March 16, 2014
2nd Sunday of Lent
We can imagine the emotional turmoil of family, friends and co-workers of crew and passengers on flight 370 -- worry, fear, anger, grief, disbelief. Fear is an internal alarm that something is amiss. Yet we can speak of fear as a gift of the Holy Spirit -- a holy fear in the presence of an awesome God. Peter, James and John are afraid on the Mount of Transfiguration after they see Jesus aglow and hear God’s voice. They fall to the ground in fear. Jesus touches them and bids them: “Get up. Do not be afraid.†There is also fear of the unknown. St. Paul writes to St. Timothy not to have a spirit of cowardice. Paul is in prison and facing death. Timothy is young and now being tested. Paul encourages Timothy to “Bear hardship for the Gospel with the strength of God.†We are called to be holy. There is a purpose, a design. God’s grace is bestowed on us in Jesus Christ. We are experiencing anger and fear at Annunciation with the announcement that our school will close in June. Teachers, principal, staff, parents, students, parishioners and pastor are fearful of what is to come regarding career choices, of going into retirement, of finding a new school, of making new friends and of asking what will become of our church without a school. Fear alerts us to threats but can also blind us to new opportunities that will emerge. We must believe that during this difficult time God is with us. Jesus will touch us and help us discovers new ways of living our Catholic faith. “Get up. Do not be afraid.†We must pray for all those suffering in fear and grief over missing loved ones aboard the Boeing 777 jetliner. On this feast of St. Patrick we can take solace in Patrick who returned to Ireland and faced threats against his life as he proclaimed the Gospel. The prayer of St. Patrick:
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
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1st Sunday in Lent
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3rd Sunday of Lent
