The Third Sunday of Lent

March 3, 2013

Lent is about renewing our faith

My brothers, what good is it to profess faith without practicing it? Such faith has no power to save one, has it? So it is with faith that does nothing in practice. It is thoroughly lifeless (James 14, 17) This is a segment from the scripture passage that is a part the Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours (often called the breviary) for last Tuesday (the second week of Lent). It is often thought that this reading is a challenge to St. Pauls assertion that we are justified by our faith alone. But this is not so! What St. James is saying in this epistle is that faith is empowering; even more than that, faith impels us into action. He is telling us that if we believe, we cannot sit still, simply thinking good thoughts. Faith does not allow this. To believe in God is to know, in the depths of our hearts, that we are truly loved by God. This is an intuitive knowledge; it comes from deep within from the core of our being. When I know that I am loved, a flame is ignited that consumes my being with the desire to act on that love, and to share it with others. St. James is telling us that when we are burning with this flame, we are impelled into action. Our faith is evident because it empowers us to good works. To say I believe without this intuitive knowledge is what he says is powerless. Is this a special charism that is only meant for a few, or is it for everyone? Our faith is a gift from God. It is particularly a gift given to all at our baptism. The intuitive knowledge that we are loved comes from the Indwelling Spirit of God. It is the purpose of our Lenten journey to connect, or re-connect with this empowering faith. This is why Lent is more than just, What did you give up? We call it a journey because it is a time that each of us takes to walk with the Indwelling Spirit. The process of Lent is meant to open or re-open ourselves to this divine presence within and to be empowered by it. This is why we speak of Lent as a time of renewal. To encounter the God-within is to be reborn. The path to this encounter is one of prayer and reflection. During Lent we journey inwards to renew our encounter with the God who loves us, and who is present with us at the very centre of our being. Self-denial is a way that we put aside the unnecessary, those things or desires that cloud our ability to see the source of all that is truly valuable. The gift of Lent is that as we journey, we become ever more aware of Gods presence within, and that he loves us at a level that surpasses anything that we can describe. The experience builds as we grow ever closer to the God-within. It is a true renewal, because Easter does not mean the end of the journey. The discoveries that we make on our Lenten journey build in us the burning desire to continue to live this empowering love of God. Easter for us is a celebration not of an historical event that happened long past, but of our daily experience of faith. It is the faith that St. James is telling us empowers and impels us forward. This is why faith justifies, because it is the source and the effect of our on-going life with God. This is why we celebrate Lent.

-Deacon Bernie
Restorative Justice Seminar
Guest speaker Brian McDonough At Concordia Multi-faith Chaplaincy (2090 Mackay St., Mtl.) on Tuesday, March 12 from 4 pm-5:30 pm. Register by March 8. Contact Fr. Paul Anyidoho at paul.anyidoho@concordia.ca.

Mass Intentions: March 3-10, 2013 March 2, 2013 First Saturday 4:00 In Loving Memory Mike Kilbertus.the Deceased Members of the Charles J. McDonald Family, Dorothy Moore, Lucille Wong, Gerry McLaughlin and the Mother of Richard Ng Yun Wing March 3, 2013 The Third Sunday of Lent 8:30 Vincenzo, Antonio & Concetta LaPosta Mariana LaPosta 11:00 Rosolino, Chiara & Maria & Family Luigi Sparapani March 4, 2013 Monday, St. Casimir 8:00 Ignazio Ciampini Ernesta Ciampini March 5, 2013 Tuesday, Lenten Weekday 8:00 Anna & Lorenzo Luisa Forlini Forlini March 6, 2013 Wednesday, Lenten Weekday 8:00 Linus Doyle Marion Doyle March 7, 2013 Thursday, Sts. Perpetua & Felicity 8:00 Iole Falciani G. Foglietta & Family March 8, 2013 Friday, St. John of God 8:00 Donny Hogan His Cousin Roger & Family March 9, 2013 St. Frances of Rome 4:00 Giovanni & Palma Friends & Family Farinelli March 10, 2013 The Fourth Sunday of Lent 8:30 In Loving Memory Joseph Onesi, Luigi & Rosa Mammone, Isa Mazzella, Cecilia Scartozzi, Roger Picard 11:00 Antonio Bei His wife Gabriella Bei & Family FAITH FIRST/LITTLE GIFTS SPRING BREAK Our Faith First and Little Gifts programs are now on spring break. Faith First classes will resume on the weekend of March 16/17. Little Gifts (Sunday) will begin again on March 24. Your Generosity
Thank you for your on-going support of our parish

Adult Faith Enrichment

Upcoming events VIDEO DIVINA Fr. Raymond will present the movie CHOCOLAT on Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in the parish rectory. Join him for this inspirational movie, followed by stimulating discussion. Please refer to www.stmonica.ca and the posters at the Church entrances for additional information. If you have any questions, please contact Anna at the office.

Development & Peace Share Lent Campaign, Human Dignity

To facilitate the implementation of the theme of Human Dignity, D & P organizes activities to help the people of West Africa cope with a lack of food due to drought. Mining has caused many to suffer due to poor working condition, D & P is providing training for local leaders to help them understand and defend their rights in the face off mining companies.

Caring, Not Killing

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and the Quebecbased Physicians Alliance Initiative for the Total Refusal of Euthanasia are asking Quebec citizens to show support for the Physicians Alliance declaration, Caring, Not Killing. This Declaration by a group of Quebec physicians firmly opposes the implementation of euthanasia or doctorassisted suicide in Quebec. You are invited to show support for the Quebec Physicians Declaration against Euthanasia by completing a short form indicating your endorsement of their position. Copies of the form and the declaration, Caring Not Killing, are available at the tables at the back of the Church.

Last Sundays collection was $2,444.75