Lent 2006 Retreat

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Let us Pray,

Loving God, you are the center of our lives. Help us to hear your call to evangelize to the world. Open our hearts today to see your message as it applies to our lives. We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen
 
From the Gospel of Mark 16:15-20

He said to them, “Go into the whole world and Proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

(usccb.org/nab/bible/mark/mark16.htm))
 
God’s Call to Evangelize

My final talk of my five talk series is entitled God’s Call to Evangelize. At the end of the Gospel of Mark we see the challenge before us to make a difference in the world. Evangelization is not an easy task. Many of us are afraid of the repercussions that could arise if we are seen as too fanatical.

It always amazes me when someone in the parish will mention that they were visited by a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and they talk about the dedication of the visitors. Yet, when I tell them it is their duty to also go out and preach the gospel, they give me a funny look, “Yeah, right Father”. Do we really believe the message that we profess to believe each week? Is Christ truly the center of each of our lives? If so, we should be proclaiming the Gospel message with all of our hearts. Parents should be raising children who are not afraid to answer questions about what it is to be a believer. Priests should be encouraging the laity to take their role of taking Christ into the world.
 
I believe it was Saint Francis of Assisi that told his followers that they were to preach the Gospel always, and if necessary to use words. Much of the evangelization that we perform is in the manner that we live out our faith. I want you to ask yourself how you usually think about going to church on Sunday. It is usually clear in what we tell those around us. Do you tell people, “I have to go to Mass/Church today,” or “I get to go to Mass/Church today?” That is the first signal to yourself about your evangelization. A simple change of one word presents a completely different perspective.

I would like to direct you to Karl Keating’s book “12 Painless Ways to Evangelize” It is filled with examples of ways we can spread the truth of the Gospel, and not appear to be a fanatic. It gives us a chance to spread truth, even when we may be shy or unable to speak clearly.
 
This Lenten retreat, we’ve looked at God’s call in our lives. There is the call to conversion, the call to turn back to our loving God. There is the call to healing, the call to accept forgiveness and grace in our lives. There is God’s call to vocation, whether that be to married life or priesthood or religious life. These vocations, along with those called to the vocation single life separate from religious life, support each other in their growth and ministry. Those who live the life of conversion, who accept God’s healing and live out their vocation, are on the right path to answer God’s call to evangelize. Take Christ to the world.
 
Let us pray,

Good and gracious God, we’ve heard the call to proclaim the Gospel to the world. Give us the strength we need to be true witnesses of the Gospel. Help us to use the gifts you’ve given us to make you known to those we live with, to those we work with, to those we play with and to all we may meet. Grant us the courage to make a difference. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen
 
I would like to take this time to thank all of those who are taking part in this retreat.

When we started developing the plan for this retreat a few days before Ash Wednesday, I was not sure where it would go. I said that I thought I could put together five talks for a retreat, spread out a little so that there would be time for them to soak in and to give people time to send PM’s or e-mail to address anything that I may have brought up. Today I have posted my fifth talk. It was something I never would have thought up on my own. I’d like to thank the folks in the Water Cooler forum who are responsible for pushing me in this direction. They have also had some good discussion on the retreat as we’ve started this Lenten season. Thanks again to all who have helped make this a sucess. (Is this the point where we take up the free will offering? :twocents: I just couldn’t resist.)

If I have time between now and Easter, I may develop a bonus talk or two on subjects that I have not determined yet.
 
Let us pray,

Dear Lord, we thank you for this time together on retreat. We ask that you fill all of us who are a part of this retreat with a renewed sense of call in our lives. Help us to truly be an example as we try to put into practice the faith that we have. Build us up as your chosen people. We ask for your continued blessing upon all of us as we continue our Lenten Journey. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen
 
What happened to the rest of the Retreat. Is it on another thread?
 
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Lindathirdorder:
What happened to the rest of the Retreat. Is it on another thread?
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It was a mini-retreat, just the five talks planned - though as frleo said there may be another one or two before Easter.

There’s a ‘Lenten Retreat House’ thread (NOT the Internet Junkies one) which is where we’re posting our own reflections and meditations etc.
 
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