My Brothers and Sisters,

 The barrenness that we may sometimes feel inside of us is not something we should lament about but it is something that we should embrace. It is the presence of the Crucified Christ within us. This presence designates a very special relationship. We are all lonely and helpless at some point within our lives. We find ourselves bombarded by negative thoughts. Our sins become magnified while we feel unworthy of joy. It is during times like these that we must envision ourselves walking the Passion with Jesus Christ. Jesus’ suffering presents an example of what he feels for us and what he did for us. It was a sacrifice that was done out of pure love. As Christians, we are invited to experience that same pain and sacrifice every day. Jesus suffered for us and, when we suffer, his actions become much more evident. We also become united with him. It becomes a mutual suffering. Through this suffering there is a healing process. The pain is not forever. Anything experienced in this world is just temporary. Beyond it is complete joy.

When there are obstacles and crisis in our lives there is a natural reaction to think that God has something to do with it. We feel that we are being punished. The more we suffer the more we tend to become a helpless victim. We surrender ourselves to circumstances and fail to look beyond the present. God is not punishing us. God is carrying us. If we recognize this, then we are able to accept His help and look beyond what is affecting us in the present. Nothing is impossible with God. He will guide us, suffer with us, and will ultimately bring us to a path of victory. It is not the goal of victory that He wants us to focus on but the experience which will shape us and transform us; bringing us closer to Him. Relationships have the ability to become stronger in times of crisis if only we let go and understand that our condition is only temporary. Our relationship with God is the same. If we experience our lives with Him and join with Him then the revelations born through hardship can more easily be seen.

Through Jesus Christ our lives will bear fruit. The fruit is a product of his love for us and his presence. Just as it takes time for a plant to grow, so will the influence of Jesus take time to take root and bring forth a rich and bountiful harvest. Nothing happens overnight. In fact, just as it takes years for a fruit tree to bring forth its most luscious fruit, our spiritual harvest will take time to reach its peak. There must be patience, continual nourishment, trimming, and loving hard work. This work comes in the form of spiritual works and corporal works. There will be small adjustments and large adjustments with the guidance of Jesus. No one becomes a farmer overnight just as no one can transform into a completely different person. Jesus can provide the nourishment but we have to react to what is given to us. He is waiting for us to spring forth in splendor and he has the patience to wait. He wants us to be the perfect. In the end, we will be because he will let no of us go to waste.

Deacon Tom

Mis hermanos y hermanas,

 La esterilidad que a veces podemos sentir dentro de nosotros no es algo que debemos lamentar acerca, pero es algo que debemos abrazar. Es la presencia de Cristo crucificado en nosotros. Esta presencia designa una relación muy especial. Todos somos solo y desamparado en algún momento en nuestras vidas. Nos encontramos bombardeados por pensamientos negativos. Nuestros pecados se magnifican mientras sentimos indignos de alegría. Es en momentos como estos que hay que imaginar a nosotros mismos caminando por la pasión con Jesucristo. El sufrimiento de Jesús presenta un ejemplo de lo que siente por nosotros y lo que hizo por nosotros. Era un sacrificio que se hizo por puro amor. Como cristianos, se nos invita a experimentar el mismo dolor y el sacrificio de todos los días. Jesús sufrió por nosotros y, cuando sufrimos, sus acciones se vuelven mucho más evidente. También juntamente con él. Se convierte en un sufrimiento mutuo. A través de este sufrimiento no es un proceso de curación. El dolor no es para siempre. Todo lo experimentado en este mundo es sólo temporal. Más allá de la alegría es completa.

Cuando hay obstáculos y crisis en nuestras vidas hay una reacción natural pensar que Dios tiene algo que ver con ello. Sentimos que estamos siendo castigados. Cuanto más sufrimos, más se tiende a convertirse en una víctima indefensa. Nos entregamos a las circunstancias y para no mirar más allá del presente. Dios no nos está castigando. Dios nos está llevando. Si reconocemos esto, entonces estamos en condiciones de aceptar su ayuda y mirar más allá de lo que nos está afectando en el presente. Nada es imposible con Dios. Él nos guiará, sufrir con nosotros, y en última instancia, nos llevan a un camino de la victoria. No es el objetivo de la victoria que Él quiere que nos centramos en la experiencia, sino que nos forma y nos transforme; que nos acerca a Él. Las relaciones tienen la capacidad de ser más fuerte en tiempos de crisis aunque sólo dejamos ir y entendemos que nuestra condición es sólo temporal. Nuestra relación con Dios es el mismo. Si experimentamos nuestra vida con Él y unirse a él entonces las revelaciones nacidos por dificultades más fácilmente se pueden ver.

