What an awesome responsibility God gives us to raise His children. I will say it was nearly impossible for me to understand the ]]>
My son turns one today!  What a blessing he has been.  It’s amazing to watch him learn and see how he grows.  This first year went fast and slow all at the same time. 

What an awesome responsibility God gives us to raise His children. I will say it was nearly impossible for me to understand the Father’s love until I became a father myself.  Thank You Lord.

Update: “The Years Go Fast. The Days Go Slow”

We open with a prayer, go through ]]> Does your parish have a Men’s groups?  If not start one, it’s as simple as meeting once a week.  The group I’m in reads the up coming Sunday Mass readings on Friday mornings from 7am to 8am.  We use the questions from the National Fellowship of Catholic Men http://www.nfcmusa.org/Reading-Questions

We open with a prayer, go through the readings, and end with shared prayer.  There’s no attendance, men show up when they can, some are late, some need to leave early.  Each week I send out readings and the questions and bring some extra copies on Friday morning.  A sample is below.  We meet in a room at the parish but you could meet anywhere.  Think about it.

Reading 1 Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15

Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers, “he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. But the LORD said, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Moses said to God, “But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites:  I AM sent me to you. God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the Israelites: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. “This is my name forever; thus am I to be remembered through all generations.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills,
He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses, and his deeds to the children of Israel.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.

Reading 2 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ. Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.

Gospel  Lk 13:1-9
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

Rethinking Our Approach to Prayer

When God called Moses from the burning bush, he launched him on one of the longest, most significant journeys in history—and began by telling him: “Remove the sandals from your feet” (Exodus 3:5). Why would God say that?

The second half of the verse offers a reason: “The place where you stand is holy ground.” Imagine how fast Moses obeyed! In Egypt, where he grew up, people were required to go barefoot before Pharaoh or any other superior. It was both an expression of respect and an admission of a lower-status position. Standing before the greatest Lord of all, whose glory shimmered out like an invisible force field, Moses must have felt awed and humble indeed.  at does this tell us about our approach to prayer? Without any burning bushes to jolt us, it’s easy to relate to God casually, even as if it’s something of a chore. The image of Moses removing his sandals reminds us that our loving Father is an awesome God whose holiness we cannot even begin to comprehend. It tells us to approach him with reverence, humility, and an awareness of our sin and frailty. But the scene speaks to us in other ways as well.  Shoes and sandals get dirty, and still today in many cultures and homes, people take them off before entering the house. In a way, that’s what we’re called do when we come before God. Grimy footwear can also symbolize the distractions that pop up when we pray. If this happens, we can follow the advice of St. Alphonsus Liguori and try our best to leave all extraneous thoughts at the door of our prayer time. We can also say, along with St. Bernard: “O my thoughts, wait here. After prayer we shall speak about other matters.” So as you go to pray today, take off your sandals! The One who called Moses is calling you!

“Father, who am I that you should love me so much—enough to give up your only Son for my sake? Help me to set aside everything that separates me from you and to return your love as fully as I can.”

 Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. For the second week in a row, we read in the first reading of God’s recommitting himself in covenant to his people for the purpose of “rescuing them.” In what ways has God rescued you from the power of sin and the devil? What are the areas of your life that still need God’s intervention? Take some time to pray for one another for the strength to overcome these areas. 
2. The Responsorial Psalm tells us that God is “kind and merciful.”  As Christians we are called to be imitators of Christ who “pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion” (Psalm 103:3-4).  Since Christ has done this for you, what are some ways you can show kindness and compassion to others, and pardon others’ iniquities, especially those who have wronged you?
3. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds the Corinthians not to “grumble”, which for us can often be a cause of disunity and harm to others. What practical steps can you take individually, and as a group, to build up your families’ or your fellow parishioners’ faith?
4. In the Gospel reading, Jesus warns us of the danger of assuming that the sufferings or misfortunes of others are caused by their sin.  Are you judgmental?  How can you reach out more to others who are suffering?
5. Also in the Gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable on the importance he attaches to our lives’ bearing fruit.  What are some of the fruits Jesus may be asking you to bear this Lent?
6. As we come to God in prayer, it is easy to be distracted by wayward thoughts, the busyness of our days, and the struggles of our lives.  The meditation suggests that when this happens, “we can follow the advice of St. Alphonsus Liguori and try our best to leave all extraneous thoughts at the door of our prayer time. We can also say, along with St. Bernard: “O my thoughts, wait here. After prayer we shall speak about other matters.” What steps can you take to apply these words of St. Alphonsus Liguori and St. Bernard to how you approach your times of prayer?  

