The Seasons: A Poem

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Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
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Do not stumble...

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I read a quote yesterday that sums up today's Mass readings.  The quote was something to the effect of "Do not stumble on something that is behind you."

How often do we do this?  How often do we let the things in our past affect our present and therefore our future?  The devil brings to mind our past sins and failings as tool to keep us from doing good now and in the days or years to come.  He loves to use that which caused us to stumble before as a way to either make us stumble again or at least create a road-block in our life.

In today's Mass readings God tells us, "Do not stumble on something that is behind you."  Through the Prophet Isaiah we are reminded that God is in charge.  It is He who casts our enemies into the sea, drowning them in the waters of our Baptism.  God says, "Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new."  See, He is doing something new in your life.  He cannot do that if you insist on stumbling on something that is behind you.  Remember not the events of the past.

In St. Paul's letter to the Philippians God says the same, He gives us the same message - Do not stumble on something that is behind you.  God says, through Paul, "Just one thing; forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal..."  Our brother Paul too encourages us to leave what is behind us,behind us.  The goal is Heaven.  Jesus said the way is difficult enough without us adding our own stumbling blocks.  We must strive constantly toward that goal careful not to stumble on something behind us.

Finally, in the Gospel, God tells us, through the woman, "Go, and from now on do not sin any more."  He tells us that our sins are forgiven, and not to return to them.

As these final days of this Holy Season of Lent wind down, let us resolve to not stumble on something that is behind us.  Let us confess our sins to Christ through His priests, put our sins behind us, and strive forward toward the goal of Heaven.

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