A través de Jesucristo nuestras vidas darán fruto. La fruta es un producto de su amor por nosotros y su presencia. Del mismo modo que se necesita tiempo para que una planta crezca, por lo que será la influencia de Jesús tome tiempo para echar raíces y producir frutos rica y abundante. No pasa nada durante la noche. De hecho, tal y como se necesitan años para un árbol frutal que da su fruto más delicioso, nuestra cosecha espiritual tomará tiempo para llegar a su punto máximo. Tiene que ser la paciencia, la alimentación continua, el recorte, y amar el trabajo duro. Este trabajo se presenta en forma de obras espirituales y obras corporales. Habrá ajustes pequeños y grandes ajustes con la guía de Jesús. Nadie se convierte en una noche agricultor así como nadie puede transformarse en una persona completamente diferente. Jesús puede proporcionar el alimento, pero tenemos que reaccionar a lo que se nos da. Él está esperando que salgan a luz en todo su esplendor y él tiene la paciencia para esperar. Él quiere que seamos perfectos. Al final, estaremos porque va a permitir que ninguna de nosotros ir a los residuos.

Deacon Tom

My Brothers and Sisters,

 We are in the Year of Mercy and have entered the Season of Lent, uniting ourselves to the Crucified Christ and journeying with him to Calvary. All of our burdens, all of our pains, become an expression of who we are as Christians. We expect to suffer. We expect to experience persecution. We expect to be rejected by society. This is who we are and what we are. The way we conduct ourselves and the way we treat other people are not actions of acceptance. They are a statement; a statement of our beliefs and what we all hold so dear within our hearts. And what do we all hold so dear: Jesus Christ.

This past Wednesday we received our ashes, marking the beginning of the Season of Lent. Through this action we all unified together with the Suffering Christ. Now we are encouraged to go forth as a community, picking up our individual crosses of sin and suffering, and engage the world with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Yes, we are imperfect. Yes, we all have made mistakes. Yet we are God’s Children and have found redemption through Jesus Christ. Whatever we encounter we will encounter with Jesus Christ. Whatever obstacle we confront, it will be confronted with Jesus. Because of this, there should be no doubt that we will be victorious in the end.

So, what is victory? What does it look like? This victory is one that brings joy and contentment. God’s Creation is beyond anything that society can offer. We have received the gift of life and it should always be looked at with the perspective that we are a part of God’s creation. When we talk about our friendship, our families, and most of all our children we need to see the presence of God in them all. Our actions and focuses risk the possibility of not acknowledging God’s presence in everything. This is when we become lost and downtrodden. Sin is the cause of this state. Because of that, sin must be avoided. Sin itself is a separation from God so, when we sin, we push God out of our lives. The end result is pain and unhappiness. A lack of joy.

Jesus was tempted in the desert for forty days. Through this temptation he was strengthened. He serves as an example for us to follow. Throughout these forty days of the Season of Lent we should meditate on our strengths and weakness, turning everything over to God. We should adjoin ourselves to the Crucified Christ and suffer with him. It is through this suffering that we will experience a special grace that will strengthen us. We can expect to be forged into better Christians through a deeper understanding of the Crucified Christ.

Whenever we suffer, whenever we hurt, we should offer it all up to the Crucified Christ whereupon there will be relief and comfort.

Deacon Tom.

Mis hermanos y hermanas,

 Estamos en el Año de la Merced y han entrado en el tiempo de Cuaresma, uniéndonos a Cristo Crucificado y caminando con él hasta el Calvario. Todas nuestras cargas, todos nuestros dolores, se convierten en una expresión de lo que somos como cristianos. Esperamos que sufrir. Esperamos experimentar persecución. Esperamos ser rechazados por la sociedad. Esto es lo que somos y lo que somos. La forma en que realizamos nosotros mismos y la forma en que tratamos a los demás no son acciones de aceptación. Son una declaración; una declaración de nuestras creencias y lo que todos valoramos tanto dentro de nuestros corazones. Y lo que también hay que hacerlo tanto apreciamos: Jesucristo.

