1 Peter 5:6-7
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you."
In 1 Peter, the love of Lent seems to go both ways. First, humble yourselves. Humble yourselves because you love him, because God's hand is mighty, because he has a plan for you.
The only way we can embrace humility is loving him. How else are we meant to accept our own ridicule? How are we to stand it if not for loving God? Humiliation isn't fun, we have to have a good reason. Many times, even the love we proclaim to have for God isn't enough for us to openly humble ourselves in this lifetime.
During Lent, that's what we're asked to do. Deny yourself and follow God. That's what's asked of us. Lent is one season in which we are explicitly asked by the Church to humble ourselves, to deny our wants, and turn only to God for our needs. That takes love. If we didn't love God even a little bit, we wouldn't give up our favorite things for something many of the world thinks is stupid and arbitrary. But we humble ourselves anyways, because we love him. Or because we know we should love him. Use this humbling experience today to seek your own love for him. Ask yourself why you gave up what you did. Ask yourself what that means.
Then consider this: "so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you."
Many may believe that Lent can be a test of how far we're willing to go for God. This verse from 1 Peter leaves us with a different message. Instead it says the reason that God asks us to be humbled is so that we'll be prepared for him to lift us up. He has big plans for us, and Lent is just one way in which he prepares us for his plans.
Not only that, but he also promises to provide for us while we humble ourselves. Why? Because he cares for us.
Yes we're going to go through difficult times. Sometimes we'll choose to humble ourselves. Sometimes Jesus will humble us himself. But everything he does is out of love. If we love him back, we also have to trust him and let ourselves be humbled, knowing that great plans lay before us.
Have a humble day
Thursday, February 28, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 13
So Lent is a time to experience God's love.
But where is God's love in my attempt to refrain from soda for forty days?
Well. Honestly? In the grand scheme of things, you not drinking soda for forty days is not that important. It's probably not going to bring you to some great philosophical conclusion. It's probably not going to reveal some incomprehensible secret about Jesus or about you that you didn't already know.
This is just training. It's a gentle exercise that every year works to prepare us for the trials that lie ahead. That's where God's love can be found. He knows the trials we'll face, and he knows how much those trials will tear us apart. He gives us this Lenten season as a gift. We pick our own sacrifice and learn to turn to him when it becomes too difficult to bear. This is our opportunity to find our need for God even in the small things. That way, when the big things threaten to bury us and the waves are too high and the winds are too strong, we know what to do. We turn to him. And he'll help us walk across the water.
And we get to practice every year.
Have a prayerful day
But where is God's love in my attempt to refrain from soda for forty days?
Well. Honestly? In the grand scheme of things, you not drinking soda for forty days is not that important. It's probably not going to bring you to some great philosophical conclusion. It's probably not going to reveal some incomprehensible secret about Jesus or about you that you didn't already know.
This is just training. It's a gentle exercise that every year works to prepare us for the trials that lie ahead. That's where God's love can be found. He knows the trials we'll face, and he knows how much those trials will tear us apart. He gives us this Lenten season as a gift. We pick our own sacrifice and learn to turn to him when it becomes too difficult to bear. This is our opportunity to find our need for God even in the small things. That way, when the big things threaten to bury us and the waves are too high and the winds are too strong, we know what to do. We turn to him. And he'll help us walk across the water.
And we get to practice every year.
Have a prayerful day
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 12
In continuation of yesterday's topic of Jesus' love in this Lenten Season, let's look at our own love for him.
Here is a thought from Peter H. Davids of Houston Baptist University:
"Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Well, how about, “Love your enemies”? Well, how about, “Sell what you have and give to the poor”? We work hard at explaining why these and many other teachings of Jesus do not apply to us, or are merely personal and internal. We want to experience the love of God, and so we have an exciting worship event with a great band. And such infatuation love wears off quickly; it takes the type of love that the spiritual tradition speaks so much about to last a lifetime. Jesus is committed to our good, and to show it he did not have good feelings, but he had the painful feelings of stretching out his arms upon the cross. This is the type of love that has lasted not only for a lifetime but for millennia."
Keep my commandments. Pretty simple order, right? Just do what I tell you to do. So I haven't killed anyone. Check. So I don't covet my neighbor's wife. Check check. My neighbor doesn't even have a wife. But then the water gets murky.
Do I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and mind?
Do I love my neighbor? Do I love all my neighbors?
Do I love myself?
If I eat meat on Friday by accident, does that mean I don't love God?
If I break down and have a Girl Scout cookie, am I turning my back on my Savior?
If I don't fast or sacrifice or give up or do as much as my friends, is God going to love me?
Sometimes if we're not ignoring God, we're terrified of him. We feel guilty in his presence. We're afraid to face him. We feel like failures. We don't love ourselves. We don't love our neighbors. And we don't love him.
But God isn't some foreign entity who watches what you do through a security camera and assumes that you're guilty of your actions. In fact, he sent his Son to die for us so that we could be forgiven and do better and stop feeling guilty.
He knows you. He knows you better than anyone, better than yourself. And he expects a lot from you. But he knows that it's hard. He knows the pressures you're going through in life and the responsibilities you have and the struggles you can't escape from him. And he doesn't think of you as a failure. He thinks of you as his precious child.
So stop hiding. Use this Lent and use your sacrifices to examine yourself. Get to know yourself like he knows you. Talk to him about it. Tell him you don't know if you can love your neighbor three doors down with the blaring music and yappy dog and crying child. Ask for help.
