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 Photo Credit: Kevin Carter, “the Vulture and the Girl” 

Deacon Tom Writes,

“We’ve Got to Change Our Evil Ways!”

 

Third Sunday of Lent Year C

 

Carlos Santana’s hit song didn’t have the same meaning that St. Paul had in mind in when he was writing the Corinthians. But the title of his hit song, “You’ve Got to Change Your Evil Ways” is a message we could take to heart. In today’s reading Paul recalls the history of the Jewish people and their forty-year experience of wandering in the desert. He reminds the Israelites all during that time they, “all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink” nonetheless, they were “struck down in the desert” because their spiritual food did not change their evil desires.” Paul tells them to take heed because these words, “Have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come.” As we listen to these words today, do they give us a better awareness that the Eucharist is our “spiritual food and drink/” Do we get the message that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist to help us on our desert journey? Do Paul’s words lead us into a deeper awareness of Eucharist as a reality in which we experience Christ and, like the bread and wine, we too are permanently changed and transformed into the “Mystical Body of Christ”?

 

To live in the “Kingdom of God” that Jesus reveals to us throughout his ministry requires that we make some significant changes to the way we think, in how we live our lives, and how we relate and interact with one another. The process of making these changes is known by various names but they all are intended to produce the same results… “repentance,” “a change of heart,” “metanoia.” The need to examine our lives and change our evil ways are challenges we face not only during our Lenten journey but throughout our entire lives. It is hard work; it is necessary work if we are to become productive members of the Kingdom of God that Jesus invites us to seek.

 

The warning Paul gives us today is that we not become like the Israelites of antiquity who ate and drank the spiritual food provided them but to no avail. We have the food of “Everlasting Life” in the Eucharist and it is indeed life sustaining and life giving…if, and only if… this bread of Angels that we eat encourages us, no, better yet, gives us the heartfelt desire to “change our evil ways” and live as Children of God in whose image we have been made! In God’s divine plan, if there is no transformation there is no new life! And, if there is no new life, then our evil ways will have dire spiritual consequences.

 

Just as we read in the gospel, if there are no figs, of what use is the fig tree? If the Eucharist produces no new life in us, then really, we are no better off than our spiritual ancestors who, because they failed to change their evil ways, were struck down in the desert and never entered the Promised Land.

 

On to the rest of the day, with Santana’s hit song playing in my head!

 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

 

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacons engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold, those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it..

 

OTHER RESOURCES

Recommended Reading: Fr. Martin Laird, O.S.A. “Into the Silent Land”

Sitting in stillness, the practice of meditation, and the cultivation of awareness are commonly thought to be the preserves of Hindus and Buddhists. Martin Laird shows that the Christian tradition of contemplation has its own refined teachings on using a prayer word to focus the mind, working with the breath to cultivate stillness, and the practice of inner vigilance or awareness. But this book is not a mere historical survey of these teachings. In Into the Silent Land, we see the ancient wisdom of both the Christian East and West brought sharply to bear on the modern-day longing for radical openness to God in the depths of the heart.

 

Recommended YouTube Video: This is a good Lenten practice that will feed your spiritual growth all year long. Give a listen...  Centering Prayer with Thomas Merton

 

Second Sunday of Lent_C - The Enemy Within_031625

Deacon Tom Writes,

“The Enemy Within”

Second Sunday of Lent, Year C

Today’s readings give us food for thought as we begin another Lenten season. Our first reading recalls the promise or covenant God made with Abram, that he would be the father of many nations and that his children would outnumber the stars…. Imagine that! You couldn’t blame Abram for holding back a little chuckle when God revealed his plan. Imagine if he was able to see the heavens through the eyes of the Hubble Telescope and realize how impossible it would be to count the number of stars in the heavens!!! God’s promise was simply beyond Abraham’s imagination. Lent is a time to reflect on the promises God has made and also fulfilled for our benefit. God made good on his promise to redeem the world from the darkness of sin and death through the sacrifice and obedience of his Son, Jesus, Son of God, and Son of Mary. If we understand in the slightest what God has done for us then we realize what a great gift we have received, for we have been given the gift of Eternal Life, the chance to live with him forever. This is the gift that Christ’s death and resurrection has secured for us.

Another theme flowing from our readings today to guide us on our Lenten journey is that of Jesus’ transformation. Peter, James, and John witness Jesus in the fullness of his glory and they are overwhelmed. This sneak preview of the Divine Jesus helps us realize that we too must be transformed into the mystical Body of Christ. St. Paul spoke directly about our need to experience this metamorphosis when he wrote to the Galatians… “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). A mature Christian mindset is one that is always seeking to follow in Christ’s footsteps, that is, to conform our hearts and minds to that of Christ so that we too can pick up our crosses and follow the rocky road of our lives. Not an easy thing to do, and so we take baby steps to learn to “let go and let God” so we can learn to surrender ourselves to God’s Will in the face of our trials and frustrations in life.

