Family Life – Page 3 – Joy of the Family

God is Love

Keep God as the focus of everything in your life, receive Him in the Eucharist and you will receive His grace, be healed, forgiven, and made whole because – God is Love!

Author: Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 begins with a list of characteristics describing love. Love is patient, kind, not jealous, not pompous, not inflated, not rude. The passage goes on to include that love does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, and doesn’t brood over injury. There is so much here, but to be clear, the opposite of brooding over injuries is forgiving those who offend us right away and from the heart. The list is not finished because 1 Corinthians continues by telling us that Love does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, which means it is willing to carry our load and sacrifice for each of us. To Love is to will the good of others. Love believes, hopes, and endures. Finally, Love never fails. What a beautiful description of God’s authentic love for His children.

God’s authentic love is far beyond what most of us are used to giving and receiving from one another. God loves us so much that he calls us to something greater. He welcomes us with open arms when we mess up and His love includes mercy and compassion. Even though we often fall short, we should not hesitate to ask Him for more than we feel worthy of receiving. In Matthew 8:8 the Centurion says, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” These are the same words we recite before receiving Him in the Eucharist. All He has to do is say a word and we are healed, forgiven, and made whole. We receive His grace as we receive Him; With His grace we can authentically love one another.

Keep God as the focus of everything in your life, receive Him in the Eucharist and you will receive His grace, be healed, forgiven, and made whole because – God is Love!

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things. Love never fails…

1 John 4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.

John 13:34-35 – I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What are You Searching For?

The Feast of the Epiphany, this year, observed on January 8, is the celebration of the Magi who come from the East to find the King of Kings, the Christ child, so they could worship Him. They were searching for the fulfillment of prophecy, but it is likely they didn’t know what they would find. They knew there was something great, they knew there was something more. “Do you see what I see?” A star, announcing the birth of Christ! St. John Chrysostom spoke of “the star that remained after bringing them to the place, in order that the child might also be seen. For there is nothing conspicuous about the place. The inn was ordinary. The mother was not celebrated or notable. The star was needed to manifest and illumine the lowly place, until they had reached their destination at the manger.” At the manger, they encountered the Christ Child! They worshipped Him and gave Him gifts.

We all have a desire for something more, perhaps a quest for greatness. We are all searching in our own way. To know God and to know that He loves us is our greatest desire. We need to have faith, the size of a mustard seed to find what we search for. We need faith to encounter Jesus, the King of Kings. We need to follow the Light. When we have the grace of faith, we can recognize and believe what has been with us all along! What does it mean to believe? St. Thomas Aquinas says that “believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace”.

The kings traveled from afar to find Truth, to find the Prince of Peace, to find the King of Kings! When they found Him, they worshipped Him, and they gave Him extravagant gifts. They took the message of the Christ child back to their homeland so that others might share the light of Christ. Pray that you will find Him! Pray that you will be a good witness of the joy of the Christ child, the Gospel, the Light of the World! Take Him with you to the ends of the earth to help others find what they are searching for.

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

Matthew 2: 9-10 – …and behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star.

Matthew 5:14-16 – You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Isaiah 52:7 – How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!”

O Come, Let Us Adore Him

“O Come Let Us Adore Him!” This phrase is heard so often during the Advent and Christmas Season. What does it mean to adore? If we break the word down, “adore” comes from the Latin “adorare” which means to speak to formally; to ask in prayer; to beseech. Let us Adore Him, is so much more than looking at the sweet newborn baby who is “adorable.” Perhaps the phrase should say, “O come let us pay honor to the One who deserves all praise”. Or better, “O come let us spend time face-to-face with the living God.” It might be best to say, “O come let us spend time gazing at Him in love and awe.”

When we make the sign of the cross – if done with reverence, it can be a moment of adoration, we can encounter His blessing and His love. Another sign of encounter is the incense that is used to show honor to the presence of Christ among us. Psalm 141 verse 2 says, “Let my prayer be incense before you”, the incense rises like our prayers to God. Incense is meant to call us deeper into worship of Our Lord.

