Today is Ash Wednesday. Here is a great resource for getting through Lent in a prayerful way:
(Via Creighton University.)
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!!)
Today marks the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. I had written about it earlier, as a part of the meditation on the Fourth Luminous Mystery of the Rosary .
Today also marks the beginning of what you may call an “unofficial” Lent. Lent is a period of penance and mortification lasting 40 days, culminating in the Crucifixion of Jesus. The Transfiguration of Jesus occurred just prior to His departure for Jerusalem where it all took place. Why would today mark the beginning of an unofficial Lent? Because 40 days from now marks the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. This is every year, so it must have been the Church’s intent to give us another focused opportunity for spiritual growth and development. Maybe you can make up for this year’s Lent if you didn’t meet whatever goals you set. Call it a “do-over”, or a “redo”.
You can read the Lenten meditations I posted earlier this year, just scroll down the sidebar and click on “LENT” in the “LABELS” category, that will bring up all my Lenten posts.
NOTE: This is an edited version of a post from one year ago.
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!!)
I’ve read the Mass readings for tomorrow (Wednesday of Holy Week), and offhand I can’t come up with anything to post about them. Something may come to me, like in the past when I’ve stared at a blank screen and then “BOING”, inspiration. But as of now, there may be no Lenten blogpost for tomorrow.
There will also be no new posting during the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday). There are a few old posts from years past that I’ll recycle, particularly on the Holy Thursday “Mass of the Lord’s Supper”, and the Stations of the Cross Meditations. I was thinking of coming up with some quickie new meditations on the Stations, but probably not. I’m thinking that “quickie” won’t cut it. 🙂
Have a good Triduum, I hope you can spend time at a Catholic Church these days. Major graces working on your soul those days. We’re talkin’ big time, here.
Until Easter, see you!
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!!)
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!!)
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!!)
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!!)
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!!)
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!!)
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!!)
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!!)