After the third and final night of the Lenten Parish Mission, as my wife and I were leaving, I said to her that the KEY to a worry-free living is a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is as simple as that. Thank you for the reminder, Gary Zimak.
NOTE: Many of the Bible verses that Gary Zimak cited to of when Jesus talks about worry can be found in my homily for the Second Sunday of Lent. I invite you all to read it at this link here: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/02/homily-for-second-sunday-of-lent-year-b.html.
Below are my notes, thoughts, and comments on the Lenten Parish Mission.
Night 1
Here is the video recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdrG0Vdul50
Giving up: giving up something that is keeping us from God (redemptive suffering)
Giving in: surrendering to God (thy will be done)
Giving out: external action that is an outward manifestation of our internal change
Mark 1:15 - Jesus said:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."
The time is now; we are in Lent. The kingdom of God is here because Jesus is alive with us - yesterday, today, tomorrow. Change (metanoia) internally which leads us to act differently externally. Jesus wants us to render our hearts. Have confidence in the word of God.
Paraphrasing what Jesus said in Mark (1:15) and applying it to Lent: "Lent has begun. My kingdom is here. Plenty of spiritual benefits offered and available to us. Change the way you think. And believe and have confidence in my word."
Worry is attempting to control the uncontrollable.
Fear: An emotion given to us from God. Not right or wrong morally. Fear can lead us to worry.
Worry: "What ifs" and "worse case scenarios" that we ruminate on. Worry takes God out of the picture. We do not trust that God can help us so we feel that we have to do it on our own.
Concern: Concern is rooted in facts, real situations with actions that we can take, i.e., concern about layoffs so we update our resume to prepare to look for another job.
Worry and faith cannot coexist. We can be concern and have faith. When we worry, we go against our faith. Storms are a part of life. Jesus tells us that if you listen to what I say and put my words to action, then you will not crumble because you are standing on a rock foundation.
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. . . my yoke is easy, and my burden light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Night 2
Here is the video recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_iodG4exvY
Get into boat with the apostles and go into the storm at sea with them. Trust that Jesus is in the boat with you in the midst of the tempests in our lives.
The first journey into the storm at sea is in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 4, verses 35-41.
We become a "captive audience" to Jesus when we go into the storms in our lives. Jesus does care about us; we only need to gaze upon the Crucifix to know how much our Lord cares for us.
Jesus asked them: “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
Faith is not a feeling; it is a choice. We have to choose to believe that Jesus cares about us. He said to them, "Let us cross to the other side." He knew that they would cross to the other side, but the disciples did not. They must trust and have faith to follow Jesus.
If we are baptized, then we cannot say that we have not faith. We might have "weak" faith but we have faith. Our faith in God will help us get through one storm and prepare ourselves for subsequent storms to come in life because they will come. This helps us face future storms with hope, knowing that Jesus is with us in the boat.
After Jesus calmed the storm, we have what was the first small group discussion to reflect on what just happened to them.
The second journey into the storm at sea is in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14, verses 22-33.
Jesus found the need to pray and went up the mountain by himself to pray. We need to be like Jesus. We think we are too busy to pray, Jesus was much busier than us and he still had a need to pray and found the time to pray.
The fourth watch of the night is the hours from 3:00 A.M. to 6:00 A.M. It is the darkness before the dawn. We do not like faith because we are a control-freak; however, Jesus is way is better than our way, his thoughts better than our thoughts.
Jesus comforts us in the midst of the storms in our lives, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Jesus said to Peter, "Come," and Peter walked on the water toward Jesus. Peter started to sink under the weight of his fears and problems when he lost focus of Jesus in his life. Peter cried out, "Lord, save me!"
"O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" We doubt because we do not trust in Jesus. Let us pray for an increase in trust and confidence in God.
Sometimes, Jesus permits the storms to rage in our lives. Sometimes, he calms the storms. However, Jesus is in the storms with us, ready to grant us his supernatural peace.
Another small group gathering to worship the Lord our God. There is hope if we turn to Jesus because he is our hope in the storms of our lives.
Would you rather be in the storm with Jesus or in the boat without Jesus?
Night 3
Here is the video recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFHPANMTfgU
Prayers:
Lord, save me.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Divine mercy and those of us who worry
God loves us. His mercy is greater than our sins.
Here is the link to his article in the National Catholic Register, titled: Are You Anxious? Do You Worry? The Divine Mercy Message Is for You
Here is the link:
WOW!! --- "Mercy is love that meets suffering and does something about it."
"My child, know that the greatest obstacles to holiness are discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety." (Diary of St. Faustina, 1488) ("exaggerated anxiety" is when we are anxious and we should not be, such as fear about the future, and is rooted in the deadly sin of pride.
The remedy is to walk with the Lord and trusting in Him. --- "How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound me most painfully." (Diary, 1076) AND "My child, all of your sins have not wounded My Heart as painfully as your present lack of trust does." (Diary, 1486) --- This should be how motivation to give up worry.
Worry is when we try to control the uncontrollable, but this is what Jesus tells us. --- "Do not fear; I will not leave you alone. Do whatever you can in this matter; I will accomplish everything that is lacking in you. You know what is within your POWER TO DO; DO THAT" (Diary, 881). --- Okay to be concerned because concern motivates us to put into action our plan, something that we can do.
WOW!! --- "You will give me pleasure if you hand over to me all your troubles and griefs." (Diary, 1485) --- THANK YOU, LORD!
When we are going through a storm, remember to turn to Jesus. --- Jesus said, "I am very pleased that you confide your fears to Me, my daughter: Speak to Me about everything in a completely simple and human way; by this you will give Me great joy." (Diary, 797)
Yes! Jesus is worthy of our trust!
We cannot be worry and pray at the same time.
Redemptive suffering - unite our suffering with the suffering of Jesus on the Cross. When we embrace our cross out of love for Jesus and follow him, we share in Jesus' mission for the salvation of soul. God will bring about a greater good - our purification through suffering.
All suffering is temporary - gone in this life or in the next life in heaven.
In the midst of our suffering, we can find supernatural peace through Jesus.
Romans 8:28 is a comforting verse in Scripture: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
I read this article today: https://sports.yahoo.com/stacy-wakefield-wife-of-late-former-red-sox-pitcher-tim-wakefield-dies-of-pancreatic-cancer-193327959.html --- We can only believe that God can bring comfort and peace to their children and bring good out of these tragedies --- two parents dying and leaving behind their children. Only God can bring about hope and healing for their families (think of the woman hemorrhaging for 12 years and Jairus' daughter who is on the verge of dying (and died)).
Do we choose to believe, by faith, that Jesus can help us in some way? Pray. Pray. Pray.
Sometimes, God lets the storm remain. In those time, let us remain hopeful, prayerful. Invite Jesus into the storm with us and suffering, it will get better. He will either take it away, make us wait, or give us the grace to weather the storm. Most of all, he will give us peace if we trust in Him.
Never give up on Jesus, even when we are surrounded by cynics. Jesus tells us, "Do not be afraid. Have faith."
Jesus is the answer.
Giving up worrying is surrendering and accepting Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.
Things we can do to change out lives:
1. Go to Mass as often as you can. Go to Daily Mass if you can
2. Go to Confession. Frequent the Sacraments.
3. Read Scripture. Jesus speaks to us in Scripture.
4. Pray in the morning and at night.
Mark's version of the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8) --- Jesus gives us a glimpse of his glory and his peace. Then, Jesus will lead us down the "mountain" and accompany us in our journey in life. He will never abandon us but will help us carry our cross each and every day.
Here is the link to his web-site: https://followingthetruth.com/
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