Opening Prayer Series: Collect for First Sunday of Lent Year B

The Collect for the First Sunday of Lent Year B reads as follows:

Let us pray,

Grant almighty God,

througn the yearly observances of holy Lent, 

that we may grow in understanding

 of the riches hidden in Christ

 and by worthy conduct pursue their effect.

through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, 

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit 

one God, for ever and ever.

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What is our attitude towards the season of Lent?
2. What are the riches hidden in Christ?
3. How may I grow in understanding of these riches hidden in Christ?
4. What are the effects of the riches hidden in Christ?
5. What areas of my life are not completely worthy conduct?
6. What is my spiritual goal for this Lenten season and how will I achieve this goal?

In the northern hemisphere, Lent coincides with springtime and in fact, the word itself probably came from the old English lencten meaning the lengthening of the days that occur in spring. Spring offers the possibility  of new life and when hearts lift from the dreariness of the winter season. Lent offers the opportunity to renew and reawaken the life of the spirit, which can make it a season of joy, despite the penitential nature of Lent.

Those of us who live in the southern hemisphere do not have the advantage of the season of spring to accompany us on our journey have a differnt season- late summer going into autum. Autumn is a season of a change of colour, where the trees lose their green leaves and turn all sorts of beautiful colours. It is also a time when we can have cool nights so we can sleep better and be refreshed.  

Therefore autumn to me, is an ideal time for Lent as I like to think of Lent as a season to change colour. It is a season to change from mediocrity in our spiritual lives to bursting forth with a change of colour ( change of heart) to be the beautiful colour God has instilled in us.  It is a time to lose our leaves (sins and bad habits) and allow the grace of God turn our leaves (souls)  into something beautiful to behold. It is a time to sleep well at night and allow God's grace to refresh our whole being.

So whether we live in the northern or southern hemisphere, the message of Jesus is still the same

which we hear in today's Gospel "Repent and believe the Good News". 

Reflection and Prayer Series: The Lord will heal

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

THE LORD WILL HEAL

The Lord will heal my broken wings,
my shattered dreams, 
with whole and healthy hopeful things... 
He restores my wounded soul.

May the Lord give each of us healing this coming week.

Compendium Series: the reality of sin.

73. How should we understand the reality of sin? (CCC385-389)

Sin is present in human history. The reality of sin can be understood clearly only in the light of divine revelation and above all in the light of Christ the Saviour of all.  Where sin abounded, he made grace to abound all the more.

What does this mean for me?

1.  I need to consider my sins in the light of Christ the Saviour- he was born, suffered and died so that my sins would be crucified to His cross and He is my personal Saviour.

2.  When I am tempted to sin, think of Christ’s suffering and death and how much love Christ was prepared to give me to be my Saviour.

Questions to consider:

1. What does ‘in the light of Christ the Saviour of all’ mean to me?
2. What can I do to benefit from the graces God provides and makes available through the church? (eg plenary/partial indulgences in the Year of the Grace).
3. What sin/s do I need overcome so as to walk in the light of Christ?

The Meaning of Ash Wednesday

 Do you know what Ash Wednesday is?

In a Religious Education class some years ago, the teacher asked the question 'what is Ash Wednesday about?'  The replies from these primary children  included  (a) Ash Wednesday fires of 1983 in South Australia and (b) Test Cricket series between England and Australia.
This teacher certainly had her work ahead of her that Lent!!!

The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense.  It is not only the Church being 'green and environmentally friendly', but it links us to our past Lenten Season and reminds us of the ongoing pilgrim journey of repentance. 

On Ash Wednesday, the priest or extraordinary minsters of the Eucharist distribute the ashes on our foreheads saying ' Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return' or Repent and believe the Good News'. These are not only powerful words.  At Baptism we are sealed on our foreheads. The ashes sign of the cross connects us again to our Baptism, and the words remind us to that we are a pilgrim people- our homeland is with God in Heaven. 

