& Thank you to Sisters of Charity (2022-03-20, 3rd Sunday Lent)

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2022-03-20 –  3^rd Sunday Lent ● Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15 ●  Psalm 103 ●  1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12 ● +Luke 13:1-9 ●

[_00-a_]      Do you remember the movie – Hollywood film – GROUNDHOG DAY ?

          The title refers the day popularly known as “Groundhog Day” or February 2^nd  on which a bunch of people in Pennysylvania watch an animal – a groundhog – to see whether or not he will come out of hiding or not in the middle of winter. So, the groundhog’s behavior tells us something about whether or not WINTER is going to continue or whether or not WINTER is going to end.

          In the movie – GROUNDHOG DAY – there is also a theme of repetitiveness, not the repetitiveness of winter weather, but the sheer repetitiveness of life.

          And, the main character “Phil Connors” (Bill Murray) is forced to re-live the same day of his life over and over again. Phil is a cynical television weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Pennsylvania, who becomes trapped in a time loop, forcing him to relive February 2nd repeatedly.

          Phil Connors – is a figure similar to Augustine (pre conversion to Christ) or to the Prodigal Son (during his time of being away from his father in the parable).  By the way, the Prodigal Son parable comes up next Sunday on 4^th Sunday of Lent.

    In the beginning of the movie, whenPhil he notices the repetitive nature of his life, he uses this to take advantage of other people, to get what he wants.  And, the film starts out in a very cynical tone in which Phil comes to assume there are no consequences for his actions, except for the fact that he wakes up every day and the calendar is still Feb 2^nd.

Then, Phil goes through a bit of conversion decides that if his circumstances are not going to change, and if he is going to be “condemned” to repeat the same things over and over again, then he is going to make some changes. And, he is starts to accept responsibility for his actions.

          Later, in the movie, he changes – goes through something of a conversion – and uses the repetitive nature of life to give himself generously to others.  So, for example, when he sees someone’s pet cat trapped in a tree, he does not ignore the problem, but rescues the cat. And he rescues the cat over and over again. Because it’s Groundhog Day, and the day repeats itself.

[_00-b_]     I reflect on this example because the Gospel this Sunday speaks about the development of faith using the metaphor of a fig tree. And, Jesus says that there is someone who is about to cut down the fig tree, because it has not borne or given any fruit.

          Why do you cut down a tree? Why do you and I remove trees from our property? Usually, it is because it is suffering a disease, or it is dangerous to someone or something.

the tree itself has died,

DISEASE – DANGER – DEATH.

          In the movie Groundhog Day – with Bill Murray – we might say that Bill Murray is going through a phase of “DISEASE” or at least UNEASE. He is distraught with all the repetitions he must go through.  He does not know when the repetition will end. 

          And, the fact that he – for a while – takes advantage of these repetitions because he can now predict the weaknesses of others… this is really not an advantage. This is a DANGER to him. It could be and would be his undoing.

          Also, while Phil tries to help many people during the movie as he goes through his change from “cynical” to “charitable”,  he takes particular interest in a homeless man on the street and tries to help him, to help him get better …to help him avoid death. In the movie, the homeless man dies and we see this actually happen.

          It is also a message to the character Phil and all of us that we cannot avoid death by our good deeds … whether good deeds done by us or for us.

          I find the movie a metaphor for living and dying and death …and also for conversion because Bill Murray is being offered the opportunity to change, to convert, to turn his life around. 

          And, in some ways, he also recognizes that while things do repeat … they will not repeat forever, he has a limited time, as we all have limited time in order to change our ways, to repent.

          The Good News is that God does give us more than 2^nd or 3^rd chances… he will give us many chances, because he does not want to cut you down. He wishes you and me to live, forever with Him.

ADDENDUM – S.C.

If there is one thing that seems repetitive – in our lives – it is going to school. I have trouble recalling specific things about my days in school – because – in my memory – they were all the same. It’s hard to distinguish what happened in 5^th grade from 6^th grade.

But I do give thanks that I had teachers who were willing to make the journey with me – on all of these Groundhog Days.

One of my particular memories of my Catholic grammar school was that I was selected – and felt honored to be selected – to be part of a special math/arithmetic study group with 3 classmates that enabled us to get out of our classroom several times a week.   There were 4 of us – Fernando, Billy, Dave, me.  For this special group, we went to the convent to study multiplication tables with Sister Eileen, a sister of charity who was probably retired from her regular mission of teaching at the time.

