Today's reflection was taken from Yesterday's Office of Readings

 I will say more: we must sacrifice ourselves to God, each day and in everything we do, accepting all that happens to us for the sake of the Word, imitating his passion by our sufferings, and honoring his blood by shedding our own. We must be ready to be crucified.
  If you are a Simon of Cyrene, take up your cross and follow Christ. If you are crucified beside him like one of the thieves, now, like the good thief, acknowledge your God. For your sake, and because of your sin, Christ himself was regarded as a sinner; for his sake, therefore, you must cease to sin. Worship him who was hung on the cross because of you, even if you are hanging there yourself. Derive some benefit from the very shame; purchase salvation with your death. Enter paradise with Jesus, and discover how far you have fallen. Contemplate the glories there, and leave the other scoffing thief to die outside in his blasphemy.
  If you are a Joseph of Arimathea, go to the one who ordered his crucifixion, and ask for Christ’s body. Make your own the expiation for the sins of the whole world. If you are a Nicodemus, like the man who worshiped God by night, bring spices and prepare Christ’s body for burial. If you are one of the Marys, or Salome, or Joanna, weep in the early morning. Be the first to see the stone rolled back, and even the angels perhaps, and Jesus himself.
 
- From a sermon by Saint Gregory Nazianzen
 
I think that St. Gregory hits the nail on the head. We are entering a sacred, or set-apart time. We are coming into the holiest days in the calendar. Since we cannot enter the Lord's temple to begin to meditate on the mysteries of this week as we typically do, we must look to how our lives mirror those people we find in the gospels. We must pick up or cross, enter into the Father's presence, prepare gifts for the Lord. We must ask to see and work like these men and women did. To place ourselves where we are, in the ordinary things we do into these events. When we do this we will begin to truly as St. Gregory says, catch a glimpse of the risen Lord himself.
 
CELEBRATE PALM SUNDAY IN YOUR HOME

We encourage you to enter into the celebration of Palm Sunday by joining together with your family to find some branches to bring into your prayer space or set in a prominent location in your house. The scriptures tells us that when Christ drew near to the Holy City Jerusalem he was met with crowds who had, "spread their cloaks over the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewn them on the road".We are blessed to live in a time and place that we typically have access to the same branches that Christ would have seen in the Holy Land. As this year we celebrate in our homes, let us do as the crowds did in Jerusalem, welcome Jesus into our home by taking time to find pieces of our own plants and trees to welcome him into our homes. I also invite you to listen to this song and place yourself in the crowd that followed Jesus into the city, letting our minds and hearts experience the joy of praising him. Let us truly celebrate with Christ, that his work in the world is not over, that the effects of his passion and the coming of his kingdom are at work in our own hearts and souls today. Feel free to share photos of what you did with us via email, Facebook, or Instagram!
 

Today's reflection was written by Peter Gualandri .
 
The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock. 
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together, he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob, he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion, they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil, the sheep and the oxen.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance, and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy, I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
-Psalm for Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
  I want us to focus on the responsorial psalm "The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.” Christ is our shepherd, but what does that mean? Shepherds care for their sheep and will do whatever it takes to protect them. Shepherds will tell the sheep when they need to move to get the best food, protect them from outside dangers, but also will do whatever it takes to find the lost sheep. Christ does the same for us. He gives us the best spiritual food (the Eucharist) and he also guides us in life so that we are satisfied. He protects us and never leaves our side in times of danger. He also will continuously call out for us when we get lost and lose sight of Him. However, what are we called to do?
We are called to prepare a place in our lives for the Lord to dwell and allow him to guide us. This Lenten season gives us the opportunity to make the changes in our lives in order to do this. Here are some questions that you can reflect on to see if you are preparing a dwelling place for the Lord and if you are allowing him to guide you.

Did I pray today?
Have I spent time listening to the Lord in prayer?
Have I followed my Lenten fasts or have I given up?
Regardless if you answer yes or no to these questions, as you go into this final week before Easter let this be a time you challenge yourself to prepare for the Triduum. This can mean recommitting to your Lenten fast or picking something different that you can faithfully fast from. Maybe it means you pray for the first time this lent or spend 5 more minutes reading and reflecting over the scriptures. Regardless of where you are, remember that the Lord is waiting and searching for you the same as a shepherd looks for his lost sheep.

We encourage you to enter into the celebration of Palm Sunday by joining together with your family to find some branches to bring into your prayer space or set in a prominent location in your house. The scriptures tells us that when Christ drew near to the Holy City Jerusalem he was met with crowds who had, "spread their cloaks over the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewn them on the road".We are blessed to live in a time and place that we typically have access to the same branches that Christ would have seen in the Holy Land. As this year we celebrate in our homes, let us do as the crowds did in Jerusalem, welcome Jesus into our home by taking time to find pieces of our own plants and trees to welcome him into our homes. I also invite you to listen to this song and place yourself in the crowd that followed Jesus into the city, letting our minds and hearts experience the joy of praising him. Let us truly celebrate with Christ, that his work in the world is not over, that the effects of his passion and the coming of his kingdom are at work in our own hearts and souls today. 

