Lent 2011

As we prepare to celebrate this Sunday’s liturgy, we are almost half way through our Lenten journey. Today, the readings remind us that our Lenten journey is one of repentance and conversion; and they put before us for our reflection the scriptural motif of water.

In the gospel today we will hear a beautiful exchange that takes place between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. We hear how Jesus patiently revealed himself to her, and how this encounter with Christ changed her heart. There is no way that we can encounter Jesus, really encounter him, and not experience conversion.

This Lent is our time to encounter Christ. The image used so often of our Lenten journey is as a pilgrimage through the desert. We enter the desert so that nothing can distract us from being with Christ. And Christ is there in the desert as the living water that sustains us in our thirst. If we truly desire to receive Christ, the giver of living water, the Holy Spirit, which offers us eternal life, we will need to allow our hearts to be changed by him.

Today, now, and as we continue on our Lenten journey, is a time for us to metaphorically go to the well, look into the water and see the reflection of our self and our lives. It is often very hard to do this because doing so may have some serious ramifications, like those we will hear today of the woman at the well. It forces us to confront reality and often challenges us to make a change. As we do this, catechumens, now called Elect, are doing these very same things. They have acknowledged their thirst; they are looking deeply into the waters of Baptism. They are closely examining the reflection of their lives in virtue of the saving waters of grace. But, first, today as we celebrate the first scrutiny with them, they seek protection from evil and join themselves to the family of Christ in a first profession of faith. They have visualized their needs and have placed their trust in the God Who knows and fulfills all these.

How can we receive this living water Christ offers us so that we will never be thirsty again? There are a number of ways:

We can take time each day and pray, whether that be at mass, in the morning when we arise or at night when we lie down. Maybe it will be taking an hour to stay with Jesus in the adoration chapel.

We can read scripture, or take time to use the little black book everyday and try to carry out the words imparted on those pages.

Every time we receive Jesus in Holy Communion we are drinking his living water.

Every time we turn to Jesus for mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation we receive living water from Jesus.

This time of Lent is a special season of grace in the Church which enables us to drink more and more of the living water that Jesus offers us.

All of us are called to continuing conversion throughout our lives, so today and as we continue to move forward through Lent let us really take time to scrutinize our own lives and pray to God for the grace to overcome the power of sin that infects our hearts. Jesus initiates our journey of self-revelation. He holds the truth of our stories with tenderness and compassion. We have no need to fear being vulnerable with Jesus.

This Lent as we reflect on our lives and search for ways we can grow closer to God , let’s find that love of God which has been poured out in our hearts. This love of God can quench our deepest thirsts as well as those of all in our midst. Through this love we, like Moses, can touch the rock of a heart grown bitter and open it. Like Jesus, we can meet people at the well and surprise them by our understanding. We like the Samaritan woman, can admit the unfaithfulness in our lives which leads us to see our real thirst, and to witness to Him who quenches it.

As faithful followers of Christ we know a basic spiritual fact: our souls need Christ to bring us to salvation and eternal life. We can be grateful the church leads us into the desert of Lent in order that we may remember and contemplate that it is Jesus, who provides for us a fountain of love, a way to salvation. It is in Him we come to know just how much God loves us.

So today we pray:

Living Water,
Flow among us and bring us to life.
Pour your love into our hearts
Until our compassion grows
To embrace our deepest conflicts and hardships.

Amen.

Exactly 3 months ago, The Church celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus – The Light who came into a world darkened by sin. He came to seek that which was lost; to make us children of God. So today, on this 4th Sunday of Lent, we rejoice – and we pause briefly in order to renew our strength and our commitment. As we pause we look within – How am I doing this lent? What is it that causes me to fail – to fall into the occasion of sin? What weak tendency must I strengthen? What virtues must I practice with greater resolution that will help me to grow closer to God and become more loving to others & to my family most of all.

Jesus wants to give all of us new eyes to see the beauty within each other and throughout the world – for God did not send His son to condemn the world, but because – He loved the world! -

But Jesus reminded His disciples in the Transfiguration Gospel we heard 2 weeks ago, that it is impossible to reach this glory without passing through the suffering.

From Bethlehem to Calvary, obedience to the Father’s will was Jesus’ companion. Like Him, let us surrender to God’s call to follow him and accept the hardships of life. Like the Magi and the Apostles at Pentecost, let us follow with faith & generosity.

And so today, we pause – and as Children of God – we renew our committment to pick up our cross – daily – and follow the Lord Jesus. And when we fail – when we fall yet once again – may we humble ourself & trust in His mercy.

April 10, 2011

Today we hear the story of the raising of Lazarus. Mary and Martha are mourning the death of their brother, Lazarus, and Jesus is overwhelmed by their grief. The death of Lazarus foreshadows the death of Jesus. By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus makes a statement about life. The new life Jesus brings to us is eternal. Do we believe in the resurrection?

This week might be an opportunity for us to experience God in the silence of Lazarus’ tomb. We all need silence in our busy, hectic lives. Some quiet time helps to put the events of our lives into meaningful perspective. Try to incorporate a few minutes of silence this week even if you have to get up a quarter hour earlier. Sit in a restful place, let your thoughts go and be aware of God’s presence. Tell God about your worries and concerns. But most of all, listen to the voice of God. Recall the silence and waiting in the tomb. Maybe we can die to ourselves, address destructive behaviors or habits that bind us in sin and awaken a deeper faith within our hearts. Just don’t expect immediate results. Even the saints experienced failures, rejection, personal limitations and other losses. The difference is that the saints worked through these difficulties and still managed to live close to God and inspired others to do the same.

