March 12, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection is from Living Faith:
“But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you… Matthew 5:44
In fourth grade, I had an enemy. He was a very good speller. He and I were often the last two standing for spelling bees. And, more often than not, he won. It was not the victory it’s self but the smirk that made him my enemy.
Today, I might say that my enemies are the people who don’t use their blinker at the intersection, costing me an extra three seconds on the road. Or the neighbor who lets their dog bark incessantly at 7 AM on a Saturday when I’m trying to sleep in.
It may be easy to think of our enemies as those featured on the news – the armed robber, the arsonist or the brutal dictator in another country. Of course, we should pray for them that they may change their ways. But we should also pray for those who simply annoy us. Because, God knows, we are those people to someone else. Let’s hope that others are praying for us.” Terrence Hagarty

March 11, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
I trust in the Lord; my soul trust in his word. Psalm 130:5
“I always carry a U.S. penny in my pocket. Why? Because on every penny is printed the words: ‘In God we trust.’ These words were chosen as our national motto in 1956. Today ‘In God we Trust’ can be found on virtually all our currency. I don’t know how many people notice those words on our money. Or how many believe those words. Or even how many are opposed to having them printed on our money. But for me, the words are deeply precious and meaningful.
Every time I reach into my pocket for something, I feel that Penny. Its presence is a gentle reminder of the essence of my faith: trust in God.
Having the penny in my pocket throughout the crisis of the pandemic is especially significant for me. The truth was, we can put our trust in many things: certain people, our country, the Church, modern medicine, our own talents. But as Christians, ultimately, our trust is in God. The penny in my pocket reminds me of that great truth.”
Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.
I think this is a great reminder of putting our trust in God each day. sometimes it’s easier said than done.?

March 10, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection is from Living Faith:
When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. Psalm 138:3
“This verse from today’s psalm echoes Jesus in today’s Gospel from Matthew 7: ‘Ask and it will be given to you’ (verse7). I had an experience of this recently in a cancer treatment center with a beloved family member who is undergoing chemotherapy. There had been a two hour wait before they moved him to his station in the clinic. The infusion itself had already taken 90 minutes. Exhaustion had drained us both of any inclination to talk. I prayed a quiet prayer for strength. A minute later, I began hearing music. It sounded like harp music – with Irish sounding melodies!
How could that be? I stood up and saw by the nurses’ station a woman playing a small harp! As I gestured my thanks, she smiled and brought the harp over to play near us. When when she confirmed that they were Irish songs, I knew my Irish ancestors were smiling.
Amazing God, how beautifully you built up strength in us when I called for help.” Patricia Livingston
Gracious God thank you for being there on our journey. Give us the strength that we need each day to come closer to you.?

March 9, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection is from Living Faith:
My sacrifice, O God is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. Psalm 51:19
Two years ago, we witnessed the emerging heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers on the front lines, from physicians and nurses to CNA‘s and custodians, put themselves at enormous risk to care for the sick. Some sacrificed time with their families in order to serve and to protect their own loved ones from infection.
Saint Frances of Rome is a fitting patroness for these generous and compassionate souls. Despite her responsibilities as a wife and mother, Frances followed God’s call to serve the poor, including many victims of plague in her beloved city.
During Lent, we are reminded that prayer, fasting and almsgiving take many forms. When we humble our own hearts and set aside our own priorities, we create room for those whom God notices. As we seek to follow the Lord inside and outside our homes, may we learn to love and serve like Frances.” Steve Pable
Continue to ask God to guide you on the path to Jesus during this Lent.?

