Are You Prepared for Lent?

26 Saturday Feb 2022

Tags

Almsgiving, Fasting, James 5:9-12, Lent, Mark 10:1-12, Prayer, Three Pillars of Lent

Last summer my wife and I remodeled our kitchen and half of the first floor of our house. Well, actually, we hired a contractor to do the work. But, there were a few things I reserved for myself. Before construction began we moved everything we could into the garage except for major furniture items which we moved to the basement. After work was completed we moved the furniture back into the upstairs. The stuff in the garage…well, it’s still there.

Another task reserved for myself with the idea of saving a few bucks was painting an accent color on a four by seven foot wall in our living room. It’s now been seven months and it’s still not painted.

My wife occasionally, and patiently, asks me if I’m ever going to get these things done. My response has been, “Yes, dear, you don’t have to remind me every six months!”

These things came to mind while reading yesterday’s scripture passages. In the first reading from James 5:9-12, we are cautioned to keep our promises, to “let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No’”.

In the Gospel, Mark 10:1-12, Jesus and the Pharisees debate whether divorce is permitted in marriage. In a nutshell, Jesus makes it clear that with marriage, a promise is a promise, and it can’t be undone through simple justification for convenience sake.

It is four days before the start of Lent and most of us are considering what promises we will make during Lent. For many, those promises will consist of giving things up, especially food and drink such as quarter pound burgers, chocolate, caffeine, and beer for 40 days.

But, Lent is about more than giving things up. It’s about preparing our soul to receive the glory of our Risen Lord at Easter. The Church has traditionally suggested three ways to do this: prayer, fasting and almsgiving, often called the Three Pillars of Lent.

The first pillar, prayer, is intended to dispose our hearts and souls to grow in friendship with Christ through conversation with Him. It’s telling Him what is on our hearts and with what we are struggling. It’s giving thanks for all we’ve been given and asking His assistance when we know we can’t do something ourselves. It’s listening to His response, His message about what His will is for us, and then resolving to take action on those inspirations. That resolution in itself is a “promise” which we then fulfill.

The second pillar, fasting, may include the challenge of giving something up, something difficult that will stretch our efforts. But, that’s not the whole deal. It’s more about clearing space in our soul for Jesus. It’s rooting out the unnecessary stuff that takes up room and crowds Him out of our life. It’s looking at our poor habits and vices and resolving to change so that God can replace them with virtue.

The third is almsgiving, the component that looks beyond God and ourselves and focuses on those around us. It’s attention to the needs of others and seeing how we can love others as Christ loves us. We may think of almsgiving as throwing a few extra coins in the collection basket, or dropping off a few extra boxes of cereal at the food pantry. Those are good things but they aren’t everything. It’s good to get creative with almsgiving, to do something which, like fasting, stretches us. It’s not just about giving of our treasure, but of our time and talent, too.

Resolutions don’t have to be excruciatingly difficult. Keep them simple but challenging, doable and worthy of your effort.

I’ve never shared my Lenten resolutions because I didn’t want it to appear like a prideful thing. But, this year, I am in hope they will help others use this season to become the person God created them to be. Here are mine:

Prayer – I resolve to spend at least 30 minutes in meditation, reflecting, making a resolution and keeping it, every day without missing a day.

Fasting – I resolve to set aside the comforts associated with idleness and procrastination and be diligent about completing projects around the house.

Almsgiving – I resolve to write a note a day to 40 people whom I love and cherish, letting them know how much they mean to me.

In your effort to grow closer to Christ, the evil one will put obstacles in your path, especially the need to rationalize and justify why you should give up on your resolutions. Do not give in!

“Dear Jesus, You sacrificed everything for me. This Lenten season, help me to make sacrifices that will make room for You in my life. Amen.”

(Are You Prepared for Lent? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

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Feed Your Flock

23 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Discipleship

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1 Pt 5:1-4, Discipleship, Faith, Feed my lambs, Feed my sheep, Jesus, Jn 21:15-17, Lk 9:13, Tend my sheep

(A reflection on 1 Pt 5:1-4)

Christ’s Charge to Peter, Raphael, c. 1515

One of the most significant moments in Simon Peter’s relationship with Jesus was the third time Jesus revealed Himself to them after His resurrection when He asked Peter three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter answered three times, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You!”. And three times Jesus asked Peter to take care of His flock. (Jn 21:15-17)

Peter obviously took that request to heart and remembered it for the rest of his life. In yesterday’s first scripture reading from 1 Pt 5:1-4, Peter writes to the Presbyters, the teachers of the faith, to tend to and be examples to the “flock of God”.

