~ by Father Ron Camarda

People still come to me in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and confess that they missed going to Mass on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. I then gently inform them that they did not commit a sin because those days are not “Holy Days of Obligation” but rather “Holy Days of Opportunity!”

However, I still believe these are real and wonderful teaching moments. Jesus is specific when he says, “The Sabbath was created for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Although every Sunday is a “holy day of obligation,” for the mature Christian it becomes more of a holy day of opportunity.

Every single Sunday of the year is an opportunity to not only worship for about an hour in Church, it is also an opportunity to put out a little deeper into the Mystery of Love. Lent stretches us to be better lovers. If we truly used our Sundays and Holy Days of Opportunity, we could become really fruitful in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, self-control and faithfulness. Jesus said you will know his followers (his Beloved) by their fruit.

As we enter into this holy season of Lent (40 days not including Sundays), we have a great opportunity to become more holy. Rather than give up something, I try to do something for my fast. I ask Jesus to open my eyes to see His face, to open my ears to hear His voice, and to open my heart to love like He does. Then I am open to the opportunities that will come my way to perform the real fast that God requests and accepts like incense rising to Heaven:

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:

releasing those bound unjustly,

untying the thongs of the yoke:

Setting free the oppressed,

breaking every yoke;

Sharing your bread with the hungry,

sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;

Clothing the naked when you see them,

and not turning your back on your own.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

and your wound shall quickly be healed;

Your vindication shall go before you,

and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer,

you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

(Isaiah 58: 7-9)

God bless our very own Sister Marie Rene. She has performed this fast of doing the Love of God for the past 60 years. Let us Thank God for another year of Sister Marie Rene! I met Sister Marie Rene and Susi Pittman (soon to be an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph) when I was assigned as a deacon at Epiphany Parish back in 1989. What a blessing it was! Sister Rene has been a great mentor and friend of mine. Back then I was like a priest on training wheels!

Have a blessed week and enjoy the Holy Day of Fast and Prayer!

Love, joy, peace,

Father Ron Moses+

www.tearinthedesert.com

Father Ron Camarda is a retired Naval Chaplain and author of “Tear in the Desert,” a powerful book containing his memoirs of life and death at the Battle for Fallujah. Father Ron appears on EWTN and recently won the Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society of America.