2 March 2021 - Tuesday of the second week of Lent - Isaiah 1:10, 16-20

      The message in our reading from the first chapter of the prophet Isaiah and the message in t Gospel reading from Matthew have similar themes: the people need to leave behind their hypocrisy.  Isaiah calls the leaders of the people “princes of Sodom.”  He refers to the people as “people of Gomorrah.” Sodom and Gomorrah were the epitome of all that was most evil in the eyes of God.  Sodom and Gomorrah are examples of sinful cities that were completely destroyed by God. Isaiah addresses the Jewish people as deserving no better than the corrupt citizens of those wicked cities.

      We know that we are all called to repentance and conversion in our lives of faith.  So it interests us as to how God is asking the people to repent through the prophet Isaiah.  Are they to repent by offering sacrifices?  By going to the sacrament of reconciliation?  By saying the act of contrition?  The answer is no.  God is asking the people to make justice their aim. The people are to redress the wrongs that they have done to others.  They are to hear the cry of the orphan and defend the widow.  In Ancient Israel, the widows and the orphans were the most vulnerable and neglected people in society. In the eyes of God, real repentance did not exist unless the weakest and neediest in society were helped.  For us in Lent, God calls us to do the same through acts of justice and charity.  We can focus on one singular act, such as not eating meat on Fridays during Lent.  But what does that matter if we are not going to Mass regularly, if we are not studying the faith and trying to grow in our faith, if we are not participating and serving in our parish, if we are not reaching out to others in acts of charity?  May we hear God calling out to us in the midst of our Lenten journey.   

STATIONS OF THE CROSS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Opening Prayer - Heavenly Father: As we find ourselves in the midst of this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, may these reflections on the Stations of the Cross help us and our families feel Christ's presence with us. May each station that we pray today help us in the midst of this challenging reality, a new reality that has changed so many things in our lives.  As we journey with Christ during these stations of the cross, may we reflect upon our Lenten journey during the pandemic.   

The First Station – Jesus is Condemned to Die

As Jesus receives his death sentence, he is passive, silent, and willing to embrace the inevitable suffering that awaits him. In receiving this death sentence, Jesus embraces the Father and takes his first steps towards redeeming humanity.

In the midst of this pandemic, Jesus stands with all who suffer. We remember especially patients who must endure their illnesses and rely on the care of others. May these patients actively turn to Christ in the midst of their suffering.

Let us pray for all patients ill with COVID-19.

The Second Station – Jesus Carries His Cross 

As a beam of wood weighing over 100 pounds is placed on his shoulders, Jesus is utterly alone and left to carry his cross by himself. No one is there to ease the burden, to help lighten the load. What loneliness Christ must have endured, as he began his climb up Golgotha.

Let us remember that Jesus stands with all who carry their burdens alone. Let us remember individuals who have lost their jobs and who shoulder financial burdens. Let us remember the elderly who can no longer receive visitors. As they carry these crosses in isolation, may they turn to Christ, who also shouldered his cross alone.

We pray for the lonely, the elderly, and those with financial struggles.   

The Third Station – Jesus Falls for the First Time

The weight of the cross is too much for Jesus. He collapses onto the ground, inhaling the sand and dust of Golgotha, coughing and struggling to breathe. He is motionless and trapped by the cross’ physical weight.  It seems impossible for him to continue. He doesn’t even have the strength to stand.

When Jesus collapses onto the ground, he reminds us that he stands with all who collapse under the weight of pain and suffering. We remember especially those whose lungs have collapsed as a result of this virus or complications from it. May Jesus be present to all whose bodies are crumbling under the weight of the virus.

We pray for those experiencing any type of breathing problems.

The Fourth Station – Jesus Meets His Mother

Perhaps it is the familiar face of his mother that gives Jesus the courage to stand again. Maybe he remembers a moment when he fell as a child when a glance from his mother encouraged him to get up. Although Mary cannot carry the cross for him, Christ is strengthened by her love and compassion.

Just as Mary’s love embraced Christ, we remember all parents whose love surrounds their children, especially children who are ill. We pray especially for parents helping their children in this time of social distancing and isolation. May their parent’s love bring comfort to children and may our Blessed Mother intercede for their intentions.

We pray for parents whose love and good works strengthen their children.

The Fifth Station – Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to Carry His Cross

Simon of Cyrene is not a friend or acquaintance of Jesus.  He is not a family member or disciple. Simon is a passerby drawn to help Jesus because of circumstances. Since Jesus is no longer able to carry his cross alone, Simon is asked to help him because he is nearby.

Many follow in the footsteps of Simon of Cyrene during the pandemic. We remember in particular all doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, who like Simon are asked to help carry the heavy crosses of patients, who are neither their friends nor family. This often results in their need to distance themselves from their own families. 

We pray for all doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers.

The Sixth Station – Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

As Jesus continues his climb up Golgotha, his vision is obscured from the sweat and blood dripping from the crown of thorns. His hands are occupied with the weight of the cross, so he is unable to wipe the sweat from his brow. Veronica wipes the sweat away and does what Jesus cannot do alone.

In the midst of this pandemic, we give thanks for all essential workers and those working tirelessly to create a vaccine, and others, who follow in the footsteps of Veronica, and keep us going because of their selfless actions. We pray for each of them and ask that they might see the face of Christ in those they serve.

We pray for all essential workers and ask that God grants wisdom to those working on a vaccine.

The Seventh Station – Jesus Falls A Second Time

Despite the help of Simon of Cyrene, Jesus falls a second time. His weakened body and the constant weight of the cross are too much for him. He collapses once more onto the ground of Golgotha, not knowing if or when he will be able to stand.

As we move through this unprecedented pandemic, we hear stories of relapses, stories of patients getting better, only to have their bodies collapse once more. We remember that Jesus is present to all whose bodies collapse again and fall for a second time under the weight of illness, pain, or suffering.

We pray for those who have had to return to the hospital due to COVID-19.

The Eighth Station – Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem 

Perhaps the familiar faces of the women of Jerusalem give Jesus the strength to stand after falling a second time. They are there to support him, encourage him, and pray for him, even though they cannot help bear the cross’ physical weight.

