clean fun - as long as it remains - good - clean - fun - not at the expense of other's comfort. Taking a break from daily routine - highly approved by God - taking a break from morals - good manners - never approved. Jesus stands and watches - each of us - what will He see this spring break?

Deacon Dale  

Roundabouts

Roundabouts - fairly few in America - very popular in Europe - a traffic flow pattern designed to eliminate numerous issues with the standard intersection. With a roundabout - traffic flows constantly - no stop and go lights - no queuing up to wait your turn at the intersection. The standardized design was perfected in England.  North America has approximately 3500 roundabouts - France has approximately half of all known roundabouts at about 30,000. I like roundabouts - many dislike them.  With so many American drivers failing to come to a complete stop at traditional intersections - roundabouts would answer those "rolling" stops.

God sent His Son to His people to teach them in a manner they could understand - most common - the parables - a roundabout way - to draw people into His stories - to inform - educate - inspire - warn.  Jesus' stories were to the point - not necessarily in a straight path - bending to meet the needs of His audience - easy to understand - comprehend.  Over the years the same message - spoken - over and over - God loves - forgives - cares - about all of us. Jesus seeks us - to come to Him - He calls us by name - waits for us to respond - directly - to Him - often - in a roundabout way.

Deacon Dale 

Treasure Found

In Matthew 13:46 a man found a treasure buried in a field - bought that field - returned to claim his prize. In life all of us - will have opportunities - to find hidden treasure - not in a field - not pearls - gold - diamonds - rather - people. People come - go - in our lives. Many - ordinary - not memorable - others - a few special - people you never forget. The other day we came across old friends - memorable - special - from the past - here in Arizona - seasonal residents  - like us. What joy - excitement - a chance to reconnect - to gather - to visit.

In everything that Jesus did - He tried to impress upon people - the value of fellow humans. Like pearls in the field - gold - diamonds - in the hand - treasure of greatest value.  True friendships never die - reunited - life rekindled - renewed.  As we walk this week of Lent - may each of us - find - rediscover - the friend we have in Jesus.

Deacon Dale 

Game Time

 Game Time - time to start - let's play - play ball - batter up - Spring Training in Arizona - well under way.  The energy that one feels as any game is beginning to start - the anticipation - first run - let it begin. Everyone loves sports - individual - team - the excitement - cheering - shouting - high fives. Early wins - overtime - quick wins - slow loses - adrenalin flows. 

When Jesus was selecting His disciples - game time - time to learn - time to  commit - time to go the extra mile. His disciples - enthusiastic - full of energy - looking for results. Jesus had to calm - get under control - inform.  When we first felt our call to serve Him - ready - too quick - to jump in. As neophytes we need to become well grounded - allow our roots to sink deeply into His soil of knowledge - love - to empower us to enter the game - well prepared - for ministry. Lent is a training period for all Christians - ordained - lay - a time to regroup - to pray - to study - to listen. Time is running short - game day - soon upon us. Jesus - waits - watches - calls us - to join - His first string.

Deacon Dale 

Taxes

 Taxes have been around since the earliest days - the price for protection - community development - getting rich off the poor. I am in the process of doing my income taxes - early for me - usually left until early April. The hard part - gathering records - income - expenses - deductible - not deductible - digging up obscure receipts - depending on memory. I hate doing my taxes - will not farm the work out - hardest part - getting the necessary information - easiest part - filling out the forms. For those who have already filed - received refunds - congratulations - for those like myself - good luck.

When Jesus was asked if it was right to pay taxes - whose image on the coins - who was in charge - who ran the government - pay the man. As unpleasant as it was - paying taxes the norm. Give to Caesar what is Caesar's - give to God what is God's.  God does not want your money - the Church wants your money - for ministry - evangelization - paying its own way.  No - God does not want your money - He wants your heart - not ten percent - not 20 percent - rather - one hundred percent. He wants your love - your attention - your life - to love Him - to serve Him - to help Him make this world better for everyone.  In this Lenten season as you pray - fast - give alms - remember - first - to give your heart - your love away - to God.

Deacon Dale 

In The Pink

The Fourth Sunday of Lent - Laetare Sunday - celebrated by most western rite liturgical churches - Roman Catholic - Anglican - some Protestant churches - Laetare - translated from Latin - to rejoice. What is it about this particular Sunday of Lent - a period of purple - sadness - reflection - penance - that we see rose - pinkish colored vestments - told to be happy - rejoice. Is it more than the fact that we are half way through LENT - looking forward to celebrating - Easter - resurrection - new life. On this Sunday -- God - the Church reminds us - not all is bad - not all is sad - not all needs forgiveness. There is natural joy in the world - in people - friends - animals - plants - joy that never leaves.

Jesus told us that He came to set a fire on the earth - a fire  in the hearts of men -women - adults - children - a fire to burn brightly - to illuminate lives - to warm hearts - to shed light where there    is darkness - to reveal hope for the lost - the lonely - the sick. In Lent - as we reflect on all that Jesus taught - we repent of the times we  failed to acknowledge - celebrate the joy of life.   Jesus shows us the way - He stands at the door - waiting for a knock - from you.

Deacon Dale    

Just A Kiss

A kiss - never just a kiss - meaningful - affects - effects - many. Some would say a kiss is nothing - a simple action - no consequence - not worth discussing. Others - quite different - very meaningful - impacts - changes - aftermath. Kissing - sign of affection for most - often shared frivolously - no meaning - no intent.  Most people contemplate - consider - who to kiss - when to kiss - how to kiss. Years ago it was reported that a casual kiss - given an infant - led to death - sadness all around - a cold sore - herpes virus - infection - hospital - second infection at hospital - baby too weak to survive. Not just a kiss.

When Jesus was betrayed by Judas - with a kiss - well intended - planned - arrested - condemned - crucified - died - the world shuddered.  When Jesus asked Judas - you betray me with a kiss? - the thoughts through his mind - what he had done - the consequences - like the infant - innocent - no future. Even though He was betrayed - Jesus - loved - Judas - the world - enemies - critics - you - me - all of us. His love has no end - for God so loved the world - all in    the world - all of the world - He sent His only Son - Jesus - to die - from a kiss - for all of us. Would that we could meet Jesus - face to face - to offer Him - our kiss.

Deacon Dale 

Stunted Growth

 According to Wikipedia stunted growth refers to a reduced growth rate in human development presenting as a manifestation of malnutrition and repeated infections such as diarrhea and parasitic worms. The world is filled with people who suffer with stunted growth - for the most part - most fare pretty well - with shorter height being one of their least concerns in life.  Short people are all around us - not all necessarily victims of stunted growth.  Height is not only a nutrition issue - genetics - ancestral history - playing a large role in growth patterns and height of individuals.  In reality the height of a person is nothing compared  to what resides inside - in the mind - the heart.

Jesus- Himself - not a giant of a man - somewhat short by today's standards - in physical 
characteristics - a giant - spiritually - ethically - morally. Through Him - God showed the true merit lies inside the person - how they think - what they think - how they act - what they say - do - believe.  God asks all of us to  put aside pre-conceived ideas about the value of others - to look with His eyes - to hear with His ears - to love with His heart.  Do this and your Lenten journey - will bear much fruit.

Deacon Dale