Holy Week Ideas for the Whole Family:
I was given this link to a digital flip book for families in the Diocese of Phoenix. It is filled with lots of ideas on how to engage the whole family during the week. It also has prayers for each day and explanation of what we celebrate each day until Easter. We will also have more activities ready to share with you throughout the week so stay tuned!
 
LINK TO DIGITAL FLIPBOOK
 

I would like to extend another invitation to you to participate in today's day of penance, fasting, and prayer for the end of COVID - 19. The bishop has asked that we offer extra prayers today for this specific intention. He has also asked that if possible, that we fast from using electronics from Noon to 3:00pm. 
 
Daily Reflection:
Today's reflection was written by Michael Dugan.
 
“All small, repeated, and limited sacrifices are efficacious and pleasing to God only insofar as they express and confirm the undivided sacrifice
of a love that is ready to give all and to let God take all that it pleases him”
- Hans urs von Balthasar
I read this quote yesterday. Especially as this time of Lent draws to a close, we need to hear what von Balthasar is saying. These “small, repeated, and limited sacrifices” that we are called to take upon ourselves throughout the Lenten season are not done so that we can take pride in ourselves. They aren’t done so that we can feel superior to people who weren’t able to keep their Lenten promises. The reason we do these penances is because these sacrifices allow us to express our love for God. While most of us are NOT called to give our lives for our faith, we are still called every day to show God our love for him. If we can’t even make these small sacrifices for God, then how can we tell God we love him? So as we get closer to Easter, let’s make sure that we are doing these sacrifices only out of love for God, because if we do not do them with love in our hearts, then they do not please the Lord. 
 
Join us for Prayer
Come break your electronics fast today by uniting with us in prayer. We will start the prayers with the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Then the Litany of Humility, and ending with a Prayer to Our Lady. We hope to see you on Facebook and Instagram.
 
Digital Tenebrae
Next week for Holy Week, we typically host Tenebrae in the Youth Room We wanted to be able to offer this prayer service for you again this year We have found a way to do so by using Zoom.  We hope you can join us next week Wednesday at 6:30 pm. Let us know if you would like to join us. We will send out invitations to enter the meeting on Wednesday. Let us know if you have any questions.
 
Tuesday Vespers
Do you miss praying Night Prayer at High School Youth Group? We do! So we wanted to invite everyone and their families to join us every Tuesday for Evening Prayer. We will start at 6:00 on sharp. The link to the meeting will be sent out on Tuesday. To sign up simply reply to this email, or email Michael at 4CYMVolunteer@gmail.com.
 
Diocesan FACEBOOK RETREAT HOLY WEEK APRIL 5 - APRIL 11
 Looking for a way to grow in your relationship with Jesus during the holiest week of our Church year? All you need is an open heart to Jesus and your Bible. Join us, beginning Sunday April 5th, as we walk through the Gospel readings of each day and arrive joyfully at the great light of the Easter vigil on Saturday April 11th.  Click here to join.  When the link comes up click on Blue "Join  Group " button and we will approve you.  If we do not see a picture or many posts on your Facebook we might send you a message asking to make sure that you are real, sorry for any inconvenience. 

Daily Reflection:
When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him: “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations. No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you. I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God.”God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”
-Genesis 13:7-9

Psalm:
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
 
Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
 
-  Psalm 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 
 
Gospel:
Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
-Gospel of John 8:51-59
 
Today's Reflection comes from one of our Young Adult Volunteers, Theresa Willson.

The readings today show us how much God yearns to be in a relationship with us.  From the beginning, he created us to be in communion with him, and ever since we fell from grace, God has been trying to bring us back to himself.  In the first reading, God makes a covenant with Abram, promising much if Abram and his descendants are faithful to him.  It is echoed in the psalm, reminding us of what God has done and how faithful God remains, throughout the Old Testament and into the New, until at last God makes the ultimate sacrifice and sends Jesus to us, to unite us fully with Him. Jesus speaks for the Father, telling them how they can have eternal life with Him. Jesus knows God, knows the heart of God, and He is fully united with God, doing His will, so He can say he is glorified by God.  He wants that same thing for us, no matter how many times He is rejected by us.  

As we enter into Holy Week, we should reflect on how much Jesus is willing to suffer in order to have that full covenant relationship with us. Look at the people he meets, the indignities he suffers, the scorn he receives, and the pain he endures for us, until at last He dies for us, ready to give it all for us. This is the covenant love he has for us, the relationship he wants with each one of us.

Reflection Questions:
Has God ever touched your heart? Have you felt His presence calling you? How do you answer? Do you talk to him in turn? Regularly?

Take a moment to reflect on how much God loves you.  When was the last time you did that?

How would you describe your relationship with God?  Are you satisfied with it? If not, what extra things could you consider doing during Holy Week to prepare yourself for Easter?

 

Today we have a special guest reflection from Kyliegh VanDenEykel, who served on this year's NET team I hope you enjoy it.
 
