Lenten Reflection for March 16th

Dr. Vincent Peale is a preacher in the United States, but before he became a minister, he was a reporter for a Detroit newspaper.

One night he was called to cover a story on a house fire, while there he witnessed several firemen telling a woman on the burning building to walk to safety across a shaky board that led to a rooftop next door. The woman was terrified and couldn’t move out of fear. The firemen told that she would burn up if she didn’t get across the only way of escape but no words seemed to sway her. Fear had completely taken over and she couldn’t move.

Dr. Peale witnessed this and spoke up, telling her he knew she had enough strength to put one foot in front of the other and when her courage faltered God would be there to help. “Don’t look down,” he said. “Look ahead and see yourself safe. Faith will give you courage and courage will give you faith!”

The woman listened and minutes later had crossed to safety.

There will be times in our lives when our faithfulness will be put to the test. Challenges that can prove to be stumbling blocks in the way of our Faith in what God has planned for our lives. When we encounter these moments, prayer is of the utmost importance in asking for God’s help.  It can be beneficial to consider if we know someone like a ‘Dr. Peale’ in our life, a trusted friend in Faith who can encourage us when we feel we are on shaky ground.

In Saint Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians he offers this encouragement, “…the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3) God loves us and is faithful to us, He will give us the Courage and strength to be Faithful as well.

For our younger brothers and sisters in Christ:

There was a newspaper reporter who was called to cover a story on a house fire one night. While there he saw several firemen telling a woman on the burning building to walk across a shaky board placed there which led to a rooftop next door and she would be safe. The woman was terrified and couldn’t move because she was so scared. The firemen told that she would be trapped if she didn’t get across the board, her only way of escape but she was so afraid, nothing they said could make her move.

The newspaper reporter spoke up loudly, telling her he knew she had enough strength to put one foot in front of the other and when her courage wavered God would be there to help. “Don’t look down,” he said. “Look ahead and see yourself safe. Faith will give you courage and courage will give you faith!” The woman listened and minutes later crossed the board to safety.

There will be times in our lives when our faith will be put to the test. When these moments happen, prayer is most important and that we ask for God’s help. We can also go to our parents, grandparents or people we trust to help us be stronger.

In the Bible, Saint Paul’s offers this encouragement, “…the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3) Remember that God loves us and is faithful to us, He will give us the Courage and strength to be Faithful as well.

God bless you!

Lenten Reflection for March 15th

Reflecting on the Fruit of the Spirit of ‘self-control’ has been rather challenging as, just like with the terms ‘gentleness’ or ‘meekness’, the term self-control in modern language and times seems to only bring up examples of resisting temptations such as eating sweets, over-eating, procrastination or laziness. 

It is again when we look to Christ as an example for us that we can see how self-control goes deeper and is more meaningful than our personal goals, milestones and visions for our future.

We read how in the garden of Gethsemane Jesus was “grieved and agitated” (Matthew 26:37) about what was going to happen shortly when he would be crucified. He prayed to God, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” (Matthew 26:39) 

When the chief priests and the elders came to arrest Jesus, one of his disciples reacted violently, striking the servant of the high priest with his sword. But Jesus told him to put away his sword saying, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:53-54) 

Jesus could have also reacted in a very human way, lashing out or turning away from what the Lord’s plan and will was for him but he chose to have Courage and Self-Control. Without the self-control of Jesus, we would be facing death as punishment for our sins.

Through his example we can see that Self-Control is also a way to show Christ’s Love, it is about willing the best for others and acting in the way He has shown us.Let’s continue to be mindful of where and when we can grow in this Spiritual Fruit. 

For our younger brothers and sisters in Christ:

Sometimes we might think of self-control as resisting temptation, whether for something that we know isn’t the best for us, or knowing that if we wait, it will make what we’re waiting for even better.  This might be like knowing we won’t enjoy our supper as much if we choose to eat sweets before the meal. Or it might look like not getting overly upset if we lose a game, we can choose to be a good sport about playing a game, whether we win or lose.

There is a kind of self-control that goes deeper than those personal goals or temptations I just mentioned though. It’s a self-control that can also show love and care for one another. 

Jesus teaches us about this kind of self-control when he was waiting to be arrested by the chief priests and elders to be brought to where he would die. In the Bible we read he was “very sad and troubled.” (Matthew 26:37 ICB) about what was to happen to him. 

Jesus could have changed his mind and saved himself, he told his disciples, “Surely you know I could ask my Father, and he would give me more than 12 armies of angels. But this thing must happen this way so that it will be as the Scriptures say.” (Matthew 26:53-54 ICB) Without the self-control of Jesus, we would still be facing punishment for our sins and through his example we can see that Self-Control is also a way to show God’s Love, it is about willing the best for others and acting in the way He has shown us.

God bless you!

Lenten Reflection for March 14th

Mister Rogers’ Neigborhood was a staple television show in our home when I was growing up. It was one show my brother and I watched nearly every day and I still enjoy watching clips of the programme. In a now very famous1969 episode of Mr Rogers’ Neigborhood, Mr Rogers broke down racial barriers by inviting Officer Clemmons, a Black police officer on the show, to join him and cool his feet in a small wading pool.

At the time in the United States violence was happening when some white people were preventing Black people from sharing the water with them at many community pools across the country.

On the programme, Officer Clemmons sat down and placed his feet in the water, right next to Mr Rogers' feet and in doing so, they broke a well-known colour barrier.

During the segment, Mr Rogers says a small but significant line which to children would seem to merely refer to the coolness of the pool on a hot day, but for adults who are listening has a much deeper meaning. He says, “Sometimes just a minute like this will really make a difference."

Mr Rogers is an example of a role-model for how to show love courageously. 

I can see how through actions like this we witness what is more specifically called caritas, Latin for a Christian love for all humankind. It’s also where we get the word ‘charity’ from. 

In John’s Gospel, Christ tells us, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

It’s not always easy to show this sort of love, we must look to Jesus for help and how we can live out his calling for us with the Gift of Courage.

The more we pray and practice sharing courageous love, the more we will be able to recognise ways to put love into action. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we will never be depleted of the caritas love for others. "Love seems to be something that keeps filling up within us. The more we give away, the more we have to give." - Mister Rogers

God bless you!

For our younger brothers and sisters in Christ:

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was a show from a while ago that I used to watch as a child. Mr Rogers was a very nice man who would share about many things. He would talk about our feelings, how we can talk about them to others, how to get along with friends, and how to treat others kindly and respectfully. Mr Rogers was a good example to us for how to show love.

Sometimes there are scary things going on in the world, people fighting against each other and being terribly mean to one another. Mr Rogers wasn’t afraid to talk about these things on his show. He would show those watching that people could live together in love and peace. When he did this, it often made people angrier but he knew it was the right thing to do.

Sometimes the moments when we need to show the most love and care are the moments we will need the most Courage to do so. This kind of love is a grace, a gift we don’t necessarily deserve or expect but receive anyway, that we are given by God to help us in having love in our heart for everyone.

Jesus is our role model for showing this kind of love and care, he tells us, “...love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Let’s pray that we will be open to receiving the Holy Spirit’s Gift of Courage and use it to grow in the Fruit of Love and Charity.