Dear friends,
On this 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the message for our reflection is another challenging one: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? . . . You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye (Luke 6: 41- 42). This is worth our time for consideration, as all of us are afflicted by the tendency to readily find fault with others while harboring layers of dirt in our own backyard.
As the season of Lent approaches, we will take a break from Ordinary Time, resuming with the 10th week on the Monday following Pentecost Sunday.
Ash Wednesday, 2 March 2022, ushers in the holy season of Lent. This is an opportunity to enter into that sacred time of focused attention on Jesus as he prepares for the Paschal mystery. Let us resolve to make a special effort to stay close to Jesus in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Lent is a special time to accompany the Catechumens, our brothers and sisters preparing to enter the Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process. We, as a faith-filled community of believers, have an obligation to support them on their journey. The Ceremonial of Bishops, 249, says this of Lent: “The annual observance of Lent is the special season for the ascent to the holy mountain of Easter. Through its twofold theme of repentance and baptism, the season of Lent disposes both the catechumens and the faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. Catechumens are led to the sacraments of initiation by means of the Rite of Election, the Scrutinies, and catechesis. The faithful, listening more intently to the word of God and devoting themselves to prayer, are prepared through a spirit of repentance to renew their baptismal promises.”
We have planned a number of events in our parish to facilitate the journey with Jesus. We will begin with a Lenten Mission on the First Sunday of Lent (6 March), gathering at 7:00 p.m. each night and continuing through Tuesday (8 March). Fr. Jeff Cooper, C.S.C., Director of Novices, United States Province, will be the presenter. Please keep every Tuesday of Lent free for St. John’s. There will be opportunities for prayer, reconciliation, and praise and worship. Each Friday during Lent, we will offer adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayer, a soup supper, and Stations of the Cross.
In late March, we will gather for several days of serious reflection as we begin our participation in the Parish-Level Synodal Listening Sessions. Please continue to check the bulletin for additional details. For now, I ask that each of you save one of the following dates for participation:
March 30 Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. – First Listening Session
March 31 Thursday, 7:00 p.m. – Second Listening Session
April 3 Sunday, 1:30 p.m. – Third Listening Session
Thanks to those of you who have already responded to the call to support the numerous ministries of the Diocese of Orlando through Our Catholic Appeal 2022. I thank Alex Echevarria for sharing so enthusiastically at all the Masses our obligation to participate in the ministries of the diocese. OCA not only benefits the various parishes and missions supported by our diocese but also our schools and faith formation programs, vocations, building projects, thousands of people in need, and so much more. I urge those of you who have not yet participated to please do so, as every gift is a great blessing and a way of showing our love for our parish.
Have a blessed week!
With love,
Fr. John