Tell him that you don't know how to love him with all your heart and mind and soul. Tell him you have no idea what that even means. Tell him you're sorry for the moments you've messed up and ask for forgiveness. Go to confession. More than once.
And when you're struggling, in the trenches, in the middle of the tunnel without a flashlight. When there is no end to the road, and all you want is some vanilla ice cream or 30 minutes in front of the TV, or a quick check of Facebook, or a big steak on Friday, just stop for a second. Ask for the God's strength and patience. And love God back by recognizing the love he has for you. It's not the not eating sweets or pizza or soda or meat. It's not the not watching TV or going on Facebook or Youtube or Twitter. It's not the fasting on Friday's or fasting every day or fasting for two days that matter during Lent. It's those moments of denying yourself and the way in which they force you to call on his love for strength. That's what matters. That's what makes Lent about Love.
So call on him.
Have a God-filled day
*The rest of Peter Davids' blog is here for any of you who want to dive deeper:
http://christianthought.hbu.edu/2013/02/18/love-lent-and-law/
Here is a thought from Peter H. Davids of Houston Baptist University:
"Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Well, how about, “Love your enemies”? Well, how about, “Sell what you have and give to the poor”? We work hard at explaining why these and many other teachings of Jesus do not apply to us, or are merely personal and internal. We want to experience the love of God, and so we have an exciting worship event with a great band. And such infatuation love wears off quickly; it takes the type of love that the spiritual tradition speaks so much about to last a lifetime. Jesus is committed to our good, and to show it he did not have good feelings, but he had the painful feelings of stretching out his arms upon the cross. This is the type of love that has lasted not only for a lifetime but for millennia."
Keep my commandments. Pretty simple order, right? Just do what I tell you to do. So I haven't killed anyone. Check. So I don't covet my neighbor's wife. Check check. My neighbor doesn't even have a wife. But then the water gets murky.
Do I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and mind?
Do I love my neighbor? Do I love all my neighbors?
Do I love myself?
If I eat meat on Friday by accident, does that mean I don't love God?
If I break down and have a Girl Scout cookie, am I turning my back on my Savior?
If I don't fast or sacrifice or give up or do as much as my friends, is God going to love me?
Sometimes if we're not ignoring God, we're terrified of him. We feel guilty in his presence. We're afraid to face him. We feel like failures. We don't love ourselves. We don't love our neighbors. And we don't love him.
But God isn't some foreign entity who watches what you do through a security camera and assumes that you're guilty of your actions. In fact, he sent his Son to die for us so that we could be forgiven and do better and stop feeling guilty.
He knows you. He knows you better than anyone, better than yourself. And he expects a lot from you. But he knows that it's hard. He knows the pressures you're going through in life and the responsibilities you have and the struggles you can't escape from him. And he doesn't think of you as a failure. He thinks of you as his precious child.
So stop hiding. Use this Lent and use your sacrifices to examine yourself. Get to know yourself like he knows you. Talk to him about it. Tell him you don't know if you can love your neighbor three doors down with the blaring music and yappy dog and crying child. Ask for help.
Tell him that you don't know how to love him with all your heart and mind and soul. Tell him you have no idea what that even means. Tell him you're sorry for the moments you've messed up and ask for forgiveness. Go to confession. More than once.
And when you're struggling, in the trenches, in the middle of the tunnel without a flashlight. When there is no end to the road, and all you want is some vanilla ice cream or 30 minutes in front of the TV, or a quick check of Facebook, or a big steak on Friday, just stop for a second. Ask for the God's strength and patience. And love God back by recognizing the love he has for you. It's not the not eating sweets or pizza or soda or meat. It's not the not watching TV or going on Facebook or Youtube or Twitter. It's not the fasting on Friday's or fasting every day or fasting for two days that matter during Lent. It's those moments of denying yourself and the way in which they force you to call on his love for strength. That's what matters. That's what makes Lent about Love.
So call on him.
Have a God-filled day
*The rest of Peter Davids' blog is here for any of you who want to dive deeper:
http://christianthought.hbu.edu/2013/02/18/love-lent-and-law/
Monday, February 25, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 11
As we begin our second week of Lent, consider this hymn:
With tender look, and voice of thrilling grace,Are you tired of Lent already? Has it become a hassle? Has it become inconvenient and annoying and dumb to you? Have you forgotten why you started?
The Savior once to His disciples said,
"Come ye apart into a desert place.
And rest awhile the aching heart and head."
He says so still to all who are His own,
To all aweary with the world's sad strife,
"Come, spend with me a little while alone,
Leave the hot fever and the fret of life.
"Come from the world's hard struggle and its din,
Discords that pain the ear and never cease,
Wild stormy passions, tumults of man's sin,
Which put to shame the angel's song of peace.
"Come, when perplexed by doubt or anxious fear,
And I will make dark things all clear and plain,
Will shed the light of hope on dull despair,
And give true peace where now is only pain."
C. D. Bell.
"Come ye apart into a desert place. And rest awhile"
We are not led by the Spirit into the desert to inflict pain upon ourselves for forty days just because Jesus went into the desert. Jesus calls you into the desert because he has a will for you there; he wants you to find true peace and happiness in him. He wants you to turn your back on earthly desires and earthly disappointments and come to know him as the enduring hope, love, and joy that he is.
So now, in our second week of Lent, let yourself be called back into the desert and expect peace and happiness to find you on the other side of sacrifice. This Lenten season is more about love than it will ever be about sacrifice.
Have a loving day
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Second Sunday of Lent: Rusted Souls
Luke 9:28b-29
"Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white."