 

This simple ceremony to mark the beginning of Lent occurs in every Catholic Church throughout the world including St Peter's Basilica where the Pope both distributes and receives the ashes. As we receive the ashes, we are unity with the whole Catholic Church throughout the world. Everyone is following this same Lenten journey of repentance 'from the greatest to the least' as scripture tells us.

 In Scripture during Lent we hear the word sackcloth mentioned. So what is sackcloth?

 Sackcloth was originally a coarse hessian style of cloth used to make sacks or a coarse cloth resembling sacking. Sackcloth is mentioned in scripture at least 60 times in both Old and New Testament   It was a physical and visual reminder to all the community of an interior disposition of of mourning.repentance and remorse.

A few Lents ago, I decided to buy my own 'sackcloth' -something simple to wear in Lent.  The simple purple twinset purchased from an opportunity, shop which I wore mainly at home, was a physical reminder of my Lenten observances. I felt I was wearing my Lenten armory to fight the temptation of the fridge and pantry, and wearing it was physical reminder of the Lenten season.

May your Ash Wednesday be blessed.

Clean Monday and its tradition

Clean Monday also known as Pure Monday, Ash Monday, Monday of Lent or Green Monday, is the first day of the Eastern Orthodox Christian and Eastern Catholic Great Lent. It is a moveable feast that occurs at the beginning of the 7th week before Orthodox Easter Sunday.

The common term for this day, "Clean Monday", refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods. It is sometimes called "Ash Monday," by analogy with Ash Wednesday (the day when the Western Churches begin Lent). The term is often a misnomer, as only a small subset of Eastern Catholic Churches practice the Imposition of Ashes. The Maronite Catholic Church is a notable Eastern rite that employs the use of Ashes on this day.

Liturgically, Clean Monday—and thus Lent itself—begins on the preceding (Sunday) night, at a special service called Forgiveness Vespers, which culminates with the Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness, at which all present will bow down before one another and ask forgiveness. In this way, the faithful begin Lent with a clean conscience, with forgiveness, and with renewed Christian love. The entire first week of Great Lent is often referred to as "Clean Week," and it is customary to go to Confession during this week, and to clean the house thoroughly.

The theme of Clean Monday is set by the Old Testament reading appointed to be read at the Sixth Hour on this day (Isaiah 1:1-20), which says, in part:

Wash yourselves and ye shall be clean; put away the wicked ways from your souls before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well. Seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, consider the fatherless, and plead for the widow. Come then, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow; and though they be red like crimson, I will make them white as wool (vv. 16–8).

In the Western Church, the beginning of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.  However, we could learn from this tradition from the Eastern Rite. It could be a sound practice for us to go to confession at the start of Lent and if we so desire, clean our houses also. Both aspects mean it is indeed a  "clean week"' if we both attend to both our soul and our physical environment.

Opening Prayer Series: Collect of 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

The Collect of the 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time reads as follows:

Let us pray,

Grant we pray almighty God,

that always pondering spiritual things

we may carry out in both word and deed

that which is pleasing to You.

through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever. 

In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What are the spiritual things that I will ponder upon this coming week?
2. What is pleasing to God?
3. What areas in my life in word are not yet pleasing to God?
4. How might I address these areas in my life this coming week?
5. What areas of my life in deed are not yet pleasing to God?
6. How might I address these areas this coming week?
7. How will I prepare for Lent-what spiritual goals will I set for my Lenten observance in prayer, fasting and almsgiving?

Today's Gospel is of the healing of the paralytic. It is interesting to note in this passage from scripture that it seems to be more about the faith of bystanders and scribes, rather than the paralytic. This is in contrast with many of the other healing stories in scripture where the person needing healing is engaged in the process.  Obviously the paralytic had faith  in Jesus to allow himself to be lowered through the roof as did those 4 men who lowered him. Their desire to get the paraytic to Jesus is evident.

