secular Institute for the laity under religious vows

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Lent is a wonderful time to celebrate the reconciling love and the healing graces our Lord offers us. Like all religious experience, it takes preparation.
Preparing

Reconciliation is what God does. We prepare for it by opening ourselves up, by reflecting upon the areas of darkness in our lives into which God so deeply desires to shine a light. It might begin with the simple question: Where might God be offering me forgiveness and healing?

If my answer is, "I don't know," then I have some reflection to do. I can examine my life - what I have done and what I have failed to do - and see what graces are offered me there. If I've come through that "era" of saying that any guilt, anything that makes me feel bad about myself, is a bad thing, to be avoided at all costs, then I might have a difficult time coming to genuine sorrow for my sins. If this is the case, I need to "go to work" on my reflection, asking God to rouse a sense of embarrassment, leading to deep sorrow, for any way I may not have been faithful, honest, loving, self-less or generous - in my relationship with God, with my family, with others. I can look at each of my responsibilities - as a citizen of a city and a country and the world, a neighbor, an employee, a member of a parish or congregation, as a parent or a spouse or as a son or daughter. God will always shine light into these important parts of our lives, to help us experience remorse and a genuine desire for forgiveness and healing. The point here is not ultimately to focus on ourselves. God always reveals us to ourselves, so that God might reveal to us our need for a Savior. The focus is on God's reconciling, healing love. As John says, "God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn't our love for God, but God's love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven."1 John 4:9-10

It may be that I have experienced troubling guilt - coming out of deep childhood trauma or a long-standing sense of shame This may plague my ability to feel good about myself at all, and therefore to be able to reflect upon my sins - the ways I fail at loving. I can still prepare for genuine reconciliation by preparing to better trust God's love for me, based upon two convictions: First, God's love is un-conditional. It is not conditioned on my being better, or my overcoming anything, or even my being good at all. God just loves me. I am always precious in the eyes of the One who made me and desires to embrace me with the gift of complete freedom, in everlasting life. Secondly, God knows everything, including what I'm struggling with or suffering under. And, the God of all compassion, understands me and loves me. It may be that my greatest sin - the place where I need the greatest sorrow and desire for forgiveness and healing is my lack of trust in God's complete and unconditional love for me. We can be certain that that is a gift God deeply desires to offer me.

It may be that when I ask myself the question about where God might be offering me forgiveness and healing, I might first come up with a single thing that seems "big" to me. I might say, "I feel sorry for how I treat my spouse or my children." I might focus on a long established habit of self-indulgent sexual fantasy, pornography on the internet or masturbation. I may felt most sorrow for what I fail to do - all the "good intentions" that never make their way into action. It is so important not to stop there. None of the "big" things about which we might immediately feel sorry for sums up all of who we are before God and others. They may be very important in giving some clues or some leads in identifying some larger patterns. For example, if a "big" thing that worries me is that I tend to be "loose" with the truth, at times, I can ask what that means, what it reveals about me. I may discover that the real pattern of sin has to do with a deeper dishonesty or lack of integrity: hiding from God; leading a double life; not being who I really am called to be; trying to manage my life on my own terms; manipulating others for my own needs and desires. When the Light of God's love shines into this level of self-awareness, then I am touched by a powerful experience of reconciliation. Even here, in a place I might be most embarrassed and feel most naked, God is loving me and offering me wholeness and joy.

Celebrating Reconciliation

Reconciliation is what God does. Receiving it and celebrating it is what we do. For those of us who are Catholics, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a most natural way to celebrate God's reconciliation. We used to think of this sacrament as only about "confession" - that it was like a dumping ground for my sins, where I got forgiven, and I had to "pay a toll." One of the great recoveries in our Christian history is to re-discover the meaning of this sacrament.

It is God who forgives sins. And God forgives us the very moment that we come to the experience that we need forgiveness (which itself comes through God's grace). At that moment, I feel sorrow and a desire for forgiveness and healing. In that moment, I am reconciled with God. The reunion, the bond, the connection, the joy are all there. Three more things remain: to receive it deep within my heart, to celebrate it, and to participate in the healing process.

When I experience God's forgiveness and love, I am invited to savor it and let it touch me deeply. Experiencing compassion, patience, understanding, and forgiveness is itself transforming. If I fail to appreciate what I have just received - freely and undeserved - then I will take it for granted and risk moving on without a real healing happening.

Then, I need to celebrate the reconciliation I have received. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation - individually or in common - I have the wonderful opportunity to ritualize that celebration. In the Sacrament, my personal journey is joined with the mystery of God's saving love, as seen in the scriptures, and in God's desire to save us all. There, in ritual form (even if it is just me and the priest) I "step forward" and admit that I am a sinner, express my sorrow, and I name the places in my life where God is shining a Light into what I have done and what I have failed to do. Then, God's forgiveness is proclaimed "out loud" - for me to hear and rejoice in: "May God grant you pardon and fill you with God's peace."

An integral part of the reconciliation involves the healing process. If I sprain my ankle, the doctor will offer me a number of therapies for healing - ice, for the first 24 hours to reduce the swelling, wrapping it, elevating it, and then gradually and carefully using it, until it is healed and strong again. Part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is to seek and practice a "remedy" or "medicine" for the healing I desire. Often that will simply be prayer. Often, expressing my gratitude to God is one of the most important steps on the road to recovery from my independence from God. Sometimes, I will need to practice a therapy that is more carefully planned - making choices about what I can practice doing and what I can practice avoiding.

May our Lord grant us all the gift of reconciliation, and may we all receive it and celebrate it well in the holy days ahead.

Daily Lent Prayer
"Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Opening Prayer:
Father,
may our lenten observance
prepare us to embrace the paschal mystery
and to proclaim your salvation with joyful praise.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God, for ever and ever.

The Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12; Psalm 46; John 5:1-16

Daily Meditation:
Our embrace leads to praise.
This is second part of Lent.
We begin to feel the power of the Fourth Gospel.
The "forces" that are opposed in the gospel
have everything to do with the forces at work in my heart.
He is clearly about to embrace his passage - his passover - from death to life.
This paschal mystery is what we are preparing to celebrate.

As we grow in love and compassion for what Jesus is facing for us,
we ask to be prepared to embrace his way, his path, the pattern of his dying and rising.
We ask that we would be prepared to proclaim this gift to others, with great joy

"It was because Jesus did things such as this on the sabbath that they began to persecute him."
For me.

Come to the waters, all who thirst;
though you have no money,
come and drink with joy.
Isaiah 55:1

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
God the Father has given us his only Son, the Word made human,
to be our food and our life. Let us thank him and pray:
May the word of Christ dwell among us in all its richness.

Help us this Lenten season to listen more frequently to your word,
- that we may celebrate the solemnity of Easter with greater love for Christ, our paschal sacrifice.
May your Holy Spirit be our teacher,
- that we may encourage those in doubt and error to follow what is true and good.
Enable us to enter more deeply into the mystery of your Anointed One,
- that our lives may reveal him more effectively.
Purify and renew your Church in this time of salvation,
- that it may give an ever greater witness to you.


Closing Prayer:
Joyful praise in Lent?
I'm not sure I always feel that.
I ask you to help me prepare to understand
and embrace the paschal mystery in my life.
I don't always see the beauty and mystery of this season
and often I run from the pain.
Help me to see how your saving grace
and your loving touch in my life
can fill me with joyful praise of the salvation
you have sent to me.


May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

WEDNESDAY

Jesus Is Stripped.


The Tenth Station Part of the indignity is to be crucified naked. Jesus is completely stripped of any pride The wounds on his back are torn open again. He experiences the ultimate vulnerability of the defenseless. No shield or security protects him. As they stare at him, his eyes turn to heaven.
click on photo to enlarge We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Previous Station
List of Stations

Next Station
I pause to watch the stripping. I contemplate all that is taken from him. And, how he faces his death with such nakedness.
I reflect upon how much of himself he has revealed to me. Holding nothing back.

As I look at him in his humility, I know that this is for me, and I share my feelings of gratitude.

March 30th, 2006
by
Eileen Burke-Sullivan
Theology
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Exodus 32:7-14
Psalm 106:19-20, 21-22, 23
John 5:31-47


Praying Lent
Daily Lenten Praye
Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer

One of the purposes of the Lenten season in the Church year is to spend time and energy discovering to whom or to what we pay out our lives and our loyalty (or in essence who or what we worship). Very often we think we are committed in one direction (the living God) only to find that something or someone has usurped that loyalty and that in fact we are living out of other commitments, not so consciously thought about or intended.

