Puase for Prayer: TUESDAY 3/10

 

This Lent, Lord, I've found myself 

    sometimes feeling far away from you
and at other times 

    as close (or closer) than ever I've been...

Though sometimes you seem distant
I know there's not a moment,
day and night,
when you're not by my side:
    before me, behind me,
    above me, below me,
    around, within and beside me...

It's your grace,

it's always your move, Lord, that

    beckons me,
    calls me out of hiding,
    sets me on the right path
    and draws me ever homeward
    to the gentle, warm embrace
    of your strong and loving arms...

You never leave me, Lord 

    - you never have, you never will -
but I have found so many ways
    to turn from you and and hide 
    from your word and from your truth, 

    from your wisdom and your counsel, 

    from your presence by my side...

 

For the times I've run away

    - and all the times I've tried to - 
          I ask your pardon, Lord,
and for the times you've brought me back

    in your mercy and your kindness, 
        I give you thanks and praise...

 

Draw me closer, ever closer,
    when I start to lose my way
and let me never, ever, Lord,
    let go your guiding hand...

Amen.

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What the pope and bishops are saying about the war in Iran - and why they're saying it.

 

The graphic above quotes Pope Paul VI in his historic address to the United Nations on October 4, 1965  and his impassioned plea, "No more war; war never again!"

In line with a long tradition in Catholicism, the pope and many bishops have been      speaking out about the war in Iran. Catholic teaching subscribes to the just war      theory which has ancient roots that span many centuries, philosophies, cultures and faiths.  Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, DC has offered (3/9/2026) an explanation of the just war theory and its application to the war in Iran. I hope this lengthy section McElroy's post will be helpful to my readers.

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The Church has a long and substantial teaching on the issues of war and peace. At the center of that teaching is an abiding resistance to war. Pope John Paul II vigorously opposed the 2003 Iraq War and stated categorically that war ‘is always a defeat for humanity.’ Pope Francis called for the total abolition of war, stating that ‘every war leaves the world worse than it was before.’ Pope Leo has noted with alarm that there is a raging zeal for war across nations at this current moment, which is utterly incompatible with Catholic faith. At their heart, each of these papal teachings testifies to the fact that we are followers of Jesus Christ, who placed peace-making at the heart of his call to discipleship and fidelity. Non-violence must be the first stance of Catholics in the world.

 

At the same time, in some emergency situations, the Church has historically allowed resort to war if six conditions are clearly and simultaneously met: 

1. Just Cause: The war must be undertaken in defense against an attack that is grave and certain on a nation, its allies or a defenseless human community.
2. The legitimate authority in the country contemplating war must declare war.
3. The country goes to war with right intention, namely to redress the specific just cause and restore peace.
4. War is the last resort to repel the aggression.
5. The expected destruction from the war must not outweigh the expected good.
6. There is a reasonable hope of success.

At this present moment, the U.S. decision to go to war against Iran fails to meet the just war threshold for a morally legitimate war in at least three requirements:

• The criterion of just cause is not met because our country was not responding to an existing or imminent and objectively verifiable attack by Iran. As Pope Benedict declared categorically, Catholic teaching does not support preventative war, i.e. a war justified by speculation about events in the future. If preventative war were to be accepted morally, then all limits to the cause for going to war would be put in extreme jeopardy.

 

• The criterion of right intention is not met in our country’s decision to attack Iran. One of the most worrying elements of these first days of the war in Iran is that our goals and intentions are absolutely unclear, ranging from the destruction of Iran’s conventional and nuclear weapons potential to the overthrow of its regime to the establishment of a democratic government to unconditional surrender. You cannot satisfy the just war tradition’s criterion of right intention if you do not have a clear intention. 

 

• Finally, our current war effort does not meet Catholic just war teaching because it is far from clear that the benefits of this war will outweigh the harm which will be done. The Middle East is the most unstable region in the world, and the most unpredictable. Already the war has had unintended consequences. Iran’s morally despicable decision to target its neighbors in the region has spread the expanse of destruction. Lebanon may fall into civil war. The world’s oil supply is under great strain. The potential disintegration of Iran could well produce new and dangerous realities. And the possibility of immense casualties on all sides is immense.

