St John catholic church

                                   February 25, 2021
My Friends,
                                                                                             
This Lent we are offering different ways to go deeper into the mystery of God’s love. I know your lives are very busy already, so to add more things can often ramp up the stress levels. I find, however, that one simple thing is needed: only to become aware of my need. At the bottom of all my desires, distractions, fancies, is the abyss that seeks to be filled. When I drop anchor there, when I can become content with all my discontents, I begin to find time to be in front of the fountain of life-giving water, a never-ending source of refreshment. It is to the Heart of Jesus I’m drawn, to His pierced side from which comes His water and blood, to cleanse and refresh. Somehow, when I am aware of this, I find time to pray, to seek Him out.

This weekend we hear about the Transfiguration. Peter, James, and John are given the privilege to see Jesus in His glory. They want to stay there absorbing and drinking in the divine presence of God. Jesus’ glory is present to us always, though hidden beneath the veil of Bread and Wine. He remains in the Tabernacle, available to all who come to seek Him. Inside the Tabernacle is Heaven itself.

During Lent, St. John offers everyone the opportunity to be present before Our Lord in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; when we expose the Blessed Sacrament, the consecrated host in the monstrance on the altar for prayer. During Lent (excluding Holy Week), adoration will be held at St. John in Naches on Friday evenings. Adoration, with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, will begin after the praying of the Stations of the Cross, which begins at 6:00pm, and will conclude at 8:00 pm. Also, please note that every Wednesday at St. John, after the 8:30am Mass, we hold Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, until 9:30am. Since we are not able to gather for physical nourishment (Simple Supper), we shall gather for spiritual nourishment as he comes to us in Adoration. Please note that the Friday adoration is an addition to the 2021 Lenten liturgy schedule.

Stations of the Cross and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered every Thursday during Lent (excluding Holy Week) at St. Juan Diego at 6:00pm, followed by celebration of the Sacred Mass in the Spanish language. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered during the Stations of the Cross.
 
Finally, the most solemn time will be on Holy Thursday after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus desires us to be with Him. He waits for us to come to His presence.

“Come to Me, for I wait for you in the Sacrament of My love. It was no mere development of ritual practice when My Church began to reserve My Most Holy Body in the tabernacles prepared for Me. It was a glorious and long-awaited inspiration of the Holy Ghost, for the Sacrament of My Body and Blood is more than the perpetuation in time of My eternal sacrifice. It is more than the nourishment by which I enter souls to unite them to Me and to one another in a single Body. It is also the pledge and the expression of My divine friendship and the sign of My Heart’s desire and resolve to remain present until the end of the ages, for the sake of all who seek My friendship and would know the love of My Heart for them. There are those who argue that such was not My intention on the night before I suffered, when I gave My apostles to eat and drink of My Body and Blood, yet in all truth it was the intention of My Heart and My Heart’s desire, for I looked far into ages to come and saw that the greatest hunger of the human heart would be for My divine friendship, and for My companionship and presence in the earthly exile” ― taken from “In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart–The Journal of a Priest at Prayer.”

With Peter, James and John, in the presence of Jesus Christ in the gift of the Eucharist, we say: “Lord, it is good for us to be here!”

Lenten Blessings to you and your family.

Fr. Brooks 

                                                            February 23, 2021
My Friends,