February 18 – First Sunday in Lent
From the Deacon’s Desk: Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts
We enter into Lent. Each Lent we are afforded the unique opportunity to join Jesus in the desert. It is a time for renewal – a time to change behaviors – a time to correct course. It is a time to reflect on our sins – to really reflect upon those obstacles in our lives that keep us from fully committing to Christ. Through fasting and abstinence we cleanse ourselves. It changes our routine and brings us more focus. By spending time contemplating God, reflecting upon Jesus, and renewing the commitments we made in baptism; we prepare ourselves to make choices of the soul, rather than choices of convenience. We owe it to ourselves to do this. We need to confront the demons within us, the sins that get hidden below the surface. We need to see sin in its true aspect, and see who Christ is for us.
Our Psalm reminds us that “your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.” Jesus shows us how to confront our demons and the temptations of Satan in our lives. Satan tries to trick us by offering choices that appear appealing to us, just as he did to both Adam and to Jesus. The way of Jesus though is to enter fully into prayer keeping His focus always on the Father’s will. In humility, He came to us, in humility He loves us and takes our sins upon himself, and in humility He bows to the Father and rejects Satan. We are invited to “Repent and believe in the gospel (Jesus)!”
As Vincentians, Lent also affords us the opportunity to reflect upon our attitudes, motivations and interactions with those we serve. It is easy for us to lose sight of our purpose (grow in holiness) and our means (by seeking the face of Christ in those we serve). We can become jaded by our work, and it is important to on occasion take a step back, look at our relationship with God, the promises we made in Baptism, and how we bring those two things into one.
Just as Jesus invited us into the desert with him to reflect upon the decisions we have made in life, we have an opportunity to journey with others as they address the challenges and demons in their lives. We can show them the love and mercy of God through our actions, and help them to seek His will for their lives that they too may come to “believe in the gospel!” Do I have right attitudes when dealing with those in need? Am I seeking and finding the presence of God in them? Do I listen for and to the will of God in all that I do? Do I help others to see God’s will for their lives through humility and prayer?
Lord Jesus, allow me to journey to the dessert with you. Help me to correct attitudes that are not helpful to filling up with your love. Fill me with humility, selflessness, patience, and gentleness as I do your work. Give me passion that I may bring your presence to others at the same time I find it in them. We pray all of this in your name. Amen
Deacon Mike
February 11 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
From the Deacon’s Desk: Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts
In our gospel this week Jesus shows tremendous mercy and compassion to the man with leprosy who comes to him to be healed. During that time, it was unthinkable to touch a person with leprosy for it would make you ‘unclean’ as well. A person with leprosy was alienated and forgotten by society. Jesus did not just heal him – he paid attention to him, he showed great mercy toward him and he touched him. That was unthinkable during that time. Jesus wasn’t concerned with ‘accepted norms’ or ‘rules of behavior’ though; he was much more concerned with human suffering and bringing about healing in whatever way necessary. He recognized the great courage (faith) it took for this man to approach him, place himself at his feet and ask for healing. He saw the great suffering – emotionally, physically and spiritually – that this man was experiencing and he responded without hesitation. He offered new life and new hope to replace the man’s shame and brokenness.
This is a challenge in our society as well. The pandemic and COVID led us as a society to isolate people from one another. We may have had good reason for the actions taken, but the effects were still the same. People felt alone and disconnected from community. People who become seriously ill can feel this isolation as well. In isolation, it becomes easy to lose hope. Jesus calls us to reach out to those who are alone and isolated – for whatever reason – and lift them up through our presence and friendship. It is the presence of Christ himself that we are challenged to make evident.
As Vincentians, we are confronted daily by people who feel socially alienated because of their poverty, decisions they have made and life challenges they have. More than ever, we are seeing neighbors with needs well beyond what we have experienced before. Do we recognize the courage and trust it takes for them to reach out to us for help? When we are challenged by these difficult situations, do we look only to do what is expected and the norm? Or do we extend ourselves – and invest ourselves – in new and different ways to provide help that brings relief and hope? Do we connect ourselves emotionally to our neighbor in need seeking relief for them as we would for a brother and sister – for indeed they are!
