Right before the Entrance Song began, I felt it and as I looked around, I could see others did too. A strong and clear sense of the Presence of God came over us as thousands of kids from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles were gathered for the Holy Eucharist last Thursday in Anaheim California, at their annual Youth Day.
As Mass continued I realized that the Holy Spirit was pouring Himself out on these kids. The Spirit of Love wanting to touch them, surround them in love so they would know who Jesus is and to place their trust in him, in a world that is trying to make it so hard for young people to have faith and hope.
In Saint Mark’s Gospel today, the Lord takes the disciples aside to teach them so they would start to understand why He came. Three times in Mark’s Gospel Jesus foretells his Passion and three times they don’t understand. Imagine His longing as Jesus enjoins on them: stop thinking as the world thinks! Carry the cross with Me, serve others with Me, become who you are … a child of God.
The Holy Spirit longs to renew us, our families, our Church and our world!
Tomorrow we begin Lent. It’s so important to prepare. Have you thought about how you are going to live this Lent? Parents, you can find many simple ways to live Lent in the home. For help, please visit our Catholic Mom web site.
As you prepare, remember: Lenten penance isn’t punishment. Rather it learning to think as God thinks, getting our hearts in order and opening them to be ready to receive, to be transformed by the Spirit of Love that we so long for and our world so needs.