For all of these reasons, Catholic teaching leads to the conclusion that our entry into this war was not morally legitimate.

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NGHT PRAYER: Monday 3/9

I wrote this prayer on retreat 25 years ago and have posted it a number of time.   It came to mind when when I saw the image below and I thought it might be helpful for any of us finding ourselves wrestling with God during Lent...

 

Father's Embrace by Ruth Councell

You enfold me, entwine and embrace me.

You handle me, hold me and hide me.

You wrestle me, welcome and want me.

Your chin by my ear, your hand in my hair,

your arm 'round my back, my arms rounding you,

my face on your chest: 

   I'm held in your warmth.

Your eyes keep close watch, 

   mine close in deep peace.

Your fingers stroke softly 

   my head's numbered strands.

Your grip is a gift, 

   your grasp saving grace.

You whisper, 
    "You're mine, I call you by name:

        you're found and forgiven, 

            brought home and beloved."

I breathe, 
    "Yes, I am, shaped and healed by your hand.

         You call me by name: 

            I am yours, you are mine."

 

Amen.

 

Hold On To Me by Lauren Daigle 

    arranged by Audrey Snyder

 

If a widget doesn't appear below, undefined!

  

 

When the best of me is barely breathin' 

When I'm not somebody I believe in 

Hold on to me 

 

When I miss the light the night has stolen 

When I'm slammin' all the 

Doors You've opened 

Hold on to me 

Hold on to me 

 

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see You 

When I am sure I have reached the end 

Hold on to me when I forget I need You 

When I let go, hold me again 

 

When I don't feel like I'm worth defendin' 

When I'm tired of my pretendin' 

Hold on to me 

 

When I start to break in desperation 

Underneath the weight of expectation 

Hold on to me 

Hold on to me 

 

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see You 

When I am sure I have reached the end 

Hold on to me when I forget I need You 

When I let go, hold me again 

 

I could rest here in Your arms forever 

'Cause I know nobody loves me better 

Hold on to me 

Hold on to me

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Monday Morning Offering: 3/9

Coffee in the Morning: George Mendoza

 

Good morning, good God!

 

A Lenten review has shown me, Lord,

I have so much more than I need.

I have too much stuff and too many things:

    I own things and stuff I'd forgotten are mine!

 

I have things I can't find 

    'cause they're buried too deep -
        under all the things I have! 

 

I have too many old things, 

    too many new things:

        collections of things I really don't need...

I have so many clothes:     

    too many that fit
        and too many that don't...

I have too much money.

    Wait - did I say that?

Yes, I did

    - and that helps me define

        how I have more than I need. 

 

It's not that I'm really wealthy, Lord

    - I am not flush with cash -

but looking around at the rest of the world,

    it's true - I have more than I need...

 

If I look around, with honest eyes,
    I see I have more than I need 
        - of just about all I have...

 

Ah, there's the question, Lord:
    how much of my stuff and belongings   

        do I really and truly need...?

 

And the answer comes 'round once again:

    I may not have all of the things that I want

        but I do have more than I need... 

 

I won't offer you all of my stuff, Lord,
    I know you don't need or want it,

but I'll ask for the grace to help me give up

    my desire to have more and more,

    my desire for more than I need,

    my desire to have  - for the sake of having,

    my desire to have more than others have,

    my desire to hoard and collect more things,

    my desire to buy, to have and to own

        the biggest, the smallest, the sleekest, the fastest, 

        the more expensive - the most expensive - 

        the new and improved whatever-it-is

            that I want but I don't need...  

   

I offer you, Lord, my desire to have:

    a full set, a full tank, a full stomach; 
    full shelves, full closets, full wallets and purses;
and boxes full of whatever I want
    or think I want, 

    or might one day want

    or believe I want

        because I've been told - I should want it...  

