Many of us were baptized as infants and that choice was made for us. Take some time to prayerfully consider what your Baptism means to you today. As we continue this Lenten journey and walk with those preparing to be Baptized prepare yourself to be renewed in your Baptismal promises at Easter!
Check out the video below on your role in the church by virtue of your Baptism:
In one day, it is estimated that more than 152 million hours of women & girls’ time is consumed for the most basic of human needs—collecting water for domestic use. Millions of women & children in the developing world spend untold hours daily, collecting water from distant, often polluted sources, then return to their villages carrying their 40 lb. jerry cans on their shoulders.
PRAY: Each day of this week, read this Bible verse as a family and add any special intentions.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” -Matthew 25:35-36
ACT: Often the women & children who spend their days collecting water have badly damaged or no shoes. Donate $.25/per pair of shoes in your house.
Check out this video on the rotary water projects!
Today’s Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
Jesus “was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.”
Lent is a time of retreat, a time to recognize the hunger and thirst that we feel for God in our lives.
Today is the Rite of Election. This is a diocesan service in which those to be Baptized are “chosen” and deemed “fit” for discipleship. The ones who attend this rite are those who will be Baptized at the Easter Vigil. It is through our Christian Baptism that we become disciples. Those who will be presented at the Rite of Election are: Eric Carter, Julie Lara, Brandi Newberry, Jeremy Sheaffer, and Cory Wisecup. Please join in lifting them up in prayer as they continue their final preparations fro Baptism!
Spend time praying with the Gospel today. Listen to the video below as Patty leads you through meditating on the Temptations of Christ and how you face your own temptations today.
Let’s look at the psalm we will use tomorrow: Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Say this phrase over and over. Do I believe it? Do I trust that the Lord is with me in times of trouble?
Read the words of the whole psalm (or listen to the sung version we will use at Mass here)
Which word or phrase sticks out for you? Pray with that word or idea. Listen for what God may be telling you about this word for phrase.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress,
my God in whom I trust."
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
No evil shall befall you,
nor shall affliction come near your tent,
For to his angels he has given command about you,
that they guard you in all your ways.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Upon their hands they shall bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the asp and the viper;
you shall trample down the lion and the dragon.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and glorify him.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Friday is a day of abstinence (abstain from meat) – consider putting the $$ you’d use to buy a meaty lunch into your water cup.
Each time you choose to not eat meat today be reminded of how when we consciously give up something so normal in our daily life that this little sacrifice is an act of strengthening ourselves against temptations.
Friday’s are great days for coming to OLIH and participating with your parish family in prayer:
8:30am - Daily Mass
9:00-noon - Adoration in Daily Mass Chapel
5:30pm - Daily Mass
6:00pm - Stations of the Cross
Lent is the time that we, the faithful, walk alongside our those who will be Baptized at the Easter Vigil.
What is my role as a Baptized person in the church? Watch the video below
Today is a day of both fasting (eating only one full meal) and abstinence (refraining from eating meat). Each time you are tempted to eat or want meat, offer a prayer for those who are hungry or thirsty in this world.
Today’s Gospel reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."
Read the gospel for today. How is God calling you this Lent to enter into this season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving with joy? How is God calling me to prepare for the renewal of myr Baptismal promises at Easter?
How will Lent be different this than past years?
How will I invite God into my Lenten journey?
Where will I find joy, so that I can share the living water?
Bishop Barron shares with us going back to the basics during Lent…
With Joy You Shall Draw Water
Pope Francis said in a homily in May of 2014 "a healthy Christian is a joyful Christian, even in times of sorrow and tribulation. A Christian without joy is either not a Christian or he is sick. There's no other type!" Back when I first heard this I was going through a period of desolation - spiritually and emotionally - I was stretched, exhausted and definitely not happy. This comment from Pope Francis struck me in a way that hurt my heart even more than it was already hurting. I felt tired, unhappy, pulled in too many directions and lots of other things, but joy was not on the list of feelings. This statement became a challenge – one I wasn’t sure I had the energy for. How does one heal from the sickness of lack of joy?
Shortly after this, I attended a women’s conference and had an experience during prayer that called me to enter into daily prayer in a way that was different than I had done before – every day for one hour at the end of my work day, which would require this workaholic to leave work on time in order to fit it in! As I worked through the struggles of making a holy hour each day I began to find something I had lost. I was becoming reacquainted with my loving creator, and my life was changing. Little by little I found my joy hidden deep in my heart. Let’s be clear though, when I say I found joy that does not mean I was happy. Joy is deeper, it is felt in the soul and the body, as well as the heart. Although I was feeling stressed and stretched I also felt spiritually loved and cared for. My relationship with Jesus was renewed and joy had returned! This Lent take time to find that joy inside of you, by growing in intimacy with Jesus.
For adults entering the church Lent is the time of final preparation for their baptism. If we look into scripture we see that Jesus is baptized, recognized as God’s beloved Son and then he is “led by the spirit to the desert.” After His time in the desert Jesus is tempted by Satan, but fortified by His 40 days of prayer and fasting he was strengthened to stand firm in the presence of temptation. As we enter into Lent, our time of desert, may we recall our baptism and prepare for the renewal of our baptismal vows at Easter. May we also accept our role as brothers and sisters to those who will be entering the Church this Easter through Baptism or Profession of Faith. This Lent may we, like the Samaritan woman, find the joy that comes from drawing the living water of Christ so that we rush to share it with all those we come in contact with!
Pick up your “With Joy You Shall Draw Water” booklet this Wednesday to begin your journey! Check this blog to keep going deeper each day!
Fr Mike shares with us the focus of Lent:
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How am I entering into this Lenten season today?
Do I recognize the joy of Christ in my heart as I pray, fast and give?
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