Making a Joyful Noise through Lent 03/27/2014

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent – 03/27/2014

“The joy of the Gospel is such that it cannot be taken away from us by anyone or anything (cf. John 16:22). The evils of our world – and those of the Church – must not be excuses for diminishing our commitment and our fervour. Let us look upon them as challenges which can help us to grow. With the eyes of faith, we can see the light which the Holy Spirit always radiates in the midst of darkness, never forgetting that “where sin increased, grace has abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20).” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel)

The words of Pope Francis today echo the theme of our readings today. We don’t want to be a people with hardened hearts. We don’t want to be a people who lose the light and energy of the Spirit. We want to be a people who allow grace to abound. We want to be a people who recognize God in every action, experience, person and moment in our life.

Our faith is always challenged from within ourselves and from the world around us. But with a sense of hope we can wander through this darkness to the light to the joy of the Spirit and the presence of God that is around every corner!

"If today you hear [God's] voice, harden not your hearts." The response for the psalm today seems to say it all. In the first reading (Jeremiah 7: 23-28) the faith community has harden their hearts toward God. They are not listening or responding to the word or presence of God. In the Gospel (Luke 11: 14-23) there are some who have hardened their hearts for they cannot recognize God in their midst.

In the opening talk of my missions, I talk about how we at times harden perhaps not our whole heart but pieces or areas of our hearts. The primary reason is because we have been hurt and we harden ourselves so that we cannot be hurt again. Sometimes the hurt comes from another person, or a group of people, or an institution or from someone or something outside of us. Yet often we think the hurt comes from God and we harden our hearts to the grace, the word, and the presence of God. In doing this we very often miss the opportunity to experience the presence and the gift of God in our life.

Jesus reminds the people today that bad things do not come from God. God only wants good for us. God loves us, created us and desires a relationship with us. It is the world around us that can hurt. It is often the world within us that can hurt.

We don't want to make the mistakes of our ancestors that are talked about in our first reading from Jeremiah today. We don't want to make the mistake of the people who questioned were Jesus is from in today's Gospel. We want to open our hearts, make our hearts places of nothing but good soil so that when we encounter God, when we hear God's voice the grace, word, strength, blessing and presence of God will be planted within us and grow producing a harvest that is hundred fold.

Please as you journey through this day do not harden your hearts but be open to hear God's voice and encounter God's presence in your life!

Have a great Thursday everyone and don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!

Daily Lenten Prayer: Almighty and eternal God, may we always walk in your ways but especially as we begin this new day. Enliven our hearts with joy so that they will not be hardened by the struggles, hurts, pains and difficulties of life. Help our hearts to remain open to hearing your Word and recognizing your presence. Too often because of life we begin to wander away from you, too often we fail to hear you or recognize your presence in our life. Help us to always have the strength to walk, to live in your ways and hear your voice. Bless us with the gift of your Holy Spirit of joy and hope this day and always! Amen!

A Runner's Thoughts: Running can give us an inner strength that can change our life. Just putting in the time, finishing a run can have an enlivening effect on your confidence and self-esteem. Running can also touch us in a spiritual way that makes us aware of God's presence in our life!

Daily Blessing: Happy Thursday everyone! I hope your day has started off well. We had a great third day and evening of the mission yesterday made special by the youth choir at the evening service. About 15 or 20 young people came to sing and make music and for their penance they had to listen to me for about an hour! We now had into the fourth and final day. I will head home tonight but it will be a brief stay as I have a 7:00 am flight tomorrow that will begin my journey to Garden City, Texas and another mission at St. Lawrence Parish beginning on Saturday. Lent is a busy time but at least I am staying out of trouble for the most part!

I am hoping all of you will have a blessed day. My prayer of blessing today is that you may it be rich in many life-giving experiences, in many faith filed people and touch with the gifts of joy, hope and love. Be well and safe my friends enjoy your day and know you are in my prayers! And may God bless all of you today and always. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul