That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus.
Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
He is truly risen! Alleluia!
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power
As we begin our Pre-Lenten journey of preparation for the Great and Holy Lent and then enter that blessed season, let us take a moment to first rejoice. Now we might think, Pre-Lent and Lent – rejoicing. To me it seems like a rather somber season focused on penance and sacrifice. Shouldn’t I be sad? If we listen to our Lord, as we will hear in Ash Wednesday’s gospel, we are not to appear to be fasting, not to show off our charity, nor to make a spectacle of our prayer. This is key, we are to look like a people who have security and assurance, inwardly and outwardly rejoicing for the abundance of blessings God gives us through his Son, Jesus.
As those who are citizens of the Kingdom we are given the opportunity in these seasons to recall all our God has done for us and to set our eyes to better fulfilling our role as citizens. Where we fall short we are given an opportunity to make it right. We do that by getting back to basics. Our scripture above, taken from the letter of St. James, one of the earliest letters written to the first Christians only about six years after Pentecost, reminds us of essential basics (we read a lot of James’ Epistle in the Pre-Lenten season). The basics start with what we practice at every Holy Mass. We confess our sinfulness publicly to one another and we pray for one another. Then as Holy Mass progresses, we continue in our prayer for each other. It is in the Intercessions and even in the Canon of the Mass (called the Commemorations). We then carry those prayers forward individually throughout the week. What comes from that? It is what is promised, healing. It is also an assurance of the great power we have to overcome the world. Let us accept rejoicing this Lent as we practice those disciplines of penance, sacrifice, and prayer. In these lie our hope and assurance, our healing and joy, and our powerful Kingdom life.
Welcome to our February 2026 Newsletter. The Newsletter is replete with everything Pre-Lent, Ash Wednesday, and Lent. Join us as we rejoice through these holy moments with prayer, devotions, charity, and sacrifice. Support Souper Bowl Sunday as we have engaged for twenty-five years now. Honor Scouting on Scout Sunday. Join us for our Seniorate Lenten Retreat.
All that yes, and Music Scholarships, a prayer for Valentine’s Day, get ready for our annual Basket Social, Join us in work as a Veteran/Military Friendly Congregation, and study some ‘churchy’ reminders. There is still more in our February 2026 Newsletter. Check it out.
