Lenten Prayer

While fasting with the body,
brothers and sisters,
let us also fast in spirit.
Let us lose every bond of iniquity;
let us undo the knots of every contact made by violence;
let us tear up all unjust agreements;
let us give bread to the hungry
and welcome to our house
the poor who have no roof to cover them,
that we may receive mercy from Christ our God.

- Byzantine Vespers

God’s Love and Mercy

We can easily focus on our sinfulness during the season of Lent. However, we should be weary of descending into a sense that we are a bad person not worthy of God’s love. The beauty of this season is the opportunity to practise the virtue of humility. To recognise that we are all capable of transgressions and to more importantly recognised God’s unconditional love and mercy.

Christ Crucified demonstrates to us God’s love. His arms wide open for us on the cross is Christ’s loving embrace to us. The same embrace that the father gives to his son in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15 11-32).

God wants a relationship with us. He loves us and is wanting us to respond to His love. Let us reflect on the ‘Good Thief’ who rebuked his fellow thief for asking Christ to save them from being crucified. “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong” (Lk 23:40-41). “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power” (Lk 23:43). Jesus responds, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Lk 23:43). If the ‘Good Thief’ is worthy of Christ’s love at the last hour of his death, then should this not be a reminder of Christ’s unconditional mercy for us as long as we open our hearts to him?

Friday 8am Mass – St Catherine of Siena Parish Church

Students, parents, and their families are invited to attend 8am morning Mass.

Friday’s during term one

8:00 – 8:25am

St Catherine of Siena Parish, Caroline Springs.

The Eucharist allows us the opportunity to receive so many graces from God. Strength, forgiveness, and hope are some of these graces we receive. However, the most important is growing in a deeper love for Christ from receiving him in the Eucharist. It is a wonderful opportunity to spend some time in silence and prayer and move our focus away from ourselves and on things we may need to work to allow Christ to reign in our hearts.

Sunday Gospel Reflection

Second Sunday of Lent Year C – Luke 9:28-36