Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
'We've got to read between the lines'
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
A reflection on the daily readings, for Thursday After Ash Wednesday, by Father Perry.
+ OK! Your choices are life and prosperity.
Or death and doom!
What do you choose?
One would think that there really is no choice. It is simply obvious what you gotta do.
There is talk of obeying and keeping commandments, loving him, not turning away or being led astray.
But to this reader, the best description given for this choice is: "walking in his ways."
The image pops up in the mind: Have you ever walked with an older or very wise person whose words and teaching meant everything to you?
Often, that person would smile or gently say something, or make a comparison that almost sounded sweet.
One could hang onto their words, and you might even find yourself walking hand in hand. It is almost like being one with that person.
This is the image God gives: "Walk with me! Walk in my ways! Walk hand in hand. I will not let go!"
+ But Jesus describes that walk, also — the walk with the Christ.
"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
Clearly, walking with the Christ has a price attached to it.
And talking in that language of paradoxes or seeming opposites, Jesus says that "saving one's life is actually losing that life"; but "losing one's life is actually saving one's life."
And then Jesus nails it when he remarks that "one could gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit themself."
+ No doubt, this must have something to do with recognizing that "the kingdom of God is at hand."
That "kingdom stuff" is the stuff of the Spirit and goes way down deep; when we touch it, or it touches us, we are never the same.
One could say that when the kingdom comes into and among us, we promptly discover that we are "walking with God — hand in hand."
And as God describes himself in that hand-to-hand walk: "I will never let go!"
Now that is a journey worth walking!
That is a Lenten journey, indeed!
*****
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
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'Let the journey begin'
***
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
A reflection on the daily readings, for Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, by Father Perry.
+ And the journey begins.
***
Replete with ritual, words, images, actions
There is a smearing of ashes.
We are called to repent and believe in the Gospel.
In the olden days we heard the phrase: “Dust to dust; ashes to ashes” — and with that our mortality came swiftly to mind.
And with that our need to pay attention to our lives, to our sin, to our need for repentance and renewal, to our connection to God and grace, and blessing and promise to the wonderful mercy our God is.
***
To the great gift of ‘the journey of a lifetime’
Like any journey, it takes some preparation and attention to details that we need to do.
The greatest event of all comes in the Easter celebration, and we just simply cannot not be ready for it.
The better the Lent, the better the Easter.
Today, make a plan! Don’t worry if you keep it perfectly!
Change the plan along the journey if a change makes good sense.
And so, we need to read and hear the word in a wonderfully intuitive way.
Oh yes, we are to do some things literally; the list is long and available to all who will dare to be open to it.
There is fasting and repenting and praying and giving alms, and being attentive to the poor and the needy.
There is reconciling with self and God and others, and opening more to God’s word.
There is stopping this and that, that gets in the way of good living.
Stop sinning and do more gracing; simplify, magnify, beautify; and even render hearts, not garments — but why not garments, too?!
Today, make a plan! Don’t worry if you keep it perfectly! Change the plan along the journey if a change makes good sense.
But most of all, invite God into it all. Do not go on this journey alone.
Join with the whole church. There are millions out there doing it alone and together.
But most of all let the Holy One in — as God will make every step along the journey more and more blessed, more full of grace, and more wonderful!
Intuitively, we know that our God is calling and inviting and loving and blessing.
Intuitively, we know that this is bigger than us, and we have everything to gain by letting go and letting God.
Are we ready? Are we willing? Are we open?
Let the journey begin!
*****
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
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Established in 1924, St. Bernard Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, serving the northeast L.A. neighborhood of Glassell Park.