El miércoles pasado recibimos nuestras cenizas, que marca el comienzo de la temporada de Cuaresma. A través de esta acción, todos unidos junto con el Cristo sufriente. Ahora se nos anima a salir como una comunidad, recogiendo nuestras cruces individuales de pecado y sufrimiento, y participar en el mundo con el mensaje de salvación a través de Jesucristo. Sí, somos imperfectos. Sí, todos hemos cometido errores. Sin embargo, somos hijos de Dios y hemos encontrado la redención a través de Jesucristo. Lo que nos encontramos nos encontraremos con Jesucristo. Cualquier obstáculo que nos enfrentamos, que se enfrentará a Jesús. Debido a esto, no debería haber ninguna duda de que vamos a salir victorioso en la final.
 

Así que, ¿cuál es la victoria? ¿Cómo se ve? Esta victoria es la que trae alegría y satisfacción. La creación de Dios es más allá de lo que la sociedad puede ofrecer. Hemos recibido el regalo de la vida y siempre debe ser visto con la perspectiva de que somos una parte de la creación de Dios.

Cuando hablamos de nuestra amistad, nuestras familias, y sobre todo a nuestros hijos tenemos que ver la presencia de Dios en todos ellos. Nuestras acciones y se centra riesgo la posibilidad de no reconocer la presencia de Dios en todo. Esto es cuando nos volvemos perdido y oprimidos. El pecado es la causa de este estado. Debido a eso, el pecado debe ser evitado. pecado mismo es una separación de Dios por lo que, cuando pecamos, nos empuje a Dios fuera de nuestras vidas. El resultado final es el dolor y la infelicidad. La falta de alegría.

Jesús fue tentado en el desierto durante cuarenta días. A través de esta tentación fue fortalecido. Él sirve como un ejemplo para nosotros seguir. A lo largo de estos cuarenta días de la Cuaresma debemos meditar en nuestras fortalezas y debilidades, convirtiendo todo en manos de Dios. Hay que lindan con nosotros al Cristo Crucificado y sufrir con él. Es a través de este sufrimiento que vamos a experimentar una gracia especial que nos fortalecerá. Podemos esperar a fraguarse en mejores cristianos a través de una comprensión más profunda de Cristo crucificado.
Cada vez que sufrimos, cada vez que nos duele, debemos ofrecer a todo hasta el Cristo Crucificado con lo cual habrá alivio y confort.

Deacon Tom

My Brothers and Sisters,

We are all called to come forward and follow Jesus Christ. This call is continuous from the moment of our conception and continues throughout our lives. When we respond to this call there will be moments of elation and joy; the love of God will fill us as we see what our lives can be when we live it with Jesus Christ. But, there will also be times when we start to reflect on our sinfulness and past actions. This might lead to feelings of regret when we compare the person that we were without Jesus Christ to the person that we can be with his influence and guidance. It must be understood that we are all sinners and undeserving of salvation. Salvation is not earned, it is given freely by Jesus Christ and through Jesus Christ. We must pray earnestly to have Jesus takes these feelings of brokenness from us and replace them with his love for us.

When Isaiah was called by God to the prophetic office and received a vision of the Lord, he was overcome with a feeling of unworthiness. He was then cleansed through the mercy and love of God. When we recognize God and accept His love the same transformation happens to us. This transformation is continuous. We are slowly being molded and shaped by the one who loves us unconditionally. This will initiate a struggle within us but one that we will ultimately win as long as we keep our focus on building our relationship with God. In the Gospel Reading today, when Peter, James, and John were called forth by Jesus, there was a realization that they were sinful men. Peter fell to his knees begging Jesus to depart from his presence. Jesus accepted him as he was at that moment: a sinner. Jesus also accepts us in the same way. We are not yet a complete work of perfection and will not be until we are with God in eternity.

As Christians, we cannot espouse the things we are doing right but must continuously focus on what we are doing wrong. Proclaiming our successes leads to pride which will then become a gateway for a multitude of sins. We need to turn everything over to God and let Him do the work that only the presence of His love can do. It is only through the presence of His love that we can the persons that we want to be. We must surrender to His will and let Him guide us through the journey to salvation. The Apostle Paul always addressed himself first as a sinner. He even referred to himself as the least among the Apostles. He was serving as an example for all of us to follow. It is through humility and acknowledgement of being sinners that we achieve greatness.

Celebrating God’s Love helps us to come forth united. One person is not called. We are all called so we are encouraged to answer together. Being united opens the floodgates of God’s Love and enables us to share it freely for the benefit of everyone. No one should be excluded from this. All should be welcome. We are all co-workers in the vineyard building each other up and welcoming each others as sinners undeserving of God’s Love. Undeserving we are but nonetheless we are invited receive everything as God’s Children.

Deacon Tom