When we adore the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration, we can increase our desire to receive Christ in the Eucharist at Mass. Pope Benedict XVI teaches us in his letter, Sacrimentum Caritatis, “In the Eucharist, the Son of God comes to meet us and desires to become one with us; Eucharistic Adoration is simply the natural consequence of the Eucharistic celebration, which is itself the Church’s supreme act of adoration.”

During prayer and reflection time, adore Him, adore Christ. Do we believe that He is truly present in the Eucharist? Do we trust Him with our whole life, our future? Could we trust Him more? Are we grateful for what God has done in our life? Especially during this season of Advent, let us be intentional in our prayers and take time to find Him, to spend time with Him and to Adore Him.

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

Psalm 95: 1-5 – Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord: cry out to the rock of our salvation. Let us greet him with a song of praise, joyfully sing out our psalms. For the Lord is the great God, the great king over all gods, whose hand holds the depths of the earth, who owns the tops of the mountains. The sea and dry land belong to God, how made them, formed them by hand.

Revelation 4:11 – Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.

Luke 4:8 – Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’”

Ephesians 3:14 -19 – For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Thank You God!

How many times a day do you stop to say, “Thank You”? How often do you express your thanks, especially to God, your Creator? For your alarm clock…thank you God! For gainful employment…thank you God! Maybe you are blessed to raise your children and not work outside the home…thank you God! For a cup of coffee…thank you God! When it is someone’s birthday, do you thank God for the gift of this person’s life…THANK YOU GOD!

God created us in His divine image, male and female He created us. (Genesis 1:27) This means He made each of us good, in fact very good, both body and soul. It means He didn’t want us to be alone, so He gave us one another for loving relationships. He created Male and Female to complement each other. God created you OUT of His love for you. God created you FOR love from others. And God created you TO love others. Our lives are to be a gift of love to one another. God created us, with our bodies, to make visible the seemingly invisible love of God. “The body, in fact, and only the body, is capable of making visible what is invisible; the spiritual and the divine. It has been created to transfer into the visible reality of the world the mystery hidden from eternity in God, and thus to be a sign of it.” (Theology of the Body 19:4) Let that settle in your heart, YOU were created specifically to be a visible reality to others in our world of the mystery of our God and to be a sign of it…Thank you God!

God created us in His divine image, male and female He created us. (Still from Genesis 1:27) God is perfect and everything He does is perfect. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says, “The divine image is present in everyone. It shines forth in the communion of persons, in the likeness of the unity of the divine persons among themselves.” (CCC 1702) You and every person you know are made in God’s image and so reflect some aspect of God to the world. Human persons most clearly reflect God in our relationships. Our relationship with God, with ourselves, with one another, and with creation.

Take time to say, “Thank You God!” for your relationships…if they are not loving relationships, ask God how you can make them more loving. Thank God for helping you as you mend your relationships with Him, with yourself, with others and with creation. Thank God for His Mercy and for creating you, creating you VERY GOOD…THANK YOU GOD!

Blurred Vision

You know you need to do something, but you are suddenly distracted. Through your senses, the ordinary things of life can be a distraction; a sound, a smell, light/darkness, something touches you. And what about your own thoughts? Especially the daily news? How many times do you have a thought one moment and a second later you can’t remember the thought…something distracted you.

Just like in daily life, there are distractions that can keep you from the Lord; you try to pray but cannot focus, you are physically at Mass but mentally distracted by something that happened on the way to church. Hebrews, chapter 12, reminds you to “rid yourself of every burden and sin that clings to you and persevere in running the race that lies before you while keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.” When distracted by the ordinary things of life, or from personal failures or misgivings, you can lose your gaze on the Lord. Your vision becomes blurred, and you can become more attentive to things of this the world rather than the God who loves you.

KEEP YOUR EYES FIXED ON THE LORD!

