Reflection for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time. - 27 February 2022

This weekend, right before we start the holy season of Lent this Wednesday, we hear a portion of Jesus’ sermon on the plain from Luke’s Gospel.  We have heard from the sermon on the plain three weeks in a row.  The Beatitudes from the sermon on the plain were one of the readings we reflected upon in our synodal listening sessions.  Last Sunday, we heard Jesus tell us to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, and to judge not lest we be judged.  But, then today, we hear Jesus tell us that we need to look at our own faults and our own failings before we criticize our brother.  The message we get from Jesus is that criticism is not bad in itself, but that it should be constructive, positive criticism. We are not to judge or brother as a putdown or out of our own righteousness, but rather to help our brother in our correction of him, doing so in a helpful way.  Yet, at the same time, cannot ignore to way we ourselves need to change, transform, repent and grow.  As Jesus puts it, we cannot ignore the beam in our own eye.  

Change, transformation, repentance, and growth are at the heart of our Christian lives; they are also at the heart of the holy season of Lent that will begin this upcoming week on Ash Wednesday.  With the challenges we have had these last two years during Lent, I am so excited about our Lenten season this year and all that we are hoping to offer as a parish.  I am praying that our current challenges will not impede these Lenten plans.  We will be emailing you a schedule for all of our Lenten activities.  We encourage you to attend the stations of the cross and our Friday fish fries, to journey with us on a virtual pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to show gratitude and thanks to others, and to join us for special moments of prayer during Lent.  We have had a lot of different challenges these past two years.  Things have not been the same and we are not sure what “normal” is anymore.  However, with faith, hope, and humility, we will journey together with Jesus during this holy season of Lent.  Blessings to all of you - we will see you all at Mass on Ash Wednesday!  Father Lincoln.