We embrace the Light, and are sent to boldly proclaim our God, because in His light, we embrace new life, turning from our own ideas to what God offers for us as we see all in His glorious Light. Since we are no longer in darkness, we embrace the new ways of living that are befitting God's Light and reflect His glory, abiding in His covenant forever.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
March 26, 2017: Fourth Sunday of Lent/Laetare Sunday
We rejoice on this Sunday marking the midpoint of Lent that God has chosen us to be in a relationship with Him, as He shepherds us into the ways of Eternal Life. He calls us out of the darkness of sin, and into His marvelous Light, enlightening us that we may see Him wherever He is found, and see all as He sees. He sees into our hearts, and sends His spirit upon us that we may arise to embrace the call He places upon us.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
March 19, 2017: Third Sunday of Lent
God alone satisfies us because of His vast Love for us: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us, that we could be restored to right relationship with God. As St. Paul writes in Romans, God's love has been poured into our hearts. It is like Living Water that is ever fresh and springing up within us. It urges us on to seek Him by faith and leads us to Eternal Life, satisfying our thirst for fulfillment in life by bringing us into relationship with God.
Having such a great abundance in a never-ending supply of water, we can rest assured in what will truly satisfy us. We no longer seek after earthly things that provide only fleeting satisfaction, and harden ourselves towards what God offers. We entrust ourselves to God, worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth, transformed to be focused heavenward. We partake of the food that Jesus speaks of, bringing new people into this way of life, just as a harvest of a soul occurred in the conversation between Jesus and the woman who came to well. It is great news we have to share, that we find true satisfaction unto Eternity: the very Life-giving presence of Christ that ever flows in us and through us.
Having such a great abundance in a never-ending supply of water, we can rest assured in what will truly satisfy us. We no longer seek after earthly things that provide only fleeting satisfaction, and harden ourselves towards what God offers. We entrust ourselves to God, worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth, transformed to be focused heavenward. We partake of the food that Jesus speaks of, bringing new people into this way of life, just as a harvest of a soul occurred in the conversation between Jesus and the woman who came to well. It is great news we have to share, that we find true satisfaction unto Eternity: the very Life-giving presence of Christ that ever flows in us and through us.
Sunday, March 12, 2017
March 12, 2017: Second Sunday of Lent
God, by His coming to this world in Jesus Christ, has brought transformation. He starts by transforming us that He may transform the world through us.
As we are called to conversion during this season of Lent, so Abram was called to go out from his home to a new place God would show Him. Abram trusted himself to God, Who granted Him a vision that he would be made great in all the Earth, the father of a vast people through whom God would bless the world.
Jesus led three of His closest disciples up a mountain, where He gave them a glimpse of His Heavenly Glory that He would attain following His Resurrection. It was a glimpse that would strengthen them as they faced difficulties ahead, especially at the Crucifixion of Jesus.
It gives us strength to endure the journey as we follow the way of Christ through the Cross to the Glory of New Life, giving us the courage to turn from our own ways to abiding in the way of God, keeping close to Him. He unites us with Himself while doing a marvelous work in all the world, by transforming us to follow His ways, seeing as He sees.
As we are called to conversion during this season of Lent, so Abram was called to go out from his home to a new place God would show Him. Abram trusted himself to God, Who granted Him a vision that he would be made great in all the Earth, the father of a vast people through whom God would bless the world.
Jesus led three of His closest disciples up a mountain, where He gave them a glimpse of His Heavenly Glory that He would attain following His Resurrection. It was a glimpse that would strengthen them as they faced difficulties ahead, especially at the Crucifixion of Jesus.
It gives us strength to endure the journey as we follow the way of Christ through the Cross to the Glory of New Life, giving us the courage to turn from our own ways to abiding in the way of God, keeping close to Him. He unites us with Himself while doing a marvelous work in all the world, by transforming us to follow His ways, seeing as He sees.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
March 5, 2017: First Sunday of Lent
How fitting to start the next 100 posts on this blog by dedicating this post, #201, to reflecting on the readings for the 1st Sunday of Lent.