March 8, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
“Be grateful for the growing trees, the roses soon to bloom, the tenderness of kindly hearts that shared your days of gloom; be grateful for the morning dew, the grass beneath your feet, the soft caresses of your babes and all their laughter sweet.
Acquire the grateful habit, learn to see how blessed you are, how much there is to gladden life, how little life to mar! And what if rain shall fall today and you with a grief are sad; be grateful that you can recall the joys that you have had.” Edgar A. Guest

March 7, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection is from Living Faith:
Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or Thursday and give you a drink? Matthew 25:37
“It’s the first week of Lent, and here we are, beginning our fast: we give up, we do with less. why? Well, our fast can bear all sorts of fruit, certainly: clearing out obstacles on our journey with God, teaching us to be dependent on God alone, doing penance. But what do we do with what we’re sacrificing – that time, attention, money and, yes, food?from ancient times, Christian tradition has linked fasting with almsgiving. Pope Leo the Great put it very plainly back in the fifth century when he said, using vivid, specific language: ‘….let our Christian fast-times be fat and abound; and let each bestow on the weak and destitute those dainties which he denies himself.’
Jesus made my Lenten fast bear fruit for those in need. Amy Welborn
The Knights of Columbus have a place in Poland where they are distributing everything to the refugees from Ukraine. that is one place that I am going to donate to immediately.?

March 6, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
“From time to time, when we least expect it, life changes course and worry washes over us like waves on a storm to O Beach. Rough times happen. Good people suffer. Questions arise.
We may not be able to see or know or sense how everything will turn out-or even why it happened. But we can know that God is with us at each turn, and every journey.
Beyond every storm, God has something beautiful for you that is as precious as your heart and as special as you- something as extraordinary as a rainbow after the rain.
Blue skies welcome. Hope well done. God is is near to you in the storm as He is in the sunshine. Cherish the good memories. Put the bad ones behind you. Hope is as near as a prayer. Embrace His promises. Let Him shoulder your cares. Remember that you are never alone. Entrust your tomorrows to God.
Fairwinds will blow once again. Smooth paths will follow. Calm waters will comfort you. Find peace in knowing that you are safe in His care… for God will always see you through anything.” Linda E. Knight
God is always with us on our journey. This Lent let us move closer to our loving God. ?

March 5, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
This life is yours
Take the power
to choose what you want to do
and do it well
Take the power
to walk in the forest
and be part of nature
Take the power
to control your own life
 No one else can do it for you
Take the power
to make your life
healthy
exciting
worthwhile
and very happy”Susan Polis Schutz

March 4, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection is from Living Faith:
This, rather is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound undustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed breaking every yoke. Isaiah 58:6
“Every Lent I face the same question: what should I give up? In earnest moments of introspection and prayer, I search my soul for some meaningful way of practicing self sacrifice. And what do I land on? Chocolate, alcohol, meat on Fridays…
Sure fasting might draw my attention to God for short periods as I fight urges to have a beer or open a candy bar, but it hardly seems enough. For the fasting to which God calls us should never just be about taming our desires. Instead, we are called to also look outward and see others who desire freedom and cannot seem to find it without help.
What can we do today to extend the freedom we receive in Christ to those in need? How can we move from self-centered fasting to action that will improve the lives of others?” Steve Givens
A number of years ago after the Easter vigil I had my stash of things that I gave up. At that point I realized, I missed the whole point of Lent. It’s not give something up for forty days and run back to it.  so whatever we give up take the money that we saved and give it to CRS or I saw on the news the Knights of Columbus have a group in Ukraine that are giving out supplies.?

March 3, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection is from Living Faith:
Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heating his voice, and holding fast to him. Deuteronomy 30:19–20
“Yesterday marked the beginning of Lent. Maybe the Holy Spirit has already kindled a fire in you. Maybe you began a new journey of prayer, fasting and almsgiving on Ash Wednesday that you are eager to carry forth. Maybe instead, you feel edgy, hungry and dispirited, your enthusiasm worn down by discomfort. Maybe you haven’t even started yet, despite your best intentions!
Wherever today finds you, take heart. You haven’t failed yet, nor have you finished. Lent is away to order our steps, individually and as a community. It gives us focus and support. Yet in this very moment, in every moment, the Lord is reaching out to draw you closer to him. So, start where you are. Use what you have. Keep moving toward God, today and every day. It is never too late to begin.
Lord Jesus help me to grow closer to you during this holy season.” Karla Manternach