Many of us are familiar with the Act of Contrition. Did you know there are several other traditional "Acts" of prayer?

This week we'll learn the Act of Hope.
Click here to learn this Act!

It is important to understand the Four Marks of the Church. These are the cornerstones of the Church established by Jesus. Only the Catholic Church has every one of these four qualities: One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic. They should sound familiar - they are part of the Nicene Creed we proclaim at Mass.

The third Mark of the Church is Catholic. Catholic mean universal, and the Catholic Church truly is a universal institution. (Read more)

These lovely candles are  available for purchase through Wolfe's Baldwin Brass Center Ordering candles from this link  financially supports this site. Thank you!

• Use a violet candle for the season of Lent  this week.
   
• Sunday, March 18 you may use a rose candle for Laetare Sunday, a day when the Church relents a bit in the solemn, penitential spirit of Lent, and gives a hint of the joy to come. The name Laetare means "rejoice." The traditional entrance antiphon for this Sunday is from Isaiah 66:10-11 and begins, "Rejoice Jerusalem!"
   
• Monday, March 19 is the solemnity of St. Joseph, so it is one of the few days in Lent in which a white candle is used instead of a violet candle. St. Joseph is the patron saint of the universal Church as well as fathers and families. No wonder. St. Joseph gives us the most lovely example of humility and fatherly support. He did what all responsible fathers are called to do: nurture, guide, advise, lead in faith, teach. He showed us how to humble oneself to let God's will be done.

For Lent we'll be meditating on the Last Seven Words. These are not simply words, but the seven things Jesus said as He was dying on the cross. We encourage you to consider the impact of these words on your life this Lenten season.

As we prepare for Lent to begin, we consider Jesus' fifth set of words:
I thirst

If you've ever participated in a Seder meal you know that participants share four glasses of wine. During the Last Supper Jesus instituted the Eucharist during the third cup, the cup of redemption. He did not consume the last cup then. (Read more)

This week we have a set of readings which virtually shout the joy and peace of conversion. We're over halfway through Lent. Hopefully our prayer, fasting and almsgiving are helping us embrace ongoing conversion to the will of God. If we've stumbled along the way, we still have half of Lent to get back on track. No wonder this Sunday is for rejoicing!

The first reading is from the Book of Joshua, the Israelite leader after the death of Moses. The Israelites crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land, signaling the end of the desert journey. They are finally home. Their lives are completely changed. No longer are they enslaved. No longer are they wandering aimlessly. Now they have everything they need - a true relationship with God.

Paul's letter to the Corinthians also stresses true conversion - reconciling ourselves to God and to the world, reconciling humanity to divinity. In what ways have we been too worldly, too apart from God? It may be a busy schedule, difficulty with a co-worker, a slight from a loved one. The reason makes no difference. God can forgive us all our trespasses against Him. Can we hold onto the trespasses of others? Just as important, can we forgive ourselves? Fortunately, our Sacrament of Reconciliation can bring us closer to God, and give us the grace to be closer to every member of our community, including ourselves.

The Gospel from Luke is the classic parable of the Prodigal Son. We hear of the need for reconciliation of two sons. The younger runs off to live a wayward life. When that life yields nothing but unhappiness, he must swallow his pride and return home, asking for forgiveness. His father welcomes him with open arms. We do not know if the elder son ever asks for forgiveness. He is angry, self-righteous, and jealous. The father reminds him of his undying love, but we do not know if that older brother can forgive his younger brother, nor if he'll ever understand the eternal love of the father. The older brother needs to be willing to embrace reconciliation and be open to true love. That is what conversion to God's will is all about.

In the first reading Samuel, the great judge of the Israelites, follows God's direction in anointing the new king. The choice of the youngest son is remarkable. After all, the older sons all seem quite worthy of the honor. But God saw something special in David that no one else could see. Through God David became a great king.

Paul's letter to the Ephesians is lovely. He tells us we are not just in darkness, but we are darkness when we are not actively pleasing God. When we strive for goodness, righteousness, and truth we are light. It is time to recall our past lives and recognize how much closer we have now come to the Light of Christ.

The Gospel story from John shows us practically every way possible to experience faith -- through true conversion, indifference, ignoring, and even unbelief. The blind man has a true conversion. He has seen God and can never go back to his former life. He is loving and humble, but matter-of-fact with his conviction. His own parents prefer not to get involved if it means facing harsh consequences. Neighbors give absurd excuses, such as the man was never blind in the first place, to downplay the possibility of a miracle. The Pharisees are so sure of their beliefs they refuse to open their hearts to the possibility of God being in their midst.

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

1. Wisdom 2:1, 12-22
   The Book of Wisdom was written about 100 years before the birth of Christ. This reading is amazingly prophetic. If the Pharisees and Sadducees were so well-versed in their scripture, how could they have missed the connection between these verses and their behavior toward Jesus? We must ask ourselves the same question. How can we regularly read scripture, receive the sacraments, participate in the Liturgy, yet still be greedy, envious, proud, angry, lustful, slothful, and gluttonous, to name just the deadly sins. Lent is passing quickly. Let us pay attention to the blessings in our lives, give thanks, and love one another without prejudice. After all, that was the example Jesus left us.
    
2. John 5:31-47
   We can tell we're getting closer to a very special time - all the Gospels this week are from John. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all have entire years dedicated to their proclamation. The Gospel of John is proclaimed only at the most sacred times during our liturgical year.
   
    In this reading we hear Jesus telling us point-blank that the Hebrew scriptures foretold His coming, and He gives examples to support His contention. The readings are getting more serious, more straightforward, more "in your face." It is time to stop straddling the fence and make the choice to accept the will of God. It is time to grab hold and get ready for the most incredible ride of all time.

Lectionary readings for the Fourth Week of Lent: