​For a reason we don't know, God is three persons who have an eternal relationship with each other.  Jesus shows us the Father by praying to Him and, and the Holy Spirit by sending Him at Pentecost.  
 
God the Father creates, God the Son redeems, God the Holy Spirit sanctifies.  This is God's mission: redeem His creation when we sinned and to make us holy.
 
We continue the work of God by loving as God does as disciples.  
 
To do this, God brings us into His family.  The sharing of his love begins with our baptism.  We are baptized "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."  .
 
In our life. we come to know the love of the God through the love of our parents first.  Our fathers teach us God the Father's love.  Our mother's love teaches us our Blessed Mother's love, the Queen of Heaven and Mother to all of us.  The home we have here, prepares for the dwelling of God forever.
 
Parents help their children know the love of God by how they love their children.  Said another way, children learn the love of God by the love they receive from their parents.  
 
This means that the family becomes the image of God love.  Father, Mother, and children reflect the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  God has chosen the sacrament of marriage and the family to be the reflection of his love in the world.  
 
The Love of God is at the very center of our life.  St. Paul reminds us these qualities of love in the letter to the Corinthians:

Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
 
Love never fails.   

This week, parents teach your children to love as God loves.  You know His love already. The love with which you love your children is the same love that God loves us.  God has given you a gift to know His love.  Show them God's love.
 
In Christ,
Fr. Brian 

​This weekend is Pentecost.  The day that the Holy Spirit was sent down to the Apostles.  They were in the upper room afraid,  If you remember, just a week previous the disciples returned to Jerusalem full joy praising God in the temple continually.  Now they are locked in the upper room in fear.  

When the Holy Spirit comes, they are filled with fire, or God's life.  They rush out and preach to the poeple.  Acts 2:42 said that 3000 converted that day to Jesus through the preaching of Peter.

How is God sending you out today to preach the good news of Jesus?  

We think we are inadequate to preach about Jesus.  It is because, just saying the words "preaching about Jesus" has the connotation that you have a Masters in Divinity degree and studied.  

It really means: how well do you know and love Jesus?  The greatest saints didn't have near the education that we have today, yet they knew Jesus personally, and they loved him.  Jesus in the Gospel says "Whoever loves me will keep me word."  It is part of the same gospel as a few weeks ago that also says God will make his dwelling with us.

In our Baptism and our Confirmation we are given the Holy Spirit and the gifts to live our faith.  It begins by knowing Jesus personally.  If you are trying to figure out how to do that, here is a few things you can do"

1. Pick a Gospel (not John first) and pray over all the words of Jesus as if he was talking to you.
2. Take 2 munutes in the morning and sit quietly and pray "Jesus thank you for this day, help me to know you today."

This will begin a relationship that will open your life to greater possilbilites than you had ever thought. We limit ourselves, God brings us to new ways.

Remember you are already clothed with the fire of the Holy Spirit.  God has sent you to love others.  The Holy Spirit will constantly remind us what Jesus did for us.  Take some time to know him greater and realize that you have been sent by God with Jesus by your side.  This will help you speak about him to others because of your love for him.

Have a blessed week.

In Christ,
Fr. Brian 

Jesus shows us that he sacrifices himself for the ones he loves: us, human beings.  For sacrifice literally means "to make holy."  By Jesus' action on the cross, we are restored as children of God.  Our sacrifices are there to make others holy just as Jesus makes us holy by his sacrifice.  

He shows us that our actions of sacrifice are for who we love, and the fruit of these actions are the flourishing of others. 

When we see those we love being successful, healthy, growing in confidence, strengthening their faith and trust in God, growing in prayer, the love of the Eucharist, falling in love with someone else.  These are the fruits of our sacrifices, so others may flourish.  

When we sacrifice, it is so that the ones we love can flourish and be given greater opportunities to sacrifice for the ones they love. 

