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Read more about the article What is Lent?

What is Lent?

From the Question Box: Why do Catholics have Lent and why do you fast? Scripture tells us: “There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven: a time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)  We look to nature and the patterns that God created to understand the rhythms and cycles in nature and in our lives.  These cycles have a spiritual element as well as a physical element.  Just as God created cycles with day and night, the seasons, birth--life--death, our spiritual journey has a cycle as well.  God gave a time to plant and a time to harvest, and He also gives us a time for spiritual planting and spiritual harvesting.  Thus the cycle of Lent precedes Easter. In our journey to become closer to God, we are often as consistent as the waves on the beach; the tide comes in, the tide goes out.  We experience the push and pull of having worldly demands as well as spiritual demands on our time.  There is a continual battle between our wants and our needs.  The gift of the seasons of the Church (and I mean all Christianity here) is therefore another sign of God’s great mercy and compassion for us.  He gives us the seasons in the Church to focus on different aspects of our spiritual progress.  Just as He gives us day to work and night to rest, He gives us Lent to really focus on drawing nearer to Him. Lent maintains the Biblical patterns God set forth in Scripture.  Moses fasted for 40 days when he was with the Lord receiving the 10 Commandments (Ex 34:28). The forty days of Lent repeat the pattern of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert in which He fasted and prayed at the beginning of His public ministry (Lk 4:2-4). Lent is the time of spiritual planting through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.   Jesus instructs his disciples how to fast in a way that is pleasing to God: “When you fast . . . wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others you are fasting . . . and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Mt 6:16-18) Jesus models for us the incredible power of fasting when the disciples fail to cast out a demon and turn to Jesus who casts it out and explains, “This kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:20)  In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke gives numerous examples of the disciples fasting to know the Will of God (Acts 13:2), for spiritual strength before a great undertaking (Acts 13:3-4), and for spiritual growth and wisdom (Acts 14:23).  While Catholics often fast throughout the year, the Church calls us to be united in our fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Lenten prayer amplifies our spiritual growth by looking deeply at Jesus’ suffering starting…

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Read more about the article Ordinary Time

Ordinary Time

The feasts of the Liturgical Season of Christmas (Christmas, Mary Mother of God, Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord) have passed and we are now in Ordinary Time.  For many, it’s time for the post-Christmas blues as we pass through the cold, dark, winter days waiting for spring.  But this week, the readings start off with an invitation and miracles. “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” “Follow Me.” Jesus casts out unclean spirits and heals the sick (Mark 1-2). What is Jesus saying to us about ordinary time?  When He walked into Capernaum and cast out demons who ravaged their victims, it was an ordinary day.  People were caring for their families, even those with unclean spirits, as best they could and Jesus walked right into their messy lives and healed them.  People were busy at work; Peter and Andrew casting their nets and James and John mending theirs. An ordinary day, and Jesus walked up to them and invited them to follow Him.  He healed Peter’s mother-in-law of an ordinary fever, then healed many in the town.  The first four apostles dropped everything in their lives when He invited them to travel with Him as He preached to the towns of Galilee. Ordinary time is an invitation to build up our faith by letting God into even the small moments in our lives.  Did your teething baby keep you up all night?  God was there.  Did your child take his first steps? God was there.  Did you have a nagging headache because work was stressful?  God was there. Did you wash 3 loads of laundry? God was there.  Did you do home repair or car maintenance? God was there.  Did you serve yet another delicious meal to your family – or burn the pot like I did?  God was there.  Did you enjoy a phone call from a dear friend? God was there.  Did you spend the evening paying bills? God was there.  Did you receive a hug -- or experience the loneliness of no hug today? God was there.  Did you enjoy a sunny day, a beautiful sunset, a starry night -- or experience yet another day of ongoing rain, snow, or cold?  God was there.   He is with us in all these moments and calls us to be present with Him in the present moment.  It is in the “now” that we build relationships with others and with God.  He wants time with us for daily conversation and that also means being quiet long enough for Him to speak.  How different would your day have been if you had talked to Him about your weariness, disappointment, frustration, boredom, or sorrow – or thanked Him for all the moments of laughter and joy?  How different will tomorrow be when you realize He is right there helping you carry your crosses?  How different will tomorrow be when you notice all the blessings and little miracles around you? Our circumstances may not change, but our ability to endure…

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Read more about the article Epiphany

