Dahntahn Deacon

Daily examen

My upcoming bulletin article for Holy Week. I was debating putting a focus on the Hillel Psalms or Gethsemane. The Spirit worked it out …

Brothers and Sisters, the grace of God and the peace of Jesus Christ be with you! I pray that you have been well throughout your Lenten journey, and that you are finding yourself bound even tighter to Jesus as feelings of obligation fade away and pass into a deeper love for him.

We cap our journey of Lent with Holy Week. This is the most important week in our faith. Before his victory over death, Jesus’ last seven days were intense. These days were filled with excitement, tension, passion, and sacrificial love.

The week begins with Jesus making a triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and at the Procession with the Palms, that happens at the beginning of Mass, we hear the Gospel proclaimed with praise, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

As the liturgy turns to the Gospel of the Lord, Mark’s account of the events for the rest of the week is proclaimed. The Passover meal, and the institution of the Eucharist takes place. Judas’ full turn from Christ, and his betrayal comes into focus. Jesus is handed over and arrested and tried, and his rock, Peter, denies him. Jesus suffers his passion, is stripped and brutally beaten, and is nailed to a cross to die for you.

As the week progresses and we pass through the Triduum, these events of Christ’s last days play out more fully and richly in the liturgies of Holy Thursday and Good Friday.

We, then, turn our minds and our hearts toward Easter Vigil, which is one of the most beautiful liturgies I have ever experienced or encountered. The Paschal candle is lit, and processed through the nave of the Church, past the pews and the faithful to the sanctuary. Its flame is passed, and the entire building is flooded with its light.

This is the representation of Christ’s resurrection. The happy fault of Adam’s sin that earns us a Redeemer so great that he pierces the darkness of death, overcomes it, and offers us eternal life.

The proclamation of the Gospel is being fulfilled. God has loved us so much, despite that we turned from him in sin, he still offered for us so great a sacrifice that through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have been saved.

This proclamation, known as the Kerygma, should draw us closer to God, as Christ illuminates our hearts. Before celebrating the resurrection Easter Sunday, reflecting and meditating on the events of Holy Week can help us enter into the Kerygma, and allow us to start to discern God’s plan for our lives.

In the evening of Holy Thursday, Jesus retreats to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. Aware of his betrayal by Judas, denial by Peter, his Passion and crucifixion to come, and under the weight of the effect of mankind’s sin, from the first to the last, he ultimately seeks and embraces the Father’s will.

In this Holy Week, as we turn to God with a desire for him to solve our problems and fulfill our needs, our hearts should be as focused as Christ’s, that they, even under such agony, could be open to do his father’s will … on God’s time … in God’s manner of fulfillment.

Fall to your knees at Christ’s side in the garden, embrace his agony, and pray with him. Accompany him during the most painful part of his life. Broaden your shoulders for the cross that he is to bear while you hoist your own, and unite them. Meditate on Christ’s presence in the Eucharist, allowing it to become the treasure that softens your heart and fashions your will to the Father’s.

In this Holy Week, dare to die to yourself, and give up everything you are. Seek God alone, and in patient anticipation pray to be consumed by the mystery of infinite love that comes to us through Jesus Christ.

In Christ’s Peace, - Dcn E

for MEN ONLY - Holy Hour and Holy Smoke Out! Sunday 10/15 (No Steeler game alternative)! Join us, Men!

A friend showed me this statistic slide on vocations. It’s some stats from newly ordained Canadian Priests showing who and what influenced their discernment.

Parents 2 of the top three! And, 70% were Altar Servers! What a beautiful thing happens when families have Christ through the Mass at the center of their lives!

Kind of makes you wonder, with hope, what’s possible? 🙏🏼

You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears.

1 Peter 1:5

On today’s feast, it is good to be reminded that the kindness, rest and peace of the one who suffered most, is available to the suffering.

St Margaret Mary who was devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, prayed for and entrusted herself to Christ. The following is adapted from her prayers.

O, Friend of my heart, I whom you love suffers. Come to me, comfort me, and heal me, for I know well that you cannot love me and yet leave me alone in my distress.

A great and inspiring Servant of God, Fr Emil Kapaun. There's a biography of his life, A Shepherd in Combat Boots, which is fascinating and worth the read.

Fr. Kapaun Comes Home | Mini Documentary Watch the brand-new video documenting Fr. Kapaun's journey back home to the Diocese of WichitaJoin in watching the Premiere of Servant of God Father Emil Kap...

Was able to celebrate my first baptism today … actually 3 of them! God bless the children, parents, godparents and families who will bring them closer to Christ through this baptism.

All the children present joined me at the font to help me bless the waters that would baptize all the children at today’s liturgy.

The iPhone, some PowerPoint graphics, MS Clipchamp and a bit of the Spirit served me pretty well on this one. How are you called to serve?

Called to Serve, The Call Deacon "E" answers the question, Describe how you knew you were being called to the Ministry?