Not too late to receive a pocket Cross!

This year's Lenten pocket Crosses have arrived - all 500 of them!

 

Ash Wednesday is February 18!

 

TO RECEIVE A POCKET CROSS...

 

• Send a self-addressed, STAMPED envelope to me at: 

Fr. Austin Fleming

124 Cochituate Road

Wayland, MA 01778

• Use 2 first class stamps on the return envelope to ensure that the Cross I send you won't be returned to me for insufficient postage.

 

• If you're requesting more than one Cross, please provide an individual return envelope for each one - so that postage doesn't become an issue. 

• There's NO CHARGE for these Crosses!  

If you're moved to be generous - please consider making a donation to my  favorite charity: Health Equity International - or a charity you support. Please do NOT send ANY cash or checks to me!  

 

• The sooner you send your request, the better chance I have of getting your Cross to you by Ash Wednesday!

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

  

Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 2/20

    Artwork: Amads Cristobal

 

First a little survey... then a pause for prayer...

 Check all that apply:

___ I had no idea that February 18 was Ash Wednesday.
___ I knew February 18 was Ash Wednesday - but I forgot!
___ I remembered February 18 was Ash Wednesday
           - but I was too busy to get to church.
___ I went to church on Ash Wednesday.
___ I went to church on Ash Wednesday and have been
            faithfully praying, fasting and serving the poor
               for three days now.
___ I went to church on Ash Wednesday
            but haven't thought much about it since.

No matter which one(s) you checked, 

   you can be sure of 3 things:

 

   • The Lord loves you...

   • The Lord welcomes you to the season of Lent... 

   • The Lord wants you to deepen your spiritual life
         in this season of renewal... 

 

So, if you haven't begun,
  or you got off to a rough start,
it's not too late 

    to start living the season of Lent - today!

Take a few minutes now to decide
   • how you might be more faithful to prayer this Lent...
   • how you might give up or let go     
       some creature comforts you rely on...
   • how you might, in the 6 weeks ahead,
         be generous to those in need... 

Pause for prayer:

Lord, however faithful or jumbled
    has been the beginning of Lent in my life,
I trust that you still call me to live this season
    and to grow in faith, hope and love... 

Keep me from being discouraged by my mistakes
    and open my eyes to all the ways
         you wait for me and want to help me grow... 

Help me remember that it's no sin
    to be a few days late

        in beginning the season of Lent

that the greater mistake would be to just give up
    and let this opportunity for grace pass me by...

If I've made a good start, Lord,
    make me stronger in my resolve.

If I've made a half-hearted beginning,
    jump-start my efforts.

If I've not yet begun at all,
    send your Spirit to get me moving.

O God of second chances and new beginnings,
    help me find in the weeks ahead
         a season of grace and prayer and peace. 

Amen.

If your Lent has had a rocky beginning

or a late start, 

a great way to get things moving
would be to come to church this weekend 

for Mass on the First Sunday of Lent!

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

  

Tomorrow is a FRIDAY in Lent

 

 

February 20 

 is a FRIDAY in LENT 

 - a day of ABSTINENCE.

What does that mean?  

On the Fridays of Lent 

Catholics over 14 years of age

are expected to abstain from eating meat.

 

For more on this topic, 

check out this earlier post.

 

 Note: 

 Individual, personal health concerns and "doctor's orders" 

always take precedence over regulations 

for fast and abstinence!

   

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

  

NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 2/19

 

Sometimes I begin Lent with the thought, the hope, the prayer that by Easter - I'm going to be different person, my life transformed by Lenten prayer, sacrifice and almsgiving.  Well, that has never really happened.  I make the mistake of not accepting the place where I begin - the moment at hand - which is precisely where the Lord meets me.  And without the Lord's help, Lent won't be all that it can be. The problem is that it's not easy for me to accept who I am,  as I am - but the Lord does!  The Lord works with me as I am - not as I have been or want to be - but as I am... 

 

For tonight's prayer, I suggest we begin with John Bell's offer the prayer below and then end with the same song...  (If a widget doesn't appear below, click here!)

Take, O take me as I am.
Summon out what I shall be.
Set your seal upon my heart and live in me...

Take, O take me as I am...
This Lent, Lord, take me as I am:
   not as I wish I'd been before,
   not as I wish I were today,
   not as I hope to be tomorrow
but just as I am today:
   the person who stands before you
   knowing there's nothing about me
   you don't already know...

Summon out what I shall be...
Call forth from me this Lent
   the person you made me to be, Lord.
Call out the gifts and talents you've given me.
Summon to the surface what I fear about myself
   and pardon and heal whatever's broken within me.
Summon out from deep within me
   the person you created me to be...

Set your seal upon my heart and live in me...
With the touch of your gentle hand this Lent,
   seal my heart with your love,
   seal my mind with your peace,
   seal my soul with your grace;
and live in me, Lord:
   make your home within me,
   be the housemate of my soul
   to guard and guide me on my way...

