Fourth Week of Advent

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying: “Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!” We come to God everyday immersed in our faith, responding to his call for us to love him. We come broken and longing, hoping to become fulfilled and whole again. With Christ comes meaning in life; a consoling measure that everything will work out from the safety and security of our families to a life filled with purpose and direction. Bad things do happen and we all do bad things; such is our nature. Yet, through Christ the pain fades away and is replaced with happiness and joy. Christ journeys with us and Christ is indeed around us.

The Season of Advent reminds us that Christ entered this world for our salvation and will one day return as he promised to bring us all to him. It is a somber feeling because it makes us long for something that maybe we do not think about too much. Yes, we pray to Christ and try to make him an important part of our lives; we strive to better ourselves and enrichen ourselves with the Christian Experience, but we rarely contemplate that this will eventually all end and we will all be gathered together before Christ. What will that be like? What are we to expect from such a pinnacle moment in human history? No one really has the answer except for God himself. The only thing we can do is wait.

It is ironic that we are forced to do something that, by our very nature, we are not good at. We are impatient, demanding, and intolerable. Society has taught us to be just that. Christ tries to teach us differently. We are told to slow down, have patience, and contemplate what all of this really means. The Mother Church follows suite with this beautiful season. Together, as Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we worship together with our hearts and minds firmly transfixed towards the great unknown, reaching out to our savior for strength and comfort; to face that great void which we all soon will pass. We learn to cry out for Jesus to come help us take those last fateful steps on our journey, his smiling face assuring us that everything is going to be alright. Inside, we might be afraid, terrified even, but as we look over to Jesus with the helpless expression of a child, he assures us it will be alright.

How often in our lives do we first have faith then lose it so easily when a conflict arises. Through Advent, we are directed to examine this thoroughly. We must continuously strengthen ourselves and prepare for that time when either we meet our physical end or Christ comes again in all his glory. Either way, it is a test of our own faith regarding how we conduct ourselves. It is so easy to proclaim that we are Catholic when things are good, but when it is bad, that is another story. We must take the trials and tribulations of the Holy Family and relate. We must then hold with us the image of the Crucified Messiah and what he did for us exclusively. He came into this world evangelizing to his children, and then died for his children.  But before this, let us also remember the first way whence he came: as a little child, innocent and without sin on a quiet night in Bethlehem.  Let us become like that child and trust as we give everything over to Christ. For Christ so loved us that he came into this world for our salvation. And this we cannot forget.

Third Week of Advent

My Brothers in Christ,

The Third Week of Advent is upon us. My experiences this season have been very fulfilling and have also left me with the realization that there is a lot of suffering out there. The economy hasn’t been the best and there many who are doing their best just to get by. With that, work- loads increase and people find themselves doing more for less. It is an unfair situation and , in the end, our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is what is needed to carry us through. This month will find our council discussing our path forward into the new year. We have had many successes and milestones in the first six months of the fraternal year which I would define as exemplary. Together as Brothers in Christ we have that capability of moving mountains and making a difference in the world today.

In under two weeks, we will be celebrating Christmas with our families. Please remember to keep Jesus close to your hearts and all that are in need in your prayers. Never forget our fraternity and the good work that we do.

Yours in Christ,

Deacon Tom

THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

Here we are in the Second Week of Advent, discerning the Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I have to say that the first week flew by and now we are settling in for the remaining three. The Word of God is being revealed to us through Isaiah and we are asked to slow down, to remove ourselves from the day to day motions of the world and really concentrate on where we are in this season; as a Church and as individuals.

The Advent Wreath serves as a tool in this process and can really enrich our journey through this season. As we light a new candle each week, a special significance comes with it; not only for that season or for that week but something that can be carried throughout the year.  Last week it was Faith and Hope.  These words define who we are as Christians. We are told to have faith that Christ will come again, to have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and to give everything over to Jesus. We are taught to release our troubles, to let go of our burdens, and to dry our tears. If we are indeed a faith-filled community, then we must do this. Know that Christ is our companion and our guide throughout this life of ours. It is a shared relationship. He feels what we feel and he understands when we hurt.  By embracing our faith, we are able to become closer to Jesus. By practicing our faith, we are able to develop and strengthen our relationship more than it is now. The more we do these things, the more we are able to understand the world that we live in.

