"Our Father Who Art in Heaven"

In today's gospel, Matthew 6: 7-15, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. When you pray, Jesus says to us, "do not babble like the pagans, who think they will be heard because of their many words."  Remember, Jesus says to us, that "[y]our Father know what you need before you ask him."

Pray like this, Jesus says to us:

"Our Father who art in heaven." Stop!  Think of a child running into the arms of his/her loving, caring protective father. Many times, no words are necessary. The child looks up at daddy, raises his or her arms and daddy picks up the child, soothes it, looks into its eyes lovingly and the child's needs are met!  And how delighted the father is that the child trusts him so unhesitatingly and completely!

That is our father in heaven: caring, waiting, eager to pick us up, comfort us, soothe us and meet our needs, whatever they are!

"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name."  Listen to a child boast of its daddy: "My daddy is the best. My daddy is strong! My daddy knows everything" are praises that we hear little children telling each other about their daddy!  Do you and I  have this kind of relationship with our Father in heaven? If not, what do we need to do to develop this kind of relationship with God?  How did we develop this kind of relationship with our own fathers or surrogate fathers?

May we grow in love with God! May we discover God as a loving, caring, compassionate, strong father, a God who gave His life for us!

The Lord, Your God Wills Your Holiness/Wholeness

In  today's first reading, Leviticus 19: 1-2, 11-18, the Lord says to Moses and to us:   "Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy." How, we ask, are we to be holy as the Lord, our God, is holy? Is that not impossible? For us, on our own, yes. For us, with God, no!  God can do all things and that includes putting us on the path to holiness when we stray!

I was getting caught in a pattern of thinking that is detrimental to grace.  As I recognized the pattern, I began to pray the mantra:  "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, a sinner."  As soon as my mind drifted back to negative thinking, I returned to the mantra.  I woke up refreshed, consulted a friend, who set me right and reminded me of what my mission is and how I allowed myself to get pulled into issues that are not my responsibility to resolve and over which I was obsessing. How free I felt and grateful for God's grace at work in me as soon as I turned to the Lord for help and realized how right my friend was in her counsel of me! And, yes, God had put me back on the path of holiness and wholeness!

What do you do when you recognize that you are on a dangerous path, one that will lead you away from what God wants of you?  What helps you experience the freedom and the peace that only God can give? What puts you back on the path to holiness, that is, to wholeness and becoming the person God intends you to become?

Translating "Ifs" into Actions that Radiate God's Presence

In today's first reading, Isaiah 58: 9b-14,  God says to us through the prophet: "If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday; then the Lord will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength, and you will be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails...."

Let us, with God's strength, remove the "ifs" and do what God asks of us, especially in our families and religious communities, that is, stop speaking maliciously of anyone, if we are doing that. Let us relieve family members or community members hungry for love and kindness, forgiveness and honesty. Let us respond to our children's or a community member's need for quality time--perhaps help with homework or saying "yes" to their request that a parent play with them or a spouse--or community member--hungry to hear "I love you," "I appreciate you," "Great job showing that you care."  When we heed God's call to live in this fashion, we live in the Light. We bear fruit that will last and are lifted out of gloom into joy and peace of heart, mind and soul!  Yes, our strength in renewed and so is that of others!  We become "like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails" to quench the thirst of others for a glimpse of God in their midst!

The Kind of Fasting that God Asks of Us

In today's first reading, Isaiah 58: 1-9a,  the prophet Isaiah spells out clearly the kind of fast God asks of us:  This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:  releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own."

We might choose one of the following ways of fasting for ourselves and also include one or more of these in our Lenten prayers:

• Fast from corrupt ways and choose integrity in all of our dealings with others
• Fast from deceitful ways and choose to be honest in our relationships
• Fast from violating the basic human rights of anyone and promote that which is right for all
• Fast from being ignorant of the industry of human trafficking and learn how to protect our children from this crime
• Fast from being blind or deaf to the dangers of illegal drugs and abuse of alcohol and encourage a healthy lifestyle among our children/youth
• Fast from ignorance of forced labor or labor trafficking; take time to learn about this criminal reality and protect innocent children from this curse,
• Fast from judging persons who are incarcerated; take time to learn about unjust incarcerations and work for justice
• Fast from judging homeless people and take some time to learn about the causes of homelessness,
• Fast from judging victims of sexual abuse--incest, sexual assault, rape--and work for justice for victims of these crimes 
• Fast from viewing pornographic materials, if so involved, and work to educate others about this dangerous addiction
• Fast from addictions--all addictions have the potential to destroy healthy relationships and thwart our growth in love; if necessary, seek support from groups that help each other become free of addictive behaviors
• Fast from discriminating against people whose sexual orientation, religion, culture, race, background is different from one's own; befriend a person who is different from yourself 
• Fast from treating others as inferior to oneself and acknowledge the other person's giftedness
• Fast from ways in which humankind treats human beings inhumanely, beginning with oneself

Reread Isaiah 58: 1-9a.  What kind of fast is God asking of you this Lenten season?