As Deacon John pointed out this morning, Luke is the only Gospel in which the word "transfigured" is not used in these verses. Why? Deacon John suggests that it's because Jesus had this dazzling whiteness, this shining purity, to him all along. This process on the mountain with these three disciples was not a change, but a revelation of all that Jesus was and is.
Then he went on to argue that we are the same. He used St. Catherine of Genoa's image of a copper pot as our souls on Earth. At first, they are created perfect, for God creates them in his own image. But sin and selfish desires create rust, corrupting the pots and keeping them from God's perfect love.
Aren't we lucky that the story doesn't end there? Jesus died on the cross so that our souls, ever yearning for the goodness of God's great love, can become pure and rustless again. Deacon John smashed a canister with a hammer today over and over as a visualization of what our sins do to our perfect souls. But Jesus made it so we could be renewed.
How? Confession and contrition. Deacon John ended with this thought; whether your last Confession was yesterday, last week, last month, last year, or a few weeks before your first Communion, it's time to experience God's grace and forgiveness again.
Sacred Heart will be hosting a Reconciliation Service with Reconciliation to follow on Thursday, March 21st at 6 PM. If you'd like to go sooner, don't hesitate to contact Father Paul or anyone under the "Contact Us" list so we can help you experience the grace of Confession.
And if you like what you read here, come hear Father Paul speak a little differently on today's readings at Mass on Campus today at 5:30 PM in Litrenta Lecture Hall.
-Catholic Campus Ministry
More on St. Catherine of Genoa: http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1332
"Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white."
As Deacon John pointed out this morning, Luke is the only Gospel in which the word "transfigured" is not used in these verses. Why? Deacon John suggests that it's because Jesus had this dazzling whiteness, this shining purity, to him all along. This process on the mountain with these three disciples was not a change, but a revelation of all that Jesus was and is.
Then he went on to argue that we are the same. He used St. Catherine of Genoa's image of a copper pot as our souls on Earth. At first, they are created perfect, for God creates them in his own image. But sin and selfish desires create rust, corrupting the pots and keeping them from God's perfect love.
Aren't we lucky that the story doesn't end there? Jesus died on the cross so that our souls, ever yearning for the goodness of God's great love, can become pure and rustless again. Deacon John smashed a canister with a hammer today over and over as a visualization of what our sins do to our perfect souls. But Jesus made it so we could be renewed.
How? Confession and contrition. Deacon John ended with this thought; whether your last Confession was yesterday, last week, last month, last year, or a few weeks before your first Communion, it's time to experience God's grace and forgiveness again.
Sacred Heart will be hosting a Reconciliation Service with Reconciliation to follow on Thursday, March 21st at 6 PM. If you'd like to go sooner, don't hesitate to contact Father Paul or anyone under the "Contact Us" list so we can help you experience the grace of Confession.
And if you like what you read here, come hear Father Paul speak a little differently on today's readings at Mass on Campus today at 5:30 PM in Litrenta Lecture Hall.
-Catholic Campus Ministry
More on St. Catherine of Genoa: http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1332
Saturday, February 23, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 10
Luke 4:1
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert,"
Before we begin the second week of Lent, let's go back to what started it all.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert.
And so are we. Even just ten days in, it feels like a desert some days. We have struggles with our Lenten sacrifice, however minimal-seeming or gigantic. We have struggles in our hearts to stay true to what God made us to be. We have struggles in our hearts to understand our struggles as a strengthening process and to be thankful for them.
We have a lot of struggles.
But we are led by the Spirit. We're not alone here. We're not fighting off all our enemies at once blindfolded with a tree branch in high heels. Even though it may feel that way sometimes...
Our hand is held firmly at all times by Jesus, who knows what we're going through, who loves us through it all, and who can't wait to invite us into his loving arms when we see him again. He's fighting next to, within, above, and beyond us.
We are not blindfolded and shoved into darkness and rough waters without a life raft.
We are led by the Spirit.
Have Spirit-filled day
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert,"
Before we begin the second week of Lent, let's go back to what started it all.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert.
And so are we. Even just ten days in, it feels like a desert some days. We have struggles with our Lenten sacrifice, however minimal-seeming or gigantic. We have struggles in our hearts to stay true to what God made us to be. We have struggles in our hearts to understand our struggles as a strengthening process and to be thankful for them.
We have a lot of struggles.
But we are led by the Spirit. We're not alone here. We're not fighting off all our enemies at once blindfolded with a tree branch in high heels. Even though it may feel that way sometimes...
Our hand is held firmly at all times by Jesus, who knows what we're going through, who loves us through it all, and who can't wait to invite us into his loving arms when we see him again. He's fighting next to, within, above, and beyond us.
We are not blindfolded and shoved into darkness and rough waters without a life raft.
We are led by the Spirit.
Have Spirit-filled day
Friday, February 22, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 9
Luke 4:1-13
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.
The Devil said to him, "If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread."
But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Human beings cannot live on bread alone.' "
Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. "I will give you all this power and all this wealth" the Devil told him. "It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. All this will be yours, then, if you worship me."
Jesus answered, "The scriptures says, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.' "
Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here. For the scripture says, 'God will order his angels to take good care of you.' It also says, 'They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.' "
But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
When the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left him for a while."
Jesus made it out of the desert. Like us, he was tempted, but he never fell into sin. He was strengthened by this temptation and when he returned, he told his followers about his experience in order to teach them that the temptations of material things, power, and glory, are common but should be resisted so that God can be our full focus, that he can show his power through our humility, and that all the glory the world sees can be given to him.
