We (as humans) love symbols.  We love to assign meaning to everything we see and use.  Sometimes we do this in a good way and sometimes, maybe, not so good.  Our symbols express our life, they tell others more about us with us actually having to say it all.

What are some of the symbols in your life?  What do they tell others about you?  What do they tell you about yourself?

The early Christians used symbols extensively in their faith and worship.  Many of those symbols we still use today.  One that you are sure to know is the cross itself.  To a non Christian, a cross may simply be two pieces of wood in a specific arraignment.  No deeper meaning.  To us it means something  Holy or Sacred.  It is a symbol to remind us of the passion Christ; that he died for our sins.  That he was rejected by men, but still he forgave them.  It may remind you of church, or time with family.  It may bring to mind special prayers.  Point being – this symbol means many things, and different things, to each of us.  But, having the symbol makes us think and that is important.

During Lent, try having different symbols around you.  I brought the Crown of Thorns plant to our meeting, and a sketch of Jesus with His crown of thorns.  These are two power symbols of Lent.  I also mentioned (in the last post) about the knotted rope in the church and its meaning.  Maybe there are some things around your house that could help you to think about the way you are living and what changes you could make to be more like Christ.

In yesterday’s Gospel reading (Luke 13:1-9) Jesus tells a parable about a landowner, gardner and a fig tree. Like all parables, there are many layers of meaning here and hopefully you can gain something by reflecting on His message. Here is my reflection, maybe you can relate:

I have been emotionally & professionally struggling for a couple of years now. Sometimes I feel I grow a little, and sometimes I even produce a little fruit, but it is not much. Like the fig tree, I keep standing around in the sun, looking up. Each morning I think that surely today I will know what I am supposed to do – today I will take action, I will flower or blossom or produce good fruit. I have taken in good nourishment from my roots, both in knowledge and in food. I am in good health and sound mind. Yet I struggle to generate fruit – to fulfill my purpose. Does this mean that I too should be “cut down”, removed from my job, or given up on by my friends or loved ones? I hope not, I know I am of value. I just need another year.

Thankfully, for those of us who feel like we are not “producing” the fruit that we should, God still believes in us. God is the good gardner. Sometimes the hardest part of growing is being patient with ourselves.

During this lent, perhaps you can reflect on the areas in your life that you need to be more patient with yourself.

Maybe, you need to look at someone that troubles you; your parents, your brother or sister or even a friend, and say to yourself – “I will not cut them down just yet, maybe they need another year.”

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I look around the church during mass (not often, but sometimes).  Maybe you noticed the “knotted” ropes hanging around on banners.  Did they stand out to you?  You probably just thought “Huh, knotted fabric, that silly Sr. Theresa.”  Ah, but the knots have a meaning.

Lent is a time of reflection and searching through our insides (especially the icky parts) and changing ourselves for the better.  Sometimes we “tie-up” those icky parts we don’t want to face or show to others.  Sometimes what we tie up isn’t icky, but instead are the good things that know we should be, but we don’t think are “cool” or “fun”.

The knotted ropes are the sanctuary to remind to find those knots within ourselves and work to loosen them.  With less than 4 weeks left in lent, join me in getting “knotty” at church.

Yesterday (Sun. Mar 7) was our monthly meeting.  If you weren’t there we missed you.

 Here is some of what you missed:

•  The Thank You from Beatitude House for the Souper Bowl Donation.
•  The “Crown of Thorns” plant
•  Pizza from Rotelli
•  Sean “washing” everyone’s feet.
•  Discussion about immigrants & exchange students
•  Practice for the Living Stations.

We were privileged to have Fr James Walker as our second speaker in our Lenten series on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 .  Fr Walker’s presentation focused on Living Well the Word. Father offered us the invitation to be transformed by Living God’s Word daily.  Some people study the Bible. They can tell you chapter and verse, the literary structure, the historical background. But they cannot seem to understand that God deeply desires to be in relationship with us. These people read the Word with their mind but not with their heart.

We are called to hear the Scriptures with both mind and heart, to be transformed by God’s Word. One way to be transformed by God’s Word is to allow the community of faith to guide us. A reputable Bible study group, the Sunday homily, sharing the Word with a friend are but a few of the ways to hear God’s Word with our hearts and be transformed.

The true test to hearing God’s Word is how we are living. Living well in response to God’s Word means that what we allow what we hear in Scripture to guide every dimension of our lives.

Fr Walker invited us to hear God in the messy diapers, in our jobs, in our households, in our finances, in our friendships. God’s Word is present in all of life.

So the question I ask today: How do I live well through hearing God’s Word? How do I read the Scriptures with my heart?

My father was a very patient man.  One year he took a peach stone and planted it in a small pot.  The first year yielded nothing. The second year – a small stick that really looked dead.  He then transplanted that “dead stick” into his garden. He fertilized it, watered it, cared for that “dead stick”. We asked him why spend the energy. Each time, my father said, “Give it another year.” Today, 10 years later, that “dead stick” gives us great peaches.

As my father was patient with that “dead stick”, how much more is God patient with us?  Our Gospel today gives us the parable of the fig tree. In this parable, Jesus reveals the patience of God with us, despite our slowness to repent, despite our slowness of letting go of our narrowness of life. How merciful God is. This is God’s mercy – to take what is almost dead and coax it to new life!

Our Lenten journey, our work of repentance is to turn sinfulness toward God’s transforming mercy.

Jesus offers us a challenge – “bear fruit” or “be cut down”.  Our encouragement – God is ever patient, God is ever merciful. God does not gives up on us.

Tuesday evening, Fr Kevin Peters kicked off our Lenten Speakers Series by helping us to reflect on how we keep Sabbath.  I was reminded of the old saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Many of us live to work, rather than work to live, because productivity and achievement are at the heart of our work ethic.

Our days and our weeks are consumed by activity as we rush from place to place, task to task, one more meeting, sports event, call to make, item to buy, thing to do.  Fr Peters reminded us that we all hunger for rest; that keeping Sabbath offers us the God-given gift of rest whereby we deepen our relationship with God, ourselves and others. During Sabbath, we switch to “God time”, the quality of our time for each other.

Finally, Fr. Peters suggested we live with the attitude of keeping Sabbath each day and see how our life changes. Adopting a Sabbath attitude keeps us balanced throughout every facet of our lives. It allows us to see the work we do as part of the big picture, to know we are more than our jobs, more than the roles we play; we are God’s blessed creation.

How do you mark the Sabbath in your home today? In what ways are your practices like those in your home while growing up?

What would you like to change in the way you celebrate Sabbath?

As Lent progresses you surely noticed our church banners with several KNOTS on each one. The question for our Lenten reflection has been: WHAT WITHIN ME IS KNOTTED UP? Have you considered this question? Can you list your “knotted up” places? Have you been able to loosen any knots?

Free yourself to be more open and receptive as you walk with Jesus toward Holy Week.  Consider this reflection in your prayer in the days ahead. Be challenged to sit with Jesus asking him to open your heart to the challenge of CHANGE. Ask him to accompany you as you continue your Lenten journey.

Jim Merhaut began our Parish Mission talking about holiness. To be holy is simply to be like God.  And God is Love. So holiness for a family is mainly about loving.

For three evenings, Jim helped us to develop a way of thinking that connects what we celebrate as a parish with what we live as a family.

Here are some pictures of our Parish Mission 2010.

Click here for March 2010 Parish Events