God's Grace in Death

Dear Friends:

As we arrive at the Fifth Week of Lent, I’m certain that it has been one like no other for so many of us! Some in our community, given their life experience, can reflect on living through times of war. Truly what we experience today might be described as fighting a war with an invisible enemy.

Despite that, we find great support in the Sacred Scriptures, which I believe, speak even more loudly in these days of sickness, anxiety and stress. While there are many examples we can reflect on and find comfort in, I like this pointed passage from the book of Joshua 1:9:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

I’m guessing that for some, these may seem like words that have no meaning or little impact, given where we find our world these days. But it’s precisely in these days that the Lord equips us with the grace needed to see through the darkness and to be the light for one another. Where distress abounds, I believe God’s grace abounds all the more.

The final theme in our Lenten series for our reflection is Meeting Grace in Death. While death can be a very heavy burden for many, our faith teaches us that not even death can separate us from the love and life eternal with Christ. Hope is one of the most important gifts that God’s grace can give us.

As our world struggles to find a cure, prevention, healing and the peace that those all bring, some have already died and others who are more vulnerable may pass too. So as a community of faith, let’s ask for God’s Grace in abundance so that we can be filled with hope and help others in finding ways through grief.

Do not be frightened, our God is with us ... let’s work harder to be with one another in new and creative ways!

Blessings! -Fr Bob

In the Dark, We Find Time is on Our Side

Vienna Pharaon, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in New York City, writes:

"You can't keep doing the same things if you want a different outcome.  Your predictability keeps you in your suffering.  Get ready to disrupt your patterns and programming.  A new way of living is waiting for you." 

Clearly, a new way of living is waiting for all of us and, in these days, there is no such thing as predictability.  There is so much uncertainty and everything seems to be changing.     

If we have learned anything thus far from the coronavirus pandemic, it is that we can no longer keep doing the same things in the same ways because we definitely need a different outcome.  We need first to slow down and ultimately stop the spread.  We need to care for those who are infected and affected.  We need to help people sustain their lives and care for their families.

Those are pretty lofty goals, and the price to be paid seems to be so little - regularly wash and sanitize our hands, carefully clean and disinfect surfaces, purposefully limit unnecessary public exposure and avoid being with groups of people.  While none of these is a very big challenge, and each of us can be compliant, they require a new attitude and plan of action. Failure to do these things will keep us in our suffering and hurt others.

How should we better plan for the new way of living that is waiting for us?  

If your life is like mine, there's never enough time to do the things we really want to do - like enjoying hobbies, spending time with those we love, working on an at home project, and deepening our relationship with God.  And while many of us may be asking the question, "When will all this be over?" perhaps we can ask a different question, "How can I best use this 'pause' to life to prepare for a better future?"

Many people have created and shared a "daily schedule" for their days that allot specific times not only for work that needs to be done, but for the things they've always wanted to do.  Some have noted they'd like to:

- Pray a bit more

- Read that book sitting on the table

- Clean or re-arrange the storage closet

- Play that board game with their kids

- Send that note to parents

- Email an old friend

None of us knows how long this will last, but everyone knows that it will ultimately end.  Use the time well, carefully, creatively - because the different outcome we seek requires seizing the opportunities today.  And one final note - when fear and anxiety seems to be in control, reach out, do not carry it alone.  There are so many ready and willing to listen, guide and be with you on this journey!

Blessings!

RSM

God's Grace in Repentance

Dear Friends -

As we come to the fourth Sunday in Lent, we continue our theme of Meeting God's Grace - in Repentance.

Repentance is relatively easy to understand, but oftentimes hard to do.  Repentance starts with a change of mind. But in what sense and with what other results? Some say that a mind change is all God’s grace requires for repentance, but others, including me, suggest that we are required to change our lives and to turn away from sin and turn towards God.

It seems to me that several things go along with true repentance, and it cannot do without them. God’s grace, in granting repentance, requires these things:

1  God's Grace Teaches Goodness

Goodness instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live in a self controlled, upright, and godly manner in the present world.  Clearly these concepts of goodness are easy to understand but may take a lifetime of practice to achieve.

2  Grace Imposes Responsibility

As God's children, we are challenged to live responsibly.  Some of that responsibility includes controlling our bad habits and lusts and really trying to be holy in all our conduct.  To know what God wants of us is only the first step to starting a life in conformity with that knowledge, that is, God's truth for us and the world.

3  Grace Inspires Action

As God's goodness leads us to repentance, the changes we make in our lives encourage and bless us to practice our faith fully - in good times and in bad.  The Scriptures are filled with stories that remind and even warn us that God will render to each one of us according to our deeds. There will be eternal life to those who are patient in doing good and there will be indignation and wrath to those who are self-­seeking and do not obey the truth.  The one led to repentance by God’s goodness is the one who works toward what is good.

4  Grace Insists on Change

God's grace gives us the power to make radical changes in our lives. It means, in so many ways, that we cease to live in disobedience and we start living in Christ and in obedience to all Christ asks of us.   The words that we started Lent with, as the ashes were imposed on our heads captures this entire message: "TURN FROM SIN AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL."

5  Grace Encourages Excellence

God encourages us to aspire to excellence and to work toward it sincerely and fruitfully under the grace of Christ.

What goes with repentance and what does grace require?

G oodness

R esponsibility

A ction

C hange

E xcellence

As the days of Lent quickly pass, meeting God's Grace in repentance challenges us to change.  Alone we can do nothing, but with God and God's Grace, all things are possible.

RSM