Ash Wednesday

A Self-Directed Reflection from
The St. Joseph Retreat Center
with Anne Louis De Palo

As we prepare for Easter, the St. Joseph Retreat Center will be sharing weekly reflections during Lent. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We look forward to hearing from you in this time of fasting and reflection.

TIME FOR A RESET

"Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Joel 2:12 – "Even now says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, with weeping, and mourning."

Psalm 51:12 – "A clean heart create for me, O God, and steadfast spirit renew within me."

Psalm 51:14 – "Give me back the joy of your salvation."

2 Corinthians 5:21 – “So that we become the righteous of God in Him."

Matthew 6:18 – "Your Father, who sees what is hidden, will repay you."

Lent seemed to creep up on me this year. Just as I was settling into ordinary time, praying and meditating on what it means to be a disciple of Christ; Mother Church thrusted me into the Penitential Season of Lent. Are we up for the challenge?

As we receive ashes placed on our forehead in the form of a cross, I hear the words, "Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return."

At the beginning of Advent, we are called to confront our death, end times, and eternity as we prepared for the arrival of Christ. Again, we are called to remember and face our own death. Ashes represent our mortality. There is no life in ground up ashes. At death, our bodies are lifeless, only our soul survives. Eternity awaits. We hope to realize “the joy of salvation,” Psalm 51:14, but will we? Lent gives us the opportunity to answer this question?

The readings invite us “to return to God with our whole heart,” Joel 2:12; and “to become righteous” 2 Corinthians 5:21 – and, in Psalm 51, the psalmist prays for a clean heart, a renewed spirit, and the promise of the joy of salvation. In Matthew 6, Jesus shares how to prepare for eternity: give alms, fast, and pray – the three pillars of Lent.

Lent gives us the opportunity to examine our lives, renew our relationship with Jesus, and see where our choices are not aligned with Christ. It is a time for a reset. Perhaps Pope Benedict the XVI explains – "Jesus shows us the face of God, and in so doing, He shows the path we have to take." This is the path of holiness. Where are you on this path?

Perhaps the approach to this Lent is to meditate and pray on the three pillars of Lent. Where are you lacking and what do you need to renew? Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the keys. Where do you most need to nurture, or what do you need to eradicate from your life to align yourself to Christ? These keys can open the door to greater holiness and spiritual growth. We can never plateau in the spiritual life; we must keep searching and moving closer to Christ.

Let's look at the opportunities the Pillars give to us:

PRAYER

Does your relationship with Christ need more time, attention, and intimacy? If so, focus on prayer for the next 40 days. Spend some time in silence, meditate on scripture, pray, read scripture, attend a retreat, and visit the Blessed Sacrament or attend adoration. Every relationship needs energy, presence, and nourishment. Perhaps try something different from your normal prayer practice. Be open to something new.

ALMS GIVING

Are you reluctant to give away your time, money, talents, and very self? If so, concentrate on alms giving. Try and donate to charity, make a sizeable monetary donation to a charity or make a small donation every day of Lent, serve at a soup kitchen, go through your closet and home and give away something every day. Practice generosity. What resonates with you? Open your heart.

FASTING

Are you having difficulty overcoming a bad habit, an addiction? Or is your life full of worldly attractions? Are you overly busy? Do you lack self-control? Are you complacent? If any of these are relevant, fasting may be the answer. When we fast we open ourselves to God, think less of ourselves and our own comfort and then we will be more inclined to help others. Perhaps fast by skipping a meal, giving up something that you will truly miss or "hurts" to do without– whether it be alcohol, coffee, social media, binge watching, gaming, gambling – you know what will best discipline your mind, body, and spirit. The purpose of fasting is to hunger for God and to discipline our will and our bodies.

First Sunday of Lent
A Self-Directed Reflection from

The St. Joseph Retreat Center
with Anne Louis De Palo

As we prepare for Easter, the St. Joseph Retreat Center will be sharing weekly reflections during Lent. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We look forward to hearing from you in this time of fasting and reflection.

The First Sunday of Lent

WHAT TEMPTS YOU?

Genesis 3:3-4. God said, "You shall not eat it or even touch it, or else you will die." But the snake said, "You certainly will not die."

Psalm 51:12 "A clean heart create for me O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me."

Romans 5:18- 19, "Through one righteous, acquittal, and life came to all for just as through the disobedience of the one the many will be made righteous."

