A Different Angle

Readings

Lk 16: 19-31

There was a rich man .... And lying at his gate was a poor man ....   Lk 16: 19-20

Reflection

In this parable, the rich man and the poor man are looking at life from different angles. Who had the wrong angle, and therefore a distorted view? Do I try to see things the way they really are? God has the best angle.

A Lenten Question

Readings

Mt 20:17-28

 

What is it you want?  Mt 20:21

 

Reflections

This Lenten Season is a good time to reflect on what we want from God: courage to serve, greater sensitivity to the needs of others, better understanding of the love of Jesus? Lord, give us the wisdom to ask the right questions -- and to listen to their answers.

A Good Habit

Readings

Mt 23: 1-12

 

The greatest among you must be your servant.  Mt 23: 11

 

Reflection

Humility is the good habit by which we live in truth, accepting our gifts and limitations as God sees them -- and using them in service to others. Who in your life demonstrates real humility and service?

Judgment or Judgmental?

Readings

Dn 9:4b-10 & Lk 6:36-38

 

But yours, O Lord our God, are compassion and forgiveness. Dn 9:7

Stop judging and you will not be judged.  Lk 6:37

 

Reflection

We pray to our God who is compassionate and forgiving, yet I am often critical of others and unforgiving. In all four Gospels, Jesus commands us to "Stop judging." A strong admonition. Why is it so difficult for me to comply?

On Top of the Mountains!

The Gospel according to Luke 9:28-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my chosen Son; listen to him."
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

Reflection

When we look around ourselves, we cannot expect to find the bright and white Jesus of the Transfiguration but we can see Jesus. We will see Him when a friend is there to show God’s love. We will see Him when we look at the cross and we see the hope He has given us. It is through the Transfiguration that we can discover that God can make the ordinary become extraordinary and that is the way that God’s grace truly works.

Love your enemy???

The Gospel according to Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the
good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Reflection

In our lives, we probably won’t like everyone we meet and, believe it or not, some people may not like us. However, as Christians, we are called to a higher code of conduct and it is in this light that we should seek to reconcile with those we have broken relationships and pray for those that may have hurt us.

Who do they say I am?

The Gospel according to Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven."

Reflection

Faith and knowledge about God is a gift that Jesus freely gives us. By our Baptism, God has given us this gift, waiting in us to be discovered. Let us nurture this gift, asking for guidance from the Holy Spirit to help us discover it so that it may grow.

The Golden Rule

The Gospel according to Matthew 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who
seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets."

Reflection

This gospel reflects what being a Christian is all about. The last phrase of this passage is so simple and yet so profound – if we all treated one another like we would like to be treated, so many of the problems of the world would melt away.

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn

Today's Readings
First Reading: Jon 3:1-10 , Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19 and Gospel: Lk 11:29-32

Reflection
These readings today could easily be applied to the world we live in today.
Am I contrite and humble?
What can I do to repent and change my ways for the better?

In praying, do not babble like the pagans

Today's Readings
Gospel -Mt 6:7-15

Reflection
Lent is a good time to review all aspects of my faith life, especially prayer.
Do I take time to pray?
More importantly, do I take time to listen to what God is communicating?

Whatever you do for least of mine.....

Gospel Mt 25:31-46

Reflection We have all heard this before.

As I slow down and ponder my relationship with God this Lent, what have I done to make life better for those in my life?

What have I done to make life better for those in my community?

Be with me Lord, when I am in trouble

Today's Readings
Dt 26:4-10 and Lk 4:1-13

Reflection
God is here, waiting to help us, if only we ask.
What can I do this Lent to remind me to turn to God for all of my needs?

I Need a Guide

Today's Readings

Reflection

To walk the path of truth, I need a guide. Lord be my compass, Keep me ever mindful of the course that leads to salvation.

Hungering for Righteousness

Today's Readings

Reflection  

It is only by fasting that I recognize how generous God is to me. My life needs to be measured by my hunger for righteousness.

What are you fasting from this Lent?

How do you hunger for righteousness?

Create In Me

Today's Readings

Reflection

Create in me a clean heart O Lord that I might know your mercy. For it is by you alone that I am rescued and made safe.

What do you need God to clean from your heart this Lent?

When have you felt mercy? When have you given mercy?

Be Reconciled

Today's First Reading

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, “Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.

Reflection

To be reconciled to God my heart and mind needs to repent my past transgressions, only then can my burden be lifted and my spirit soar.

What burdens and transgressions are you carrying? How can you give these back to God and seek repentance and forgiveness this Lent?

For all of today's Mass Readings click here.

Beginning Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, we will begin our Lenten reflections. Watch for the posts each morning.

Ash Wednesday services at St. Francis are as follows:

7:00 am

9:15 am

5:15 pm

7:00 pm

There will also be a Fish Fry dinner beginning at 5:00 pm in the PAC.