We can relate to the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah, living in a world gone mad, was called to the Prophetic Office. He rose up and challenged all those before him to reform their lives, rebuild their relationship with God, and then offered a vision of salvation that would not be realized until over 700 years later through the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Isaiah, the stage was being set for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Today, The Season of advent calls us to the same task. We must challenge ourselves to reform our lives, rebuild our relationship with God, and have the faith and fortitude that vision of salvation we have through Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, this past Sunday the second candle of lit. We are further called to repentance and acknowledgement of our past sins. We are challenged to better ourselves and to conduct ourselves as Christians possessing the keys to eternal life. We are the keepers of the Living Word and must act accordingly. We are warned that we do not know when our savior will return but we must remain ever vigilant.

In Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians, he described the Crucifixion as “a stumbling block to the Jews and an absurdity to the Gentiles. Yet, we hold that special truth so close and dear to our hearts. This season asks us to hold it so much closer and tighter. We are asked to embrace it. Inside our hearts, we have a longing. That longing is Christ calling to us. We might be restless or we might be frustrated. We might be overwhelmed or underwater.  We must turn to Christ and acknowledge what we already know: that he is God and that we are his children. From there, we need to slowly build everything around that simple understanding and everything else will fall into place.

Reflections On My Ordination - May 31, 2009

It was one year ago today that I remember standing on the altar of this church and looking out into the rows of pews before me. It was 4:00 am in the morning; almost fourteen hours after my ordination to the Permanent Diaconate. I couldn’t sleep. Very soon, I would be assisting at my first mass. One journey had ended and another had begun. I recalled that famous line from the movie The Candidate. Robert Redford just spent an exhausting amount of time and resources fighting for a senate seat in California. He was the underdog going up against the entrenched veteran. He wasn’t expected to win but he did. As they were celebrating his victory, he looked over to his campaign manager and asked: “WHAT NOW?” At that moment, I could definitely relate to that feeling. After over six years of spiritual direction, preparation, and formation, the moment was upon me and my ministry as a member of the clergy had begun. It was a beautiful, terrifying moment that I will never forget.

 

Today, as we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, I am able to reflect on my ministry and on my life. As Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and instructed them to go out into the world to spread the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Message of Salvation. WOW. What an amazing moment and one that I could relate to in a most special way. A way very close to my own heart and my own Journey of Faith. It is also a Spiritual Moment that can be shared by all of us. The Holy Spirit guides us, moves us, and makes us feel God’s loves as we do those things we do which define us a Christians living the Faith in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the deliverer of God’s special grace and that which we long for but only get a glimpse of in our lifetime.

 

Pentecost is a time of remembrance and renewal. We look back a Jesus’ commissioning of the Apostles and use that moment to energize our own faith and our own mission. We are counted among the faithful and are sharers in that same mission. We are asked to come forth and testify to Gift of Salvation and the wonderful presence of our God. With it comes the power to save the world and move mountains. It is a great responsibility and great place to be; dwelling in a community of love, fidelity, and faith. Within that community we live our lives and enrichen ourselves with the gifts therein.

 

The presence of the Holy Spirit has the ability and power to move us in a purely spiritual way. We only need to open our hearts to receive that gift. Jesus is always waiting to give it. He only needs to be asked. And when he is asked, a whole new world is opened to us every day. Through this gift, we all feel the need to do acts of charity and goodness which define the Christian Condition. A conscious guides us towards salvation and God’s Graces surround us. We are safe, we are comforted, we are loved within our community.

 

Take moment today and reflect on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. How has the Church been an impact on our lives? Where would we be without the Church and without Jesus Christ in our lives? How different would our lives be? How different would this city be? How different would this world be?  We are all one body and our lives display this fact. Take a moment today and thank God for His Church, His Bride, the Rock of Our Faith. I thank Him every day as I look out into the rows of pews: be it at 4:00 am in the morning or any other time.

 

Yours in Christ,

 

Deacon Tom.

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We Are St John the Baptist Church In Haverhill

I was speaking during a reflection at Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament last Tuesday. I mentioned how those who do work the secular society and those doing God’s work react in two different ways when the job is done. Those in secular society breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to a well-deserved rest. Those doing God’s work breath a sigh of relief then ask: “What do you want me to do now Lord?” The building up of Christ’s Kingdom on Earth is reward enough them.

