Well, the Gospel for today is of Jesus speaking of not showing off our almsgiving nor making it noticed when or if we fast, and in general the writing of Cyril of Jerusalem also includes that aspect of Scripture of putting on the new Man, of living our lives with joy in Christ, so to speak, and the importance of asking forgiveness and of forgiving others. So the Gospel and what Cyril writes with the Scripture references, are helpful. I still plan to let God do with me as He wills, as that has seemed to be how it works out, regardless, and is best for Lent and always. Not me, but God within and without, the Head of my body. However, Jesus mentions fasting, and of course that can mean for me to fast from remembering the negatives of the temporal Church experiences. Also, I can forgive those who did wrong in such overt ways, like the women at [X] parish who shunned me for no reason other than resentment or whatever it was? The woman who told me I could not sit in that empty pew on one weekday morning Mass, herself the only one in a full pew, and when I sat on the very end, disbelieving she would tell me such a thing just up front, close to the altar and Tabernacle, she got up and brushed by me roughly to get out, so much did she hate me, and her compatriots as well. That memory popped up last night. So I am praying to not have the multiple memories pop up, and that I forgive each if they do, and shove them away. Maybe God wants me this Lent to fast from any negatives of the past? Forgive and move on, try to have faith in Him in the present moment and repeat the reality that "God Provides" and "God Is Love"? Well, I think following His Living Word and suggestions therein, is good for Lent, also, and let God form this Lent, for each soul, God's individual instruction, individual education and spiritual plan for mind, heart, and soul. As for bodies, I guess those, too, does God have a plan for now, for Lent, for Easter and beyond no matter what or where. I just got a prayer request for a young man who found he had cancer last summer, so he and his fiancee married earlier rather than in Sept. He started treatment right after their early July wedding. He thought his ailment a sports injury until large tumors started popping up on his legs and elsewhere, one the size of a soccer ball! [Renowned clinic] had a hard time diagnosing what kind of cancer so he was on generic chemo at first. Then he had four surgeries in November to remove tumors, including those in his lungs. Evidently he is not in remission, although that was not specified to me, but I am asked to pray for him and his wife. They are likely about 30 years old. Evidently God is reminding me to seek prayer needs specifically. I reached out to one person I'd not heard from in over a year, and got many including this one. I watched films when I just needed to tune out the world and Mercy as well, when sinus infection had me fully depleted. Films always have various problems included that people are struggling with. even if fiction films, as they all are based on some type of actual event or issues people face, and some of the films were directly based on actual lives. Reminder that I can be about as closed down in suffering as is feasible, and still there are prayer reminders. for me. As a hermit and Christian, my life and heart are meant for prayer. Even if I did not watch Biden nor Pelosi nor Kamala behind him at the dais [State of Union event], we know the needs of them and of our country and world, especially Ukraine and other countries Putin is likely to try to invade next--but still praying a miracle for Ukraine! Headlines are plenty of information. So we all can be very set for lent with all types of prayer needs, including those of families friends and any chance encounters such as I have in walking the pup or picking up an order at Home Depot. Had a major bout of laziness and not wanting to do more work on this house. But, I guess get the windows, replace the front one and the one on stairwell, and if I don't want to do more, if no gust of energy returns nor any desire to push myself again nor my health returns, then sell them or donate them to Habitat and so what? I was beginning to work myself into detailed distraction. But God's already guiding my Lent; He reminded me that all temporal things are passing. It is the process that matters, the encounters of love and caring, the living in the Present Moment, being led by God. So I can't recommend enough letting God decide what He wants us to learn or work on or how to "be" in Lent. And wait--He will also surprise. Anyway, God knows I am aware of a time period designated as Lent, and not sure when that tradition began. [Researched, and it officially became Lent and a practice prior to Easter, a tradition, in 339, made official by Athanasius, but was simply and unofficially a thoughtful time even in the time of the apostles and early Christians, in preparation for celebrating the memory of Christ's crucifixion and the glory of His resurrection.]. But it seems a good tradition, and also good to let God lead me in what He'd like me to learn and to "do" or how to "be" for Him, in ways that He knows will help me conform more to His will. He knows best; I can try to figure out from my human mind or do something proscribed by priests or others, like give up food that gives me nausea, anyway, or not watch a film in evening, but I thought about a comment someone wrote to me about "giving up" chocolate and wine and that [the person, 94] have lost the impetus or reason for that. I suspect the ennui is because God has other--much more within us--that He knows, and you and I sense it, including the Living Word most often has Jesus wanting more spiritual and positive ways for the heart and mind and soul to learn and improve in His likeness. For me, even though it came to mind, "Who" is in my mind on such matters as forgiveness and wanting that and this to be in the present with faith and toward the future with hope? In my mind, implanting insights good and promising--the Who is the Holy Spirit! So forgiving various Catholics and even those of the past who altered His Church by over the centuries adding to and making up various rules and rituals, including canon laws that they really cannot enforce anyway. I must forgive all that, and MOVE on in the spiritual, and be in the Mystical Church of His Real Presence and His LIVING WORD which is mystical in the way it forms us and speaks in our hearts and souls. And of HIs Real Presence, Jesus said He is IN us and WITH us always, and we are in HIM and with HIM, always. Then there is that Law of God Jesus tells us that is the law above all others, God's Law of Love; and it