First of all, I was kind of shocked to realize that I was good at math.  And, in my experiences of math after that – in high school, college and beyond … I often found math a struggle. But, Sister Eileen had confidence in my 3 classmates and me – I thought – and still think – they were much smarter than I.

In any case, we had these multiplication table drills and I really learned from them. It was repetitive I also have very fond memories of Sister Eileen and other Sisters of Charity at my Catholic grammar school, St. Catharine’s.

I bring up this episode because the Sisters of Charity in our convent are going to be moving, and Sister Barbara, Sister Joan and Sister Jean are the last 3 Sisters in our convent.  Sister Jean and Sister Joan both taught in our school and are currently retired.  Sister Barbara moved to our convent after her own mission of teaching in Jersey City and elsewhere. Sister Barbara is continuing her work for her religious order in Paterson.  Sister Barbara is actively working.

I am grateful – we are grateful – for their prayers and service to Lourdes and to our Catholic church.

The Sisters of Charity taught me that self-esteem and personal value does not come from material things.

It does not come from success or even from good grades on the multiplication tables or in math.

          I learned from the Sisters of Charity that our worth is based on God’s love for us and Christ’s charitable gift. On behalf of our whole – all of our priests --- we thank for your service, for being there every day for us, in school, in prayer, to help us know our true worth and our dependence on God’s mercy to grow as strong trees bearing fruit that will remain.[_fin_]     

St. Joseph Day - Dreams (2022-03-19)

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   [__v-01_= one_]    2022-03-19 –   St. Joseph Day _ _

[_01(a)_]       The other day, I was minding my own business or trying to mind my own business while using my computer and a surprising and unwanted message appeared on my screen, took over my screen and told me –from out of nowhere – out of the blue – that my computer was infected by a virus and I had better called a phone number some agency called “Microsoft Windows Defender Security”. The telephone number started with the area code of 206 and that they will take care of it for me.

          I happened to recall that the 206 area code is a legitimate area code on the west coast, in the Seattle region. And, MSFT HQ is in Seattle.

          I never received this messageI was alarmed and it seemed so legitimate that I called the phone number to ask for support.

          When the person who picked up the phone at the 206 area code phone number asked me for my VISA credit card number, I kind of realized that this must be a scam – or a hoax – and and I hung up.

          You might wonder why it took me so long to realize that this must be a scam. But it looked legitimate… the Microsoft Windows logo was the on the screen with the multicolored squares …and the 206 area code also made it seem authentic.

 

 [_02_]       I was drawn in and made the incorrect conclusion … due to superficial appearances, the MSFT logo, the colored squares, the area code.

          The message had come from out of nowhere… out of the blue.

          How do we receive messages that come from out of the blue – that seem to come from nowhere?

 

[_02_]        Isn’t this also the question for Joseph, husband of Mary, betrothed and engaged to Mary…and for Joseph who is also receiving messages – in dreams.  Is it a scam? A hoax?

          I was reminded recently that there are actually 4 dreams and 4 messages given to Joseph.

          Just to summarize, the 4 dream and message to…

1.     from the angel not to be afraid to Mary into his home.

2.     Leave Bethlehem, escape to Egypt

3.     Learns that is safe to leave Egypt and return home.

4.     Warned again about the route home not to return to Judea, but to go to Galilee instead.

One could say that each of the messages come of out of the blue – out of nowhere and were unexpected.

 

[_03_]        How are we to regard our dreams and sub-conscious thinking?

          How do separate truth from reality or the “fake scam” from the “true signal”?

          Thoughts pop into our heads all the time whether both when awake and asleep.

          Also, regarding the sleeping state – have we not – or have some some people not – but an extraordinary amount of value on things that come to us in dreams, when we are asleep.

 

[_02_]   [ ∑ summarize this section]  

I read this in a religious / book Catholic Encyclopedia – “But the mystery of sleeping is enhanced by the phenomenon of dream which accompanies it. Primitive people, unable to explain the psychology of dreaming or to discover the causes of sleep, observed that, whereas man can, when awake, control his thoughts and fancies, yet he is utterly incapable, when in sleep, either of bringing about such dreams as he might wish, or of directing and ruling those that offer themselves to his faculties; hence they were led to attribute dreams to outside and supernatural agencies.

