Saturday: Fourth Week of Lent

Coming to his senses he thought,

‘How many of my father’s hired workers

have more than enough food to eat,

but here am I, dying from hunger.

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I no longer deserve to be called your son;

treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’

So he got up and went back to his father.

While he was still a long way off,

his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.

He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

Luke 15: 17-20

Since there are just two weeks left of the Lenten Season, it is a good idea to ask the question: “How am I being this Lent?”  With the focus on God’s calling and God’s grace, each of us can look at our response, not simply in terms of our actions, thoughts and words, but more centrally in terms of who we are, and who we are becoming, at this time of the year, and at this time of our lives.

Lent is always a time which invites personal reflection and personal energy on behalf of the spiritual journey. Whatever an individual focus or awareness may have been in the past four weeks, it is never too late to make the decision to contemplate and deliberately begin to focus.

In the love of Jesus, 

Father Lenny Zamborsky  

March 21, 1999

For Reflection:

The parable of the Prodigal Son reminds us that it is never too late to change directions if we find ourselves on the wrong path in our spiritual journey. God’s compassion embraces each of us no matter where we have been or how far away we have wandered. We need only to come to our senses, become aware, re-focus and ask.

How are you being this Lent?

What decisions have you made that caused you to be lost for a time? Or when have you been so focused on something that you want – that you lost sight of what you had become?

In what ways do you need to come to your senses?

What steps can you take to re-focus, and become more aware of what it really means to take care of yourself?

Friday: Fourth Week of Lent

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

It’s a little amazing, and it is quite sad, that at this point in the development of human consciousness and at this time in the history of our country there are still groups, as well as individuals, that rationalize and justify prejudice, bigotry, and hatred based on characteristics and differences.  

  

When Christian people are confronted with the reality of bigotries and prejudices it is a strong reminder that the Gospel needs to be proclaimed and lived.

It is important for each individual who proclaims the Gospel to constantly examine his or her own level of prejudgment, even as that same Christian speaks the truth when confronted and witnesses the Gospel values in his or her behavior.

In the love of Jesus, 

Father Lenny Zamborsky  

August 15, 1999

For Reflection:

Jesus was often negatively judged because of the company He kept. But He saw beyond superficial appearances, including all who drew near to Him wanting to listen.  So often we (sometimes unwittingly) pass judgment on others because their behavior, appearance, lifestyle, beliefs, or other characteristics differ from ours. Just as Jesus welcomed the tax collectors and sinners, God calls us to practice inclusion and genuine respectfulness towards others.

Who are the "tax collectors and sinners" in your circle of influence? How might you invite them to come closer, and welcome their presence?

Do you know prejudice and bigotry when you see it? What are the signs? How is it possible to measure your own level of prejudgment?  What Gospel values can help guide your behavior and speak the truth?

When you face prejudice or witness bigotry, how do you respond? How does God call you to respond? 

Thursday: Fourth Week of Lent

And all this is from God,

who has reconciled us to himself through Christ 

and given us the ministry of reconciliation,  namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, 

not counting their trespasses against them 

and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.              

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a beautiful and positive gift in the Catholic Church.  All Christians are called to examine their lives and ask God to forgive whatever is imperfect or disintegrative.  All Christians are encouraged to ask for God’s help in the journey of growth.  Catholic Christians are privileged to have an audio, visual, and tangible ritual in which to receive forgiveness and grace in the context of the prayer of the family of faith.        

In the love of Jesus, 

Father Lenny Zamborsky  

March 7, 1999

For Reflection:

How can you use the Sacrament of Reconciliation to support you on the journey of growth this Lenten season?

Who is waiting for your forgiveness? How does the act of forgiving others spread the message of reconciliation?

Consider participating in a communal penance service with your local parish.  How does receiving forgiveness with your family of faith enhance the ministry of reconciliation?

Wednesday - Fourth Week of Lent

Brothers and sisters:
Whoever is in Christ is a new creation:

the old things have passed away;

behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 

The one whose essence is existence invites and empowers all creatures to exist according to their essential reality or real nature.  For those beings created in the divine image – for human beings – an essential part of our nature is the capacity to choose.  When people choose harmony with the reality which is truth, they choose to be what God has intended. They choose to be all they are meant to be.

