THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

My Brothers,

 Come let us enter Jerusalem processing behind our savior, Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a triumphant return to Zion as Jesus is recognized for what he is: The Messiah and The Savior of the world. In the beginning, it is a transformation of sorts. It serves as a relief from the crosses that we have been bearing throughout this Lenten Season. We have walked the Passion of our Lord Christ with these crosses, these crosses that have been created out of our sins and fallen nature. Christ has shared in the heaviness, pain, and sorrows that we have caused. He has walked with us the entire way. At times, he has helped us with our burdens. Other times we have thrown down our crosses and became one of those who whipped and tormented him along the way to Calvary as we chose to ignore his divinity and embrace sin again.

Now we are invited to glorify him and love him completely, hailing him as our Lord and our King. Then, the mood will suddenly change. What starts are a celebration and recognition becomes something darker. This is no real celebration or welcome relief from our Lenten Journey. It is a demonstration of the ultimate betrayal that all of us are partakers in. The storm clouds part for a moment then swallow the sun until there is only darkness. We are headlong into the Suffering and Crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Holy Week has begun and all of our thoughts, actions, and prayers need to be intensified around this final week before the Easter Joy. Even though the end might be in sight, it is here that we must open ourselves up further to the realizations of our sinful nature and to the sufferings that Christ experienced for us and because of us.

Holy Week is the most important week in the Liturgical Calendar leading up to the highest celebration in the Universal Church: The Easter Joy, The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. To truly experience it the way the Church intended for us to experience it and to become further united to Jesus Christ, we must make this celebration the main focus of our entire week. Whatever we did before to make this Lenten Season special and memorable must be intensified. Christ must be at the center of our thoughts and actions from the moment we wake up until we fade off into sleep at night. Christ suffered and died for us so that we may receive eternal life. Can we not give him the attention and appreciation that act in itself demands as recompense?

What is ironic about this challenge is that, just like the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we will again be benefactors of all the actions that we do this week even though we are doing them to express our love to our god. That is how much God loves us: even when we are doing something in order to give thanks to him, we are receiving so much more in return. In fact, it can be argued that we are receiving everything in return! Remember: God does not benefit whatsoever from his relationship with us. As his children he does everything for us. This is unequivocal and cannot be denied. To be receptors of this love we only need to recognize our birthright and act accordingly.

So, to all of my Brothers and Sisters through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us all rise up together and adjoin ourselves again to the Suffering Christ during this Passion Sunday and throughout this Holy Week to live once again what Christ lived and experience a transformation much like the one our savior did that wonderful morning three days after his death.

Deacon Tom

LA PASIÓN DE CRISTO NUESTRO SEÑOR JESÚS

Mis hermanos,

 Ven entremos procesamiento Jerusalén detrás de nuestro Salvador, nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Es un regreso triunfal a Sión como Jesús es reconocido como lo que es: el Mesías y el Salvador del mundo. En un principio, se trata de una transformación de las clases. Sirve como un alivio de las cruces que hemos estado soportando durante todo este tiempo de Cuaresma. Hemos caminado la Pasión de nuestro Señor Jesucristo con estas cruces, estas cruces que se han creado a partir de nuestros pecados y la naturaleza caída. Cristo ha compartido en la pesadez, dolor, y las penas que hemos causado. Ha caminado con nosotros durante todo el camino. A veces, nos ha ayudado con nuestras cargas. Otras veces hemos lanzado nuestras cruces y se convirtió en uno de los que azotado y atormentado él en el camino al Calvario ya que decidimos ignorar su divinidad y abrazar el pecado de nuevo.

Ahora se nos invita a darle gloria y lo amamos por completo, lo que graniza como nuestro Señor y nuestro Rey. Entonces, el estado de ánimo cambiará repentinamente. Lo que comienza son una celebración y reconocimiento se convierte en algo más oscuro. Esto no es una verdadera fiesta o alivio de nuestro camino cuaresmal. Es una demostración de la mayor traición que todos somos partícipes de. La parte nubes de tormenta por un momento y luego tragar el sol hasta que sólo hay oscuridad. Estamos de cabeza en el sufrimiento y la crucifixión de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Semana Santa ha comenzado y todos nuestros pensamientos, acciones y oraciones deben intensificarse en torno a esta última semana antes de la Alegría de Pascua. A pesar de que el final podría estar a la vista, es aquí donde debemos abrirnos más a las realizaciones de nuestra naturaleza pecaminosa ya los sufrimientos que Cristo experimentó por nosotros y por nosotros.

