Second Sunday of Lent 2019

Okay first off Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! ☘️☘️☘️ What a beautiful day it is in the Church. We have some beautiful readings today on the second Sunday of Lent. We are on the journey to the mountain top, we are walking along with Peter, James, and John who get a glimpse of who Jesus really is. 

Don’t you just love Peter in his reactions with the encounters he has with Jesus. Peter’s reaction to the Transfiguration of Jesus is timeless. We will never really know what he truly felt but image for yourself what it would have been like. I’m sure he had to have felt overwhelmed I know for me I probably would have been overwhelmed with emotions. 

There is a lot going on here with the Old Testament making an appearance here. The fulfillment of Jesus is coming. Luke 9:31, “who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” We have all heard what happened in Exodus, but this is Jesus’s exodus where he does and will be resurrected. 

An encounter with Jesus, something we all seek during this time of Lent. Fr. Paul says, “To get to the mountain top will not be easy, but a struggle, and who wants to come down this mountain when you have an encounter with Jesus.” I know for me I would not want to come down even though I know I have to. We all do at some point have to come down. If we stay up o. This mountain we really never really be able to accomplish our mission for Jesus. When we have an encounter with Jesus our lives will never be the same. Deacon Fausto says, “Our Home is in heaven and they climbed the mountain to have an encounter with Jesus.” Where we are right now is not our forever home we belong with God. This is our final stop on our journey is with God. Yet, while we are here our mission is be be Jesus to others who can not see Jesus. We are to be the hands, feet, mouth, and ears for Jesus. 

During this time of Lent how can we have an encounter with Jesus?

#lent #lent2019 #catholic #catholicfaith #peter #james #john #jesus #deaconfausto #frpaul #standrew #pasadena

Seek and Knock March 14, 2019

Have to say this is one of my top ten Gospel readings. We are asked to go search for God, when we do we are to knock on the door and it will be opened. In Mt 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.” When we come to Jesus He might not answer our prayers right away. We have to be ready to be patient, remember He knows what is best for us. Our culture the way it is we want things on demand we want it now. With prayer though we have to be patient with our Father, He will answer us in time. It is not when we want it but when He wills it. The Father knows when the best time for a prayer is to answered and sometimes those answers will come in the most unexpected ways. So keep your eyes, ears, mouth, and heart open for His answer. 

How many times have you prayed to God and the things you tell Him you want them as soon as you say “Amen?” #lent #catholic #pasadena #standrew #seekandknock #seek #knock #jesus #catholicchurch

Looking at Ourselves 2019

Our last Sunday before Lent begins and the readings we have do not disappoint. Especially the message for this coming week. I know for me it has me looking at myself in what blocks my vision. A truly beautiful message for the beginning of Ash Wednesday. In Luke 6:39-45, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brothers eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” Powerful especially in the season we are about to enter into this coming Wednesday. This is the time to start looking at ourselves in our relationship with Jesus but with others as well. If we want to have a relationship with Jesus we need to look at ourselves first. Deacon Fausto says, “We all have a beam in our eye, life is not easy with a beam sticking out, we cannot are clearly, and we can fix this beam sticking out.” Touched me to the core and something which was on my mind long before hearing what Deacon Fausto had to say. But hearing this reading again I heard something new which stuck out to me. Lent is just around the corner what a beautiful way to start a new season when we get to take a closer look at ourselves. Like really taking a closer look digging deep into our soul and seeing what blocks us from seeing clearly. 

As we approach the beginning of Lent, how can we take a closer look at ourselves to remove the beam sticking out of our eye? 

#lent #blind #catholic #jesus #pasadena #standrew #christian #lent2019 #ashwednesday #seasonoflent

Being Friends With Jesus March 1, 2019

We are given a challenge just in time for Lent. All about friendship today. Having friends is important in our life, especially in our spiritual life. When Jesus is our friend one can never go wrong.

We all have social media these days. We have what they call friends on some, yet nothing can beat the actual physical aspect of having friends. These are the people we go to talk about anything going on in our lives. Fr. says, “We should appreciate and work on our friendships and what do you want me to do for you?” Again friendship are important especially having a friend like Jesus. I know I want to be friends with Jesus! How about you? This challenge we are given I’m game if you are? Who will join me in this friendship with Jesus?

#jesus #friends #jesusisfriend #catholic #catholicfaith #christian #catholicchristian