5th Sunday of Lent

04-06-2025Pastor's CornerFr. Bob Deehan

How are you growing spiritually this Lent? Are you noticing any improvement in your effort to “think with the mind of Jesus and love with His heart?” (Our parish Vision Statement) One of the three traditional practices of Lent is “almsgiving.” This is often equated with giving to the poor. However, we can easily be tempted to check off that box by making a sizable donation to a worthy charity.

However, there’s a deeper question we must ask ourselves that encompasses our whole orientation toward life and relationships: How is my heart changing to reflect more the mercy, compassion, and love of Jesus toward those I encounter throughout my day? This season is about conversion of heart. The frequently heard Lenten refrain reminds us of this project: “If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart.” (Psalm 95:7-8; Hebrews 3:15). Are you spending time each day listening to the voice of Jesus in prayer as you ask Him to mold your heart into the likeness of His?

A helpful way to approach this project is to examine whether you have any unreflected assumptions, attitudes, or patterns of thinking and acting that when placed beside examples of the life of Jesus need closer scrutiny and adjustment. Examine yourself critically and honestly. Look for any attitudes or patterns of behavior that you have been exposed to that either explicitly or implicitly portray the opposite from what Jesus would say and do. Have you adopted any of them? Have you used rationalization to justify them? Still, beyond such self-awareness, a follower of Jesus must be determined to change the attitudes and behavior that do not reflect His mind and His heart. For this effort to be successful, we need the grace of God through regular participation in the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession) and Holy Eucharist (Mass), as well as daily personal reflective and petitionary prayer. God will bless you in this effort. It won’t be easy. People around you will probably notice that you’ve changed; and some might even ask how. Wouldn’t it be nice if you were the motivation for someone else to reflect more perfectly the mind and heart of Jesus! God bless you!