DEACON TOM ANTHONY

Sunday, February 17, 2013


BE WITH ME LORD WHEN I AM IN TROUBLE!”

My Brothers in Christ,

These words from Psalm 91 are ones that we are encouraged to reflect on during this Season of Lent. Jesus is always with us and this is especially true when we are in crisis. He never abandons us. In fact, he feels what we feel and suffers with us. What an amazing relationship we can have with our God. The emotions and pain that we experience are the same ones that Jesus feels. He is eternally united with us but it is up to us to recognize this relationship and strengthen it. He cannot help us if we do not first recognize his presence. This is done through a fruitful prayer life and constant attention to our own Christian Conduct. Sacred Scripture also serves a roll in this by revealing to us our salvation story and unlocking the mysteries of our God. All these need to be practiced and used all the days of our lives. If we do not partake in these opportunities before us we risk the danger of not fully knowing God and what he has planned for us. Yes, he does have a plan for us but it is offered and it is not mandatory to follow. This is our choice and responsibility: “Do we want to live our lives with God or without him? This is one of the biggest Challenges of our Faith. During Lent Christ is asking us to suffer with him and for us share our own sufferings at the same time. In this short responsory from Psalm 91 we are not only pleading to him but we are also accepting his invitation join with him.

When Jesus was tempted in the desert it was for our own benefit. In his human nature Jesus was subject to temptation and suffering just as we are. He demonstrated this but allowing Satan to come forward and test him. He did not have to do this. He wanted to do this so that we may realize that he fully understands the trials and tribulations that we experience. Throughout the forty days in the desert Jesus did not abandon his faith. He fasted and prayed constantly. He maintained his relationship with his Father and relied on his own faith to persevere. It became a preparation period for his own ministry. Lent is our own time in the desert where we have the opportunity to focus on our own temptations, sins, and short-comings. It is a time of renewal and a time to reflect on Jesus' glorious Passion. To experience this fully we must realize that we are journeying through our own Passion and approach this season as such. Calvary awaits all of us. We carrying our crosses forward with Christ. To experience the Resurrection we must first live through our Passion.

Examining ourselves is a very hard task. We all have things that we are genuinely ashamed about in our past but through Christ they can be overcome. We must acknowledge our sins then cast them behind us. Once our sins are cast behind us then we can move forward with Christ as a new creation. If God has forgiven us for what we have done wrong then why can't we forgive ourselves? It is hypocritical if we don't. Nothing we do in our lives can be considered wasted. We all make mistakes but that is what being a person is all about. Nobody is perfect except for God. He is our Father and we are his children. And as a Father, God forgives his children all the time.
 
Yours in Christ,

Deacon Tom

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