In this time of social distancing and self-isolation, we pray in gratitude for the communities, near and far, who support us, pray for us, and encourage us. Like the women of Jerusalem, these communities sustain us as we continue to bear the weight of this pandemic.

We pray in gratitude for the support of our communities. 

The Ninth Station – Jesus Falls for the Third Time 

Jesus’ long and painful journey continues. Near the top of Golgotha, Jesus falls for the third time. His body is crumbling under the weight of suffering. Hands pressed to the ground as though in prayer, Jesus pauses for a moment, perhaps embracing the reality that awaits.

Jesus reminds us that he knows the experience of walking in fear and uncertainty. He knows the terror, the questions, and the fright that accompanies such a journey. We remember those who are fearful and in pain during the pandemic, and those who like Jesus will not recover from a third fall. May Jesus be especially present to each of them as they seek to continue on.

We pray for all who are struggling with fear and uncertainty.

The Tenth Station – Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

The stripping of his garments is the final act of humiliation for Jesus. As Roman authorities strip Jesus, they remove what is left of his dignity and personhood. 

In this moment of profound vulnerability, Jesus stands with all the marginalized people experiencing this pandemic. We remember the homeless, who cannot self-isolate; prisoners, who cannot maintain social distance; and those who are without health insurance. We pray for policy makers, that their decisions will support the vulnerable, keep us safe, and inspire us to protect one another.   

We pray for the poor, the homeless, prisoners, and all policy makers.

The Eleventh Station – Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

Nails don’t hold Jesus to the cross; love does. It is his love for each of us, his desire to die for our sins, his yearning to grant us salvation that fasten him to the wooden cross. Nothing can separate us from his love.

In the midst of this pandemic, we pray for all who feel separated from Christ’s love and for those who doubt God’s presence. May God grant us the grace to view this pandemic through the lens of the cross. Trusting that even in the midst of death and darkness God’s love is still there.

We pray for those who feel separated from God.

The Twelfth Station – Jesus Dies on the Cross

With head bowed, Jesus breathes his last. It is finished. In this moment, we gaze upon the humility of our God, whose love will defeat death. The earth shakes and rocks are split, but the cross remains and the redemptive power of love takes root.

In this pandemic, we remember all who have died, particularly those who have died alone, and those who have died with no one to pray for them. We remember that Jesus died on the cross so that we do not have to face death alone. He is present and his redemptive love accompanies us home.

We pray for the souls of all who have died in this pandemic.

The Thirteenth Station – Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

The hands that remove Jesus’ body do not belong to a close friend or family member. They belong to Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple who asked Pilate if he might take Jesus’ body off the cross. Like with Simon of Cyrene, Joseph is outside of Jesus’ intimate circle, but there to offer him mercy at the time of his death.

We remember again the compassion of all nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers who accompany patients as they die in the pandemic. Although not part of their intimate circle, they are there to offer mercy. We give thanks for all morgue workers, funeral homes, and all who labor to care for the dead.

We pray for those who bring dignity to those who have died.

The Fourteenth Station – Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

Together, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, give Christ a dignified burial. With myrrh and aloe, they clean his body. They place his body in the garden tomb as darkness approaches. Being observant Jews, Joseph and Nicodemus head back to their communities for the Sabbath.

2,000 years later, we remember the courage of Jospeh and Nicodemus when the other disciples had scattered. These two secret disciples found strength in one another to publicly bury our Lord. In this pandemic, we, too, find our strength and courage in each other. We pray together and accompany one another in the stillness of the garden tomb.

We pray now for each other and all the intentions we wish to place in the darkness of Christ’s tomb.

Closing Prayer: We pray these stations of the cross today in the midst of the pandemic.  As we face this reality today, we bring this reality to our Lenten journey, we bring this reality into our prayers.  As we close our prayers in the stations of the cross, we united our crosses with the cross that Christ bore. 

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  AMEN.   

Reflection on the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil

 When I lived in Ecuador from 1996 to 1999, one of the symbols of the city of Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, was the statue of the Virgin Mary known as the Virgin of Quito or the Virgin of El Panecillo because it sits on top the hill of El Panecillo in the middle of the city in the midst of the Andes mountains.  That statue of the Blessed Mother is 134 feet tall and was built in 1976. 

     I was reminded of that statue in Quito, Ecuador when a friend of mine sent me a link of workers doing repairs of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.  Both Ecuador and Brazil are very faithful Catholic countries.  These statues reflect the faith and the devotion of the people.  

      The statue of Christ the Redeemer is located at the summit of Mount Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil. The statue was completed in 1931 and stands 98 feet tall and its horizontally outstretched arms spanning 92 feet. The statue has become emblematic of both the city of Rio de Janeiro and the whole nation of Brazil. The statue is made of reinforced concrete clad in a mosaic of thousands of triangular soapstone tiles. The statue is the largest Art-Deco style statue or sculpture in the world. 

      The idea for a statue of Christ on this mountain originated with Brazilian priest Pedro Maria Boss in the 1850s.  However, it was not until 1921 when the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro formally proposed such a statue and it was officially approved by the Brazilian government.  At the time, Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil.  The capital was later moved to Brasilia in 1960.  

       The foundation for the statue was laid in 1922 and it was completed in 1931.  Over the years it has undergone periodic repairs and renovations, including a thorough cleaning in 1980, in preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Brazil that year, and a major project in 2010, when the surface was repaired and refurbished. In 2006, to mark the statue’s 75th anniversary, a chapel at its base was consecrated to Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil.

        As someone who is very afraid of heights, it amazes me to see the courage the workers have in doing their work and making the repairs needed on this statue.  The courage of these workers can be seen as a symbol of the courage we are called to have on our Lenten journey of faith as we accompany Jesus on his journey of 40 days in the desert.  

