Lent

Judgment is a very dangerous thing. I’m not talking about judging choices, attitudes, or actions, but judging hearts. Condemning and dismissing others. Ridiculing and dehumanizing them. Using them. When we do that, we put ourselves in God’s place — and God takes that very seriously. Only God can judge the heart, because only God can see the heart. Let’s remember that when we’re angry or frustrated or annoyed this week — for the sake of our relationships and for our own sake.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 43:16–21 |  Phil 3:8–14 |  Jn 8:1–11

Our heavenly Father is always seeking us out. He made us for communion with Him and with one another. And when we sin, we break that communion. That’s why every Mass begins with a confession of sin — not because we’ve already made everything right, but because turning back to the Father opens the door for His embrace. God offers us second chances (and third, and fourth, and as many as we need) to come to our senses and return to Him. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was given to us by Jesus for exactly this purpose: to restore and preserve our communion with the Father. And when we turn back toward Him, He comes running toward us.
 
Readings at this Mass: Jos 5:9a, 10–12 | 2 Cor 5:17–21 | Lk 15:1–3, 11–32

Praying, fasting, and almsgiving are the remedy for inner peace, helping us to imitate the good things that belong to God. Putting effort into praying, fasting, and almsgiving assists us in staying constant in our relationship with God, while also strengthening our conscience, soul, mind, and heart to be always at ease and in peace. If we consistently and intentionally fertilize our soul, our mind, and our heart with these three disciplinary acts, we will be freed from disordered affections and instead yield the beautiful fruits of a good conscience.
 
Readings at this Mass: Ex 3:1–8a | 1 Cor 10:1–6, 10–12 | Lk 13:1–9 

Fr. Columba Jordan notes that most of us have little pauses in our day that pop up naturally: we're stopped at a stoplight, waiting for the kids to get out of practice, waiting in line at Starbucks, etc. Those are opportunities when we can practice turning our attention inward for just a minute or so, to listen to God. It’s not much at first, but when you make this a habit, you start to become aware of God’s voice.
 
Readings at this Mass: Gn 15:5–12, 17–18 | Phil 3:17—4:1 | Lk 9:28b–36

Just as nature has seasons and athletes have training cycles, Lent is our "spiritual training season" — a season to refocus and reset our hearts and minds on God. It gives us an opportunity to share and renew our faith with those around us through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
 
Readings at this Mass: Dt 26:4–10 | Rom 10:8–13 | Lk 4:1–13

Through our baptism, God has written his very name on our hearts and claimed us for his own. We are reminded of this fact every time we dip our fingers in our baptismal font and bless ourselves with the sign of the cross. Instead of just following rules, we simply need to look into what God has written in our hearts. And what do we find there? A cross: Jesus' cross. And with that cross, you are reminded that He loves you so much that he sacrificed himself for you.

We have three weeks of Lent still in front of us. Where are you falling prey to scattering, division, and discouragement? How might God be inviting you to open your life more fully to the power of graciousness, connection, and hope?

A heart is often used to represent emotional love, which involves feelings of deep affection, care, and emotional attachment towards another person. The crucifix also represents love - sacrificial love, doing what is best for others to the point where we are willing to lay down our lives. Jesus' sacrificial love is unconditional; He gives us His love even when we don't deserve it. Put your crucifix at home in a prominent place (or get one, if you don't have one already) so that, every time you look at it, your heart is filled with zeal for the sacrificial love God bestows on us, which we are in turn expected to share with others.