Pastors Notes from 3/3/2024
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March 4, 2024“Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness.” (H. Jackson Brown, Jr.) “Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave.” (St. John Chrysostom) Lent is our forty day journey of preparation, renewal and gracious reception of Christ Jesus’ unequivocal reparation for our sins by his crucifixion, and his eternal promise through the Resurrection. Thus, Lent is a particular time to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of our renewal, with the same conviction of the repentant thief. Anytime is a proper time to receive God’s forgiveness through this Sacrament; Lent is the opportune time to receive that peace and healing as only Christ Jesus can offer through Reconciliation. As the Catholic Church implies, ‘In the Sacrament of Reconciliation (also called Confession or simply, Penance) we acknowledge our sins (examination of conscience) before God and the Church. We express our sorrow (contrition) in a meaningful way, receive the forgiveness (absolution) of Christ and his Church, make reparation (penance) for what we have done, and resolve to live more sincerely as a Christian.’
As we approach the third week of Lent, the Ten Commandments, described in our first reading from Exodus, provides a basic observation of our sins—willfulness and selfishness—that has hindered our relationship with God.
The Ten Commandments First Commandment: I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve. Have I... Disobeyed the commandments of God or the Church? Refused to accept what God has revealed as true, or what the Catholic Church proposes for belief? Deliberately misled others about doctrine or the faith? Presumed on God's mercy? (Committing a sin in expectation of forgiveness, or asking for forgiveness without conversion and practicing virtue.) Loved someone or something more than God (money, power, sex, ambition, etc.)? Second Commandment: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Have I… Used the name of God in cursing or blasphemy? Used vulgar, suggestive or obscene speech? Belittled others in my speech? Behaved disrespectfully in Church? Misused places or things set apart for the worship of God? Third Commandment: Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Have I... Set time aside each day for personal prayer to God? Missed Mass on Sunday or Holy Days (through own fault w/o sufficient reason)? Habitual come late to and/or leave early from Mass without a good reason? Do business unnecessarily on Sunday? Do I pause in gratitude on Sunday for the blessings received from the hand of God? Do I properly prepare myself for Holy Communion by fasting beforehand with an attitude of forgiveness? Fourth Commandment: Honor your father and your mother. Have I... Obeyed all that my parents reasonably asked of me? Neglected the needs of my parents in their old age or in their time of need? Provided for the religious education and formation of my children for as long as they are under my care? Ensured that my children still under my care regularly frequent the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion? Been to my children a good example of how to live the Catholic Faith? Fifth Commandment: You shall not kill. Have I... Unjustly and intentionally killed a human being? Been involved in an abortion. Considered or attempted suicide or doing physical harm to myself? Unjustly inflicted bodily harm an another person? Verbally or emotionally abused another person? Hated another person, or wished him evil? Recklessly endangered my life or health, or that of another, by my actions? Driven recklessly or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs? Delighted to see someone else get hurt or suffer? Sixth & Ninth Commandments: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. Have I... Practiced the virtue of chastity? Give in to thoughts of lust? Used an artificial means of birth control? Willfully entertained impure thoughts? Made use of pornography, or viewed indecent material? Committed adultery? Seventh & Tenth Commandments: You shall not steal. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods. Have I... Stolen? (Take something that doesn't belong to me.) Envied others on account of their possessions? Tried to live in a spirit of Gospel poverty and simplicity? Given generously to others in need? Deliberately defaced, destroyed or lost another's property? Cheated on taxes, or personal business? Overcharge someone, especially to take advantage of another's hardship or ignorance? Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Have I... Lied? Knowingly and willfully deceived another? Gossiped? Committed slander or calumny? (Telling lies about another person in order to destroy his reputation.) Been guilty of rash judgment? (Assuming the worst of another person based on circumstantial evidence.) Failed to make reparation for a lie I told, or for harm done to a person's reputation?
God Bless, Fr. Tim
FYI: “March is a tomboy with tousled hair, a mischievous smile, mud on her shoes, and a laugh in her voice.” (Hal Borland, American writer & naturalist)