It would appear from the way the story is told in the first reading from Exodus, that the Israelites in the desert knew what they were doing in gathering up their jewelry and coins and melting them to make a golden image of strength and fecundity to worship. What may not seem obvious to us, who don't ordinarily burn incense or dance ritual dances to statues that we can be similarly trapped by the needs and passions that drove these recently released slaves to something so seemingly absurd to us. But what the Israelites were doing, after all was aligning themselves with - or attaching themselves to - a god (power) that would source them. Is it not the case today that prowess, material wealth and sexual allure are still values that many folks spend their material resources and physical energy seeking to attain (i.e. in a more modern form of idolatry). It seems to me that this story of constructing a golden calf to worship can be seen as the direct analogy to what we do when we pour all our material goods, time, talent, intellectual strength and emotional energy into attaching ourselves to the "bull" of the herd - that is the strongest, most dominant, most seductive or coercive power around. Whether we do that personally or attach ourselves to a crowd seeking to do it together makes little difference in the long run. Being number one is the American dream in many cases, whether we symbolize it with awards, accomplishments, athletic prowess, or material wealth - or even whether we do it by being religious bullies (my theology is more pure and absolutely orthodox than yours) we are still worshipping a "golden calf" rather than worshipping the living God. One of the great tragedies of human history is that we humans can take any good of creation and turn it into self worship rather than the worship of God.

The Gospel has a somewhat similar theme - but seen from a different lens. In the fifth chapter, the author of John's Gospel is casting Jesus into a kind of trial with the religious authorities of his day. Jesus is accused of violating the (religious and civil) law by healing a man on the Sabbath. Jesus, of course, has interpreted the Law from his personal relationship with the Father, so the fact is that his interpretation is more authentic. His point in defending himself is to show the religious leaders that their rendering of the law is based on their own personal needs for power and control, not on their loving relationship with the Father or even a loving relationship with the living tradition (made evident in the fact that Moses would condemn them for not really following the Law he delivered). Jesus challenges the way they interpret scripture because they can't see beyond themselves. They are in fact using their interpretation of the law as a substitute for God and God's real desire - or, in the analogy of the first reading, as a golden calf to worship.

Jesus makes the case that even so-called "good" religious people have to take stock of our various ways of giving our allegiance because we may have made anything into a substitute for God. It is by the fruits that such false worship will be discovered - so our attention ought to be on the outcomes of our energy. Do we bring healing, peace, joy, compassion, courage, strength and hope where we go and where we take stands? Or is the community divided, bitter, backbiting, brokenhearted and discouraged when we have been around?

God can raise up other servants, but he would rather redeem the servants he has now; the invitation of this Lenten season is to try to cooperate with God's hope for us.
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March 31st, 2006
by
Michael Cherney
Physics Department
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Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22
Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30


Praying Lent
Daily Lenten Prayer
Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer

The reading from the Book of Wisdom kept drawing my thoughts to American politics. Two weeks ago I sat through a dinner conversation where both sides believed they had the moral high ground. There was very little listening and many condemnations for false righteousness. I realized many of my dinner companions would not make the connection between the first reading and the Psalm response. Both sets of my dinner colleagues were charged with their sense of being right. Neither felt brokenhearted, but both believed the Lord would confront the evildoers that were across the table. I went home that night feeling stressed rather than challenged by both sides.

I am blessed with two teenage sons. In many ways this helps keep me on track. I am reminded on a regular basis of my flaws and weaknesses. What keeps me humble is the fact that they are often right. I do fail to signal my turns. I could be getting more exercise. I do get obsessed with my work. My time could be better spent. My circumstances preclude my ever speaking of others' faults with authority. If I forget about the plank in my eye, I have helpers to remind me.

I read today's Gospel and consider how I picture Jesus. Was he like my dinner companions charged with a sense of righteousness? Was he like my teenage sons with an eager awareness of weakness? I can imagine watching Jesus from the crowd and asking the same questions presented in the Gospel. In my meditation Jesus is a good listener. He is speaking from the heart and not passing judgment. He is aware of the authorities' concern. I see those in power viewing him as a subversive. I see them ready to quickly and without drama remove him from the scene. What bothers me is I notice that I am watching from the crowd with feelings of fear more for myself than for Him. I realize that I would be standing near the periphery ready to leave if things turned ugly. I recognize that I have very different feelings than I did with my strong-willed table mates. I wished that he would continue to be around. I realize that I am a pre-Pentecost disciple. I think ahead to next week and know how well I will fit into the part of the reading of the Passion that falls to the congregation.

My prayer today is to be a better listener. My prayer is to be less judgmental. My prayer is that I may be drawn into the experiences of Holy Week, Easter and Pentecost.
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April 1st, 2006
by
Chas Kestermeier, S.J.
English Department
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Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm 7:2-3, 9-10, 11-12
John 7:40-53


Praying Lent
Daily Lenten Prayer
Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer

This Gospel passage is a little unusual in that Jesus does not appear in it directly; instead, John concentrates on the reaction of those whom Jesus speaks to and calls. What impression does he make on them? What response do people have?

It is the guards who are key here: "No man has ever spoken like that before." The guards have met Jesus personally and have actually listened to what he was saying to them rather than relying on their orders or their preconceptions, and they have come to at least the beginning of belief. They have listened, they have grown.

And what about us? Most of us have been hearing about Christ and think that we too know who he is and what his origin is, but do we spend any time listening to Jesus himself?

Do we hunger to find the real Jesus, do we seek him in Scripture and listen to him in prayer? Or do we already "know" who he is and only read Scripture to find proofs and to solidify our position? Do we spend our prayer time telling God what He should do for us or do we ask to learn His desires for us and to accept His values? We should be approaching Scripture prayerfully, humbly, open to meeting the real Jesus and letting him reveal himself as He wishes to.

Then we will be filled with the Word as Mary was, and the Holy Trinity will tell us who we are and who they are. And that is how we will come to the belief of the guards and even the enthusiasm of the disciples.
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Spring Cleaning for Freedom

So many of us have accumulated much more than we need. It bursts from our closets, overflows our shelves and clutters our lives. Lent might be a wonderful time to deliberately release ourselves from the many "things" we own by cleaning out our closets and simplifying our lives in a prayerful and intentional way.

On one level, this is ridding ourselves of things we don't need, or things that we hated to part with except that they are so "out of style." Certainly, many of us have many things that are "extra" or "unneeded" for us, but could be wonderful for those who can't afford to buy clothes at a store.

Another level of this journey into personal freedom is to ask ourselves how much I really do need. How many sweaters do I want to choose to have? How many jackets, sport shirts, dresses, shoes? How much jewelry? How much sporting equipment? How much electronic equipment? How many sets of silverware or dishes? How much of so many things we have in our lives?

We can get as serious and go as deeply into this as we desire to find fruit. This is not "should I get rid of what I don't need?" This is different, more faith-filled and takes us into giving up 'good' stuff -- perhaps stuff we are attached to -- because we want to experience the exercise of freedom. We do this because we sense that we are not free in some areas that are tremendously important for us, important for our salvation, and growing in freedom before the things of our lives can be a great grace. This freedom, too, will place us in greater solidarity with those who find such great happiness and joy in trusting in God, while having so much less than we imagine we could survive on.

What else might we do, that fits with my circumstances and the needs around us and in the world?

Family Conversion - Relationship Conversion

Lent can be a good time to reflect on the people who mean the most to us and the relationships we hold most dear. For those of us who live in industrialized countries, it can be jarring to realize that our time together as a family might amount to no more than a few minutes a day. Our lives are independent as we scatter in different directions each day for work, school or childcare.

This season of reflection and renewal might be an appropriate time to pray about our family lives and how we can be more thoughtful and prayerful about Lent as a family.

Perhaps we could hold a family meeting over dinner or some other relaxed place. We could discuss Lent and the symbols of the season using the resources here. We might want to talk about how our faith life is not a journey we make alone, but one we are in as a community, as a family.

One Lenten family practice might include a daily act of love for our family. Can we look around and see some small thing that needs to be done to make our lives together better? Is there laundry to sort or dishes to be washed? Is there a floor that needs sweeping or a room that needs dusting? Just one effort by each of us each day can make a dramatic difference in sharing the workload in the family. The grace we are reaching for goes beyond getting the garbage taken out, for example. We know it is a grace when my experience of taking the garbage out, feels to me like an act of love, an act of solidarity as a family. Perhaps the simplest way to prepare for this grace is to pray:

Dear Lord, may this simple, ordinary sacrifice of my time for the sake of those I love, draw us closer together as a family whose hearts you are drawing to yourself in the togetherness of our family love.

One of the real graces of Lent has to do with forgiveness and reconciliation - mercy and healing. This is never simply a matter between Jesus and me. It always has something to do with my family and with my relationships - how we are with each other. What in us needs mercy and healing? What patterns that we have need our reflections and common family choices and actions this Lent?

Realigning Our Priorities

All of us have, at one time or another, named certain things as our "priorities." From time to time, when we become aware of our not doing something that is really important, we say, "I have to make that a priority." Lent is an important time to do a top-to-bottom review of what we value and what we actually do, in our every day lives. Whenever we do this, we always discover that something needs re-aligning. We discover that there are values we hold, commitments we've made, growth we desire, that simply don't make it on the list of our "actual priorities" - that is, the things that take the "first place" in our lives. For example, I might say, "My family is my first priority!" My family might say otherwise. I might say, "My faith is among my top priorities." But, an honest self-examination may show otherwise. I may say, I hear the words of Jesus that we will be judged really on only one thing: how we care for "the least" of his sister and brothers. I may only occasionally even notice that feeding, clothing, caring for or defending the marginal never makes it to my priority list.