However, we are presented with the views of the bystanders especially the scribes. In those days, the correlation between sins being forgiven and healing was strong. In many ways, even in our own time,  there is still a correlation between ''spiritual illness'' and physical illness, although the thinking in relation to this is not as strong as in the time of Jesus.  

However, in our time, we would be foolish to ignore the health of our soul since many of our sins do have an effect on our physical and emotional wellbeing.  For example: a person who is trapped in the addiction of overeating/smoking/drinking will suffer as a consequence of this sin of lack of temperance, physical side effects.

This is the last Sunday of ordinary time before we head into the season of Lent on this coming Wednesday- Ash Wednesday.  As we hear today's Gospel, we may wish to think of the quality of our faith and consider what we intend to do to come closer to God during the season of Lent. We may also wish to consider the state of our soul as examine any sins which have a direct or indirect correlation to our physical and emotional health.  This review may prove to be a worthy starting point for our choice of action in prayer/fasting and almsgiving that the church asks of us during Lent.

Let us be like the bystanders and praise God for all the astounding things God does for us in our lives.

Reflection and Prayer Series: Treasure the Memories

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

TREASURE THE MEMORIES

Treasure the memories of all God has done,

In the past to sustain and restore us
Call them to mind like a beacon of hope,
Always, shining with promise before us.

May the treasure of memories be a beacon of hope this coming week.

Compendium Series: orginal condition of humanity according to God's plan.

72. What was the original condition of the human person according to the plan of God? (CCC376-379,384)

Compendium states:

In creating man and woman God had give them a special participation in His own divine life in holiness and justice.  In the plan of God they would have not have to suffer or die.  Furthermore a perfect harmony held sway within the human person, a harmony between creature and Creator, between man and woman as well as between the first human couple and all of creation.

What does this mean for me?

1. God’s plan is still possible for me today by accepting the special participation in His own divine life in holiness and justice and by searching within my own human person, the harmony between God and myself and in creation.
2. Even though suffering and death was not part of God’s original plan,  I can ask God to assist me to use it so that His divine life in holiness and justice can be realised in me.

 Questions to consider:

1. What is God’s special participation in His own divine life in holiness and justice?
2. What would life without suffering and death be like?
3. Do I recognise the harmony between myself and God within myself?
4. What I do/feel when this harmony is out of balance?

Opening Prayer Series: 6th Sunday of Year B

The Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Year B reads as follows:

Let us pray,

O God, who teach us that You abide

in hearts that are just and true,

grant that we may be so fashioned by Your grace

as to become a dwelling pleasing to You.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit 

one God for ever and ever.

In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. Do I desire for the Lord to teach me to abide in Him?
2. How can I increase that desire this coming week?
3. What might my heart look like when it is just and true?
4. What areas of my heart need God's forgiveness?
5. What would a dwellling pleasing to God be like in me?
6. How will I co-operate with God's grace this week as to become a dwelling pleasing to You?

Today's Gospel shows the compassion of Jesus towards the leper ( and to all who society considers outcasts).  However, He asks the leper to go to the priest to make the offering for his healing. Instead the leper spread his good news everywhere so that Jesus became the 'leper' Himself .

''He could no longer go openly into the town, but had to stay outside"

What do we experience when we experience the compassion and love of Jesus?  Are we like the leper and do not follow what Jesus asks of us as evidence of our recovery?  Perhaps, we go to the Sacrament of Reconcilation, but say our penance in a hurried fashion. Through the priest, the penance that we are given is for our recovery.

The touch of Jesus is powerfu,l and yet gentle. He wants to say to each of us " Of course I want to, be healed". 

Let us ask Him in faith this coming week for our physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

Reflection and Prayer Series: When Christ said

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

WHEN CHRIST SAID

When Christ said "Go and make disciples,

"Did He exclude the market place?
When Christ said "Love one another as I have loved you,
"Did He specify which race?
When He hung between two thieves,
Upon the cross at Calvary.
Did He die to save the world-
Or was it meant for only me?

May the grace of God that brings salvation appear to you this coming week.

