We will not have a Penance Service this Lenten Season. Instead, we will have days of Confession for our parishioners as follows:
Tuesday, March 19 from 4:45 pm to 5:15 pm
Thursday, March 21 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Friday, March 22 from 1:00 pm to 3:45 pm (no confession at 4:45 pm)
Saturday, March 23 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
St. Paul, Harker Heights: March 19 from 10 am-12 pm and 7 pm-9 pm
St. Joseph, Killeen: March 20 from 6 pm-9 pm
“The tomb became a womb, and as a womb giving birth, thus from the tomb arose the newly-formed Lazarus” (St. John Chrysostom)
The Life of Christ in the Sacraments
Today is the 5th Sunday of Lent. On this Sunday, we are celebrating the Third Scrutiny which reminds us that Jesus is the “Resurrection” and the “Life.” In today’s Gospel (Jn 11:1-45), Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead after he had been in the tomb for four days.
The raising of Lazarus is the sixth of seven signs that Jesus performs in the Gospel according to John. By this miracle, Jesus demonstrates that he is the source of all life. Ironically, he provokes the Jews to start plotting his death because he raised the dead.
After Jesus is informed that his friend Lazarus is critically ill, he waits for two more days before going to visit him. Martha and Mary express their disappointment at this delay saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21,32). However, this delay is intended to help generate faith in the disciples because raising the dead to life will have a more meaningful effect than healing the sick. By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus demonstrates that he is truly the Resurrection and the Life – truly God.
When he was shown where Lazarus was laid, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) out of love and sympathy for Lazarus and his family, a sign that he is truly human in all things but sin. He calls on Lazarus with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43), demonstrating what would happen during the resurrection on the last day, when the dead will hear the voice of the ‘Son of Man’ and rise from their tombs.
The raising of Lazarus reminds us of the life-giving power in the sacraments, especially the Sacraments of the dead: Baptism and Penance, which give the supernatural life of sanctifying grace to souls that are spiritually dead through sin.
~Fr. Augustine
Stations of the Cross after 5:30 pm mass every Friday during Lent.
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Parishioners who are unable to walk in the communion line to receive the Eucharist during weekend Masses are asked to inform an usher before Mass begins each week. This will ensure that the head usher directs the Extraordinary Minister to your seat and that you do not miss the opportunity to receive Our Lord.
If you or a family member are ill or facing surgery, and would like to be anointed, please contact the office to let Fr. Augustine know at least 2 days in advance of your scheduled procedure. When it is not an emergency, please call before going to the hospital. Our number is 254-547-3735.