Fasting with the Tongue this Lent

One of the most powerful weapons is our tongue.  The words we utter have a tremendous power be it for good or for evil.Pope Francis constantly reminds us of the importance of   vigilance over our whole being; and this includes our tongue and the words that come forth. Time and time again Pope Francis strongly encourages us to avoid gossip, back-biting, careless speech, criticism, negativism, sarcasm, lies and  slander that damage others.

Saint James reminds us that, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (James 1:19). James Chapter 3 speaks about controlling our tongue. St James explains about the dangers of the tongue and the damage that this small instrument can do.  We can tame all animals, but not the tongue. It is small, but like a little spark that can start a huge fire, the tongue can do irreparable damage.

A bitter or sarcastic word can leave wounds in the soul that may never heal. On the contrary, a kind word motivated by a pure and loving heart can lift somebody out of the pits of  desolation.

Jesus warns us, “Every word that comes out of our heart will be judged,” (Mt 12:37). He also encourages us not to waste words, but to use them effectively and to keep to the point whenever possible: “Let your language, be ‘Yes’ for ‘yes’ or ‘No’ for ‘no’; the rest comes from the evil one!”

Every person on earth can understand the Golden Rule: “Do to others what you would like them to do to you.” Why not apply this Golden Rule of Jesus when we speak to others.
Our words should serve ‘to build up’ our neighbour. We must counteract negative  and poisonous speech by using our tongue to lift others closer to God. The Word of God reminds us that he who does not control his speech is not on the    highway to holiness. However, the man who controls his tongue is being led by the Holy Spirit and is following the  pathway to holiness.

In the Holy Season of Lent, let us fast from all words that could offend others. God is not pleased when we offend others with our speech. Like Mary, who kept the Most High close to her heart, let us learn to praise God in the way we live our lives. Let us say with Mary: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” 
(LK 1: 46).

How Lent Can Strengthen Your Marriage?

I have found that most parishioners think about Lent as a time to enter  more deeply into their personal spiritual life. We should understand that Jesus’ Passion is about a relationship and how he overpowers sin to win love and redemption for us. Regardless of the price He has to pay, Jesus is  faithful to His mission to serve His Father’s Will. How much of our life is spent  on serving God’s will in your marriage and in your family life? 

Three Lenten acts give an opportunity to grow closer to God and to your spouse.

1. PRAY TOGETHER

Prayer will help you get to know each other in a deeper way. It reminds you that when you are married, you are one body, mind, soul, and spirit. As we get closer to each other, we also get closer to God; that’s the ultimate goal to bring our spouse to God. 

• Attend Mass: Fulfill the Sunday obligation by  attending Sunday Mass together. 
• Pray for each other: When you wake up each day, just say to the Lord, “I offer you this day for my spouse.” 
• Pray for your family: In the same way, you can offer your day for your children.
• Pray together: Before retiring each day, it is good to kneel by your bed together to present your expectations, your plans and your dreams to the Lord. Even your differences. 

2. SACRIFICE

Contemplate the sacrificial love of Jesus to increase your own capacity to love your spouse:- 

• Resentment: Resentment is a message telling you that something must change in  YOU! Learn to have compassion, listen to the pain in your spouse. It will help you relax and bring peace to the family. 
• Complaining: Stop destructive criticism and complaining this Lent. Train yourself to see the  good in your spouse and his/her best qualities. Love your spouse by serving, sacrificing, listening, empathizing, appreciating and  affirming him/her.
• Worrying: Offer to God whatever worries that weigh you down. I encourage you to make use of our prayer card, “Prayer for the Family” which we have distributed early this year. 

3. ALMS GIVING 

Alms giving literally means giving to the poor. People are poor in different ways and there are a variety of ways to serve them. People who may need your assistance are: 

• People without money/ food/and shelter.
• People without family and friends who could use some of your time.
• Our parishioners or families that need your time and talent. Share your God - given gifts with them.
• Your own family: Consciously give your loved ones more attention and spend time together. Have meals together more regularly and listen to each other more    attentively

As a couple, discern how you are being called to serve others. Then, make a realistic plan to give generously to others, while still continuing to take care of your spouse and children. Our Lenten tears and sacrifices are not for the Lord, but for ourselves; that we may rediscover the joy of loving Him. “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your  children (Luke 22:28).” Even in tears, we can find joy.

FASTING AND ABSTINENCE

Easter Sunday can fall any time from March 22 to April 25. This year Easter comes early (April 5), so Lent, which always begins 47 days before Easter Sunday, begins on   February 18. The period of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, during which many churches mark  believers with ashes from the previous year’s palms.