The gods, whose power was believed to manifest itself in natural effects, such as thunderstorms and earthquakes, whose message were supposed to be written by signs in the heavens, could as well send their communication to men in dreams. Hence the persuasion arose that persons favoured by frequent dreams were sacred and chosen intermediaries between the deity and man.

Far from being cast aside by advancing civilization, these ideas developed with it, and were to a certain extent even systematized, as appears in particular from the records of the ancient peoples of the East. These all took it for granted that every dream expressed a Divine message. Most dreams came unsought; but occasionally supernatural communications were solicited by "incubation". The person desirous of obtaining a prophetic dream then betook himself to the temple of the deity from whom he expected instructions, and there slept, after some ritual preparation. Among the shrines known in antiquity for vouchsafing oracles to sleeping worshippers, the temple of Aesculapius at Epidaurus, where dreams were obtained in which remedies were revealed to cure diseases, the cave of Trophonius, the temple of Serapis, and that of Hathor, near the turquoise mines of the Sinai Peninsula, are the best known. As a last means to wrest the dream from a reluctant deity, magic was also resorted to. An interesting example of magical formulae used for this purpose is contained in a Gnostic papyrus of relatively late date preserved in the Leyden Museum; it is entitled "Agathocles' Recipe for sending a Dream", and may be read in Wiedemann's Religion der alten Egypter (p.144). ”

 

[_04_]        The example of St. Joseph is significant for you and for me because St. Joseph’s dreams were not simply connected to his own

          AMBITION (which is often connected with dreams that may have good element…the dream of financial security, the so-called American dream.)

          PREMONITION (which is often connected with dreams or feelings that some thing is not quite right … so, for example, we are often told – when something is difficult or vexing or indecisive to “sleep on it.”  It is also good advice – as we read in the Bible not the let the sun set on your anger; do not go to bed angry or wrathful or resentful).

 

IMAGINATION – our imagination is connected with our dreams. And there are many places – such as DisneyWorld that try to give us an experience of imagination, of fantasy, of entertainment.

          Imagination is a good thing; we need imagination. Nevertheless, it’s also true that imagination can also overwhelm us and distract us.

          Sometimes, we really have to make a decision based on something other than what we “imagine” to be true.  So, one example, if someone corrects me on something that I did not know was wrong or hurtful to someone else, I might “imagine” the person correcting me is out to get me.

          But, is this real?

          As a Catholic writer named Frank Sheed observed, what we need is not just a Catholic imagination but a Catholic intellect.

          I liked this example he gave  - he said that many of Jesus’ parables – which involve our imagination do tell us about the inner life and true goals of God.

          For example, the parable of the Prodigal Son tells us how God persistently waits for the younger son who had selfishly, outlandishly taken the money, spent it, ended up impoverished and broken and then comes home and does not even expect to be “forgiven” but is in fact forgiven just because he comes home repentant. This is an image that tells us something about the inner life of God.

          This contrasts with other images that do not – he says – for example – that we often use the shamrock or triangle to explain the Blessed Trinity – but just because we can “imagine” the Blessed Trinity through a triangle or shamrock..it really does not tell us anything about the inner life and love of God.

          We need to see the inner life and love of God by experiencing real persons.

[_04_]       St. Joseph tells us something about the inner life and love of God by listening to God through his dreams.

          But, these dreams really do not come out of nowhere in the way that the apparent MSFT Defender Security warning with the 206 area code cam out of nowhere.

          Joseph’s dreams are based in his own journey and prayer and walk with God and his understanding that he is to be a real father to Jesus our Savior.

          It also shows that flesh and blood alone do not save us or connec us to God. There is something invisible, unexpected, like a dream.

          But it is not based in my AMBITION or PREMONITION or IMAGINATION but in God’s hope and will for me, for you.

          St. Joseph pray for us. [_fin_]   

Changes. Transfiguration. (2022-03-13, Lent, 2nd Sunday) - St. Patrick Parade

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Mass before St. Pat's Parade in West Orange.

