This week's reflection comes from Sharon Di Fruscia
Our journey to resurrection this week focuses on prayer. What is prayer and why pray? Prayer is simply an invitation from God to spend time with Him, to be in His presence, to deepen our relationship with Him. Just like any relationship, if we do not nurture that relationship it dwindles and soon it is no more.
It is almost inconceivable that it has been nearly one year since we the faith community of St. Monica’s have gathered together to worship. We have been living in isolation which can sometimes cause desolation and discouragement.
Hopefully, this season of Lent, even though we are still physically separated, will bring us to spiritual community, as we commit to walk this Journey to Resurrection together in faith. If we are consciously aware, we can encounter each other in spirit.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our Lenten journey. When we began Lent last year, we were vaguely aware of this mystery virus that had emerged in China had begun to spread to Northern Italy. We had no idea at that point that a whole year later, so much of our society would still be in lockdown, our churches still closed – that tens of millions of people in the world would be infected, that several million have died.
Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) was born a Hindu Indian in western India, Gandhi studied law in London, and then lived in South Africa where he first employed nonviolent resistance in a campaign for civil rights. Returned to India, he organized peasants, farmers, and urban laborers to protest against discrimination. Later he led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity, and ending untouchability. He inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
Today’s Gospel provides us with a snapshot of “a day in the life” of Jesus of Nazareth. We see Jesus teaching in the synagogue of Capernaum, going for a meal with his friends, healing Simon’s mother-in-law, meeting the crowds, healing the sick and casting out the demons. Very early the next morning, Jesus slips off to a quiet place to pray, to spend some quality time with his Father. Refreshed and refueled, he moves on with his disciples to the next town, continuing to proclaim the Good News in word and deed.
St. Monica's Parish