February 26, 2006

Last week we spoke of being witnesses of Gospel joy. By our words and by the way we live we can touch the hearts of others with God's love. It begins by really accepting the fact of how much God loves me.

This reflection by Deacon David Reising of Peoria, Illinois in "Connect" helps us with more insight into his love for us:

Do we really know how much God loves us? I believe that when we fully understand this promise, we are well on our way to the path of peace.

Are we willing to empty ourselves and be filled with God? As we deny ourselves, we gain wisdom, insight and the courage Jesus demonstrated in his encounter with temptation.

As we see in the miracles Jesus performed while he walked this earth, often times he simply reached inside a person and drew out of them all they needed to be whole by drawing out of them what the father god had already provided them at their creation.

The same can be said of us. When we let Jesus reach down inside of us, just as the couple who lived in a home filled with untapped treasure, we can discover within ourselves all that we need to make the journey back to our Father.

As we enter into this Lenten season, may we make the extra effort to face the reality of who we are in Christ, and, as he demonstrated to us in the desert, take the stand that will hold us in God's favor until we are with him in eternity. May this lent give us the opportunity to make a real discovery about what lies inside each of us, and, by his grace, bring it to the surface.

Peace and Happy Lent,
Fr. Chuck