Throughout this season, the readings speak about how God has set out to rescue us through His plan of salvation. The rescue started all the way back in Genesis when the first humans Adam and Eve turn against God's command in heeding the deceptive words of the serpent, falling prey to his temptation. Through their disobedience, sin entered the world, and we experienced death by being cut off from God, and a life-giving relationship with Him. We have been marred by sin ever since.
But then came the Man from God, Jesus Christ. He, like Adam and Eve, faced the temptations of Satan, and turned toward God and His Word to achieve the victory. Through Him, we now have the means to turn away from sin and towards God. That is the power of His love, that He would save us, acquitting us of sin, and bringing us back into right relationship with Him. It is in this relationship that we acknowledge Him as the God Who loves us and provides for us abundantly, we Who are made in His image.
Throughout this season, the readings speak about how God has set out to rescue us through His plan of salvation. The rescue started all the way back in Genesis when the first humans Adam and Eve turn against God's command in heeding the deceptive words of the serpent, falling prey to his temptation. Through their disobedience, sin entered the world, and we experienced death by being cut off from God, and a life-giving relationship with Him. We have been marred by sin ever since.
But then came the Man from God, Jesus Christ. He, like Adam and Eve, faced the temptations of Satan, and turned toward God and His Word to achieve the victory. Through Him, we now have the means to turn away from sin and towards God. That is the power of His love, that He would save us, acquitting us of sin, and bringing us back into right relationship with Him. It is in this relationship that we acknowledge Him as the God Who loves us and provides for us abundantly, we Who are made in His image.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
March 1, 2017: Ash Wednesday
Once again begins our great journey through dying and rising of the Paschal Mystery and beyond.
In the Gospel, taken from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ speaks of the three important spiritual disciplines of Lent, but emphasizes what really matters is the condition of our heart, that it is poised to seek after God and grow more deeply in relationship with Him, just like in the 1st reading, in which the prophet Joel speaks of rending our hearts, and not clothing.
By engaging in these practices, we have the opportunity to show God that we are deeply sorry for sin and desire to be restored to a right relationship with Him, which comes to us by faith.
Father Hurlbert put it well in his homily at Mass at Ascension Parish this evening that now is the time for us to declare our total, 100% commitment to God. And on a day when we recall our human mortality through ashes, it's a good time to think about how we want to be remember upon our death in this life. This Lenten journey is our opportunity to consider how we may grow more deeply in relationship with God so it is that which shines forth most prominently at our death.
Indeed, as Father Hurlbert said, we are ambassadors for Christ, as St. Paul writes in the 2nd reading, representing Him to the world, because of our credentials, which is the Cross of Jesus.
It's time to get to work making ourselves right with God that His Kingdom may come on Earth--as St. Paul declares, now is the acceptable time, and now is the day of salvation.
In the Gospel, taken from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ speaks of the three important spiritual disciplines of Lent, but emphasizes what really matters is the condition of our heart, that it is poised to seek after God and grow more deeply in relationship with Him, just like in the 1st reading, in which the prophet Joel speaks of rending our hearts, and not clothing.
By engaging in these practices, we have the opportunity to show God that we are deeply sorry for sin and desire to be restored to a right relationship with Him, which comes to us by faith.
Father Hurlbert put it well in his homily at Mass at Ascension Parish this evening that now is the time for us to declare our total, 100% commitment to God. And on a day when we recall our human mortality through ashes, it's a good time to think about how we want to be remember upon our death in this life. This Lenten journey is our opportunity to consider how we may grow more deeply in relationship with God so it is that which shines forth most prominently at our death.
Indeed, as Father Hurlbert said, we are ambassadors for Christ, as St. Paul writes in the 2nd reading, representing Him to the world, because of our credentials, which is the Cross of Jesus.
It's time to get to work making ourselves right with God that His Kingdom may come on Earth--as St. Paul declares, now is the acceptable time, and now is the day of salvation.
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