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God Supplies the Sacrifice
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Almsgiving
Lent is a time of great sacrifice, but it is not just something that makes us suffer. There is so much more to it. I suppose for many people, we start out offering something up to Jesus during this time, but then get distracted from the purpose of coming closer to Christ and we forget about it or it becomes a burden. If we lose our focus on the reason of our efforts, Jesus, it is bound to become a burden. We should all know why we do what we do during Lent in the general sense. We give up good things, bad things, and hopefully start new good habits. Doing these things help contribute to the fruitfulness of our lives. Sacrifice makes life meaningful. We would not sacrifice something for things or people that do not mean anything to us. There is a higher purpose for our lives than just whatever makes you happy. This higher purpose is what gives us the joy that only Jesus can give.
Almsgiving is part of the sacrifice we make for Jesus. It makes the gift more complete. It is something beyond giving in the collection. In almsgiving, Jesus calls us to help those who do not have food to eat or a warm place to stay. It is particularly given for the poor. The scripture passage that comes to mind is in Matthew 25:40 “I assure you, as often as you did it for my least brothers, you did it for me” in referring to how we would take care of those in need. Learning to be generous can go a long way for the treasures in heaven.
We should all stop and be amazed at what Jesus said in Matthew. Whenever anyone does something to us, for good or for bad, He considers it as if that person did it to Him personally. Likewise, whatever we do for anybody else, Jesus considers it as if we did it for Him personally. Good parents have this attitude about their children. To imagine that God would is an entirely different thing. How many times have we offended God, and yet He still cares so deeply about how we are treated and cared for by others. Our almsgiving is a particular gift intended as a gift to God for Him to do as He wills. His will is for us to give for those who are in need, those who are assumed to be the lowest.
Jesus associates Himself particularly with those who are despised or rejected. He so much associated Himself with them, that He became despised and rejected Himself (Is 53:3). Almsgiving is a way of giving comfort to Jesus when no one was there for Him (Is 40:1-11). It is a way of making up for all the times when we have abandoned Him like Peter did three times (Lk 22:59-62). God gives us an opportunity to play our part of the biblical events that are many years past. It is all about relationships. Our relationship with Jesus is the one relationship that brings us back into relationship with each other. Such is the wisdom and goodness of God.
Our Lenten almsgiving this year is going to St Vincent de Paul and FACC. There are so many people in need right here in town, and we look forward for God to bless those in need with our gifts. As you save money for your Lenten almsgiving this year, please pray for those who are receiving these gifts and especially for those who still need help, yet could not receive it.
I thank God every day that He has been so good to us. I thank Him for caring for us so much. I can only hope to give what little we can give back in return. And I pray that the fruitfulness of your almsgiving will be bountiful.
MARY’S CORNER
Something to ponder: Lent
Let Our Lady lead you through this holy season. Entrust yourself to her to help you through your journey. New ways to journey through Lent are waiting for you. You will find a few in today’s church bulletin. Just ask Our Lady. Take this opportunity to grow ever closer to Our Lord through His Mother.
If you want God to answer your prayers, then do not do just a fast that makes yourself suffer, but do a fast that leads to charity. Die to your own selfishness and your own selfish will, but then let that death lead to life to others by charity and love. That’s what God desires our fast to affect. And an act of charity and love could be spending a few minutes in Adoration with the Holy Family here in St Joseph Church (which is being offered to you twice a week), and praying for the poor souls living and those gone. Adoration is on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm, and also Friday at 5:00pm and then you are invited to stay for the Stations.
Spiritual Works of Mercy
During Lent St Joseph is Offering Two Adoration Opportunities for You: (A) 7:00pm Wednesday
and (B) 5:00pm Friday w/6:00pm Stations
Heed their voiceless pleadings. And on the day of your judgment, Jesus will say to you, “Come, O blessed of my Father…I was in prison and you came to me” (Matthew 25:34, 36).
Being in Purgatory is like being in prison. Some of us because of either our age or gender may not feel comfortable doing prison ministry. However, why not Adoration then?
Eucharistic Adoration is one of the most powerful acts of love and charity in prayer that can be done, in assisting the holy souls reach heaven. Eucharistic Adoration is intercessory prayer. The adorers assume the office of mediators on behalf of mankind by their unceasing prayers, offering up supplications day and night to God’s throne of mercy on behalf of the members of the Church Suffering.