But what Jesus didn't do is finish. Father Paul dreamed that at the end of these forty days, Jesus would've gotten a diploma. "Congratulations, you made it through temptation school, you're done."
We wish for that sometimes. As if temptations were on a checklist; as soon as we conquer one we check it off and never have to deal with it again. But anyone who's addicted to anything, be it harmless or fatal, will tell you that temptation never ends.
The Devil may have left Jesus, but not for ever, for a time. The Devil will always tempt us, and it will always be difficult to resist. The Good News is, every resisted temptation makes us stronger and God's strength and love for us will carry us through every temptation. And Jesus died so when we slip up, we can be forgiven. We're only 9 days into our own 40 days in the desert. Have you been tempted yet? It will happen. Again and again and again. Sometimes you'll give in, sometimes you won't. But don't give up just yet. Turn to Jesus for he's been through temptation, and he'll make you stronger for it.
Have a Jesus-filled day
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.
The Devil said to him, "If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread."
But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Human beings cannot live on bread alone.' "
Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. "I will give you all this power and all this wealth" the Devil told him. "It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. All this will be yours, then, if you worship me."
Jesus answered, "The scriptures says, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.' "
Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here. For the scripture says, 'God will order his angels to take good care of you.' It also says, 'They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.' "
But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
When the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left him for a while."
Jesus made it out of the desert. Like us, he was tempted, but he never fell into sin. He was strengthened by this temptation and when he returned, he told his followers about his experience in order to teach them that the temptations of material things, power, and glory, are common but should be resisted so that God can be our full focus, that he can show his power through our humility, and that all the glory the world sees can be given to him.
But what Jesus didn't do is finish. Father Paul dreamed that at the end of these forty days, Jesus would've gotten a diploma. "Congratulations, you made it through temptation school, you're done."
We wish for that sometimes. As if temptations were on a checklist; as soon as we conquer one we check it off and never have to deal with it again. But anyone who's addicted to anything, be it harmless or fatal, will tell you that temptation never ends.
The Devil may have left Jesus, but not for ever, for a time. The Devil will always tempt us, and it will always be difficult to resist. The Good News is, every resisted temptation makes us stronger and God's strength and love for us will carry us through every temptation. And Jesus died so when we slip up, we can be forgiven. We're only 9 days into our own 40 days in the desert. Have you been tempted yet? It will happen. Again and again and again. Sometimes you'll give in, sometimes you won't. But don't give up just yet. Turn to Jesus for he's been through temptation, and he'll make you stronger for it.
Have a Jesus-filled day
Thursday, February 21, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 8
Luke 4:1-12
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.
The Devil said to him, "If you are God's son, order this stone to turn into bread."
But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Human beings cannot live on bread alone.' "
Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. "I will give you all this power and all this wealth," the Devil told him. "It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. All this will be yours, then, if you worship me."
Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' "
Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here. For the scripture says, 'God will order his angels to take good care of you.' It also says, 'They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.' "
But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
Phew.
For each temptation, Jesus' responses begin with "the scripture says." In the bold text, verses 9-12, the Devil throws that right back in his face and starts telling Jesus what the scriptures says. He's taunting him.
How many times have we tried to explain something through scripture to someone who just throws it back at us like that? Here Jesus doesn't even acknowledge that the Devil is right, he simply answers as he does every time that the scriptures says not to put the Lord to the test.
Jesus has just made it through 40 days of fasting in the desert. He must have called on some angels to get through that. He knows that God has sent him angels to take care of him and hold him up. He doesn't have to prove that to the world or to the Devil. His answer simply states that God doesn't have to be showy. In fact, he'd rather not be.
On Sunday, Father Paul likened Jesus' response here to the regularity with which he tells people not to tell anyone about the miracles that he performs in their lives. Why would he want to hide that? Why is he trying so hard to hide his miraculous self?
But Father Paul pointed out that he's not hiding, he just doesn't want the people to see him only as some miraculous, other-worldly being and get lost in the magic. He knew the path he laid out for us to follow him would be really difficult and that clinging on to one spectacular miracle of the past wouldn't suffice if we were to follow him to the end.
It's not about the spectacle. Lent isn't about telling everyone about all the sacrifices you're making for Jesus and how great your are for doing that. The scriptures says, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do... but when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father." Matthew 6:16-18
Lent isn't a show. It's a journey for your heart. So how's it going?
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.
The Devil said to him, "If you are God's son, order this stone to turn into bread."
But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Human beings cannot live on bread alone.' "
Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. "I will give you all this power and all this wealth," the Devil told him. "It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. All this will be yours, then, if you worship me."
Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' "
Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here. For the scripture says, 'God will order his angels to take good care of you.' It also says, 'They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.' "
But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
Phew.
For each temptation, Jesus' responses begin with "the scripture says." In the bold text, verses 9-12, the Devil throws that right back in his face and starts telling Jesus what the scriptures says. He's taunting him.
How many times have we tried to explain something through scripture to someone who just throws it back at us like that? Here Jesus doesn't even acknowledge that the Devil is right, he simply answers as he does every time that the scriptures says not to put the Lord to the test.
Jesus has just made it through 40 days of fasting in the desert. He must have called on some angels to get through that. He knows that God has sent him angels to take care of him and hold him up. He doesn't have to prove that to the world or to the Devil. His answer simply states that God doesn't have to be showy. In fact, he'd rather not be.
On Sunday, Father Paul likened Jesus' response here to the regularity with which he tells people not to tell anyone about the miracles that he performs in their lives. Why would he want to hide that? Why is he trying so hard to hide his miraculous self?
