Musings of a Recovering Human

This weekend we celebrate the 1st Sunday of Lent and throughout the world in every Diocese, candidates from the OCIA program participate with the faithful in the Rite of Election. A few years back, I attended at Epiphany Cathedral Parish in Venice, FL, and was struck by the entrance hymn used, “Write Your Blessed Name” by Bob Moore. Verse one of the hymn reads “Be to me a strong tower of defense, a comforter in tribulation, our deliverer in distress.” As we begin the Lenten season, we embrace the love and promise that the paschal mystery brings. Christ, our defender, our comforter, and our deliverer walks by our side each and every day as we journey with him to the triumph of the cross.  Our gospel reading encourages us to believe in the hope that the great feast of Easter brings, calling us to change our lives (repent) and to believe in the good news. Lori True’s “Turn to the Living God” is such an appropriate hymn for this weekend and next as we, along with our OCIA candidates “t...

With the season of Lent beginning on Wednesday, 2/14, Valentine’s Day, we start our journey towards the cross, the tomb, and ultimately the resurrection of Christ Jesus. As the preface for the Eucharistic Prayer states, For by your gracious gift each year your faithful await the sacred paschal feasts with the joy of minds made pure. Our task, or goal this Lenten season is to avoid sin. Each and every day of our lives, we are tempted by sin, but must avoid it at all costs so to rejoice and enjoy the glory of the resurrection at Easter.  This is my second favorite time of year, for many reasons, but, most importantly, for the reason that we get to rejoice in the resurrection of Christ from the dead; the ultimate sacrifice, of whose birth was proclaimed by the prophets and death forecasted by them as well. May God’s everlasting love be with you now and always.

 This entry will be a combination of a few thoughts collected together.  So I will venture on my journey to Florida today to see Mom and Dad. I’m a bit nervous because there’s a lot of alcohol in the airport and on the plane. My therapist says it’s probably good that I’m scared and nervous. I’ve worked so hard to get where I’ve gotten so I don’t need to throw it away over a quick way to relax and calm nerves when flying. Speaking of flying, I did at least get some nice seats for the plane ride to Florida, and a day pass to the American Airlines Admiral’s Club so that I can relax and enjoy some snacks before my flight. If anything annoys me about this trip, it’s the $60 Uber to LAX, but, in the grand scheme of things, that’s small stuff. I spent more money before on drinking so really it’s a drop in the bucket now to spend $60 on an Uber considering I won’t be spending it on alcohol. Ok, so now to the real meat and potatoes of my post…in these days of Lenten journey. 2/14, Vale...