Thursday 5th Week of Lent

 Abraham our Father in Faith Gen. 17:3-9

Why is Abraham our “Father in Faith?”

Because it takes Faith to believe that as an old man,

God is going to bless him with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. 

Because it takes Faith to Pack up everything and let God lead you to a foreign land. 

Because it takes Faith to be willing to sacrifice your own son,

When God asks you to. 

When we seem to have nothing,

And when life takes us to unexpected places,

And we lose those we love,

Call upon Abraham;

For he knows what you are going through

And will show you how to hold on to your Faith. 

Wednesday 5th Week of Lent

Slaves of Sin Jn. 8:31-42

Jesus told the people that everyone who commits sin 

Is a slave of sin. 

How?

Because when a person hates, hatred gets a hold of them. 

When a person is greedy, greed gets a hold of them. 

When a person is promiscuous, lust gets a hold of them. 

It is the same with gluttony, pride, jealously and every other sin. 

Sin gets a hold of us and will not let go. 

And we become slaves of sin. 

We think we can walk away and change whenever we want;

But not really. 

Sin has a much stronger hold on us then we realize or want to admit. 

And only Jesus can set us free,

Truly free!

Tuesday 5th Week of Lent

Where are you from? Jn. 8:21-30

When people ask you, where are you from?

People usually respond by saying where they were born. 

As Jesus tells the Pharisees that He is from Above!

Since He is from above, He speaks of the things of heaven and not of the things of earth. 

And since the Pharisees are from below,

They do not understand Him, for they are concerned only with the things of earth. 

Where are we from and what concerns us?

Are we from above?

Are we concerned with the things of heaven?

Or are our roots in this world?

And are we  more concerned with the things below?

St. Paul tells us, "Set your hearts on the things that are above, where Christ is seated at God's right hand!"

St. Paul said this, because he knew where he was from and where he was going. 

Monday 5th Week of Lent

 The Light of the world

Whenever there is a Tornado warning,

A person has to be prepared for the lights to go out. 

So they do not stumble around in the darkness. 

Life is filled with storms

That threaten to cast us into physical, emotional and spiritual darkness. 

Jesus came into the world so that we might not remain in darkness. 

Yet some people prefer the dark to the light. 

And it is not Jesus but they themselves who will condemn themselves to darkness

Because they refused to follow the Light. 

5th Sunday of Lent

Throwing Stones Jn. 8:1-8

If only we can get rid of THOSE people.

You know the ones I am talking about   

THOSE PEOPLE

The ones who cause all the problems. 

We all have a list of the people we would like to get rid of. 

Who would make our world, our city, our neighborhood and our church a better place if they were gone. 

There are even people who think what this world needs is an old fashioned chastisement. 

That will clean the place up and turn people around. 

Talk about “Throwing Stones!”

That was what the Pharisees thought. 

If they could just get rid of THOSE people 

The world and the Temple would be a better place. 

Get rid of The people who break the laws;

The people who are immoral.

The woman was caught in adultery. 

She was not innocent.  

She broke up a marriage. 

And possibly a family as well. 

Can you blame the Pharisees for wanting to stone her. 

Wouldn’t the Temple and society be better off without THOSE 

Kind of people. 

One could argue yes it would. 

Jesus certainly did not condone her actions 

but neither did He condemn her. Jn. 8:8

He let her go and He told her to sin no more. 

Jesus reminds us that we are not really THAT different from 

THOSE kind of people. 

Throwing stones is only for those without sin. 

Yet Jesus who was innocent did not throw a stone. 

If Jesus did not throw a stone at THOSE kind of people 

Maybe we shouldn’t either. 

Friday 4th Week of Lent

 The Innocent are Condemned Wis. 2:12-22

In our legal system we believe that the innocent are set free and the guilty are condemned. 

Is this always true?

Jesus was innocent but condemned to death. 

So Do not be surprised when the innocent are 

tested, treated unfairly and condemned. 

For this is the way of the world and godless. 

When Jesus was unjustly condemned. 

He entrusted Himself to His Father

For God is the Just Judge Who will set things straight

And will vindicate the Innocent and condemn the guilty. 

Thursday 4th week of Lent

 Intercede for sinners Ex. 32:7-14

After Moses saw that Israel had worshipped a golden calf instead of the Living God

He had one of two choices. 

He could have let God wipe Israel out and start over with another people,

Or he could have interceded that God be merciful. 

When we see someone who has sinned or done something wrong. 

We too have one of two choices to make. 

That God punish them,

Or intercede for them that God be merciful. 

Wednesday 4th Week of Lent

My Father is at work. Jn. 5:17-30

Jesus tells us that His Father is at work. 

And what is His work?

God the Father's work is never done. 

He is always creating. 

Creating new life from the smallest creature to the infant in the womb. 

Creating new planets, stars and galaxies. 

Creating plants and flowers and trees; 

Creating rain in the heavens to water them. 

It is a lot of work to keep the earth going let alone the universe!

God the Father is constantly watching and working. 

He watches over His children. 

He creates the world for them to live in and explore and grow. 

God the Father is actually very busy at work. 

And all He does is for us, His children!

Tuesday 4th Week of Lent

 O Healing River

Water is necessary for life. 

That is why astronomers and astronauts are looking for water on other planets. 

Without Water there is no life. 

Ezekiel the prophet speaks of the living water that comes from the Temple in Jerusalem. 

Not just a spring but a river that transforms the salty sea barren desert 

Into banks flourishing with life. 

Jesus is the Temple from Whom Living water flows. 

It is no longer necessary to bathe in the waters at the pool of Bethesda to be be healed.  

Jesus is the source of Healing Waters. 

He is the Healing River,

From which not just healing,

But abundant Life comes. 

This land is parching, this land is thirsting. 

No seed is growing on the baren ground

Oh healing river send down your water

Oh healing river send your water down