Our Forty Days in the Desert

  Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8).

            “What are you giving up for Lent?”  Let’s begin by looking at our thoughts.  What do we think about hour by hour, day by day?  Are we thinking of excellence, graciousness, loveliness?  What is worthy of our praise?  God, of course, and the beauty of his creation, but what else?  Who else?  Do we praise our husband, wife, children?  Do we praise our co-workers, employees, customers?   Do we verbally recognize excellence and loveliness, and graciousness when we see it?

            Does it really matter who wins the Super Bowl, or an Oscar.  Do we know the saints as well as we know athletes and actors/actresses?  Do we admire people because of appearance, wealth, position or for their character? Do we care about our friends and neighbors, or only about what they can do for us?  Do we love our enemies?  What about those terrorists, radical extremists, drug addicts, criminals, or the un-vaccinated? 

            Jesus came teach us what the kingdom of God is about.  The heart of the commandments was and is deeper than the don’ts.  They are all about caring for the neighbor we harm with our greed and envy and desire.  Greed and envy and desire are all about me, not them.  Statements such as, “It’s not fair,” have nothing to do with love and a lot to do with sin. 

            The Kingdom of God is not “humanly” fair.  We don’t all have to work the same number of hours to receive the same pay from God.  We can spend all our gifts and come home in tatters, but we will be given a feast and a robe and welcome.  We can’t earn our way, it is a gift.

Maybe what we need to “give up for Lent” is our old way of thinking and get down on our knees begging forgiveness for all those negative, hurtful thoughts, for all the times we didn’t recognize the effort of others.  Let us pray for forgiveness, let us humble ourselves in confession, let us stop the old way of thinking and begin anew.  In the Kingdom of God, those who ask are forgiven, even after a lifetime of sin.  He waits for us.  He died for us. Let’s finally accept His gift of salvation.

He Did Not Open His Mouth

Today let us take a look at guarding our emotions.  How many times have we said, “I can’t do what I used to do?  I miss being active.  I don’t like being ill all the time.  Why am I the one?   Many people have lost relatives, but I’ve lost my only son/daughter or partner in life.”  Instead, why not think of the opportunities for prayer.  We need prayer warriors!  We need saints to share their suffering with that of Christ.

               If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends.  Such a man was Christ on the cross.  And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for sake.

               If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross.  Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid.  Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth.  Christ’s patience on the cross was great.

               If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.

               If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father unto death.  For just as by the disobedience of one man many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one many, many were made righteous.

               If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  On the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.

               So, for lent, follow the path of Jesus.  Do not be attached to clothing and riches, they divided my garments among themselves.  Nor to honors, for he experienced harsh words and scourging.  Nor to greatness of rank, for weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head. Nor to anything delightful, for in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

               If you are to give up something for Lent, then give up letting your thoughts go wherever they wish, give up being too busy to listen and spend time with God, gain control of your emotions and think of what you can do, what you do have.                        kvs with Thomas Aquinas.

              

Glory in the Cross

At Siloam, there was a sense of wonder.  A man born blind recovered his sight.  But of what importance is this, when there are so many blind people in the world?  Lazarus rose from the dead, but even this only affected Lazarus.  What of those countless number who have died because of their sins?  Those five miraculous loaves fed five thousand people.  Yet this is a small number compared to those all over the world who were starved by ignorance.  After eighteen years a woman was freed from the bondage of Satan.  But are we not all shackled by the chains of our own sins?

               For us all, however, the cross is the crown of victory!  It has brought light to those blinded by ignorance.  It has released those enslaved by sin.  Indeed, it has redeemed the whole of mankind!  For it was not a mere man who died for us, but the Son of God, God made man.

               He was not killed by violence, he was not forced to give up his life.  His was a willing sacrifice!  He willingly submitted to his own passion.  He took joy in his achievement; in this crown of victory he was glad, and in the salvation of man he rejoiced.  He did not blush at the cross for by it he was to save the world.  No, it was not a lowly man who suffered but God incarnate.

               Certainly in times of tranquility the cross should give you joy.  But maintain the same faith in times of persecution.  Otherwise you will be a friend of Jesus in times of peace and his enemy during war.  Now you receive the forgiveness of your sins and the generous gift of grace from your king.  When war comes, fight courageously for him.