Think about what sacrifices you would make for your spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, friends, people you don't even know.   All of this begins because God sent his Son to love us, and tho show how to love as he loves.   Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you should love one another.  

What is one sacrifice you can make this week for someone that you love?

I have to ask myself, have I truly sacrificed for God and for those I love?  Am I willing to sacrifice my life for the people that God has given me to serve like St. John Neumann, or St. John Vianney?  That is a very humbling question.  On my own I cannot do it.  I fail, and do so very often.

Only with Jesus will I be able to do this because it begins with love, His love.

But that is why Jesus says "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another"  Love is the very center of it all.  Love impels us to love another as Jesus did.  Disciples sacrifice because they love.

By Christen Aquino

It’s a Wednesday morning.  I notice the caller ID on my phone; it’s one of my best friends, Kelly, who serves as the VP of Program Development for Life Teen.  I barely get the greeting out when she asks, “Do you want to go to South Africa?”  I pause.  “Come again?”  She says more slowly, “Do you want to join me in Cape Town, South Africa for their annual Life Teen Empower Conference?  Please say yes.”

Six weeks later, I find myself on a 15-hour flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, or Joburg, as it’s known by locals.  Apart from sleeping, I’m thinking about the two keynote talks I’ve been asked to give: one of which is, “Answering a Call: Why Did God Call Me?”  No surprise, this is the same question I’ve been asking myself since Kelly asked me to attend the conference.  Certainly there are more eloquent, more equipped people to be here, than me - a youth minister from Ohio.  Why did God call me?

In prayer and reflection, I was drawn to think about the time I was invited to Haiti on a mission trip to Life Teen’s first mission base (2013) and to Israel on pilgrimage (2016, 2019), and I realized that often God has to move me outside my comfort zone to get my attention; to stretch me and help me grow; and to force me to rely on Him alone.  The experience of being in South Africa certainly provided me with these moments; seeing the beauty and diversity of the Church, the jaw-dropping splendor of God’s creation in Table Mountain and the surrounding topography, and total reliance on God while being away from the familiarity and safety of home.

Additionally, as I reflected on the question of why did God call me to go all the way to South Africa, just to give two keynotes, I reflected on St. Paul, Timothy, and the early church.  Why did they travel places, like I had done, like other priests and youth ministers had done, coming from as far as the country of Ghana to Cape Town to attend this conference?  St. Paul and his companions traveled to visit other communities for the sake of one another - encouraging and strengthening one another in faith and continuing to proclaim the Gospel.  The conference brought together over 130 youth ministers, priests, and religious together from across South Africa, as well as a special delegation from Ghana looking to bring Life Teen to their country as a means to better serve their young church.

While these reflections helped ease some of my doubts at being asked to attend the conference in Cape Town, I still couldn’t get past the feeling of unworthiness at the call to be there.  This brought me to pray with one of my favorite Scripture passages: Peter Walking on Water (Matthew 14: 22-33).  If you’re not familiar with it, I encourage you to read and pray through it, but to summarize: Jesus has just fed the five thousand, he sends the disciples off in a boat, while he dismisses the crowd and goes off to pray.  While Jesus is praying, the disciples are caught in a storm at sea.

​​As the story continues, Jesus comes toward them, walking on the sea, and the disciples become even more terrified.  “At once, Jesus spoke to them, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’  Peter said to him in reply, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’  Jesus said, ‘Come.’”

Have you ever stopped to wonder what qualified Peter to walk on water?  It’s not because he was fearless or the leader.  Nothing qualified Peter to walk on water, except that Jesus called Him.  “Peter said to him in reply, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’  Jesus said, ‘Come.’”

God doesn’t call Peter according to his skill set or qualifications.  God values Peter’s availability over his ability.  God sees something in Peter - who Peter can be with Him.  He does the same thing for us.  We need to make ourselves available to God and trust in the work He can do through us.

