Fifth Sunday of Lent – Clean Heart

It’s too early to get serious about spring cleaning, unless the cleaning is for your heart. We all have spots in our personalities that could use some scouring. We might also attend to the good we do to make sure it’s from the best motives. A little dusting, a little polishing of our character is…

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Fourth Sunday of Lent – Enlightened Heart

The prophet Isaiah claims that our light will break forth like the dawn when we perform the fasting God requires: “setting free the oppressed…sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless, clothing the naked.” The dawn will break forth in new possibilities when the “just man justices” (Gerard Manley Hopkins). Lent…

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Third Sunday of Lent – Obedient Heart

You’ve been obeying Church laws since Ash Wednesday; that is, no meat on Fridays, no eating between meals on Ash Wednesday, attending Mass every weekend. But there’s a lot more to obedience than following the rules. The word “obedience” comes from a Latin word meaning “to listen.” Halfway through Lent, it’s a good time to…

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Second Sunday of Lent – Transfigured Heart

Peter, James, and John fell on their faces in terror before the dazzling sight of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. After hearing a voice, the three cautiously looked up. “They no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone.” “Jesus alone.” What a beautiful phrase to keep in our hearts this week! May our journey through Lent bring…

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February 20:  Social Justice Day

I had never heard of World Day of Social Justice. Of course, there’s probably a day for everything from pizza and ice cream to wildlife and employee appreciation. In our world where discrimination, war, poverty, hunger, homelessness, and other ills caused by injustice crowd out human decency and good will, there certainly should be attention…

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First Sunday of Lent – Repentant Heart

The message is clear on this first Sunday in Lent: Repent! It’s a message that echoes that of Ash Wednesday and gets to the heart of the matter. Mark’s gospel adds “This is the time of fulfillment.” How do you need to be “fulfilled” as a human being, a spouse or family member, a coworker,…

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The Last Ones to Land on Planet Earth

I have started reading Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. It has been chosen for a book study for the Sisters of Notre Dame and their associates. Its genre eludes me. Are its chapters stories or essays? Is it a book of poetry, the typeset only…

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Ash Wednesday – Whole Heart

As you made your Lenten resolutions, remember that Lent is not a self-improvement challenge. Our almsgiving and penance should reach out to the world. Giving up dessert is good, but do we pay a bit extra to buy food produced ecologically? Forgoing media is a great penance, but do we give the time we save…

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Hearts and Mardi Gras!

This is not your year to give up candy and sweets for Lent, because Lent began on Valentine’s Day.  I hope your box of candy had already arrived. But a Valentine heart provides a good theme for Lent. Every week we will look at one type of heart, such as repentant heart, clean heart, humble…

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Lent Helps the Environment

During Lent we abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays. Whether you find this a penance or a pleasure, the practice of abstinence from meat has an impact beyond yourself. Literature on the environment advocates refraining from meat consumption once or twice a week. Sticking with fruits, vegetables, cheese, and nuts minimizes…

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