A thorough review of what is most important to us, and what seems to be important to us by virtue of what we actually do, is prime Lenten activity. If what we are hoping to do during Lent is to grow in personal freedom, based upon our growing sense of God's love for us, and our clearer vision of who we are, and our deepening desire to be more closely aligned with the heart of Jesus, then we will want to do this personal review very carefully. How else might we ever hope to get to a heroic, courageous, self-sacrificing service of others? What chance will care of the poor ever have of making it into our priorities? How will we ever be able to break old self-defeating habits and secure the establishment of new ones that help us be who we want to actually be?

Getting Started
I can start a variety of ways, but it would be wonderful if we could start with prayer. We can ask God - in our own words, and with desire - for the grace to do this review with real honesty, and with a real desire to grow in freedom and integrity.

Who am I? What is my purpose?
Then, I might want to spend a few days reflecting upon - in the background all day long - who I am, and what my purpose is. Then, I might spend a few more days reflecting upon who I say Jesus is, and what this means for me. It doesn't make sense to start with a review of what I really value, if I haven't first examined if my values "fit" the truth of who I am and who I am called to be.

Naming my values
Then, I can name what is most important to me. A piece of paper would be very helpful, so that I can put it into words and keep "editing" or refining the words as I go along. I will try to be as explicit as possible. Instead of saying, "My kids." I might spell out the values that are important to me in my saying that my kids are a value, e.g., "It is extremely important to me that I be there for and with my kids when they are encountering key growth moments in their lives, in so many areas - homework time, for reflection time, in relationship struggles, in wins and losses, in relaxing and having fun." We want to "open up" our values, as we name them. What does it mean to say I value "my faith" or "my relationship with God" or "service to others"?

Spelling out the values in actions
Then, with each value, I will list what that value will mean in concrete behavior. For example, I may have written a value statement that is quite wonderful, "My relationship with my wife is the most important relationship of my life: I need her for my faith, and for my everyday strength; I want to be there for her, supporting her faith, affirming her, and caring for her in all her needs; I want to spend the rest of my life growing together in service of others." That would be an incredibly important set of things to say about what my wife means to me. The real work, the real "choosing" happens when I spell that out in real actions that will give life to that valuing. The true test of a value's importance to me is how it survives, in competition with other important values, in the contest for time in my everyday life. I can tell what I really value, by what I really do. When I feel like I'm not doing what I really value, then I need to realign my priorities.

Don't forget to be complete
One of the serious "mistakes" in trying to realign priorities is that I can easily overlook "operational priorities" that I might not be too aware of, or that I might not be to proud of. If I'm going to "re-arrange" what is important to me - moving some things higher up on the list and others things lower down - then I need a complete list. There probably are things in my life that I just do regularly - I read the paper every morning at 6 a.m.; we go out to dinner every Saturday night; I have "season tickets" to something. I need to name these. If "watching TV" is a big priority in my life (something I spend 4, 6, 10, 20 or more hours a week doing), or if I have to watch something every week, I should name it. If escaping into sexual fantasy is something I do quite regularly, I should name it. Smoking, drinking, surfing the net, collecting little ceramic things, fixing up the basement, are things that can become pretty engaging, are often time and resource consuming, and should be named.

Establishing new priorities
When all of my priorities are lined up like this, I am then ready to re-value them. We don't want to rush this part of the process. Perhaps we will want to discuss this review with some of the people who are intimately involved with the choices I will be making. And I will want to assess if I have the freedom and grace I need to make the decisions I want to make and to begin to establish new patters. That is precisely when it is important to turn to God with my fresh desires (trusting that they have been inspired by God's initiative already) and ask what I need.

The next step is to name what my "first priorities" are. This may sound ironic: how many "first" priorities can I have? In this sense, my first priorities are those that I will always do. In any competition for time, these choices will win out. That is what defines them as my priorities. My relationship with God, with my family, with my faith community, with my friends, with others in need, might be in this category. This is what I do not want to neglect any more.

Then, it is very important to name the second level of priorities. These are very important, and I don't want to neglect them either, but I want to make sure to distinguish them from my top priorities. I may, for example, have "my work" priorities here. They are very important to me, but I want to realign my priorities so that my first ones actually come first.

Then, I will clearly put a lot of other stuff in the third level of priorities. Now this process gets to be purifying. I may discover that I spend more money on smoking or recreation or knickknacks than I give in support of my faith community or the poor. I may realize that I spend more time watching TV than I do praying. I may find it difficult to surrender something I "always do" for something I now want to make sure I always do. Since this is where we may need the most grace, this is a very important time to turn to the Lord and ask for help and freedom. Dying to self, in order to be who I am called to be for and with others, is not easy at first. With practice, it can become a source of great joy and fulfillment. And, with God's grace, it will be part of my contribution to the Reign of God's coming closer and closer.


Building in a review time
Because this realignment will take practice, it will involve some back sliding at times. In times of crisis or under pressure, we all regress back to behaviors we were most comfortable with. Our new priorities can vanish. That is why it is critical to keep reviewing how we are doing. During this Lenten time, we may build in a daily examination of how we are doing. With time, we may want to develop the practice of reviewing our day to day fidelity to our priorities every Sunday morning, or some other time during the week. With each examination, we need to give thanks to God, for the grace that has inspired and sustained this life-giving realignment of our priorities.

Family Prayer

One of the real challenges that we too often find in our contemporary, busy lives is finding time to be together as a family. It is especially difficult to find opportunities to pray together. And, if prayer, other than going to church on Sunday, hasn't been a family tradition, it can seem very "unnatural" to introduce it as something we might do together as family. Here are a few possibilities - call them dreams - for ways we might pray as a family, during Lent, or at any time of the year.

Prayer Before Meals

One of the most natural times to pray, is as we sit down to eat. We can begin, or "break the ice," by simply saying, Let's pray or Let's just pause for a minute to give thanks. One of the challenges of doing this prayer well, is that we don't want our food to get cold. This leads us to do the prayer quickly. Brief prayer doesn't have to be without substance or power. And, it doesn't always have to be after the food is on the table. For a change of pattern, we could gather everyone to the table for prayer, and then bring the food to the table.

We begin with a prayer of thanksgiving:

Lord, we thank you for the blessings of this day
and for this time together as family.

We thank you
for this wonderful meal
and for this hour we can share it.
We always begin with thanksgiving. The "reasons" we give for our gratitude can be very specific, and draw us into this prayer from our "real" place we are in this day. So, we can say that we are grateful for this Lenten journey, which offers us renewal and prepares us to celebrate Easter with greater freedom. We might say, We thank you for being with us each of us today, while we were apart, and for being with us tonight. Perhaps we will thank God for some special grace that has occurred today. We may want to take time to let each person name one or two things for which he or she is grateful.

We then turn to God and ask for what we need.
Help us to remember those who have so much less than we do.

Bless us as a family.
Help us to grow in love and care for each other.

We ask you to comfort and give strength and peace
to those who are sick or struggling in any way.
This, too, should be very specific to us as a family. We all have family and friends who are sick or in need. Perhaps there is a special challenge or difficulty that one of us is going through. We can turn to God with our concerns about a crisis that is going on in our city or country or some part of the world. With practice, this brief moment will help us be mindful of our desire to turn to God in all our needs. It will help us grow in a sense of compassion and care for so many people. Again, we may want to take time to let each person name one or two prayers of petition.

We can conclude with, We ask this through Christ our Lord or with a traditional table prayer, which we could say together.
Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts,
which we are about to receive
from your bounty
through Christ our Lord.
Amen. These options are from the Book of Common Prayer.

Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for all thy mercies,
and make us mindful of the needs of others;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bless, O Lord, thy gifts to our use and us to thy service;
for Christ's sake. Amen.

Blessed are you, O Lord God, King of the Universe,
for you give us food to sustain our lives and make our hearts glad;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For these and all his mercies,
God's holy Name be blessed and praised;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Praying at Other Times

There are many other times or occasions when we can develop the habit of praying together. These examples might inspire our own creative or spontaneous prayer.

In the Morning:
It can be quite transformative of our family bonds, in faith, to pause very briefly to pray together. This might be a spontaneous prayer, while we are laying in bed with our spouse, Lord, be with us today, or Dear, I ask the Lord to give you strength and peace today at your meeting. Perhaps we are rushing around each other in the kitchen, grabbing breakfast. It can be wonderful to pause to pray, simply asking the Lord to be with each of us in what we are about to do.

In the Car:
So many of us spend a fair amount of time in the car, often with other members of our family. These can be nice times to begin or end the trip, with a very brief prayer. Bless our shopping tonight. Help us be grateful for the gifts you give us. May this food/these clothes help us be mindful of those who have so much less than we do. Or, Bless Ann at practice today. Give her gratitude and delight in the gifts you give her. Help her to do her best, to encourage others, and to learn what you offer her today. Or, Lord, as we go to Bill and Ann's for dinner, we thank you for our friendship with them, and we ask you to bless this night with all the graces you might offer us in the care we have for one another; we ask this in Jesus' name. Or, Lord, as we drive to church, we thank you for our faith and for this chance to be together with our parish community; please allow us to hear your Word, to give you thanks and praise, and to be nourished for the mission you give us this week.

