The season of Lent is upon us. A time of renewal, a time for new life. A time to go with Jesus into the desert to purify our hearts, to repent of our sins and return our gaze back to God.
On Ash Wednesday we hear Jesus teaching his disciples how to appropriately go about fasting, praying and giving alms. If we are serious, we will learn more about ourselves and how we should change our lives.
Wishing you the graces of the season that we all may be more conformed to the image of Jesus Christ who took upon Himself our humanity. What a beautiful time of the year in which the coming of Jesus is proclaimed by many people, even those who do not claim to be very religious.
We hear carols, send cards, celebrate with family and friends-due to the Baby in the manger who came to save us from our sins. “A child is born for us, a son is given to us” (Is 9:5). What Isaiah prophesied as he gazed into the future from afar, consoling Israel amid its trials and its darkness, is now proclaimed to the shepherds as a present reality by the Angel, from whom a cloud of light streams forth: “To you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11). The Lord is here. From this moment, God is truly “God with us”.
Lent is a time set aside to turn back to the Lord. If you are looking for a heavenly companion for your Lenten journey this year, St. Mary Magdalen is a great choice. What we know about her life teaches us some good lessons.
I love meditating on the Epiphany. Although the Liturgical feast commemorates three different manifestations of the Lord (the coming of the Magi from the East, the Baptism of the Lord, and Jesus’ miracle at Cana changing water into wine), we tend to focus on the Magi. These mysterious
visitors, who seem a little out of character with the stable at Bethlehem add a sparkle of color, an aroma of the East, a touch of “bling” to the manger scene. Their presence at the manger remind us that our God is full of surprises who delights in paradox and fulfills all prophecies to the fullest.
What's in a name? On January 3rd, the Church has given her children the optional memorial to celebrate the the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. This is a wonderful feast to celebrate, for the Lord Jesus' name is a powerful weapon against the devil and a great cry of praise to God. We know from Scripture that Jesus was given his name by the angel Gabriel, when he came to Joseph and Mary to announce the birth of Jesus.