Ultimately, I went to South Africa because I made myself available to God’s invitation. I’m not perfect, not the most eloquent speaker, not the most experienced, but I was able to trust that He would bring me through it and that His work would be accomplished in me.  When doubts began to enter, I look back at all the unqualified people God has called throughout Scripture:

• Moses had a stutter
• Timothy was too young
• Abraham was too old
• Jeremiah was depressed
• David was an adulterer
• Paul was a murderer
• Peter was a failed fisherman, who betrayed Jesus

God is calling each of us to do what is impossible so that we have to rely solely on Him.  He reminds us in John’s Gospel, “without me you can do nothing.”  But “with God, all things are possible.”  Even walking on water. 

FOR REFLECTION

• How have you relied more on your own ability than on God?
• How can you make yourself more available to God?
• What work do you think God wants to do with you (and through you)?
• Have you never had a “walking on water” experience?  That is, something God called you to that was beyond your ability that He brought to fruition?

By Sophia Hosford

​Over the past two weekends, I was present for the First Communion Retreats our young people attended as they prepare to receive the Sacrament in April. The youth and their parents were so attentive throughout the day as we read stories from the Gospel, learned about the miracle of the Eucharist, and practiced how to come up for Communion. I heard parents sharing their own stories of faith with their kiddos and asking questions.
 
My favorite part of the retreats was ending in Adoration. I've always had a great love for this form of worship: coming right up next to Jesus who is truly present in the host. I find it incredible that we have a God who is so great and so powerful that He created the universe, and yet so humble He would just sit in silence with me, without demanding or asking of me. Both of us just sit together, loving each other, seeing how beautiful the other truly is. In this crazy world, where everything is so noisy, from our cars to our radios to our video chats for work and school, it is a miracle to be given time (even just 5 minutes) to be in silence. Often in Adoration, I find myself wondering how often I take time to simply see the people who are in my life - how can I take time to adore my husband, my family, my friends, the nature around me? I'm so busy filling it up with activities and noise that it's easy to forget to love. This silence and opportunity to love is the gift Adoration offers us.
 
It was incredibly moving to watch everyone at the retreat enter into this kind of prayer, some of them for the first time ever. Parents and children knelt down together and as a family they worshipped and prayed. Before Adoration began, I explained what we were about to do and encouraged everyone to take this time to talk to Jesus, to tell Him about what they did today or what they were most looking forward to over the weekend. Bring fears and hopes and joys and nervousness. Jesus wants it all. Jesus wants you. It may not be easy, but it is simple - He just wants to love you. After I explained Adoration, we prayed together, and I invited a young girl sitting up front to join me in front of the altar. She excitedly came forward and suddenly we were surrounded by other young people who all wanted to be close to Jesus in the Monstrance.
 
As I looked around and saw all these amazing parents and children praying together, I was filled with hope! The Eucharist is life - not just a story or a fairytale. Not just the legends of a man who lived 2000 years ago. But real life. This year Pope Francis has asked us to celebrate a Jubilee Year of Hope! In the midst of war and sickness and political divide, and now as we enter the prayer, fasting, and almsgiving of Lent, I saw our families completely embrace Jesus Christ as their hope. 

This past weekend I had shared a short list of ideas for a Lenten sacrifice that didn't involve food during my homily.  I only gave a short list, and many asked if I could share a more complete list. 

This list comes from our Evangelical Catholic "Reach More" training booklet.  Our family of parishes just recently partnered with them. Right now our first group of parishioners are going through the "Reach More" missionary discipleship training. Please take some time to pray over this list and talk about this with your families.  I hope it may help you have a blessed Lent.

IDEAS FOR SACRIFICES THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOD
Get creative about incorporating small, unseen sacrifices into your routine to pray for others.  Call the person you're praying for to mind whenever you make your sacrifice.