Over the Weekend:
Often the weekend offers some special moments together that can be wonderful times of prayer.

Other Times:
We can say brief prayers like this at so many special times. It can be very important to pray together, while cleaning up, in preparation for guests coming for dinner, or an overnight slumber party. We might share the responsibility for "designing" the family prayer for special occasions: Birthdays, Anniversaries, the beginning and ending of a school year, when one of us is beginning any new endeavor. We may want to add some special prayer time if one of us is experiencing a personally anxious time or crisis. For example, if one of us has to wait for an appointment for a biopsy, and then wait for the results, we might place a special candle on our dining room table, and light it each evening as we remember that person in our prayer.

Simple Rituals:
It can be so easy to add gestures that bring powerful prayer to our family life. One of the simplest and most natural is to trace a cross on a loved one's forehead. It can speak volumes to a young child, if his or her parents were to give them this gesture of love and prayer. This ritual can be done everyday, when we part for the day, or at bed time, or it can be reserved for special prayers of blessing before a big event. And, it can be a powerful, faith-filled ritual for a husband and wife, as part of an every day pattern, or at times of great intimacy, to touch each other in blessing.

Any of the "symbols" that we refer to in our page, "Symbols in Our Home" can be a source of family ritual. Perhaps we have our own family gesture or ritual that speaks of our faith or draws us into prayer.

Praying for Each Other:
The most important part of family prayer is perhaps the easiest to overlook - how we hold each other up to the Lord. Even when we are not physically together, as a praying family, we want to pray for each other. In reality this means that I have a pattern of talking with the Lord about the people I love most dearly, each and every day. They become part of my very relationship with God. Whether we are a married couple with young children, or I am a single parent, or if my children have grown up and begun lives of their own, this aspect of family prayer is so important. My spouse and I may not share our faith; perhaps my spouse doesn't pray at all; but I can talk with the Lord about my spouse every day - sometimes asking for help, sometimes just expressing my gratitude, sometimes begging for the gift of faith for my spouse.

May our Lord bless our praying, in the community of our family, these days of Lent.

Our Service for and with the Poor
This doesn't need to feel out of our reach. In so many reflective ways, we can make choices to act in solidarity with those for whom we desire to have a special care, and from whom we know we will learn much about faith and trust in God.

Soup kitchen - food pantry
So many people depend upon our charity, in societies that can't yet provide for an equal distribution of our resources, and offer means for a growth in dignity and justice in attaining them. Imagine if we take some time to research how the poorest of the poor are cared for in our area. We may want to practice our generosity in preparing food, serving it ourselves or sharing what we have with food pantries that offer daily survival for those in need. Imagine if we felt inspired to go deeper. What graces might come to us if we were to go to a meal program and sit with and visit the poor? What fear would we need to overcome? What might we learn if we ask how they are getting along? Or ask them about their faith? Perhaps we might grow in courage to bring our children or friends. How might we return to our lives with greater freedom and trust?

What else might we do, that fits with our circumstances and the needs around me and in the world?

www.americancatholic.org

Triduum rituals

Lent comes to an end before the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. That liturgy begins the Triduum, the great Three Days that celebrate the central mystery of our faith. Triduum rituals invite us all to baptismal renewal, par excellence. Here are some examples.

Washing of Feet: After the homily on Holy Thursday, we imitate our master in the washing of feet. This ritual reminds us that our baptismal commitment means we are to be servants of one another. In the time of St. Ambrose in Milan, those who were baptized also had their feet washed, because of Jesus' words to Peter: "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed" (Jn 13:10). Many scholars have seen a baptismal reference in those words.

Veneration of the Cross: As part of our observance of Good Friday, we venerate the cross on which Christ died. The veneration challenges us to be willing to accept the cross, too, for it is the only way to resurrection. Through Baptism, we shared in Christ's death that we might come to new life. Every year we are called to deepen our identification with his cross and resurrection.

Waters of Baptism: The core of our celebration of the Easter Vigil is the Baptism of the elect. As we share in their joy on this holy night, we are all called to renew our own baptismal promises, to live in the joy of life in the Risen One. Lent comes to its fulfillment around the waters of the font.

catholic news service

Current diocesan sex abuse audits not enough, says review board head

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops need to step to a new level in assessing their programs and policies to protect children and prevent clerical sex abuse, the head of the bishops' National Review Board said March 30. "The present audit process is insufficient," Patricia O'Donnell Ewers, the board's chairwoman, told journalists gathered at Washington's National Press Club for the public release of the 2005 audits of the sex abuse responsiveness of dioceses and male religious orders. The process must move from seeing whether dioceses have requisite policies and programs in place to assessing how effectively those policies and programs are being implemented, she said. The board, a 13-member panel of prominent lay Catholics, was established by the bishops in 2002 to monitor the compliance of dioceses with the provisions of the bishops' "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." One of its tasks is to review annual audits of diocesan child protection and sex abuse response policies and programs and make recommendations to the bishops for improvements in those areas.

Costs skyrocket, but clergy sex abuse cases fall sharply in 2005

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Clergy child sex abuse allegations dramatically declined in 2005 over the previous year, but costs skyrocketed, according to the yearly audit on how the U.S. church is applying child protection policies. Dioceses, Eastern-rite eparchies and religious communities paid out $467 million in child sex abuse-related costs in 2005, $309 million more than in 2004, while new credible allegations dropped by 28 percent to 783, said the audit report made public March 30. Most of the money, $446 million, was paid out by dioceses and eparchies, with 49 percent covered by insurance. The payouts involved many cases reported in prior years. When added to previously released costs, the U.S. church has paid out more than $1.3 billion on clergy sex abuse-related issues, mostly in settlements to victims, since 1950. Besides allegations, the number of alleged victims and abusers dropped significantly.

Number of priests accused of child sex abuse decreasing, says study

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Although child sex abuse allegations against Catholic clergy may continue, there is a marked decrease in the number of cases that have occurred in recent years, said a report by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Most of the recent allegations concern events that took place decades ago, it said in a supplemental report to its mammoth study of the nature and scope of the U.S. clergy sex abuse crisis. The original study, covering the years 1950-2002, was released in 2004 and commissioned by the U.S. bishops' National Review Board. The supplemental study contained further analysis of the same data and was released in Washington March 30 along with the 2005 audit of how the U.S. church is applying its sex abuse prevention policies. "The decrease in sexual abuse cases is a true representation of the overall phenomenon," said the John Jay supplemental report. "Even if more cases are reported, they will be based primarily on abuse that occurred years before," it said.

Bishops, Vatican discussing penalizing bishops in abuse cases

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops and the Vatican are discussing whether disciplinary action should be taken against bishops who moved child-abusing priests from parish to parish, said the head of the U.S. bishops' conference. "It's a matter of dialogue between us and the Holy See," said Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash. The bishop said church officials know more now about child sex abuse than they did several decades ago when most of the abuse took place. At that time an abuser would be sent for therapeutic treatment and would return with assurances that he could exercise his ministry again, Bishop Skylstad told Catholic News Service March 30 following a news conference to present the 2005 audit report on how dioceses are implementing child sex abuse prevention policies. "Now we know differently," he said. Organizations of victims of clergy abuse have often criticized the bishops because their sex abuse prevention policies do not contain disciplinary action against bishops who moved abusive priests around. Under church law, only the pope can discipline a bishop.

Calls continue for suspension of RU-486 abortion drug

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Members of Congress and representatives of various pro-life groups repeated their calls for a law to suspend use of the drug known as RU-486 because of the deaths of some women who used it to cause abortions. At a March 29 press conference, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., led calls for a bill called "Holly's Law" to be put to a vote and passed. The bill is named for an 18-year-old from California who died of toxic shock after taking RU-486. The Food and Drug Administration in mid-March announced it will hold a public workshop in May to consider further research on the type of illness that has been connected to using the abortion drug. But Smith and others said to delay even that long would put more women at risk. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., said the situation is "a classic case where abortion politics trumps women's lives."

Charity proposal fails in Illinois; Catholic hospitals affirm efforts

CHICAGO (CNS) -- Catholic hospital administrators across Illinois are breathing sighs of relief as the state legislative session draws to a close, with no new requirement to provide a set level of charity care -- a requirement that could have made it impossible for many institutions to survive. Catholic and other not-for-profit hospitals had mobilized to oppose Attorney General Lisa Madigan's proposal to require them to provide charity care equal to 8 percent of their expenditures or lose their tax-exempt status. Part of the difficulty is making people understand how devastating such a law would be, said Philip Karst, executive director of the Illinois Catholic Health Association. There are 47 Catholic hospitals in Illinois, roughly a quarter of the total. "The hospitals do provide charity care," Karst said. "And all of them have reviewed and revised how they do that to make sure they have policies in place." But none of them can afford to provide charity care at the level Madigan suggested, in part because they are providing so much other uncompensated care, he said.

