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Friday 2nd week of Lent
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Reflection:
How far are we from the kingdom of heaven? Are we confident in our devotions, bible verses, devotions and such (these are all good things after all) or are we confident in the power of our love?
Look at the discourse between the scribe and Jesus. It may seem that Jesus gave two answers to one question. He didn't. They are two sides of the same coin really. To love my neighbor is to love God and to love God is to love my neighbor. Neither can be mutually exclusive.
How far are we from the kingdom of God? We can use this Lenten season to find out.
Peace
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Reflection:
How far are we from the kingdom of heaven? Are we confident in our devotions, bible verses, devotions and such (these are all good things after all) or are we confident in the power of our love?
Look at the discourse between the scribe and Jesus. It may seem that Jesus gave two answers to one question. He didn't. They are two sides of the same coin really. To love my neighbor is to love God and to love God is to love my neighbor. Neither can be mutually exclusive.
How far are we from the kingdom of God? We can use this Lenten season to find out.
Peace
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Thursday 2nd week of Lent
The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Reflection
The rich man gave himself away in asking Abraham to send Lazarus to give him relief. He knew his name, was aware of his presence. He simply chose to ignore Lazarus, to deliberately do nothing to give him relief.
Here is a little test: what is our attitude toward the poor, the homeless? Do our windows and noses turn up rather than a dollar, a 'scrap', go out?
Lent challenges me hard today. Do you know Lazarus?
Peace.
The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Reflection
The rich man gave himself away in asking Abraham to send Lazarus to give him relief. He knew his name, was aware of his presence. He simply chose to ignore Lazarus, to deliberately do nothing to give him relief.
Here is a little test: what is our attitude toward the poor, the homeless? Do our windows and noses turn up rather than a dollar, a 'scrap', go out?
Lent challenges me hard today. Do you know Lazarus?
Peace.
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Wednesday 2nd week of Lent
Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Another occasion for Jesus to stress the importance of the virtue of humility. It would appear that his disciples wasn't getting the message the first time. In a world of 'I want' and 'gimme' Jesus addresses the call to service, to take care of the needs of others.
Has Lent become challenging for you yet? We continue on.
Peace.
Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Another occasion for Jesus to stress the importance of the virtue of humility. It would appear that his disciples wasn't getting the message the first time. In a world of 'I want' and 'gimme' Jesus addresses the call to service, to take care of the needs of others.
Has Lent become challenging for you yet? We continue on.
Peace.
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Monday 2nd week of Lent
"For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." Lk 6:38
This could be considered an adjunct to the 'Golden rule' that Jesus instructed his listeners. Everybody know it: 'do unto others as you would have them do to you'.
If everyone followed this the world would be paradise. But it isn't always so, sometimes your good intent gets thrown back at you. Should you respond then with their 'measure' exchanging hurt for hurt, insult for insult?
In this case you need to break the cycle. This is where forgiveness comes in. You see, at the heart of Jesus message is love. Love them as you would have them love you, and if they don't love you back then love them anyway.
It takes a lot of practice but Lent gives us the opportunity.
Peace
"For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." Lk 6:38
This could be considered an adjunct to the 'Golden rule' that Jesus instructed his listeners. Everybody know it: 'do unto others as you would have them do to you'.
If everyone followed this the world would be paradise. But it isn't always so, sometimes your good intent gets thrown back at you. Should you respond then with their 'measure' exchanging hurt for hurt, insult for insult?
In this case you need to break the cycle. This is where forgiveness comes in. You see, at the heart of Jesus message is love. Love them as you would have them love you, and if they don't love you back then love them anyway.
It takes a lot of practice but Lent gives us the opportunity.
Peace
- Published on
Sunday 2nd week of Lent
Reading 1- GN 12:1-4A
Reading 22 TM 1:8B-10
GospelMT 17:1-9
A week ago our gospel recounted Jesus experience of the wilderness and his encounter with the devil. Today he is on a mountain top transfigured with the glory of the Godhead. Life is like that isn't it?
His disciples have seen him in all his humanity now they get to witness his glory. "It is good to be here" Peter says. He would love to stay in the moment, offering to build 3 tents.
But there is a mission to fulfill, the mountaintop experience is but a glimpse of the eternal glory that awaits after the mission is completed. So Jesus moves on and so must we on this Lenten journey.
Peace.
Reading 1- GN 12:1-4A
Reading 22 TM 1:8B-10
GospelMT 17:1-9
A week ago our gospel recounted Jesus experience of the wilderness and his encounter with the devil. Today he is on a mountain top transfigured with the glory of the Godhead. Life is like that isn't it?
His disciples have seen him in all his humanity now they get to witness his glory. "It is good to be here" Peter says. He would love to stay in the moment, offering to build 3 tents.