Take, O take me as I am.
Summon out what I shall be.
Set your seal upon my heart and live in me...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen. 

Take, O take me as I am.
Summon out what I shall be.
Set your seal upon my heart and live in me...

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

  

Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 2/19

Image source

We've all got bad habits, Lord,
and once they're habits,
they're no longer things we think about or plan:
we do the wrong things. again and again,
not by design but - out of habit...

This Lent, Lord,

give me a 10 second warning:
just enough time  

    to reconsider,
    find an alternative,

    make a different choice

    and break 

        - a bad habit's hold on me...

Give me a 10 second warning
    to know when a habit's
        about to be triggered...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I use your name in vain
        - or some foul "expletive deleted"...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I gossip, spread a rumor
        or ruin someone's reputation...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I loose my cool
        and misdirect my anger once again...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I say Yes
        - when I ought to say No...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I make a choice 
        based on prejudice and bias...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I tell that kind of joke
        or laugh when someone else does...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I start to take for granted
        all my blessings and my gifts...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I put myself ahead of friends, family
        and others counting on my love...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I bend the truth and tell a lie
        just to save my butt...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I cheat my spouse, friend,  my job
        - before I cheat myself...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I use the Internet
        to feed my lusty urge...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I eat or drink much more
        than what I need, than what is healthy...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I indulge myself 
        while others live in need...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I say No
        when I should say Yes...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I nurse a grudge
        and fuel my jealousy and envy...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I tell myself again,
        "I don't really need to go to confession..."

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I run my mouth
        when I know I should be silent...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I entertain myself in ways
        that waste my time...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I tell myself,
        "This habit's not that bad..."

Give me a 10 second warning  

    before I fail in being just

        and fair and true and honest...      

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I con myself and start to think
        that my way's always right...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I put off prayer again
        - as I have done so often...

Give me a 10 second warning
    before I turn my mind, my heart
        away from you, my Lord, my God... 

This Lent, Lord,

give me a 10 second warning:
just enough time  

    to reconsider,
    find an alternative,

    make a different choice

    and break 

        - a bad habit's hold on me...

Amen.

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

  

Ash Wednesday Service!

I've been offering this Ash Wednesday service with all its props for many years now - and still enjoy doing it!

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

 

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

  

NIght Prayer: ASH WEDNESDAY

Whatcha' got in mind, Lord?

What's your plan?

What are you going to do in my life this Lent?

Got some changes in store for me?

    Some growing you want me to do?    

    Some unfinished business I need to wrap up?

    Some blessing, some gift you have ready for me?  

    Something new I need to begin?

 

I know I'm a work in progress, Lord,

    and I know I'm your work in progress

so there's always more for me to do,

    to learn,

    to change,

    to give

    - and to receive...

And I know that Lent has a way

    of opening up my mind and my heart

and that you'll take advantage 

    of every opportunity

to move me, lead me, 

    guide me always closer

to becoming the person 

    you made and call me to be...

 

I don't know where you're taking me,

    I'm not sure where we're going,

but I trust you know the path

    and that you're leading me to peace,

so I place my hand in yours, Lord,

    and pray, "Show me the way!"

Protect me, Lord, when I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

I can't think of a better song for us to pray as we set out on our Lenten journey. These lyrics are a marvelous mixture of the psalms and a prayer of Thomas Merton (see Merton's prayer below the lyrics) - all leading us to trust in the Lord and his plan for us in these holy 40 days...

 

I Will Lift Up My Eyes by Tony Alonso

 

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

 

 
 

It is time for me to move from my shelter of safety
to sail as a pilgrim over the waves of the sea
It is time to be still and to seek the son of Mary
time to rest, time to leave behind my fears

And I will not fear the storm though it rages around me
for slowly I am learning to place my trust in you,
to forgive every hurt and to loosen every burden
to let go and to follow where you lead

I will lift my eyes to the mountains
from where shall come my help
My help shall come from the Lord
so I'll walk in the light of the path set before me
for I know your love will show me the way
Though I know you have prepared a path for me to follow
I'll never know for certain that I follow where you lead

Still I trust that my desire to please you will guide me
and I trust that you will keep me from harm
I may stumble, I may fall and get lost on the journey
and my path will surely lead me
through the shadow of death
Yet I will not fear the storm for you are ever with me
never leaving me to face my fears alone

I will lift my eyes to the mountains
from where shall come my help
My help shall come from the Lord
so I'll walk in the light of the path set before me
for I know your love will show me the way

Prayer of Thomas Merton

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear
for you are ever with me
and you will not leave me to face my perils alone.  

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

  

Pause for Prayer: ASH WEDNESDAY

 

 

 

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

  

NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 2/17

The night before Ash Wednesday, Lord...

What will I give up for Lent this year?

What will I fast from?

What will I sacrifice?

What will I go without?

How will I be more generous? 