Our intercessory prayers give the suffering souls great comfort and relief. From the Sacred Host, streams of alleviating grace flow into the expiatory realms of purgatory, bringing unspeakable relief to those imprisoned there.
Volunteer(s) Needed to Answer Phones
The FACC is looking for someone who is able to answer phones and take messages on Fridays from 8:00am-4:00pm (this can easily be divided into 2 shifts as well). There will be some guidelines to help the person answer questions. This will enable the FACC staff to better assist clients, as well as making it easier for people to get in contact with someone at FACC.
If this is something you are interested in, please contact FACC
at 815-233-0435, or speak with Fr Barr.
Getting going with Lent
Distracted
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Deacon Mike 4pm Mass 2/20/21:
Holiness is the Season
This is already the first Sunday of Lent! Where does time go? Lent is a time to grow in holiness. It is a time for self-discipline and rejection of the trappings of the world, the flesh and the devil. It is also a time to come closer to God and to become the new person in Christ Jesus. I look forward to being more and more of the person I want to be and hope that Jesus empowers you to do the same.
This past year has been very trying in many ways. Between the politics and COVID you can hardly discern what is up and what is down. How nice it will be to get a respite from the chaos. I hope you take the time to get out of the mess. It is so good to spend time with Our Lord and receive His peace, wisdom and clarity. It is so comforting to know that He is the one in control.
I look forward to being with Jesus in meditating on the Stations of the Cross. Meditating on the passion of Jesus is a way in which we can be with Him while He suffered for us. Acquaintances are people who are around for the good times only. Good friends are there with each other in good times and in bad times. Jesus has already been a good friend to all of us. I look forward to being a good friend to him in meditating on His passion, in almsgiving and helping the poor. Meditating on the passion helps us grow in wisdom and grace. We benefit from it. Jesus helps us mature in the spiritual life when we invite Him in these meditations. This is a great time of the year to renew our love for Him and ponder His goodness.
How do we ponder His goodness? First, ask Jesus to be with you in your thoughts while meditating on the scriptures. Ask Him what He thinks. Pay attention to a word or phrase that sticks out to you. How are those words used in the reading? What is different about the reading from the last time you read or heard it? You can use the reading of the day used for Mass.
We can take the meditation to our corporeal and spiritual works of mercy. If you helped somebody – it can be someone off the street or in your home. After the event, ask Jesus to be in your thoughts. What struck you in the interaction with the other person? What does Jesus think about that person? Jesus is a God of mercy and love. What was Jesus telling you through this interaction? How did you see Jesus in them? This can be done with any interaction we have. It can be part of our examination of conscience.
These are just a couple ways to meditate with Jesus any time of the year. It doesn’t have to be Lent in order to come closer to Jesus. Lent is a good time for an excuse to come closer to Him. We can use Lent as an excuse to come to Jesus as long as we do not use the false pleasures as an excuse to not follow Him. If people ask you why you gave up those things, just tell them it is Lent, that is what we do. But in your heart of hearts, ask God to really change you.
There are lots of things going on that want to keep us from the love of God. We have become enslaved to fears, anxieties, lies, deceptions, addictions, lust, greed, selfishness, wanting to be liked, anger, violence, hatred, jealousy, envy, pride, unforgiveness, control, manipulation, hopelessness and a lack of faith. God came to give us freedom from all these things and to fill us with His love, joy, peace, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, and piety to make us, His sons and daughters, confident in Him. In fact, Jesus was willing to suffer with us, so that we may rejoice with Him. He is a true friend. Will you be His?
St Joseph Corner
According to St Jerome and Origen, Joseph had no suspicion of adultery because he knew the modesty and chastity of Mary. Moreover, he had read in Scripture that the virgin would conceive and that “a shoot shall sprout from the stock of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” He knew also that Mary was descended from the line of David. Thus it was easier for him to believe that Isaiah’s prophecy had been accomplished in her than to think that she could have let herself descend into debauchery. This is why, considering himself unworthy to live with a person of such great sanctity, he wanted to send her away secretly – like when Peter says to Jesus, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
– St Thomas Aquinas
MEMORARE TO ST JOSEPH
Remember, O most pure Spouse of the Virgin Mary, St Joseph my beloved patron, that never has it been heard that anyone invoked thy patronage and sought thine aid without being comforted. Inspired by this confidence, I come to thee and fervently commend myself to thee. Ah, despise not my petition, dear Foster Father of our Redeemer, but accept it graciously. Amen.