This passage struck me in a number of ways. First, I recalled the many sentiments that were offered from comments at our deanery’s recent Synod on Synodality meeting. Although those present were a mere microcosm of our Church, there seemed to be a general opinion that one of the problems in our Church today is that our bishops and priests are not adequately “feeding their sheep” or “tending their flock”.

Secondly, it brought to mind that we are all called to be teachers of the faith in one way or another – through our vocations as a parent or friend, through our occupations, and our volunteerism in various ministries. We only have to recall Jesus’ words to His disciples when He was faced with feeding the five thousand, “Give them some food yourselves” (Lk 9:13), to understand that He wants us to join with Him in His mission to save souls.

Today more than ever, our Lord needs us all, you and me, to help feed and tend His flock. Too many are not being fed and are straying to what looks like “greener” pasture in today’s world of materialism, idealism and relativism. Once they leap that fence they become easy prey for the wolves. We need to fertilize our “Catholic” pasture so that the grazing sates their appetites.

How do we tend to the flock? I think the first step is to set aside the idea that our faith is something that is done to us, that it’s someone else’s responsibility. With too few priests and deacons to go around, the laity needs to take some ownership in their personal faith formation and that of those in their “pasture”. We need to become better catechized, grow deeper in our relationships with Christ through prayer, and live virtuous lives that are examples of holiness to others.

Every person has an opportunity to be a witness to someone who is hungering for the Bread of Life and thirsting for the Living Water. We need to remember that Jesus gave us one mission, to make disciples of all nations, and we need to make that a priority in our lives. We don’t have to become missionaries or monks, we just need to live simply and find synergies in our everyday lives that will edify our families, friends and acquaintances.

We need to remember that the basic building block of our Church is not the parish, but rather our homes, the Domestic Church. If we want to rebuild our Church we need to recall how the Apostles and the first disciples lived after Christ’s death. Theirs was a two-pronged approach: to stick together and build and protect their community, and to draw others into it by teaching them the truth of the Gospel. We can do that with our families by practicing our faith with our children. We can live hospitality and invite people into our homes for friendship and good conversation which may lead to opportunities to pray together.

We need to look for opportunities to be charitable to those in need by practicing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.

We need to not be afraid to practice our faith in our work places as employers and employees; at school as educators and students; in athletics as fellow athletes and coaches; and where we volunteer.

Our faith ought to be personal but it should never be private. We need to be bold and leave others with no doubt about our love for Jesus.

Put more succinctly, as laity, we need to step up our game, take ownership and not depend on just our clergy to feed the flock. We need to survey our “pasture” of influence and determine who is grazing mindlessly in that pasture and on the verge of wandering off. We need to provide them with “green grass” that will nourish and satisfy their souls.

What is your pasture? Who is in your flock? How can you feed and tend to them with the love of Christ?

“Dear Jesus, thank you for providing priests and friends who, through their gentle love and care, have shepherded me in my faith life. I pray for the grace to do the same for those whom I mentor and lead to you through spiritual friendship. Amen.”

(Feed Your Flock was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

It Is Good That We Are Here!

19 Saturday Feb 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Eucharist, Faith

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Tags

Adoration, Eucharist, Mark 9:2-13, Transfiguration

(A reflection on the Gospel of Mark 9:2-13)

In today’s Gospel we find Peter, James and John atop Mount Tabor where Jesus is transfigured before them. Elijah and Moses appear to them and converse with Jesus, terrifying the three disciples. Peter, with deep respect, amazement, and, uncharacteristically, at a loss for words, tells Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here!”

As we attend mass this weekend, or any day when we receive communion, let us remember that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist in all his divine glory. Let us remember to tell Him, “Jesus, it is good that I am here!”

When we make a Holy hour of Adoration, let us remember that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist whom we adore, and let us remember to tell Him, “Jesus, it is good that I am here!”

And, any time we enter a church, let us remember that Jesus is alive and at home in the Tabernacle and is welcoming us in. Let us remember to tell Him, “Jesus, it is good that I am here!”

“Dear Jesus, You are my Savior, my Redeemer. You love me more than I can ever imagine. You are always by my side. May I never forget Your presence and to love You in return. Amen.”

(It Is Good That We Are Here! was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

From the Archives: Groundhog Day

02 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Virtue

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Groundhog Day, Holiness, Malachi 3:1-4, Meditation, Prayer, Refinement, Vices, Virtue

Happy Groundhog Day! I don’t know how it is where you live but if Punxsutawney Phil lived in Southwest Ohio, he would not have seen his shadow this morning! We are facing the worst winter storm of the season with predicted ice accumulation and several inches of snow on top of that.

