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Second Sunday in Lent

WE MUST EXPERIENCE JESUS ON OUR OWN MOUNTAIN

It is easy to understand why Peter, James and John believed in Jesus after all that they had seen and heard, but what about us?  Why should we obey the voice that says, “Listen to him”?  Like the disciples, we often fall asleep in our faith, we become complacent,  our actions rote.  Faith is not done through someone else – we must do this ourselves.  So too, must we be careful when comparing our experiences to those of others.  We must make our own path to the mountain, because it is the path we need for our belief and to learn the lessons we need to learn.  What are the lessons we need to learn?  Listen in to find out.

CLICK HERE for the Readings the Second Sunday of Lent:  (Genesis 15.5-12, 17-18; Ps 27; Philippians 3.17-4.1; Luke 9.28-36)


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Lenten Mission Day Two

SIN, CONSCIOUSNESS & DISSENT (Part Two of a Five Part Series)

The underlying prayer and hope of this Lenten Mission is to reconcile all the things that keep us from, or diminish our relationship with God through the Church.  The issues range from personal to hot-button issues that the media frequently brings to the forefront.  Whatever they are, Lent is a great time to understand and let go of these obstacles.

As we continue into day two, the foundation of our faith is understood a little more.  Now that we have answered why we believe in God and go to Mass (answered in day one), we turned towards the ideas that support our faith:  scripture and reconciliation.  In order to do this, we must ask:
  • What do we learn about salvation in The Bible?
  • What are the roles of scripture and tradition working together?
  • What does it mean for my relationship with God if I disagree with the Church?
  • How has our understanding of sin and reconciliation changed since Vatican II?
  • Why did God create us with a capacity to sin in the first place?

You are invited to join us as we frame these questions and discover the answers that we have never before been able to articulate.

(NOTE:  this recording is 68 minutes.  The first half is a 48 minute presentation and the second half is a question and answer period lasting 20 minutes)

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The First Sunday of Lent

WE LEARN THROUGH TEMPTATION

Most of us think about Lent in the negative – it is a time of repentance and denial.  But Lent is ultimately a time when we rediscover who we are and what we are about.

Ultimately, we are about love – both of God and of our neighbor, but we do not understand love unless we understand its implicit sacrifice.  We can only live lovingly if our lives contain discipline.  We only learn discipline through tests, challenges and our struggles with temptation.

We learn through our mistakes.  Our mistakes are a part of a larger journey that allows us to cry out in confidence, “I LOVE!”

As for the details, you’ll just have to listen for yourself.  Many blessings.

CLICK HERE for the Readings the First Sunday of Lent:  (Deuteronomy 26.4-10; Ps 91; Romans 10.8-13; Luke 4.1-13)


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Lenten Mission Day One

OUR NEED FOR THE CHURCH (Part One of a Five Part Series)

The underlying prayer and hope of this Lenten Mission is to reconcile all the things that keep us from, or diminish our relationship with God through the Church.  The issues range from personal to hot-button issues that the media frequently brings to the forefront.  Whatever they are, Lent is a great time to understand and let go of these obstacles.

Day one lays the foundation and demands that we ask the questions:

  • Why do I believe in God?
  • Why do I believe in the Church?
  • What does the incarnation help me to understand?
  • Why do I go to Mass?

You are invited to join us as we frame these questions and discover the answers that we have never before been able to articulate.

(NOTE:  this recording is 56 minutes.  The first half is a 33 minute presentation and the second half is a question and answer period lasting 23 minutes)

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Ash Wednesday

REMINDERS OF OUR POTENTIAL

Many people think that Ash Wednesday is a Holy Day of Obligation, but it is not, perhaps because in today’s Gospel, Jesus us to do exactly the opposite of what we do on this day.   Jesus tells us, “When you fast, anoint your head and wash you face, so that others may not see that you are fasting.”

So why, on this day of fasting, do we put dirt on our face?

At the beginning of this season of Lent, I would like to suggest that the ashes on your forehead serve as a reminder of your potential.

We believe that from death comes life.  It is not only a tenant of our faith, but seen all around us in the cycle of life.  Just like a forest that has burned, so have many of us experienced suffering and loss this past year.  And just like the remains of a forest, we now enter this season so that light may penetrate to depths that before we not possible.

But how do we allow the light of Christ to penetrate us?

CLICK HERE for the Readings on Ash Wednesday:  (Joel 2.12-18; Ps 51; 2 Corinthians 5.20-6.2; Matthew 6.1-6, 16-18]


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The Sunday Before Ash Wednesday

UNDERSTANDING THE BEATITUDES

Have you ever wondered why often spoke so negatively about those who are rich?

This Sunday, we hear Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus offers us the Beatitudes.  However, rather than the 9 “Blessed’s” we hear in Matthew, Luke offers 4 “Blessed’s” and 4 “Woes.”  Through Jesus’ message, Luke offers us a chance to consider our own need for God and why we often experience so much suffering as we journey towards Heaven.

Our faith is meant to be an experience, something much more than what remains in our mind.  But how are we to create an experience, on our part, so God can transform us?  To find out, take a listen and prepare for the season of Lent which begins this Wednesday.

CLICK HERE for the Sunday Readings (Jeremiah 17.5-8; Ps 1; 1 Corinthians 15.12, 16-20; Luke 6.17, 20-26)