2022-03-13 –  2^nd Sunday Lent _ Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18  __ Psalm 27 __Philippians 3:17-4:1  _ +Luke 9:28b-36 _

[_00-intro_]      Welcome to Our Lady of Lourdes, to our Parade Committee, Grand Marshal Mellen Dangler and family and to our Deputy Grand Marshals and their families – John DeMars, Patrick Giblin, Bobby Lamb, Robert Swenson and to our West Orange Township Officials.

          We are blessed that Father Jim Chern, once a parish priest of Lourdes and now Montclair State University chaplain can join us. We extend our prayers to Monsignor Michael Kelly, parade chaplain who cannot be with us this year, for his strength and recovery. We also pray for all in our community who have died in the past 2 years and suffered due to the pandemic.

          The parade is rising to a new heights in 2022, after a 2020 and 2021 rest. It is a blessing for us to gather as one parish, one township and also as one country and one People of God to pray for all those in need in our West Orange, our country, and world.

 [_01_] Do you like change? It is a truth nearly universally accepted that “no one likes change.”     This is the Gospel message today – the Transfiguration of our Lord; it is the Daylight Savings Time message; it is perhaps our own experience in life that things are changing.

We say or sing the song “the times are changing” to describe upheaval, uncertainty. And, things are not only uncertain for many of us – but also for the disciples in the Gospel today.

Times have been uncertain for many an Irish immigrant to our country, for many immigrants of all countries.

This is the time of year of St. Patrick's Day parade in West Orange The Irish immigrants who have entered the United States since 1500, were changed by America and they have changed our nation, just as every immigrant group has contributed to and been changed by our country in some way.

Some immigrants have even been out of step with their age and with the times. One such example was the Irish immigrant Mary Harris Jones a.k.a. nicknamed “Mother Jones” because of the way she cared for workers and laborers.

Tragically, Mary Jones lost her husband and children to disease/yellow fever, then lost her business, in the Chicago Fire of 1871.  She went on to be 1 of the first labor union organizers. In 1902, Mother Jones was described as the “most dangerous woman in America” for her success in organizing workers and their families, she organized coal mine workers in Pennsylvania, workers at silk factories/mills, she organized a children's march from Philadelphia to the home of President Theodore Roosevelt.

 

[_02_]  Right now, we may not feel ready for the time change or the times to change.

          With tanks in Ukraine, civilians dying in Ukraine, we might feel as though we are at ZeroDark30 of a long and new war and battle. For all of us, prayer and fasting – some intentional sacrifice – helps us to recognize that while times are changing, we are called to synchronize not with meal times alone or the next time to eat, but with God’s clock/time, by our own choices to pray and fast.

          We are called to pray and fast as part of our Christian life, our Catholic life, both for those who have suffered death, injury, poverty,  and for our own U.S. administration, NATO leaders, Russian and Ukrainian leaders, whether they acknowledge it or not all these leaders need the light of the Holy Spirit at this critical moment and things seeming out of our personal control.

          Why do we fast? We do not fast in order to prove ourselves or cling to rules. We fast to remind ourselves to cling to God and to exercise self control and also to pray and give charitably for those whose lives may be out of control.

          In a Lenten lesson, St. John Chrysostom asked about our “works” or actions during a fast :

 [ Dost thou fast? Give me proof of it by thy works! Is it said by what kind of works?   If thou seest à a poor man, take pity on him!   à enemy, be reconciled to him!   à friend gaining honor, envy him not!   ]

          Fasting doesn't deny that changes take place, but helps to purify ourselves for a greater good.

 

[_03_] [DST / clocks]  On Friday morning, 2 days ago, I set the clock here in church one hour ahead in preparation for DST. These days, you and I may have fewer clocks to change. More and more clocks automatically reset. 

          However, do you as a human being “automatically reset” ?   I often feel that I am catching up to the time changes. I do not reset. And, then isn’t there always that 1 pesky little clock on some device that you don’t notice or change until 3 months later!

Years ago, a friend told me that she and her family would prepare early, set their home clocks ahead one hour, several days before the weekend of DST.

This seemed so practical and because they were always one hour ahead of everybody else! It reminded me that I should make an effort to be on time, not show up late and not make others wait, should I set all my clocks ahead one hour at all times. That might not work. It might be a bit too extreme.

 

[_05_] [Gospel / D – D – D] 

The Gospel reading about the transfiguration is about  the… discipline of the disciples, the darkness of the disciples and the devotion of the disciples.

It’s also an anticipation of the DYING and RISING of Jesus.