In the silence of our hearts we can see through those hard times in life. A catastrophe is not the end. Rejection can teach persistence and fortitude. One can be wise without numerous educational degrees. Illness and chronic problems should not prevent us from being productive and generous people. Mother Theresa said “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” This week meet Jesus through faith strengthening and hope giving encounters with other people. Then we will be able to experience God’s true inner peace in the silence of our hearts.

Pilgrimage

2nd week of Lent 2011
(short version)

As Lent progresses into the 2nd week, we are becoming more aware of the passage of time and that we are truly pilgrim people on a lifelong journey to our heavenly home. We are fed by the Eucharist – food for our journey. Focusing on the journey that we’re engaged in can also bring us closer to the Lord. In this week’s readings, we see Christ’s closest friends climb to a high mountain together. We know that we do not travel alone; that, as the song says, the journey makes us “one”.

Pilgrimages are defined in one sense as a long journey to a sacred place but pilgrimages are also a metaphor for life – they give expression to our faith – they are the Church at prayer! Whether at home or abroad, planning and making a pilgrimage reminds us that our true home is in heaven. We are on the move, ready to follow the Lord. Pilgrimages start at home but go somewhere; they are essentially movement and prayer – a true expression of the Church as people on pilgrimage towards God’s kingdom.

During Lent, there are numerous opportunities to experience in a deeper way that sense of journeying by planning your own pilgrimage. Discuss with your family the possibility of making a short local “pilgrimage” during Lent or the Easter Season. It doesn’t have to be a major endeavor like planning a big trip to the Holy Land or Lourdes. Think about a place closer to home. A true pilgrimage is as much a spiritual journey as a geographical one.

Our parish website has a new page of wonderful local pilgrimage suggestions; it includes many possibilities — from praying our own outdoor Stations of the Cross to visiting Champion, Wisconsin, site of the only American church-approved Marian apparition. Please take a few minutes to look at the possibilities.

During this Year of the Eucharist for the Diocese of Joliet, the bishop has named several churches and adoration chapels as “pilgrim sites”. SES is honored to be on this list of holy places that we’re encouraged to visit and spend time in prayer. The Holy Father has granted all those who visit a “pilgrim site” and spend time in prayer a plenary indulgence that could be offered for yourself or your dearly departed loved ones.

Experiencing a pilgrimage is much too important to our spiritual life to postpone indefinitely. Instead, we can look for ways to incorporate pilgrimages into our daily lives. If we keep in mind that we are all pilgrims we can find many places to feed our hearts and spirit. Each of our special pilgrimage places of prayer and devotion remind us that the sacred is present in our own back yard.

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Faith Formation: Pilgrimage

2nd week of Lent
(longer version)

As Lent progresses into the 2nd week, we are becoming more aware of the passage of time and that we are truly pilgrim people on a lifelong journey to our heavenly home. We are fed by the Eucharist – food for our journey. Focusing on the journey that we’re engaged in can also bring us closer to the Lord. In this week’s readings, we see Christ’s closest friends climb to a high mountain together. We know that we do not travel alone, that the journey makes us “one”.

Pilgrimages are defined in one sense as a long journey to a sacred place but pilgrimages are also a metaphor for life – they give expression to our faith – they are the Church at prayer! Whether at home or abroad, planning and making a pilgrimage reminds us that our true home is in heaven. On the move, ready to follow the Lord. Pilgrimages start somewhere and go somewhere; they are essentially movement and prayer – a true expression of the Church as people on pilgrimage towards God’s kingdom.

During Lent, there are numerous opportunities to experience in a deeper way that sense of journeying by planning your own pilgrimage. Discuss with your family the possibility of making a short local “pilgrimage” during Lent or the Easter Season. It doesn’t have to be a major endeavor like planning a big trip to the Holy Land, to Santiago de Compostela in Spain or to the Vatican. Think about something closer to home. A true pilgrimage is as much a spiritual journey as a geographical one.

Our parish website has a new page of local pilgrimage suggestions. Your Lenten pilgrimage could be as simple as:

• going to daily Mass, or the adoration chapel;

• praying the Outdoor Stations of the Cross right here at SES or near the lake on Benedictine University’s campus in Lisle.

• A little further away is The Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Indiana.

• Also in Lisle, there is a beautiful outdoor Grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes at Sacred Heart Monastery just East of Benet Academy – make a visit and pray a rosary for your family or the victims of natural disasters. Ask Our Lady to intercede for your petitions.

• In Darien, near Cass and I55, you’ll find the National Shrine to St. Therese of Lisieux on the beautiful grounds of the Carmelite Spiritual Center, Aylesford. There are outdoor Stations of the Cross and Mysteries of the Rosary near the lake.

During this Year of the Eucharist for the Diocese of Joliet, the bishop has named several churches and adoration chapels as “pilgrim sites”. SES is honored to be on this list of holy places that we’re encouraged to visit and spend time in prayer. Please see the Year of the Eucharist website to see the list of other parishes and destinations. The Holy Father has granted all those who visit a “pilgrim site” and spend time in prayer a plenary indulgence that could be offered for yourself or your dearly departed loved ones.

Experiencing a pilgrimage is much too important to our spiritual life to postpone indefinitely. Instead, we can look for ways to incorporate pilgrimages into our daily lives. If we keep in mind that we are all pilgrims we can find many places to feed our hearts and spirit. Each of our special pilgrimage places of prayer and devotion reminds us that the sacred is present in our own back yard.