Saint Peter is a great example of someone who regularly experiences “blurred vision”. In his profession as fisherman, he must catch fish to make money to feed his family. In one gospel narrative his discouragement is apparent when he comes up empty handed and tired after many hours of fishing. Jesus asks him to “lower his nets”. This is the moment he needs to trust Jesus! (Luke 5:4-5). But Peter, like many of us, is distracted, frustrated, with doubts about things happening in the world.

In another gospel narrative, when Peter and the apostles are in a storm, Jesus commands Peter to walk on the water. (Matthew 14:22-33) Peter begins with trust in his friend, but soon after he steps from the boat he becomes distracted by fear. His vision is again blurred.

But here is the beauty of God’s patience and mercy for us. When Peter is afraid and at his lowest, he meets the gaze of Jesus! In both stories Jesus responds in kindness. In Luke’s Gospel: “Peter, do not be afraid…”, and in Matthew’s Gospel: “Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him…”.

HE WANTS YOU TO TAKE HIS HAND!!

How beautiful is the gaze of Jesus. There is great tenderness in His eyes! Pope Francis says, “Brothers and sisters, let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God!” Listen and find courage in these words spoken so many times in scripture – “Be not Afraid”. When your vision seems blurred, when you have a sleepless night, or when you are caught up in the “stuff” happening in your life, take courage! Do not let these distractions rob you of HIS peace. Put on your safety goggles to protect you from blurred vision and “keep your eyes fixed on Jesus”! Be hopeful, have faith…follow Him.

Here’s what the scriptures have to say:

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.

Luke 5:10-11 – Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men. When they brought their boats on shore, they left everything and followed him.

1 Peter 3:13-22 – Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good? But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope but do it with gentleness and reverence keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

Good Morning, Jesus!

St. Teresa of Calcutta also known as Mother Teresa said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” These words are a great way to understand and realize the importance of having a spiritual life. To put yourself in the hands of God…is to surrender your will to His. We need to say, “not my will, Lord, but yours be done.” Often our prayer life is full of whining and complaining, and of a laundry list of needs. Instead of asking, which we need to do, Mother Teresa invites us to listen to His voice in the depth of our hearts.

This seems like an easy task when Mother Teresa says it…she is a consecrated woman, who spent her life in prayer and service to others. What about the person who has fallen away from the Lord, or struggles to know God? How do we connect with God amid all the chaos and confusion of the world? How do we listen to the Truth in our hearts and renounce the lies the world tells us?

Mother Teresa gives us more wisdom when she says, “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature—trees, flowers, grass—grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls.” If God is a friend of silence, imagine his reaction to today’s noisy world. It is difficult to find a moment without technology buzzing, blinking, or pinging. How many conversations do we have each day that are interrupted by technology? God wants us to “grow in silence” or perhaps to be silent so we can grow!

It has been written about Mother Teresa that the first thing she did everyday was to say, “Good Morning, Jesus”. She would say this before she got out of bed, maybe even before she opened her eyes. It seems like a simple beginning to a new day and a simple beginning to a spiritual life. By saying “Good morning, Jesus”, you acknowledge the relationship that matters the most! Try saying, “Good morning, Jesus” out loud before you get out of bed. Try it for 10 days, after 10 days check and see if your prayer life has increased. Check and see if you have a closer relationship with God, and then keep saying it for another 10 days. Build new habits and good habits for the rest of your life by starting simple and doing things that are natural.

Here’s what Scripture has to say:

Matthew 6:6-8 – …when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8: 26-28 – In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.

1 Kings 19:11-12 – Then the Lord said, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord – but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake – but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire – but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.

True Freedom

*Author: Catherine Loh, Diocese of Palm Beach*
*Director of Marriage, Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry*

As we enter the month of July, we prepare for Independence Day, July 4^th, when we celebrate the founding of our country and our hard-won freedom from tyranny at the hands of a foreign monarch. That hard-won fight enshrines not only our national freedom, our right to self-determination as an independent nation, but also our individual civil and religious freedoms.

