Posts Tagged ‘Great Lent’
The Power of Repentance
I keep writing that Great Lent is not about following the rules, but about changing our hearts. Fasting from food is how we learn to control our desires, but it all begins with repentance. When we decide to change, then we put into action life choices that change our hearts. But the LORD of hosts,…
Read MoreDoes Your Faith Drive You?
When four men were bringing their paralyzed friend to meet Jesus, they encountered a serious obstacle. Arriving at the house Jesus was teaching in, they could not enter since the crowds had already filled the house. They couldn’t even get near Jesus with their sick friend. They might have given up if not for their…
Read MoreThe Power of Today
From the moment we become aware of our mortality our minds ‘live’ in the future. Will we have enough money to retire? How much life insurance do I need? Will I ever pay off my student loans? The preoccupation with the future means we ignore the present. The spiritual problem with ‘living in the future’…
Read MoreThe Power of Hope
Danger seems to lurk around every corner. Whether it be the recent increase in crime or the political ‘doom and gloom’ we hear on TV news, we are encouraged to live a life of fear. If we allow ourselves to be afraid, we will see a revolution in the face of every stranger. Life teaches…
Read MoreGod’s Justice is Righteousness
In our commitment to dwell on the power of God’s promise for this year’s Daily Lenten Journey, the Church turns our minds toward God’s justice. In our world, justice is enacted by corrupt judges and ‘paid-for’ politicians. What the world calls justice is just another name for vengeance. God’s justice is righteousness, not vengeance. But…
Read MoreWisdom is Power
There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. We gain knowledge by learning either from books or from others. Wisdom cannot be taught. Wisdom is gained by experience. Wisdom requires time and discernment. Knowledge can lead to wisdom. Without wisdom, knowledge is just an empty book. My son, be attentive to my wisdom, incline your…
Read MoreThe Power of the Incarnation
Today the Church ‘takes a brief break’ from the strict fast of Great Lent for the Feast of the Annunciation. Today the Church remembers the Good News that God gave humanity through the Archangel Gabriel. Today all humanity receives hope in the power of God’s Incarnation. Nothing says power like a virgin giving birth. To…
Read MoreThe Protection of God
Today is the first Saturday of the Great Fast. It is the day the Church commemorates the Miracle of the Koliva by Saint Theodore. When the world is ‘out to get you’ but God has your back, miracles happen for your protection. Christians were in danger of being poisoned by the pagan leaders. Through God’s…
Read MoreThe Promise of Salvation
When a young child reaches for a hot stove, a loving parent slaps the child’s hand away from the stove. The child feels the pain of the action and likely feels punished. What really happened was that the parent saved the child from serious injury. Sometimes being saved feels like pain. The man gave names…
Read MoreThe Promise of Help
I’m sure you’ve heard the say, “You can’t go it alone.” This is true whether you are climbing Mount Everest or if you are looking for God. As young children we learn the ‘buddy system’ for everything from water sports to study partners in college. No matter where we find ourselves, we always need help.…
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