is mystical--to love as God loves. Love is mystical; Love is God. And Christ said to ask God the Father for forgiveness and we will be forgiven. That I will do and have been. Ask in His name and His will, and all shall be given. Pray to forgive, be forgiven, and discover freedom from the Chains of Bad Memories, Nightmares, Negativity and Hurt under the category of unfortunate temporal Catholic Church experiences. Then think of the wonderful persons, [such as the person writing to] good friends, Fr. F. a truly holy priest and good friend, a spiritual soul, who admitted to me he'd been a coward for not standing up for me on a few occasions when he knew he should have. He was the best priest I knew, striving to be a holy one, as is Fr. V. yet living. The others simply did not now how to deal with someone being shown mystically in various ways through some aspects not good, and required of me honesty and doing what was ultimately right action. Not everyone can turn the head the other way; God was not having that of me, nor were others on the other side such as a meaningful visit from Joan of Arc with message and two gifts she gave, meaningful, symbolic, preparing me, and mystical! And sometimes a person is different and wishes not, but it how it is, and others do not like it. Catholics had a difficult time accepting me, even though I was so nice to those ladies, for example. Like Fr. F. said, God created me like a chick different from the others, and the other chickens were determined to try to peck me to death, so God had to put me in a separate place for my protection. Just like my grandmother said years ago when she appeared in corporeal vision, after my divorce, that I would have to learn to hibernate like a bear for protection from the world. She was sent to give the message, and get me to understand through that amazing occurrence, as my chest and hands became white polar bear fur and paws, and she told me in times of difficulty to press onto the palms of each hand--in the center--and she showed me, demonstrated. That was a reminder of Christ's wounds, to rely upon Christ Who was crucified. At the time, 1985, I was yet a Protestant, but had been crucified, in a real sense, at age 33. Well, lots to praise God about and much to forgive, and with forgiveness to move on from the past. Lent is taking form and function. I'm paying yours is, as well. And God forms our Lents in very positive ways, spiritual and Scriptural ways. All understanding of priests who were brought up hearing as children, sometimes the religious sisters repeat it also, telling them to give up something they like--Candy or soda pop. But that is rather basic despite their trying to get across the idea of sacrifice. Yet Scripture says, prophets and apostles and Psalms, also, that God does not want holocausts and sacrifices, rather, He wants us to have a contrite heart as well as praises! God wants us to learn to love! How can I love as God loves when I have various persons and incidents and a group as a whole, even, a temporal aspect of Church, to forgive and move on from the negative memories and experiences? Seems much better than giving up a film at night that helps me doze off without medication and always gives me much to pray about. Last night was a man who was getting dementia, some form of it that was progressing, and his two adult children had misunderstanding about how their mother died so blamed the father. The terrible dysfunction and upset was resolved because someone other, a stranger, became his friend and helped him as his memory failed. This person ultimately helped his adult children to understand to forgive and communicate, and come together to enjoy their dad for the time left with what memory he had. That opens up to my prayers, many persons with their sufferings and as well as their suffering families. Prayers also may be offered for the people who get involved and help persons suffering dementia and Alzheimers and their families. Many of us are hermits either consecrated with the vocation or those who live more solitary lives, such as those advanced in years who desire something more, We have time with God, and we are very aware of this time period that has been set aside and called Lent, and a good time indeed. Lent leads to Christ's dying for us and His rising and then ascending to Heaven! The Catholic Church is rich in these traditions, and in Scripture following along, worshipping daily, a liturgical year adhered to--all very wonderful. Even confession is a helpful practice until we grasp and have confession, spiritual confession, and confession mystical--the real presence of God's action within our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls and often bringing about many changes: conversion. SaintCyril of Jerusalem (313-350)Bishop of Jerusalem, Doctor of the Church Catechesis before baptism, no. 1, 1.5 Lent leads to baptism on Easter night for the forgiveness of sins[“Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”] Now you who are about to be baptized are already disciples of the New Covenant and participators in Christ's mysteries have already made yourselves “a new heart and a new spirit” to the joy of the inhabitants of heaven (...). You have set out on a good, a most beautiful journey (...): the only Son of God is all ready to redeem you. “Come, all you who struggle beneath the weight of the burden,” he says, “and I will give you rest.” You who are weighed down and afflicted by your sins, held in the bonds of your faults, listen to the prophet: “Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes” that the choir of angels may cry out to you: “Happy those whose faults are taken away, whose sins are covered!” (...)
This is the time for confession. Confess the sins you have committed in word or deed, by day or by night. Confess during this “favorable time” and on “the day of salvation”; receive heaven's treasure (...). Rid yourself from all human preoccupations; attend to your soul (...). Leave the present behind and put your faith in the future (...): “Be still, and know that I am God” (...) Purify your heart that you may receive even greater grace: forgiveness of sins is given equally to all but participation in the Holy Spirit is granted to each one according to the measure of their faith. If you give yourself little trouble, you will receive little. If you work hard, your reward will be great (...).
If you have a grudge against anyone, forgive. You are coming to the baptistery to receive the forgiveness of your sins: you too must be indulgent towards sinners.
( Biblical references : Acts 2:38; Ez 18:31; Lk 15:7; Mt 11:28; Prv 5:22; Is 1:16; Ps 31[32]:1; Is 49:8; 2 Co 6:2; Ps 45[46]:11) |