Finally, St. Paul gives us a dose of harsh reality, apparently something he witnessed among the early followers of Jesus. Believe it or not, some of those who called themselves Christians were, “…enemies of the cross of Christ.” Wow! Right from the beginning, people were professing to be followers of Jesus, when in fact they were living their old ways. Paul recognized this duplicity and confronts it directly. He admonishes the Philippians to, “join with others in being imitators of me.” What a powerful invitation into the life of Christ from a man who imitated Christ in every way. St. Paul is a model for us on our Lenten Journey. He knows very well how to subdue the enemy within – by constant prayer, fasting, and charitable works. Good activities to occupy us this Lenten season as we too try to quell our own “enemies within.”


Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacons engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold, those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it..

OTHER RESOURCES

Recommended Reading: Fr. Thomas Massaro, S.J., "Living Justice,” Catholic Social Teaching in Action. Through Scripture, Tradition, world events, and living examples of heroism and holiness ranging from the simple to the extraordinary, Living Justice develops your understanding of Catholic social teaching and inspires you for service.

Recommended YouTube Video: Mercy Not Sacrifice by Fr Mark-David Janus, CSP Reflecting on the musings of his new book, Paulist Father Mark-David Janus speaks about how Christians are often told that Lent is a time when we must sacrifice in order to be worthy of God. He reminds us, it is important to reflect instead on what God wants most—mercy.

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First Sunday of Lent, Year C

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Be With Me Lord When I Am in Trouble”

These words from Psalm 91 are subtitled “Security Under God’s Protection.” They are solid advice to get us started on the right foot this holy season of Lent.

“Be with us, Lord” through the days and nights that lie ahead.
“Be with us, Lord” to face the struggles that life has in store for us.
“Be with us, Lord” and protect us from all our fears and anxieties.
 

Think about our own experiences when problems arise. We turn to God in our desperation. That’s not unusual. When time are good, we might look up and give God a high five between errands. But when times get tough, we get serious and try to bargains with God.

Bargaining with God

We’ve all done it, sometimes intentionally, other times subconsciously.

“God, if you’ll just…” We bargain with God. Sometimes about small things, and others… a desperate cry for divine help to avoid the consequences of our bad choices to help our loved ones in their time of need.

 

God, if you’ll just keep my son safe while his is in the Army, I’ll pray the rosary every day.

God, if you’ll help my dad recover, I’ll volunteer at the soup kitchen. 

God, if you’ll take away this post-super bowl “celebration flu”, I’ll never even look at 

nachos and beer again. 

God, if you’ll just….

The funny part about this is that God doesn’t need our bargaining chip. God is there for us regardless. We just have to ask.

It’s a wise person that asks for help when the going gets tough. The Bible shows us that God answers. In today’s first reading, we have Moses remembering how God saved the people of Israel as the marched through the desert. Jesus sets the tone for this in the example of his life. Throughout his ministry, Jesus relies upon his Father to support and sustain him any time there’s a problem—during his ordeal in the desert as he confronts Satan, during day-to-day life, and even in his last moments of suffering.

Lent is our perfect reset
I encourage all of us to take full advantage of Lent—to really accept it as the gift God intends it to be. Too often, the Lenten greeting is, “What are you giving up?” The things we “give up for lent” are usually things we didn’t need in the first place. Alcohol? Cigarettes? TV? Junk food? These are even things we sometimes use as bargaining chips in our deals with God.

Instead, consider this: Consider using this Lent to deepen our relationship with God, putting our trust in him, that he will “be with us” always. Talk to him. Look around and notice the beauty in his creation—the little things we pass by. In the same way that you call, text, email, or talk to the people we’re closest… give that level of attention to a Lenten relationship reboot with abba, with daddy, the name Jesus called his Father.  

Lent is a very holy time to enrich our spiritual lives. We deepen our relationship with God by spending time developing and strengthening that relationship, as Jesus did. That gives us the confidence to know that God is always present, always willing to help us—during the hard and sorrowful times and the joyful moments, too.

Lent reminds us God is really present, that he really cares for us and loves us more than we love ourselves. It is so often hard for us to believe. Yet, it is true!

May we experience God’s presence as we begin our Lenten journey and be filled with his joy and peace as we pray, “Be with me, Lord” … now and forever.

Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacons engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold, those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it..

 

OTHER RESOURCES

Recommended Reading: Throughout the Lenten season, writers from the Ignatian network will guide us on a spiritual journey —"Take Heart" Join in to hear some during these precarious times when it is more important than ever to allow God to encourage us—literally give us the heart we need—to overcome our self-doubts and the doubts we may have about our neighbor; to meet hard-heartedness with the tenderness and mercy that is a gift of the Spirit. Sign up at: https://ignatiansolidarity.net/lent-2025/

 

Recommended YouTube Video: Lenten Meditative Music