Lent is fast approaching and that means lots of planning and activity directed to that season. Also we are looking ahead to the Pope’s visit in April. This is also a spring semester which means students are thinking of graduation or summer jobs. All of these things need to be done, but we also need to remember all our todays. Our ordinary days can also be extraordinary by being open to God’s surprises. God is always around and is always present in that special way in the Eucharist. Stop by anytime and put a little extraordinary in every ordinary day.
This is the week for the March for Life and events asscoiated with it. The life issue that is the focus of these events is abortion, which is a grevious assault on innocent life. While our attention is focussed on life we also keep in mind all the ways life is assaulted in our present age and also why we are called to defend life. We need to remember life is a gift from God to all. If it is seen as given or given value by society, government, class, race, economic input, or even myself it can be taken away. Political action is part of our responsibility as citizens, but policy changes alone are not enough. What in our hearts has led our culture here? What in our hearts made the twentieth century the bloodiest in human history? Are we willing to have our hearts changed? In just a couple of weeks we will hear “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.” May we heed this call for our sake and the world’s sake.
First day of classes and we already have deadlines. The trip to SC went great. We had good weather( a little rain now and then, but nothing major) and few bugs. We managed to both start and complete the project of renovating parts of a trailer house. We all returned safely and accomplished much on our trip. Now we have to immediately prepare for Lent. Easter and thus Ash Wednesday are early this year. We now begin a new project, the Spring semester. We are especially reminded during Lent of the continual need to renovate ourselves, the ongoing process of conversion. May we all grow in many ways this semester, in particular let us grow closer to God.