 

[_05.01_] [DISCIPLINE] 

The disciples are not always very disciplined, which I can relate to…I am often not disciplined!

But, the P-J-J are disciplined enough to climb the mountain. Doesn’t it require discipline for you and me to do anything of value from making breakfast, lunch and dinner for our children, to waking up in the dark for a child or someone in need, or to anticipate one hour ahead two hours ahead of what someone else might need.

 

[_05.02_] [DARKNESS] 

In the Gospel, there's darkness for Peter, James and John. While a certain “discipline” got them to the summit,  they fall asleep shortly after they arrive.   Were they tired? Jet-lagged due to a clock change?  Did P-J-J lose an hour of sleep?

In any case, they are – temporarily asleep – in the dark.

While Jesus is praying, they doze off. This is not the last time they will fall asleep. The same thing happens in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The TIMES ARE A CHANGING for the disciples; the journey to Jerusalem and passion starts at this mountain

Through his appearance in dazzling white Jesus is trying to free them from darkness. But he's reminding them that there will also be dark days ahead, there will be the dark days of Good Friday of his arrest of his crucifixion. They are receiving the image of the Transfiguration, so as to remember that Jesus is truly the anointed Son of God, who will who will die for them for you and for me. And after the disciples after the discipline which gets them up the mountain and after the darkness that they fall asleep. They are reminded to listen to Jesus to be devoted to him.

 

[_05.03_]      [DEVOTION]

What is a measure of devotion? Devotion is often measured these days and what we view or listen to or like.  And, I often make decisions about what to read or view or watch based on what is already popular or viewed or liked or talked about or well regarded.

Recently, I was going to forward a YouTube video by a college professor who had something valuable to say about communication and public speaking. But I also felt moved to share it because it had over 6 million views. Yes, I can be that superficial!

Do I use such a measure to discern right and wrong? For example, if I see a truly poor man, am I moved to pity or prayer?

Or, if I am hurt or injured by someone else, I am going to prove how “righteous” and “right” I am. That might get me some attention. Forgiving or loving an enemy or praying for someone might be so dazzling or appealing.

Jesus appears in dazzling white to show us a new logic – his new LOGOS – his new word – and to show that even when he is denied – and apparently destroyed – all is not lost.

Even if we sometimes don't fully pay attention. He's still here. It is still early on our Lenten journey.

The times are a changin’.

[_fin_]     

Temptations. Provided. Payment.Praise (2022-03-06, Lent 1st Sunday)

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2022-03-06 – 1^st Sunday Lent __ Deuteronomy 26:4-10  __ Psalm 91 __  Romans 10:8-13     __ +Luke 4:1-13 _   [Sunday 7:30 am version]

[_01_]   “I was tempted” /  “I was tempted” is a statement we make to,  perhaps, get somebody's attention. And, to acknowledge something that is over that has now been completed. I was tempted, but I'm not tempted anymore, or whatever I did. I, it's, it's not tempting me right now, we often use it to refer to things that are not even necessarily immoral or bad. Like I was tempted to go right to turn right. But I ended up turning left.

          The temptations of Jesus, however, are not really “over and done” in the Gospel. We read that the “devil departed from him for a time”. But the devil is going to come back and temptations do come to us from time to time.

And I just like to give some examples of temptations. And that when we think of a temptation, it does not have to be something troublesome, or toxic. But we can be tempted by something that is good.

What does it mean to be tempted by something that is good?

[_02_]    Here's just one everyday example. Sometimes I have to come up with a detailed plan in order to avoid something that I might be fasting from, or abstaining from. And there was one example of this where I was trying to abstain from eating sweets for a while. And I really liked sweets, I like sweet things, desserts. And this is one thing we sometimes fast from during Lent or at other times. There are many forms of fasting, but that's one of the most common

A few years ago is there happened to be several pieces of delicious chocolate cake in the rectory office available for anybody who wanted them. And somebody came into the office of worker, a carpenter to do some work. And we offered him the cake to take home. That was part of my detailed plan to avoid eating this cake to get somebody else to take it. So we gave him a cake. And then he continued to do his work. And he left the cake and his keys and his jacket and his tools near my desk. And then I was tempted to ask him because the cake was near my desk and I was be worn down over time. Are you going to take the cake? Fortunately, I resisted back because then he would have thought this guy really wants the cake. I'm going to give it back to him. But that's sometimes what happens that temptation can come back again. Chocolate Cake is not evil, even though it's called Devil's Food Cake. It is actually not evil. It's something good and we can be tempted by something good.