The Tridium was long, demanding, and exhausting. It was also utterly fantastic. The Holy Spirit moved through this church and it was a joyous occasion. Now, we gather again, on Divine Mercy Sunday to celebrate once again. Not only in remembrance of Jesus’ eternal sacrifice but also to celebrate his mercy and love for us; to celebrate our sinfulness and our redemption through Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through the readings we learn that the Apostles spread the Good News of Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ with energy and an unbridled fervor. They were on fire. Sort of like a Baptist Tent Revival. Scattered after the Crucifixion, hiding for fear of reparations, they were reunited and invigorated by the Resurrection. It was the ultimate pep rally. You see. We as Christians now can look back can see the Crucifixion for what it is: Jesus’ Ultimate Sacrifice for our salvation and redemption. To Jesus’ disciples, they saw it as a shocking end to what they thought was a movement of promise and the fulfillment of God’s Promise of a Messiah.

That was until the Resurrection, when Jesus appeared to the Apostles for the first time after his death in that upper room and revealed to them everything in the fullness of his glory. Then they believed. Then they got it. Everything seemed to fall into place. This marked the beginning of the Apostolic Age. This was where the Apostles started spreading the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ as living witnesses. They were alive and energized by the Holy Spirit.

Here, in this Easter Season, we focus on this in a particular way, very much how we focused on the Crucified Christ during our Lenten Journey. We are encouraged to read the Letters of James and Peter: simple men from a simple way of life thrust into the spotlight and central to Jesus’ Plan. We are encouraged to learn about the early Church and how its influence spread like wildfire throughout the known world. We are also encouraged to continue to celebrate and immerse ourselves in Jesus’ Eternal Mercy. And through that, we learn more about ourselves.

What better way to celebrate all of this on Divine Mercy Sunday; a day of celebration first revealed to us by an individual not unlike the Apostles before her: simple, ignorant, uneducated, and like a child in their understanding and reverence of their Lord. Helen Kowalska, born in 1905 Poland, was from a poor religious family with 9 other siblings. From a young age she was devoted to her faith and at the age of 17 announced to her parents that she wished to enter a convent. They opposed the move and she obeyed for another year until her visions of Christ and her calling to religious life became too overwhelming.

Her persistence and her dedication to her vocation serve as an inspiration to everyone following a call to service to Christ. When she though she was ready to enter a convent and serve Jesus Christ, she was told to wait another year and work to save the money so as to purchase her wardrobe. A year later, in 1925, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Here, visions of Christ, her gifts of grace, and her participation in the Sufferings of Christ grew. Her life was filled with unspeakable joys and unspeakable horrors as she was overcome both mentally and physically as the sins of the world and the separations from the Grace of Jesus were weighed down on her so as to have her serve as a Messenger of Salvation.

Through it all she kept a diary, a confessor, and a spiritual director which would all serve as a testament in later years on her road to sainthood and as an inspiration for generations to come. She became a Messenger for Christ. Through her, this simple message was spread:

Jesus Christ is Mercy. Pray for His Mercy, pray for His love in the salvation of the world and the souls in Purgatory. A simple devotion from a simple Servant of God. How do we let this celebration of the Devine Mercy influence our own lives? There are the particular devotions which are set forth from the Chaplet, the Three O'clock Prayer, the Three O'clock Devotion, and Celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday.

There is also something else that can be done: forgiveness, praying for God’s Eternal Mercy for everyone. It becomes a collective event with the prayers of the faithful extending out beyond this community and into the world. We pray together, for everyone, and for Jesus' Mercy. This mercy that we seek can take on so many different characteristics. It can be for the sinner, for us, for faith, for understanding. For the doubts that we may foster deep within our souls. Or we can just pray; to experience Christ's Love.

Christ's Mercy and Christ's Love can be found in the most peculiar places and the most peculiar experiences. And we as human beings find ourselves reacting differently to it in different circumstances. I loved my grandmother so very much and she was an inspiration to me in my life. When she was dying, there were tears. But with her death came a peace and solace, for I knew she was with God. I missed her, but there was certain peacefulness to her death.

Maybe it was the way she accepted it as my good friend Deacon Dick did. Knowing it was there in front of them, they prepared themselves and, because of this, prepared those they loved the most; their concern for those around them. They also had tremendous faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. I am comforted by the knowledge that they are now with Christ.

With their passing came a massive surge of love. I felt it, welling up inside of me. A gift from God and a Gift from the Holy Spirit. God's Love, what a gift of Mercy for us who grieve. I know, sometimes it is hard to find in times of trial and heartache, but it is there.

The other day, I suffered another loss. To those who do not have a pet or never had one, it might be hard to understand. But when one has one, such as my dog Abbey, she becomes a part of the family. The children grow up with them. They become attached to them; the entire family is melded together around them. I have mentioned Abbey before and my 3:00 am walks.  She was over twelve years old; that is almost 70 years old in dog years.