Some churches to distribute organic palms for Passion Sunday

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- About 30 Catholic churches are among the 280 Christian congregations nationwide that will be distributing certified organic palm fronds on Passion Sunday. The palm fronds, which come from the Upper Peten region of Guatemala and Chiapas state in southern Mexico, were marketed by the University of Minnesota's Department of Forest Resources. According to RaeLynn Jones Loss, program coordinator for the forest resources department, about 80,400 palm stems were to be shipped in time for services April 9. "Next year we'll be able to ship more," Jones Loss said. This year, there were only three suppliers. "Next year we hope to be able to have four or maybe five." The fronds are cut within regional forests. "They don't fertilize forests," so the fronds are certifiably organic by the Rainforest Alliance and its affiliate, the Forest Stewardship Council, Jones Loss told Catholic News Service in a March 29 telephone interview from St. Paul, Minn.

Study suggested to fine-tune child sex abuse prevention programs

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A study to determine the main elements of child sex abuse prevention programs is among the recommendations made by the U.S. bishops' Office of Child and Youth Protection to fine-tune church policies. The results of the study would be shared with the 195 U.S. dioceses and Eastern-rite eparchies, said the recommendation. The recommendations are contained in a report released March 30 on how dioceses and eparchies were implementing in 2005 the bishops' policies contained in the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." The recommendations were made by the child protection office and approved by the National Review Board composed of 13 laypeople and established by the bishops to monitor compliance with the charter. Sex abuse prevention programs, also called safe environment programs, provide education to children, parents, clergy, church employees and volunteers about child sex abuse and ways of preventing it. Such programs are required by the charter.

WORLD

Interreligious dialogue involves more than culture, archbishop says

ROME (CNS) -- Clashes between Christians and Muslims can be avoided through a sincere attempt to follow the will of God in one's own life and to get to know one another, said Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, the new Vatican ambassador to Egypt. The difference between intercultural dialogue and interreligious dialogue is precisely the interreligious dialogue participants' willingness to share their faith and deepen their commitment to doing God's will, he said. The archbishop spoke March 29 at Rome's Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, where he used to teach, before leaving to take up his new post in Cairo. He headed the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue until Feb. 15. After Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Fitzgerald nuncio to Egypt and the Vatican's representative to the 22-member League of Arab States, the pope named French Cardinal Paul Poupard to head the council for interreligious dialogue. The cardinal also heads the Pontifical Council for Culture.

Australian Catholic council calls for release of Guantanamo detainee

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- A 30 year-old Australian captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2001 and held in detention in Guantanamo Bay should be afforded "real justice" outside the U.S. military's legal system, said the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council. The chairman of the council, Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome, urged the Australian government to ensure that detainee David Hicks receives "a proper trial before a nonmilitary court" or gets returned to Australia. "This situation has gone on for far too long," the bishop said. Bishop Saunders urged the Australian government to follow the lead of Commonwealth countries such as Britain and Canada, who have secured the release of their own nationals from detention at Guantanamo Bay. "Concerns about conditions at Guantanamo, the indefinite detention and the deficiencies of military trials should be a basis for action on behalf of Mr. Hicks," said Bishop Saunders. Hicks, a former Australian soldier, was captured with Taliban combatants when U.S. troops overran their positions in Afghanistan in 2001.

Pope says Catholic leaders have a right to comment on policy debates

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Catholic leaders have a right to comment on public policy debates in order to educate people's consciences and uphold justice, Pope Benedict XVI told politicians from Europe. The pope met March 30 with about 500 participants in a conference sponsored by the European People's Party, a coalition of 38 political parties, including several Christian Democrat parties, active in Europe. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose Forza Italia party is part of the coalition, canceled his participation in the audience following accusations that a papal meeting could be seen as an endorsement less than two weeks before he faces re-election. During the audience, Pope Benedict told the politicians they could "contribute significantly to the defeat of a culture that is now fairly widespread in Europe which relegates to the private and subjective sphere the manifestation of one's own religious convictions."

Pope says people do not need to be perfect to be called to a vocation

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- One does not have to be perfect to be called to a vocation in the priesthood or religious life, but one must recognize that God calls each person to repentance and holiness, Pope Benedict XVI said. "Human frailties and limits do not represent an obstacle" to having a vocation, "as long as they contribute to making us more aware of the fact that we need the redeeming grace of Christ," the pope said in his message for the 2006 World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The day dedicated to praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life will be celebrated May 7 in most countries; the pope's message for the day was released March 30 in Italian. From Jesus' time, Pope Benedict said, God has called individuals to dedicate their lives totally to serving God and their brothers and sisters. God's call is not addressed to the perfect, but to those open to God's love, which changes human hearts and makes them capable of communicating the love of God to others, the pope said.

Polish bishops seek forgiveness for priests who were informers

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- Poland's Catholic bishops have requested forgiveness for priests who served as secret police informers under communist rule. "The dramatic experiences of Polish history show trust was ... betrayed by certain people of the church -- we are pained by this and apologize to those who experienced distress and harm," the bishops' conference said in mid-March. "But we also stress that the Christian attitude is to extend mercy and forgiveness toward those who show repentance and offer recompense. We are concerned for everyone's salvation, including those who persecuted the church." The statement also criticized the media for sensationalizing reports that about 10 percent of Catholic priests are believed to have acted as communist informers in Poland, although wider secret police recruitment was recorded in some dioceses in the 1980s.

Bishops won't wed Burundian couples without proof of HIV test

BUJUMBURA, Burundi (CNS) -- Burundi's Catholic bishops said priests will not bless any marriages unless the couple produces proof they have taken HIV tests. "The church will not bless the engaged couple if they do not present this document," Gelase Mugerowimana, a spokesman for the Burundian bishops' conference, told local radio March 24. "We ask the (engaged couple) to tell the truth to each other, which is the only basis of their statement of union." Mugerowimana added that a couple's HIV status does not matter. Both HIV-positive and HIV-negative people will be able to receive the church's blessings. The church's decision did not meet with universal approval in the country. "Our position is clear. We are against a forced HIV test. The test must be voluntary and anonymous," Jeanne Gapiya, head of Burundi's National Association of people with HIV/AIDS, told Reuters, the British news agency. "People must be psychologically prepared to welcome results of their test. Here, it is an obligation, and people will fear to do the test."

PEOPLE

Afghan Christian convert arrives in Italy, gets refugee status

ROME (CNS) -- An Afghan man who faced the death penalty for converting to Christianity flew to Italy after his release from prison. Abdul Rahman, 41, arrived in strict secrecy and was being cared for by the Italian Interior Ministry, said Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi March 29. The following day, Italian officials granted Rahman refugee status on grounds of religious persecution. Pope Benedict XVI and others had appealed for Rahman's release, urging Afghan authorities to show respect for freedom of religion. The authorities complied, despite demands from Muslim leaders that Rahman be barred from leaving the country. Afghan prosecutors dropped charges against Rahman March 26. He disappeared after his release, apparently out of fear for his life.

Omaha couple runs Catholic lending library from their home

OMAHA, Neb. (CNS) -- What started out as a small book exchange from one friend to another has become a worldwide library of sharing for Roger and Judy Elliott. More than 10 years ago, the Omaha couple loaned one of their own Catholic books to a friend they met while making home visits for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Today they run the Most AMYable Roman Catholic Lending Library, a nonprofit corporation and lay apostolate, from their Omaha home. "We discovered early on that the need was not just food, shelter and clothing, but there was also a spiritual dryness that was out there that we did not expect," said Judy Elliott, who named the library after her daughter, Amy, who died in 1991. The Elliotts have collected nearly 7,000 books, including several out-of-print books, and almost 3,000 magazines, audiotapes and videotapes that reflect church teachings on faith and morals, the saints and Marian apparitions.

Against all odds, Afghans survive with good humor, hospitality

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Despite living in a country ravaged by more than two decades of war and invasion, with harsh conditions and seemingly incurable poverty, the Afghan people are good-humored survivors, said church aid workers. "The story that should be told more often is their resilience," said Paul Hicks, head of programs for Catholic Relief Services in Afghanistan. An outsider will see Afghans who are "incredibly inhospitable -- then you see how they survive. ... They are incredibly warm people with rich traditions," Hicks told Catholic News Service March 29. Afghanistan is "a developing country that is so receptive and interested in progress," he added. Hicks was in Washington with other CRS/Afghanistan workers, Nafi Olomi and Shannon Oliver, to meet staffers of the U.S. bishops' Office of International Justice and Peace. CRS is the international development agency sponsored by the U.S. bishops.

Cardinal Keeler reflects on a career in Catholic-Jewish relations

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore remembers when, as a young priest in the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pa., his boss, Bishop George Leech, instructed him to go in the bishop's stead to ecumenical and interfaith gatherings. That's how Cardinal Keeler, a past president of the U.S. bishops and a member of their Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, got his start in Catholic-Jewish relations. The cardinal offered a glimpse of his ministry between Jews and Catholics during a March 29 forum at Congregation Adas Israel in Washington. Cardinal Keeler was the first Catholic cleric to appear in the synagogue's eight-year-old "Quebec Street Forum," named for the Washington street where Adas Israel is located. In the forum's format, the guest is first interviewed by a journalist before taking questions from the audience. Washington Post reporter Hannah Rosin conducted the interview.