        Have a blessed week everyone.  Father Lincoln 

Here is the link of the video showing the repairs to the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/VxlKZereog0?rel=0

28 de febrero de 2021 - La Transfiguración de Jesucristo - Marcos 9:2-10

      Nuestra vida diaria está llena de una rutina y muchas tareas diarias. En nuestra vida diaria, a veces, sin saberlo, o incluso cuando somos conscientes, podemos encerrarnos en nuestro propio mundo y nuestra situación particular y nuestra rutina diaria. Podemos olvidar que somos parte de un mundo mucho más grande y una realidad más grande.

       En el Evangelio este domingo, en nuestra celebración de la Transfiguración de Jesucristo, Jesús saca a algunos de sus apóstoles de la rutina diaria, invitándolos a ir con él a la cima de una montaña.  Aunque, en la superficie, esto no parece extraño.   Jesús a menudo se va a lugares como las montañas o los desiertos para orar y escaparse.  Jesús se transfiguró ante los apóstoles.  Eso es especial y extraño.  Su ropa se volvió tan blanca como la luz.  Podemos imaginar la sorpresa y la conmoción de los apóstoles.  Lo más importante es que los apóstoles escucharon una voz desde las nubes, diciendo: “Éste es mi Hijo amado; escúchenlo.” Estas palabras están destinadas a que las escuchemos hoy también.  Podemos mirar la realidad del mundo moderno.  Hoy estamos bombardeados por tanto ruido y tantos mensajes. Tenemos programas de noticias las 24 horas y el Internet las 24 horas y redes sociales las 24 horas.  En segundos, recibimos las noticias de todas las esquinas del mundo.   Escuchamos muchas noticias y mucha información, pero muchas de ellas no son buenas noticias. Lamentablemente, muchas noticias son opiniones - no son la verdad de Dios.  La palabra de Dios y el mensaje que Jesús nos habla hoy y nos ofrece hoy es vivificante y transformador. Las palabras de Jesucristo están ahí para nutrirnos y sostenernos. O. Sin embargo, debemos abrir nuestro corazón y nuestra vida para escuchar sus palabras y el mensaje que contienen. Sí, es solo el Señor quien tiene el mensaje de la vida eterna. Al escuchar el Evangelio de la transfiguración de Jesucristo hoy, estamos en medio de una realidad de muchos desafíos, eso es seguro. Sin embargo, también hay muchas bendiciones en nuestra vida.  Hay bendiciones que han venido con la pandemia. Tenemos que estar abiertos a ver esas bendiciones.

       Al contemplar la transfiguración de nuestro Señor, no debemos olvidar que Jesús y sus tres apóstoles no permanecieron en la cima del Monte Tabor para siempre.  Ellos bajaron y trajeron la iluminación de la transfiguración al pueblo en la llanura. También debemos traer la iluminación que recibimos como discípulos de Cristo en el mundo a nuestro prójimo. Debemos llevar la visión y el crecimiento de los que recibimos en nuestro camino cuaresmal a nuestra vida diaria y para el resto del año.  Continuamos nuestro camino cuaresmal en este segundo domingo de Cuaresma.  Mi oración hoy es que la luz de la Transfiguración nos anima y nos da fuerza en nuestro camino cuaresmal.

Prayers of the faithful - Friday of the first week of Lent - 26 February 2021

PENITENTIAL RITE: 

Lord Jesus - you call us to trust and have faith - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you perform miracles and signs of awe and wonder - Christ have mercy

Lord Jesus - you give us hope and inspiration - Lord have mercy. 

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL:

Priest: With hope and trust, we present our prayers to God:

1. For our church leaders, may they lead us and guide us in putting our trust and hope in the Lord.  

2. May our world leaders put aside conflict and difference to work toward the common good.  

3. For our first responders and medical professionals.    

4. For our children and youth.  May they use this schools to learn creatively and to grow closer to God in their faith.  

5. For the sick and shut-ins.  For all who are affected in the pandemic.  For healing for those who need it mind, body, and spirit.  

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  For those prayers we hold in our hearts today.  

Priest: Heavenly Father, we place our trust in you.  We present these prayers to you through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever.  AMEN.  

26 February 2021 - Friday of the first week of Lent - Ezekiel 18:21-28

       We have been hearing from different Old Testament books this week such as Isaiah, Jonah, and Esther.  Today we hear from the prophet Ezekiel as we come to the end of our first full week of Lent.  Ezekiel gives us a message of the importance of repentance and conversion, telling us that the Lord does not delight when a wicked man stays in his wickedness and earns punishment; rather, the Lord delights when the wicked man turns his back on his evil ways and has a change of heart.   The Lord delights in the conversion of the sinner. 

         There is a prayer called the Jesus prayer that states: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner.” It is a prayer that is very popular in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and also is widespread in Western Catholicism. In the Eastern tradition, this prayer is often prayed repeatedly using a cord that would be similar to our rosary.  It is believed that this prayer has its origins with the Desert Fathers and Mothers in the Egyptian desert in the 5th century.  There is a prayer very similar in form to the Jesus prayer found in the letters of St John Chrysostom written in the early 5th century.   This short little prayer so succinctly says what so many Christians feel in their humble hearts, how they place their sins before Jesus's mercy. 

      We hear this message from the prophet Ezekiel during the first week of Lent because Lent is about changing our ways and turning back to God.  It is hard to break old habits and to reform our lives.  It is hard to break out of the chains of addictions, out of our laziness and complacency.  But that is what the Lord is calling us to do – to repent from our sins.  And the Lord will rejoice when we are able to do so. 

Prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the first week of Lent - 24 February 2021

Penitential Rite:

Lord Jesus - you free us from the things that constrain us - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to renewal and conversion - Christ have mercy.  

Lord Jesus - you give us hope - Lord have mercy. 

Prayers of the faithful: 

Priest: As we continue our journey during Lent, let us ask the Father to lead us through the dark moment in our lives as we present our prayer to our loving Father.

1. For the holy Church of God, that she may be defended from the snares of her enemies through the Holy Spirit.  May she proclaim the Good News of Christ’s Gospel to all. 

2. For all the peoples of this world, that they may be gathered into the Father’s kingdom through the prayers and sacrifices of Christians in every nation.  For the grace for all of us to get through the challenges and difficulties of the pandemic.  