In the last month, I noticed her slowing a little bit. And then, unexpectedly, I found her Thursday Morning on the floor. She could not walk. Her face was sunken and all her muscles had relaxed. I Brought her into my daughter's room and nurtured her back to health. I took her for a walk Friday Morning and Friday Night. She was alive; the kick was back in her step. She even refused to go home after her walk. The walk took over an hour.

In the morning we walked again. Then, she died.  There was gathering at my house, a wake of sorts. Even my mother was there. She was an important part of me and nothing can replace her. There was a deep bond and a deep love between us. I felt it even more when she died. I realized she indeed was precious, for she was God's creation and a true gift from him to me. And I thank him for that, that gift of the capacity to love, to miss, and to mourn.

When we do these things, when we act out our humanness, God's presence is all the more overwhelming. We need to thank God for these moments and pray for his mercy to help us through these moments, to make these moments truly beautiful in the face of loss and tragedy. All of this is God's Gift to us. That is one connection that we cannot forget, we cannot overlook. Christ's Mercy and Love join all of us together and us to creation. This is God's majestic symphony. In it there is happiness, joy, trauma, temptation, sadness, and loss. But in the end, through His sacrifice and mercy, there is love.

A Pastoral Letter

Where was the spring? Better yet, where is the summer? Did I miss something here or does it feel like we are approaching autumn again? The world is a wonderful and mysterious place that we cannot even begin to understand. God has given us a playground of mystery and wonder that, as soon as someone claims to have figured it out, something else happens that rises to the level of unexplainable. Just as we are being told that the planet is “suffering from a fever,” we begin to enter a cooling cycle where weather patterns once again change to confound many.

 

All my children are home from school and a new cycle beings in my household. Sleep patterns change (my children don’t sleep all night during the summer), meal habits change (they usually take it on the run), and there appears to be a new surprise daily. These surprises present themselves in different ways. Coming home from work this morning, it was about 58 degrees outside. The time was 3:00 am. I had just received a phone call from my youngest, Renee’. She wanted me to go swimming with her. And as it is always the cases, I could not say to Daddy’s Little Girl or to my son, Alex. So I found myself playing Marco Polo in my pool which was a chilling 55 degrees (if that) with my two youngest children for over an hour.

 

And you know what? It was wonderful. Moments like these are the ones that stay with you for the rest of your life. The birds chirping in the distance, the rustle of some unknown animal in the underbrush, a strange sound far away. I looked up into the sky at a blanket of white clouds that covered everything and thought, “God is Good.” Crazy as it was, it was also beautiful.

 

As Jesus healed the suffering woman and the child, we to need healing and spiritual refreshment. We all need to take time out of our busy lives to actually enjoy who we are and what we are. We need to take time to be with our families and our friends. Everyone needs rest and everyone needs companionship. It is not an option. It is a necessity. Without it, we are not complete. Taking time for ourselves and for those that we love completes us as human beings. God created us with the capacity to love and to express that love. He has given that as a gift to us. When we exercise that gift, we are able to feel God’s presence amongst us. From what we feel, we also know it is the right thing to do. Then come the smiles and the deep sigh of satisfaction. We are able to look around and nod, understanding fully why we work so hard: for our children, for our families, and for our friends. The small moments become bigger and more important.

 

Summer is not only a season. Summer is a state of being; an opportunity to surrender ourselves more completely to God and to enjoy ourselves. Have fun, take the day, take the week. Do not feel guilty about it. We all deserve it. Regardless if the sun is shining or the rain is pouring down, thank God for all the good things given to us, look around understand:

 

YES, GOD IS GOOD.

Call To Service

Sometimes, in our lives, we may find ourselves in a situation where we are called to serve the Lord in the most unexpected circumstances. This may be something as small as a kind deed or as big as performing an act of sacrifice for the betterment of someone or something else. We can never be one hundred percent sure when Jesus Christ will call us to action. I have been witness to this a countless number of times within my own ministry and I have been truly blessed to watch normal people performing extraordinary things in the course of every day life.

