“In my distress”
Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC (2014)

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent:

“In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God; From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” Psalm 18

“I don’t remember”
Sketch: Ronald Raab, CSC

Even though I walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil; for you are at my side. (Psalm 23)

We all hold a story of faith and love within our hearts. Faith is about remembering our story of salvation. Our common prayer in the Mass is a memorial of what God has done among God’s people. When our memories fade, we beginning losing our identity.  We lose the words to tell others who we are in the world. We lose our link to our past. We lose the love that binds us to family and friends, We lose the God who has brought us this far. Memory is sacred.

Memory loss is one of the most devastating diseases that we encounter for our loved ones or for our own lives. Learn more about how we are called to walk with loved ones whom do not remember us, to care for those whom may not remember our names, to walk with people whom may not understand where God may be leading.

Click here for an episode of On Being with Krista Tippett. (Really good)

Click here to watch a short video on Alzheimer’s. 

Click here to read more about Alzheimer’s. 

“The Jesus Prayer”
Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

In our prayer, we seek the face of Jesus. In our weakness, we depend on his mercy. In our searching, we ache to be found in his love for us. In the tragedies of our lives, we long to die to our selves and rise to new love in Christ. Our prayer is meant to pattern our lives in the dying and rising of Christ Jesus. This is the message of today’s gospel (John 12:20-33), that unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies it remains just a grain of wheat. Our prayer must find its home in the pattern of Jesus, the cross our only hope.

I want to draw your attention on this Fifth Sunday of Lent to “The Jesus Prayer”. Here is one version of the Jesus Prayer that I learned many years ago.

“Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.” 

This ancient prayer is meant to be prayed from our lips. When it is prayed over many years, our hearts and souls begin to pattern life in this message. Our souls take over the prayer and we begin to live the message even without our awareness. Our lips are called to pray this prayer during the Lenten season. I invite you to learn more about this prayer from the early Church.

The painting today is reminiscent of a mosaic from the early Church. I painted this piece on Friday. Seek the face of Jesus always.  Please learn more about the simplicity of “The Jesus Prayer.”

 Click here to learn more about the Jesus Prayer.

Click here to learn more about the Catholic tradition of the Jesus Prayer.

St. Joseph
Pencil: Ronald Raab, CSC

Our professed Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross are dedicated to St. Joseph, so today is their feast day. Here is a short reflection from our website of the Congregation of Holy Cross:

As Holy Cross brothers, we go to St. Joseph as the model of a life humbly lived for God and for others in poverty, chastity, and obedience. In living out his vocation as the husband of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus, St. Joseph remained unwavering in his loyalty, faithful to his mission, and unselfishly open to the will of God. Following his example, we seek to offer our lives to God and to others with that same loyalty, faithfulness, and generosity.

St. Joseph, pray for us

Click here to learn more about our patrons in the Congregation of Holy Cross

“The Veteran of All Wars”
Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

Recently, I have listened to several veterans who struggle with their lives now that they have returned to civilian life. One man has lost his family and may lose his home because of his health issues. Another veteran has found consolation in drugs and alcohol to numb the emotional pain from serving several tours of duty.

This painting represents veterans of all wars, from generation to generation. In this Lenten season, learn more about why our veterans struggle with homelessness when they return from serving our country.

Click here to read more about homeless veterans. 

Click here to read more about why veterans are homeless. 

“Which pills do I take?”
Charcoal: Ronald Raab, CSC

Today’s gospel is about the man who sat at the pool of Bethesda waiting to be healed. He sat there for thirty-eight years. Jesus heals him. Jesus invites him to take up his mat and walk. Today, many elderly women and men wait for such healing. Prescription drugs are a concern for our older population. People struggle to see the pills, to read the directions and remember when and how to take their medications.

Elderly people are often confused about the right use of these medications in order to find healing and pain management. “Did I take my pills today?” “I really cannot see my pills?” “Do I take them all at once or space them out during the day, I cannot remember?” “I thought for sure I took these pills this morning, I better take some more.”

Let us pray for our women and men who need assistance in their lives for the healing they need. Let us lift up to Jesus our cry for healing in mind, body and soul. Let us hear for our own lives Jesus saying to us, “Rise, pick up your mat and walk.”

Click here to read more about the difficulties older people face with medications. 

Click here for a quick fact sheet about our elders and prescription drugs. 

“Tender Life”
Charcoal: Ronald Raab, CSC

Let my steps be guided by your promise; may evil never rule me. (Psalm 119, The Entrance Antiphon for Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent)

During the Lenten season we face the deep suffering of our lives and of people struggling beyond measure. I want to add to your reflection for this season people who cannot carry their cross of suffering, especially our young people. Here are two important articles on the reality of suicide among teenagers. Please pray for our next generation and the hope that all will find God in the midst of their loneliness.

Click here for a new article on suicide rates for rural youth.

Click here for an article from the Center of Disease Control.