Day 3: Carrying Our Crosses

Today's topic is "carrying our crosses." To start off, we ask you to open your Bibles and spend a little time with Luke 9:22-26 (chapter 19, verses 22 through 26). If you don't have a Bible handy, it's also online, click here. Read this short passage a few times over. What is Jesus saying to you? What does it mean? Particularly verse 23. (Post your reflections below, it's okay to make more than one post per day.)

Next, check out this cartoon strip about carrying our crosses...

What does this cartoon mean to you? What do you think the crosses represent? What happened to the main character in the cartoon at the end? (Post your reflections below, again, it's okay to make more than one post per day if you don't want to do one big post at the end.)

Next, close your eyes and listen to this song: Thousand Foot Krutch - "This is a Call"

We are not called to carry our crosses by ourselves. Even Jesus had help from Simon to carry His cross. There is a phrase that goes "God won't give you more than you can handle." Do you agree with that? I don't. :) I would say "God won't give you more than you can handle with His help." Because of sin, we are going to endure suffering in this world. If we call out to God through prayer, He will help us endure anything that comes our way. We can unite our crosses to the cross of Jesus and He will not only help us to carry it but He will make good things come out of the bad. Remember, the cross of Jesus was soon followed by Easter! We unite with Him in His 40 days in the desert and in His suffering and death so that we may also unite with Him in His glorious resurrection.

To close, spend a few minutes in prayer reflecting on the crosses that you have had to carry in your life. Ask yourself if you tried to carry them alone, if you tried to hide from them like the man in the cartoon, or if you asked God to help you carry them and to bring good come from them. Open your Bible again and read John 16:33. Then watch these two videos: Mike's Chair "Let the Waters Rise" and Ginny Owens "If You Want Me To"

Challenge: We don't want to only turn to God when the times get tough. We want to spend time with Him in prayer everyday whether it's been a great day or a rotten one. Set aside a time of just 5-10 minutes every day that you can commit to prayer this Lent. Maybe it’s right before bed (be careful not to get too comfy and fall asleep after 1 minute!). Maybe it’s in the morning, before you roll out of bed. Maybe it’s while you’re taking a shower, or riding the bus to school, or driving home from school, or going for a run outside. Whenever it is, plan it and stick to it. Make it a priority and Jesus will bless that time you spend with Him. If you’d like, type this time into the discussion board and encourage others to hold you accountable to sticking to it.

See you tomorrow!

Day 2: "Letting Jesus Take Out the Garbage in Our Lives"

During Lent, we are called to focus on Jesus’ mercy and forgiveness. Jesus is always ready and waiting to deliver us from evil. There is no sin that is too big for Him to forgive. He wants to have an intimate relationship with us and any sin is an obstacle to that relationship. Our soul is like our window to God. When we sin, it’s like taking mud and covering that window. Serious, or mortal, sins cover up the entire window, blocking our relationship to God. Less serious, or venial, sins only cover part of the window but can build up over time. Jesus can wipe that all away if we ask Him to. He promises to cast our sins as far as the east is from the west.

To start off your retreat today, watch this video depiction about how sin can get in our way of walking with Jesus.

As Catholics, we have the special gift of a Sacrament given by Jesus to His apostles, and passed along to us through the successors of the apostles – the bishops and priests. When we confession our sins, do penance, and receive absolution in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it is like Jesus taking a big bottle of Windex and wiping our “window to God” (our soul) perfectly clean. Our sins are not only forgiven but also forgotten. We are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation after any serious (mortal) sin and at least once a year. Lots of us struggle with the idea of confessing our sins to a priest. Listen to this mp3 from YoungCatholicMinute.com about why we go to Confession.

And then, just for some cheesy fun, check out this ShamWOW commercial parody on Confession called SoulWOW.

Finally, spend a few minutes talking to God about the things in your life that have become obstacles to your relationship with Him. When you're ready, listen to this song by Casting Crowns, paying attention to the lyrics and watching the pictures that go along with the words.

Discuss:
What sins did you see depicted in the first video? Do you believe there are any sins that Jesus just cannot forgive? How do you feel about the Church’s practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation? When was the last time you went and how did you feel beforehand? How did you feel afterwards? What questions do you have about sin or the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Post your answers in the Comments box below.

Challenge: Before going to sleep tonight, pray an Examination of Conscience. An Examination of Conscience is when you go through your day in your head and ask God to show you what you did well during the day and what you could have done better. For a list of questions to ask yourself, check out this Examination of Conscience online. Plan a time between now and Easter that you will commit to going to Confession and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Available anytime by appointment or...

Individual Reconciliation on Saturdays:
9am @ St. Joseph, 11am @ St. William, 4pm @ St. Mary or St. John Neumann

Lenten Reconciliation Services:
Monday, March 15, 7pm @ St. Dominic in Brookfield with the new Archbishop,
Saturday, March 13, 9:30am @ St. John Neumann,
or Thursday, March 25, 7pm @ St. Joseph

If you’d like, post your commitment into the Comments below and encourage others to go with you. After your confession, as you receive the prayer of absolution from the priest, remember – He has cast your sins as far as the east is from the west!

See you tomorrow!

Day 1: "40 Days in the Desert"

40 days of Lent parallels Jesus' time in the desert. We use these 40 days to understand the events that are central to understanding the redemptive meaning of Jesus' life, death and Resurrection.

Settle yourself, and find a quiet moment to ask God to enter with you as you read the Word he gave us, Luke 4:1-13 (If you don't have a Bible at home handy, you can read the Bible online by clicking here!)

Next, in this quiet time with God, watch this video of Jesus' time in the desert.

Reflection/Discussion on Video:

What did you think of the artist’s interpretation of the Devil?
Think of everything that Jesus gave up when he went into the desert. He left everything behind to become closer to the heart of God. What are you willing to give up to grow closer to the heart of God? What have you given up for Lent in past years? Or what have you given for Lent in past years?

Post your answers in the Comment section below! Use the "Name/URL" option to sign your comment with your first name.

Challenge:

Next, watch this video of what others are doing special for Lent.

What are you going to do or are doing for Lent this year?
If you choose to give up something make it something that will change your life. There is a theory that if you change something for 21 or more days you have changed it for a life time. If you choose to give something for Lent make it something that you can give for a lifetime. Give your time to a food pantry, to those around you in need, or to an elderly neighbor. You are God’s hands and feet here on earth so make a change in your life and someone else’s by giving of yourself.

Share with us what you have given and/or what you have given up for Lent this year in the Comment section below.

Jesus is led into the desert directly after his baptism and before the beginning of his public life. The Holy Spirit initiates Jesus' time apart for reflection. Jesus embraces the desert experience because he trusts the Holy Spirit’s guidance. By his willingness to be led by the Holy spirit, Jesus remains faithful to his relationship with God the Father, in spite of the devil’s cunning. This same Spirit is present in our lives, leading us if we are willing to follow.

Click here and lets end with a final reflection on Jesus' 40 Days in the Desert.

See you tomorrow in cyper space!