Faith Reflection: Mercy—Love in action
Through the Gospels we learn Jesus lead a life of prayer, both public and private. One of these times of quiet prayer we read about in Luke’s Gospel is when his disciples ask him to teach them to pray. At this request Jesus teaches them to pray what we now know as The Our Father. Luke’s Gospel has the shorter version to what we find in Matthew, but both start off with the very personal calling of God as “Father.” As we pray and adapt to the tone of Lent keep this prayer close to your heart, in awe of this beautiful relationship to God Jesus opens up for us even before he reaches the Cross. Pray the Our Father slowly and thoughtfully throughout the day and you will find yourself well nourished in what you thought was a time of fasting.
Our 7th grader today will tell us a little about almsgiving. We can do this by giving of both our money or ourselves.
Mercy Essay
by Timothy
When I evangelize I pray for other people and spread the good news of God. I also help people up when they are hurt and when they are sad I cheer them up. At school I help people with their work when they do not understand.
One time I played with someone who was lonely and had nobody to play with. I also picked up people’s stuff when it fell to the ground. I also have helped take people to the office when they were hurt.
Many people find Lent a time when they want to go to Confession more often. There are various penance services around our diocese (see the parish bulletin each week for those times and locations) as well as opportunities for Confession in Redlands at both our Olive and Columbia locations in addition to El Carmelo each week. On Monday nights Confession is available at El Carmelo during the Rosary/Adoration they offer from 7-8pm; on Thursday from 5:30-6:15 at Columbia before the 6:30 evening Spanish Mass; Fridays from 6-7pm at Olive after Stations of the Cross; and Saturday morning at 8:30 after the daily Mass at Olive.
The latest posting under Five Minutes With Francis is now available—look under Spiritual Life on the school’s main web page. This month we take a quick look at Saint John XXIII. There you will find a link to an interesting hour long movie, done in the form of a monologue, on this pope who convoked the Second Vatican Council.
Cinema For the Soul has the perfect Lenten offering this month. On Thursday, March 23rd, come watch St. Vincent staring Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy. A young boy befriends his cranky neighbor because he is able to see the good in this veteran where others do not. Join the group from 7-9pm upstairs in the Olive parish hall.
The next free Loyola Marymount class will be on Wednesday, March 22nd from 7-9pm at Aquinas High School. Both Mrs. Severin, her brother, and I very much enjoyed the first session. The teacher was well informed, helpful, and led a nice discussion among the group gathered. The next topic “Head or Heart? Reason and the Will in Catholic Theology,” will compare the classic arguments of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine. Go to this link to register for the next class. https://lmu.wufoo.com/forms/ms61ntu1vlycdm/
Thank you. Mrs. Alhadef