“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”
— St. Francis of Assisi
//Catholic Company//
Morning Offering – The Light of a Single Candle
Daily Reflection – Love and Sacrifice
Minute Meditation – Love is Stronger Than Death
“Love has triumphed over hatred, life has conquered death, light has dispelled the darkness! Christians, by the grace of Christ, dead and risen, are the seeds of another humanity, in which we seek to live in service to one another, not to be arrogant, but rather respectful and ready to help. This is not weakness, but true strength!… May there echo in your hearts, in your families and communities, the announcement of the Resurrection, along with the warm light of the presence of the Living Jesus: a presence which brightens, comforts, forgives, gladdens. Jesus conquered evil at the root: he is the Door of Salvation, open wide so that each person may find mercy.”—Pope Francis
One of the ironies of the liturgical year is that we often find it easier to enter into the rigorous practices of Lent than to celebrate the joy of Easter and the Risen Lord. We know with our minds this great mystery of our faith. But we don’t always experience that joy in our hearts. It goes so far beyond our human experience that we have nothing to compare to it. At the heart of the story on Easter Sunday is the empty tomb. The stories of the appearances will come later, unfolding the mystery of the resurrection. But the first message to the apostles is that the tomb is empty. Somewhere in the darkness of the Easter Vigil and the pale dawn of Easter Sunday, each of us must confront the empty tomb and discover for ourselves the Risen Christ. Pope Francis reminds us that our joy in the Risen Christ calls us to a quiet love and service, wrapped in the awareness that our life in Christ needs no trumpets or pomp and earthly glory. We have a peace in our hearts that is stronger than death itself. All our hope lies in that promise.
— from the book The Hope of Lent: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis,
by Diane M. Houdek
//Franciscan Media//
Minute Meditation – What is Life and What is Death?
Humans are the only creatures who have knowledge of their own death. Its awareness creeps up on us as we get older. All other animals, plants, and the cycles of nature themselves seem to live out and surrender to the pattern of mortality. This places humans in a state of anxiety and insecurity from our early years. We know on some level that whatever this is that we are living will not last. This changes everything, probably more than we realize consciously.
So our little bit of consciousness makes us choose to be unconscious. It hurts too much to think about it. On this last Sunday before Palm Sunday, we dare to look at the “last enemy,” death. And the only way we can dare to part the curtain and view death is to be told about our resurrection from it! Yet, I assume we all know that Lazarus did eventually die. Maybe ten years later, maybe even twenty, but it did happen, we assume. What then is the point of this last dramatic “sign” before Jesus’ own journey toward death? An important clue is given right before the action, when the disciples try to discourage Jesus from going back to Judea where he is in danger. Jesus says calmly, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? When a person can walk without stumbling? When he sees the world bathed in light.”
Jesus refuses to fear darkness and death. Quickly he adds, “Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, I am going to wake him” (John 11:9–11). Those who draw upon the twelve hours, who see the world bathed in light now, have begun to see the pattern. As is often the case with wise people, they let “nature nurture them.” Yes, the other hours of darkness will come, a metaphor for death, but now we know that it will not last. It is only a part, but not the whole of life—just as the day itself is twelve hours and night is the other twelve, two sides of the one mystery of Life.
Jesus’ job is simply to “wake” us up to this, as he did Lazarus and the onlookers. We must now “see that the world is bathed in light” and allow others to enjoy the same seeing—through our lived life. The stone to be moved is always our fear of death, the finality of death, any blindness that keeps us from seeing that death is merely a part of the Larger Mystery called Life. It does not have the final word.
“Good God, the creator of light and darkness, You who move the sun and the stars, move us into the place of light, a light so large that it will absorb all the darkness”
— from the book Wondrous Encounters: Scriptures for Lent
by Richard Rohr, OFM
//Franciscan Media//
Minute Meditation – Light is About Seeing Correctly
“I do not know whether [Jesus] is a sinner or not, I only know this much, I was once blind, and now I see.”—John 9:25
“I came into the world to divide it, to make the sightless see and to reveal to those who think they see it all that they are blind.”—John 9:39
Our lack of self-knowledge and our lack of wisdom make humans do very stupid and self-destructive things. Because humans cannot see their own truth very well, they do not read reality very well either. We all have our tragic flaws and blind spots. Humans always need more “light” or enlightenment about themselves and about the endless mystery of God. Here are some themes from today’s Gospel reading.