But Father Paul pointed out that he's not hiding, he just doesn't want the people to see him only as some miraculous, other-worldly being and get lost in the magic. He knew the path he laid out for us to follow him would be really difficult and that clinging on to one spectacular miracle of the past wouldn't suffice if we were to follow him to the end.
It's not about the spectacle. Lent isn't about telling everyone about all the sacrifices you're making for Jesus and how great your are for doing that. The scriptures says, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do... but when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father." Matthew 6:16-18
Lent isn't a show. It's a journey for your heart. So how's it going?
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 7
Luke 4: 1-8
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over. The Devil said to him, "If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread." But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Human beings cannot live on bread alone.' "
Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. "I will give you all this power and all this wealth," the Devil told him. "It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. All this will be yours, then, if you worship me."
Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' "
The Devil's second tempting offer was power and wealth. Sounds pretty good, right? We could all use some power and wealth attainment, especially after we graduate and start having to pay off loans. Jesus didn't have student loans or parents just waiting to have him move out of the house, but he did live in poverty all his life withour any kind of power over anyone. Except maybe Mary. He had every reason to jump at the chance the Devil presented to him.
But he didn't. "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him." It is not that power and wealth are inherently bad, but the deal the Devil gave Jesus was to turn his back on the Father. And Jesus' response says clearly that nothing is worth turning your back on the Father.
In case you missed it, Father Paul's phrase of the weekend was 'indeterminate gray.' He spoke about our wishy-washy society where everything is okay and compromise is the name of the game, and there's always an explanation for something. But he strongly disagreed. He said we have to stop living in indeterminate gray. He said we need to realize that right and wrong are definite, and we should see the world in black and white. Wrong is wrong is wrong.
While power and glory and wealth sound great in our heads, is it righ or wrong to attain it by living by the world's standards. But power and wealth are good things! You need them to have successful life, to raise a family, to live a comfortable life style, to keep up with our fast-paced, technology-run world, right?
Father Paul echoed Jesus this weekend when he told us 'no'. Anything that is living by the world and compromising with the Devil is wrong because it's turning your back on God. If that scares you because you think the only way you can gain any comfort or peace or financial stability is by playing by the world's rules, you're also wrong. As we discussed yesterday, God knows your needs and he'll provide them for you. He has a plan for you a millions times better than the Devil's pitiful offer.
"Worship the Lord your God and serve only him."
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over. The Devil said to him, "If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread." But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Human beings cannot live on bread alone.' "
Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. "I will give you all this power and all this wealth," the Devil told him. "It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. All this will be yours, then, if you worship me."
Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' "
The Devil's second tempting offer was power and wealth. Sounds pretty good, right? We could all use some power and wealth attainment, especially after we graduate and start having to pay off loans. Jesus didn't have student loans or parents just waiting to have him move out of the house, but he did live in poverty all his life withour any kind of power over anyone. Except maybe Mary. He had every reason to jump at the chance the Devil presented to him.
But he didn't. "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him." It is not that power and wealth are inherently bad, but the deal the Devil gave Jesus was to turn his back on the Father. And Jesus' response says clearly that nothing is worth turning your back on the Father.
In case you missed it, Father Paul's phrase of the weekend was 'indeterminate gray.' He spoke about our wishy-washy society where everything is okay and compromise is the name of the game, and there's always an explanation for something. But he strongly disagreed. He said we have to stop living in indeterminate gray. He said we need to realize that right and wrong are definite, and we should see the world in black and white. Wrong is wrong is wrong.
While power and glory and wealth sound great in our heads, is it righ or wrong to attain it by living by the world's standards. But power and wealth are good things! You need them to have successful life, to raise a family, to live a comfortable life style, to keep up with our fast-paced, technology-run world, right?
Father Paul echoed Jesus this weekend when he told us 'no'. Anything that is living by the world and compromising with the Devil is wrong because it's turning your back on God. If that scares you because you think the only way you can gain any comfort or peace or financial stability is by playing by the world's rules, you're also wrong. As we discussed yesterday, God knows your needs and he'll provide them for you. He has a plan for you a millions times better than the Devil's pitiful offer.
"Worship the Lord your God and serve only him."
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 6
Luke 4:1-4
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over. The Devil said to him, "if you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread." But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Human beings cannot live on bread alone'."
Like we talked about yesterday, Jesus was hungry, really hungry, after his forty day fast. So what would it harm if he turned some stone into a loaf of bread? Providing for himself couldn't be a sin, right? But Jesus doesn't do that. His response to the Devil is priceless. In essence he says to the Devil "I don't need that."
He doesn't need the bread, not because he's Jesus, and he's divine, and therefore doesn't have to eat to survive, e doesn't need it because he knows the Father will provide for him. Later in Luke's Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples never to worry about food or clothing or other material things. He says, "Instead, be concerned with his Kingdom, and he will provide you with these things." (12:31)
We search after material things to bring us happiness. We want food to feel full, we want money to buy pretty clothes and loud music, and cute shoes, and cool video games, and comfortable couches, and big posters, and the list goes on and on. We want conveniences, and we want the newest technology as fast as we can save enough of our paychecks. It wouldn't be surprising to find Jesus up in Heaven laughing at us.
Lent is a time to step back and evaluate what material items we're chasing to find happiness. It's a time to ask ourselves why we chase every little thing and ignore God who wants us to find the complete peace and joy that only he can provide.
