Day: April 11, 2022

RECONCILIATION

It’s not easy to walk in the Lord’s

Footsteps – never was and never

Will be. 

The winds of sin can gradually

Blow me off course and, without

Even realizing it, I can sail in a

Direction contrary to my

Baptismal commitment.

Years ago, the notion of a long look

At the whole direction of my life was

Far from people’s minds – except for

People who had been away from the

Sacraments for a long time and needed

To make a “general confession”.

The Church is returning to the tradition

Of celebrating the sacrament of

Reconciliation by centering on baptism

And personal conversion.  This requires

Deep reflection and much longer preparation.

Lent is the time when I do this.  I attempt

To turn away from sin and be faithful

To the Gospel.

I feel good when I reach into the baptismal

Water and renew my “yes” to the Lord’s

Invitation to “Come, follow me.”

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

April 12, 2022 ^

Time is flying and there is

Much work to do.  I have no

Choice except to place my

Trust in you to guide me

Forward and hold me back

From areas where I would fail

You.  We as citizens of the world

Have great possibilities, but seem

To squander them as often as

They present.  Euphoria comes

From accomplishment, but the

Evil men get theirs from control

And victimizing others.  We can

Pray for a change, but history

Shows us that this is impossible.

We will take care of that which

Is in front of us.  This morning

The early sky was beautiful and this

Should give us hope.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

April 12, 2022 ^

A MEDITATION FOR LENT

Jesus said, “The person who is trustworthy

In very small matters is also trustworthy

In great ones; and the person who is dishonest

In very small matters is also dishonest in

Great ones.  If, therefore, you are not

Trustworthy with dishonest wealth who

Will trust you with true wealth?”

Luke attaches to this parable several sayings

Of Jesus to help interpret it.  These sayings

Were probably spoken at different times

By Jesus, and they bring out a variety of

Teachings suggested by the parable.

The point of the Jesus’ quote above is

That His disciples must be trustworthy.

They have to live the Christian faith ass

Honestly as possible in the circumstances

Of their own lives, including responsibilities

At work, at home, in the community, and

In the parish.                                    

That is not always easy to do, but it’s what

Disciples of Jesus who are trustworthy are

Trying to do.

Have I been a trustworthy disciple of Jesus?

Something to pray about, especially during Lent.

This meditation is brought to you by Stanski

April 11, 2022 ^

MEDITATION April 11, 2022

May this day go according to

Thy will.  Help me in every

Possible way to leave a good

Imprint where ever I go

And impress with kindness

Everyone I meet.  Let me

Give honor to You in everything

I do.  Allow me to bear some

Of the weight of the cross.  Amen       

Stanski

April 11, 2022 ^

While a foot of snow is

Falling in Montana, we

See the waves and 40

Degree temperature

Break up our moon scape

Which is now only thirty

Feet long.  The Ice Mountains

Are breaking up as the

Soft waves are pushing

Them toward the shore

Twenty of the thirty feet

Is moving and it won’t be long

Before the beach is just sand

We have no complaints

Compared to many places

We are living in luxury

Everything is available

And all we have to do

Is be selective and careful

The snowbirds are returning

And seem depressed.

They wanted to stay longer

But their funds have a way

Of drying up so they are

Putting their ambitions on hold

That is the sensible way

To behave.  There is

Loneliness in their eyes

They are happy to be back

But would rather be

Somewhere else

Many have lost their spouse in

The last few years and

No matter how they try

There is no way to replace them

A few more days of warm

Weather and sunshine will help

Things will return to summer normal

Stanski

April 11, 2022 ^