3. For the sick and shut-in, for healing and the help that they need, and for the dying, that they may pass peacefully and confidently through the gates of death to meet him who is the resurrection. 

4. For those who mourn, that the Christ console them in their grief. 

5. For those who have been laid off or who have lost their job, for those who are looking for a new job, for encouragement and hope.  

6. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today.  

Priest: Father, hear the prayers of your Church. Bring to new life the people who trust in your promises. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

LENTEN MESSAGE - LIVE JUSTLY - LIVE SIMPLY - LIVE PRAYERFULLY

 LIVE JUSTLY

LIVE SIMPLY

LIVE PRAYERFULLY

24 February 2021 - Wednesday of the first week of Lent - Jonah 3:1-10

     This week, in our first readings in our daily Masses, we hear from a different book of the Old Testament each day.   Today, we hear a passage from the book of Jonah, which most Catholic Scripture scholars would not see as a historical non-fiction figure.  Jonah receives a call from God to preach to a pagan people, but he tries so hard to flee from this call that he gets into a boat and gets swallowed up by a large fish.  Jonah goes to the large Assyrian city of Nineveh, the capital city of a pagan people, to threaten its destruction by God in 40 days if they do not repent.  The 40 days the God gives Nineveh reminds of the 40 days of the great flood from which Noah and his ark was spared, again with God inflicting punishment on a world that had turned its back on him.  They number 40 also reminds of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert, of the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years, and the 40 days of our Lenten journey.  Jonah is both shocked and dismayed that the Ninevites actually repent and do penance and believe in God.  Even the king of Nineveh himself repents in an act of humility.  It is interesting that even their cattle and their sheep fasted during this time with them, expressing the Ninevites’ urgency in seeking out God’s mercy.  God looks with kindness as the Ninevites turn from their evil ways.   In a Jewish faith that saw God’s love and mercy not extending to the Gentiles, this would have been a radical message for them to hear.  This is perhaps a foreshadowing of the discussion that went on in the early Church, in which Paul sought to call Gentiles to become disciples of Christ.   Perhaps the reading from Jonah is including in the daily Mass readings during the Lenten season to remind us of our need to repent,  Perhaps this reading calls us to look at our attitude to people of different faiths.  

23 February 2021 - Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent - Isaiah 55:10-11

We often hear from Isaiah during the holy season of Lent.  Today’s short reading from Isaiah gives hope and encouragement to the people of Israel as they approach the end of their exile in Babylon.  Its aim is to give them consolation, not to chastise them for their lack of faith.   God expresses through the prophet that he has plans for the world, that his plan will not be stopped.  His plans have the well-being of his creation in mind.  I think of the God of love and mercy that Pope Francis often speaks about.  Through poetic words, Isaiah describes how the aim of God’s world will be realized in a way similar to the gentle rain making the earth fertile for the seed to sprout and grow and bring us a bountiful harvest.  But, we have to open to God’s word.  We have to be open to studying it and learning from it.  We have to make an effort in our life of fact, not just sitting there being complacent and waiting for something to happen.  The holy season of Lent is like that as well.  We need to be willing to engage our faith in this holy season, to come up with to plan, and to devote ourselves to our Lenten disciplines or prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  May we listen to this message from Isaiah today and actively engage in it.   

Reflection on the transfiguration of Jesus - Second Sunday of Lent - Cycle B - Mark 9:2-10

       Our daily lives are filled with a routine and a lot of daily tasks.  In our daily lives, sometimes, without knowing it, or even when we are aware of it, we can get locked into our own world, our particular situation, and our daily routine. We can forget about or lose sight of the fact that we are part of a much bigger world, a bigger reality, and a universal community of faith. 

       In the Gospel today, in our celebration of the Transfiguration of Jesus, Jesus takes some of his apostles away from their daily routine, inviting them to go with him up a mountaintop.  Although, on the surface, this does not seem unusual, became Jesus sometimes goes off to places like the mountains to pray and to get away. Jesus became transfigured before the apostles, which is something special and unusual.  He clothing became as white as light.   Imagine the surprise and the shock on the part of the apostles. Most importantly, the apostles heard a voice from the clouds say: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”  These words are meant for us to hear today as well.  Today, we are bombarded by so much noise and so many messages in the world.  We have 24 hours news programs, 24 hour internet, and 24 hour social media. We have smart phones that link us to so many things instantly.  News from around the world arrives in seconds to us. We hear so much news, but a lot of it is not good news.  Some of it is not even real news. So much of what we hear in the media today is slanted opinion, not objective fact.  The word and message that Jesus speaks to us and offers us today are life-giving and life-changing. The words of Jesus are there to nourish us, to nurture us, and to sustain us.  However, we need to open our hearts and our lives to hearing his words and the message contained therein. Yes, it is only the Lord who has the message of eternal life.  

      As we hear the Gospel of the transfiguration today, we are in the midst of challenging reality, that is for sure.  However, there are many blessings in our lives as well.  There are blessings that have come with the pandemic.  We have to be open to seeing those blessings. 

The History of the Stations of the Cross

      The Stations of the Cross have been a popular prayer devotion in parishes throughout the world amongst the Catholic faithful,  especially during the holy season of Lent for our preparation for Easter.  I love learning the history of things in our Church.  The Stations of the Cross have a very interesting history indeed.  

       The prayer devotion of the Stations of the Cross has evolved throughout the history of the Church.  Tradition holds that the Blessed Mother, while she was still in Jerusalem, visited the scenes of her son’s passion.  After Constantine legalized Christianity in the early 4th century, this pathway was marked with its important stations.  St. Jerome, living in Bethlehem during the latter part of his life in the early 5th century, attested to the crowds of pilgrims from various countries who visited these holy places and followed the Way of the Cross.        

       This prayer devotion continued to grow in popularity.  In the fifth century, an interest developed in the Church to symbolize the holy places in other areas of the world so pilgrims who could not actually travel to the Holy Land could do so in a devotional, spiritual way in their hearts.  St. Petronius, the Bishop of Bologna in Italy, constructed a group of chapels at the monastery of San Stefano which depicted the more important shrines of the Holy Land, including several of the stations. 

