First Sunday of Lent | Sacred Heart of Punta Gorda, FL | March 6, 2022

the catholic community of sacred heart welcomes you to this liturgy on the first weekend of lent this weekend in both ukraine and russia christians will begin their sunday liturgies with the words in peace let us pray to the lord in the city of kiev the city of saint vladimir who brought christianity to the slavic people more than a millennia ago these prayers will be especially poignant as they will be accompanied by a sense of betrayal even if their siblings in faith do not endorse the russian government's actions in ukrainian synagogues jews will gather for sabbath haunted by memories of a previous generation's oppression during the holocaust even as they plan for evacuations from ukraine to the safe haven of israel in ukrainian mosques muslims who come together for friday prayer will fear for their safety and so we as a worldwide community of faith we pray lord jesus christ you said peace i leave you peace i give you we join our prayers with those of the people of ukraine who look to the heavens for peace and protection during this time of violence and depression and we ask your mercy that it may change the hearts and the minds of those who have chosen the path of destruction and especially to all those who are suffering in ukraine we say hi vu buddha zivama brati sestra ukranini nashi amen and we say together as a worldwide community amen now we join in the eucharist of our lord [Music] led by the spirit of our god we go to [Music] fast with christ into the wilderness we join his past [Music] thus says [Music] temptation face [Music] [Applause] [Music] we must rely on god's redeeming grace [Music] we seek the will of god [Music] praise to god the trinity the source of life the living word may flesh to set us free [Music] to make us friends of god this mystery far beyond our reach [Music] in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit the grace and the peace of god our father the great love the wisdom the joy of our resurrected and ascended savior jesus our christ and the fellowship of their holy spirit be with you all amen well hello to everyone at home yes we begin the great season of lent i love lent and i pray that you do too it comes from an old english word lenten which means springtime and i always like to think of lent as kind of a spring cleaning you know you throw out clutter in the house and you any of you that do that spring cleaning ritual it's a time for spring cleaning in the heart and the mind so to prepare ourselves for this lent let's all of us take that big cleansing breath together in and let's breathe out all of our worries our concerns our problems and become very simple and clean in god's presence we take a big second breath in we breathe out and welcome a silence which is in effect very healing and cleansing for us we take that third breath in and as we breathe out we make room for god we discover that we have room for god and now we learn as never before how to enjoy god brothers and sisters as we are indeed broken let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate these sacred mysteries have mercy on us lord for we have sinned against you show us o lord your mercy and grant us your salvation may almighty god have mercy on us forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life amen let us pray grant almighty god through the yearly observances of holy lent that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects through our lord jesus christ your son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit one god forever and ever amen a reading from the book of deuteronomy moses spoke to the people saying the priest shall receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the lord your god then you shall declare before the lord your god my father was a wandering araman who went down to egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien but there he became a nation great strong and numerous when the egyptians maltreated and oppressed us imposing hard labor upon us we cried to the lord the god of our fathers and he heard our cry and he saw our affliction our toil and our oppression he brought us out of egypt with his strong hand and his outstretched arm with terrifying power with signs and with wonders and bringing us into this country he gave us this land that is flowing with milk and honey therefore i have now brought you the first fruits of the products of the soil which you o lord have given me and having set them before the lord your god you shall then bow down in his presence the word of the lord r [Music] be with me lord when i am in trouble be with me lord i pray be with me lord when i am in trouble be with me lord i pray you dwell in the shelter of the lord most high who abide in the shadow of our god say to the lord my refuge and fortress god in whom i trust with me lord when i am in trouble be with me lord i pray [Music] guarding you always and burying you gently washing over your life me lord when i am in trouble be with me lord i pray those who cling to the lord live secure in his love lifted high those who trust in his on name lord he will never forsake you he will bring you salvation be with [Music] be with me lord i pray a reading from the letter of saint paul to the romans brothers and sisters what does scripture say the word is near you in your mouth and in your heart that is the word of faith that we preach for if you confess with your mouth that jesus is lord and believe in your heart that god raised him from the dead you will be saved for one believes with the heart and so is justified and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved for the scripture says no one who believes in him will ever be put to shame for there is no distinction between jew and greek the same lord is the lord of all enriching all who call upon him for everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved the word of the lord [Music] one does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of god [Music] a reading from the holy gospel according to luke filled with the holy spirit jesus returned from the jordan and was led by the spirit into the desert for 40 days to be tempted by the devil he ate nothing during those days and when they were over he was hungry the devil said to him if you are the son of god command this stone to become bread jesus answered him it is written one does not live on bread alone and then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single moment the devil said to him i shall give to you all this power and glory for it has been handed over to me and i may give it to whomever i wish all this will be yours if you worship me jesus said to the devil in reply it is written you shall worship the lord your god and him alone shall you serve and then the devil led him up to jerusalem made him stand on the parapet of the temple and said to him if you are the son of god throw yourself down from here for it is written he will command his angels concerning you to guard you and with their hands they will support you lest you dash your foot against a stone jesus said to him in reply it also says you shall not put the lord your god to the test when the devil had finished every temptation he departed from jesus for a time the gospel of the lord praise to you lord jesus christ ah my dear friends on the first sunday of lent every year we usually hear one or the other of the temptation narratives of jesus christ you know he's in the desert now and uh the devil comes and you know i i thought when i first studied this that these temptations were one and done with christ kind of like the dragon appears he slays the dragon and that's it but no notice the last line the devil leaves him for a time jesus went through these trials and temptations his entire life and this he was very human like us it's consoling really but if jesus found it necessary while he walked on the earth with us to undergo trial and temptation then we have to face ours but we ask ourselves why is trial and temptation necessary why do we go through that well it's because it's the only period in which we really grow you know when life is uh going along great everything is going our way life's wonderful it's easy you're in cruise control wonderful but you're not growing really it's when the trial comes then we change then we grow the trouble is when we're in the midst of it we try frantically to solve our problem and usually by ourselves ourselves and we don't even think usually about the growth factor because we can't feel the growth when we're in the middle of the trial but for mature christians now when we feel safe enough when we feel grounded in god enough to endure conflict how we grow we really do and you know in our time it's quite obvious isn't it to you it certainly is to me that we live in a very unstable society i think it's true to say that people in the maine don't feel safe would you agree with that that many people maybe the majority of people in society anywhere don't feel safe loved cared for affirmed respected used any other term you wish and now we have a wonderful religious answer for that and as all overused as you might think it still boils down to trusting in god trusting in god how many times do we hear that but that is in the end the remedy to all of our ills a phrase that i like better than even that it's that simple one let go and let god reality with a capital r is wonderful and you might know notice that it's always flowing reality is always in flow so our happiness and security come really when we have learned the great art of flowing with it which demands of us doesn't it learning that art of letting go remembering that revealed to the great saint and doctor of the church julian of norwich it is said that christ himself revealed to her all is well all is well everything's in a mess but all is well what a paradox but once we trust god we live that truth everything is really all right we live in a benevolent universe however there is this adversary that comes along and so let's look at these specific temptations that christ endured during this period of trial and uh the first one he comes and really all three of them have to do with power think about this they have to do with power and the first is the personal power of christ the devil says oh you're hungry here turn this stone to bread but jesus resists the temptation to use his personal power for his own self-interest he's not going to be doing miracles for himself because he is going for something deeper and something truer which he will reveal with time and then that second temptation comes along and this temptation seems to be a temptation to political and ecclesial power itself you know he's very wily and very cunning isn't he the devil says look at all this you could reign supreme over it all if you'll bow down and worship me everything's been handed over to me and i can give it to anyone i want oof isn't that a scary line does this really mean that the devil is in charge oh my word but certainly it's saying that normally to get power at that level to some degree you have to sell your soul to some degree you have to give up the true gospel values of jesus christ and i think that's really what happens unless we're grounded in something deeper as jesus was by and large all of us can be using our power for personal gain whether in the halls of our government or in the boardrooms of big business sadly in our churches and even in our homes if only we could see during our brief lifetime on earth when we are endowed with power in whatever form to use it for the common good to use it to work for real peace and justice while on this planet we hold dearly in common and then this third temptation to me is the scariest one of all this one is about the misuse of religion