Day 15 of Lent and Fr. Robert Barron's Lenten Reflection says: "... But one message at the heart of the Christian faith is this: your life is not about you. It is about God and God's purposes for your life. And so Jesus affirmed: "You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test." God tests people all the time in the Bible, but he himself should never be tested. Fr. Barron suggests we ask ourselves: "Are you the center of attention? Do you allow God to test you?" O Saint Joseph, Lover of Poverty! Solace of the wretched! Be our friend in time of suffering, and help us appreciate the virtues we can harvest through struggle and sacrifice. Keep us away from the snares of pride and self-importance. Let us remember the poverty of our Lord so that we can dutifully imitate his life in humility and obedience. Amen.
Can I be like Jesus? When I can rise above the three temptations that Jesus encountered in the desert and make God the clear centre of my life, then, I'm ready to do God's work in the world. | Today is St. Joseph's Feast Day - patron Saint of Canada among many others. In light of how God tested the foster father of Jesus and our foster father, we might ask ourselves, "How is He testing me during this Lent? What does He want me to do? What is my response? Can I be like St. Joseph after he got his sight back? |
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Fasting and Feasting
Lent can be more than a time of fasting. It can also be a season of feasting. A time to... Fast from judging others; feast on Christ living in them. Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life. Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light. Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God. Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude. Fast from anger; feast on patience. Fast from pessimism; feast on joy. Fast from worry; feast on trust. Fast from guilt; feast on freedom. Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation. Fast from negativity; feast on affirmations. Fast from stress; feast on self-care. Fast from anxiety and fear; feast on faith. Fast from hostility; feast on peace. Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness. Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others. Fast from discouragement; feast on hope. Fast from apathy; feast on enthusiasm. Fast from suspicions; feast on truth. Fast from idle gossip; feast on spreading good news. Fast from words that wound; feast on words that heal. Fast from talking; feast on listening. Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire. Fast from problems that overwhelm us; feast on prayer. Fast from everything that separates us from God; Feast on everything that draws us to God. Source: We Dare to Say: Praying for Justice and Peace, eds. Sylvia Skrepichuk and Michel Côté, Novalis Thank you to Esperanza Donovan, ofs, Immaculate Conception Fraternity, Montreal, for reminding us about this verse. |
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