Second Sunday of Lent

This weekend is the second Sunday of Lent. The Gospel reading for today is from Luke 9:28-36. It's the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes some of His disciples up on a mountaintop and shows them the glory of God and reveals to them that He is, beyond a doubt, the Son of God.

In this story, we hear Peter say, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." And we think something like, "Wow, Peter, you always say the wrong thing! Of course you can't stay there." But I think we are all a bit like Peter. Every time something good happens in our life and we are revealed the wondrous glory of God, we wish that we could just stay there in that moment and just breathe God's love and taste His beauty. But of course we can't stay there in that perfect peace. We have to go out into the imperfect world and face its cruelty and pain. It would be so easy to just stay there with Christ and experience the glory of Heaven. But we have to come down from the mountain. And unlike the disciples, we have to tell everyone about the glory and goodness of God.

Dear Jesus, help us to stay on track this Lent and draw us closer to You. Be with us as we tell the world about Your breath-taking beauty. Transfigure us into perfect instruments of Your infinite love and everlasting grace. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mary, our Mother, pray for us, 

and lead us to be more like your Son. Amen.

*picture from http://jesusthrumary.blogspot.com/2012/08/aug-6-2012-monday-feast-of.html

First Sunday of Lent

This weekend is the First Sunday of Lent. The Gospel reading is from Luke 4:1-13. It tells of Jesus being tempted by the Devil in the desert. 

When you are tempted, just remember that even the Son of God was tempted, and yet He remained without sin. You can become just as strong as He was in resisting evil and fighting your daily temptations.

Dear Jesus, help us to become as strong as you when the Devil whispers in our heart and attempts to sway us to do wrong. Stay with us, Lord, as we face our struggles, and help us to be as sinless as You. Remind us that all sin is just turning our heart against You. Help us to stay strong and become more like You. This we ask in Your most holy name. Amen. 

Mary, our Mother, pray for us, 

and lead us to be more like your Son. Amen.

Ash Wednesday

  

 *picture from http://www.zimbio.com/The+Roman+Catholic+Church/articles/y4_9voT7aI_/Newman+hosts+Ash+Wednesday+service+Quad

Happy Ash Wednesday! 

Keep that smile on your face while your stomach growls and your wallet empties. "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them." And remember: "When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others." (From Ash Wednesday Gospel reading) They have received their reward. But when you do these things in secret, God the Father will see you do them in secret, and He will reward you in Heaven.

Another reason to be happy is when you are reminded that "Everything goes to the same place, everything comes from the dust, everything returns to the dust." (Ecclesiastes 3:20) There is more than this. There is a place beyond this suffering, cruel, and disappointing world. We were made for something more than this mundane life. Our souls were created for more than this. They were made to last forever. They were brought into existence so that we could glorify God with every breath and with every thought. "Even now the LORD says, 'Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning...'" (From Ash Wednesday First Reading) This Lent, let us return to Him. Let us learn to love Him in a deeper way with all our hearts. This Lent, let us not forget what is most important. Let us be daily reminded that we are God's sons and daughters. We were created to bring the light of Christ into the world and to show others the way to Christ. This Lent, I pray that we will better know the way, go the way, 

and show the way.

"Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God....Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (From Ash Wednesday Second Reading) 

Now is the day of salvation. Now is a very acceptable time for us to turn to God with our whole hearts. Let us run to Jesus, for His arms are wide open, and His heart is gushing forth with mercy for your soul. "I will never reject a contrite heart." (Jesus' words to Saint Faustina) He just wants you to draw closer to Him and His Sacred Heart.

Go to Him. Run into His arms and let Him hold you like a father holds his son. "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." (1 Corinthians 9:24) Let us live our lives in such a way, beginning this Lent, that we will get the prize. Christ is the greatest prize anyone could ever hope for.

May Mary help you to completely fall in love with Christ this Lent.

Lent Starts Soon...

Just three days until Lent starts!

In my opinion, Lent is a very important time of the year. It is a time for growing, and it's time for your soul to change and become more Christlike.

Lent commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert. It's a time to take off the rags of this world and clothe yourself with the robes of the next life - the one that is far more important. There are many ways you can do this.

One way is by giving up your favorite things (like chocolate, smoking, or watching TV) or your favorite vices (like lust, laziness, vanity, or gluttony). This will help us become more disciplined and take on a mindset of Christ. It will cleanse us of the human and worldly mentality that is so easy to adjust to. 

Another good thing to do is fasting. The word fasting is a Hebrew word that means "to cover or shut one's mouth". Pope Benedict XVI put it this way: "Through fasting and praying, we allow Him to come and satisfy the deepest hunger that we experience in the depths of our being: the hunger and thirst for God." (quoted from http://www.diningwithgod.org/fasting-quotes-catholic-popes-and-saints-3/). 

Susan Tassone says, "Fasting goes beyond the realm of food and into our actions and thoughts. We allow God to use fasting to move us forward on our way of holiness.... It purifies our heart in order to open it wide to God and to our neighbor." (quoted from Thirty Day Devotions for the Holy Souls by Susan Tassone)

If you think you can't go without food or if you have a medical problem, you can do what Tassone wrote in her book: 

Fast from bitterness - feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern - feast on eternal truth. 

Fast from personal anxiety - feast on eternal truth.

Fast from anger - feast on patience.

Fast from words that destroy - feast on words that build.

Fast from discontent - feast on gratitude.

Fast from discouragement - feast on hope.

Another great thing would be alms giving. In my experience, this is usually an underrated thing. But giving to the poor is like giving to Jesus because Jesus is in everyone, especially in the least of these. "And the King will answer, 'In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.'" (see Matthew 25:35-40)

   

In the Bible, Tobit 12:8-9 reads: "Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness ... It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life".

Prayer is another extremely important thing. I encourage you to spend more time in prayer. Maybe even commit to spending an hour in adoration once a week, praying the rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet daily, or at least arriving to church twenty minutes before the beginning of Sunday mass. This will change your life if you let it.

Confession is also a strong suggestion of mine. Confession is such a beautiful part of the Catholic faith. It helps you to truly experience the peace and forgiveness that Christ can bring into your life. It will help you stay on track and give you the grace to know, love, and serve God in a deeper way.

I hope you have a blessed Lent.

Don't be afraid to grow in your relationship with Christ.

*picture from http://www.unitync.net/Schedule.html.