Lord Jesus, help me to emotionally embrace my neighbor in need, seeking relief for their suffering as I would for a brother or sister – for indeed they are. Let me recognize in them the alienation they may feel because of their circumstances in life. Give me the courage to reach out to them with compassion and mercy. Grace me with the ability and willingness to move beyond the challenges to help, finding ways to move them forward even as it stretches me. Grace me with humility, trusting in you for the wisdom and persistence to find relief and hope for those I serve. We pray all of this in your name. Amen
Deacon Mike
February 4 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
From the Deacon’s Desk: Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts
I think we can all relate to “the months of misery and troubled nights which have been allotted to me” that Job speaks to in our first reading. We are reminded this week not so much about suffering (although we have had our fair share), but rather how God uses our suffering and where it leads to. Suffering causes chaos and stress, it challenges us with pain to which we have no answers. We have a choice – we can allow it to consume us like fire, destroying our very souls; or we can fix our eyes on Jesus letting him lift us out of our despair into the light of hope! For it is Jesus alone who “heals the brokenhearted!” Jesus calls us from our suffering that we might go out and heal the world.
Each of us is called – and many of us are called through our suffering – to the mission of Jesus Christ – the salvation of the world through the healing of one another. It is our mission – or as St. Paul says – “our obligation” to respond to our call with no expectation of something in return. For the work we do is God’s work and not our own. We respond, not for ourselves but “for the sake of the gospel, that we too may have a share in it.”
This is our mission – our purpose. We are to join our suffering to that of Christ, and with eyes firmly fixed on Him, lift one another out of the pain and into the hope and the glory. Jesus carries out this mission, in union with the Father, going first and always to Him in prayer. If Jesus does this, how much more important for us? For through prayer, we connect ourselves firmly to God’s mission for us, making sure it is His will and not ours we satisfy.
As Vincentians, our mission is to first grow in holiness. We do this by going as Jesus did in the gospel to minister to the sick and suffering in person to person service. More and more we can get overwhelmed by the numbers and the need. But we have an obligation to suffer through in persistence remember always that our purpose is to bring glory to God responding to His call in our lives with no expectation of repayment. Our repayment is a share in the gospel and the joy of others! In prayer we turn to God with our suffering letting Him lift us as we lift others into the one Body of Christ. Do I always remember that I am totally dependent on God as I minister to His people? Do I turn to him in continual prayer? Do I join my suffering to that of Christ? Am I the face of hope, reaching out always to “touch and heal” those whom I am called to minister to?
Lord Jesus, help me embrace my suffering, linking it to yours, and accepting the growth it calls me to. Lift me from despair that I might do likewise for others. Give me the courage to accept your call. Lead me always to prayer to discern your call. Give me the humility to accept and understand your will for myself and others. Grace me that I may be a servant of love and hope. We pray all of this in your name. Amen
Deacon Mike
January 28 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
From the Deacon’s Desk: Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts!” Our Psalm implores us to listen to the voice of the Lord. Our challenge today is to hear it through all the clutter and noise of our busy lives, the social unrest and political discord, and especially the suffering of so many. St. Mark tells us though that Jesus speaks with an authority that amazes – you can’t help but recognize it. It is the truth of Jesus Christ spoken not only with words but with actions as well. God assures Moses of his Divine Presence when he says “I will be standing there in front of you.” He gives us that assurance as well. He will be with us always and everywhere. He comes to us through His Son. St. Paul tells us to put our anxieties aside and to listen and adhere to the Lord without distraction. When we hear his voice, we need to trust in his truth and love for us.
Jesus calls to each of us as he called to those early disciples. We share in the authority of his teaching as disciples in that we are connected to the source – through our Baptism and Confirmation – but we must stay connected to him, for God has entrusted his authority to each of us only to the extent that we allow him to be in our lives and to guide our actions. His voice comes to us through Scripture. It comes to us through prayer. It comes to us when we become quiet and still, truly seeking His will and not ours. It comes to us through the Eucharist and the presence of God in the events of our lives – if we will but only look for Him. Jesus did not call us just to do some of the things He did, He called us to be His presence for others. We are called to destroy evil in our world. We cannot do this unless we are determined to be Christ like. We have to speak and act in the way that Jesus did. Jesus spoke and acted with authority.
As Vincentians, we must be witnesses and continual reminders to the presence, compassion and love of our God. We are encountering people at a time when darkness and despair have entered their lives. We must be the light cutting through that darkness and reminding them of the eternal hope and salvation of our Lord. We can only do this when we serve God’s will faithfully. Do I truly seek His will, and ask for His presence, through fervent and continual prayer? Do I speak with my authority or the authority of Jesus? Do I speak with authority through my actions? Do I continually strive to make God’s presence known through my actions? Do I continually strive to soften my heart – and the hearts of others – that the voice of our Lord may be clearly heard?
Lord Jesus, you have the words of salvation and hope. Humble me that I might hear your voice and trust in your ways. Allow me to dispel the darkness of despair for others through the truth of your compassionate care. Help me to set aside my anxieties and those of others by focusing solely on your will for us. Let my heart be softened that I might hear the sweet sound of your voice. We pray all of this in your name. Amen.
Deacon Mike