The weather forecast made me think of one of my favorite movies, Groundhog Day, and I remembered that I had previously written a post with that title. Turned out it was from one year ago and it was a reflection connecting today’s first reading from the prophet Malachi (Mal 3:1-4) with the plot of the movie. I re-read it and thought its message was worthy of reposting. Thank you for taking the time to read it. I hope its message will help you in your spiritual life.

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It’s been two days since the world’s most renowned groundhog, Punxsutawny Phil, popped out of his burrow and saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. (For my international readers who are unfamiliar with Groundhog Day, go hereto learn more). Personally, I can’t make it through the second day of February each year without thinking about the 1993 movie, Groundhog Day,one of my all-time favorites, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

In it, actor/comedian Murray, plays the part of Phil Connors, an abrasive and self-centered television weatherman who is sent on assignment along with his producer and cameraman to cover the annual Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawny, Pennsylvania. During the festivities, Phil records his news report on the celebrated groundhog’s prediction with all the contempt for the “rat” (and the people of the town) that fits his egotistical personality.

In a kind of karma, Phil and team are forced to spend the night in the small town because of a severe winter storm which he failed to predict. The following morning, Phil awakes in his hotel room bed and discovers it is February 2nd all over again, a deja vu which only he experiences. Then, every morning afterwards, for what seems like a lifetime, he wakes at 6:00 a.m. to the same song on the radio only to find it is still February 2nd.

As the film progresses, Phil’s life progresses from denial to rebellion to despair and then finally to acceptance of his situation. With acceptance, he learns to replace his pride with humility, his lust with love, and greed with generosity. He learns the importance of beauty in life and placing others before himself. In a sense, he is being refined each and every day that he is stuck in the seemingly endless time loop which only he experiences. In the end, when he finally experiences the true meaning of selfless love, he wakes up one morning and it is February 3rd.

On Tuesday as I was reading the daily Scripture during my daily meditation I thought of this movie again. For the last four years I have hi-lighted in yellow pencil the passages I have read each day, and underlined in red those phrases which the Holy Spirit put on my heart that day. And, next to each, in pencil, I have written the date I meditated on that passage. I’ve now been doing this long enough to see that I’ve read that same passage on or about the same date in a previous year.

Many Catholics don’t know that the Church repeats the daily readings on a two-year cycle for weekdays, and a three-year cycle for Sundays. I knew this and always thought it was simply an effective way to read almost the entire Bible over a three year period. But, on Tuesday, I saw it differently.

In the first reading from Scripture that day, I read in Malachi 3:1-4, “For He will be like a refiner’s fire…” so that their offerings, “will please the Lord.” It struck me that the only way we can grow in holiness is to continually be refined; that our purpose on earth is to be refined to the point where our final offering will, indeed, please the Lord and we will be united with Him in heaven.

As Catholics, we don’t wake up to the same song every morning like Phil did, but our two or three year cycle does give us the opportunity to grow in holiness and virtue every day.

For one who does not spend time in daily meditation listening to the Word of God and asking what His will is for them every day, it can be a difficult journey. Without prayer and trusting in God to help, you can easily do like Phil, that is deny, rebel and despair when life doesn’t seem to get any better. But when you spend time daily in conversation with Jesus and you’re docile to the Holy Spirit, and you accept and take responsibility for your faults and weaknesses, it becomes much easier to resolve to grow in virtue knowing you can trust in Him for help. One day He may show you where your pride is strong and how to replace it with humility. The next day the Word of God may lead you to growing in love and charity and away from lust or selfishness. Still another day you may decide that you need to be more generous, or less envious, less angry, more grateful, or stronger in your faith. Some days it will seem like you’re stuck in your own Groundhog Day (movie) time loop because you didn’t get it the first time…or the second. But, with each conviction, you can resolve to become better in a particular aspect of your life every single day until your vices have been refined into sustainable virtues that “will please the Lord”.

My goal in life is to become a saint. I want you to become one, too. I would much prefer our refinement take place day by day here during our time on earth than when we have no control of it in Purgatory. Ask the Lord to show you each day how you can grow in holiness, and pray for the grace to resolve to take action daily. Even if they’re just baby steps, they’re still steps forward towards your goal. A lifetime of baby steps will get us there.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for this day and every day that I have to grow closer to You. I pray for the grace to make the most of them by living my life as You would have me live it, with humility, prudence, fortitude, justice, temperance, faith, hope and love. Amen.”

(From the Archives: Groundhog Day was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)