• The “man born blind” is the archetype for all of us at the beginning of life’s journey.
• The moral blame game as to why or who caused human suffering is a waste of time.
• The man does not even ask to be healed. It is just offered and given.
• Religious authorities are often more concerned about control and correct theology than actually healing people. They are presented as narrow and unloving people throughout the story.
• Many people have their spiritual conclusions before the facts in front of them. He is a predefined “sinner” and has no credibility for them.
• Belief in and love of Jesus come after the fact, subsequent to the healing. Perfect faith or motivation is not always a prerequisite for God’s action. Sometimes God does things for God’s own purposes.
• Spirituality is about seeing. Sin is about blindness, or as Saint Gregory of Nyssa will say, “Sin is always a refusal to grow.”
• The one who knows little, learns much (what we call “beginner’s mind”) and those who have all their answers already, learn nothing.
“God of all Light and Truth, just make sure that I am not a blind man or woman. Keep me humble and honest, and that will be more than enough work for you.”
— from the book Wondrous Encounters: Scriptures for Lent
by Richard Rohr, OFM
//Franciscan Media//
Lenten Reflection for Sunday, March 14th, 2021
The Gospel reading explains the great love of God for His people. Do I love Him in return?
First reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-17, 19-23
Psalm: 137:1-6
Second reading: Ephesians 2:4-10
Gospel: St. John 2:14-21
In today’s Gospel reading, we hear one of the most beloved verses in Sacred Scripture:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – St. John 3:16
Maybe we have heard these words so often that they are not surprising anymore, but if we stop to reflect on this verse, it is the very definition of the “Good News.” God Himself gave His Son for you and for me. God, who made Heaven and earth, loves us.
How do I respond to this love? Do I follow His commands? Do I pray often? God has given us a gift that we can never repay. But like a child who makes simple presents for his parents, we can love Him as much as we are able.
In this Gospel passage, Jesus goes on to say that some prefer the darkness to the light. As Christ is the Light of the World, some people did not–and some still do not–want His Light to expose them or their sins. As Christians, we must love the Light, love the Truth, and be transformed by the Light. Do I allow God to transform me with His Light?
For more information on how you can grow in your faith during the Lenten season, we encourage you to visit the EWTN Lent page here: ewtn.com/lent
In Jesus,
Father Joseph
Sermon Notes – Let Your Light Shine
“Let Your Light Shine”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
February 8 – 9, 2020
Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16
One time, while I was overseas, I was visiting a field hospital and going through the wards. I was about to leave when I heard on the radio that an aircraft had crashed, and mass casualties were coming. So, I told my assistant, Bubba, an 18 year-old soldier, that we were going to stay. Very quickly, Murphy’s Rules of War kicked in which state: You always have more than enough of the enemy, more than enough problems, but never enough of you. So, I gave Bubba a down and dirty course on how to be a litter carrier. When the casualties arrived from the heli-pad, Bubba brought them in and got them all settled. The sights, sounds, and smells were different from what most people are used to. Bubba came up to me and asked, “Sir, sir, what to do you want me to do, sir?” I said, “Turn your head, go outside, get some air, and come back.” This wasn’t my first rodeo. He said, “Thank you, sir!” That young man went above and beyond the call of duty; he did everything I asked him to do and more. He was a soldier, and even though he wasn’t a happy camper and did not want to be there, he did his job. He showed those people what a soldier does, and he was courageous. Unfortunately, we had to send him home. His wife had been a royal pain in the butt for years, and I don’t think the marriage lasted. I have always wondered what happened to Bubba after that. But, he impressed me that day.