         In 1342, the Franciscans were appointed as guardians of the shrines of the Holy Land.  The faithful received indulgences for praying at the different stations, such as Pilate’s house, the place e where Christ met His mother, the place where Christ spoke to the women, the place where Christ was nailed to the cross, and at Christ’s tomb.  The Franciscans were instrumental in popularizing the devotion of the Stations of the Cross.

         William Wey, an English pilgrim, visited the Holy Land in 1458 and again in 1462.  He is credited with the term “stations”.  He described the manner in which a pilgrim followed the steps of Christ. 

        When the Moslems blocked the access to the Holy Land, reproductions of the stations were erected at popular spiritual centers throughout Europe.  The devotion continued to grow in popularity amongst the faithful.  The number of the stations varied.  By the 16th century, devotional books of the Stations of the Cross appeared in countries throughout Europe, which had 14 stations with prayers for each one. At the end of the 17th century, the establishment of the stations in churches became more popular.  In 1686, Pope Innocent XI, realizing that few people could travel to the Holy Land due to the Moslem occupation, granted the Franciscans the right to erect stations in all of their churches and that the same indulgences would be given to the faithful for practicing the devotion as if on an actual pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In the early 18th century, Pope Clement XII permitted stations to be erected in all churches and fixed the number at 14. 

          When I was going through the RCIA program as an adult back in 1992, I grew to love going to the Stations of the Cross at the parish of St Norbert in Orange, California on Friday evenings during Lent.  To me, the Stations of the Cross are an important part of our Lenten journey.  I know that many of at St Jude are very excited about the outdoor Stations of the Cross that we are installing at our parish.  I hope that the Stations of the Cross become a regular part of your Lenten journey. 

St Jude Catholic Church - Pearl, Mississippi - Stations of the Cross - 19 February 2021

We will be praying the Stations of the Cross on Friday, February 2021.  Below is the narrative of the stations of the cross we will be using.    Join us at 6:00 pm on Facebook Live on the St Jude Pearl Mississippi Facebook page.  

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, as we pray the stations of the cross, we pray that you fill our hearts with the light of the Holy Spirit, so that by following you on your final journey, we may come to know the price of our Redemption. May we become worthy to share in the fruits of your passion, death and resurrection. You who live and reign for ever and ever. AMEN.

1. First Station - Jesus is condemned to death.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Let us pray for those who have been condemned by others and for those who have been hurt in different ways. Let us pray for the unwanted and the lonely in this world and for those who are in pain right now. We lift them up to the Lord.

2. Second Station - Jesus carries the Cross.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Let us remember the times when we have had to carry our crosses in the form of sickness, pain, worry, despair, loneliness, guilt, the loss of loved ones, and financial problems. As Jesus bore his cross with patience, let us be patient with our crosses and ask for his help in carrying them.

3. Third Station - Jesus falls the first time.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

We recall the ways we sin and give into temptation. When we sin, we move away from God. Let us hear Jesus call us to repentance and forgiveness. Let us hear Jesus calling us back to him and back to our faith.

4. Fourth Station - Jesus meets his mother.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Mary is not only the Heavenly Mother who gave birth to Jesus Christ and raised him during his life here on earth. She is also our Mother and the Mother of our Church. She intercedes on her behalf to her son. She helps us live in the light of God’s grace. May we allow our Mother Mary be our comfort and strength during this earthly journey. May Mary help us on our Lenten journey.

5. Fifth Station - Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

When we are burdened with our cross, when the cross seems too heavy for us to carry, Jesus sends others into our lives to help us carry the cross. It may be our spouse, our parents, our children, our friends or even a stranger. Jesus does not abandon us. Let us thank Jesus for all those people who give us hope and encouragement on our journey.

6. Sixth Station - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

We pray for our family members, our friends, and our loved ones who have been there with us in our struggles in life, who have been a comfort to us and who have helped us. We pray for those who have helped us on our journey of faith.

7. Seventh Station - Jesus falls for the second time.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Although we can feel sorry and repent for our sin, we can nevertheless fall back into temptation and fall again. We can sometimes fall into even greater sin. God calls us to open our hearts to him to be truly repentant and sorry. Let us hear his call to repentance and conversion on our Lenten journey.

8. Eight Station - Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

The example of the women of Jerusalem calls us to be compassionate and merciful to those around us, to open our eyes to those who are suffering in this world. As Jesus comforted the women of Jerusalem, let us be merciful to those in distress. Let us see ourselves as evangelizers who can bring others to Christ.

9. Ninth Station - Jesus falls the third time.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Although we try not to sin, we can give way to temptation. We pray that Jesus may make our hearts strong and give us strength to fight the temptations of the Devil. May we grow closer to God this Lenten season through fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

10. Tenth Station - Jesus is stripped of his clothes.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

We are called to surrender those memories and experiences that hold us back on our journey. We may be holding onto a moment of embarrassment or shame or a moment when somebody insulted us or hurt us deeply. When Jesus was stripped of his clothes, he was ashamed and hurt, but he bore everything for our sins. Let us invite Jesus to heal our wounds and surrender all painful memories to him.

11. Eleventh Station - Jesus is nailed to the Cross.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Let us give up all that is holding us back. Let all our sins be nailed to the cross so that we can live a new life in Jesus. As Jesus endured unbearable pain while being nailed to the cross, let us bear our sorrows with patience and humility.

12. Twelfth Station - Jesus dies on the Cross.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Let all our sins die on the cross along with Jesus. Let us resolve to never sin again and avoid all temptation. Let us unite our crosses with Christ’s cross.

13. Thirteenth Station - The body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Jesus, you died for our sins and you purchased for us the reward of eternal life. Let us always keep that in our minds and our hearst. Let us live this life with hope, place all of our hope in you.

14. Fourteenth Station - Jesus is laid in the tomb.

- We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
- Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Jesus’ death on the cross was not the final story. His death on the cross gives way to his time in the tomb and his resurrection. Let us look forward to the eternal life that Jesus has offered us by giving his own life as ransom. Let us pray to Jesus for accompany us on our journey here on earth, to especially accompany us on our journey at the time of our earthly death.

