<TW>Weekend of 23 and 24 February 2008
- From: "Fr. Pat Umberger" <frpat@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Fr. Pat Umberger" <frpat@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:28:46 -0600
.=: T H I S W E E K E N D :=.
from Father Pat Umberger
__________________________________________________
P I L G R I M A G E 2 0 0 8
We'll visit Southern Italy, Assisi, Rome and the Vatican from 10-21 November
2008. The brochure will be available at the Web Site very soon. It looks
like the cost will be: $2699 from Chicago or $2899 from La Crosse,
Wisconsin. When available the brochure will be here: www.frpat.com
O N - L I N E S T A T I O N S O F T H E C R O S S
Visit my on-line Stations of the Cross. I wrote the text for children and
adults alike. They're available in English and Spanish as well. Visit the
Stations every day during Lent. I think you'll like them a great deal.
Here's the link:
www.frpat.com/stations.htm
L E N T P A G E S
Visit all my Lenten pages. There are many resources, including resources
for Reconciliation (Confession), a great Examination of Conscience, and even
a "printable" Credit Card to Heaven that contains all the words you'll need
for Confession except the sins. So, even if you haven't been to Confession
for 92 years, this can be the year for your! Just follow the banner link
from: www.frpat.com
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.=: V O L U M E 2 0 0 8 , Number 02-24 :=.
.=: T H I S W E E K E N D ' S S C R I P T U R E S :=.
Third Sunday of Lent, Year A.
Weekend of 23 and 24 February 2008
Follow this link for this weekend's Scriptures:
www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
.=: R E F L E C T I O N Q U E S T I O N S :=.
" ... In those days, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against
Moses." Why do people grumble against their leaders these days? When do we
grumble the most? Are those who grumble likely to do anything to make the
situation better?
"Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink."
If you were Moses would you rather have struck the rock, or the people?
Moses ability to produce water from the rock, where did that power come
from?
"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts." In what ways do we
avoid hearing the voice of God? What makes us "harden" our hearts?
"Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps
for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his
love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." Spend
some time this week meditating on the kind of love God has for us, to allow
his son to die for us in our sinfulness.
"How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" Who are the
"outsiders" in our world? Be truthful!
"Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep
coming here to draw water." In what ways do we seek a permanent solution to
our problems and inconveniences?
"Come see a man who told me everything I have done." Go back to thinking of
God's great love for us. Imagine our encounter with the God who knows
absolutely everything about us. What can best bring about conversion in our
lives, fear or love? Which do we use in trying to get those around us to
change?
"Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the
word of the woman who testified," Who are the ones in our lives that help us
believe? In what ways do we help others believe? How could we do better?
"We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this is truly the savior of the world." What do we yearn to
"hear for ourselves?"
How are these readings challenging? Comforting?
(c)MMVIII Fr. Pat Umberger. These Reflection Questions are found each week
at the Web Site www.frpat.com. Feel free to link to this page or reproduce
them for parish use as long as this credit remains.
.=: S P I R I T U A L R E F L E C T I O N :=.
"Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have
rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart." When have we felt we were worth less
when we were degraded because of our appearance? Why is it such a treasure
to have a God that looks, not at our outward appearance, but into our
hearts? Why could that be scary as well?
"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want." What do shepherds
do? In what way is the Lord our shepherd? Our Pope? Our Bishop?
"Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and
righteousness and truth." Describe someone who lives as a child of light?
In what ways am I a child of the light? What "fruitless works of darkness"
would I not want exposed? How can I turn away from those things? What
things need to change in order for me to truly live as a child of light?
"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" When
do we see our physical imperfection as something to be blamed on God?
"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." What kind of
"light" does Jesus bring us? In what ways are we blind?
"The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, 'Go to
Siloam and wash.' So I went there and washed and was able to see." Imagine
the joy of the man who could now see? How would his life change?
"This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath." Why did
the Pharisees have a chip on their shoulder? Were the Pharisees really
concerned about observance of the law?
"We know that this man is a sinner." He replied, "If he is a sinner, I do
not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see." In what
ways did the "blind" man see more clearly than those who could "see" their
whole lives long?
"Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have
seen him, the one speaking with you is he." He said, "I do believe, Lord, "
and he worshiped him. What do people need to have happen before they can
truly say, "I do believe, Lord?" How can we help enkindle the gift of faith
in others?
Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you
are saying, 'We see,' so your sin remains." In what ways do we remain
blind? What would be the most difficult area of life to open to God and
God's healing? Why are we so reluctant to be "totally" open to God?
(c)MMVIII Fr. Pat Umberger. This Spiritual Reflection is found each week at
the Web Site www.frpat.com. Feel free to link to this page or reproduce them
for parish use as long as this credit remains.
__________________________________________________
<TW>This Weekend is free, and comes from:
Father Pat Umberger, a priest of the Diocese of La Crosse
in Wisconsin U.S.A.
Web Site: www.frpat.com
Evangelization (reaching out): www.cmonback.com
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