Weekly Meditation
Please join us and the spiritual community throughout the world as we ponder the same words and share in the same prayers each week.
Fill out the form below to receive your free weekly meditation from Catholic Extension President Emeritus, Bishop William R. Houck.
March 2009
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Weekly Meditation March 30, 2009
Posted: 3/30/2009
Most of us pray the "Our Father" daily. It is the "Lord's Prayer", the one Jesus himself taught us. One request we make of God in this prayer is related to, and in some ways conditioned on, our own conduct. "...forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." How easy to make this prayer at times without much thought on our part of the implications for us. So quick can we be to ask forgiveness yet slow and even unwilling to forgive others.
Lent is a time for "turning away from sin and being faithful to the gospel." Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. We are being called to turn away from our sins and accept God's forgiveness. We are also "called" to continue the mission of Jesus to "call sinners" to a new life of gospel faithfulness. Just as Jesus forgives, he expects his disciples to forgive others.
"I give you a new commandment: love one another. Such as my love has been for you, so must your love be for each other. This is how all will know you are my disciples: your love for one another."
(John 13:34-35)
Forgiveness is so closely dependent on the kind of love Jesus has. May we grow in that kind of love during these last few days of Lent.
Bishop William R. Houck
President Emeritus -
Weekly Meditation March 9, 2009
Posted: 3/5/2009
Lent is the time we strive to grow in living a genuine lifestyle based on the example and clear values and teachings of Jesus Christ. Our Lent can bring us closer to our goal if we incorporate even a bit more the lifestyle we propose and seek when we say with awareness and sincerity the Prayer for Peace of St. Francis of Assisi.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood and to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
As we reflect on these requests calmly, slowly and honestly and act on them during these days of Lent we will no doubt touch in some ways on the three fold program of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Bishop William R. Houck
President Emeritus -
Weekly Meditation
Posted: 3/2/2009
March 2, 2009
Bishop William R. Houck
Yesterday in countless Catholic cathedrals across our country, bishops presided at the Rite of Election. This is a ceremony in which catechumens ? those who have not been baptized ? who are participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a year or longer process of formation in our Catholic faith, are officially affirmed and ?chosen? to complete their formation during Lent as a final preparation for full initiation in the church. Through the reception of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil they will join our Catholic community as disciples of Jesus Christ.
We will be praying for them during these days of Lent. They are a welcomed and encouraging reminder to us that during Lent we also embrace again a life of special prayer, penance, fasting, good works and positive virtue as our preparation for renewing our own baptismal promises at Easter. We do this every Lent as we strive to make progress in living as genuine disciples of Jesus Christ, unashamed to live our faith in Him and His Church.
"We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God...Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain...Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (St. Paul's second letter to the Corinthians 5:20-6:2)
We heard these words of St. Paul in the second reading on Ash Wednesday. "Now" is a gift of God's favor. "Now" is today!. "Now" is something of a never ending invitation from a God who loves us so much.
Bishop William R. Houck
President Emeritus
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