Don't stop eating this Lent. God provides food for you to keep your body and mind healthy and strong. But next time you feel drained and tired, or angry and sad, and what you want is to watch some mind numbing television, eat a pound of chocolate, vent on Facebook, or drown your emotions in mac and cheese and double fudge ice cream, choose to turn to God in prayer instead. Trust him to turn your heart around. And remember that he's all you need to live on.
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over. The Devil said to him, "if you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread." But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Human beings cannot live on bread alone'."
Like we talked about yesterday, Jesus was hungry, really hungry, after his forty day fast. So what would it harm if he turned some stone into a loaf of bread? Providing for himself couldn't be a sin, right? But Jesus doesn't do that. His response to the Devil is priceless. In essence he says to the Devil "I don't need that."
He doesn't need the bread, not because he's Jesus, and he's divine, and therefore doesn't have to eat to survive, e doesn't need it because he knows the Father will provide for him. Later in Luke's Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples never to worry about food or clothing or other material things. He says, "Instead, be concerned with his Kingdom, and he will provide you with these things." (12:31)
We search after material things to bring us happiness. We want food to feel full, we want money to buy pretty clothes and loud music, and cute shoes, and cool video games, and comfortable couches, and big posters, and the list goes on and on. We want conveniences, and we want the newest technology as fast as we can save enough of our paychecks. It wouldn't be surprising to find Jesus up in Heaven laughing at us.
Lent is a time to step back and evaluate what material items we're chasing to find happiness. It's a time to ask ourselves why we chase every little thing and ignore God who wants us to find the complete peace and joy that only he can provide.
Don't stop eating this Lent. God provides food for you to keep your body and mind healthy and strong. But next time you feel drained and tired, or angry and sad, and what you want is to watch some mind numbing television, eat a pound of chocolate, vent on Facebook, or drown your emotions in mac and cheese and double fudge ice cream, choose to turn to God in prayer instead. Trust him to turn your heart around. And remember that he's all you need to live on.
Monday, February 18, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 5
Luke 4:1-2
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over."
If you got a chance to read yesterday's thoughts on the Gospel from the 1st Sunday of Lent, you'll recognize most of this verse. Today's thoughts focus on the last sentence, verse 2b, the selection in bold. Because Jesus was human and He was fasting, He was hungry.
If you've ever had a busy day and had to skip lunch or ever put yourself on any kind of restrictive diet, you're probably thinking you know a little bit about hunger. The truth is, you probably don't know hunger, not like a starving infant living in a drug-dealer's house in the projects of New York. Or a pregnant mother in the drought season of an impoverished community in Malawi. We are blessed beyond measure to have never experienced that kind of hunger. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert so He would know something about their pain.
But Jesus' forty days in the desert were about more than His human hunger for sustenance. When the Spirit led Him into the desert, He was hungry to begin His ministry and He was hungry to know His Father. But God wanted for Him to be tempted before becoming our Savior. So He willing walked into the desert, into temptation, straight to the Devil.
Now depending on what you gave up for Lent, there will be very, very difficult times. Times when the smell of cookies is just too alluring. Times when your friend starts telling you about this hilarious meme on Facebook. Times when one word is ringing through your brain, but you promised you wouldn't let it out this time. We've all faced those times. Jesus faced them too, but He knew that His hunger for the Father and the Father's will were so much more important than His hunger to be satisfied.
This Lent we get to have the same choice. We've given something up or decided to do something extra and sometimes that seems too difficult to keep up. Sometimes our relationship with God isn't strong enough to inspire us to hold on. Sometimes our prayer life is the desert and the Devil's temptations seem like a good idea. But we face the same choice that Jesus faced in the desert with the Devil. We face the same choice during Lent and during Advent and any day of the week or hour of the day: My will? Or God's?
Have a hungry day
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over."
If you got a chance to read yesterday's thoughts on the Gospel from the 1st Sunday of Lent, you'll recognize most of this verse. Today's thoughts focus on the last sentence, verse 2b, the selection in bold. Because Jesus was human and He was fasting, He was hungry.
If you've ever had a busy day and had to skip lunch or ever put yourself on any kind of restrictive diet, you're probably thinking you know a little bit about hunger. The truth is, you probably don't know hunger, not like a starving infant living in a drug-dealer's house in the projects of New York. Or a pregnant mother in the drought season of an impoverished community in Malawi. We are blessed beyond measure to have never experienced that kind of hunger. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert so He would know something about their pain.
But Jesus' forty days in the desert were about more than His human hunger for sustenance. When the Spirit led Him into the desert, He was hungry to begin His ministry and He was hungry to know His Father. But God wanted for Him to be tempted before becoming our Savior. So He willing walked into the desert, into temptation, straight to the Devil.
Now depending on what you gave up for Lent, there will be very, very difficult times. Times when the smell of cookies is just too alluring. Times when your friend starts telling you about this hilarious meme on Facebook. Times when one word is ringing through your brain, but you promised you wouldn't let it out this time. We've all faced those times. Jesus faced them too, but He knew that His hunger for the Father and the Father's will were so much more important than His hunger to be satisfied.
This Lent we get to have the same choice. We've given something up or decided to do something extra and sometimes that seems too difficult to keep up. Sometimes our relationship with God isn't strong enough to inspire us to hold on. Sometimes our prayer life is the desert and the Devil's temptations seem like a good idea. But we face the same choice that Jesus faced in the desert with the Devil. We face the same choice during Lent and during Advent and any day of the week or hour of the day: My will? Or God's?