 To all men and women out there who read this blog I ]]> Today I was at Men Under Construction 14 here in KC.  Once again it was another great event with great speakers.  I highly suggest if you get the chance to hear Richard Lane Jr. and Michael Franzese.  Their bio’s can be read here http://www.ksmuc.org/Speaker.html.

 To all men and women out there who read this blog I think it wise to fine at least one yearly event to go to.  As Richard Lane said don’t be  part of the “frozen chosen” on Sunday.  We need to take our faith out into the world and live it seven days a week.  Something I found very interesting as part of one of the breakout sessions on Evangelism was that Richard took the first half of the session having us focus on ourselves.  Encouraging us to regularly receiving the sacraments, especially confession, praying, meditating on scripture and constantly learning about our faith, because if aren’t in a state of grace, and have a first hand knowledge of our faith, how can we expect to be succesful evangelizing.

Update: What do you know it worded the first time.  I love Wordpress.

……Protesters, led by town council member Dick Boonman and Gay Krant editor Henk Krol, distributed pink triangles with the word “Homo,” to be worn on the chest at Mass. The protest was held at ]]> Get ready folks this is a scene that I think will be coming to the US very soon if it hasn’t already.

……Protesters, led by town council member Dick Boonman and Gay Krant editor Henk Krol, distributed pink triangles with the word “Homo,” to be worn on the chest at Mass. The protest was held at the parish after Fr. Buyens chose to deny Communion to homosexual Gijs Vermeulen, 24, on February 13th.

Vermeulen was the “prince” of the town’s annual Carnival, a traditional pre-Lenten celebration. At the customary Carnival Mass, the prince addresses the congregation and then leads them forward in receiving Communion.

But, because Vermeulen had been public about his active homosexuality leading up to the festivities, Fr. Buyens contacted him the week before the Carnival Mass to advise him that he would not be able to receive Communion. The priest offered to give him a blessing, and allowed him to address the congregation. Vermeulen attended the Mass, stating that he did not want to “spoil the party,” but did not go up for a blessing.

In response to this week’s protest, Fr. Buyens decided not to distribute Communion at the Mass after consulting his bishop in Den Bosch……

 Read the full article here http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue8805.html

Fr. Buyens needs our prayer.

Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds ]]> We’ll we are 4 days into Lent so I thought I’d give an update on my Lenten Penance.  First let me say that the Gospel on Ash Wednesday humbled me a bit for posting my list of items in the first place.

Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

 So since I’ve already received my reward I figured I might as well give an update on the list.

1. 1 hour of TV per Week
This hasn’t been an issue, but I did catch myself Thursday morning grabbing for the remote.

2. No Coke 
I’ve been in meetings all week with free Coke sitting on the table so the temptation is there but I’ve held strong.

3. Coffee only 1 day per Week
Had my coffee this morning, I’ve been a bit tired and aggitated until today.  It appears that between coke & coffee, I was a bit more tied to caffine than I thought.

4. No reading news articles on my Blackberry
This was tough on Wednesday but I’ve been able to settle into a groove of not looking to my Blackberry.  Changing my home page helped too.

5. Restart a Morning Rosary
Going Great

I hope your Lent is going well and I will say a prayer for all my readers today.  God Bless.