At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. (Mark 1:12)
Which voices do we listen to? The world is a noisy place and we are bombarded by voices telling us what to wear, what to buy, what to believe, what is beautiful. During this holy season of Lent, we are invited to enter the desert with Jesus. Here we will learn, like Jesus, to discern the voice of our loving God against the din of competing voices. As we allow God’s voice to speak deep in our hearts, we discover ourselves as loved unconditionally, as beloved. As we come to know ourselves as God’s beloved, we are more able to see the face of God in the needy around us and to become instruments of God’s love and mercy to those we encounter.
Pope Francis encourages us “to lose ourselves decisively on the path of Jesus, the path which leads to life…Let us enter into the desert without fear, because we are not alone; we are with Jesus, with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. In fact, as it was for Jesus, it is the Holy Spirit who guides us on the Lenten journey; that same Spirit descended upon Jesus and has been given to us in Baptism. As we cross the Lenten ‘desert’, we fix our gaze toward Easter, which is Jesus’ definitive victory against evil, against sin and against death.”
We invite you to enter fully into this Lenten journey into the desert. Take advantage of the offerings of our collaborative for prayer and reflection, for service and for reconciliation. Let’s listen together to the voice of God.
Fr. Jim
COLLABORATIVE SCHEDULE
This year’s influenza virus is the most widespread outbreak since public health authorities began keeping track more than a dozen years ago. To help protect the health of all, the Cardinal directs the following for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and for flu prevention:
Before I leave for the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and am out of touch until the beginning of February, I wanted to reflect on the vows of poverty and obedience that all those in religious life are called to take. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!
This week: SUNDAY, JANUARY 7
Donuts & Coffee is ready to go for the New Year! All we need are some volunteers to host. Please sign-up on the board in the Social Hall or email 
A Holy Hour for Life will be held as part of the Archdiocesan observance of the National Day of Prayer and Penance. Led by Fr. Laughlin, we will pray together for those who have been wounded by abortion, for respect for the dignity of human life from conception to natural death, and that those who govern us may be guided by justice, truth, and a love for the gift of life. The Holy Hour for Life is organized by Boston Deacons for Life in collaboration with the Pro Life Office of the Archdiocese of Boston. Please join us, all are welcome.