The Fourth Week of Lent
For the Fourth Sunday of Lent we read Jesus' words to Nicodemus in the Fourth Gospel. Jesus will be lifted up on the cross to heal us from the power of sin and death. This gospel, which is written like a trial, tells us the verdict. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."

The first readings this week can be read as powerful messages to us from our God about our Lenten journey. They also seem to be chosen with an eye to the persecution Jesus will experience.

Our gospels this week are all from the Fourth Gospel. The opposition against Jesus builds. Back in Cana, in Galilee, Jesus heals the son of a royal official. Back down in Jerusalem, he heals a man who was sick for 38 years, incurring the wrath of his enemies because he did it on the sabbath. Because of this, and that he called God his Father, they now plot a way to kill him. Jesus say his opponents do not want to come to him for life. Unafraid of them, Jesus goes to Jerusalem for a feast and openly tells people that he has come from God. They did not arrest him then, "for his hour had not yet come." Thinking they know where Jesus is from (in both senses: where he lived now and his origin in heaven), his enemies insist that prophets don't come from where Jesus is from.

For the Fifth Sunday of Lent we hear God say, through the prophet Jeremiah, "I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; ... I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more." In the Fourth Gospel Jesus says that the "hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." However, he describes this glory in a surprising way, which explains who he is for us and who we are called to be: "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be." And preparing us for the way he would die, and what it would mean, Jesus said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."


The Fifth Week of Lent
For the Fifth Sunday of Lent we hear God say, through the prophet Jeremiah, "I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; ... I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more." In the Fourth Gospel Jesus says "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be." "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."

The first readings prepare for the gospels. We begin with the long, but well worth reading, story of Susanna, which ends in "blessing God who saves those who hope in him." The bronze serpent on a pole reminds us of Jesus's saving cross. Three young men refuse to commit idolatry and show us how God protects "the servants who trusted in him." God entered a covenant with Abraham. In the midst of his persecution, Jeremiah praises God, "For he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!" God promises to unite the people in an everlasting covenant.

Our gospels are again from the Fourth Gospel. Presented with a woman caught in adultery, Jesus replies, "Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her." Reminding us of of the bronze serpent and his death, Jesus says, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM." To the children of Abraham and to us Jesus declares, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." "Whoever keeps my word will never see death. ... Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM." They heard what they thought was blasphemy and tried to stone him. Jesus simply told the truth, because, "the Father is in me and I am in the Father." After the raising of Lazarus, the plans were set to destroy Jesus. The high priest says the prophetic works, "it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish."

On Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord we make our way into Holy Week. We read the gospel about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, Paul's invitation to us to imitate Jesus who emptied himself, and the whole Passion, this year from Mark's Gospel.

from Creighton University

Mary takes us through the Stations of the Cross
Join Mary for a reflection on the Stations, as she guides us through the Stations
through her eyes then, and through her eyes now.

The Stations of the Cross Home Page

The First Station: Jesus is condemned to die.

My Son stood before Pilate as an innocent man. But, throughout his life he entered more and more deeply into the condition of sinful flesh. It was not enough that he was born of a human mother like me. He grew up in obscurity in Nazareth. And, they always judged him there. They always judged that it wasn't right that he was conceived before Joseph and I were married. Even when he began his public ministry, the religious leaders didn't accept him. His reflection of God didn't fit their self-serving picture of God. Finally, his own followers abandoned him. I never imagined he would have to experience solidarity with prisoners beaten and tortured, but he did. I'll never forget the blood he shed and the pain he experienced at the hands of the Roman guards. Jesus began this journey by becoming one with every powerless person, mocked and made fun of by others. He did nothing that deserves capital punishment, or the abuse he was given.

His "yes" - his surrender to God's will - ultimately destroyed the power of sin and death. While he was growing up, I told him many times how I had been graced to say "let it be done to me, according to your word." I never could have imagined that this would be the sword that would ultimately pass through my heart: to watch my Son say Yes to God, so completely and fully, for the salvation of the world.

Now that he is condemned to death, reflect with me on each station of his journey - entering more and more completely into our humanity and death itself. Let us ask for God's grace to be with him and to accompany him on his journey to more fully understand it and be more fully grateful for its gift.



The Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross.

My Son was forced to carry the cross on which he would be nailed, ridiculed and executed. We must pause here to remember what it represents. For this journey, he takes up the weight of all of our crosses, all of our senseless suffering, and the weight of all of the sin in the world - past, present and future. Each step he took cut deeply into his already battered shoulders. I couldn't believe he could manage even a few steps.

We can look back now and remember that this is all for us. Each of us can say it was "for me." As we imagine each step he takes, we can pause now to say "thank you," in our own words, deep in our hearts.



The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time.

I can barely express to you what it was like to see my Son fall under the weight of that cross. Everything within me wanted to make them stop. This was already too much. But, there was nothing I could do but watch him lay on the ground.

Of course, I now know that if he was to enter completely into our lives, he would have to surrender to the crushing weight of the burdens so many in their world suffer. All the people of the earth who are overcome by unfair burdens will always know that, laying there on the ground, Jesus knew and would always understand their powerlessness. Unable to get himself up, he entered into and forever understands our fatigue and whatever unfairly defeats us.

I understand your sorrow and feeling of guilt at reflecting upon my Son's way to Calvary. Please, just be grateful. My Son simply wants us to remember how he loved then and loves us now. This is all about his mercy and the gift of life we have in him.



The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother.

As I pushed and shoved to move through the crowds to be as close to my Son as I could, we came to a place in the road where he stopped. He saw me. And we looked into each other's eyes. I didn't want him to see my tears or know my pain, but I long ago accepted how thoroughly he knew me. The love from my heart poured out in the only embrace I could give him. My lips quietly said the prayer he taught us: "Father, may your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." He nodded so slightly, took a deep breath and moved on up the hill. The sword passing through my heart had blessed his mission, and I knew he knew it.

Thank him with me, even now, that he took up that mission for us. Thank him that he has tasted the separation and loss that every person in the world knows who has lost a loved one. And, he has understood the heart of every loving mother who grieves at the suffering of her children. He has become so completely one with us.



The Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross.

Now reflect with me on what it must have been like for my Son to simply not be able to carry the cross any further alone. I was so relieved that he was getting help at the time, even though my heart went out to Simon who was drawn into Jesus' journey.

As we look back, we can give thanks that Jesus entered into our life, even in this gesture of help. Jesus came to know the experience of all of us who must depend upon others, who can't make it alone. Even in this final journey, Jesus would not even have the satisfaction of being able to do this on his own.

Let's pause for a moment to express to him now, whatever is in our hearts.



The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus.

I can't describe his face, with the blood and the sweat, and the bruises and swelling from the beatings. As a mother, I can hardly tell you that there was even spit on his face. It was the face of solidarity with all who have ever experienced abuse and violence.
Then, out of the crowd came a woman whose compassion for my Son was so great that she pushed passed the Roman soldiers and wiped his face with her veil. Oh, how I loved her for that. The look between them touched me deeply. His clean face, for a moment, revealed the loving face of the Son I loved.

As he smiled at the woman and continued on the journey, those of us nearby looked at her veil and saw the gift he gave her. There on her veil was a stunning likeness, a true icon of the cost of his sacrifice and the depth of his solidarity with all who suffer. This image is his gift to us forever, to always contemplate his likeness, his union with us in our worst rejection and suffering.

As you remember with me how his face was so covered with punishment and violence, let us give thanks for his solidarity with us in every aspect of our lives.



The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time.

When my Son fell the second time, my heart sank as he seemed to just lose control and stumble and crumble to the ground. The way he fell to his knees on the hard stones, I could feel the jarring pain through my whole body. Helpless to help him, I again wondered if he could make it.

As I look back with you today, I imagine that this fall placed him together with people with disabilities, with people suffering from all kinds of physical diseases that weaken them, and with all who are aging and must confront the limits of their bodies. My prayer is that all God's people who know the suffering of these disabilities might know that they can always turn to my Son for understanding and comfort.

With gratitude in our hearts, we take a few moments to find the words to express our feelings to him.



The Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem.

This moving scene filled my mother's heart with even more love for him. As I had seen him comfort so many groups of people during his life, now he comforts this group of women and children in Jerusalem. They aren't here to condemn him. What a remarkable meeting. They try to comfort him, as he looks on them with love and compassion. During his ministry he had come to grieve for Jerusalem. Now, my son gives them a special mission. Soon they would understand that this suffering they witnessed so closely was for them. Soon they would witness the suffering of Jerusalem and have their chance to bring their compassion and faith to their children and the people of their city.

It is good to reflect here, with him, on the mission each of us has that can be shaped by this encounter with his suffering, death and resurrection "for me." Thank him for this brief time to recall the gift we have received.



The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time.

I will always remember this final fall. Having endured such a beating and having lost so much blood, my son simply collapses. I saw him lay there on the ground and I thought he was dead. His arms spread out and his face in the dirt, Jesus found himself in solidarity with all who fall in any way.

Contemplating how the soldiers roughly pulled Jesus up and made him take the last steps to Calvary, take a few moments to speak with him, expressing your gratitude for his understanding for every weakness or failure you have ever experienced.



