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Homilies are posted no later than during the week
prior to the Sunday they are needed |
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Ash Wednesday
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http://www.st.ignatius.net/pastor.html
Ash Wednesday
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http://www.geocities.com/seapadre_1999/
* available in Spanish - see
Spanish homilies
Ash Wednesday
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Don't
Waste This Crisis
(February 25, 2009)
Bottom line: Don't waste this crisis: It is a call from God to get
priorities straight.
Welcome to Lent. On Ash Wednesday we hear a call to reorder our
priorities. Isaiah tells us, "Rend your hearts...and return to the
Lord." St. Paul speaks as an ambassador for Christ, "Be reconciled to
God...Now is the day of salvation." And Jesus gives us some practical
means to get our priorities straight.
Before explaining those steps, I want to say something about the moment
we are living - and why it is so important to get priorities correct,
now. We are like a man waking from a binge. Most of us feel a strange
headache, a sense of disorientation, on account of the economic
meltdown. I am not going to propose any remedy, but I can say this: If
you and I get our relationship with God in order, the other things will
fall into their right place.
Whatever economic problems we have, whatever family problems, whatever
parish problems - they are ultimately spiritual problems. If we give
God first place, the rest will follow. Jesus speaks today about
fasting, prayer and giving alms: Why? Not so other people will admire
us, but to get right with God.
This Ash Wednesday I invite you to make a commitment of time - to God.
I've got something that will help. In the pews today you will find a
card titled "Stewardship of Time." I ask each adult and young person to
take a card. Fill out your name, address, phone and email. Then look at
the list headed, "My Spiritual Life." Some of the items to check are
very basic: Attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day, personal daily
prayer, prayer at meals and prayer together with family. This is
Catholicism 101 and I hope everyone will check those boxes. And if you
do just those three things - Sunday Mass, daily personal prayer and
family prayer, especially at meals - it will change your life. Beyond
those basics we have other suggestions: Pray the rosary, make a novena
(nine days) of prayer, attend an adult education class or make retreat.
On the coming Sundays of Lent, I have lined up witness speakers to
address three areas: The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), a
program to read the Bible and Catechism in one year and how to make a
weekly Holy Hour before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
I want to say it again: If you make a commitment of time to the Lord,
if you give him first priority in your life, everything else will fall
in place. For that reason, the card also contains some areas of
commitment to your family and to your neighborhood and community. Start
with God and you will be amazed the difference it will make in your
family and ultimately in your community.
Don't waste this crisis. God sent it to us for a reason. It is the
moment to get our priorities straight. Perhaps in addition to the
financial crisis you are facing a difficult family problem or some
serious health issue. Do not waste the crisis. It is a call from God.
Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the
moment to reorder priorities - and to give first place to God. As a
sign of our humility before God, we will now receive ashes on our
forehead. Welcome to Lent.
**********
Intercessions for Ash Wednesday (from Priests for Life)
Spanish Version
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http://www.agreeley.com/homilies.html
Ash Wednesday
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http://www.saintvincentarchabbey.org/homilies/index.lasso
Ash Wednesday
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http://www.christusrex.org/www1/mcitl/lowhome.html Meeting Christ in the Liturgy
Ash Wednesday
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Ash
Wednesday
Joel 2, 12-18; Psalm 51; 2 Cor 5, 20-6,2; Matthew 6, 1-6. 16-18
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
LENT. Ashes. Fasting. Fish on Fridays. These and many more things come
to mind as we begin again this most important period of preparation in
the Church year. Though the Church requires fasting and abstinence,
these are not the most important things about Lent. Fasting and
abstinence are no help to us unless they move us to deeper prayer,
bring us to a deeper commitment to the most important truths about our
life in Christ: baptism, forgiveness of sins and a share in the
Resurrection through conversion of heart and mind. The Catechism speaks
of this conversion: "...Jesus insists on conversion of heart:
reconciliation with one's brother before presenting an offering on the
altar, love of enemies, and prayer for persecutors, prayer to the
Father in secret, not heaping up empty phrases, prayerful forgiveness
from the depths of the heart, purity of heart, and seeking the Kingdom
before all else.(Mt 5:23-24, 44-45; 6:7, 14-15, 21, 25, 33.) These are
the works of Lent, and the reason for fasting and abstinence.
The Church from very early in her life has celebrated baptism for
converts each Easter. The aspects of fasting, penance, and other
disciplines of Lent, came into custom in imitation of our Lord in the
desert and as a way of helping those already baptized to spiritually
renew their own baptismal life. These are celebrated in anticipation of
the resurrection promised to all the baptized in Christ's own rising
from the dead on that first "Lord's
Day." Let us pray for all who are preparing to enter the Church at
Easter, whether through baptism or profession of our Roman Catholic
faith for the first time. And may our own fasting, penance, almsgiving
and prayer be the seeds which promise a more abundant life in Jesus
Christ our Risen Lord.
I look forward to meeting you here again next week as, together, we
"meet Christ in the liturgy"---Father Cusick ( Publish with
permission.) www.christusrex.org/www1/mcitl/
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http://www.ctk-thornbury.org.uk/
Ash Wednesday
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Father Bonar will not be posting homilies for Cycle B to allow himself
time for other projects. His collection of homilies (including homilies
for Cycle B) is available at www.clydebonar.com.
Ash Wednesday |
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These
homilies may be copied and adapted for your own use;
however, they may not be commercially published without permission of
the author. |
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