Our Lenten journey begins on March 5. Every year, I ask the school children a series of questions on Lent. Let us take a look at the questions.
1. On what day does Lent officially begin? The answer is Ash Wednesday. Every Ash Wednesday the words of the gospel remind us, during Lent, to pray, fast, and give alms.
2. How many days mark the Lenten journey? Answer: 40 days. Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the desert. Our Lenten journey is the found in the desert, a place that calls us away form chaos to quiet and prayer.
3. We are asked to abstain during Lent? From what do we abstain. We abstain from meat as the word "abstain" means to stay away from/rid ourselves of something.
4. At liturgies, what color does a priest wear during Lent? Primarily, a priest wears violet. Rose is optional on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Violet symbolizes preparing, for Christ's sacrifice upon the cross, and penance.
5. On Ash Wednesday, we receive ashes on your forehead. Where do ashes come from? Answer: Old palms. The palms that the people waved on Palm Sunday hailed the new king. The shouts of the people would differ greatly on Good Friday when they asked for Jesus' death. How often we hail Christ as king only to discard him through our self-centeredness. Palms are burned, as our sins are to be burned, and placed upon our foreheads to remind us of where salvation is found, in Jesus Christ.
6. Can non-Catholics receive ashes? Yes, provided they desire to turn from sin, believe in Jesus, and follow him. Many non-Catholics receive ashes in Catholic Church's on Ash Wednesday throughout the world.
7. In the Bible we read that Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the desert. What did he do for 40 days and nights. Answer: Fasted and prayed. As mentioned earlier, the gospel of Ash Wednesday calls us to pray, fast, and give alms.
8. What is the purpose of Lent? Lent reminds us that Jesus came to destroy sin, die on the cross for our sin, and rise to new life cleansed of our sin that we may have life with him.
May your Lenten journey be filled with grace and blessings!
Father Peter Schuster
Friday, February 28, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Ordinary Time
As we begin our journey through the season of Ordinary Time, a word that is tied to the word "ordinary" is unexceptional. This is not the Church's definition of "ordinary." Thought of from the eyes of the Church, the word "ordinary" means the most frequent. 34 weeks of the 52 weeks of the year are tied to Ordinary Time. There are exceptions: The First Sunday in Ordinary Time celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and the Thirty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time honors the Feast of the Christ the King. Outside of these exceptions, week after week is Ordinary Time - the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, etc. As we would expect, Ordinary Time begins with the beginning of Christ's earthly ministry, his baptism, and will journey through Matthew's gospel. As we weave our way through Matthew's gospel, may we continue to be in awe of the wonder of Christ and his saving work for mankind!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Christmas and the Unexpected
The Christmas story and season is really a story of the unexpected.
1. God comes to earth? Yes, that is true. God, from heaven, came and took his place within the womb of a woman named Mary. Conceived through the Holy Spirit, Joseph has to come to grips, through the message of an angel, that his wife has not been unfaithful. We look for words of wisdom from this poor carpenter in the pages of the Bible yet not a word is quoted of Saint Joseph.
2. Shepherds herald the good news. Yes, stinky shepherds are the first to proclaim the Christ-child. Why shepherds? We know the intention of Herod, to kill the Christ-child; thus, King Herod would never announce the birth of another king. As for shepherds, what do they have to hide? Nothing. Too, it is shepherds, not a single shepherd, meaning there is more credibility in many voices.
3. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus? That is what the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord teaches. John insisted that it not happen; however, the voice of Jesus intervenes, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15).
4. God born in a stable and laid in a manger? That is what we teach (cf. Luke 2:7).
5. As for the men from the east, we really are uncertain of what they were. Magi? Kings? Astrologers? Yet, they come. We know their story - they arrive from the east following a star, inquire of King Herod, lay their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh at the feet of the Christ-child, and return home by another route. To their story, there is something I believe we miss. Imagine in their travels the bitter cold of crossing the mountains of Persia, the expenses it took to stay in inns and feed the camels. Was there hunger? Sleepless nights? Possibly. Still, they persisted and were rewarded with the gift of all gifts - the beauty of God.
All of this is a lesson for this Christmas season. God takes the unexpected and makes it exceptional.
God's blessing's! Father Peter Schuster
1. God comes to earth? Yes, that is true. God, from heaven, came and took his place within the womb of a woman named Mary. Conceived through the Holy Spirit, Joseph has to come to grips, through the message of an angel, that his wife has not been unfaithful. We look for words of wisdom from this poor carpenter in the pages of the Bible yet not a word is quoted of Saint Joseph.
