First Sunday of Lent
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“Led by the Spirit into the desert… Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights.” I have come to learn and rely on God and his Word and his Spirit to guide me and lead me through this path of everlasting life. To be honest, left to myself, without a good sense of direction or discernment, I would find myself in situations and conversations that would lead me to sadness, hurt, disappointment and distrust.  Left to our own judgement and knowledge and trying to navigate through life on our own without God’s help will leave us unhappy, dissatisfied, and lost.  Without God’s support, we may want to ask ourselves, where am I going and plan to be if not led by the Spirit and the way God prefers for me?  God is the way of truth and the only way and the only life that guarantees us eternal happiness. So where are you going? Where are you heading? We often do not want anyone to lead us but often choose someone to imitate and follow.  This is good in the eyes of the Good Shepherd who leads us and guides us and asks us to follow and imitate him but we must be open to his Spirit and want to listen attentively to his voice and desire to go wherever the Good Shepherd goes and wherever he chooses to lead us. Our challenge is to come to know and to trust God’s way is better than our way.  God’s way is the only way.  In his great mercy, God chose to free Israel from physical slavery and captivity, then he led them into the desert to free them from their slavery and captivity to sin. God peeled back their physical attachments and invited them to be detached from sin and to become more dependent and spiritually attached to God.  Lent is a time and invitation to follow God into the desert and allow God to perform the same miracle for us.  Cardinal Manning’s prayer for light is a good way to start the journey. “O Holy Spirit of God, take me as your disciple. Guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me.  Bind my hands, that they may do no evil. Cover my eyes, that they may see it no more. Sanctify my heart, that evil may not dwell within me. You are my God. You are my guide. Whatever you forbid me, I will renounce. And whatever you command me, in your strength I will do. Lead me then unto the fullness of your truth.” Amen

 

Reflections from the Heart – January 7, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - January 7, 2023
The Epiphany of the Lordby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Where is the newborn king?”  The heart of the Gospels reveals to ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 31, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - December 31, 2023
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Josephby Fr. Ivan Olmo “He who obeys his father brings comfort ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 24, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - December 24, 2023
Fourth Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Nothing will be impossible for God.” I recall in my youth, in my ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 15, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - December 15, 2023
Third Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 10, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - December 10, 2023
Second Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “The Lord is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 3, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - December 3, 2023
First Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “O LORD, you are our father: we are all the work of your ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 26, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - November 26, 2023
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” The Liturgy of the ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 19, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - November 19, 2023
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Blessed are those who fear the Lord.” One of the ways I ...

Reflections From the Heart – November 12, 2023

Reflections From the Heart - November 12, 2023
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo ​“My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.” One of ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 5, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - November 5, 2023
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “For they preach but they do not practice.”  When I hear the ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 29, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - October 29, 2023
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo "Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord, and my ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 22, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - October 22, 2023
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no ...