Matthew 4:1, "At that time, Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil."

On this first Sunday of Lent and every Lent, we hear the passage of Jesus going into the desert and encountering the devil. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, "During Lent, the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert and Christ vanquished the Tempter for us." Catechism 540.

In the readings today, we are reminded that during our pilgrimage here on earth we will be tempted as Jesus was, but to have no fear as Christ overcame the devil, and so can we through His love, mercy, and grace. We must pray and ask Jesus for help when we are tempted. Temptation is defined as the desire to engage in short term, often harmful urges that conflict with long term goals or moral principles. The Catechism defines temptation "as an attraction, either From within or an external source, to act against right reason and the commandments of God." (538,2846-2849). It is an invitation to sin. The temptation or desire alone is not a sin unless it is acted on or succumbed to.

David wrote Psalm 51 after he was overcome with contrition and sorrow for not resisting temptation and he begs for God's forgiveness after he was confronted about his adultery with Bathsheba and the conspiracy to murder her husband Uriah. David pleads with God for a steadfast spirit and to give him a clean heart after giving into the temptation which led to grave sin and loss of God's favor.

How are we tempted? We need only look at our parents, Adam and Eve. In Genesis, we see how God told Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, or they would surely die. However, Eve did not obey. Eve doubted her Creator and the source of life. She and Adam did not remain steadfast and true and chose their will over that of God. She believed the lie of the devil, "That you certainly will not die." They committed the sin of pride. How wrong Eve was to believe the lie and how we have paid the price for their disobedience with original sin and loss of eternity with God. Every time we choose our will over God's will, a piece of us dies. Jesus, however, rescued us from this fate and offered Himself as a ransom for our salvation. Without sacrifice there is no true love.

We die when we turn away from God who is the source of life. Conversion means turning towards God and a return to life. Jesus was tempted by the devil with the promises of pleasure, pride and power. Which of these vices do you struggle with? What tempts you? What is your idol? What is keeping you from saying yes to live the way Jesus lived and follow the Commandments and Jesus's teachings in every aspect of your life? Each one of us has our own weaknesses and tendencies to sin. Awareness and continuing the struggle is the key to holiness. St. Philip Neri said, "Where there is no mortification there is no real sanctity."

Lent calls us to pray, fast and give alms so we can win each battle of temptation which will continue our entire lives. In prayer ask for Christ's mercy and grace, to walk more closely with Him, and overcome temptation so we can love as He loves and help redeem the world.

Second Sunday of Lent - March 1^st 

PACK YOUR BAGS AND GO

Genesis 12:1 "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk … to a land I will show you."

Psalm 33 "All his works are trustworthy."  

2 Timothy 1:8B "Beloved, 'Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with strength that comes from God.'"

Matthew 17:9 "Listen to him." “Rise and do not be afraid."

On the second Sunday of Lent, the readings share a distinct theme of surrender, trust, and relying solely on the Lord.  As we live our lives and as we journey through Lent, we look to resurrection and new life.  We, like Abraham, must leave behind the past, begin anew each day and trust “all the workings of God” as the Psalmist writes in Psalm 33.  This is a daunting task, but we are not alone, and Christ is there to help us.  

You may be like me.  I get excited about beginning a new project or taking on something new.  Then I cringe thinking of what I need to do to accomplish it.  Likewise, I love to travel, but I also think about the “three P's” of travel which I do not relish:  plan, pay, and pack.  This is accompanied by the stress and anxiety of getting there whether it be by flying, driving, or sailing.  However, once I decide and get there I forget about the angst and doubt and am glad. 

Our spiritual life and Lent are similar.  Pope Benedict XVI explains this so well in the following quote.  "The purpose of Lent is to keep alive in our consciousness our life; that being a Christian can only take the form of becoming a Christian anew.  It is a process requiring constant practice when such energy is not expended, there is no life.  Struggle against the tendency to lead just a vegetative life.  It takes effort to see beyond what is right in front of us and to free ourselves from what is directly pressing upon us." A satisfying and full life takes effort, awareness and determination.

