Bulletin Article 7/31
If I were to ask you, “What is trust?” How would you respond? Trust, like love, is a word that is understood, but hard to describe. Trust can be paired with faith or belief in something. These words cannot be confused as synonyms. My trust in God is solidified because of my faith in Him. I believe that He is the creator of the universe; I believe that His son Jesus was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and that He suffered, died, and rose again. Due to the face that I believe this, I trust that God is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. These words are relatable, but not interchangeable.
The first instance of trust in our lives is when we are little babies. We are completely reliant on our parents. All a baby knows is “I cry and mommy or daddy brings me what I need.” As a baby, we have no inclination of the outside world or responsibility. Babies completely trust their parents. That trust develops as we grow. When we take our first steps or learn to ride a bike, we trust that our parents will be there if we fall down. As we get older, we learn that trust is something special because it can be broken.
The readings this week and next week are completely about trust. This week we hear about God being the ultimate provider. He asks that we give all that we have in order to feed His flock. How apprehensive are we when He asks us that? Look at the disciples. They are asked to give all the food they had to this large crowd. If I were Peter, James, or another disciple I would think, “No way. It’s been such a long day. I am hungry. If I give away my food I will have nothing.” But look at how Jesus rewards their trust. So many times we look at this passage as God providing for the crowd. However, what does He provide for His disciples who gave all they had? “they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full.”
Jesus rewards our trust beyond our wildest dreams. The Disciples went from having to share 5 loaves and two fish between the 12 of them. Now they each had an entire basket full of food. The Lord knows the longings of our hearts. He knows the simple desires we have—the small and the big. He asks us to trust Him with what He has given us. All we need to do is give it back to him and allow Him to multiply it.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Kingdom of Heaven is Like...
As a kid, did you ever think about what Heaven must be like? Has that image changed as you got older? For me, I always tried to envision what Heaven must look like. What does it smell like in Heaven; what are the restaurants like? I never could get a picture of it in my mind. I always thought of the journey from this life to Heaven as if I were reaching land on a ship. For instance, I thought that when I died, my soul would come ashore to a beautiful island. As I disembarked the ship, I would be greeted by all of my loved ones who have gone before me. In some way or another we all have similar visions of Heaven where we are finally reunited with those who have already died.
This week’s gospel has no mention of reunions. In fact, it can scare us a bit. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that collects fish of every kind…the good are kept and put in buckets…the bad are thrown away.” In today’s world, it is very difficult to know what is right. We have so many different voices telling us what to believe. When we were kids, we listened to what our parents and teachers told us. When we became young adults we listened to our professors, supervisors, and bosses. Who is right? What is the voice of truth? Who do we listen to if we want to be among the “good fish”?
The voice of truth is rarely heard because it is most often spoken in a whisper. God calls out to us but not over all the noise in our lives. We must take the time to silence the noise and listen only to Him. Whether it is 5 minutes in the morning, on the drive to work, or a half hour on our lunch break, we must strive to listen to the voice of truth. Rather than taking our prayer time to ask God for things we need, try asking for an understanding heart that can hear His words. (Like Solomon in the first reading today). Then and only then will we hear the voice of truth say, “Because you have asked for this—not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right—I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.” Then, I guarantee you, we will be among those good fish.
This week’s gospel has no mention of reunions. In fact, it can scare us a bit. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that collects fish of every kind…the good are kept and put in buckets…the bad are thrown away.” In today’s world, it is very difficult to know what is right. We have so many different voices telling us what to believe. When we were kids, we listened to what our parents and teachers told us. When we became young adults we listened to our professors, supervisors, and bosses. Who is right? What is the voice of truth? Who do we listen to if we want to be among the “good fish”?
The voice of truth is rarely heard because it is most often spoken in a whisper. God calls out to us but not over all the noise in our lives. We must take the time to silence the noise and listen only to Him. Whether it is 5 minutes in the morning, on the drive to work, or a half hour on our lunch break, we must strive to listen to the voice of truth. Rather than taking our prayer time to ask God for things we need, try asking for an understanding heart that can hear His words. (Like Solomon in the first reading today). Then and only then will we hear the voice of truth say, “Because you have asked for this—not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right—I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.” Then, I guarantee you, we will be among those good fish.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
4th of July vs. Independence Day
Bulletin Article July 3
Independence Day is hardly used to describe the 4th day of July anymore. In fact, most people simply refer to it as “The 4th.” Most people associate this holiday with barbeques and vacations. Yet, there is something left to be desired when we ignore the true title of the day. Tomorrow we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which was an extremely gutsy move by the Second Continental Congress (the governing body of the 13 Colonies).