How will I pray?

 

I have so much, Lord, 

I have so many things,

I'm filled up so often, so easily -

there's so much I could choose to give up:

    food from my table, drink from my glass,

    candy from the bowl, sugar in my coffee,

    desserts and snacks and munchies

    - and that's just in the kitchen!

 

But I know you call me to a deeper fast,

    you call me to give up what sours me,

    what keeps me down, what holds me back,

    what feeds my rage and resentments,

    what tears me apart from others, 

    what stokes my passions and desires,

    what excuses my bias and prejudice,

    what keeps me from loving you

        and my neighbor

            and even myself...

You call me to fast deep in my soul, Lord:

    to fast in ways that will change my ways,

        will change my mind, will change my heart

    will the change the way I am with you

        and with my neighbor and myself.

 

I pray for the grace let go what I don't need

   and make room for what I'm lacking;

to repent of what accuses me

   and be freed for what will save me;

to lay down all things that burden me

   in return for what uplifts me...

I pray for that grace, Lord,

I pray for that grace this Lent,

    in the forty days ahead of me...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

Take, Lord, Receive by John Foley, SJ

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

 

Take, Lord, receive, all my liberty.
My memory, understanding, my entire will!

Give me only your love and your Grace,

that's enough for me!

Your love and your grace are enough for me!

 

Take Lord, receive, All I have and possess.

You have given all to me, Now I return it.

 

Give me only your love and your grace,

that's enough for me!

Your love and your grace are enough for me!

 

Take Lord receive, all is yours now.

Dispose of it, wholly according to your will

 

Give me only your love, and your grace,
that's enough for me!
Your love and your grace, are enough for me!

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

  

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

  

When was the last time I got Ashes?

Let's see...

How long's it been since I last went to church

    - to get ashes on Ash Wednesday?

Maybe, for one reason or another,
    it's been a year, or two or 10 - or more!

Maybe I’ve never gone.
Maybe I've never had the opportunity
    to have my forehead smudged with ashes…

Well, two things for sure:
    getting ashes doesn't mean I’m holy
-and-
    getting ashes doesn't make me holy!

As a matter of fact,
    getting ashes means: I’m not holy!

Ashes are for sinners...

Ashes are for people like me,
people who sometimes - even often -
    act without thinking,
    make poor choices,
    tell lies,
    cheat and steal,
    take advantage of others,
    break promises,
    go down the wrong path,
    hurt other people
        (even folks I love),
    forget to pray,
    make selfish decisions
    and do the wrong thing:
        sometimes little wrong things
            and sometimes big wrong things...

Ashes are for people like me:
    people who screw up,
    who forget what's really important,
    who let things slide,
        - even a lot...

Ashes are for imperfect, broken people,
for people like me
    who let things get out of control
        and who sometimes do the wrong thing
    even when they know exactly
        what the right thing is...

Ashes are for people like me, people who
    take too many short cuts,
    lay down on the job,
    check out when they need to show up,
    let other people down - big time -
    and disappoint themselves
        more often than they can count
            and more than they want to admit...

Ashes are for people just like me:
    people who gossip about others
    who fail to defend the underdog,
    who keep silent when they ought to speak up...

Ashes are for sinners
- for people just like me...

Oh, I know getting ashes won't turn my life around
    but it could be a step,
        even just one step
    in a new direction
        on the path I want to follow
            but too often miss or stray from...

Getting ashes tomorrow
    just might be the beginning of mending:
        my relationship with God,
        my relationships with others,
        and even my relationship with myself…

Getting ashes tomorrow might help me 

take an honest look at some things in my life:
    things I really need to think about,
    things I need to pay attention to,
    things I need to let go of,
    things I need to embrace,
    things I need to pray for,
    things I need to change,
    things and relationships I need to
        reconcile, mend and heal...

Getting ashes tomorrow
    might feel kinda strange,
and I might be a little embarrassed
    when others see my smudged forehead:
        what if they make fun of me?
        or ask me what it means?
        or why I did it?

Well, I could just be honest.
I could say I did it because:
    I've been thinking about my life,
    taking a little personal inventory,
    trying to make some changes,
and I thought this might be a time,
    that this might be a way,
        that this might be a place to start...

Me going to church to pray?
Me getting ashes?
Hey! It could happen!
I know it won't hurt
and it just might be good to give it a try,
to give it a chance:
    to give God (and me) a chance,
        a chance for a new beginning...

So, Lord, even if it's been a long time
    since the last time I got ashes,
        even if I’ve never received ashes,
I'll be in church tomorrow
    to get my forehead smudged,
to reconnect with you and take a first step
    on a path I've been wanting and needing, to walk...

And since I know I can come up with a dozen reasons
    not to get ashes tomorrow
give me a nudge, Lord, a shove,
    a kick in the butt or whatever it takes
for me to take this first step,
    on the first day of Lent...

Amen. 

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!