Where do you need to begin anew? Where is God leading you? Are you ready to follow? Are you listening? Everyday Jesus walks with us.  He helps carry the burden of our cross and shares our joys.  Are we aware of his presence?  What is preventing you from the journeying with Christ

Maybe you are afraid of change or where God’s call will lead you. You are not alone as 2 Timothy 1:8B reminds us strength comes from God. “The way is a narrow way and in hardship we have God's grace, love, and unfathomable and endless mercy. Lent is about growing closer to Christ and encountering Christ's mercy. It is a return to the Father and to experience His love.”

In the Gospel of Matthew, the Father tells us to listen to Jesus, and Jesus tells us to rise and not be afraid.  We must rise every day and begin again.  And upon our death, we pray to hear these same words of Jesus to, “Rise and not be afraid.”

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 8, 2026  

ARE WE THERE YET?

 "In those days, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, 'Why did you       ever make us leave Egypt?” Exodus 17:3

"Is the Lord in our midst or not?"  Exodus 17:7. 

 "O that today you hear his voice; harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the days of Massah in the desert where your fathers tempted me; They tested me though they had seen my works."  

 Psalm 95:8

 "Hope does not disappoint." Romans 5:5

 "Sir, give me this water so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water."  John 4:15

How is your Lent going?  Are you a little weary, thinking, are we there yet?  Have you been discouraged, not perfectly practicing your Lenten disciplines? Maybe you realize you took on too much. Welcome to the human race!  The readings today all remind us we are human, fallen, and we can become lukewarm, tired, slothful, and doubtful.  

In Exodus, even after God freed the Israelites from Egypt, when they became thirsty, and tired, they “forgot” all God's blessings, and wanted to return to the life they knew.  This looking back at the past reminds me of one of my favorite Frank Sinatra songs called "The World We Knew."  The lyrics perfectly capture this, "Over, and over, I keep going over of the world we knew."  It is so easy for us to be stuck or want to return to the past; especially when things are difficult or we encounter suffering.

In Psalm 95, the psalmist sings “not to harden our hearts”.  It is so easy to close off our hearts to God's grace, mercy, and love.  We are tempted, suffer, things do not go "our way", and bitterness, anger, and resentment can creep into our hearts, closing them off. 

Saint Paul, in Romans, reminds us of Christ's suffering and sacrifice for us.  He took up his cross to prove his love for us. ( Romans 5:8).  Paul, however, encourages us "Hope does not disappoint."  In the lines before this passage not included in the Sunday reading, Paul talks about how affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and proven character produces hope.  

My Dad, God rest his soul, used to tell me, "The easy way is not always the right way, but it is worth it."  This is what Paul tells us, and what Jesus wants the Samaritan woman to understand.  At first, her initial reaction is to have the water to quench her thirst to avoid having to keep going back to the well. Jesus, however, gives her the gift of water to quench the thirst of her soul, and offers her the promise of eternal life if she accepts and follows Him. She will, however, have to live her life differently.

Jesus perfectly conformed to His Father's will, and we must do as well.  As Saint John Henry Newman said, each one of us has a specific purpose in God's plan.  We may not know what this is this side of heaven; however, it is important.  You matter, are loved, and a child of God. and God has a plan for you.

At times, we will be disappointed, discouraged, and wonder what God's plan is for us.  You may think, "Lord, I am faithful and practicing the three pillars of Lent.  I am going to Mass, doing what you told me  Why did this happen?” “Why do I feel this way?" "This is too hard."  Speak honestly to God about how you feel.  He is a loving Father, and Jesus has experienced everything that we could ever experience. He listens.

 How do we continue our spiritual journey in Lent and beyond?  Participate frequently in the Eucharist, which is our spiritual food.  Frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation, attend Adoration, or sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament and pray. When you fall, and you will, "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again," as the song by Jerome Kern encourages us to do.  

Pray for perseverance, a gift given by the Holy Spirit for our salvation.  Rely on God.  You can't do this alone.  Lent is not a self-help program.  Constantly ask for God’s help.  The saints all underwent the struggle, and their faithfulness and steadfastness are what made them saints.  They did not give up. Saint Philip Neri advised, "We must pray incessantly for the gift perseverance."  

You too can be a saint.  A saint from the Latin word "sanctus" means holy, set apart, and consecrated.  In conclusion, I leave you another one of my Dad's gems, "If it were easy everyone would do it."  

As you continue through Lent and beyond, it is not falling, but getting back up, that matters.  Christ is there to catch you when you fall and help you back up. Just ask. Remember nothing is impossible for God!