But there is a mission to fulfill, the mountaintop experience is but a glimpse of the eternal glory that awaits after the mission is completed. So Jesus moves on and so must we on this Lenten journey.
Peace.
- Published on
Saturday 1st week of Lent
There are reminders everywhere. Don't forget to set your clocks forward Daylight saving is here. But tomorrow, I can bet, there will be people showing up for Mass at 10am, only to see others coming out and then realizing what happened. We didn't change our clocks and overslept. When is the next Mass?
How many verses in the Gospels remind us to be vigilant, to watch, to change our lives but we fail to hear and fail to act.
Lent calls us into Son-light saving time. Don't miss out.
Peace
There are reminders everywhere. Don't forget to set your clocks forward Daylight saving is here. But tomorrow, I can bet, there will be people showing up for Mass at 10am, only to see others coming out and then realizing what happened. We didn't change our clocks and overslept. When is the next Mass?
How many verses in the Gospels remind us to be vigilant, to watch, to change our lives but we fail to hear and fail to act.
Lent calls us into Son-light saving time. Don't miss out.
Peace
- Published on
Friday 1st week of Lent
Coronavirus: a word that has become ubiquitous in the media and daily life. It can lead to death but is not a death sentence. But people are panicky and prone to irrational behavior because of it e.g. hoarding masks, Lysol, hand sanitizers, toilet paper???...
Yet the most effective deterrent is regular washing of hands with soap and water. What if we panicked over the state of our souls the same way? How do we prevent the disease of sin from wrecking our souls? Regular washing through the sacrament of reconciliation, and the Eucharist.
Lent calls for the healing of souls.
Peace.
Coronavirus: a word that has become ubiquitous in the media and daily life. It can lead to death but is not a death sentence. But people are panicky and prone to irrational behavior because of it e.g. hoarding masks, Lysol, hand sanitizers, toilet paper???...
Yet the most effective deterrent is regular washing of hands with soap and water. What if we panicked over the state of our souls the same way? How do we prevent the disease of sin from wrecking our souls? Regular washing through the sacrament of reconciliation, and the Eucharist.
Lent calls for the healing of souls.
Peace.
- Published on
Thursday 1st week of Lent
I've found it difficult to pray with a cold and hacking cough. In fact most attempts at prayer ended in sleep, deep sleep. Not how I wanted to start Lent.
St. Augustine once wrote “God could in no way permit the kind of evil out of which He could not being good...” thus it shows his desire to bring as much good out of our misfortunes as we let Him. Our illnesses, trials and tribulations, can indeed help us and others achieve salvation. Our very suffering becomes powerful prayer in itself with the right disposition.
Lord teach us to pray.
Peace
I've found it difficult to pray with a cold and hacking cough. In fact most attempts at prayer ended in sleep, deep sleep. Not how I wanted to start Lent.
St. Augustine once wrote “God could in no way permit the kind of evil out of which He could not being good...” thus it shows his desire to bring as much good out of our misfortunes as we let Him. Our illnesses, trials and tribulations, can indeed help us and others achieve salvation. Our very suffering becomes powerful prayer in itself with the right disposition.
Lord teach us to pray.
Peace
- Published on
Wednesday 1st week of Lent
In this election year every candidate and wannabe undergoes tremendous scrutiny and rightly so. No exception for the billionaires who give it a go. One such candidate spent half a billion dollars only to come out short and immediately a chorus arose as to how he should have spent his money: the poor, hunger, clean up Michigan's water etc. All noble causes indeed even though they also ignore to point out that he has already given over $8 billion through his philanthropic foundation.
In this election year every candidate and wannabe undergoes tremendous scrutiny and rightly so. No exception for the billionaires who give it a go. One such candidate spent half a billion dollars only to come out short and immediately a chorus arose as to how he should have spent his money: the poor, hunger, clean up Michigan's water etc. All noble causes indeed even though they also ignore to point out that he has already given over $8 billion through his philanthropic foundation.
- Published on
Tuesday 1st week of Lent
“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
Reflection:
In the Lord's prayer that preceded this verse we say in our 1st petition 'Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven'. We are praying that God will bring about his heavenly purpose here on earth and we make ourselves available to do the will of our heavenly Father, to fulfill his purpose. It requires us to surrender our will to his.
To choose not to forgive is to keep our heart closed whereby mercy cannot flow outward or inward. This we deny God's 'will be done'
Lent calls us to realign our heart to his
Peace.
Brothers and sisters:Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
Reflection:
In the Lord's prayer that preceded this verse we say in our 1st petition 'Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven'. We are praying that God will bring about his heavenly purpose here on earth and we make ourselves available to do the will of our heavenly Father, to fulfill his purpose. It requires us to surrender our will to his.
To choose not to forgive is to keep our heart closed whereby mercy cannot flow outward or inward. This we deny God's 'will be done'
Lent calls us to realign our heart to his
Peace.
Brothers and sisters:Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?