This is an audio recording from an RCIA class I taught this past Sunday in my church parish. Hope you enjoy:
Audio Sample from “Living in Exile” Added
I’ve added an audio sample from a talk I gave called “Living in Exile.” It was a part of a series of Lenten reflections. Check it out HERE.
Audio Sample from “Spiraling Downward”
I have uploaded an audio sample from a talk that I gave called “Spiraling Downward.” This was a talk given during a series of Lenten reflections. Check it out HERE.
Audio Samples from “Wandering in the Wilderness”
I have uploaded to audio samples from a talk I gave called “Wandering in the Wilderness” to my audio page. This talk was given during a series of Lenten reflections. Check them out HERE.
Fast with Joy and Gladness – An Old Testament Word on Fasting
Since some of us are in Lent I though I’d share this passage I came across today in my reading. Here is an Old Testament word on fasting from Zechariah 8:
18 The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: 19 Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be seasons of joy and gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah: therefore love truth and peace.
There are times in our lives when seasons of fasting just can’t be seasons of seriousness and somberness for sin for some people. Here I think it is because the Lord has resolved to do good earlier in verse 15 which precedes this: “so again I have purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; do not be afraid.”
So, what’s the lesson? No need to be legalistic about fasting. Sometimes the need for repentance is dire, but sometimes we are so blessed that even in a somber season, we can’t be somber. It kind of reminds me of the text where Jesus says that his followers can’t fast because the bridegroom is present. If that’s you this Lent, do your fasts in joy and gladness!