However, even these brave politicians realized that their power meant nothing compared to the power of Almighty God. In fact, in 1779, the holiday was celebrated on a Monday because the 4th of July fell on a Sunday—the Sabbath day. This Sunday’s First Reading speaks of the humble leader God would send His people. We know this leader to be Christ, who taught by example of what it meant to serve. The American colonists established a government based on serving its people. It claimed that we are born with natural rights and if a government restricted or impeded on these rights or the good of its people, they could break from it.
As a Catholic, who happens to hold a degree in American History, I am partial to Charles Carroll, a relative of the first bishop of the first diocese in the United States. He was the only Catholic to sign the Declaration (in fact, many Catholics were forbidden to hold political office in many states at the time) and the only signer to put the town he lived in. His signature reads, “Charles Carroll of Carrollton”. He believed in the cause so much that, with full knowledge of the consequences, he let the British know exactly who he was. We need more Catholics like that today.
In a country which is become so “PC” we cannot even say the Pledge of Allegiance in schools, it is time for Catholics to stop being on the defensive. Stop apologizing for your faith. We must recognize that we are dependent on God because we are independent from the world. Being Catholic is not a disease, it’s a blessing and an honor. Being Catholic is as much a part of your identity as your nationality. We are not just Americans, we are CATHOLIC Americans (notice that Catholic comes first). We are part of something much bigger than anything else in the world. We belong to a community that has given more aid to suffering people around the globe than anyone else. We support what people know to be self-evident truths but are too afraid to stand up for. We respect all life even though this gets little to no coverage in the media. We provide schools and hospitals all over the world. Our Church honors saints who have given their lives for what they believed in. Isn’t it time for you to do the same?
Independence Day is hardly used to describe the 4th day of July anymore. In fact, most people simply refer to it as “The 4th.” Most people associate this holiday with barbeques and vacations. Yet, there is something left to be desired when we ignore the true title of the day. Tomorrow we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which was an extremely gutsy move by the Second Continental Congress (the governing body of the 13 Colonies).
However, even these brave politicians realized that their power meant nothing compared to the power of Almighty God. In fact, in 1779, the holiday was celebrated on a Monday because the 4th of July fell on a Sunday—the Sabbath day. This Sunday’s First Reading speaks of the humble leader God would send His people. We know this leader to be Christ, who taught by example of what it meant to serve. The American colonists established a government based on serving its people. It claimed that we are born with natural rights and if a government restricted or impeded on these rights or the good of its people, they could break from it.
As a Catholic, who happens to hold a degree in American History, I am partial to Charles Carroll, a relative of the first bishop of the first diocese in the United States. He was the only Catholic to sign the Declaration (in fact, many Catholics were forbidden to hold political office in many states at the time) and the only signer to put the town he lived in. His signature reads, “Charles Carroll of Carrollton”. He believed in the cause so much that, with full knowledge of the consequences, he let the British know exactly who he was. We need more Catholics like that today.
In a country which is become so “PC” we cannot even say the Pledge of Allegiance in schools, it is time for Catholics to stop being on the defensive. Stop apologizing for your faith. We must recognize that we are dependent on God because we are independent from the world. Being Catholic is not a disease, it’s a blessing and an honor. Being Catholic is as much a part of your identity as your nationality. We are not just Americans, we are CATHOLIC Americans (notice that Catholic comes first). We are part of something much bigger than anything else in the world. We belong to a community that has given more aid to suffering people around the globe than anyone else. We support what people know to be self-evident truths but are too afraid to stand up for. We respect all life even though this gets little to no coverage in the media. We provide schools and hospitals all over the world. Our Church honors saints who have given their lives for what they believed in. Isn’t it time for you to do the same?
