Reflections on Lent 2009: Week Two

Having Father Joseph McGowan give the homily at mass yesterday; was a blessing on many levels. He was the warm and nurturing voice my heart needed; after being untouched by a louder voice of conviction.

And what was Father McGowan sharing with us? To love, to be open to be loved; to listen for the emotions of another person but also what we feel as we connect with that person.

I've had kind of a rough second week of Lent; not anything personal or specific, just felt like a lot of yuk was going on and I couldn't do anything about it. Loss of control, but who's in control? Not I, nor do I need to be. Just listen, and love.

con paz,
frank

Let's speak to each other

I'm testing the Windows Live Translator plugin; see it below to get started.



Please send me feedback on whether you think this works for a blog [or not].

con paz,
frank

Strength in love

Today was a weird energy day. Not sure what the source of this weirdness is from; my calling is to ask Christ for cleansing from it; to be free to serve. Deborah noticed it more than I. And our partnership leans into each other, we pray, we love through all challenges - even during weird energy days.

Prayer list:
Carb
Evonne
Sarita
Eric
Fran
Ana's Family

con paz,
frank

Reflections on Lent 2009: Week One

Hi.  Decided to reflect/blog on Lent this year.  Perhaps it's due to all the mini [and at times major] crises in my life, and that of our family and extended love network.  Or perhaps it's about the times we live in, which seem scarier each day.  

Or perhaps the will of God is tugging me so hard right now; and my response is deeper meditation on His word, His intentions for my life that reflection during Lent is in complete alignment with what I've been doing lately.  

The theme for this Lent reflection is suffering and love.  

Campbell talks often about the need to embrace suffering; as he says "joyfully participate in the suffering of the world".   Both Hindu and Buddhist teaching talk about there being neither suffering or non-suffering; that it's all one or from a common source, to achieve enlightenment is to understand this.  My Christ faith journey leads me toward a similar path; but not without a struggle to recognize the self, the desire for comfort [if not pleasure] in my life and thus the conflict with anything that is not comfort [or pleasure].  Yet in moving away from self as the orientation for faith and it's perfection of my life; there comes an instant connection with the souls of all who suffer - atONEment - with Christ.  

Love is the support network for any suffering; can't tolerate or endure suffering without love.  And yet love isn't an antidote to suffering; wouldn't expect love to take suffering away.  Love is a healer in that it helps [at least me] get to atONEment with Christ and with all who suffer.  And this is where healing finds it's perfection in my faith journey; to reconnect.

Catholics have a tradition of denial during Lent; to remove a temptation as we walk through the 40 day desert of the Lenten journey.  I will try to remove dis-connection during this Lent; instead I want to reach out and joyfully participate.  My Christ asks this of me; and thus far He has opened doors to take action [meditation is nice, but get out there and help someone].

con paz,

frank