Category Archives: Lent Reflection

Daily Gospel Reflection for February 13, 2016

February 13, 2016Lent Reflectionf8babe8169bede4f6a440aa26318b74bmyParish

Today’s Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

I grew up in a neighborhood that consisted of row homes; today they call them town houses. There was a playground that was within walking distance of all the homes. When it was time for the kids to come home, parents would scream “Dennis! Time to come home!” (Or Kevin, Scott, etc.) If we were having a lot of fun we would ignore the first call and sometimes the second but if we were going someplace special or if the call was for a dinner that was our favorite we responded immediately.

As a kid we thanked our parents for taking us to that special place or that delicious meal but not so much for the normal less-tasty meal or the boring trip to the store. Maybe we even ignored our parents as we headed off to have fun with our friends.

Jesus calls us each day to follow Him. Many times we act like the kids who are having too much fun to respond to the first call. If life is going good we may even forget about Him. It is when our lives get oppressive and we desperately need His help that we immediately come to Him.

Ponder:

As adults, have we learned to be attentive to Jesus’ daily call for us to come to Him?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, please give me the grace to hear you calling my name, so that I may better follow you in all the times of my life.

Dennis is blessed to be the husband of Susann, the father of eight children on Earth and one who returned to God before birth. He is a homeschooling dad, a martial artist, author, freelance writer and speaker. His latest book is The Diaries of Joseph and Mary. He blogs at warriorsworlddad.com.

The post Daily Gospel Reflection for February 13, 2016 appeared first on CatholicMom.com – Celebrating Catholic Motherhood.

Daily Gospel Reflection for February 12, 2016

February 12, 2016Lent Reflectionf8babe8169bede4f6a440aa26318b74bmyParish

Today’s Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

Yes it is Lent, but that doesn’t mean you have to be sad.

Lent is known as a time for sacrifice. We fast and pray and give alms. As a Friday, we make special sacrifices today in memory of Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ passion and death on the cross.

The question is, however, why do we fast? Why do we give something up for Lent? More importantly, why do YOU give something up for Lent?

In the reading today, the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees see Jesus’ disciples feasting when they should be fasting. “Should be” is a key element of their perspective. You see, during Lent, we often take on a militant practice of giving something up or not eating meat on Fridays. We beat ourselves up for making mistakes and giving in to our urge not to maintain our Lenten commitments. This made us sad and guilty. We “should be” better at giving something up.

We might want to ask Jesus a similar question that his critics ask in this Scripture passage: Why do your disciples fast?

His answer is something that we all to often forget. Fasting and feasting are meaningless if they are not done in reference to our relationship with Christ. The disciples feast because the bridegroom is there. They will fast when he is gone. Neither is done because of some sense of duty or hard work. They do it because of Christ.

That is how we should view our Lenten fast. We must not lose sight of the reason for the season, Jesus Christ.

Ponder:

What did you decide to fast from during this season of Lent? How can you make sure that you never forget Jesus and his love for you every time you choose to abstain?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, out of your great love for us you suffered and died on the cross so that we could receive your infinite grace. May we have the strength this Lent to love you back unconditionally, and may our sacrifices always be done in your name.

Jared Dees is the creator of the popular website The Religion Teacher, which provides practical resources and effective teaching strategies to religious educators. He is the digital marketing manager at Ave Maria Press and the author of 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator and To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach. He lives in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife and three children.

The post Daily Gospel Reflection for February 12, 2016 appeared first on CatholicMom.com – Celebrating Catholic Motherhood.

Daily Gospel Reflection for February 11, 2016

February 11, 2016Lent ReflectionmyParish

Today’s Gospel: Luke 9, 22-25

As Christians and as Catholics we are never promised that this life will be easy. In fact, we are regularly reminded to put on the armor of Christ because this Christian life promises to be a challenge. Fortunately, we do not walk alone. When we pick up our cross, Christ is right there with us giving us strength, courage and perseverance to keep walking.

Our marriage went through a particularly dark time over a decade ago resulting in a lengthy separation. At the beginning of that period, utterly confused, angry and hopeless, I turned to my faith. Praying the rosary for guidance and falling asleep with my bible on my chest as I read through the Psalms for courage, those prayers did not go unanswered.

Jesus walked every step with us as a couple, as individuals and as a family. Friends who prayed with us, counseled us, cleaned our house, watched our kids, brought us groceries, provided financially, emotionally and spiritually; they were Jesus in the flesh.

Clinging to our faith and carrying that cross daily, Jesus made good on His promises. We let go of our fears, doubts and pain (only to repeatedly pick them back up) and He never left us. As we slowly left our life behind to start anew, Jesus continued to guide, guard and protect us, and blesses us with a renewed marriage, faith and trust in Him.

Ponder:

When we let go and let God, our hands cannot hold all that He has in store for us. What can you let go of today in order to receive the gift that is waiting for you?

Pray:

Lord, help us to seek you daily, trusting that you love us enough to help us carry our cross even though you have already carried it for us.