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Eat This, Not That
Bulletin Article June 21, 2011
As a personal trainer, I have dealt with my fair share of complaining clients. “I don’t want to eat green vegetables…why do I need to eat 6 small meals…I don’t want to diet, I will just run more…” It’s sad that we think we can cheat our way around achieving goals and getting the outcome we want from life. This week’s gospel is one of my favorites. Jesus gives us a strict diet. Your ancestors ate manna in the desert and still died. Eat this not that. You want eternal life? Eat my body and drink my blood.
Fulton Sheen once said, “There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church.” There are many people who claim they do not agree with the Church’s teaching on certain things. On the forefront of this misunderstanding is The Eucharist. We as Catholics believe that at every Mass, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine are completely transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. We believe that it is NO LONGER bread or wine but completely the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. We believe that the sacrifice of the Cross is re-presented (made present again) on the altars of our churches. This is what the Church teaches; this is what we believe.
Of course it is hard to believe such a teaching. The question of the Pharisees echoes today, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Yet, there have been plenty of occurrences that point to that truth. To name a few…
Lanciano, Italy – 8th Century
A priest has doubts about the Real Presence; however, when he consecrates the Host it transforms into flesh and blood. This miracle has undergone extensive scientific examination and can only be explained as a miracle. The flesh is actually cardiac tissue, which contains arterioles, veins, and nerve fibers. The blood type as in all other approved Eucharistic miracles is type AB!
Blanot, France – March 31, 1331
The Eucharist fell out of a woman’s mouth onto the altar rail cloth. After the priest tried to recover the Host, nothing remained but a spot of blood the same size and dimensions as the Host.
Bolsena-Oryieta, Italy
A priest doubting Real Presence was consecrating the bread, as he raised the bread, blood began to drip from it.
Avignon, France – November of 1433
A great flood swept through the city. There was a chapel in the town where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed day and night. Two Franciscan brothers wanted to get to the Church to remove the Blessed Sacrament and move it to a chapel on dry land. When they rowed their boat to the chapel, they were amazed. From the door to the altar was completely dry. The floodwaters had been parted and the Eucharist remained on the altar unaffected.
You may think that these miracles happened to people with outstanding faith or nothing like that can happen to me. However, most of these miracles happened during periods of weakened faith or to someone who struggled with doubt in believing that The Eucharist truly is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Christ’s body and blood is so amazing and so powerful that it can perform miracles. Will you let it perform one in your life?
For more information on Eucharistic Miracles, visit TheRealPresence.org.
As a personal trainer, I have dealt with my fair share of complaining clients. “I don’t want to eat green vegetables…why do I need to eat 6 small meals…I don’t want to diet, I will just run more…” It’s sad that we think we can cheat our way around achieving goals and getting the outcome we want from life. This week’s gospel is one of my favorites. Jesus gives us a strict diet. Your ancestors ate manna in the desert and still died. Eat this not that. You want eternal life? Eat my body and drink my blood.
Fulton Sheen once said, “There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church.” There are many people who claim they do not agree with the Church’s teaching on certain things. On the forefront of this misunderstanding is The Eucharist. We as Catholics believe that at every Mass, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine are completely transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. We believe that it is NO LONGER bread or wine but completely the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. We believe that the sacrifice of the Cross is re-presented (made present again) on the altars of our churches. This is what the Church teaches; this is what we believe.
Of course it is hard to believe such a teaching. The question of the Pharisees echoes today, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Yet, there have been plenty of occurrences that point to that truth. To name a few…
Lanciano, Italy – 8th Century
A priest has doubts about the Real Presence; however, when he consecrates the Host it transforms into flesh and blood. This miracle has undergone extensive scientific examination and can only be explained as a miracle. The flesh is actually cardiac tissue, which contains arterioles, veins, and nerve fibers. The blood type as in all other approved Eucharistic miracles is type AB!
Blanot, France – March 31, 1331
The Eucharist fell out of a woman’s mouth onto the altar rail cloth. After the priest tried to recover the Host, nothing remained but a spot of blood the same size and dimensions as the Host.
Bolsena-Oryieta, Italy
A priest doubting Real Presence was consecrating the bread, as he raised the bread, blood began to drip from it.
Avignon, France – November of 1433
A great flood swept through the city. There was a chapel in the town where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed day and night. Two Franciscan brothers wanted to get to the Church to remove the Blessed Sacrament and move it to a chapel on dry land. When they rowed their boat to the chapel, they were amazed. From the door to the altar was completely dry. The floodwaters had been parted and the Eucharist remained on the altar unaffected.