La Semana Santa es la semana más importante en el calendario litúrgico que conduce a la mayor celebración en la Iglesia Universal: La alegría de Pascua, la Resurrección de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Para verdaderamente experimentar la forma en que la Iglesia quiso que nosotros experimentamos y que lleguemos a ser más unidos a Jesucristo, debemos hacer esta celebración el foco principal de nuestra semana entera. Todo lo que hicimos antes de hacer esta Cuaresma especial y memorable debe intensificarse. Cristo debe ser el centro de nuestros pensamientos y acciones desde el momento en que nos levantamos hasta que nos desvanecimiento en el sueño por la noche. Cristo sufrió y murió por nosotros para que podamos recibir la vida eterna. ¿No podemos darle la atención y el reconocimiento de que actúe por sí misma exige como recompensa?

Lo irónico de este desafío es que, al igual que la Pasión de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo, nos volveremos a ser benefactores de todas las acciones que realizamos esta semana a pesar de que estamos haciendo a expresar nuestro amor a nuestro Dios. Eso es lo mucho que Dios nos ama: incluso cuando estamos haciendo algo con el fin de dar gracias a él, estamos recibiendo mucho más a cambio. De hecho, se puede argumentar que estamos recibiendo todo a cambio! Recuerda: Dios no beneficia en absoluto de su relación con nosotros. A medida que sus hijos lo hace todo por nosotros. Esta es inequívoco y no se puede negar. Para ser receptores de este amor sólo tenemos que reconocer nuestro derecho de nacimiento y actuar en consecuencia.

Así que, a todos mis hermanos y hermanas a través de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Vamos todos a levantarnos juntos y adjuntamos a nosotros mismos de nuevo a Cristo sufriente durante este Domingo de Pasión y durante esta Semana Santa para vivir una vez más lo que Cristo vivió y experimentar una transformación parecida a la que nuestro Salvador hizo esa maravillosa mañana tres días después de su muerte.


Diácono Tom

 

 

 

 

 

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

 This Sunday in the Sacred Scriptures we read about the Anointing of David by the God through the Prophet Samuel as part of the Second Scrutiny (the alternate Scripture Readings for the Elect). God chose David to be the next King of Israel; to be lifted up to the greatest of heights and to be His Chosen One among all of the Israelites. David was nothing special from his first appearance. He had no great skills, talents, or wisdom that made him stand out from anyone else. He was very handsome but nothing beyond that was revealed that would indicate his destiny through the intercession of God. He tended his father’s sheep which was the lowest of tasks that one could do.. Even when Jesse was ordered to bring forth all of his sons to be presented to Samuel, David was made to stay behind and work. He was the smallest of his brothers. Surely Jesse knew that something important was going to happen since he and his sons were being summoned before Samuel himself. Even after being commanded to do so, Jesse left David behind, thinking that he wouldn’t be missed. Surely whatever the importance of this meeting, it couldn’t involve the youngest and least important son David?

God tells us through Isaiah that, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways.” This is demonstrated through the choosing of David  for anointing. God tends to call forward the most unexpected people for special service. He does this to demonstrate how people and this society judges people are counter to his message and how He judges people. We all are equal in the eyes of God and are loved the same way because we are his children. Embracing this love and letting it transform our lives gives us all the capability to rise up to the highest of heights physically, mentally, and spiritually. The expectation and judgements of this world pale in comparison to our creator. God sees everything and knows everything. Inside each one of us is a potential and greatness waiting to burst forth from its solitude and inaction.

We all have felt the presence of God at one time or another. It might have been small or it might have been great but it was there with the potential to always be greater. We experienced it and liked it. How do we get that light to shine brighter and burn stronger? We must recognize it for what it is and invite it to immerse us in its glory. Recognizing it means walking towards it. Walking towards it means trying to focus on everything that is good. Evil and bad acts must be avoided with a serious attempt at reconciling this physical life with our creator. When we focus on something it means that there is an importance to it. The greater the significance to us, the more it will be central to our thoughts and actions. If we want to be with God then we have to collaborate our actions with our thoughts. Anyone can think about God. Not everyone can acknowledge God and make him a teacher, best friend, and the most important relationship one has.

