Third Sunday of Lent
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.”  Forgetfulness, like so many things we encounter and face throughout the day has some benefits but also through it, we encounter great losses and spiritual defeats.  The tempter and enemy of our human nature has mastered the use of forgetfulness and is quite cunning in the ways he causes us to forget God and to forget others.  He draws us back into the state of sinfulness to the point we want and desire to re-enter our own personal Egypt, that place of sinful slavery where we are enslaved and imprisoned by sin and do not recall or remember God has set us free.  The enemy distracts us through forgetfulness.  He floods us with thoughts of worry and concern.  He encourages us to forget God’s grace and the gift and power and the use of prayer.  The enemy incites us to defend ourselves, go at it alone, rely on our own strength, rather than to remember God is greater than any problem we face.  God is greater than all creation.  God is greater than all he creates.  God has already defeated the enemy, recall the Way of the Cross – the humility of God, his Passion, the suffering and death of his Son, the Resurrection; the waters of Baptism that set you free and gave you back your life.  The victory is God’s, the benefits and graces are yours.  In the Garden of Eden, the enemy began to interrogate Adam and Eve, questioning their recollection of what God said and the things he flat out forbade.  The questioning is a tactical use of forgetfulness causing them and us to forget God’s word, reinterpreting what God said for our own selfish use and selfish gain and drawing on our disordered intentions to be independent from God, equal to God, better than God. Oh, how we forget the One who created us in such beauty and goodness.  Oh, how we forget the One who provides for our daily sustenance and cares for our joy and brokenness.  Oh, how we forget the One who suffered and died that we may remember and live again. Jesus clearly says in scripture and in Mass, “do this in memory of me.”  He gives us the gift to remember no one has greater love than the One who calls us personally friend, died for our sinfulness, ransomed us and set us free.  God’s mercy forgives our sins. His love forgets them.  Remember; never forget.

Reflections from the Heart – July 14, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - July 14, 2024
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out… He instructed ...

Reflections from the Heart – July 7, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - July 7, 2024
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 30, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - June 30, 2024
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 23, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - June 23, 2024
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 16, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - June 16, 2024
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “To his own disciples he explained everything in private.”  Are you tired ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 9, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - June 9, 2024
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 2, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - June 2, 2024
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christby Fr. Ivan Olmo Moses came to the people and ...

Reflections from the Heart – May 26, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - May 26, 2024
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinityby Fr. Ivan Olmo “You must now know, and fix in your heart, that the ...

Reflections from the Heart – May 19, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - May 19, 2024
Pentecost Sundayby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."  The ...

Reflections from the Heart – May 12, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - May 12, 2024
The Ascension of the Lordby Fr. Ivan Olmo “He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had ...

Reflections from the Heart – May 5, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - May 5, 2024
Sixth Sunday of Easterby Fr. Ivan Olmo "Get up. I myself am also a human being."  I think of how ...

Reflections from the Heart – April 28, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - April 28, 2024
Fifth Sunday of Easterby Fr. Ivan Olmo “God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.”  I am most grateful ...
The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.