can you believe if you'll notice in the first two temptation jesus is the one who's quoting scripture but now in this third temptation the devil quotes scripture so just because someone comes along and uh he's saying the bible says this the bible says this the bible says this well don't be too impressed all right a devil can misuse the word of god people can say write things they can say very holy things and sound holy but sometimes only for their own glory only to stand over and against someone and their rightness only for their own security and their need to maintain their personal power so it's even a beautiful scripture that the devil uses you know his angels will guard you lest you dash your foot upon a stone who could argue with the beautiful scripture like that right so it's not what we say it's why we say it let me repeat that we're talking about the quoting of scripture it's not what we say it's why we say it we can certainly say things that are right for the wrong reason and we can say the right thing simply to maintain power over and against people now really in the end i don't think any of us can handle power certainly not me without having passed through all these steps we have to pass these tests before we can handle power we can't need power personally we can't need power politically and we can't need it religiously as we heard two weeks ago in the sermon on the plane jesus extols the poor in spirit these are the ones who don't need to be important they don't need to be famous and they don't need to be in power these are the ones my friends who are the chosen ones where god says the kingdom of heaven is yours you shall inherit the earth all that i have i give to you now that's power indeed in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit so do you believe in god the father the almighty the maker of heaven and earth i do i do too do you believe in his son our lord jesus christ who was born of the virgin mary suffered under pontius pilate was crucified died and was buried i do me too do you believe that jesus who died rose from the dead that he ascended into heaven and to him alone belongs the divine right to judge anyone the living and the dead i do i do too do you believe in the holy spirit the holy catholic church the communion of the saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and life everlasting amen i do too this is our faith and as we begin the season of lent we celebrate it with immense depth and immense joy let us present our needs to god who is gracious and merciful slow to anger and abounding in love for the church that it will be an ambassador for christ to the world by announcing the good news of reconciliation we pray to the lord lord hear our prayer we pray that all members of the church will take the opportunity that lent offers to renew their faith to increase in holiness and to prepare joyfully for the great feast of easter we pray to the lord lord hear our prayer in this time of lent may god's word be on our lips and in our hearts may we confess as lord jesus calling on his name to make us righteous in god's sight we pray to the lord jesus was tempted to turn from god's way and be ruled by other values in life may we be his faithful followers leading lives that are sustained by gospel teachings about integrity and truth we pray to the lord by r grace jesus resisted evil in his life may we too call on god in time of trouble and be moved to choose what god wants rejecting the attraction of sin and refusing to be ruled by its power we pray to the lord for all who have died marked with the sign of faith may they be reborn to eternal life for our loved ones for the sick and the homebound the military law enforcement personnel and all first responders and we remember most especially all those for whom we have promised to pray we pray to the lord r lord hear our prayer god ever faithful have mercy on your church in its need as we turn away from sin help us turn to you in repentance as we leave sinfulness behind let us embrace your holiness with all our hearts we ask this through christ our lord blessed are you lord god of all creation through your goodness we have this bread to offer which earth has given and human hands have made it will become the bread of life blessed be god forever by the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity blessed are you lord god of all creation through your goodness we have this wine to offer the fruit of the vine and the work of human hands it will become our spiritual drink bless us lord god we ask you to receive us and to be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts lord wash away my iniquities and cleanse me from my sins pray my brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to god the almighty at father hands for the praise and glory of his name for our good and good of all this holy church give us the right dispositions o lord we pray to make these offerings for with them we celebrate the beginning of this venerable and sacred time through christ our lord amen the lord be with you lift up your hearts let us give thanks to the lord our god it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks lord holy father almighty and eternal god through christ our lord by abstaining 40 long days from earthly food he consecrated through his fast the pattern of our lenten observance and by overturning all the snares of the ancient serpent taught us to cast out the leaven of malice so that celebrating worthily the paschal mystery we might pass over at last to the eternal paschal feast and so with the company of angels and saints we sing the hymn of your praise as without end we acclaim [Music] [Music] heaven and earth [Music] [Music] you are indeed holy o lord the fount of all holiness make holy therefore these gifts we pray by sending down your spirit upon them like the dewfall so that they may become for us the body and blood of our