Have a hungry day
Sunday, February 17, 2013
First Sunday of Lent
"Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days." Luke 4:1-2a
When we think of Jesus, we think of His miracles, His parables, and His sacrifice. What we tend to forget is that He lived a life quite like His human peers until He was 30 years old. That's when He was baptized. But even after He was baptized and God declared that Jesus was His Son and that He was pleased with Him, Jesus still wasn't ready to begin His work as our savior.
Instead, the Spirit led Him into the desert. LED Him.
The Spirit, God's Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. The Spirit led Him to temptation. Straight into temptation. Well that seems wrong. He is Jesus after all.
But Jesus spent forty days in the desert for us. He learned what it was to be tempted like us. He was strengthened by denying the Devil, as He asks us to do. Then He told His disciples about those days so they could write it in the Good News for the whole world to hear. And He did that all so that we would know that temptation in our lives strengthens us. We don't want to be tempted. As Father Paul pointed out this morning, Jesus taught us to pray that God not lead us into temptation. But it is good for us sometimes. Especially now, here, where we are give forty days to be tempted, to pray through those temptation, deny the Devil, and come out of the desert stronger and ready to be more of what God calls us to be.
So as we begin these forty days in our own deserts, try to remember everything Jesus taught us in His forty days. Remember that you are led by the Spirit on this journey and if you continue to follow Him, you will not get lost. Remember that Jesus knows what you're going through. But most of all, remember that temptation strengthens us. Keep denying the Devil. Pick Jesus because He loves you and He's worth it. And on your toughest days this Lent, remember that you are being refined by the fire.
With Him you can thrive on your temptations, so don't be afraid. He's with you.
-Catholic Campus Ministry
*Check back every day this week for more reflections on Luke Chapter 4*
*This coming Sunday we have Mass on Campus at 5:30 PM in Litrenta Lecture Hall*
When we think of Jesus, we think of His miracles, His parables, and His sacrifice. What we tend to forget is that He lived a life quite like His human peers until He was 30 years old. That's when He was baptized. But even after He was baptized and God declared that Jesus was His Son and that He was pleased with Him, Jesus still wasn't ready to begin His work as our savior.
Instead, the Spirit led Him into the desert. LED Him.
The Spirit, God's Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. The Spirit led Him to temptation. Straight into temptation. Well that seems wrong. He is Jesus after all.
But Jesus spent forty days in the desert for us. He learned what it was to be tempted like us. He was strengthened by denying the Devil, as He asks us to do. Then He told His disciples about those days so they could write it in the Good News for the whole world to hear. And He did that all so that we would know that temptation in our lives strengthens us. We don't want to be tempted. As Father Paul pointed out this morning, Jesus taught us to pray that God not lead us into temptation. But it is good for us sometimes. Especially now, here, where we are give forty days to be tempted, to pray through those temptation, deny the Devil, and come out of the desert stronger and ready to be more of what God calls us to be.
So as we begin these forty days in our own deserts, try to remember everything Jesus taught us in His forty days. Remember that you are led by the Spirit on this journey and if you continue to follow Him, you will not get lost. Remember that Jesus knows what you're going through. But most of all, remember that temptation strengthens us. Keep denying the Devil. Pick Jesus because He loves you and He's worth it. And on your toughest days this Lent, remember that you are being refined by the fire.
With Him you can thrive on your temptations, so don't be afraid. He's with you.
-Catholic Campus Ministry
*Check back every day this week for more reflections on Luke Chapter 4*
*This coming Sunday we have Mass on Campus at 5:30 PM in Litrenta Lecture Hall*
40 Thoughts: Day 4
A little late...
Luke 9:23
"Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in my steps."
God is full of kindness, compassion, and love. He takes us back when we're wrong. He gave His Son for us when we didn't even ask to be saved. But Jesus was harsh here. He is serious about this. If we want to truly be counted as His follower, nothing else can come before Him.
And we're not good at doing that.
Luckily, we have Lent. Compared to what the disciples did, Lenten sacrifices are pretty easy. No meat? No chocolate? No soda? Might be tough, but the disciples really did give up their whole lives, their families, and followed Jesus. For us, Lent is merely training. We're learning to come to Him for comfort, to come to Him in our idle time, to spend more time with Him. Whatever you're giving up or doing extra for Lent, you're in training.
God has an incredible plan for you. But you have to take up your cross every day. He didn't say "pick it up once and do a victory lap and the rest of your life will be easy."He said every day. And He meant it. The Cross is heavy, but don't worry, He'll help you carry the load. Just come to Hm.
Happy Training
Luke 9:23
"Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in my steps."
God is full of kindness, compassion, and love. He takes us back when we're wrong. He gave His Son for us when we didn't even ask to be saved. But Jesus was harsh here. He is serious about this. If we want to truly be counted as His follower, nothing else can come before Him.
And we're not good at doing that.
Luckily, we have Lent. Compared to what the disciples did, Lenten sacrifices are pretty easy. No meat? No chocolate? No soda? Might be tough, but the disciples really did give up their whole lives, their families, and followed Jesus. For us, Lent is merely training. We're learning to come to Him for comfort, to come to Him in our idle time, to spend more time with Him. Whatever you're giving up or doing extra for Lent, you're in training.
God has an incredible plan for you. But you have to take up your cross every day. He didn't say "pick it up once and do a victory lap and the rest of your life will be easy."He said every day. And He meant it. The Cross is heavy, but don't worry, He'll help you carry the load. Just come to Hm.
Happy Training
Friday, February 15, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 3
"The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice. It is he who is most thankful to God."
