Remembering God’s Glory in Lent
The Hollywood actress Catherine Hicks is a lifelong faithful Catholic best known for her role as Annie Camden in the hit TV Show "7th Heaven." In an interview on April 11, 2007, she reminisced about her childhood, growing up in Arizona.
The … beauty of the landscape fascinated her and she described one of her favorite childhood memories: "… the sunsets in Arizona! "My father would take me out back to look at these splashes of vibrant color, and he would say the 'Gloria.' "He told me to remember that this comes from God and said it was an opportunity to give glory to God." (Epriest 02-15-09)
What a wonderful way to teach our children, grandchildren and each other about God’s Glory! Our Mass is that way: ever ancient – ever beautiful; ever new - ever breadth taking!
The Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, gives us the opportunity to participate in God’s Glory while we glorify God! The Eucharist gives us the sweet taste of God’s goodness in our hearts. God is the origin and the goal of all goodness, all creation; each of us made in God’s image.
In the Gospels Jesus heals to remind us that no one is beyond God’s mercy and compassion. Miracles are not recounted to bring Jesus’ fame or acclaim, but to awaken in us the knowledge of God’s
Providence - to remind us that ultimately God is in CHARGE! In Scotland in the 1600s Catholics were persecuted - priests and laity had to hide to avoid imprisonment or death. One day, a priest was walking from village to village in the mountains, dressed like a poor farmer.
Exhausted from wandering, he finally saw a dim light in the distance, and made his way there. It was a poor cottage on the edge of the woods; he knocked on the door. The family welcomed him, warmed him at their fire and fed him. He didn't see any crucifix or image of Mary in the house, so he concluded they weren't Catholic.
But they were extremely kind and hospitable … the priest noticed that the family seemed sad underneath their good-natured hospitality. He asked about this and the mother explained that in the back room, on a bed of straw, her father lay dying, but he refused to admit it and so he was not preparing himself well for death. The visitor offered to speak with him, sure enough, the old man was feeble and clearly dying.
The priest offered words of sympathy, but the old man said, "No sir, I am not yet going to die. That is impossible." The priest dressed like a poor farmer asked why he was so sure, and the old man asked if he was Catholic.
The priest said yes! The dying said, "I also am a Catholic. Every day since my first Communion, I have prayed to Our Blessed Lady for the grace dying with a priest at my bedside to hear my confession and give me the Sacraments.
"Now sir, do you think that my heavenly Mother will not hear me? Impossible! So, I am not going to die until a priest comes to visit me." Tears rolled down the priest's face as he realized that he was God's faithful answer to this man's prayer. God always hears and answers our prayers with what is best for us - remember He died for us – will he ignore us now? (Epriest 02-15-09)
Reflect on your Lenten practices to see if they are enabling you to participate in God’s glory.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Saint Andre Bessette intercede for us.
May God Be Praised!
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