7 February Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“After He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.’ Simon said in reply, ‘Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets’” (Lk 5:4-5).
Communion Connection – Following Christ means decision, commitment and perseverance, but we need the strength to keep going – to resist the world around us, social pressure, friends, the media. But if we face up to it and welcome it, it will serve to mature us as Christians, to bring us to experience that the extraordinary words of Jesus are true, that His promises are fulfilled, that life can be a divine adventure. God fills those who follow Him with every good thing: He gives the hundredfold in this life as well as eternal life. This is the miraculous catch of fish repeated.
Additional Catholic Resources:
- Word of Life http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2012/10/01/ottobre-2012/
- Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/shaking-the-foundations/871/
14 February First Sunday of Lent
“The devil said to him, ‘I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone shall you serve’” (Lk 4:6-8).
Communion Connection – Power and glory can make us feel important. They might feed our egos and give us a sense of self-confidence, of feeling strong and superior. But these are fleeting moments of a false sense of security – because they are not based on reality. Only God is worthy of worship. Only God is all powerful. In this First Sunday of Lent, we have a perfect opportunity to step back and assess if this temptation for power and glory has a hold on us. If so, let’s shake that hold and turn to God who alone deserves our adoration.
Additional Catholic Resources: -
- Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http: http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/three-questions-from-the-desert/992/
- Order of Carmelites Lectio: http://ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/lectio-divina-1st-sunday-lent-c
21 February Second Sunday of Lent
“Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying, his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white” (Lk 9:28-29).
Communion Connection – We are accustomed to praying alone, and to praying as a church community – but how intimate it is to intentionally invite just a couple of close friends to join you in prayer. Jesus shows us that this can be a most beautiful and holy approach to friendship. To deliberately seek spiritual comradeship through the power of communion with God is to recognize the possibility of sanctity in our relationships. We can be sure that the results will change us and instill a purity that can only be gifted by God.
Additional Catholic Resources:
- Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/the-more/993/
- Order of Carmelites Lectio: http://ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/lectio-divina-2nd-sunday-lent-c
28 February Third Sunday of Lent
“The person said to the gardener, ’For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ The gardener said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it, it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down’” (Lk 13:7-9).
Communion Connection – It is easy to imagine that at times, if given the chance, we might ask for a little more time to make things right. And God, so full of divine love, repeatedly gives us the opportunity to do just that. During this time of Lent we might most clearly feel the tug to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to make a good confession. What an opportunity – and what a grace: to place ourselves before our Lord, to put into words the sin that weighs us down, and to ask for forgiveness and reassurance of His love. That door to reconciliation is always open – and that reassurance is always given. Come and see.
Additional Catholic Resources:
- Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http: http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/a-tale-of-two-trees/875/
- Order of Carmelites Lectio: http://ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/lectio-divina-3rd-sunday-lent-c