Bulletin articles for February 14, 2010

Bulletin article for February 14, 2010
Today we Luke’s version of the lessons frequently referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount” or the Beatitudes. But both of those descriptions come from the way these lessons are given to us in the Gospel of Matthew. The ‘beatitudes’ are a recipe for spiritual happiness in Matthew and stand alone as an uplifting message for the poor and suffering.
While in Matthew Jesus is pronouncing from on high (the mount) a message of hope for the poor, Luke places Jesus in the valley- with the poor and suffering. His words, while offering comfort, offer a challenge to those who might otherwise be considered powerful. The teaching of Jesus includes not just the ‘blessings; but also the ‘woes’ or curses. Each lesson of encouragement for the poor and suffering has a corresponding warning for those who find their comfort in material things or earthly power.
Blessed are you who are poor, But woe to you who are rich,
Blessed are you who are now hungry, Woe to you who are filled now,
Blessed are you who are now weeping, Woe to you who laugh
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man. Woe to you when all speak well of you.

Saint Francis of Assisi taught us by his example how to seek a kind of spiritual poverty that allows us to seek a spirituality that starves for Christ- as if we were poor, or hungry, or weeping. The theology of Luke however reminds us that we must actively avoid the contentment and comfort that comes from being rich, filled or laughing. It is not that we cannot experience any of these things in our lives. The challenge is to resist the numbness that can so often accompany these realities in the human condition.

This is a great reading on which to end our experience of ordered time and begin together our Lenten Journey. Lent can be a time of profound experience of the cross of Christ.

Jesus himself taught us what it means to share the suffering of the human experience- including his passion and death. Compassion- ‘to suffer with’ is the experience of the life Christ lived with us. Lent challenges us to profoundly experience human suffering in all its forms just as Jesus did.

Lent does not need to be a terribly somber experience. But lent should focus our attention on how we can shape our lives and our spirituality is a way that reflects the love that can be known through Jesus Christ. Celebration of the Stations of the Cross invite us to reflection of Christ’s suffering. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament reminds us Of Christ’s presence with us now. And continued reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation restores us in God’s grace and renews us in the healing and forgiving love of God

The Holy Season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and offers the opportunity to experience each of these prayer forms. Together, let us seek that healing and growth that Jesus so freely gives.

Faith Enrichment-

In the month of February we continue to examine the healing sacraments of our church. The sacrament of anointing and the Sacrament of reconciliation share similar origins in that they both restore the grace filled nature of the individual to ready him or her for reception into heaven. They are both a way of restoring the relationship of God and believer and the relationship between the believer and the Community of Faith, the Church.

Lent also finds its origins in the same desire of individuals to restore themselves in relationship with God. By uniting ourselves to the experience of Christ in the His suffering and in His Cross we hope to unite ourselves also to Christ in His Glorious resurrection.

Our Lenten focus this coming season will be two-fold. We will continue to focus on the Cross at the center of our prayer and penance. The Cross was a cause of scandal. It was an instrument of embarrassing death. But in the resurrection it becomes a symbol of the Victory of Christ and the Glory of God himself. Our penitential rite at the beginning of our Lenten celebrations will focus us intently on the cross as an instrument of our salvation.

The other focal point will be a more personal reminder of our need for God’s mercy.

As a tangible and visible sign to remind us daily of Christ’s suffering each member of our community will be given a nail, symbolic of the nails that pierced Christ’s hands and feet.

Each member of our community will be asked to carry this nail with them throughout the Lenten season, preferably in their pocket or in another obvious location that will help them to continually focus on the suffering and the love of Christ.
This constant reminder of God’s love will be a common call to prayer for every member of our community. When you touch it, hold it, see it- pray for yourself and for others in our community- by name (including me, please)- that we may all experience a profound conversion in this up-coming holy season.

Ash Wednesday Masses, with distribution of Ashes will be held at 8 AM and 6:30 PM.

New Daily Mass schedule will be 8 AM Mass on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Stations of the Cross and Benediction will be held each Friday at 6:30 PM

Sacrament of Reconciliation is scheduled at 4 PM each Saturday afternoon and by appointment. Simply call Father Jon to arrange this.

Please utilize these many prayer opportunities to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.