Jesus never sinned; yet he was crucified for you.  Will you refuse to be crucified for him, who for your sake was nailed to the cross?  You are not the one who gives the favor; you have received one first.  For your sake he was crucified on Golgotha.  Now you are returning his favor; you are fulfilling your debt to him.

Is it too much to guard your thoughts, use your time to listen, and face life with thanksgiving.  That is all he wants, this is the fasting he wishes.                 kvs with St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Except in the Wounds of the Savior

Where can the weak find a place of firm security and peace, except in the wounds of the Savior?  Indeed, the more secure is my place there the more he can do to help me. The world rages, the flesh is heavy, and the devil lays his snares, but I do not fall, for my feet are planted on firm rock.  I may have sinned gravely.  My conscience would be distressed, but it would not be in turmoil, for I would recall the wounds of the Lord: he was wounded for our iniquities.  What sin is there so deadly that it cannot be pardoned by the death of Christ?  And so if I bear in mind this strong, effective remedy, I can never again be terrified by the malignancy of sin.

               Surely the man who said; my sin is too great to merit pardon, was wrong.  He was speaking as though he were not a member of Christ and had no share in his merits. As for me, what can I appropriate that I lack from the heart of the Lord who abounds in mercy? 

               But the piercing nail has become a key to unlock the door, so that I may see the good will of the Lord.  And what can I see as I look through the hole?  Both the nail and the wound cry out that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.  The sword pierced his soul and came close to his heart, so that he might be able to feel compassion for me in my weaknesses. 

               Through these sacred wounds we can see the secret of his heart, the great mystery of love, the sincerity of his mercy with which he visited us from on high.  Where have your love, your mercy, your compassion shone out more luminously than in your wounds, sweet, gentle Lord of mercy?  More mercy that this no one has than that he lay down his life for those who are doomed to death. (St. Bernard, abbot)

               Are we following Jesus?   Are we loving, merciful, compassionate?  Do we even know the whole Jesus, or are we left with a Catechism Jesus we learned about as children?  Have we become closer to him?  Are we reading the Bible, attending classes or retreats?  If we are homebound, do we listen or watch Catholic programs?  Do we accept our sufferings as a sharing in the suffering of Jesus, or do we ask, “Why me?”  Rather ask why Jesus?  Why not me?  What have I done for Jesus lately? (kvs)

Spreading Our Sails of Trust

I am well aware, almighty God and Father, that in my life I owe you a most particular duty.  It is to make my every thought and word speak of you. In this matter the declaration of my intention is only of limited value.  For the rest, I need to pray for the gift of your help and your mercy.

 As we spread our sails of trusting faith and public avowal before you, fill them with the breath of your Spirit, to drive us on as we begin this course of proclaiming your truth.  We have been promised, and he who made the promise is trustworthy: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

               There is an inertia in our nature that makes us dull; a laziness in our habits and in our attempt to penetrate your truth we are held within the bounds of ignorance by the weakness of our minds.  At least this is our excuse for not studying your word.  Yet we do comprehend divine ideas by earnest attention to your teaching and by obedience to the faith which carries us beyond mere human apprehension.  This is the mystery of our faith taught by our Church through our deacons, priests, and Bible teachers.

               This Lent, let us study more, attend Mass more often (for it is a mortal sin not to keep holy the Sabbath Day), and teach our children by words and example, bringing them to Faith Formation and then to Mass with us.  Our behaviors teach more than our words.  If we value our faith, and become one with the Church and its offerings, then our children will see its value too. 

               We will pray for our needs.  We will study the sayings of your prophets and apostles with unflagging attention, and knock for admittance wherever the gift of understanding is safely kept.  But yours it is, Lord, to grant our petitions, to be present when we seek you and to open when we knock. 

               Through the prophets and apostles we know about you, the one God the Father, and the one Lord Jesus Christ.  Impart to us, then, the meaning of the words of Scripture and the light to understand it, with reverence for the doctrine and confidence in its truth.  Guide us to attend instruction and Bible Study.  Teach us that we may encourage our children in seeking to know you more.  Grant that we may express what we believe, and act as though we truly believe.       Kvs with  St. Hilary, bishop