2. Shepherds herald the good news. Yes, stinky shepherds are the first to proclaim the Christ-child. Why shepherds? We know the intention of Herod, to kill the Christ-child; thus, King Herod would never announce the birth of another king. As for shepherds, what do they have to hide? Nothing. Too, it is shepherds, not a single shepherd, meaning there is more credibility in many voices.
3. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus? That is what the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord teaches. John insisted that it not happen; however, the voice of Jesus intervenes, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15).
4. God born in a stable and laid in a manger? That is what we teach (cf. Luke 2:7).
5. As for the men from the east, we really are uncertain of what they were. Magi? Kings? Astrologers? Yet, they come. We know their story - they arrive from the east following a star, inquire of King Herod, lay their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh at the feet of the Christ-child, and return home by another route. To their story, there is something I believe we miss. Imagine in their travels the bitter cold of crossing the mountains of Persia, the expenses it took to stay in inns and feed the camels. Was there hunger? Sleepless nights? Possibly. Still, they persisted and were rewarded with the gift of all gifts - the beauty of God.
All of this is a lesson for this Christmas season. God takes the unexpected and makes it exceptional.
God's blessing's! Father Peter Schuster
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Blessed Advent!
Blessed Advent!
As we embark upon a new Church season, it is important to recall that seasons have meaning. The Christmas season celebrates the birth of a Savior - Jesus Christ (Christmas) and his manifestation to the whole world (Epiphany). Lent embarks upon forty days of prayer and fasting with Jesus in the desert. Advent means "coming." God, in the person of Jesus, came to save us from our sins. Christians throughout the world anticipate Christ's coming at the end of time. And, Jesus comes to us at every moment of our lives; he is the one who feeds us, showing us the path to the Father while respecting our free will. As Advent has dawned, let us reflect upon symbols of this season.
1. The Advent wreath helps us to remember that Jesus came as light into the world. In the midst of these short days, sunlight being less than half our day, we realize our dependence upon light. We need light to live and grow, and Jesus is the one who provides.
2. Violet is symbolic of repentance and preparing. Advent prepares us for Christ's coming. To prepare ourselves, we must remember the need to be repentant people. The voice of John the Baptist, on the Second Sunday of Advent, tells us, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 3:2) The word repent begs us to change from our sinful ways and center ourselves upon Jesus. Prayer, charity, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation point us to repentance.
3. Four is a symbolic number to our faith. There are four evangelists, four gospel versions, and four Cardinal virtues. Advent is marked by four weeks. With the fourth Sunday of Advent, we know in the week ahead, the story of Christmas will be told. Christmas can fall from the Monday after the fourth Sunday of Advent till the following Sunday; however, that fourth candle on the Advent wreath celebrates the nearness of Christmas.
The above are only a few of the symbols, yet they mark the uniqueness of Advent. May our celebration of Advent be filled with God's grace as we ready ourselves for Jesus Christ.
Father Peter Schuster
As we embark upon a new Church season, it is important to recall that seasons have meaning. The Christmas season celebrates the birth of a Savior - Jesus Christ (Christmas) and his manifestation to the whole world (Epiphany). Lent embarks upon forty days of prayer and fasting with Jesus in the desert. Advent means "coming." God, in the person of Jesus, came to save us from our sins. Christians throughout the world anticipate Christ's coming at the end of time. And, Jesus comes to us at every moment of our lives; he is the one who feeds us, showing us the path to the Father while respecting our free will. As Advent has dawned, let us reflect upon symbols of this season.
1. The Advent wreath helps us to remember that Jesus came as light into the world. In the midst of these short days, sunlight being less than half our day, we realize our dependence upon light. We need light to live and grow, and Jesus is the one who provides.
2. Violet is symbolic of repentance and preparing. Advent prepares us for Christ's coming. To prepare ourselves, we must remember the need to be repentant people. The voice of John the Baptist, on the Second Sunday of Advent, tells us, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 3:2) The word repent begs us to change from our sinful ways and center ourselves upon Jesus. Prayer, charity, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation point us to repentance.
3. Four is a symbolic number to our faith. There are four evangelists, four gospel versions, and four Cardinal virtues. Advent is marked by four weeks. With the fourth Sunday of Advent, we know in the week ahead, the story of Christmas will be told. Christmas can fall from the Monday after the fourth Sunday of Advent till the following Sunday; however, that fourth candle on the Advent wreath celebrates the nearness of Christmas.
The above are only a few of the symbols, yet they mark the uniqueness of Advent. May our celebration of Advent be filled with God's grace as we ready ourselves for Jesus Christ.
Father Peter Schuster
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