Freedom is an alluring concept, but what is it exactly? A common dictionary definition asserts that freedom is “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” Ask the average person on the street “what is freedom?” and the likely response is “to do whatever I want.” But is this really what true freedom is all about?

As Catholics, we know better…or rather, we should know better. We are told that true freedom is the freedom to choose the good, but how are we to understand that notion? If it is true freedom, how can there be supposed limits? Doesn’t freedom mean to choose what I want, regardless of the implications?

Let us look at what the Catholic Church has to say about true freedom. The Church teaches in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that freedom “is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility” (CCC 1731). So far, so good. The Catechism continues: “Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude.” (CCC 1731). There lays the “catch.” While we might like to think that true freedom is the ability to choose whatever we want, good or bad, true freedom can only be perfected, that is to be truly free, when it is directed toward God. Otherwise, it becomes subjected to evil, enslaving us to sin, and is no longer free.

Thinking about our first parents, Adam and Eve, we remember that they fell into Original Sin when they were tempted by the devil in the Garden of Eden. They had a free choice to make: to follow God’s command to not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16) or to disobey God and succumb to the suggestions of the devil (Genesis 3:1-6). They were given the freedom to choose, they chose poorly, and now we all must live with the consequences of that decision.

When original man “preferred himself to God” (CCC 398) and “let his trust in his Creator die in his heart” (CCC 397), he abused his freedom, he “preferred himself to God” (CCC 398). By this free choice, man lost his original holiness and harmony and placed himself at odds with God, becoming a slave to sin, and plunging the world into the consequences of sin. This abuse of freedom is exactly what Jesus came to set aright through his suffering, death, and resurrection, to restore our relationship with God.

How can we respond appropriately to this great gift and once again attain true freedom? We were all created in the image of God, for friendship with Him, but we can only live this friendship in free submission to Him. As created beings, we are subject to the Creator and to the laws of His creation and “to the moral norms that govern the use of freedom” (CCC 396). Until we unite our will perfectly with God’s own will, we always have the possibility of choosing evil over good. Every time we choose evil, we diminish our freedom and enslave ourselves to sin.

Now, each of us faces many choices daily. As long as our actions are voluntary, our freedom makes us responsible for our actions. We do well to remember, according to the moral law, we do not have the right to say or do anything we desire. Our exercise of freedom must be just, exhibiting love of God firstly and secondly, charity to our neighbor who we are called to love as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). True freedom is only found in the service of what is good and just. The more we choose the good, the freer we become (CCC 1732-1733).

Let us remember that it is for “freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). That freedom comes at a great price and must be grounded in the One who set us free otherwise we succumb to an illusion that is in truth, no freedom at all.

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

John 3: 16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Galatians 5: 13 – For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another.

Mark 12 :30 – 31 – …and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Transformation

Author: Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach

Have you ever heard of Milk Weed? It’s the plant that monarch butterflies eat. You can buy it at almost any plant store. You place it in the ground and miraculously within a few weeks you can witness an amazing transformation of caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. The life cycle of a butterfly is one of the many beautiful things God created. The butterfly lifecycle has lessons and symbolism that each of us can draw from. Silly though it may seem, this transformation is like the work of Jesus. The most obvious similarity is Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. On Easter Sunday, the glory and beauty of the Resurrected Christ emerges from the tomb. There are no direct references to butterflies in the Bible, but did you ever ponder the new creation God desires from you each day? What if you allow Him to transform your life?

An early stage of the butterfly life cycle is the caterpillar, creeping, and eating. This creature transforms completely into a beautiful flying insect. It is completely changed in appearance and in the way it gets from one place to another. The caterpillar goes from crawling and transforms into a butterfly that flies! In Romans 12:1-2, St. Paul urges “by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” When you seek to do God’s will, letting go of earthly pleasures and allowing your life to be a sacrifice for others, God transforms you. If you allow this transformation, you will put on the newness of life. You will see the life that God desires for you.