 

Jesus Christ, in his own ministry, would often stop what he was doing to tend to the basic needs of others or to help someone in crisis. These simple acts, directed towards the lowliness of people within society serve as a life lesson to us all and were as important as the words he spoke. Saint James himself said it best when wrote, “So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.” Christian Charity goes hand in hand with our faith. You cannot have one without the other. Jesus displayed this through the feeding of the 5000 in today’s Gospel. Not only did he feed them spiritually but he tended to their physical needs, providing more than enough nourishment to have twelve baskets left over: a symbol of the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

Us as members of the Living Body of Christ cannot fathom doing what Jesus did that day, but know this: everything that we do and say in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ manifests into Christ on this earth. Every little thing that we do for ourselves, our children, family, and friends; people that we know and don’t know exemplifies our faith. It defines who and what we are. Through these acts we earn merit and are able to understand our faith more deeply. We also open ourselves up to the gift of God’s Grace. What a wonderful world this would be and what a wonderful state of being if we all could live our lives in this constant state. Impossible, yes, but something that we all could strive to do. Just the effort itself produces so many great results.

 

I am honored to witness this in our own parish community, with so many wonderful and beautiful people. I am also privileged to be able to carry out my own ministry in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ and am humbled by some of the results. There are times, when I am out in the community and I am approached by people I do not even know. They tell me how wonderful Saint John the Baptist Church is and what great work the parish community is doing. Through their eyes and their words, I know we do indeed make a difference.

 

Through our acts, we all come closer together and are open to the Love and Glory of God. And as we feed his sheep and help tend his flock, he in turn takes care of us. He feeds us and takes care of our every need. The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth. We call and he answers. In the same way, others call to him and he answers through us. It is a great responsibility. A responsibility born out of LOVE AND THE GLORY OF GOD.

Welcome to our new Pastor Father Murray

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Father Robert Murray as our new pastor here at Saint John the Baptist Church. I have known Father Murray for several years now and have witnessed his dedication shepherding Saint James Church. Now, we have the opportunity to have him guide us in the same direction. Being a pastor of two churches is no easy task and Father Murray must be commended for accepting this assignment.

The Holy Spirit does indeed continue to move through this parish. I have been blessed to witness so many acts of selflessness and faith. As we move forward with our 55^th Anniversary Celebrations, we now have more causation for celebration. We have gone full circle in a particular way. We are indeed the Mission Church of Saint James and share a common brotherhood and sisterhood with the parishioners there. Now, we share the same pastor; a proven leader and holy priest who lives his life in the service of the Church. We are further blessed with the presence of Father Paul until September when we will be assigned a Parochial Vicar.

Saint John the Baptist continues to strengthen and grow. This week, we begin our second year of Vacation Bible School. As of this date, we have over forty children who signed up. This is a wonderful ministry led by our Religious Education Director Renee Barrick and our very own Secretary Diane Forte. One year ago they had a vision that they brought to life through Vacation Bible School and the results speak for themselves. With an energetic staff who will be recognized next week, this ministry has taken on a life of its own.

These events that I mention bring the Scripture Readings this Sunday to life.  When our thoughts and actions are oriented towards Christ, what we do and say come to life, life within the Christian Family is celebrated, and the Love of God is spread throughout the community. This proves there is more to this world than what is in front of us: the Love of God always prevails. When we are able to take a step back and see the true gifts that God has given us: family, friends, this parish, and an overpowering love for each other, that which is of the greatest value shines forth ever so brightly. 

When we focus on the riches and allures of the physical world, we are always left empty and disappointed. When we focus on Christ, everything becomes perfect. This perfection is sometimes hidden for a great deal of time but it slowly reveals itself. The Holy Spirit guides us on this journey and our thoughts are put into action. What happens then is eternally beautiful.

So much has been said, seen, and experienced. And there is so much more to do. And we do it together, in this community, in this church.

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Our Voice Is Being Heard

It is hard being a Christian in the world today. Our families, friends, and we ourselves are being bombarded with advertisements, temptations, and challenges that are directly contradictory to our faith and what we believe. We are viewed as being “out of touch” or “not with the times.” Prominent individuals in the business world, such as Ted Turner, have even called us, “Jesus Freaks” after witnesses many of his own employees bearing the ashen crosses on their foreheads after an Ash Wednesday Celebration. Many Catholics are very private and personal in regards to their faith, so it makes it even harder to respond when criticized. In the end, just as Jesus did many times in his own ministry, we just turn and walk away.