Closing Prayer: My Jesus, I have traveled your way of the cross. It seems so real. I often complain of my own sufferings and find obedience to the Father’s will difficult. My mind bogged down by the poverty, sickness, starvation, greed and hatred in the world. Help me to see the Father’s will in every incident of my daily life. This is what you did – you saw the Father’s will in your persecutors, your enemies and your pain. Teach me the lessons contained in my crosses. Give the wisdom as I carry my crosses and the fortitude that accompanies even the smallest cross. May Mary, our Mother, obtain for me the grace to be Jesus to my neighbor and to see my neighbor in Jesus. Amen.

21 de febrero de 2021 - 1er domingo de Cuaresma - Ciclo B- Marcos 1: 12-15

     El año pasado, en las primeras semanas de la Cuaresma, la pandemia comenzó en los Estados Unidos, lo que provocó el orden de quedarse en casa.  Aquí estamos un año después, todavía en medio de la pandemia.  El distanciamiento social y las máscaras están la norma.  Todavía no hay mucho en persona. No pudimos tener las festividades de Mardi Gras este año. Y allí, este invierno horrible se extiende por Mississippi y el resto del país. No tuvimos misas en persona para el Miércoles de Ceniza este año. Es un año muy difícil para nosotros.

       Al comienzo de la Cuaresma, escuchamos de los 40 días de Jesús en el desierto, el paradigma de nuestro camino cuaresmal.  Siempre espero la Cuaresma cada año. Es una oportunidad maravillosa para nosotros en el camino de fe, para mirar nuestro camino de fe de una manera introspectiva, para ver dónde Dios nos llama a la conversión y la renovación.  Al pensar en la llamada cuaresmal a la conversión, transformación y renovación, podemos mirar al Evangelio del primer capítulo de San Marcos, en cómo dice que Jesús fue conducido al desierto por el Espíritu Santo, donde permaneció durante cuarenta días, donde fue tentado por Satanás.  Siempre lo encuentro curioso: ¿por qué el Espíritu Santo conduciría a Jesús al desierto? ¿Por qué lo llevaría el Espíritu a este momento de dificultad, privación y tentación?  ¿No podría Jesús simplemente irse a un retiro tranquilo durante cuarenta días, orando, comiendo buena comida, relajándose y preparándose para su ministerio público?   En muchos sentidos, Jesús está enviado al desierto como demostración de su humanidad. Jesús, plenamente humano y plenamente divino, fue tentado en su humanidad así cómo los seres humanos combatimos las tentaciones. Y todos nosotros, no importa quiénes seamos, luchamos contra la tentación de un tipo u otro, es seguro. Jesús es definitivamente un modelo de fe a seguir para nosotros mientras luchamos con estas tentaciones en nuestras vidas.  Así como Moisés y los israelitas enfrentaron un tiempo de prueba y preparación durante 40 años antes de entrar a la tierra prometida, así como Juan el Bautista vivió en el desierto antes de su ministerio público, Jesús pasó este tiempo en el desierto como un tiempo. para la preparación de su ministerio público y su camino a la cruz. Como muestran estos ejemplos, el desierto ocupa un lugar especial en la historia del pueblo judío como un lugar para prepararse para el servicio al Señor.  Finalmente, cuando Jesús cita la Escritura en respuesta a las tentaciones del Diablo, muestra que Jesús resiste la tentación en su conexión con la palabra de Dios y su dependencia de Dios. Es nuestra fe, nuestra relación con Dios y nuestro conexión con la palabra de Dios lo que nos ayudará a resistir la tentación y crecer en la fe.

        Este año, como parte del camino cuaresmal de nuestra parroquia, queremos que miremos el sacramento de la reconciliación. A través de este sacramento de sanación, miramos nuestra relación con Dios, con nuestros hermanos y con nosotros mismos.

       Así como el Espíritu Santo llevó a Jesús a los 40 días de preparación en el desierto para prepararlo para su misión, Dios también nos busca, especialmente en aquellos momentos en que nos extraviamos o cuándo pecamos.  Necesitamos escuchar a Dios llamándonos al Sacramento de la Reconciliación. Así como Dios nos llama a acompañar a Jesús en sus 40 días en el desierto, Dios también nos llama a la reconciliación.  Otra cosa que nos ayuda a ser empujados a este sacramento es la culpa.  Vivimos en una sociedad en la que queremos racionalizar nuestras acciones, especialmente cuando sabemos que estas acciones son malas. Queremos echarle la culpa a otra persona o otra cosa. Pero luego escuchamos a Dios llamándonos a otro camino: el camino de reconciliación.  Nuestra culpa nos ayuda a mirar dentro de nosotros mismos: a nuestras propias acciones y nuestra propia responsabilidad. La culpa nos ayuda a responder, a enmendarnos y a actuar. La culpa nos ayuda a crecer.

        Tenemos una invitación esta temporada de cuaresma: podemos utilizar estos 40 días con Jesucristo en el desierto para llamarnos a la conversión y la renovación en nuestras vidas. Usemos estos 40 días como un tiempo de reconciliación.

Prayers of the faithful - Thursday after Ash Wednesday of the holy season of Lent - 18 February 2021

 Lord Jesus - you bring us hope - 

Christ Jesus - you bring us life 

Lord Jesus - you encourage us in the midst of the challenges of our journey

We now bring our prayers to the Lord in these first days of our Lenten journey: 

1. We pray that during these days of Lent that Christ breathe life into his church and his church leaders as we are called to accompany Jesus in his journey through the desert.   

2. That you Lord open our eyes, mind, heart, and will to the holiness of creation and to the ways we can reach out to our brothers and sisters in need. 

3.  That you guide our governmental leaders in strength and wisdom as they lead us through this difficult time.  

4. That all of the sick receive the assistance that they need.  For healing from the COVID-19 Virus and all infirmities of mind, body and spirit.  In gratitude for our medical professionals and first responders.  

5. For strength and courage to bear our crosses. 

6. For all those affected by the winter storms here in Mississippi and throughout our nation.  For those without food, shelter, heat, electricity, or water.  For the safety of all. 

