First Sunday of Lent

Dear Parishioners,

    Lent is full of symbolism.  One of the things we meditate on is the whole idea of 40 days.  We remember especially the Israelites who wandered for 40 years in the desert. All of this is outlined for us in the Book of Exodus and Book of Deuteronomy in the Bible. We could say that the Israelites were in a holding pattern.  God felt like they were not ready to enter the promised land after they left slavery in Egypt.

    The people had to learn to trust God implicitly.  Also, they needed a time of testing.  We hear in several places in scripture the significance of trial and testing for the believer.  One metaphor that is used is the ideal that silver or gold must be heated and liquified if we are going to use it for jewelry or we are going to use it to make precious objects.  When the metal is melted, impurities can be skimmed off the liquid.  The result is that the gold and silver are more valuable since the filth that was mixed in has been removed. 

     Once the Israelites had gone through the purifying experience of the heat of the desert they were recreated and made new.  They were stronger in faith and more virtuous. The Israelites learned that with God all things are possible. 

     Lent can be like this for us.  Throughout Lent our Baptismal Font will be sealed and we will have a desert like environment around the Baptismal area.  We are getting ready to recommit to our Baptismal promises.  Baptism is our ticket into the joy of Christian living.  It is our ticket into the eternal life of heaven.

     We do not live in a desert.  We must artificially create our Penance.  We can choose to do what we want to do.  The message is that if Lent is to fulfill its spiritual purpose, we must enter the spirit of the season.

    We will have many activities for Lent.  I encourage everyone to do something that will stretch and test you. The hope would be that we may grow in our commitment with Christ over the next 40 days.

Blessings,

Fr. Mark

P.S.  Thanks to our social committee for the Mardi Gras party.  It was fun to get together and celebrate.

P.P.S.  Over the past week Don Lewis has met with the company that will be restoring our stained-glass windows.  We hope to start this work at the end of summer.  This will be done in phases.  We still have windows that can be sponsored.  We have picked up some nice donations the last few weeks.  We are especially grateful to Christ the King Parish for trying to sponsor one of the major windows in Sacred Heart Church. There are many members of Christ the King who grew up at Sacred Heart. Fr. Don Levitt is leading this effort.  He has been very supportive of the Today Tomorrow Together Campaign.  When you see him around town thank him for his generosity.  He is also sponsoring one of the smaller windows personally.  The children of the parish are also sponsoring the Good Shepherd window.  So far, they have collected a $1,000 of donations towards this window.  The leadership team for the campaign is sponsoring a $24,000 window. They have about half the money at present.  Our hope would be to get every window sponsored.  To find out how you might help, go to the WEB page for the Today Tomorrow Together Campaign.