You may think that these miracles happened to people with outstanding faith or nothing like that can happen to me. However, most of these miracles happened during periods of weakened faith or to someone who struggled with doubt in believing that The Eucharist truly is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Christ’s body and blood is so amazing and so powerful that it can perform miracles. Will you let it perform one in your life?
For more information on Eucharistic Miracles, visit TheRealPresence.org.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
He gave His only Son…
Bulletin Article 6/19
This week’s gospel is one of the most memorized scripture quotes among Christians. However the significance can get lost when it becomes “just a verse of scripture.” To think of what it means to love something or someone so much that we would offer up our most valued possession can sometimes baffle our minds. We have heard the events of the Crucifixion time and time again, yet perhaps a modern experience will put this sacrifice into perspective.
There was a young man in his mid thirties. He had been married for about 12 years to a lovely woman who worked at an elementary school in their mid-west town. They had one son who was nearly 7. Due to complications during the pregnancy, the wife was no longer capable of bearing children. This was their one and only child, so they cared for him and loved him all the more for it. The father loved to bring his son fishing, to baseball games, and coached his little league team. The boy had an intense love for trains. He had every toy, book and model known to man. His love of trains stemmed from his father’s job, working at the railroad switch station around the corner from his house. Everyday in the summer, his son would visit him for lunch. Sometimes he would let his son switch the track for a slow-moving freight train.
One day the man was having a very rough day. Many of the trains were backed up and he had to reroute a lot of them. There were trains full of passengers from all over – tourists from Europe, children on field trips, sports teams traveling to other cities, businessmen and women going to work, and many more. There were dozens of trains filled with people lined up at the local station. As lunchtime rolled around he saw his son coming down the road toward his switch station. As his son was crossing the tracks, he received an urgent call telling him to switch track A to track C immediately. A freight train carrying various military materials was out of control and unable to stop. Track C led to an uphill climb, which would slow the train down. Track A and B were jammed with passenger trains. If the man didn’t switch the tracks, the weapons train would certainly crash and explode killing hundreds, if not thousands of innocent people. As the man turned to his son, he was struck with horror. His son had fallen on track C and was stuck in one of the loose ties.
Turning back at the oncoming train, he was forced to make a decision – switch the track and sacrifice his one and only son, or save his son while allowing thousands to be killed. He looked at his son and said, “You know I love you very much.” With that he pulled the switch and diverted the train to Track C where it proceeded uphill, slowed down, and came to a stop. The passengers were saved, but his one and only son had to die for that to happen.
This story is hard to imagine; it is extremely sad, yet it is the story of God’s love for His people. For He so loved the world that He gave His only son. His son was sent to suffer and die so that we may be saved through His blood. The story of Christ’s death however is not sad but joyous. Through his death, we no longer have to suffer death, but are born to eternal life – that, my dear friends, is love.
This week’s gospel is one of the most memorized scripture quotes among Christians. However the significance can get lost when it becomes “just a verse of scripture.” To think of what it means to love something or someone so much that we would offer up our most valued possession can sometimes baffle our minds. We have heard the events of the Crucifixion time and time again, yet perhaps a modern experience will put this sacrifice into perspective.
There was a young man in his mid thirties. He had been married for about 12 years to a lovely woman who worked at an elementary school in their mid-west town. They had one son who was nearly 7. Due to complications during the pregnancy, the wife was no longer capable of bearing children. This was their one and only child, so they cared for him and loved him all the more for it. The father loved to bring his son fishing, to baseball games, and coached his little league team. The boy had an intense love for trains. He had every toy, book and model known to man. His love of trains stemmed from his father’s job, working at the railroad switch station around the corner from his house. Everyday in the summer, his son would visit him for lunch. Sometimes he would let his son switch the track for a slow-moving freight train.
