reflectionlent2012

SECOND WEEK OF LENT

THIRD WEEK OF LENT

“Then Peter spoke and said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Mark 9: 5

“Get these things out of here. Don’t turn my Father’s House into a market!”

John 2:16

REFLECTIONS FOR LENT 2012

FIRST WEEK OF LENT “The

time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Change your ways and believe the Good News.”

Mark 1:15

In the gospel reading for the first Sunday of Lent Jesus calls us to transformation and faith in order to be a part of the kingdom of heaven. Change of heart and faith are two very important components of our salvation. Jesus’ message is simple and should lead to life changing decisions for everyone who hears and believes in it. Repentance shows the willingness of the sinner to turn away from sin. Belief simply accepts what God says to be the truth. It embraces the good news of the Gospel and receives the salvation that comes by faith. Belief is not a onetime event, but it is an ongoing state in which our hearts are changed. The message hidden in this gospel reading is a message of hope and of urgency.

Jesus came to those who needed help and made a choice to follow Him. So, while His message was one of hope and promise, it was also a message of confrontation. He called upon those who heard Him to make a conscious decision to follow Him.

Mountains occupy a special place in our own lives as well. Every now and then we are blessed with a mountain top experience. We ought to enjoy them for all they are worth! On Mount Hermon Jesus changes his appearance! His face changes, His garments change, He is “transfigured”. The glory that was concealed within Him was revealed on that mountain. The dark mountain was instantly bathed a light brighter than the sun and Peter, James and John were given a glimpse of the glory all of God’s children will see one day. Peter may have been suggesting that they just stay on the mountain, enjoying this amazing moment. However, Jesus led them down the mountain top and in addition requested that they will not share their extraordinary experience with anyone.

The temple was understood as the dwelling place of God among his people. Jesus’ dramatic cleansing of the temple was seen by his disciples as a prophetic sign of God’s action Jesus’ cleansing of the temple is also a prophetic sign of what he wants to do with each of us. He ever seeks to cleanse us of sin and make us living temples of his Holy Spirit.

The Jews did not understand that the temple Jesus referred to was his own body. The “tent of his body” had to be destroyed to open the way to the presence of God for us. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus not only reconciles us with God, but he fills us with his Holy Spirit and make us temples of the living God. God's word enlightens our minds and purifies our hearts that we may offer God fitting worship and enjoy his presence both now and forever. Do you burn with zeal for the Lord’s house?

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters 319 Waukegan Rd., Northfield, IL 60093 Phone: 847-441-0126, ext. 704 sspsovm@aol.com - www.ssps-usa.org www.worldssps.org

FOURTH WEEK OF LENT

FIFTH WEEK OF LENT

SIXTH WEEK OF LENT

“Light has come into the world and people loved darkness rather then light because their deeds were evil. They hated the heavenly Light because they wanted to sin in the darkness.”

John 3:19-20

“Truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

John 12: 24

“Then Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’”

Mark 15:34

Sin is a Persistent State. The sinner has no one to blame for his or her condition but himself or herself. After all, Jesus has already done everything in His power to save us. He brought us light but stubborn as we are we think we know better our needs. In our minds we know that God loves sinners and has done everything to provide for their salvation. Jesus has done everything possible to draw us to the saving love of God. However, God is not going to force us to live in God’s light if we are so determined to live in the darkness.

If you are lost today, either you have never heard and today is the day when you will have to make an eternal decision, or you have already heard before and have chosen to go on in sin. Please do not continue to turn Jesus away.

The day will come when there will be no more time and no more opportunities for you. Come to Jesus while there is still hope and while the Spirit of God is still calling you to him.

Jesus used a picture familiar to all who heard Him speaking. Everyone knew that before a crop could be harvested, seed had to be planted first. As those grains of seed were placed into the ground and died, they provided the means whereby a plant would be produced. This new plant possessed the potential to bear thousands of new grains.

Because Jesus died and is risen from the dead, He has the power to duplicate His life in every single person who places their faith in Him. Not only does Jesus save us from our sins, but He also gives us a brand new life! He allows us to live a life that would otherwise have been impossible. This is the essence of being "born again." Jesus takes us like we are and He saves us by His grace, then He changes us by His power. He begins to live through us and that makes all the difference in the world! When we allow Jesus to live through us, we are living the "abundant life."

The darkness that covered Israel lasted for three hours. As far as we know, the darkness silenced the people around the cross. For three hours, there was little sound or movement. At the end of that time, from the depths of that oppressive darkness, Jesus cries, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Some of the people near the cross thought He was calling on Elijah. An ancient Jewish legend said that Elijah would come to the aid of righteous Jews in their hour of need. One of them gave Jesus a drink of vinegar, which was a weak, tart wine that was said to take away thirst better than plain water. Jesus took this drink, because it did not have the narcotic myrrh in it. The people thought they might see a miracle that day. They thought that Elijah might show up and save Jesus. When Jesus cried like He did, He was not calling on Elijah. Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1, but He was doing more than that! He was signaling that He had been judged in the place of sinners and for sin!

Have a blessed season of Lent!

Reflections according to: www.sermonnotebook.org