Lenten Webinar Series Four Conversions and Spiritual Freedom by Carla Mae Streeter,
OP March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2018 Free-will donation for registration and information.
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We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent, and God is shining through it all the time. [If we center our attention on Him and draw our attention away from our surface selves] …we see it sometimes and we see it maybe frequently: that God manifests Himself everywhere, in everything — in people and in things and in nature and in events… He is everywhere, He is in everything,
and we cannot be without Him… The only thing is that we don’t see it.”
- Thomas Merton -
(Pray for the grace to really "see.") |
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JAS 1:1-11; PS 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76
MK 8:11-13
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,
seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
"Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
Then he left them, got into the boat again,
and went off to the other
shore.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"[The Pharisees] were looking for some
heavenly sign from Him as a test. With a sigh from the depths of His spirit He said, 'Why does this age seek a sign? I assure you, no such sign will be given it!' " —Mark 8:11-12
Do you need a sign from God to believe in His power and love? Well, then, despite not giving the Pharisees of His time a sign, the Lord is about to give the world an incredible sign, one that's not easily
missed. In two days, hundreds of millions of Catholics worldwide will be walking around with an ashen sign of the cross drawn on their foreheads. No one will be able to avoid this sign. The only question is: Will people of "this age" who are seeking a sign (Mk 8:12) be so "blinded by the god of" this age (2 Cor 4:4), the secular culture which denies the power of God, that they miss the sign paraded in front of them all day?
In "this age," many people have signs on their bodies. People are walking advertisements as they take pride in wearing clothes and shoes with the brand name displayed for all to see. Others wear "body art" in which tattoos cover nearly every exposed inch of skin. Still others use their bodies to glorify God (1 Cor 6:20) as signs for righteousness and evangelization by wearing crosses or medals, dressing modestly, and wearing a cheerful face as a "sign" of a heart that
loves God (Sir 13:25).
The oldies song says, "Sign, sign, everywhere a sign." As Lent begins, Jesus sends to the world walking signs bearing His message of crucified love on their foreheads. Disciples of Christ, be signposts who lead the world to Jesus.
Prayer: Jesus, use me as Your sign so that those who don't
know You might be able to "read the signs of the times" (Mt 16:3).
Promise: "Let Your kindness comfort me according to Your promise to Your servants." —Ps 119:76
Presentation Ministries
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What is Christian Love? - Reprinted from Freedom from Codependency, by Philip St. Romain - Dysfunctional Beliefs About Love - part 4 of 5
• We should never judge others. Codependents distort the Christian warning about judging others to mean we should not even confront unhealthy behavior. Codependents make no distinction between person and behavior; to confront someone’s behavior is to say that the person is bad. They neglect to challenge harmful and inappropriate behavior, further enabling irresponsibility.
• We should be perfect as God is perfect. ACOA’s and codependents understand this teaching to mean we should not make mistakes. Because codependency is rooted in the experience of conditional love, the attempt to be perfect is an effort to obtain love through perfect works. It is not a sin to make mistakes; it is human to
make mistakes. Sin is a willful lneglect of what is good, or a willful consent to do what is bad. Often our mistakes concern not willfulness or being good and bad but merely human weaknesses and limitations. It is harmful to judge yourself as bad because you make mistakes. The perfection Jesus asks for is that we do our best, then leave the rest in God’s hands.
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