 

I offer you, Lord, my tendency 
    to clutter and jam my mind and my heart

         with filler, toys, junk and crap,
    with so much less than my heart deserves,
        so much less than my mind  deserves,     

    with so much less than you deserve     

        who make your home 

            - in my mind and heart...

 

I offer you, Lord, my complicity
    in filling my heart with anything but 

        the grace, the peace, the beauty and truth 
            for which my soul was made...

 

So help me this Lent to simplify:

    to give up, give away,

        clean out, cast off, 

            strip away, go without          

    and empty myself of anything more

        that what my heart of hearts desires:

            your mercy, your presence and peace...

And make me generous, Lord,
    in sharing and giving to others 

the bounty of all that I have,     

    for which they have so much need...

Such is my offering this morning, Lord,
    and through these holy days of Lent...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 3/8

On Sundays, Night Prayer takes its lead from some element from the day's liturgy. On this Third Sunday of Lent we heard from the Letter to the Romans:

        We have peace with God 

            through our Lord Jesus Christ... 

                so we boast in hope of the glory of God. 

        And hope does not disappoint, 

            because the love of God 

                has been poured out into our hearts 

                    through the Holy Spirit 

                        who has been given to us...

 

I can imagine, Lord, 

that some of my readers are thinking,

"What's with all this hope stuff?

    You make it sound too easy!"

 

Truth is, Lord 

    - some days I feel that way myself...

 

Some days - hope is hard to find,

    hard to come by.

Some days - and let's face it: these days -

    hope seems a facile answer

in the face of problems 

    that defy resolution...

 

Some days - everything just looks hopeless...

 

Some days - folks hang on by a thread

    which seems to be unraveling...

 

Some days - hope sounds good

    at least until I listen to the news

        or ponder my own circumstances...

 

Some days - hope is just what I want 

    but I just can't find it... 

 

Some days - there's nothing I want more than hope 

    and I can see it - but it hangs there - 

        just beyond my grasp... 

 

But then I found tonight's song, Lord,

    and it gave me a new perspective

        a new take on hope

            - even a new hope for hope... 

 

So I'm praying with this song, Lord,

    and I'm praying and hoping 

        my readers will pray with this song, too...

 

I pray - we all pray - that hope will find us

    and give us the grace     

        to lean on your everlasting arms... 

 

Protect us, Lord while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

Tonight's song was released less than a year ago but it incorporates a melodic phrase and line from a hymn written in 1887: "Leaning on the everlasting arms..."

 

Hope's Gonna Find You by Ellie Holcomb

   

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!

 

 

What if hope’s not a path that you chose 

It’s the loss of control 

It’s a landslide of losing my religion 

Going blind to find my vision 

I thought it was my job to know 

Where the flowers would grow 

When it turns out 

The lighting the and the thunder 

The easy breeze of summer 

Doesn’t feel like I’ve got control 

 

What if hope’s not a rope you hold on to 

What if it’s the arms that have always held you 

On the edge when it feels like you’re not gonna pull through 

Is the place you discover that hope’s gonna find you 

Hope’s gonna find you 

 

Well I lost my respect for the dark 

But if that’s where you are 

Could I let go of the light I thought would guide me 

And trust You’ll come and find me 

I thought that I had to hold on 

That I had to stay strong 

But I don’t cause you’ve been holding onto me all along 

 

Refrain

 

I’m leaning, I’m leaning 

On the Everlasting Arms 

I’m leaning, I’m leaning 

I could never fall too far 

 I’m leaning, I’m leaning 

On the Everlasting Arms 

I’m leaning, I’m leaning 

I could never fall 

 

Rerain

 

I’m leaning, I’m leaning 

On the Everlasting Arms 

I’m leaning, I’m leaning 

I could never fall too far 

I’m leaning, I’m leaning 

On the Everlasting Arms 

I’m leaning, I’m leaning 

Leaning, leaning 

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms 

Leaning, leaning 

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

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Jesus: a man without a bucket

Above you'll find a video of my homily for March 8. (If a video doesn't appear above, undefined.)  The scripture I preached on was the well-known story of Jesus and the woman at the well.  And here's the text of my homily...