FASTING AND ABSTINENCE IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Ash Wednesday, a day of strict fasting and abstinence, is the first day of Lent. Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and above must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent. Sundays are typically excluded from fasting, since these are celebrations of the Risen Christ. Fasting is an appropriate means of spiritual identification with Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. Many fast from something during Lent. Some give up coffee or chocolate; others restrict their travel or use of gadgets, etc. There are various forms of  sacrifices, such as     controlling one’s outbursts of angry words, etc. Ash Wednesday is the day many Catholics focus their attention on three practices: fasting, praying and alms giving. 

Lent is one of the most important seasons of the Christian faith. The joy of the Risen Lord Jesus at Easter time depends on how well we live out the holy season of Lent.

Why 40 days?  Because Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert, and laid 40 hours in the tomb; the Hebrews wandered for 40 years in the wilderness; the world was flooded for 40 days in the time of Noah.  Each was a period of preparation for what was to follow. So it was that early Christians began setting aside time before Easter to prepare for their celebration of the Resurrection.

Let us always rejoice in the season of Lent, which is a gift and blessing for us every Church year.  Let us truly enter into this season of Lent with true generosity of heart. Let us die to sin and rise to new life!

WORLD MARRIAGE DAY

WORLD MARRIAGE DAY HONOURS HUSBAND AND WIFE
AS THE FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled…”
 (Heb 13: 4).

Each year World Marriage Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of February. It salutes the beauty of the faithfulness of married couples, their sacrifices and their joys.  Are you and your spouse soul mates? Where are you in your marriage? Do you  still embrace that zeal and interest to improve your own marriage?

Couples, you would have heard a number of sermons about marriage. How many of those sermons on marriage really challenge married people?  In our Church, we hear a lot about marriage. Praise for those who have been married a long time. But we empathise with those with troubled marriages. The Church prays with you and encourages you to keep on going!

Being a Catholic priest for 13 years and single, I don’t feel lonely but indeed am blessed because I am surrounded by many families and married couples. In terms of ministry, I feel  I always have something of myself to offer the Church; especially in addressing the pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization, in raising children and in  carrying out the responsibility of the home.

This weekend, the Catholic Church invites spouses to have a renewed understanding of marriage and to strengthen their marriages. The Church teaches couples to re-learn that    marriage is a sacrament of self-sacrifice and that it is only through this self-sacrifice that they should find true self-fulfillment.  As the M.E. saying goes: “Love Is A Decision”!

Couples, I invite you to exchange your renewal of promises once again as follows:-

“I (name) take you (name) to be my wife/husband. I    promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life”.

Lord Jesus, graciously grant us the courage and wisdom to discern light from darkness and preserve sacramental marriage according to Your divine will. Amen.

IS THERE A CATHOLIC WAY TO PARENT?

This weekend (24/25 Jan) 80 of our forms 4 and 5 students (from RCC and SJC) are attending a 2-day formation on the THEOLOGY OF THE BODY (TOB) at SJC Community Hall. TOB is the topic of a series of 129 lectures given by the late Pope John Paul II between 5 September, 1979 and 28      November, 1984.

IS THERE A CATHOLIC WAY TO PARENT?

“Is there an approved list of parenting methods the Church requires that we use for child rearing?”  “Certainly not!”

Does the Church tell parents exactly how many activities to let their kids participate in, or what discipline methods to choose, or how much time parents and kids need together? Of course not.

The Church never says to parents, “Parent this way.” Instead, the Church does say, As Catholic parents, you may have a unique vision of family life, and please keep that vision in mind when making decisions about parenting ,so, that vision may be fulfilled and you can be the witness the Church calls you to be.

In fact, the parenting methods we choose are actually a kind-of catechism. The way we interact with our children – even more than what we say to them – teaches them how to think about relationship, life, faith, priorities, and morality.

God gives moms and dads bodies so they can hug and hold and carry and cuddle their children so that their children can feel God’s immense love in real and tangible ways. Our children first encounter the reality of God’s love through our loving touch. The more physical we are with our kids, the more they develop the capacity to feel love and be loving.

TOB teaches that God gave us our bodies so that we could express love for one another. It isn’t enough to have warm feelings for someone. To be truly meaningful, love must be expressed with our body and experienced by another body through words, and acts of service, presence, and affection. The more bodily an expression of love is, the more senses it uses to communicate itself, the more intimate that expression of love is.

The entire point of the Gospel is loving, intimate, eternal union with God and the Communion of Saints. Think of intimacy as a unit of measure for love. TOB tells us that families are to be “Schools of Love” that help us experience, as much aspossible, the ocean of love God has for us. Catholic families are encouraged to choose those styles of relating, organising their priorities, and disciplining their children that foster the deepest level of intimacy possible.