Daily Reflection:
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me because my word has no room among you. I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.” They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”
-Gospel for Wednesday of the 5th Week of Lent
 
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” There is often times a lot of comfort that comes with this statement from our Lord. We know that His word is Sacred Scripture that he has given us. Jesus desires to speak to us every day, and He gives us the Scriptures to help us hear His voice. During our prayer time spent reading the Bible, He teaches us truth and also how to be His disciples. We are called to follow Him in ways that, often times, go against the ways of the world It can be very difficult to remain rooted in the Lord and His teachings because of how people are living around us. That does not mean it is impossible. Through the time we spend in prayer with Christ everyday, He is teaching us Truth that sets us free.

What does it mean to be free? Sometimes, I think people learn that freedom is the ability to do whatever we want. That is not the freedom that Christ talks about The freedom that Jesus gives is not the freedom the world gives. I am reading a book right now called “The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God” by Venerable Fulton Sheen. In this book, he says “There are three definitions of freedom: two of them are false, and one is true. The first false definition is ‘Freedom is the right to do whatever I please.’” The second false definition he gives is “Freedom is the right to do whatever you must.” And then finally he gives the true concept of freedom. “‘Freedom is the right to do whatever we ought’ and ought implies the goal, purpose, morality, and the law of God. True freedom is within the law, not outside of it.” Fulton Sheen explains it well, as that freedom is following the law of God because we love Him. Later he says “freedom is ours really to give away because of something we love.” We are truly set free, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Jesus goes on in today’s Gospel, talking about being slaves to sin. He explains to the Jews “So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.” They were confused by this and were questioning Him. I think we can often do the same. The Lord promises freedom and His mercy through His Truth and through the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation. How many times does He set us free, but then we deny His right to do that because we get in the way? We often do not allow Him to set us free because we do not think we deserve it. It is true, we do not deserve His love and mercy- but God gives it to us FREELY because He loves us so much. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of the name of Jesus Christ, we are able to be set free and stay free. Praise God for that because if we had to do it on our own, we would keep falling and not be able to get back up.

What God wants us to do is to remain close to Him. He calls us to communion with Him every day and desires that closeness with us, more than we desire it. We long for the Lord and there is an emptiness in our hearts that only God Himself can fill I just want to encourage you to really slow down and take some time with the Lord and ask Him to come into your heart into a deeper way. Pray for the grace (God’s help to us) to accept the love and freedom He wants to give us. Pray to believe and live the Truth that He shares with us. Let Him strengthen you as His beloved disciples. During this time of transition and being at home, whether you see it or not, the Lord is calling us to rely on Him even more. Jesus is truly enough for us. Let Him show you that during the remainder of this Holy Lent.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Sts John and Bernard, pray for us.  
 

Today I wanted to share the photos we received from last weeks weekly challenge to show us your prayer space or favorite place to pray. Here are how you all responded!

Come Pray With Us!
I wanted to take a moment to invite you to participate today in our daily 3:00 prayers. We will be broadcasting live to Facebook. All the prayers typically takes seventeen minutes. I have attached the prayers for you to join us. See you then!

Weekly Challenge:
This week we want to challenge you to try something new! What a better time to try that new craft, or bake that recipe you've been holding on to? We want to know what new thing you will try this week. Be sure to share your results with us.

Reflection:
"Wait for the Lord be strong; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!"
- Entrance Antiphon for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent
 
As Lent quickly comes to an end, it begs the question; how has our Lent gone? This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week. We have been fasting, praying, and giving alms preparing for the solemn celebration of Christ's death and resurrection. How have your resolutions gone? Have you been successful in adding those prayers to your day? Have you avoided that second portion of food? Have you been able to do those three good deeds without being noticed each day? If not, don't be upset. This is a time to grow in virtue. Today's entrance antiphon reminds us of that fact. "Wait for the Lord and be strong; be stouthearted..." Easter is coming. There is nothing we can do to stop it. In a way it reminds me in a way of the Grinch's words about Christmas, "It came without ribbons, it came without bows, it came without packages, boxes, and bags". Easter is coming, because nothing can stop the Lord from rising from the grave. So where do you stand are you stouthearted or, in simpler terms, determined? Are you stouthearted in your desire to grow in virtue? Do you have the strength to prepare yourself as best as possible to celebrate the mystery of his dying and rising? If you don't think you are, are you humble enough to ask for that courage? "Wait for the Lord and be strong".
 
Evening Prayer
We are hosting Evening Prayer for the Youth Group students via Zoom tonight at 6:00 pm. Please email me (4Churchesym@gmail.com)  or Michael (4CYMVolunteer@gmail.com).

Pope Francis' Prayer to Mary
 
I also want to share this prayer that Pope Francis has written asking for Mary’s intercession during this time of distress. He has dedicated his pontificate to Our Lady Health of the Roman People, and in this time has entrusted his prayers to her care. I encourage you to print the attached image of Our Lady and join with the Holy Father in asking Mary to pray for us that the Lord bring the sufferings of our time to an end.
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. 
Amen.

We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test –
and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
 
Know of my prayers for you, and your family, and stay tuned for more reflections and activities.