It is a great story - the story of the woman at the well.  And all this - because Jesus was thirsty. Because he turned to this woman and said, “Give me a drink…”

 

As the story begins, the woman doesn't recognize Jesus. In her eyes, he's just a thirsty guy with no bucket. But because he was thirsty… and because he asked… and because she reached out… well, you know the rest of the story…

 

How would YOU like to have been the woman at the well?

 

And suppose you didn't recognize Jesus either. Suppose Jesus approached you or me in the middle of our day - looking for something he needed, something he wanted. Suppose he came in the guise of a stranger, or a friend or a member of our family, or someone at school or at work or here in the parish.

 

SUPPOSE he did?

Well, of course, he DOES.

He Does. Just. That.

 

Jesus approaches us, comes to us in the middle of our lives, in the middle of our days - all the time: telling us what he needs, what he wants from us. And the question is, how do we answer him? How do we respond? What does he ask for?

 

Let's try something.

I invite you to close your eyes…

and imagine that Jesus is approaching you…

and you hear him say…

 

Give me a drink of water…

 

Give me something to eat…

 

Give me your shoulder to lean on…

 

Give me your word of forgiveness…

 

Give me an ear while I share my troubles…

 

Give me your hand to help me up…

 

Give me a hug to embrace my soul…

 

Give me a smile to cheer my spirits…

 

Give me a sign that I make a difference…

 

Give me the chance of a new beginning…

 

Give me the warmth of being a friend…

 

Give me your presence to ease my grief…

 

Give me your offer to talk things out…

 

Give me support when I'm falling apart…

 

Give me your welcome with arms open wide…

 

Give me your shoulders to share my burdens…

 

Give me a kiss to seal our love…

 

Give me your light to shine in my darkness…

 

Give me the gift of time by your side…

 

Give me your trust to restore my self-worth…

 

Give me a break when I disappoint you…

 

Give me an invitation to reconcile…

 

Give me the blessing of your thoughts and prayers…

 

Give me your wisdom to guide my steps…

 

Give me your kindness when I have been bruised…

 

Give me the strength of your standing with me…

 

Give me a second chance when I fail…

 

Give me your eyes to look into mine…

 

Give me your touch to heal my pain…

 

Give me your truth as a pledge of your word…

 

Give me a place at your table…

 

Give me a place in your heart…

 

Give me the solace of knowing I'm needed…

 

Give me a boost when I'm down and out…

 

Give me a nudge when I'm slow to respond…

 

Give me your patience when I fall behind…

 

Give me a share of your faith when I deal with doubts…

 

Give me a reason to hope when I'm lost…

 

Give me your love to help me survive.

 

(Open your eyes if you closed them...)

 

Who knows how many times - and in how many disguises - Jesus approaches you and me every single day,  asking for something, needing something, wanting something from us.

 

How many times, in just this past week, did Jesus meet us at the well? in the middle of our day? and ask something of us?

 

How did we answer him? How did we respond? Did we engage with him?

 

Who knows how many times and in how many situations - and how many disguises - Jesus will approach you and me in the week ahead of us to ask us for something. How will we answer him? How will we respond to him? How will we engage with him?

 

This morning:, WE come to HIM - at the “well” of his table.

 

And we come hungry and thirsty - and we come without buckets.

 

So we ask him, “Give us something to eat.”  And he gives us his Body, the Bread of his Life.

 

And we ask him, “Give us something to drink.” And he gives us a sip from his cup, the cup of the Blood of his mercy and peace.

 

Could this not be the Messiah, the Christ? The one who has to come here to our table?

 

Indeed, it IS him. And we KNOW it is him  - because we have heard for ourselves. 

 

This is Jesus… 

The one who came to save us… 

The one who came to save the world.

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