Compendium Series: relationship between God and man and woman.

71. What relationship has God established between man and woman? (CCC369-3673,380)

Compendium states:

Man and woman have been created by God in equal dignity insofar as they are human persons.  At the same time, they have been created in a reciprocal complementarity insofar as they are masculine and feminine. God has willed them one for the other to form a communion of persons.  They are also called to transmit human life by forming in matrimony ‘one flesh’ (Genesis 2:24). They are likewise called to subdue the earth as ‘stewards’ of God.

What does this mean for me?

1. I can thank God for creating me as a human person with equal dignity.
2. I can appreciate the gift of married life in prayer and by practical assistance (eg baby sitting to give the couple some time out).

Questions to consider:

1. What does being a ‘steward; of God’ mean to me in subduing the earth?
2. What ministry/support group could I initiate in a parish for married people?
3. What is my attitude to the gift of life God gives?
4. What are the issues for couples who are unable to conceive in the light of this question?

Compendium Series: Where does the soul come from?

70. Where does the soul come from? (CCC366-368.382)

 Compendium states:

The spiritual soul does not come from one’s parents, but is created immediately for God and is immortal. It does not perish at the moment when it is separated from the body in death, and will be once again reunited with the body at the moment of the final resurrection.

What does this mean for me?

1. I can thank God for my soul that he has created and for its immortal nature.
2. Since my soul is immortal, I need to spend more time caring and nourishing it through the sacraments and through prayer.
3. I can pray for the souls in purgatory who desire to be God and whose souls are waiting to be reunited with the body at the final resurrection.

 Questions to consider:

1. What thought do I give to my immortal soul?
2. How can I give God my gratitude for my soul that He created and is imperishable?
3. In the light of this teaching about the soul, do I need to review the balance between what I do for the body and what I do for the soul?
4. What can I do daily to nourish and nurture my soul? How will I ‘exercise my soul?

Travelling Light

Hello Friends

Forgive me if my posts are not as regular in the next couple of weeks as I am decluttering my home with a vengeance so that I am able to move forward in my life.  More about that in another post later.

However I have lived in the one house for many decades with my parents who are now deceased, and as I go through the painful process of sorting and throwing and giving away, I can only encourage you to travel light.

I have been gradually starting this process since last October- drawer by drawer, cupboard by cupboard and I have made great headway. However pride comes before a fall and I had a wake up call yesterday when the packers came to assist me.  They were wonderful I have to say but when I saw how much there was to pack, I thought to myself " Oh dear God, I have not made progress at all".  I had to keep reminding myself of how much I had already let go over these last few months.  There is dad's garage and shed to go- horror of horrors as well as their clothes, which I have to say am finding hard to deal with emotionally. It is a job still to do as painful as it is.

I would not have classified myself as a hoarder as such, but I am convinced I must have some hoarder tendencies. I have been constantly asking myself why I have kept all these belongings and my personal response has been that  I keep things because 

• they may be useful
• I might need them 
• they have sentimental meaning. 
• it is economic to keep them in that if you already have something that you can use, there is no expense especially when I am on a very tight budget.  
• there is an element of fear at the root of keeping these belongings.
• I had plenty of space in my home so belongings accumulate without being noticed until there is a wake up call such as moving house.

There may be other reasons which have not yet emerged. If they do, I will let you know.

All I can say is that when I do move house, I am determined to travel light. Life will not be clutter and possessions, but I am determined to make my life simple and uncomplicated, free from all the bips and bops I have collected over the years.

I hope this post might encourage you to have a real good look at your environment.

Imagine that you are moving house and decide what you will take with you and what needs to go.  Then, even if you do not intend moving house, you will have decluttered your physical, emotional and spiritual environment. It is worth the effort, but if you decide to take on this project, then I do advise to give yourself a time frame and go drawer by drawer, cupboard by cupboard.  It is less painful than packing up to move house!!!

Bye for now- more sorting and packing to do today.