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St. Joseph Retreat Center

LENTEN REFLECTIONS++ SECOND SUNDAY ++REFLECTION FOR February 28, 2021

Will You Pass the Test?
Mark 9:7 – Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him.”  
Genesis 22:16-17, “Because you acted as you did and not withholding from me your beloved Son, I will bless you abundantly.”
Romans 8:31-32, “If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but handed him over to us all.  How will he not give us everything else along with him.”

The Liturgy of the Word, prayed at every mass of the faithful around the world is a beautiful gift the Church gives us.  It is a present bestowed on us every day.  As we hear and meditate on the Word, we carefully unwrap this gift to discover what lies beneath.  The living Word speaks to our souls.  The Old Testament reading, the second reading, and the Gospel are all connected.  A spiritual truth is revealed.  It is the ribbon that wraps the gift that is presented to us.  

On the second Sunday of Lent, this is especially the case.  In the first reading, Abraham is called to a great test of faith, “the binding of Isaac,” referred to as Abedah in the Jewish commentaries.  This passage is a preemptive for Christ’s passion.  It shows God’s love for us by sacrificing his Son as the Lord for the new covenant.  Something he spared Abraham.  

Abraham withstood the task in his willingness to give his Son, Isaac, to God.  What is really the meaning of God’s request and the reason?  It is a test to allow Abraham to ask if there is anything in his life more important than God?  What is he attached to that is keeping him from following God and doing his will?  This is something we must ask ourselves if we are to progress in the spiritual journey.  It is a question that needs to be asked continually.  

The second reading is by St. Paul and he asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us? Roman 8:31.  What more do we need?    

What does God give Abraham for his faithfulness, trust and surrender?  He promises because you acted as you did and not withhold from me your beloved Son, I will bless you abundantly. 

This leads us to the Gospel reading of the transfiguration.  The Greek word, transfiguration, means metamorphosis in English.  This transformation is the spiritual journey we are all called to.  The Father shares the divinity of his Son and tells us how we, too, can share in his divine nature by “listening to him.”  Mark 9:7.  This is the abundant blessing we, too, can receive – oneness with God through Christ.  Archbishop Louis Martinez, spiritual author and the first official primate of Mexico, puts this perfectly, “Do you wish to look at the Father?  Look at Jesus.”  

This Lent ask: what am I withholding from God?  Is it my time, talent, money?  Where do I lack faith and trust?  Am I spending time with him?  Am I listening to him?  Am I obeying his commands and His will?  Will I pass the test?  It is a test we must not fail.

LENTEN REFLECTIONS++ FIRST SUNDAY ++REFLECTION FOR February 21, 2021THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

Join us on a Lenten Journey thanks to Anne-Louise DePalo.

DROWNING IN THE SEA OF LIFE

“I will establish my covenant with you that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of the flood.” Genesis 9:11.

Do you ever feel like you are drowning? I often find myself being swept away by what seems like a tidal wave in the sea of life. There are times I feel as if I am gasping for air. Other times, I feel as if I am just treading water. I am not moving forward. In our lives, we encounter crushing waves, being dragged down into the deep, and just treading water.So, what do we do? Where do we turn when we receive crushing or devastating news? Perhaps we realize our marriage or relationship is broken beyond repair. Perhaps we have lost a loved one or lost a job. At times such as these, we are often filled with confusion, fear, and anxiety about the future. In essence, we are drowning. 

How does one stay afloat? 

1. Stop fighting and going against the current. Swim along the side of it. The more you fight, the further under you go, and the further you deplete your energies and resources. 

2. Allow someone to rescue you by giving you a life preserver to grab onto, buoying yourself up so you can get to shore.

3. Have a trained lifeguard, or strong swimmer, swim out to us and carry us to shore. 

Each of these can be applied to our own lives.The Sunday bible passage of Genesis, Chapter 9, recounts the story of Noah, and God promises Noah that He will never again destroy us by a flood. This is a covenant He has made with us. Christ makes a further promise that in times of trouble, seek Him and He will rescue us as He is our Savior.