Wife to high school sweetheart, 21 years. Mama to 4 amazing kids, 18, 16, 13, 12. I work full-time in the healthcare field, am a sometimes blogger, and lover of coffee, chocolate and the beach. A work in progress! makingthetrek.wordpress.com

The post Daily Gospel Reflection for February 11, 2016 appeared first on CatholicMom.com – Celebrating Catholic Motherhood.

Daily Gospel Reflection for February 10, 2016 – Ash Wednesday

February 10, 2016Lent ReflectionmyParish

Today’s Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 – Ash Wednesday

When I hear Jesus’ words in the Gospel, I am a little puzzled and uncomfortable. I don’t think that I belong to the circle of showy hypocrites that Jesus’ describes. Maybe this Gospel passage doesn’t apply to me. Still, I can’t quite let myself off the hook that easily. Let me take another look.

Jesus talks about three practices closely associated with Lent: almsgiving or giving money to the poor, personal prayer, and fasting or self-denial. It’s interesting that he doesn’t recommend these practices. He assumes that believers are already doing these things: “When you give alms…when you pray…when you fast.” I may need to take a look at myself and see if and how these practices are woven into my life. If they are not or if they are but haphazardly, change is in order.

Something else strikes me in Jesus’ words. It’s just not enough to do these holy things. The quality and focus of our actions matter very much. What we do, we do for God. Our good deeds are not meant to impress others. That’s the failure of the hypocrites. And—even more—our good deeds are not meant to be part of some self-improvement program. There can only be one focus, Jesus says, and that is on God, who sees and knows the deepest and most hidden realms of our hearts.

The words of Jesus certainly challenge me to take another look at how I put my faith into practice and how I direct myself to God who calls me to new life. More than challenge, however, his words also give me hope, because they show the way.

Ponder:

How can I keep the attention and focus less on myself and others, and more on God who sees and knows what is hidden?

Pray:

Never cease to call me, Lord, into a fuller and truer life with you. May my prayers and works always reflect your goodness. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Father Louis J. Cameli is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He has a doctorate in theology with a specialization in spirituality. He has served as a teacher, pastor, and spiritual director, and has published books and articles on theology and spirituality.

The post Daily Gospel Reflection for February 10, 2016 – Ash Wednesday appeared first on CatholicMom.com – Celebrating Catholic Motherhood.

Real Life Catholic: Ash Wednesday

February 10, 2016Lent ReflectionMike

The Way: A Real Life Journey: STEP 1: PRAY

“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” (Matthew 6:6).

We’re going on an unexpected journey this Lent. It’s not what you had in mind. People associate Lent with “giving things up,” but we’re going to offer a unique kind of sacrifice.
It’s central to how Jesus prodded people to deeper growth and spiritual purification. It’s central to every disciple’s personal exodus from self-centered to Christ-centered.

This journey requires radical humility: a willingness to make a fool of yourself for God if things don’t go well (and things won’t always go well). It takes radical humility to be at peace with unfair judgements and labels that come with being known as a disciple of Jesus. It takes faith to care more about what Jesus thinks of you than what others think. It takes love to share the truth, beauty and power of the Gospel even though you might be rejected for it.

Sharing Jesus demands all of that from us, and more.

When Jesus sent out his apostles (check out Matthew 10), that was the occasion for them to shed all their extra “stuff.” “Take nothing for your journey” he told them. He promised that if they acknowledge him before others, he’ll acknowledge them before the father. And in that same pep talk he spoke the famous words “take up your cross and follow me.” He knows that being an evangelist requires sacrifice.

And that’s what you are. An evangelist.

Evangelist simply means “a person who shares the good news.” It isn’t a “career” for the privileged few…it’s central to the call to holiness. For everyone.

Sure, there are “evangelists” who do that as a special calling and have a special gifting for it, but every Christian is called to be a sharer of the good news in their own way, and within their own sphere of influence.

And this journey of becoming an evangelist, like all great journeys, begins interiorly. So let’s take the first step in the “inner room” of your heart, in prayer. God is with you there.

Prayer accomplishes amazing things. That’s why St. Terese is the patroness of missionaries, though she never left her convent. She prayed for the world. She changed the world by praying. She changed herself too. Her soul was a missionary’s soul, turned outside of herself, passionate about the salvation of others, and making an offering of herself in prayer and daily sacrifice for the salvation of the world. Some of the most powerful “missionaries” are home bound, in hospital beds, or hidden away in convents. We who walk the earth should remember that, and let our work for God find the same foundation as theirs.

Let’s begin: Stop. Quiet your heart. Call the people to mind who God has placed in your life who need to know his love. (That’s God placing them on your mind.) Now spend a minute asking God to bless them, break into their lives with the light and hope that only he can bring, and asking him to open doors for you and others to share the Good News with that person.

Throughout this Lent, every day, commit to saying a short prayer and offering some small sacrifice for the people you just lifted up to God.

Encountering the Holy

February 2, 2016Lent ReflectionMike

We are a pilgrim people. Journey with your fellow Catholics during this Holy season of Lent. Check back each day starting Ash Wednesday for daily scripture reflections from CatholicMom.com and weekly reflections and video from Chris Stefanick and Real Life Catholic.

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.