-William Law
During Lent, many Catholics fast, either by giving up a favorite food, or eating less during the day, or simply not eating meat on Fridays. Some fast on Ash Wednesday and every Lenten Friday. Sometimes though, this idea of fasting, of self-denial, of self-discipline feels more the silly obligation of an ancient church. The perception is that if you don't fast, you're a bad Catholic, a bad Christian, and you don't love God as much as the next person.
But our relationship with God isn't about fasting. This quote from William Law reminds us that the reason for Lent is to grow closer to God. Many people use fasting or alms-giving or self-discipline in order to do that. But many people do these things during Lent simply because they feel it's an obligation and they don't use these practices as tools to grow closer to the reason for this Lenten season.
So don't conform this Lent and give something up because you feel like you have to or even that you should. Give something up in order to grow closer to Him, and for no other reason.
Have a thankful day
Thursday, February 14, 2013
40 Thoughts: Day 2
Romans 12:1-2
"So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. this is the true worship that you should offer."
During Lent, we sacrifice small things. Some of us sacrifice big things. Chocolate, soda, pizza, meat, Facebook, Twitter, cursing, TV. But Lent doesn't end there. We sacrifice these things to teach ourselves self-discipline, not so we can continue to sacrifice better in future Lenten seasons, but so that we might learn how to sacrifice our whole lives to God.
So give up chocolate and enjoy that for it's difficulty. Yet at the same time, remember that God is asking not for our minuscule sacrifices but for our hearts. Our whole lives.
"So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. this is the true worship that you should offer."
During Lent, we sacrifice small things. Some of us sacrifice big things. Chocolate, soda, pizza, meat, Facebook, Twitter, cursing, TV. But Lent doesn't end there. We sacrifice these things to teach ourselves self-discipline, not so we can continue to sacrifice better in future Lenten seasons, but so that we might learn how to sacrifice our whole lives to God.
So give up chocolate and enjoy that for it's difficulty. Yet at the same time, remember that God is asking not for our minuscule sacrifices but for our hearts. Our whole lives.
40 Thoughts for 40 Days: Day 1
"Repent and believe in the Gospel."
Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is a lot of things. It's a day of proclaiming Catholicism in the ashes on our foreheads. It's a day of fasting. It's the first day of a long 40 days of sacrifice. It's a day without meat. It's a day of remembering our sins and repenting.
But this morning, Father Paul argued that this season is really about just one thing: rending yourself. Rending your hearts, rending your garments, rending your sins and shortcomings, giving it all up for Him. Everything we are today, in our fasting and in our ashes, is about giving our hearts to Him.
So as you begin this sacrificial season and look ahead to "suffering" these 40 days, remember the purpose of Lent is not to starve or to suffer, but to rend your heart to the One who made it.
Happy Rending
Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is a lot of things. It's a day of proclaiming Catholicism in the ashes on our foreheads. It's a day of fasting. It's the first day of a long 40 days of sacrifice. It's a day without meat. It's a day of remembering our sins and repenting.
But this morning, Father Paul argued that this season is really about just one thing: rending yourself. Rending your hearts, rending your garments, rending your sins and shortcomings, giving it all up for Him. Everything we are today, in our fasting and in our ashes, is about giving our hearts to Him.
So as you begin this sacrificial season and look ahead to "suffering" these 40 days, remember the purpose of Lent is not to starve or to suffer, but to rend your heart to the One who made it.
Happy Rending
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Come and I will make you fishers of men.” Luke 5:10b
This Sunday we celebrate the last Sunday in Ordinary Time before Lent begins. In Luke’s Gospel, we are called once again to bring God’s people back to Him. He asks this because He loves us and all His people. But He’s God, and we’re just people, trying to survive the days, get through college, pay off loans. So why is He asking us to do His work for Him? And how in the world are we supposed to accomplish it?
Father Paul Faron from Cross Catholic Outreach gave an interesting answer this morning. He reminded us of Jesus’ response when the people asked him what the greatest commandment was. He responded with two. Love God. Love your neighbor. That’s cool, but we want to know what the one greatest commandment is. What should we concentrate on most?
Father Paul suggests that Jesus’ answer really is one, the greatest commandment. He argues you cannot love God without loving your neighbor. And you can’t really, truly love your neighbor, all your neighbors, if you don’t love God.
That is how we are to be bring God’s people back to Him; by loving them through Him and trusting Him to reveal Himself through our love and His greatest commandment.
Have a beautiful, love-filled, Christ-centered, Valentine’s Week.
-Catholic Campus Ministry
This Sunday we celebrate the last Sunday in Ordinary Time before Lent begins. In Luke’s Gospel, we are called once again to bring God’s people back to Him. He asks this because He loves us and all His people. But He’s God, and we’re just people, trying to survive the days, get through college, pay off loans. So why is He asking us to do His work for Him? And how in the world are we supposed to accomplish it?
Father Paul Faron from Cross Catholic Outreach gave an interesting answer this morning. He reminded us of Jesus’ response when the people asked him what the greatest commandment was. He responded with two. Love God. Love your neighbor. That’s cool, but we want to know what the one greatest commandment is. What should we concentrate on most?
Father Paul suggests that Jesus’ answer really is one, the greatest commandment. He argues you cannot love God without loving your neighbor. And you can’t really, truly love your neighbor, all your neighbors, if you don’t love God.
That is how we are to be bring God’s people back to Him; by loving them through Him and trusting Him to reveal Himself through our love and His greatest commandment.
Have a beautiful, love-filled, Christ-centered, Valentine’s Week.
-Catholic Campus Ministry
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