So, when you are caught in a riptide, ask yourself, “Am I fighting, kicking and screaming, not accepting what is happening?” Are you going against the tide? Are you thinking you going it alone and not surrendering to His love and providence? 

When you need a life preserver are you asking for help? Are you praying for support, courage, discernment? Are you asking God to send people into your life who can help you and then accept their advice and helping hand? For example, are you seeking an attorney, a therapist, a health provider if you are ill, a priest, a financial advisor, a support group or a good friend? If you are you can no longer tread water and stuck are you looking for the lifeguard who is swimming toward you? Are you meeting him half-way. Are you aware of God’s covenant with you? Are you acknowledging Him? Are you participating in His covenant?

So, again, I ask the question, what do you do when you are drowning? Surrender, ask for help, take it, and pray to God. Look for the lifesaver. He is there. You need only to hold on for dear life. Do not let go, and Christ will bring you to shore.

LENTEN REFLECTIONS++ ASH WEDNESDAY ++




Dear Friends of St. Joseph Retreat Center,

Loving greetings to each of you. It’s hard to believe that a whole year has passed since Covid 19 caused us to close our Retreat Center. 
We had hoped to reopen in March, but that is still not possible. We do feel, however that we will be able to resume our day retreats in the fall. So, please do not lose heart, we are still here for you and hold you deep in our hearts in prayer.

As you know, this week begins our Season of Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday, February 17th.It commemorates the 40 days that Jesus remained in the desert in prayer and fasting, prior to his public ministry. We try to unite with Christ during Lent by making an effort to increase our prayer, fasting, and acts of charity. By doing this, Lent will allow God to help us: Come to new life;Deepen our relationship with God and others; andTransform who we are and how we live.

Thinking back to our time in quarantine for almost a year, I feel most of us have experienced in some way, these three points already. We have felt the pain of being separated from our loved ones and perhaps had more time to turn to God in prayer-for our loved ones and ourselves. All of this may have helped transform our lives in some way for the better.Being deprived of attending Mass has also left a void that perhaps during this Lent we can fill, by attending Mass more often, if possible.

Pope Francis also shares some practical and inspiring ways to fast during Lent:

“It is never too late to give something up for Lent.Nor is there a rule that prevents you from changing your fasting habits during Lent.And so, if you want to fast this Lent:

Fast from hurting words and say kind wordsFast from sadness and be filled with gratitudeFast from anger and be filled with patienceFast from pessimism and be filled with hopeFast from worries and trust in GodFast from complaints and contemplate simplicityFast from pressures and be prayerfulFast from bitterness and fill your heart with joyFast from selfishness and be compassionate to othersFast from grudges and be reconciledFast from words and be silent so you can listen”

May this Lenten Season bring you closer to Christ and each other.
Know that I and all the Sisters continue to remember you daily in our prayers.

Until we can be be together again, let us meet each other in the Heart of Christ and there, pray for one another.

Lovingly yours in Christ, 
Sister Josita DiVita, FDC

It is with great sadness we share with you that

Sister M Charlotte entered eternal life November 25th, 2020 at 10:30am.

Sister was a member of the Daughters of Divine Charity for over 70 years and earlier this week celebrated her 96th birthday.

Due to the covid pandemic, no arrangements have been made at this time.

Please keep Sister and all the Sisters in your prayers.

With a heavy heart, we share the following news…

Sister M. Hyacinthe Vamos, F.D.C. passed away peacefully November 26th at 5:45 at Western
Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Sister Hyacinthe was 97 years old and would have celebrated
her 98th birthday on December 5th. She faithfully serves as a
Daughter of Divine Charity for 78 years making God’s Love
visible to the many families and students that she served.

May she rest in eternal peace.


We invite all our friends to share their experiences with Sister on our Facebook page, with an email to [email protected] or with a submission through our website.

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