[_03_]      We remember the temptations of the past. Just like we are called to remember a prayer we made in the past or a charitable gift we made in the past. We're called to remember fasting that we did in the past as something that was good. In this Gospel, Jesus had been traveling in the desert for 40 days and he is hungry and he is tempted. And he's tempted by three good things. I'd like to discuss what are the temptations that Jesus was tempted by him how it relates to us, Jesus is tempted by the:

·        [ 1^st. desire-2-B PROVIDED for

·        2^nd . desire-2-B for PAYMENT or “PAYBACK”

·        3^rd.. desire-2-B  for PRAISE]

[_04_]      1^st . “PROVIDED for”   During such a long time without food, Satan  - the evil spirit – suggests that Jesus satisfy himself with bread, with something material and with the conversion one thing that is material (stones) into something else that is material (bread) and that this will allow Jesus to be “provided for”

          We all want to be provided for.

          I do not want to be abandoned of forgotten.

          In resisting this temptation, Jesus is coming to rouse us – to alert us – that it’s OK – and virtuous – to be hungry. There are different ways to resist this temptation – sometimes – it does not simply mean going on a 72-hour water fast, but it could mean – not taking “seconds” … or eating exactly what is served, eating at exactly the same time as others rather than seeking out our own private meal time.  Following your (my) doctor’s orders about what to eat or not eat – this is also a fast.

          And, if we do eat alone – in our own place and apartments – because many of us do – then to eat at regular appointed times, as an act of community, even with those you are not physically with.

          In this regard, your fasting and feasting are synchronized with a wider community

          We can say NO to our desire to be provided for “on demand”. That’s the response to God’s call.

When we come to church, we are fasting, we are fasting for the Eucharist. It's tradition, traditional. It's part of our doctrine too fast for one hour before we received the Holy Eucharist. Some of us fast for longer than that, but too fast for at least one hour before we receive Holy Eucharist.

[_05_]     2^nd . “PAYMENT”

          Satan also tempts Jesus with the desire for PAYMENT , or to be paid back in some money or financial-equivalent way. I wonder if Satan has crypto currency or Bitcoin?

          Satan tells Jesus – in effect – “if you will bow down to me, I will pay you back with kingdoms, palaces, houses” . Maybe some nice desert real estate?

          Satan seems to have property of value to provide – is he a portfolio asset manager ahead of his time?

          Jesus sees through this and reminds all of us that our value does not depend on our ability to get paid or paid back.

 [_06_]      3^rd. “PRAISED”

          Satan temps our Lord with “praise” by saying that if Jesus will throw himself down from the high altitude of the Temple roof and then be caught in mid-air by angels, that this will be better than any “air show” or fly-through-the-air touchdown.

          As a result of such a demonstration of spectacular power, Jesus will attract followers, friends, likes, and PRAISE.

          Jesus resists this and teaches us to resist this.  We do not live survive or get our nourishment by the praise of others. I am tempted – at times – do things not simply because they will “provide” me with nourishment ..or that they will “pay me back” with something of value.

          Sometimes, I am tempted to do something or say something – just because I want to gain the praise or the “likes” or “appreciation” of others.

          Have you ever said anything – or perhaps avoided saying something – just because you want to be praised or like?  Of course, saying something unpopular or challenging also requires prayer…and reflection and knowing the right timing.

But this is also the work of the Holy Spirit in us so that we can know that we are praising God by what we do …not seeking praise for ourselves.

[V.2– E] Lent is a time to respond to God's call to remember that our desires to be provided --- for our desires for payment – and our desires to be praised --- are good things, but we can fast from them for something even better, which is God's grace and mercy in our lives.   [_fin_]      

Ash Wednesday (March 2, 2022)

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 2022-03-02 – ASH WEDNESDAY    __ Joel 2:12-18 __ Psalm 51 __  2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2    __ +Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 _

[_01_]      You are courageous. You are braver and more courageous than I. For many years, I had mixed feelings – mixed emotions – about taking a break in the middle of the day from my job,  my work, or my schoolday  for the Ashes.  That is, I was existing as a student or worker in a setting that was not religious  and then asked to enter a Catholic church in the middle of a weekday– i.e., Ash Wednesday - and returning to my work or classroom – which was not religious – with the ashes of Ash Wednesday on my forehead. Do I really want to do this?  Year after year, I was wondering: why can’t Ash Wednesday be on the weekend? Sunday?