At Work 

• Stick to a schedule.
• Start on time and end on time.
• Do unpleasant or difficult tasks first.
• Whenever anyone asks for your help, give them your immediate attention (if your position allows)
• Or the opposite: schedule focused time, shut your door, close your email when not using it, silence unnecessary notifications, etc.
• Stay off of social media during work hours.
• Compliment people; go out of your way to be friendly; smile even when you don't feel like it.
• Finish your tasks as well and quickly as you can, and then offer to help someone else with their tasks.
• Close your computer if you don't need it for your current task.

At Home

• Go to 6:30 morning Mass Tuesday and Thursday mornings at our Incarnation Campus
• Let others choose music, movies, tv shows, etc.  Accept their choice with a cheerful spirit.
• Lessen a spouse's or roommate's burden: do an undesirable home task or one of their least-favorite chores before they get to it.
• do a certain number of loads of laundry per day or week.
• Fold and put away laundry immediately after it finishes drying.
• Don't leave clothes on the floor.
• Set the table, wash the dishes, or offer to make a meal if these are not part of your regular responsibility.
• Drop whatever you're doing whenever someone asks your assistance.
• Exercise regularly; or if you tend to be indulgent with exercise, end your exercises on time.
• Cut out certain amount of social media time and instead play a board game with friends/family/roommates.
• Put your phone in another room when you get home; treat it like a landline.  Only get it if it rings.
• Make your bed first thing in the morning.
• No phones or screens at the dining table or while doing activities with someone else.
• For married couples: give your spouse a five-minute massage every night.
• For parents of small children:
  • Be the one to brush the little kid's teeth.
  • Do the bedtime routine, and make it fun!
  • Offer to change the diaper or assist the toddler in the bathroom

​Miscellaneous

• don't listen to music or podcasts in the car, but drive in silence.
• Get up early and go to Mass.
• Don't hit snooze in the morning.
• Get to bed on time.
• Cut out screen time one hour before bed.
• Decrease your news or podcast consumption by one source.
• Don't give your opinion if you're not asked for it.
• Avoid positions or postures that hinder concentration or that convey negative nonverbals (legs crossed, slouching, folding arms, etc.
• Modify your curiosity/imagination: fast from browsing the internet except for work or to help someone with a specific request.
• Avoid talking about certain topics: i.e. yourself, topics that draw out negativity, things you obsess about, complaining, topics that are indulgent, etc.
• Instead of grumbling, say a prayer at red lights, when someone cuts you off, or when stuck in traffic, etc.

 
Let us pray for each other as we enter into Lent and continue to walk this path together as Our Lady of Light.
 
In Christ,
Fr. Brian 

By Sarah Chivers

Every year as we approach Lent, I tell myself I'm going to give up social media. It often drains my happiness and more importantly, it drains the time I spend with my family, outdoors, reading a good book, etc. But it doesn't take long for me to remember that my job revolves around social media - there's not much that I can do to avoid it. So I choose something else to give up or I add a special spiritual something to my daily life and still feel bogged down by my inability to avoid social media throughout Lent.

But I may have discovered a solution.

I recently read a blog article about the idea of 'First World Penances.' The writer goes into detail about how he altered his phone's settings to make everything appear in grayscale. Every text, photo, app - colorless. It took the joy and excitement from his phone.

I'd like to imagine that it gets boring pretty quickly, seeing everything in only shades of gray. He's right - it sucks the beauty out of pictures. How much quicker would we put our phones down if there wasn't anything flashy to escape the stresses of life with? How much brighter and happier would the living world around us be if technology wasn't so colorful? 

So as the person behind Our Lady of Light social media, I thought to myself... if life around us were that much brighter without color on our phones, how much more beautiful would the resurrection be if our social media went grayscale for Lent? If all of our photos through Lent were only visible in gray, how much more meaningful would color be for our Christian story as Jesus is risen from the dead?

So this year, Our Lady of Light social media will be going grayscale for the duration of Lent. We want our community to remember the solemn journey we are on towards the cross and rejoice the resurrection more fully with the celebration of the Easter Vigil. As we approach Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season, know that our parish staff is praying for you!