Bubba was only doing what I asked him to do. Likewise, we are only doing what Christ has told us to do. We are called to be souls for Christ and to let our light shine before men. We are to be disciples by living a holy life and doing corporal works of mercy. People need to see the light which is the light of Christ in our hearts. They will see the light of Christ shining in our actions. This is how we can evangelize. What gives you the strength, the motivation, and the zeal to carry your crosses? It is Christ. It’s not about us; it is the light of Christ that is supposed to show. We spend time in prayer with our family; at Mass, at mortification…I won’t have that extra piece of pie. This is how we keep the flame of faith alive in our hearts. People will see the light of Christ in us even though we aren’t aware of it. As Saint Francis said, “Preach the gospel always; use words if necessary.”
People sometimes will say, “Father, we want to help you with your work.” Well, would you like to visit a prison? “No.” Why not? “I’m uncomfortable in prisons.” Great! So is everybody else. Now you will have a sense of belonging. Just don’t eat the fish….just saying. We will know them by their actions, especially in those situations we find the most unpleasant, even repugnant. It is Christ who asks for our love, among the screams, smell of blood, and leaking body fluids. It is Christ who is asking…begging…for our help and our love. This is how we sow seeds in the world. This is how we evangelize.
In theory, I’m supposed to have an evangelization committee on my parish council. If I had a parish council, I’d think about having an evangelization committee. But, I don’t. You are my evangelization committee. I’m only temporary, and when God takes me out, life will go on. You are Christ’s evangelizers. He wants to send YOU, not a committee.
What does a committee do? Well, first of all, they need money, and they take yours. They kill some trees and give you a piece of paper that nobody reads telling you what you should do and then they all go home. Job well done; boom! But, it doesn’t accomplish anything. All diocese committees are worthless…they are absolutely worthless. I don’t see them going to the prison with me; I don’t see them going to hospitals or nursing homes; Lori doesn’t see them coming in to help her; the Misfits don’t see them coming to help them. Yet, they’ll tell us what to do. Thanks a lot…I’ve already got plenty to do. Okay?
I’ll tell you one more story before we get on with Mass about how I saw the love of Christ. I was visiting a woman who had bone cancer. It was terrible, and she had been in pain from the beginning. Although her son was a war hero, and had medals and stuff on the wall, he wouldn’t go into his mother’s room. He just sat there. Hey hero, get your butt in here and take care of her. Instead, his second wife went in and gave suppositories and did whatever was needed for someone so drastically ill. She had not gone to medical or nursing school. She learned everything on the job. You know what she did afterward? She went into the bathroom and threw up. I happened to be there at the time. Was Christ in the room taking care of that sick woman? You bet. We are sorry for what that courageous woman went through, and we are called to imitate her.
You keep the light of Christ burning brightly by your prayers, devotions, rosaries, Mass participation, penances, and confessions. Know that when you go into that sick room, you are doing it for Christ and not for yourself. When I was a seminarian, I was working with a priest who was teaching me how to be a hospital chaplain. We walked into a patient’s room and the smell was so obnoxious that I walked out into the stairwell and gagged. I told my father about that first experience. It was a really bad move. The word “sympathy” was not part of my father’s dictionary. He said, “Son, when something like that happens, you go out, gag, throw up, and go back in and take care of that person. You are not the most important thing in the world.” I have passed that advice onto other chaplains. Nowhere in scripture does Jesus ask us how we feel. He asked the apostles what they thought all the time. Christ tells us what to do. How do you feel about that? I don’t care how you feel; I care about what you do. You are the light of the world. Let people see your actions; and see the love that He inscribes upon us.
If someone says, “Hey, you said a nasty word.” You can say, “Yeah, I’m not perfect, but I go to confession and ask for forgiveness for my sins.” And, if you hurt someone, ask them for their forgiveness. But, please, unless you are Brenda Lee, don’t say, “I’m sorry…so sorry.” Instead, say, “I have sinned against you, and I ask for your forgiveness.” You would be surprised at the looks you will get. “Well, nobody has ever asked for my forgiveness.” As a result, they will see the light of Christ shining through you, and that could be one of the greatest ways to evangelize…to share the experience of the forgiveness of Christ as He has done for you in the Sacrament of penance. You can show the love of Christ to others.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you let your light shine so that others can see Christ in you?