All of our behaviors and what we do can be summed us as an action or a reaction dictated by our thoughts and feelings. If these actions and reactions keep God as the central theme then only good can come out of them. Good can never bring about evil or a negative result. With that being understood, it can be argued that the more that we act or react to the presence of good, which is from God himself, then only good will result. Sometimes this can be difficult but, as it is with everything that we do, the more we practice something the better we get at it. It can be difficult at times, especially when we get in our own way but the light is always there to guide us.

We can all place ourselves in the position of the Blind Man in the Gospel Reading today. Much of our lives were spent in complete darkness. This was before our acceptance of God and the beginning of our Salvation Story. Recognizing God and his love brings us forward into a new state of being. Our eyes are open and we can truly see things for what they are. There is excitement and rejoicing. Yet this also brings forward a challenge. The question is: What next? Are we going to allow this understanding and jubilation to change our lives for the better or are we going to run back into the darkness. If we do not let the experience affect ourselves then we become like the Pharisees who were then ones that remained spiritually blind while the ignorant blind man who was disdained by all while lifted up through Christ.

Deacon Tom

                                                           CUARTO DOMINGO DE CUARESMA

 Este domingo en las Sagradas Escrituras leemos acerca de la Unción de David por el Dios a través del profeta Samuel como parte del Segundo Escrutinio (las lecturas alternas para los elegidos). Dios escogió a David para ser el próximo rey de Israel; al ser levantado en la mayor de las alturas y de ser el escogido entre todos los hijos de Israel. David era nada especial desde su primera aparición. No tenía grandes habilidades, talentos, o la sabiduría que le hizo destaque de cualquier otra persona. Era muy guapo, pero nada más allá de eso se reveló que indicaría su destino a través de la intercesión de Dios. Tendía las ovejas de su padre, que era el más bajo de las tareas que se podía hacer .. Incluso cuando Jesse se le ordenó dar a luz a todos sus hijos para ser presentado a Samuel, David se hizo para quedarse y trabajar. Él era el más pequeño de sus hermanos. Seguramente Jesse sabía que algo importante iba a suceder ya que él y sus hijos estaban siendo citado a comparecer ante el propio Samuel. Incluso después de haber sido ordenado a hacerlo, Jesse se fue detrás de David, pensando que no iba a perder. Seguramente sea cual sea la importancia de esta reunión, no podía implicar el hijo más joven y menos importante David?

Dios nos dice a través de Isaías que, "Porque mis pensamientos no son vuestros pensamientos, ni vuestros caminos mis caminos." Esto se demuestra a través de la elección de David para la unción. Dios tiende a llamar adelante las personas más inesperadas para servicios especiales. Él hace esto para demostrar cómo la gente y esta sociedad juzga a la gente están en contra de su mensaje y cómo Él juzga a las personas. Todos somos iguales ante los ojos de Dios y somos amados de la misma manera porque somos sus hijos. Abrazar este amor y dejar que se transforme nuestras vidas nos da a todos la capacidad de subir hasta lo más alto de las alturas física, mental y espiritualmente. La expectativa y juicios de este mundo palidecen en comparación con nuestro creador. Dios ve todo y lo sabe todo. Dentro de cada uno de nosotros es un potencial y grandeza esperando para estallar de su soledad y la inacción.

Todos hemos sentido la presencia de Dios en un momento u otro. Podría haber sido pequeña o podría haber sido genial, pero fue allí con el potencial de ser siempre mayor. Nosotros experimentamos y nos gustó. ¿Cómo conseguimos que la luz brille más brillante y quemar más fuerte? Debemos reconocerlo como lo que es y le invitará a sumergirnos en su gloria. Reconociendo que significa caminar hacia ella. Caminando hacia significa tratando de concentrarse en todo lo que es bueno. Actos malvados y malos deben ser evitados con un serio intento de conciliar esta vida física con nuestro creador. Cuando nos centramos en algo que significa que hay una importancia. Cuanto mayor es la importancia para nosotros, más se va a ser central en nuestros pensamientos y acciones. Si queremos estar con Dios, entonces tenemos que colaborar nuestras acciones con nuestros pensamientos. Cualquiera puede pensar en Dios. No todo el mundo puede reconocer a Dios y hacer de él un maestro, mejor amigo, y la relación más importante que uno tiene.