Another similarity to the life cycle of a butterfly is its nourishment. The caterpillar feeds on a weed. In the end, it has eaten the entire plant, growing huge by feasting, but it still longs for more. After the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, there is a new feast. Now the butterfly feasts on the sweet nectar of flowers. When the Lord is allowed to enter and transform your heart, to create anew, you will long for the sweetness of eternal life with Him, the salvation of heaven! “So, whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away: behold, new things have come!” Corinthians 5:17.

Come to the banquet God has prepared for you! Feast on the Eucharist, the Living Bread of Life! Allow the Body of Christ to transform you from within. Seek forgiveness and healing. When you reconcile with others you reconcile with the Lord. As you continually die to sin you will be united with Christ in His life, death, and resurrection so you can join Him in Eternal Glory.

Here’s what Scripture has to say:

2 Corinthians 3:18 – All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Romans 6:4 – We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.

Acts 2:38 – Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.”

Most Fully Human

As we journey closer to Easter, many people are preparing to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. They are preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation beginning with Baptism. As with infants and children who are baptized, we the faithful, are called to accompany each other and especially our children who are newly baptized. We are called to welcome them into the fullness of our parish communities. It is the faithful who are to help them to know and understand the commission passed on to them at their baptism and to gradually shift themselves from, simply being the receivers to becoming joyful givers and doers! We are called to help each other become the person God created us to be.

In St. John Paul II’s Gaudium et Spes, he reminds us that the Church teaches, that we are most fully human when we give ourselves to others and when we receive from others (Gaudium et Spes 24:3). In the Theology of the Body, we learn that God gave us bodies so that we can understand ourselves more deeply. Our bodies teach us truth. Our bodies can give us warning signs. Perhaps we need more sleep or need to drink more water. It is important that we respond in a right way from the start. We need to practice patience and learn self-mastery from a young age to guide us as we mature and grow.

When we live our lives as a gift, that is, when we sacrifice for others and live as we were created by God, we are most fully human. When we live as we are created, male and female, we learn how to live a life that fulfills God’s purpose for us – we will be happy and fulfilled. When God created us, he made us male and female, in His image and likeness. God created us in His image of love. God’s creation of man and woman is very good! Today let us live God’s plan, let us restore what is broken, and let us find out the truth about who we are and what we are called to be, people who receive and give love through our bodies and our bodily actions! Let us be most fully human.

Here’s what the scriptures have to say…

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

Wisdom 13:5 – For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen.

1 Peter 3:3-4 – Your adornment should not be an external one: braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or dressing in fine clothes, but rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the imperishable beauty of gently and calm disposition, which is precious in the sight of God.

Changes

There are many twists and turns in our journey of life. Often these twists and turns lead us into places and situations we didn’t anticipate, and we must adjust our life or make changes. Some changes make us better, they are joyful, and we can see the beauty of God at work in our life. Some changes are difficult, and they force us to be strong, they draw us out of ourselves to experience life in way we have never seen. God is always at work in our lives, even when it may be a more difficult to see the beauty. Some changes challenge us to rise to an occasion, and in the end, we are somehow different. If we follow God’s plan and if we follow the Truth of the Gospel, we will be changed for the better. God’s plan for us is more than what we settle for in our everyday journey. We are made for more.

As we begin Lent, we enter another special time of reflection. Let us pray that the Lord will show us changes that we need to make and reveal ways that we could love like Him, forgive like Him, serve like Him, and give like Him. Remember that each time we encounter Christ in the Eucharist we are changed. As we encounter Christ in the Eucharist, draw near to Him, and allow him to bring a twist or turn to your journey of life. In our 40 days of Lent, let us allow ourselves to encounter Christ, to rise to an occasion, to help someone else, to be strong and to be forever changed.

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say…

Isaiah 64:7 – O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands.

Romans 12:9-21– Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, on your part, live at peace with all. Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance in mine, I will repay says the Lord.” Rather, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.

John 15: 1-5 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.