How confident are you that you will be with the Lord in heaven? The scribes and the Pharisees were among those who were certain they were among the righteous. They followed the law, at least the letter of the law, or the literal expectations of the law. Yet, they did not understand the purpose of the law.

Was the law a mistake that God gave to His people? A superficial reading of certain Scriptures might lead to the conclusion that the law is inherently bad and that Jesus saves us from its repercussions. However, the law was established for a significant purpose: in order to cultivate a relationship with the Lord, we must live in accordance with his will. The law reflects God’s intentions. Jesus clearly states that his mission is not to replace or abolish the law but to fulfill it. While the law cannot provide us with salvation—something that brings hope to all of us who struggle with sin—Jesus empowers us to genuinely live out God’s will as articulated through the law, rather than offering us a way to sidestep it.

As Lent begins this Wednesday, we are invited to embrace living according to God’s will with Jesus’ guidance. It’s crucial not to underestimate the importance of the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. What do you hope to achieve this Lent? Do you need to cultivate greater mindfulness of the Lord in your daily life? Have you drifted from a healthy prayer routine, or is it time to renew your relationship with him? Consider fasting not just from food but also from distractions like electronic gadgets, that extra cup of coffee, or endless scrolling on social media. For almsgiving, how can you simplify your life to better assist your neighbors? Let’s encourage one another to engage more deeply with these Lenten practices. Participating in parish activities can also be enriching: celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, join us on Fridays for soup suppers and the Stations of the Cross, and spend time in Adoration, especially at our Lenten Festival of Praise on Friday, March 20, at 7:30 PM (note the change from the first Friday of the month). Visit OLPHParish.org/lent to explore all the opportunities to grow in faith at OLPH this Lent.

As we journey through this season of preparation, we have much to celebrate as a parish community. In just a couple of weeks, we will be welcoming Bishop Parker to OLPH for our Confirmation celebrations on March 7. In response to Archbishop Lori’s vision to shift Confirmation to elementary-age students, we are confirming over 160 candidates this year across elementary, middle, and high school ages. Please keep all our candidates and their families in your prayers: Come, Holy Spirit! My prayer is that this shift will bear great fruit throughout our parish. In interviewing many of these candidates, I am amazed by the faith already alive in them.

The following weekend, Fr. Lenin Suarez will celebrate our 9 am and 11am Masses on Sunday, March 15. Fr. Lenin has recently been appointed as the Associate Director of Vocations, with a primary focus on encouraging and cultivating vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Let us keep praying for our youth and young adults that they may remain open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in their lives and be willing to respond to his call.

Given the wonderful participation and desire to celebrate the Mass and receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, OLPH has added an additional afternoon Mass at 4:30 PM. Our Mass times are 6:30 AM, 8 AM, 4:30 PM, and 7 PM. Thank you for joining us as we enter this holy season of conversion.