Todos nuestros comportamientos y lo que hacemos puede ser nos resume como una acción o una reacción dictada por nuestros pensamientos y sentimientos. Si estas acciones y reacciones mantener a Dios como el tema central entonces sólo bueno puede salir de ellos. Bueno nunca puede provocar el mal o un resultado negativo. Con eso se entiende, se puede argumentar que el más que actuamos o reaccionamos ante la presencia del bien, lo que es de Dios mismo, entonces sólo es bueno resultará. A veces esto puede ser difícil, pero, como lo es con todo lo que vamos a hacer, el más practicamos algo mejor nos podemos encontrar en ella. Puede ser difícil a veces, especialmente cuando lleguemos a nuestra manera pero la luz siempre está ahí para guiarnos.

Todos podemos situarnos en la posición del ciego en el Evangelio de hoy. Gran parte de nuestra vida los pasó en la más completa oscuridad. Esto fue antes de nuestra aceptación de Dios y el comienzo de nuestra salvación Story. Reconociendo Dios y su amor nos lleva hacia adelante en un nuevo estado de ser. Nuestros ojos están abiertos y podemos ver realmente las cosas por lo que son. Hay emoción y regocijo. Sin embargo, esto también trae adelante un desafío. La pregunta es: ¿Y ahora qué? ¿Vamos a permitir que esta comprensión y júbilo para cambiar nuestras vidas para mejor o vamos a correr de nuevo en la oscuridad. Si no dejamos que la experiencia afecta a nosotros mismos, entonces llegamos a ser como los fariseos que estaban los que se quedaron ciegos espiritualmente, mientras que el hombre ciego ignora que fue desdeñado por todos en el levantado por medio de Cristo entonces.

Diácono Tom

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

This Sunday marks a special day within our community, which we all can relate to when contemplating our Lenten Journey. Our Catechumens and Candidates have been asked to come forward and receive the First Scrutiny. All the Scripture Readings and the Gospel Reading for this past Sunday changed to reflect this. Through the readings contained in Sacred Scripture and through this demonstration of support within our community, it is expected that the faith and hope of these individuals will be strengthened and the Holy Spirit will move them to continue their Journey of Faith with added strength and vigor.

We have two Catechumens and one Candidate. The Catechumens are coming forward to receive all three Sacraments of Initiation into the Roman Catholic Church: Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. The Candidate is coming forward to receive Confirmation. These Sacraments will be given during the vigil of the Highest Feast Day within the Holy Mother Church: Easter Sunday. We all are invited as a community to pray for these “Elect” and encourage them through their Lenten Journey.

The First Scrutiny involves the Living Water, which Jesus offers to the Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well. Water, which is used throughout Sacred Scripture to signify purification, forgiveness, and redemption, is used to describe what Jesus is offering to everyone. Unlike the physical water that every person partakes in to survive on a daily basis, Jesus offers spiritual water that nourishes our very soul. It is necessary to consume this water in order to achieve salvation and eternal life.

Where is this water found? It lies within the recesses of Sacred Scripture, prayer, and our relationship with Jesus. Sometimes it is easy to find and we are moved by its presence, which is pure love. It revives us, strengthens us, and enables us to be truly happy in this life. Other times, we need to search for it. We need to dig deep within ourselves until it bursts forth in a fountain of fury. Oftentimes, the water lies deep beneath a desert of despair like during this Lenten Season. We carry our own crosses laden with sin and despair. Yet, even the slightest hope during these times can focus ourselves on what really matters: Christ within our lives.

All around us is God. He is throughout his creation, which includes us. It is almost laughable how we can desperately search for this Living Water in the first place when we were the ones who drained the well and threw it away in exchange for earthly desires. But we can indeed learn from this experience by cherishing this water now and seek it with the same vigor and determination that we had when we acted out our sins. It is a change in priorities that we must perform. The world we live in is slowly passing away and we must ultimately decide if we are going to fade away with it or exercise our spirituality so as to align our goals and aspirations with God’s. We all have that opportunity to do this. As Jesus said: “Seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened.” If we believe what Jesus said, then we must transform our thoughts into actions and start working on our salvation and happiness on a continuous basis.

We must always remember that God just wants us to be happy. Happiness is the key to love and loving God is the act of engaging in a relationship, which involves the ultimate and perfect love, which is God, himself. Why would anyone want to deny himself or herself that: to partake in an existence with God himself? The first step is to come to the Living Water, which is Jesus Christ, and partake in its goodness.

Deacon Tom