As I write this Pastoral Letter, I myself have become aware of a few things that I feel the need to pass on to you. These are items of grave importance within our Christian Community and have recently taken center stage in the State of Massachusetts and Nationwide. The first has to do with the Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus, as many of you know, is a Fraternal Catholic Organization of Men with over 1.5 million members world-wide. It has a strong allegiance to the Pope and has recognition from the Vatican. All members espouse the virtues of Charity, Fraternity, Unity, and Patriotism. In the past, the Knights have donated millions of dollars to the Vatican, the Archdiocese of Boston, and many other diocese and organizations within the Church. It has been quoted as being “The Steel Spine of the Church.”

Recently, it has been announced that the Knights of Columbus has begun another initiative that will encompass the entire country. Each council will be asked to donate $3.00 per member which will then be matched by the Supreme Council. All monies collected will be put into a Defense Fund for Marriage and Pro-Life Issues. This totals over 9 MILLION DOLLARS. The states of Massachusetts and California have been targeted almost exclusively for issues dealing with the Defense of Marriage. The Knights of Columbus will distribute these funds to various legal causes favoring the Catholic Church’s views and theology. The Knights of Columbus will also distribute these funds to groups and organizations with a Pro-Life Stance and Pro-Life Initiatives.

In a world where some people are unable or unwilling to put into action what they believe, the Knights of Columbus have stepped forward in the name of God and of the Church. They have added their voice and have united behind the Holy See once again in defense of Christ and of the Church.

The second issue deals with Senator Joe Biden, the Democratic Vice-Presidential Candidate. Because of his recent public views regarding abortion, his unwillingness to institute any sort of policy that is congruent with his Catholic Faith, and because of his misstatement of The Catholic Church’s Theology in regards to the Sanctity of Life and when human life begins, Senator Biden’s bishop, Archbishop Chaput said Biden should follow the teachings of the Church by opposing abortion or voluntarily refrain from receiving communion. He is planning on meeting with Senator Biden privately in the coming weeks.

These two examples represent that our voices are being heard; there are those who are defending the Faith and are fighting for our beliefs and the Christian Message. Pray for them in community and when you are alone. Prayer does work and gives you an opportunity to add your own voice to the causes that deeply affect our lives as Christians.

Beyond that, if you want to help, call be and let's share a cup of coffee sometime.

Your Deacon,

Tom Anthony

Lent 2010

The Crucified Christ

What a powerful symbol of our faith. But more than a symbol, it also defines who we are and our relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ. In three days, we enter the Season of Lent: a time of reflection, penance, almsgiving, and a period of preparation. It is a time when we are urged to contemplate the Crucified Christ and what He means to us on the most intimate and personal level. Of course, this can easily be done at any other time during the Liturgical Year, but Lent offers an opportunity to make this central to our worship and our spiritual lives. The mass encourages this and the Church further defines it as we enter this time of preparation for the highest of Feast Days in Christianity: Easter Sunday.

As Catholics, we are challenged to look beyond the crucifix itself and focus on the personhood of Jesus; the human being that suffered, was crucified, and died for us so that we could receive the gift of eternal life. Yes, Jesus was fully human and felt all the pain, all the suffering, and the fears of death. This is easily forgotten in the light of the Resurrected Christ and the Gift of Salvation. This can be overlooked in light of Jesus, the Son of God in His divine nature.

Lent challenges us to shift the focus away from the divine and look at the humanness of Christ. To take that feeling when we celebrate the Eucharist and carry it with us for the entire Lenten Journey. HE DID THIS FOR US. Lent challenges us to put ourselves in the shoes of Christ and walk with him on that long, lonely journey to the Cross. Lent challenges us to pick up the cross and carry it with him. Feel His pain. Feel His sacrifice. Feel His love for us. At the same time, we must acknowledge our sins, short-falls, and our own humanness. We are sinners and through Christ we are forgiven.

When we fast during Lent, it helps as a constant reminder of what Christ did for us. We share a bond of sacrifice. This is more complete with the giving of alms to those in need, helping those while we are in a state of suffering ourselves. Through the giving of alms and the seeking of forgiveness, we are forgiven for those sins that we carry with us in our humanness. These sins and the fasting serve as our cross. We become sharers in Christ’s Passion.

During this season, there will be a lot happening within our parish family. From Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Stations of the Cross, viewing of the Passion of the Christ, to other special gatherings. Through it all,  we will all be together. We must all ask ourselves: “What will we do to make this Lenten Season special? What will we do to make this season have a lasting impact on our Journey of Faith? What will we do differently?”

After that question is asked, we can all pick up our crosses and begin our journey. That journey up that lonely hill  to be with Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.

By Deacon Tom Anthony