Making a Joyful Noise through Lent - 03/09/2014 - First Sunday of Lent
“The Gospel offers us the chance to live
life on a higher plane…,[and in living the joy of the Gospel we] can offer
believers, as well as the lukewarm and the non-practicing, new joy in the faith
and fruitfulness in the work of evangelization. The heart of its message will always
be the same: the God who revealed his immense love in the crucified and risen
Christ.” (Pope Francis – Evangelii
Gaudium – The Joy of the Gospel)
All the readings today, present us with
a lens through which we can look at our journey of Lent and our journey of
life. At mass last Thursday in the first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy
Moses set before the people, life and death, the blessing and the curse and
asked them to choose. In our first reading today from the Book of Genesis (Gen.
2:7-9, 3: 1-7) and in the Gospel (Matthew 4: 1-11) we experience Moses
challenge lived out. Adan and Eve could choose life or death, the blessing or
the curse. Jesus could choose life or death, the blessing or the curse. They
each chose differently Adam and Eve choosing death, Jesus choosing life. In the
middle of these two readings we have St. Paul reminding the Romans where they
came from and where they are at this moment and in perhaps a different way St.
Paul is putting before the Romans life and death, the blessing and the curse
and asking them to choose life!
The words of scripture today and the
words of Pope Francis reminds us of the journey of life, a journey full of
choices and decisions. Our decisions are oh so important there are always about
life and death, the blessing and the curse thus we must always look at the
journey through the lens of faith because that can make all the difference.
Life is not easy. The journey of life is
full of temptations that challenge us with choices. Thus, it becomes profoundly
important that we know the story and hold it our hearts. It is profoundly
important that we live with joy even in the moments of struggle because it can
make all the difference. Let us this Lent remember the story of God's love and
choose wisely as we live life. Let us choose life, let us choose blessing.
Happy Sunday evening everyone!
Daily Prayer: God of Life, be
with us in our journey through Lent and life. Remind us of the story of your
love each day that we may truly believe in our hearts that you are our God. In
our moments of choice and decision help us to choose wisely. Have mercy on us
when we don't. Remind us in the midst of our struggles to always call upon your
name for help. Enrich us with your gift of hope that will enable us to always
remember your love and with joy choose life and blessing. Amen!
Runner's Thoughts: As we run let
us look purposefully for signs of God's presence and give praise and be
thankful. During our run let us become one of the many voice in nature that
give thanks and praise!
Evening Blessing: Happy Sunday Evening
everyone! I am very blessed to be here at the St. Elizabeth Parish in
Rockville, MD to celebrate a time of mission. This is a wonderful faith
community and I kicked of the mission this last night and today by preaching
all the masses. I have just one more mass to preach as there is a 6 pm youth
mass this evening. There is a wonderful spirit here. It is a parish busy about
many things. I am hoping the mission the
next three day will be an added gift to the life of the spirit here.
I hope your weekend has gone well and
you have had at least a little time to rest. Seeing the sun and feeling its
warmth yesterday and today has been a real blessing. Missing and hour of sleep
not so much! I worried about my alarm clock not changing so I didn’t get much
sleep last night. I hope you had a chance yesterday and today to enjoy the sun
and its warmth where you are.
Blessings on your Sunday Evening and
blessings for the work week ahead and may God bless us all with a relaxing and
enjoy evening along with a peaceful and restful night. Please know you will be
in my prayers as I celebrate a time of mission here in Rockville and I ask your
prayers for the faith community here and their preacher. Peace in Christ's
Passion...Fr. Paul
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