6. For those prayers we hold in our hearts. 

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessings you give us in life and we thank you for your grace that helps us meet our challenges as we journey through these days of Lent.  We present these prayers to you through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayer for the meeting of the executive committee of the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Jackson - 18 February 2021

 Blessed are you God of all creation, God of love and mercy.  As we meet today as the executive committee of the Catholic foundation we are aware of the reality around us. We are beginning this holy season of Lent as disciples of Christ in the midst of a very challenging and difficult reality: in the midst of a pandemic that is still afflicting our county and the world and that is causing us to meet virtually rather than in person; in the midst of a terrible winter storm that is harming many people here in Mississippi and throughout the country. Be with us today in the midst of our reality in our service to the Catholic Foundation and to Bishop Kopacz and to the Catholic Diocese of Jackson.  Help us to have the hearts of servant disciples. Help us to work in collaboration with the Diocese and its goals. Lead us and guide us in the important decisions we have to make.  In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.  

18 February 2021 – Thursday after Ash Wednesday – Psalm 1

      “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.”  This is a message we really need to hear this Lenten season.  When we were interrupted in the middle of Lent last year by the pandemic, having to shelter at home and suspend so much of our life that was in-person, including Mass, little did we know that we would be commemorating the beginning of Lent this year still in the reality of the pandemic.  It was surreal celebrating Holy Week last year with only the members of my parish staff present.  This year, I was alone on Ash Wednesday, streaming the Mass myself, in the midst of the harsh winter weather that has us confined to our homes.  Our parking lot has been so icy this week that I can barely get around.  I was looking at my posts on my blog, and saw a post from this week in 2013, when we received the surprise announcement that Pope Benedict was stepping down.  That I did not expect either.  Life can deal us a lot of surprises, can’t it?  There are some very happy surprises and some very troubling surprises.  But, as it states in the first psalm, we are called to place our hope in the Lord in the midst of all of the reality of the world and the reality of our lives.  We don’t always know what each day will bring, but the faith and hope we place in the Lord is always there. 

         I pray that Lent be a great opportunity for us this year as we practice our disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  We may be going through a good time in our lives right now or it may be in a time of struggle and great difficulty.  Certainly the challenges and stresses of the pandemic are there with us, that is for sure.  No matter where we are in our journey, we are called to place our trust in the Lord. 

Reflection - First Sunday of Lent - Mark 1:12-15

      In the midst of a very challenging year, in the midst of the pandemic that has drastically changed our daily lives and the midst of harsh winter weather that kept us away from our Ash Wednesday Masses, we start off the first Sunday of Lent with Jesus being thrown into the desert, where he is tempted and tested.  With the pandemic having started in the first weeks of Lent last year, we probably feel like this has been a year-long journey in the desert with Jesus.  

        Jesus dealt with temptation in the desert in a very real way. Temptation is something all of us have to deal with in our lives of faith.  In fact, doesn’t it seem like we are tempted in a special way during Lent?  We can give up something specific during Lent or promise to make certain sacrifices during these 40 days, and then it will seem like we are particularly tempted to break those promises.  

       What I find interesting is that the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the desert as recounted in Mark’s Gospel. It is the Spirit that puts Jesus there where he is tempted by Satan.  Yet, we know that Jesus is not alone in the desert wilderness.  Unfortunately, the wild beasts are also there, threatening to destroy him. However, the angels are also there with him, ministering to him.  We all have wild beasts or demons in our lives that threaten to destroy us. We also have angels who help us and minister to us on our journey as well.   From today’s Gospel of Jesus being tempted in the desert, we can take away this message: Lent is to be a time of transformation, preparation, and renewal.  

         Jesus is driven into the desert right after his baptism in the Jordan River.  Jesus was called to this time of trial and transformation before starting his earthly ministry.  We all need to be driven into a time of conversion, transformation, and renewal as well.  All human institutions are in need of transformation, change, and renewal, because by its very definition, anything human is flawed and imperfect.  Our Church, our society, our lives are all in need of change and renewal.  

         As we begin our Lenten journey in the midst of the many challenges that face us in our daily lives, let us hear God calling out to us today.

21 February 2021 - 1st Sunday of Lent - Cycle B- Mark 1:12-15

      Last year, in the first weeks of Lent, the pandemic was starting to spread across the United States, leading to the stay-at-home order and everything shutting down.  Here we are one year later, still in the midst of the pandemic.  Social distancing and masks are still the norm.  There is still not a lot in-person.  We were not able to have Mardi Gras festivities this year.  And this horrible winter sweeps across Mississippi and the rest of the country. We are not even able to have in-person Masses for Ash Wednesday this year.  Boy, has this been a hard year for us.  

       At the beginning of Lent, we hear of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert, the paradigm for our own Lenten journey.   I always look forward to Lent each year.  It is such a wonderful opportunity for us in our journey of faith, to look at our faith journey in a very introspective way, to see where God is calling us to conversion and renewal.  As I think about our Lenten call to conversion, transformation and renewal, I think about our short Gospel reading from the first chapter of Mark, about how it states that Jesus was driven into the desert by the Holy Spirit where he remained for forty days, where he was tempted by Satan.   I always find it curious: why would the Holy Spirit drive Jesus into the desert?  Why would the Spirit lead him into this time of difficulty, deprivation, and temptation?   Couldn’t Jesus just go on a relaxing retreat for forty days, praying, eating good food, relaxing, and getting ready for his public ministry?   In many ways, Jesus is sent into the desert as a demonstration of his humanity.  Jesus, fully human and fully divine, was tempted in his humanity just as we human beings fight temptations.  And all of us, no matter who we are, fight temptation of one sort or another, that is for sure.  Jesus is definitely a role model for us as we battle with these temptations in our lives.   Just like Moses and the Israelites faced a time of testing and preparation for 40 years before they entered the promised land, just as John the Baptist lived in the desert before his public ministry, Jesus spent this time in the desert wilderness as a time for preparation for his public ministry and his final journey to the cross.  As the examples show, the desert wilderness occupies a place in the history of the Jewish people as a place to prepare for service to the Lord.  Finally, as Jesus cites Scripture in response to the temptations of the Devil, it show that Jesus resists temptation in his foundation in the word of God and his dependence on God.  It is our faith, our relationship with God, and our foundation in the word of God that will help us resist temptation and grow in our faith. 

