Category Archives: Lent

From the womb He had a plan for you

Posted on by

The First Reading from the Mass for Tuesday of Holy Week reminds us of how special we are to God. Pay special attention to the part italicized:

Isaiah 49:1-6: “Hear me, O islands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God. For now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

(Via USCCB.)

“How special” may be an understatement. We are not just a random collection of atoms, molecules and chemicals. God has a plan for each of us that started with our conception in the womb.

We are precious in God’s sight. Each life, from conception to natural death, is sacred. You were meant for more than just not drinking or attending 12 Step meetings. Make a difference, based on your God-given skills and talents, and don’t care what others think.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Bruised reeds and smoldering wicks

Posted on by

The First Reading from the Mass for Monday of Holy Week is one of my favorites:

Isaiah 42:3: “A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench…”

Via USCCB.)

It reminds me of us alcoholics and addicts in our times of suffering and eventual recovery.

I had written about this passage before: Bruised reeds…

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Not My Will, but Yours be done

Posted on by

Quite often in AA meetings and in literature we hear the phrase “Not my will, but yours.” I’m not sure if the quoters are aware of the source. An excerpt from the Gospel of Mark from the Mass of the Passion of Our Lord (Palm Sunday):

Mark 14:36: “Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.”

(Via USCCB.)

The “cup” is the suffering and death Jesus was about to undergo. He knew what it would entail, and didn’t seem particularly thrilled to undertake it. But with the same humility He expressed in becoming human for our sake, He agreed to submit to the Father’s will and accept the suffering that was to come.

There is a certain serenity in doing this, a serenity that can be found in partnering with God and agreeing to set aside your own wishes and desires and instead taking up the cross that is before you.

This is the mark of a Christian.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Read this and know that Jesus understands pain

Posted on by

Today is Palm Sunday. This excerpt from the Gospel is an astounding insight into Jesus’ humanity:

Mark 14:34: “My soul is sorrowful even to death”

(Via USCCB.)

Jesus, the Son of God, was sorrowful. This is an immense revelation, that God can be, and was sorrowful. Sorrowful to the point of death.

Remember this next time you are at an extreme loss, the next time you are at the brink of despair. Especially when someone tells you to “unite your sufferings to Christ”, which seems so abstract, so unreal.

Spend some time with you Bible today. Re-read the Gospel accounts of the Passion. Particularly turn to Mark and dwell on this passage. Mull it over and pray on it.

Know that Jesus is aware and feels the pain you feel.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

All will believe in him

Posted on by

The Gospel reading for the Mass for Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent shows the Pharisees with an interesting dilemma. Their power was threatened by Jesus. He was performing signs and working miracles showing His Divine nature and people were turning to Him instead of their traditional religious leaders. Yet as the leaders of the Jewish religion, you would think that they would feel obligated to serve Him.

USCCB – NAB – John 11:47-48: “…What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him…”

(Via USCCB.)

Has Jesus worked signs and miracles in your life? Has there been enough “God-incidences” in your life to make you realize that Jesus has a Divine plan for you (and only you?)

Holy Week is coming up. It is the week leading to the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. Actions that He had willingly undertaken to save us from eternal death.

What are you doing in gratitude for these things?

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

In my distress I called upon the Lord – he heard my voice.

Posted on by

The Church seems to be using Lent to drive home the theme of relying on the Lord to deliver His people from their distress. The Responsorial Psalm for Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent is yet another prayer of gratitude to God:

Psalm 18:2-7:
“I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.

My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the LORD, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies.

The breakers of death surged round about me, the destroying floods overwhelmed me; The cords of the nether world enmeshed me, the snares of death overtook me.

In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried out to my God; From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.”

(Via USCCB.)

Lent is a time for repentance, of turning away from sin and amending your life. The Church is also reminding us that a benefit of this is a confident reliance on God to help us in our distress. We must never forget this.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Rely on the Lord, constantly seek Him

Posted on by

The Responsorial Psalm for the Mass for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent reminds us of our bond with the Lord and our confidence in His help:

Psalm 105:4-9
“Rely on the mighty LORD; constantly seek his face.

Recall the wondrous deeds he has done, his signs and his words of judgment,
You descendants of Abraham his servant, offspring of Jacob the chosen one!

The LORD is our God who rules the whole earth.

He remembers forever his covenant, the pact imposed for a thousand generations,
which was made with Abraham, confirmed by oath to Isaac”

(Via USCCB.)

Be faithful to God and the Creator of the Universe will keep His word with you forever. A simple message, yet an awesome one. Meditate on that for awhile.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Freedom in the Truth

Posted on by

This excerpt from the Gospel for Wednesday in the Fifth Week of Lent speaks a fundamental fact:

John 8:31-32: “Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, ‘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.”

(Via USCCB.)

Jesus is God, the Creator of the world. Follow Him, accept and live by His teachings, and you are one with Him. This liberates you from the illusory passing of this world, with its “here today, gone tomorrow” values and institutions. This liberation is freedom, a freedom in Jesus and a freedom in the Truth that we all should dwell in.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress

Posted on by

This excerpt from the Responsorial Psalm for the Mass from Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent is an excellent prayer of distress in times of pain:

Psalm 102:2-3: “O LORD, hear my prayer,
and let my cry come to you.
Hide not your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
in the day when I call, answer me speedily.”

(Via USCCB.)

It seems that many of the Psalms picked for the season of Lent recognize the pain and suffering that people find themselves in. Most often it is caused by sin, either the sufferer’s actions or another’s.

Nevertheless, we are being constantly reminded by the Church of the healing and forgiving nature of God.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Suppressed consciences

Posted on by

This excerpt from the First Reading for Mass for the Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent serves an interesting insight into the inner workings of the mind on its way to committing sin (and an addictive relapse):

Daniel 13:6-14: “…These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim.

When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk.

When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her.

They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments.

Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble,

for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her.

Day by day they watched eagerly for her.

One day they said to each other, ‘Let us be off for home, it is time for lunch.’ So they went out and parted;

but both turned back, and when they met again, they asked each other the reason. They admitted their lust, and then they agreed to look for an occasion when they could meet her alone.”

Via USCCB.)

Take out “Susanna” and substitute any of the “people, places and things” that serve as triggers for relapse and we see a mirror of the mental processes that lead to a relapse.

The image of the object of desire, be it a lustful target or just an old drinking establishment, somehow causes the conscience to be supressed. Anyone who has relapsed, or came close to it, understands. Your “right-thinking” is turned off, God is distant and “just judgments” are far from your thoughts.

The object takes over and mindlessly the addict succumbs and falls prey to it.

I heard it explained in an AA meeting that meeting attendance interrupts this thought process and halts the trend towards relapse. This is fine for those who still actively attending 12 Step meetings. But for those who do not, there is prayer, Mass and the sacraments. The grace of God present in these can be enough to save the addict from falling.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)