Series on The Ascension Lenten Companion by Fr. Mark Toups (Part 6)
Our expectations and what God is doing can be totally different, so how should we respond to that? In the raising of Lazarus, the response of the Pharisees was to have Jesus killed. This was the tragic response of the heart when they were not open and unable to receive the mysterious and unconditional love of God. We can sometimes share the same humanity as the Pharisees too. We sometimes prefer to have Jesus out of our lives completely because of the changes, experiences, and difficult things that are happening in our lives that weren’t what we expected them to be. We want it to be a certain way but then it’s not that way.
But despite all that, we are invited to stay in relationship with Jesus through any difficulty, change, or experience. In this episode we’re gonna do a recap on the raising of Lazarus and dive into its mysterious reality and our response to that.
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Christian Contentment
In our world of wanting more and of endlessly upgrading, we have to get good at saying, “Okay, that’s enough.” There’s a game of constant consumption and if we’re not careful, it’s going to take advantage of us. Don’t get played! Simplicity isn’t about getting rid of everything. It’s saying “no” to things you need to say “no” to…
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Intimacy with the Bridegroom
The world is a crazy place. There’s always the temptation to hide, run away or to fear Love. There are distractions and lies—the lie that we cannot do it, that we may lose ourselves, that our love won’t be reciprocated. But we are made to be in love. First and foremost with the Lord, Jesus the bridegroom, who comes to save, to love, and to die for us, His bride. And from this love we are called to lay down our lives and give ourselves fully for a bride or bridegroom.
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Meekness: The Manger and the Storm
Have you ever felt frustrated when Jesus seems quiet while everything around you is falling apart? In this episode, the friars continue reflecting on “Blessed are the meek,” turning to two striking images: Jesus asleep in the manger and Jesus asleep in the boat during the storm. Both reveal a confidence rooted not in control, but in trust. Trust in the Father, trust in victory, even when chaos is loud, and fear feels close. They talk honestly about the frustration we feel when Jesus seems distant or inactive while we’re struggling. And they invite us to see that His silence isn’t absence, it’s the patience of love at work. Join us as we learn to trust Jesus in the storm and discover the peace that comes from knowing He is already with us.
