Making a Joyful Noise through Lent 04/12/2014

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent – 04/12/2014

“Jesus’ whole life, his way of dealing with the poor, his actions, his integrity, his simple daily acts of generosity, and finally his complete self-giving, is precious and reveals the mystery of his divine life….Sometimes we lose our enthusiasm for mission because we forget that the Gospel responds to our deepest needs, since we were created for what the Gospel offers us: friendship with Jesus and love of our brothers and sisters. If we succeed in expressing adequately and with beauty the essential content of the Gospel, surely this message will speak to the deepest yearnings of people’s hearts.” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel)

The words of Pope Francis today remind us of why we are faith filled people. They remind us of what Jesus has done for us and why. They remind us of the great gift we have as friends of God. But they also remind us of what we absent from the life of the religious leaders at the time of Jesus and why we now journey through this most Holy of Weeks. Let us not make the same mistakes as some made in failing to recognize God in their midst.

The stage is set today for Holy Week. All the characters are taking their places for the drama that will unfold throughout the coming week. The religious leadership has made its choice. They are afraid of Jesus, their comfortable life has been disturbed. Caiaphas has given the justification for the rest of their actions. He has put their social problems squarely on the shoulders of Jesus. He has put their leadership problems squarely on the shoulders of Jesus. He has put their fear and faithlessness squarely on the shoulders of Jesus.

With today’s Gospel (John 11: 45-56) we have a clear understanding of why all that we are about to reflect upon as we go through Holy Week has taken place. In many ways the ideal kingdom that Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37: 21-28) images in the first reading for today has not come about. There still is not just one God, one land, one people and one everlasting covenant of peace. We humans get in the way. We often fail to recognize God in our midst. We struggle to trust God’s presence in our life. We find it difficult to believe, to stake our lives on the promises of God. We are always looking for someone to blame, someone to sacrifice in the hope that things will get better.

As we prepare to begin this most holy of weeks let us take the time, not to plot against God, but to hear God’s word. Let us take the time to have faith in our relationship with God, to be joyful people of faith on the journey, to be hopeful in the promises of God and to allow the love of God to embrace us and live within us as we journey through life!

Saturday blessing to everyone and don’t forget to give God a little time this weekend and to make a joyful noise with your life!

Daily Lenten Prayer: Loving God, open our hearts to the hope of your promises. Give us faith filled hearts that recognize your presence in our life today and always. Grace our hearts so that they may be filled with your love and that we will share your love with all we meet. Deepen our faith, hope and love this day and always so that we will never reject you, so that we will always have faith, see with hope filled eyes, live your love and proclaim the joy of the Gospel with our lives! Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: Breath is usually expressed in Greek as pneuma, which can also mean air, wind, or spirit. In Hebrew ruah is translated as breath, but it can also mean creative energy or life-giving force. As we run let us have an awareness of our breath as spirit, as our capacity to bring God into our being as we take in oxygen into our lungs. If we see each breath this way we will begin to allow our runs to become prayer! (Adapted from Running the Spiritual Path by Roger Joslin)

Daily Blessing: Saturday Blessings to all! I pray that God will bless you with a restful and peaceful Saturday surrounded by friends and family, if not I pray your day will not be too busy.

As I said yesterday I head out again this noon time for some time with a group of Passionist Associates and then later this afternoon it is on to Cedar Knolls, NJ and Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish where I will begin a mission this evening. Holy Week is a wonderful week and I pray you will make some time this week to join the universal Church as we celebrate this profound journey of faith. Yes, I know life is busy but please try to make some time on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. You will not regret it. Remember a little time spent with God can make all the difference.

My prayers will be with all of you in a special way throughout this most Holy of Weeks. My prayer will be that God touches you with a special blessing that will enliven your faith, strength your hope, embrace you with love and fill your heart with the joy of the Gospel that you will proclaim by the living of your life.

I also ask your prayers for this humble preacher of God’s Joyful Word! It will be a very busy week for me but a good busy but I can use your prayers so that the Good Word which I will proclaim as a friend of God will always be a Joyful Word. Be well and safe this weekend and always. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul