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LENTEN REFLECTIONS++ THIRD SUNDAY ++REFLECTION FOR MARCH 7, THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

“I’ve Got the Power”

Responsorial Psalm, “Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.” John 6: 68C1 Corinthians 1:24 “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Today’s Responsorial Psalm and the 2nd reading in 1st Corinthians asks us to ponder the question asked and answered by Peter, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.” John 6: 68C. “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:24

Peter with all his failings, knew that Christ was the answer. In fact, Christ is the answer to every question. What will bring us peace? What will give us hope? How do we live? How do we make decisions? Jesus is the way the truth and the life. 

Jesus, whose very name means God saves, saves us. He is called Emmanuel God with us; He is always with us. In his life we see the meaning of our lives; to love, follow, and be with him in eternity. We receive his power and grace through prayer, reading His word, and doing and obeying the will of His Father. 

By encountering Jesus we learn how to encounter others. In moments of silent prayer we enter into relationship with Him. His love for us enables our own love; touching each soul we meet with His love. This is God’s power. This is God’s wisdom. Love God, and by loving God we too can love our neighbor. This is embodied in the wisdom and teaching of the ten commandments in the first reading of Exodus 20. The Ten Commandments teach us the habits, values, and behaviors needed to love God, neighbor, and self. 

Perhaps Saint Teresa of Calcutta put it best, “We all have a duty to serve God where we are. It is the person that matters. I believe in person to person encounters.”

Do you have the power and wisdom for whom you will encounter today?

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, F.D.C.

Prayer to Saint Joseph

Please join us in prayer to St. Joseph. Our Sisterssay this devotion every day in honor of him during this special year proclaimed by our Holy Father.

 O Saint Joseph our Guardian dear, this house and its members keep in your care;  that the grace of God and blessings without end may from heaven upon us abundantly descend. 

Grant that unity we may possess and love and peace and happiness.

And may the spirit of the fear of God at all times with us abide.

May our every work a virtue be leading us onward to God and to you.

With fervent prayers for this we sigh that you, with us, will always abide.

The key of this house to you we give, grant we may always in happiness live.

Sin and the spirit of darkness, lock out from the hearts of your devoted flock.

Into the Sacred Heart of our Lord enfold us and our dear ones; we you implore, that our home and life may always be like unto Nazareth with Jesus, Mary and you.             

Amen.