Superior Priest

20MAR22 (22cL3). We live in a culture of casualness. So when we talk about reverence or formalities in the Church it can seem outdated, but if we look at our country there are so many places of reverence. They are often places of death and great sacrifice. Jesus in reminding us of death calls us to repentance. In that we are called to be reverent. Moses shows us great reverence which is the combination of confidence and humility. In Mass both the penitential act and last part of the Communion rite are examples of proper reverence in humility and confidence.

13MAR22 (22cL2). It is hard to pay attention and participate in something you don’t understand. I think a lot of people don’t understand the Mass and have a hard time participating. What is happening here is of infinite value and cannot be over learned. This is a divine liturgy that is supposed to unite us to God and the worshiping angels in heaven. So, let’s get participating.

06Mar22 (22cL1). Why go out to the desert? It is a place to encounter God. A lot of our problem with not hearing God in the modern day is because we do not give him space and time to listen to him. Lent is a time to go out into the desert. One of the things Sacred Heart Community is doing to promote this silence and time in the desert, rightly orientating us to God is by celebrating Ad Orientem. I hope is a fruitful lent that makes our heart more united to Jesus’.

02Mar22 (Ash22). What is wrong with the world today?... Me!!! Lent is not a time for New Years Resolutions but repentance. We have lots of scapegoats that we blame for problems but the only one that makes sense is ourselves.

27Feb22 (22cO8). We are told not to judge and in many ways we should not, however, we are supposed to judge good and evil in our life and admonish the sinner. The first sinner we need to admonish is ourselves. Remove that beam from our eye so that we can help our brothers and sisters. Lent is a great time to humbly approach God and do penance. Only in that humility do we have any ability to help our neighbor.

20Feb22 (22cO7). I find it troubling not that ‘bad things happen to good people’ but that ‘good things happen to bad people.’ We do not live in a life of Karma or strict justice, but one of an abundant mercy that is hard to comprehend. Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners. Not because he thought we were great or worthy of his love, but he made us worthy and loved his enemies (us). We also should love and have mercy the way that God loves us, making it rain on the just and unjust.

13Feb22 (22cO6). Jesus tells us of true blessings and true woes. It is not the blessings and woes that the world gives. How do you count your blessings? Be careful with living in the woes that are so common for our modern world. We need to trust not in men, but God.

30Jan22 (22cO4). St. Paul gives us a beautiful explanation of love. It is often used at weddings as a sappy sentimental love. But as Christians we do not see the love of God or love of neighbor as a sentimental love but an Agape love, most perfectly shown by Jesus on the cross. Help us to meditate not on a worldly, simplistic, sentimental love, but a suffering and enduring love of Jesus Christ.

23Jan22 (22cO3). Some walls need to be torn down, but not all walls. Jesus tears down certain walls but upholds the walls for God’s law. Jesus tells us to remain in His love, follow the commandments. We should tear down some human laws, but always hold to God’s laws that keep us safe and able to realize not who we want to be, but who God made us to be.

16Jan22 (22cO2). Jesus works a miracle today, but there is a lot more to the story than just that. In this simple story we also learn the role of Mary, God’s use of our cooperation, and God’s goodness to us today. God wants to take the natural goods of the world and transform them into supernatural goods.