Being Vulnerable in Prayer

In today's Entrance Antiphon, we pray:  When I cried to the Lord, he heard my voice; he rescued me from those who attack me. Entrust your cares to the Lord, and he will support you."

Wow! I had just poured my soul out to the Lord in personal prayer, complaining about a phrase in Sarah Young's book, Jesus Calling, in which, through  her, the Lord says to the reader:  "Let me help you through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone. You are keenly aware of your helplessness in the scheme of events you face" (March 7th).  I felt humiliated by those statements and told Jesus just that! What I heard back in prayer was: Trust me. I am with you. I hold you by your hand. I am at your side. Pause to remind yourself of that fact. Rely on Me. I am standing by waiting for you to seek my help."  I said "thank you," and, in my prayer, the Lord then continued:  Do not put yourself down! Everyone is helpless in face of the day's events in their lives.  You are no exception!  I am your strength. Remember that fact and that I come to you every morning in the Eucharist to give you the strength you need each day, one day at a time."

Then, I read the Entrance Antiphon for today's liturgy and realized that, by trusting my cares to the Lord,  God not only supported me but also rescued me, not from outside attackers, but from myself!

Your experience of God in prayer today?

The Lenten Journey Begun This Day

Today we celebrate Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the holy season of Lent. Lent is a time of special graces, a time to heed the words of the prophet Joel. God speaks to us today through Joel 2: 12-18: "Return to me with  your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God." The question I need to ask myself is: Why is God asking me to return to Him? I also need to take heed of the call to return to him with my whole heart! How am I, I need to ask myself, serving God halfheartedly?  sluggishly? Do I give God only my leftovers and give the best to other gods, to my idols, to things I treasure more than God? What, in my life each day, do I devote most of my energy, most of my time, especially time when I am free of the responsibilities of my profession, my career: the kids have been put to bed, the dishes and other chores are done, my community or priestly responsibilities are met, I've spent quality time playing with or listening to my children and communicating with my spouse or the members of my religious community with whom I live or fulfilling my duties as priest! Wow, I am free finally, I say to myself!    Is this a time that I am being called to turn my attention to the Lord in prayer, in reflecting upon a Scripture passage, the readings of the day's liturgy, a spiritual reading book that lifts my mind and heart and soul to God?

Maybe the fasting God is asking of me this Lent is to participate more fully in my children's life, in the life of my spouse or the members of my religious community, giving more of myself in sharing responsibilities around the house, in the parish, in meeting the needs of an elderly parent/fellow Sister, a needy parishioner,  listening to another person's story or concerns, especially that of one's spouse, one's fellow religious or priest, or, if married, in playing with or doing homework with my children.  "Rend your hearts, not your garments!"

Lord, help me know and do what it is, each day, that you ask of me in rending my heart so as to enhance the life of those with whom I live and for whom I have committed my life as a married person or a member of a religious community or a priest or as a single person. All of us are called to rend our hearts in some way! Let us pray for the grace to do so!

God Delights in Us: Do We Delight in God?

In the antiphon of today's liturgy we pray: "The Lord became my protector. He brought me out to a place of freedom; he saved me because he delighted in me" (cf. Ps 18 (17): 19-20). In the entrance of antiphon of tomorrows liturgy we pray: "You are merciful to all, O Lord, and despise nothing that you have made. You overlook people's sins, to bring them to repentance and  you spare them, for you are the Lord our God" (Wis 11: 24 25, 27).

WOW!  What a kind God, a God of love and compassion, a generous God.  No way do I, or you, deserve God's protection or to be brought to a place of freedom. But that is our God!  He held nothing back to free us or protect us from the snares of Satan, a fallen angel, one who lost Paradise, was thrown out of heaven by St. Michael, the Archangel, and thus works tirelessly, cunningly and deceitfully to keep us from entrance into our heavenly home!  Our God, though, is a Warrior God, a powerful God, One far more powerful than Satan.  Like a mother bear protects her cubs, so, too, does God protect His children.  God delights in us, we pray in today's entrance antiphon. He will not lose us to Satan and hopefully you and I will truly embrace this free gift of salvation and, with God, let nothing come between us and God, let nothing separate us from God, our Savior!