In the love of Jesus, 

Father Lenny Zamborsky  

February 14, 1999

For Reflection:

In Christ, your true nature is revealed as a new creation. 

What old things have passed away to reveal this real nature? 

Who do you think God intends for you to be?  

In what ways might you choose to be in harmony with your true nature – to be all that you are meant to be?

Tuesday: Fourth Week of Lent

R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.

R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.

Psalm 34: 4-5, 6-7

The Great Amen at the end of the Eucharistic prayer and the personal Amen at communion time are expressions of personal and collective commitment. Yes, though Christ, in Christ, we will do all that we can to make this world and all human behavior a more perfect prayer of glory and honor to God. Yes, we are willing to join hands, hearts, voices and all other gifts we have been given to be the hands, the heart, the voice- the gift of Jesus in the world.

In the love of Jesus, 

Father Lenny Zamborsky  

June 9, 1996

(Fr. Lenny’s birthday)

For Reflection:

We taste and see the goodness of the Lord in the Eucharist – in the act of receiving communion – and in the act of sharing communion with one another. It is in community that we can release our fears, and put aside hurtful shame. It is in community that we find radiant joy even in times of distress. So it is community that we glorify the Lord and praise God’s name – with our combined voices and actions.

How does the Lord’s goodness appear to you? What taste of that goodness have you savored?

In what ways can you use your voice and actions as prayers of praise in gratitude for that goodness?

With whom might you join hands, hearts, voices, and gifts to share the goodness – be the gift of Jesus?

Monday: Fourth Week of Lent

On that same day after the Passover,
on which they ate of the produce of the land, 
the manna ceased.
No longer was there manna for the Israelites,
who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.    

Joshua 5:12

Most people are amazed at times by the reality of how quickly life can change. One has a busy agenda with all kinds of things scheduled and a large "to do" list of things to be fit in wherever possible. An accident, sudden illness, or serious positive results from a routine medical exam changes everything in an instant. More drastically, a sudden and serious change or even death of a loved one changes the agenda completely, While the day-to-day tasks and the "to do" list are important, the kind of occurrences mentioned above automatically give a new perspective. Perhaps it is good from time to time to recall the times and the events that change the agenda instantaneously. Remembering those occurrences is both a reminder of what is truly important and the faith, love, and care which is received and is the greatest help during the hard or painful times of life.

In the love of Jesus, 

Father Lenny Zamborsky  

May 21, 2006

For Reflection:

Recall an event in your life that caused your agenda to change instantaneously. 
What happened to your day-to-day tasks and to-do lists that day, and in the days that followed?  How did that change remind you what is truly important in your life? How did faith, love, and care help you cope with that event?

What manna/miracles has God provided for you in times of great pain and need? How did those miracles cease or change when you no longer needed them in that particular form?

Sunday: Fourth Week of Lent

The LORD said to Joshua, 

“Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”

While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho,
they celebrated the Passover
on the evening of the fourteenth of the month.
On the day after the Passover,
they ate of the produce of the land
in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain.

Joshua 5:9A, 10-12

“In addition to offering words of thanks, probably the greatest expression of praise and gratitude to God is for people to really enjoy God’s gifts. The smell of the air, the sight of the blossoms, the touch of a warm breeze, the sounds of the birds and the taste of the rain are just some examples of the gifts of this time of year. Enjoy the gifts and delight the Giver.”

In the love of Jesus, 

Father Lenny Zamborsky  

May 21, 2006

For Reflection:

Just as the Israelites celebrated arriving home, and were nourished by God’s gifts in the land of Canaan, we enjoy the fulfillment of God’s promises - each year when we see life spring anew from the bondage of winter – and each time we share our own gifts with someone bound by suffering and need.

What gifts have sprung anew in your life?  

How can you use those gifts to nourish others?

What expression of praise can you offer God in gratitude for the Promised Land that you see all around you?  How do you delight in the Giver?