Epiphany

Today is Epiphany.  Just as the wise men brought their gifts to Baby Jesus, we also can present our gifts to Him.  What gift can we give God? The gift He desires most – ourselves.  He wants us entirely and completely.   Yes, I know this may be intimidating, and we have all of our excuses lined up. “But I’m a sinner.”  Yes, I said that too. St. Peter denied Jesus.  St. Paul was responsible for the persecution and murder of Christians.  St. Mary Magdalene had seven demons cast out from her (I can’t even begin to imagine her sins).  If Jesus forgave them and gave new life to them, there is hope for you and me. “But I don’t want to change who I am.”  I tried that one too. Who do you think gave you all your talents?  Why would He bless you with all your unique gifts and then withhold them from you for choosing to follow Him? Jesus does not call us to become who we are not; He calls us to be the best selves we can be.  We all have our flaws and are trying to become better, but if we give ourselves to Jesus, how much more He can help us to become the better human beings we would like to be. “But I don’t want to give away all my stuff.”  I don’t know about you, but my stuff wears out and I have no problem parting with the stuff that is old, broken, and doesn’t fit anymore. (Yes, I still have a few sentimental favorites like my son’s Baptismal outfit.) More importantly, it’s not about giving up what we want, but being happy with what we have.  And if stuff really made us happy, we would not have to constantly buy more of it.  If we really want the things that don’t wear out, we need to think about what treasures we are storing up in Heaven.  Are we generous?  Are we kind?  Are we forgiving?  Are we patient?  Are we loving?  Do we offer up our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to God every day?  These are the things offered with love that build up our treasures in Heaven. “But I don’t want to give up my goals.”  This one worried me too.  I had lots of plans for my life that included starting my own business and having material success.  I had my MBA and was making progress on my plan.  Then I gave birth and the doctor presented my son to me.  As I held him in my arms everything changed 180 degrees.  I suddenly realized that I couldn’t leave him.   This was the Holy Spirit at work.  I told my husband, “We need to talk.  I can’t go back to work.  I can’t leave our son.”  He smiled at me and said, “As I watched the doctor place him in your arms I realized that I didn’t want you to go back to work.  I want you to…

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Read more about the article Nativity

Nativity

A Meditation on the Nativity from the perspective of St. Joseph: We have traveled many miles to Bethlehem.  Mary and I are hungry, thirsty, and exhausted. So often she looks at me and smiles her gentle smile and I know that she is praying as I am praying. Yes, we are weary but at peace.  The journey will soon be over.  We will find an inn and rest.  Then we can report for the census tomorrow and return home to Nazareth. Then Mary says very softly, “It is time.”  It is too soon.  We don’t have a place to stay. The sun has set and it is bitter cold.  I have given Mary my cloak and she is still shivering. I go from inn to inn and get more worried as time and again they say there is no room.  I search their faces for some shred of compassion – a baby is going to be born.  Mary and Jesus need shelter.  I can’t let them down. Why is this happening? My dear Mary can’t give birth in the street.  I even plead with one man, but Mary says “It is okay. Don’t insist, Joseph.”  She is so calm.  I meet her gaze and see only love, compassion, and trust; I know that somehow it will be okay. I keep knocking on doors.  Finally, I am offered a place in the stables, a cave really.  The animals are there, but it is warm and dry. I don’t understand why this is happening, but I trust that Our Father has His reasons.  I prepare a place for Mary.  I look for a place to prepare for Jesus and I remember the crib I made him – it’s back in Nazareth.  The hours I spent lovingly carving it, putting my whole self into that crib.  I wanted it to be perfect for Him. All that is in front of me is a manger – a feeding trough.  There is clean hay to put in it and use it as a bed.  I am thankful for the clean hay. Mary settles in and I sit and pray.  Suddenly there is a brilliant flash of light and I hear baby Jesus crying.  He is here.  I wait until Mary has wrapped him in cloth and I go and kneel before Him.  Mary smiles and says, “Here Joseph, hold Him.”  Hold Him? Hold God?  I am about to say no, but He looks at me and smiles and then gives a little shiver from the cold.  I go to Him and hold Him close to my heart.  I will keep you warm, My Lord. After a while I hear noises outside.  “Who’s there?”  “It is only us. We are shepherds.  The angels told us the King of kings is here.  We want to worship Him.”  I pull aside the curtain and they file in.  They tell me how thousands of angels filled the sky and sang so sweetly that they would never forget that music,…

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