Before I was in the seminary, I had these thoughts. This was all before I entered the seminary and began studying to be a priest. Spoiler alert: I graduated from the seminary and became a Catholic priest, assigned here by the archbishop. There is an official document around here somewhere, attesting  to this in his red Cardinal’s letterhead.

[_02_]      You are courageous. You are brave, not only braving the cold but willing to make the sign of the cross boldly on your forehead not only for your own salvation but also for everyone who sees you.

The person who sees you with your ashes and who will be moved might be your daughter – grandson -- neighbor, -- spouse – friend -- pizza delivery person – boss – co-worker.

Someone will see you. You are brave. I recall distinctly an Ash Wednesday when I did not feel brave enough to leave my desk and work environment to go to the church that was 2 blocks away on a city street where many people went on Ash Wednesday. Later, that A-W, I recall sitting in a conference room with one of my co-workers who had gone to church.

Now, that meeting took place 20-something years ago. I have no idea what the meeting was about, whether I even said anything. My only memory of the meeting is the image of the cross and ashes on my co-worker’s forehead. He was brave. You are brave.

His witness, his cross, made an impression on me across the table. In that regard, it was a good meeting!

[_03_]       Ash Wednesday, the season of Lent, the 40 days of Lent are a time of penance.

          What is penance ? It sounds like something bad, a punishment, such as a red card for soccer players who are being ejected from the match, or a basketball player who has just “fouled out” of the game. Is Lent, penance, just another form of “March madness”?

          Penance, however, is not being mad or sad or bad.

          From YOUCAT: “Penance is often misunderstood. It has nothing to do with low self-esteem or excessive scrupulosity  [should I explain scrupulosity?]  Penance is not about brooding over what a bad person I am. Penance frees and encourages us to make a new start.”

[_04_]        You are brave. You are courageous. You are making a new start in Lent.

          The Gospel of Ash Wednesday

reminds of 3 ways of living a penitential life – a life of penance – through ___ PRAYER, ___ FASTING, to ___ ALMSGIVING.

[_05_]     [Praying] is courageous; and if you do not feel “courageous” in your prayer, then courage is a good thing to pray for. I need to pray for this. Peter (apostle) himself, perceiving his own fragility and brokenness, begged, “Lord, increase my faith”

          In my own journey of prayer, one of my mentors encouraged me in a moment of indecision and uncertainty to go before the Blessed Sacrament/Tabernacle in church  to ask God to reveal to me “What is truly my greatest desire?”

          The question itself made me a little afraid – did I really want to know what my greatest desire was?

          It takes courage to pray – I have made that prayer many times since then. It takes courage to ask the Lord and to listen and thus to understand that the penance of prayer is not a punishment but push forward.

[_06_]        [Fasting] is courageous.

Fasting or the abstaining of something that is generally good for us – invites to re-set our priorities.

          I do not like to re-set my priorities and prefer to think that my priorities are already in order or that it’s somehow “works for me”

          Whether my current priorities actually work is not the point. The question – does God work in my life? Do allow God to work? When I fast, or when you fast or abstain from something, you are conceding more explicitly that God is in charge.

          To repeat my earlier analogy, Lent and fasting are not March-madness, but rather a new clarity and sanity.  It takes courage. [Eucharist Fast, Mass]

          Lord, increase our faith!

[_07_]        [Almsgiving]. Charitable giving is courageous.

          But, it calls me to recognize that love is not something I create but that I participate in. Love is not something you create, but participate in. First, through your birth, then your relationship with family, loved ones. You learned to love even before you knew what “learning” or “knowing” was.   In other words, you learned that you could love without being made to love, because you and I have already been made for love for the purpose of love.

          We can love without having to remind our LH  what our RH is doing.  Could such love be my greatest desire? If it’s not, it should be!

          Yes, penance can be misunderstood. It is a form of dying to self, of courage, of freedom.  It is something we are called to understand better not just for 40 days of Lent but always, as we pray that we might rise to new life, Easter.   [_fin_]