Reflections of a Simple Priest

If you're following along with the readings, for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sunday of Lent, you're going to have to flip past the regular readings, and just behind them, are the readings for years when there is a Scrutiny.  Last week, I talked about St. Patrick, who is one of the audio stories on formed.  Another of the ones I listened to was the story of St. Cecelia, one of the early Christian Martyrs.  I love the story, because it gives a real sense of the reality of the Early Church.  They lived in persecution, only sharing who was Christian when they were alone, and at real risk to their lives.  They developed a system, when new members wanted to join the community, they had to have a sponsor, someone to vouch for them.  Then, after learning a little with the sponsor, they were ceremonially welcomed into the secret community.  When we go through the scrutinies, we're supposed to look back to the earliest days of our Church and know that throu...

One thing that I really love about our Church is our rituals.  There are some things that we have done so many times, that take in all of our senses, that really help us to shift our whole focus, everything about our lives.  There are so many thing that we can understand with our head that it's supposed to happen.  Yet, it really takes time for us to shift our thinking, to really change.  The rituals of our Church help us to really make our faith not just about the thoughts in our head, but to engage our whole person.  It's one thing to talk about God.  It's quite another thing to talk to God, to really know him.  It's one thing to see two people in love and to know they are in love.  It's quite another thing to really experience that love, to be a part of it. Today, we begin the season of lent, Everything changes today, Our Colors change, the Church becomes rather stark.  The flowers are gone, and things should feel a little empty...