One day the man was having a very rough day. Many of the trains were backed up and he had to reroute a lot of them. There were trains full of passengers from all over – tourists from Europe, children on field trips, sports teams traveling to other cities, businessmen and women going to work, and many more. There were dozens of trains filled with people lined up at the local station. As lunchtime rolled around he saw his son coming down the road toward his switch station. As his son was crossing the tracks, he received an urgent call telling him to switch track A to track C immediately. A freight train carrying various military materials was out of control and unable to stop. Track C led to an uphill climb, which would slow the train down. Track A and B were jammed with passenger trains. If the man didn’t switch the tracks, the weapons train would certainly crash and explode killing hundreds, if not thousands of innocent people. As the man turned to his son, he was struck with horror. His son had fallen on track C and was stuck in one of the loose ties.
Turning back at the oncoming train, he was forced to make a decision – switch the track and sacrifice his one and only son, or save his son while allowing thousands to be killed. He looked at his son and said, “You know I love you very much.” With that he pulled the switch and diverted the train to Track C where it proceeded uphill, slowed down, and came to a stop. The passengers were saved, but his one and only son had to die for that to happen.
This story is hard to imagine; it is extremely sad, yet it is the story of God’s love for His people. For He so loved the world that He gave His only son. His son was sent to suffer and die so that we may be saved through His blood. The story of Christ’s death however is not sad but joyous. Through his death, we no longer have to suffer death, but are born to eternal life – that, my dear friends, is love.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Good Old Days
Bulletin Article 6/12
If you ask your parents or your grandparents what the world was like when they were a “young adult” you may get a pretty shocking answer. If they are like my father (and grandfather) the response will be, “What do you mean WHEN I was a young adult…” Yet if we look back at history, we can see what they would have been facing in their 20s and 30s:
1920s/30s- The Great Depression, Prohibition
1940s- World War II
1950s/60s – The Space Race, Civil Rights
1960s/70s- Nixon, Vietnam War, Gas shortages
1980s/90s – Birth of computers, First Gulf War, War on Drugs
2000+ - 9/11, drastic recession, War on terror
If we look back on all of this, it seems that not much has changed. War, poverty, violence, unemployment, high gas prices/gas shortages, political corruption, etc. – it all sounds very familiar.
So often we hear about “the good old days,” in which the street lights let us know our curfews, we drank from a hose, never heard the words ‘sun tan lotion,’ and playing wasn’t something planned out-it just happened. The good old days can also refer to how our parents and grandparents had it “easier” than us. They didn’t have to worry about getting 3 college degrees just to get an entry level job, getting their credit checked from 3 different agencies when they bought a house, or wondering if the government would send them a social security check when they retired. Nowadays, these are simply common factors that we must calculate into our plans for life.
However, just because our parents and grandparents had it “easier” in some respects, they also had to face some serious hardships that we are blessed to be free of. For instance, imagine writing a thesis paper or business report on a typewriter (that’s the machine people used to type before computers…). Imagine not being able to do 95% of your research by GOOGLE or Bing and actually using the card catalogue in the library. Imagine sitting home wondering if your number would be selected to serve in a war where hundreds and thousands were killed daily. I guess the good old days weren’t always so good.
The one thing we can learn from the young adults of the past is that together we make it out on top. The wars will end. Technology changes. The economy has its ups and downs, but what keeps us going is not thinking about the good old days, but the good days to come. In light of the Easter Season, we are reminded of what John Paul II said, “We are an Easter people…” We are a people of hope, looking forward to the joys that await us in Heaven.
If you ask your parents or your grandparents what the world was like when they were a “young adult” you may get a pretty shocking answer. If they are like my father (and grandfather) the response will be, “What do you mean WHEN I was a young adult…” Yet if we look back at history, we can see what they would have been facing in their 20s and 30s:
1920s/30s- The Great Depression, Prohibition
1940s- World War II
1950s/60s – The Space Race, Civil Rights
1960s/70s- Nixon, Vietnam War, Gas shortages
1980s/90s – Birth of computers, First Gulf War, War on Drugs
2000+ - 9/11, drastic recession, War on terror
If we look back on all of this, it seems that not much has changed. War, poverty, violence, unemployment, high gas prices/gas shortages, political corruption, etc. – it all sounds very familiar.
So often we hear about “the good old days,” in which the street lights let us know our curfews, we drank from a hose, never heard the words ‘sun tan lotion,’ and playing wasn’t something planned out-it just happened. The good old days can also refer to how our parents and grandparents had it “easier” than us. They didn’t have to worry about getting 3 college degrees just to get an entry level job, getting their credit checked from 3 different agencies when they bought a house, or wondering if the government would send them a social security check when they retired. Nowadays, these are simply common factors that we must calculate into our plans for life.