lord jesus christ at the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his passion he took bread and giving thanks broke it and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given up for you in a similar way when supper was ended he took the chalice and once more giving thanks he gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood the blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins do this in memory of me [Music] the mystery of faith when we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim your [Music] [Applause] therefore as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection we offer you lord the bread of life and the chalice of salvation giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of christ we may be gathered into one by the holy spirit remember lord your church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of charity together with francis our pope and frank our bishop and all those who serve you remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all who have died in your mercy welcome them into the light of your face have mercy on us all we pray that with the blessed virgin mary mother of god with blessed joseph her spouse with the blessed apostles saint francis saint claire saint therese and all the saints who have pleased you throughout the ages we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life and may praise and glorify you through your son jesus christ [Music] through him and with him and in him oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever and [Music] together now we lift up our hearts and pray the beautiful prayer jesus himself taught us our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil deliver us lord we pray from every evil graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior jesus christ for the kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and forever lord jesus you said to the apostles i leave you peace my peace is my gift to you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and grant us the peace and the unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever amen the peace of the lord be with you always we turn to each other now with a sign of our love and peace and if you are tuning in praying with us today and are by yourself join me for a moment won't you as we pray for peace throughout the entire world [Music] lamb of god you take away the sins of the [Music] [Applause] have world on us [Music] have mercy on us lamb of god you take away the sins of the world [Music] behold the lamb of god behold him who takes away the sins of the world blessed are those who are called to the supper of the lamb [Music] [Music] my jesus i believe that you are in the blessed sacrament i love you above all things and i long for you and my soul since i cannot receive you sacramentally come at least spiritually into my heart as though you have already come i embrace you and unite myself entirely to you never permit me to be separated from you amen [Music] in the morning when i rise in the morning when i rise in the morning when i rise give me jesus give me jesus you can have all this world but give me jesus [Music] oh when i am alone oh when i ever give me jesus [Music] [Music] give me [Music] [Music] die oh when i come to die give me jesus give me jesus give me jesus you can't have all this world but give me jesus give me give me [Music] jesus give me jesus you can have all this world but give me jesus [Music] let us pray renewed now with heavenly bread by which faith is nourished hope increased and charity strengthened we pray o lord that we may learn to hunger for christ the true and living bread and strive to live by every word which proceeds from your mouth through christ our lord amen before we go on our separate ways we the apostles of punta gorda are so pleased to come to you as we do each week and we pray for you we pray with you and we all hope you have a great clarifying and cleansing lent so as we move together now uh thanks so much again for always hitting that like button that helps us hitting the little subscribe button hitting the bell and sometimes it's great to hit the share button if you think today's message could help someone nothing wrong with hitting that share button and you can spread the word and a partner with us and getting the gospel out to as many people as we can and that said my dear friends the beautiful blessing of saint francis of assisi may the lord bless you and keep you may he show his face to you and be gracious to you may he reveal to you this day his providence tenderness and care for you and all the days of your lives may he at this moment touch you with the grace of his peace the lord bless you the father the son and the holy spirit amen our celebration of the eucharist is now finished we go forth in peace and enjoy to love and to serve the lord thanks be to god and with any luck we will be coming back to you next sunday to celebrate the second sunday of lunch [Music] you who dwell in the shelter of the lord who abide in his shadow for life [Music] refuge [Music] [Music] you on the breath of dawn make it to shine like the sun [Music] [Music] will never capture you that famine [Music] his and faithfulness will raise you up on the eagle's wings dare you on the breath of dawn make you to shine like the sun and hold you in the palm of [Music] his this he's given a command to guard you in all of your ways upon their hands they will bear you up and he will raise you up [Music] [Music] of his head [Music] love his face [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] you

Channel: Sacred Heart Catholic Church

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Keywords: Sacred Heart, Jerry Kaywell, Church, Catholic, Punta Gorda, Mass, Charity, Religious, Holy, Jesus

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Length: 50min 58sec (3058 seconds)

Published: Sat Mar 05 2022