     This year, as a part of our parish’s Lenten journey, we want us to look at the sacrament of reconciliation.  Through this sacrament of healing, we look our relationship with God, with our brothers and sisters, and with ourselves.  All of you should have received a link to the FORGIVEN video series on the FORMED website which we help us delve into the sacrament of reconciliation during this Lenten season.  We will be discussing the FORGIVEN series in our homilies during Lent as well. We encourage you to discuss the FORGIVEN series in your small faith groups or watch it and discuss it as a family.  They are very lively videos that are easy to watch.  There is a study guide on the FORMED website that helps guide us through this series as well. 

        Just as the Holy Spirit led Jesus to the desert period of preparation in order to get him ready for his mission, God seeks us out too, especially in those times when we stray or when we sin.  We need to hear God calling us to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Just as God calls us to accompany Jesus in his 40 days in the desert, God calls us to reconciliation as well.  Another thing that helps us be nudged to this sacrament is guilt.  We live in a society where we want to rationalize our actions, even when we know those actions are wrong.  We want to place the blame on something else or something else.  But, then we hear God calling us to another path.  Our guilt helps us look inside ourselves: at our own actions and our own responsibility. Guilt help us respond, to make amends, and to take action. Guilt helps us grow.  These are some of the takeaways from this first session of FORGIVEN.  I want to invite all of you to watch it, to think about it, to pray about it, and discuss it amongst your family or your small faith groups. 

       Let us use these 40 days with Jesus in the desert to call us to conversion and renewal in our lives.  Let us use these 40 days as a time of reconciliation. 

Readings, prayers, and reflection for ASH WEDNESDAY - 17 February 2021

17 February 2021 

ASH WEDNESDAY ST JUDE CATHOLIC CHURCH 

PEARL, MS

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, look upon me and hear my prayer as I being this holy Season of Lent. I pray that you inspire met this Lenten season as I follow the Lenten disciplines and seek a renewal in spirit. I know that without You I can do nothing. By your spirit, help me to know what is right and to be eager to do your will. Teach me to find new life through penance. Keep me from sin, and help me live by your commandment of love.

God of love, bring me back to You. Send your spirit to make me strong in faith and active in works of charity. May my acts of penance bring me your forgiveness and open my heart to your love. Lord, during this Lenten Season, nourish me with your word of life and make me one with you in love and prayer. Fill my heart with your love and keep me faithful to the Gospel of Christ.

Merciful Lord, give me the grace to rise above my human weakness. Give me new life by your Sacraments, especially the Mass.

Father, source of life, I reach out with joy to grasp your hand. Let me walk more readily in your ways. Guide me in your mercy, for left to myself I cannot do your will.

Father of love, source of all blessings, help me to pass from my old life of sin to the new life of grace. Prepare me for the glory of Your Kingdom. I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.

Readings for Ash Wednesday 

A reading from the prophet Joel

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing,

Offerings and libations for the Lord, your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep, and say, “Spare, O Lord, your

 people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.

Psalm 51

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;

in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt

and of my sin cleanse me.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. For I acknowledge my offense,

and my sin is before me always: “Against you only have I sinned,

and done what is evil in your sight.”

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence,

and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. Give me back the joy of your salvation,

and a willing spirit sustain in me. O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians:

Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Verse Before the Gospel: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,

as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms,

do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

REFLECTION

Today, Ash Wednesday, is a day of prayer and fasting. It marks the beginning of the holy season of Lent. We priests are edified by the crowds of the faithful who are drawn to our Masses on Ash Wednesday, for this day is not a holy day of obligation and it falls right in the middle of the week. Many who do not come to Mass regularly on Sunday still want to come to church on Ash Wednesday. The message of Ash Wednesday has deep resonance on the lives of the faithful.  Even though most of us are not able to get to Mass this Ash Wednesday because of the harsh winter conditions in Mississippi, these reading and prayers we have today give us a way to commemorate Ash Wednesday this year.  

For many of us Christians, Ash Wednesday may take on a deeper meaning this year. It was in the middle of Lent last year that most of our lives were upended by the pandemic. As we mourn those who were lost this past year, as we acknowledge the challenges and sufferings we have endured this past year, we are reminded daily of our own mortality. As we see hope in the vaccines that many in our society are starting to receive, may we also find hope in the promise of Christ’s resurrection and the new life it offers all of us.

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the 40 days of Lent, a time we dedicate to prayer, fasting, and reflection in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s Paschal Mystery in the Easter Triduum. Let is a time for us to refocus our lives and to re-examine the truths of our faith. It is in our commemoration of the Lenten and Easter seasons that we commemorate our true identity as disciples of Christ.

Ash Wednesday is the perfect way to start this holy season that calls us into self-examination, self-denial, and a contemplation of the mystery and grace of God's mercy. Lent calls us to give to those in need in acts of service and charity, to give them hope, sustenance, and comfort. This has been a tough year for us in many ways. We have seen a lot of violence and division in our country. We have had many challenges and changes in the workplace, in schools, in our churches, and in the places that we frequent in daily life. Many of us have felt isolated and overworked. Just like the season of Advent right before Christmas, Lent helps us to look at life and to put it into perspective. The prophet Joel asks us to rend our hearts, not our garments, and to return to the Lord. As Lent begins, may the Lord help us turn our hearts to him. Let the ashes that mark us today remind us of the need of repentance and conversion. May our repentance be humble, and sincere. May our prayers be open to your guidance and grace, O Lord. May our acts of charity be generous and gracious, without restriction or conditions. During this holy season of Lent, may our loving God lead us on the path of holiness.

To close out the reflection time to commemorate Ash Wednesday, you and your family members may trace the sign of the cross on each other’s foreheads.

Blessings to all of you this Ash Wednesday. Father Lincoln