The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped.

The sword passed through my heart again to watch my son so violated this way. They intended to shame him even more by executing him naked. They simply had to strip him of any dignity a human being could have left. I remember looking at this body I had bathed and cared for, now with all his wounds re-opened and bleeding, so exposed for everyone to see. Now I see all the people in the world who are vulnerable and without any defense, all those whose dignity is violated, and I see this act of stripping as placing my son so completely with those who suffer. His incarnation was about to be complete.

Please pause to express what is in your heart and to give him thanks that this is all so that you might be free from the power of sin and death.



The Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross.

Today, as I remember him lying on the cross, with his arms outstretched, it is the sound of the hammer hitting the nails that stays with me. I remember pulling the first of many wood splinters from his fingers as a child working in Joseph's shop. Against his precious hands and wrists, that touched and healed so many, a nail was placed, and a hammer pounded the nail through his flesh and into the wood of the cross. The sound - metal against metal - that ring - and the look on his face - the spasm of his whole body - I will never forget. Then, the other hand and finally his feet are nailed to the cross.

Spend some time with him now, imagining how they lifted him up on the cross, nailed there, that you might be free.



The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross.

The sword of helplessness split my heart in two as I watched him struggle to breathe, pulling himself up to let air out of his lungs. With incredible courage and compassion, he spoke of mercy and love. There on that cross he gave me to John, and gave me to the Spirit filled Church that would be born on Pentecost. Then, after he gave himself into God's hands one last time, he took his last breath and he died. It is unforgettable to watch life leave the body of someone you love.

At the foot of his cross today, listen to my son tell you of his love for you. Speak to him from your heart.



The Thirteenth Station: Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross.

We waited what seemed like a long time before we had permission to take his lifeless body off that cross. And, it took so long to remove the nails, and to finally lower his body to the ground. Someone removed that horrible crown of thorns from his head. They pulled his hair back and wiped his face clean before letting me hold his body one last time. He had been given to me for only a brief time. When he left home three years before, I was so proud of him and excited to experience what God would do through him. There at the foot of the cross, my heart torn by grief, but always trusting in God's promise, I asked only to be God's servant for what was ahead. After the Ascension, when we would gather in homes for the Breaking of the Bread, I again held his broken body in my hands, now full of consolation that his promise was fulfilled: he would always be with us.

Let yourself join me in receiving this mystery of the death of Jesus being so real and complete. Knowing the rest of the story, join me in speaking with him, heart to heart, about our gratitude for how he has transformed the power of death.



The Fourteenth Station: Jesus Is Laid In The Tomb.

No mother should ever have to bury a child. Just a short time before this day, Jesus looked into Lazarus' tomb. He must have known he would be laid in a tomb like that soon. And when he thanked God for hearing his prayer, he must have known that the Father who sent him would give him life that would never die. In just a few days, this tomb would be empty and forever a sign of Jesus' surrender to the forces of sin and death, for us.

As we picture this scene, let us place the image of the empty tomb before our eyes. Whenever you are tempted to stand outside any tomb and grieve, remember this empty tomb and know that, through the eyes of faith, all tombs are empty. Today, join me in giving him thanks. Join me in signing ourselves with the sign of his cross, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

April 2nd, 2006
by
Larry Gillick, S.J.
Deglman Center for Ignatian Spirituality
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Fifth Sunday in Lent
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15
Hebrew 5:7-9
John 12:20-33
Praying Lent
Daily Lenten Prayer
Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer

Gospels of Weeks 3, 4 and 5
The Scrutinies


PRE-PRAYERING

We pray in union with the prayer of the Church for this Sunday of Lent. Jesus loved this world enough to die for its salvation, but detested it enough not to be seduced by its downward-ways of choosing the meaning of life. We pray to receive that Love and His death as the great sign of that love.

We pray also to be inspired by His gentle compassion and to be guided by His life of choosing selflessness as His personal style. We pray intently for the grace to die to our selfishness so that we might live more and more for the salvation of others.

REFLECTION

Jeremiah is known for his indictments against the House of Israel. He has warned them about the consequences of being resistant to God's law. We have heard his feeling very sorry for himself and for his having listened to the word of God.

In these verses and in the entire chapter, Jeremiah is quite energetic and excited about what he now hears from God and is speaking to the people in their captivity. Something new is going to happen and it is a promise from God to make a new covenant with the whole people of Israel. It will be new, different and lead to life.

What is new is the word "within". There is a new emphasis on interiority. The Spirit of God will inspire each person to know what is the proper response. In the former relationship with God, externals were everything and they had to be taught culticly. The new covenant will not be written on stone, but within the hearts of the covenanted people.

God promises to forgive the "evil-doers "and remember not their sins. God had promised Noah that when the sins of the people gathered the clouds together for a flood, God would see the rainbow and relent. Now in this new and latest covenant edition of love, God will see deep inside their hearts and see the covenant embedded there and recall the faithfulness God promised. That "within" covenant remains even though the external execution of response may be imperfect. God does not give up on Israel's becoming God's people and their allowing God to be their "master". This is a promise of great consolation and relief for those in captivity for their pasts.

"Sir, we would like to see Jesus." Jesus is about to be seen or "glorified" by not only the Greeks who are in Jerusalem for the Passover, but by us as well. Next week we will begin watching Jesus while holding our palms. Jesus, in today's Gospel indicates that the "hour" for His glorification has arrived. He says of Himself that like a grain of wheat which must die to its being just a grain of wheat by being planted in the ground in order to bring forth food, so Jesus Himself must receive His hour of dying so as to bring forth life. The dying is the great time of "seeing" Jesus. Jesus sees this "hour" as the great act of serving God's people. This is almost an exact pre-lecture of what Jesus will tell the Apostles after washing their feet in the next chapter. Those who desire to follow Jesus will have some dying to do so that they might serve God's people.

We then hear Jesus in a prelude of His prayer of agony in the Garden of Sorrows. His being faithful has a great cost and the hour of his paying the price is near. He receives comfort from a voice from heaven, but Jesus says that it is not for His sake, but for the comforting of those who will follow His way of loving the world by dying to its ways and for its salvation.

The "within" of Jesus is about to be "outed". We say that what goes up must come down. So too, what is inside will be revealed eventually. For Jesus, what must go down will rise again; what must die for the world, will give life to the world. For Jesus,, his being Servant has been His interior and through the "signs" in John's Gospel, we "see Jesus" from the inside, and the out.

I visited recently, the L'Arche Community of Daybreak, in Toronto. L'Arches is a community of communities around the world dedicated to the dignity and well-being of its mentally-challenged "Core Members". I was privileged to be a small part of Daybreak thirty years ago. Many of the Core Members are still thriving there.

One striking feature of the wonderful women and men who have lived there is they have little sense of time. They were glad to see me, hugged me, welcomed me back, but when they left for their jobs they didn't say good bye. They also did not say thank you to the Assistants who made their lunches. The Assistants serve from their insides and die to the worldly way of being paid very much in words or money. Their insides, their "within" comes out in the gestures of faithful patience and love. I am sure they would love hearing a voice from heaven once in a while telling them that God was grateful. Maybe they do. The Core Members are timeless in their affection, but they did not say anything about seeing me later or "Thanks for coming". The affection of the Assistants is timeless as well. As servants, washing feet, floors, faces, is how they care for the Body of Christ. God's love is timeless as well, as Jesus continues encouraging us to follow His ways as we wash tears away, dirt away, memories away. This "world" of which Jesus speaks is also "within" us and we want a "Thank you" now and then and a warm payment of celebration or glorification in its ways. Jesus was glorified and His timeless gesture of salvation was not greeted with any thanks then.

These days leading to Easter, we are moved to serve without thanks and in this way give thanks for His dying so that we might have eternal life.

"Create a clean heart in me, O God." Ps. 51, 3


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April 3rd, 2006
by
Marcia Cusic
School of Medicine
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Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13: 41c-62
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
John 8:1-11
Praying Lent
Daily Lenten Prayer
Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer


In today's first reading, Susanna, who is married to Joakim, is described very early in the reading as a "God-fearing woman." As I continued to read I understood her to be a woman who did not literally "fear God" but very clearly "loved and trusted in God." The judges in this reading are described as leaders who allowed earthly temptations to over power them rather than looking to God for wisdom and strength. I see Satan tempting the judges in the reading, just as Satan continues to tempt people today.

Susanna, who is wise, understands the plot as the judges try to lay a trap. Susanna in her faithfulness to God and to her husband refuses to fall into their trap and sends a cry for help. When she is confronted again, by the judges, in a court of law, Susanna continues to " trust in the Lord wholeheartedly" even though she was wrongly condemned to death. Susanna continues to trust by praying to the Lord, "You know that they have testified falsely against me." Susanna, like many of us have to believe that the Lord will continue to be with us in our life's challenges, we are shown how we must trust and live our lives in the way that God expects us to live. We are shown that if we do all in our power to be true to ourselves, true to our neighbor and to our God, our loving God will help us to over come and grow from our challenges and struggles.

