Day of Confessions - March 4

"Jesus in the confessional is not a dry cleaner: it is an encounter with Jesus, who waits for us just as we are. Is going to confession like a torture session? No! It is going to praise God, because I, a sinner, have been saved by Him. And is He waiting to beat me? No, he waits with tenderness to forgive me. And if tomorrow I do the same? Go again, and go and go. He always waits for us.” 

- Pope Francis

This Wednesday Fr. David and I will be celebrating the Day of Reconciliation with the Archdiocese with the following Schedule:

9:00 - 11:00 am - at the Church

11:00 - 2:00 pm - at St. Michael's Secondary School

3:30 - 5:00 pm - at the Church

7:30 - 9:00 pm - at the Church (after 7:00 pm Mass)

Here is the Invitation from Cardinal Collins

Peace.

To Knock, seek, ask,...

I think for most people there is an inquisitiveness that is natural in our youth, that can be quashed, or limited in later years.  I think of how a child keeps asking why, and eventually an exasperated adult eventually says "Because!" and shuts down the asking. 

On the flip side God in today's scripture reminds us that it is his great desire for us to knock, seek, and ask.  In this searching we find not only God, we realize our very need for God!

Peace

February 24 - God's Word

" ... It shall accomplish that which I purpose,..."

Isaiah 55:11

We know that Jesus is the eternal Word, the Word made flesh, who dwelt among us.  Jesus is the fulfillment of all the prophets and promises in the Jewish Scriptures. The long awaited promise of the Father. Some 600 years before Jesus was Born - the Prophet Isaiah was proclaiming a promised Word that would accomplish all that God desired!

Thus says the Lord, your God:For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,and do not return there until they have watered the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

 As we Pray, as we Fast, and as we Give during this season of Lent, we are allowing the Word - Jesus Christ - to accomplish much in us... that which God Purposes.

Peace

February 23

This video is a nice - simple take on what is at the heart of Lent!

Fasting and Giving - flow from our Praying... great images.

Peace.

February 22 - 1st Sunday of Lent: Pray - Fast - Give

The liturgical season of Lent is a time of preparation and it can only be understood in relationship to Easter.  The Church invites us to enter into 40 days of preparation so that we may celebrate the great 50 days of Easter. 
The word Lent comes from an old English word meaning Springtime.  In the northern hemisphere this name for the liturgical season that prepares us for Easter is quite appropriate.  Even during the harsh days of March when the weather is unpredictable we do see signs of Spring and know that soon new life will be surrounding us. 
The Church reminds us that Lent has two major purposes: It recalls or prepares for baptism and emphasizes a spirit of penance.  The emphasis on a spirit of penance assists us in preparing to recall our baptismal promises.  For those who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil the spirit of penance is to assist them in preparing for their baptism.  

Every baptized person is called to renew their baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday.  The first question we are asked is: Do you reject sin so as the live in the freedom of God’s children? 
In Lent with the help of the Holy Spirit and through the traditional practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (using our financial resources to support the work of the Church) we are led to let go of actions, attitudes and behaviours that keep us from living in the freedom of God’s children. 
Each member of our parish, everyone from two to 102 is invited to enter into this time of preparation through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Each time you complete a Lenten activity you are invited to tie a ribbon on one of our Lenten trees.  The ribbons are a visible sign of our Lenten practices, a visible sign of our journey to Easter and abundant life with God. 
We shall include suggestions for Lenten activities in the parish bulletin, on Facebook (Holy Family Catholic Church Bolton) and on our website. 
Remember Lent is a time to fast from that which keeps us away from God or prevents us from living in the light of  Christ.

This morning, during the 8:30 mass, I was struck by the number of people who leave Mass during communion - it was really quite sad. This was at 9:12 am - and it made me think - what is your rush folks - we were well within an hour!
The recessional hymn was COMPLETE at 9:21. this is so not acceptable.  How do we change a culture!?!

Peace

February 21 - Be Kind

Here is a video from the Editor of America Magazine - the weekly publication of the Jesuits in the United States.

Simply put: Instead of giving something up - Be Kind!

Don't be a jerk. Honour the absent (don't talk about people behind their back). Always give people the benefit of the doubt.

A Great Message as we begin Lent!  Peace

February 20 - Fasting

"... you fast only to quarrel and to fight ..."

Isaiah 58:4

Fasting.  Why would we fast? Why should we fast?

I had a friend who one year decided to give up Coffee for Lent! On the surface this seemed to be a great Idea.  He always had a cup of coffee in his hand. He had a coffee make in his bedroom. (This was long before the single serve Tassimo or K-Cup machines!) When he went for a drive - he always stopped at Tim Hortons.  So as I say - on the face of it - this was an impressive personal sacrifice.

Well I have to say - that was a most miserable Lent for both my friend - and for all of us who came in contact with him! He was irritable, and often uncharitable. and this impacted all of us.  He would not want to stop at a Tim's location for us - who had not given up Coffee.  At meetings that he organized - there was no coffee served... you get the idea... 
Something like the first reading from todays Mass. 

Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist.

Yet the Lord desires a different kind of Fast.  A transformative Fast. A Fast that will lead us to realize our need for mercy and grace from our Father - who desires Justice. Justice is us living in right relationship with each other - and the whole of creation.

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Peace