From the Pastor’s Desk::

Change and believe the good news. The New Testament Greek word for conversion is Metanoia, which means “a change of heart”, or “an act of repentance”. You might be surprised at how infrequently conversion is used in the Gospels. John’s Gospel never mentions it. Mark uses the word only three times, and Matthew seven times. Only Luke uses the word with frequency, some fourteen times. Yet the concept of conversion certainly lies at the heart of Jesus’ message in all the Gospels. “This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the good news! This is the theme of the Lenten season. At the root of any act of conversion is change. Heeding the message of Jesus involves a change of mind, a change of heart and a change of behavior. Christian conversion always moves a person beyond their present state and into a new and vital relationship with God. Conversion cannot be limited to a dramatic, once-in-a-lifetime, “born again” experience. Christian conversion is more often the gradual process of God’s grace transforming our lives. It entails being born again and again and again… Here are some of the basic features of Christian conversion. Lent is a perfect time for each of us to move closer to God. It is a time for us to move away from sin, toward God. The best way to begin our conversion is to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to live a better life based upon Jesus’ teachings found in the Gospels Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving are the building stones of the Lenten Season and they actually all fit together. We know what prayer and fasting are, but I find that many people do not understand almsgiving. Almsgiving is not the donation in the Sunday collection or Catholic School tuition. Almsgiving is the extra. There will be boxes at the doors of the Church this Lent for our alms and at the next Parish Council meeting they will decide where the collected alms will be given When I met with our Confirmation Candidates I tried to impress upon them the importance to become a person/people of prayer. That does not mean that we need to spend hours in prayer each day, although that would not be bad. Being a person of prayer means taking the Lord along with you throughout your day. Begin the day with a whispered thought/ prayer as you get dressed for the day, on the way to work/school thank the Lord for the day/the gasoline in your gas tank, that you are not walking to work as so many people in the world. How about thanking the Lord for your job/your freedom to go to school. If it is going to be a hard day at work/school let the Lord be by your side, to guide and give you strength. Whispered thoughts/prayers do not take time, they take effort, a conscious effort to include the Lord in whatever you are doing.