ICEMANforChrist

MARCH The winds of March point to the power of God's Spirit working in us. We need to listen and respond to the gentle breezes of the Spirit; but will we, or will we be too distracted? The rebirth of spring reminds us of the energy of nature so that we ask ourselves whether we waste or wisely use energy –electricity, oil, gas, etc. Can we and should we continue to use nonrenewable fossil fuels, often with accompanying air pollution, at the rate we do? Or will the environmental ills we cause today call us in the future as a society to use wind and solar energy? Overview of the Month of March [1] The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph . The entire month falls during the liturgical season of Lent which is represented by the liturgical color purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart. John Paul II further said, “Because St. Joseph is the protector of the Church, he is the gu...

Saturday after Ash Wednesday LEAP DAY Sirach, Chapter 27, Verse 3 Unless one holds fast to the fear of the Lord, with sudden swiftness will one’s house be thrown down. This verse alone doesn’t make much sense; it is taken out of context. Verse 1 tells us the lesson: For the sake of profit many sin, and the struggle for wealth blinds the eyes. Sirach tells us that we must daily check ourselves and reflect if we in all our actions of our life’s business have done the will of the Father and acted with love and compassion. The Root of Wisdom [1] There’s a little gift from the Lord for each of us. So many of us have taken this particular gift, kept it neatly wrapped and stuck it high up on a shelf. We don’t want to even peek inside and see what is in it. The gift I am referring to is the 7 th one the Lord gave to us through the Holy Spirit — after wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge and piety. That it is mentioned last makes it no less precio...