The reading continues to show us how other people come into our lives to make a difference. "God stirred up the Holy Spirit of a young boy named Daniel." I ask myself why anyone would listen to a young boy? Daniel must have been very strong and forth coming in his objection and was not afraid to speak up and "ask the question".

Many of us may be in situations that concern us in terms of how people are treated, cared for, or accepted by others. We are called to be like Daniel, and not fear speaking up or object to the status quo when leadership is not looking for ways to enhance the lives of those they touch, or when leadership uses fear to avoid challenges from the people they are to lead. We are also reminded, in this first reading that not only should we voice our objections to mistreatment, unwise decisions, or abuse of power but to voice those objections following and with a prayerful relationship with our Lord.

The Psalm today is one we are all familiar with. As I read it again today I wonder how God is attempting to lead me? "Beside restful waters He leads me." I feel that when I try to work through my challenges and my struggles without asking God to walk with me I experience tidal waves but in those times that I go to God with complete trust my struggles seem to be calm/ restful waters. " He guides me in right paths", the doors or windows are open but we have to be willing to walk or climb through them. "With your rod and staff", as my support from You, loving God I "fear no evil.' As chosen people we can expect goodness and kindness if we continue to live our lives sharing our gifts with others.

The Gospel today is one of my favorites "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." This Good News, this new way of living, again shows me the magnitude, the importance of having had Jesus, the Son of God live among us. Jesus teaches all of us how to love others to make effective and positive changes in our lives and in the lives of others. Jesus teaches us and the people of his time an entirely new way to live.

Jesus raises the bar on humanity- it's not just about right or wrong it is about loving others and ourselves with our human imperfections. Jesus has no need "to take the Pharisees on" because He is with them/us to enlighten humanity about God's expectations to love our neighbor as ourselves and to forgive others by extending ourselves to others.

Several years ago I listened to a Homily about this reading but one fact escapes my mind and so I conclude this reflection with a question to you: " What was Jesus writing on the ground?" May God continue to bless all of us as we continue to experience this reflective season of Lent.


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April 4th, 2006
by
Barbara Dilly
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
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Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21
John 8:21-30
Praying Lent
Daily Lenten Prayer
Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer



The lessons for today are probably among the most important one's I've learned in my faith journey. How many times do we grow impatient with our journey in life? If we are honest, we have to admit that we complain to God in many ways with the dissatisfaction we so often express with our lots in life. Like the children of Israel on the Red Sea road, we go grumbling along. But what does our complaining get us? Usually we suffer more from our complaining than from the actual conditions of the journey of life that challenge us. We bring plagues upon ourselves when we give up faith and hope and doom ourselves to despair.

Life can be tough, in fact, it usually is. God didn't tell us it wouldn't be and God doesn't like a bunch of whiners. But God does hear when we pray out of our distress and our suffering. The difference between crying out to God for help and the sin of complaining is both a mental and a spiritual health issue. The Psalm for today is a cry for help, not groan of disgust. God listens to us when we cry out for help, but only if we do it from the perspective of praise.

Jesus tells us the same thing. If we focus on this world and what limits or frustrates us, we will condemn ourselves. If we lift up Jesus and believe that he has the power and wisdom of the kingdom of God to help us, we too will be lifted up out of the distressful circumstances of this world. So whatever is troubling us, we must first petition God with praise. To not do so, is to sin against God. To do so, is to be released from our sins. Sometimes we need to sit down and make a list just to remind ourselves of how our perspectives can get skewed in the direction of complaining. We each have our own ways of praising God. It is a good habit to develop as many as we can to counter all of our gripes. And just to keep ourselves honest, it is a good practice to share them with others. Here's mine for today: Instead of complaining that winter is still hanging on, I thank God for Daffodils!


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Lent is a wonderful time to celebrate the reconciling love and the healing graces our Lord offers us. Like all religious experience, it takes preparation.
Preparing

Reconciliation is what God does. We prepare for it by opening ourselves up, by reflecting upon the areas of darkness in our lives into which God so deeply desires to shine a light. It might begin with the simple question: Where might God be offering me forgiveness and healing?

If my answer is, "I don't know," then I have some reflection to do. I can examine my life - what I have done and what I have failed to do - and see what graces are offered me there. If I've come through that "era" of saying that any guilt, anything that makes me feel bad about myself, is a bad thing, to be avoided at all costs, then I might have a difficult time coming to genuine sorrow for my sins. If this is the case, I need to "go to work" on my reflection, asking God to rouse a sense of embarrassment, leading to deep sorrow, for any way I may not have been faithful, honest, loving, self-less or generous - in my relationship with God, with my family, with others. I can look at each of my responsibilities - as a citizen of a city and a country and the world, a neighbor, an employee, a member of a parish or congregation, as a parent or a spouse or as a son or daughter. God will always shine light into these important parts of our lives, to help us experience remorse and a genuine desire for forgiveness and healing. The point here is not ultimately to focus on ourselves. God always reveals us to ourselves, so that God might reveal to us our need for a Savior. The focus is on God's reconciling, healing love. As John says, "God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn't our love for God, but God's love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven."1 John 4:9-10

It may be that I have experienced troubling guilt - coming out of deep childhood trauma or a long-standing sense of shame This may plague my ability to feel good about myself at all, and therefore to be able to reflect upon my sins - the ways I fail at loving. I can still prepare for genuine reconciliation by preparing to better trust God's love for me, based upon two convictions: First, God's love is un-conditional. It is not conditioned on my being better, or my overcoming anything, or even my being good at all. God just loves me. I am always precious in the eyes of the One who made me and desires to embrace me with the gift of complete freedom, in everlasting life. Secondly, God knows everything, including what I'm struggling with or suffering under. And, the God of all compassion, understands me and loves me. It may be that my greatest sin - the place where I need the greatest sorrow and desire for forgiveness and healing is my lack of trust in God's complete and unconditional love for me. We can be certain that that is a gift God deeply desires to offer me.

It may be that when I ask myself the question about where God might be offering me forgiveness and healing, I might first come up with a single thing that seems "big" to me. I might say, "I feel sorry for how I treat my spouse or my children." I might focus on a long established habit of self-indulgent sexual fantasy, pornography on the internet or masturbation. I may felt most sorrow for what I fail to do - all the "good intentions" that never make their way into action. It is so important not to stop there. None of the "big" things about which we might immediately feel sorry for sums up all of who we are before God and others. They may be very important in giving some clues or some leads in identifying some larger patterns. For example, if a "big" thing that worries me is that I tend to be "loose" with the truth, at times, I can ask what that means, what it reveals about me. I may discover that the real pattern of sin has to do with a deeper dishonesty or lack of integrity: hiding from God; leading a double life; not being who I really am called to be; trying to manage my life on my own terms; manipulating others for my own needs and desires. When the Light of God's love shines into this level of self-awareness, then I am touched by a powerful experience of reconciliation. Even here, in a place I might be most embarrassed and feel most naked, God is loving me and offering me wholeness and joy.

Celebrating Reconciliation

Reconciliation is what God does. Receiving it and celebrating it is what we do. For those of us who are Catholics, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a most natural way to celebrate God's reconciliation. We used to think of this sacrament as only about "confession" - that it was like a dumping ground for my sins, where I got forgiven, and I had to "pay a toll." One of the great recoveries in our Christian history is to re-discover the meaning of this sacrament.

It is God who forgives sins. And God forgives us the very moment that we come to the experience that we need forgiveness (which itself comes through God's grace). At that moment, I feel sorrow and a desire for forgiveness and healing. In that moment, I am reconciled with God. The reunion, the bond, the connection, the joy are all there. Three more things remain: to receive it deep within my heart, to celebrate it, and to participate in the healing process.

When I experience God's forgiveness and love, I am invited to savor it and let it touch me deeply. Experiencing compassion, patience, understanding, and forgiveness is itself transforming. If I fail to appreciate what I have just received - freely and undeserved - then I will take it for granted and risk moving on without a real healing happening.

Then, I need to celebrate the reconciliation I have received. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation - individually or in common - I have the wonderful opportunity to ritualize that celebration. In the Sacrament, my personal journey is joined with the mystery of God's saving love, as seen in the scriptures, and in God's desire to save us all. There, in ritual form (even if it is just me and the priest) I "step forward" and admit that I am a sinner, express my sorrow, and I name the places in my life where God is shining a Light into what I have done and what I have failed to do. Then, God's forgiveness is proclaimed "out loud" - for me to hear and rejoice in: "May God grant you pardon and fill you with God's peace."

An integral part of the reconciliation involves the healing process. If I sprain my ankle, the doctor will offer me a number of therapies for healing - ice, for the first 24 hours to reduce the swelling, wrapping it, elevating it, and then gradually and carefully using it, until it is healed and strong again. Part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is to seek and practice a "remedy" or "medicine" for the healing I desire. Often that will simply be prayer. Often, expressing my gratitude to God is one of the most important steps on the road to recovery from my independence from God. Sometimes, I will need to practice a therapy that is more carefully planned - making choices about what I can practice doing and what I can practice avoiding.

May our Lord grant us all the gift of reconciliation, and may we all receive it and celebrate it well in the holy days ahead.




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