3^rd TUESDAY OF LENT, MARCH 25

Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10

Hebrews 10:4-10

Luke 1:26-38

Emmanuel!  The Lord is with us!  How appropriate that tonight, on the Feast of the Annunciation, the Springfield Catholic community will celebrate Confirmation.  In today’s Gospel, the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear the Son of God.  Mary responds, “May it be done to me according to your word.”  Through her words and actions, God takes on human flesh and is born into this world.  In the sacrament of Confirmation, we are asked if we will bear Christ to the world, and we respond similarly to Mary.  Through our words and actions, God also takes on human flesh and is borne to this world.

There is an old saying: “God has no hands or feet working in this world but yours.”  Through Confirmation, we are called to an active faith, one which we live out in our daily lives, a faith which is preached through what we do, not by what we say.  Lent is the time we take stock of how we are living out our faith. 

The words addressed to candidates for Confirmation at the Easter Vigil are: “The promised strength of the Holy Spirit, which you are to receive, will make you more like Christ and help you to be witnesses to his suffering, death, and resurrection.  It will strengthen you to be active members of the Church and to build up the Body of Christ in faith and love.”  How does Christ take on flesh and blood in your life and in your family and community through your life?  How are you living out your Confirmation?

[Confirmation begins tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Kuss Auditorium, and all are welcome to attend!]

• By Lisa Lenard Chiles