However, just because our parents and grandparents had it “easier” in some respects, they also had to face some serious hardships that we are blessed to be free of. For instance, imagine writing a thesis paper or business report on a typewriter (that’s the machine people used to type before computers…). Imagine not being able to do 95% of your research by GOOGLE or Bing and actually using the card catalogue in the library. Imagine sitting home wondering if your number would be selected to serve in a war where hundreds and thousands were killed daily. I guess the good old days weren’t always so good.
The one thing we can learn from the young adults of the past is that together we make it out on top. The wars will end. Technology changes. The economy has its ups and downs, but what keeps us going is not thinking about the good old days, but the good days to come. In light of the Easter Season, we are reminded of what John Paul II said, “We are an Easter people…” We are a people of hope, looking forward to the joys that await us in Heaven.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Slow Down and Go Fast
It always strikes me how many people “celebrate” Lent. Ash Wednesday Masses and services are always packed with people. Do that many people focus on the fact that they “are dust and to dust they shall return”? When we think about it, there is something special about this season that draws us away from ourselves for six weeks. It seems the human person is always attracted to goods such as being selfless or acting for other people. It is this good that the human person seeks which brings us away from ourselves and toward the ultimate good, God the Father.
When the word ‘Lent’ is spoken, people automatically have certain assumptions and associates to go along with it. For us Catholics, we immediately are reminded of abstaining from meat on Fridays and the ever popular “giving something up.” Lent should be more than the sacrifice itself, however. Lent is a season, not an action. It is a timeframe in which we can come to a greater appreciation for the things we are blessed with. It is a time when we can allow ourselves to take our focus off of our belly-buttons and turn it outward. Moreover, Lent is not just about fasting, but about slowing down.
Of the many types and forms of prayer we can experience, meditation and contemplation are vital to a relationship with Jesus Christ. These types of prayer allow us to slow down and they enlighten us about how we can fast. For someone who is constantly on the go, fasting can mean taking time away from their schedule to pray, go to Mass, or visit a family member. For others, fasting can take the form of going to confession weekly or giving up their favorite TV show. Whatever you sacrifice frees time for you to slow things down and meditate on what this season is all about.
For many, the season of Lent is a reminder of “sad” or “difficult” things. Many would argue that we should focus our attention of Easter Sunday and not Good Friday. However, there would be no Easter Sunday without a Good Friday. There is no resurrection without death. There is no eternal life without expiation for our sins. Therefore, it is important to reflect on the darkness so that we can come to a fuller appreciation and desire for the light. We must take this time to slow down, reflect on Christ’s temptation-our temptations, Christ’s passion-our passion, and then go and fast.
When the word ‘Lent’ is spoken, people automatically have certain assumptions and associates to go along with it. For us Catholics, we immediately are reminded of abstaining from meat on Fridays and the ever popular “giving something up.” Lent should be more than the sacrifice itself, however. Lent is a season, not an action. It is a timeframe in which we can come to a greater appreciation for the things we are blessed with. It is a time when we can allow ourselves to take our focus off of our belly-buttons and turn it outward. Moreover, Lent is not just about fasting, but about slowing down.
Of the many types and forms of prayer we can experience, meditation and contemplation are vital to a relationship with Jesus Christ. These types of prayer allow us to slow down and they enlighten us about how we can fast. For someone who is constantly on the go, fasting can mean taking time away from their schedule to pray, go to Mass, or visit a family member. For others, fasting can take the form of going to confession weekly or giving up their favorite TV show. Whatever you sacrifice frees time for you to slow things down and meditate on what this season is all about.
For many, the season of Lent is a reminder of “sad” or “difficult” things. Many would argue that we should focus our attention of Easter Sunday and not Good Friday. However, there would be no Easter Sunday without a Good Friday. There is no resurrection without death. There is no eternal life without expiation for our sins. Therefore, it is important to reflect on the darkness so that we can come to a fuller appreciation and desire for the light. We must take this time to slow down, reflect on Christ’s temptation-our temptations, Christ’s passion-our passion, and then go and fast.
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