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A New Chapter!

written by Jenny Ozor on Friday after Ash Wednesday

Stop right now. Can you name three things that you are grateful for today? Maybe it’s the fact that you got to catch up with your friend you had not seen in a while. Maybe the glistening sparkles in the (albeit cold) snow reminded you how grateful you are to be on planet Earth. Whatever it is, there is always something to be thankful for.

Being grateful in the moment is easier said than done, am I right? Too often I, as I know many do, compare myself with others and my past. It’s a problem that only creates more problems. Perhaps you fell off the wagon a bit during your last Lent. Does that mean you are doomed? Not in the slightest. God has given each of us a fresh start with which we can draw closer to him. In Lent we relinquish what separates us from his mercy and love. Through emptying ourselves in whatever way we are called to, we are able to become full. The best part is, we don’t walk alone! Jesus walks ahead of us and our brothers and sisters in Christ walk alongside us. I’m striving to become more aware of this—of the goodness he pours out daily. Don’t get caught up in self-comparison which can rob one of a spiritually nourishing Lent. Believe that he will strengthen you and challenge you for your ultimate good.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-aeDEvOzVU]
I chose the song “Write Your Story” by Francesca Battistelli to accompany this blog post. The “poppy” sound may not be for everyone, but the lyrics are beautiful. It’s a reminder that this season is a new chapter in our spiritual lives. Though it may be difficult at times, Lent is something to be grateful for! It can be a beautiful chapter, too, in the story of our lives. Let’s allow God to write it with His grace.

Questions for Reflection:

How is God calling me to enter a deeper relationship with Him than in the past?
Have I been cognizant of the blessings that God places in my life daily?

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 Jenny Ozor
Jenny is a sophomore studying Neuroscience at the University of Michigan. She is actively involved in Campus Ministry programs at St. Mary.
Email: ozorj@umich.edu

One Thing Remains

written by Stephanie Smith on Thursday after Ash Wednesday

I find today’s Gospel to be particularly relevant to my life today. When faced with new challenges, new opportunities, and new relationships, I often find myself paralyzed with fear. I think to myself, “I like my life the way that it is! I don’t want things to change!” Sometimes the change in my life can be good, but other times it can take the form of a job loss, the end of a relationship, or the death of a loved one. I can find myself desperately holding onto my life out of comfort or out of fear. The impermanence of life can overwhelm me as I am forced to acknowledge that nothing really stays as it is.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” The God who loves us is constantly renewing us and calling us to a deeper relationship, calling us to conversion, and that call means that it is impossible for us to stay just as we are. Jesus calls us not to preserve our lives for our own sake, but rather to lose our lives for his sake. I lose my life in the name of Christ when I seek his will above my own, even when that means that I will face difficulty and uncertainty.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_KXsMCJgBQ]

While there are many things in our lives that may change, Christ’s love for us is steadfast even to the point of death. It is his death and suffering that makes our own deaths temporary. When we say yes to losing our lives in his name, we say yes to the eternal life that he offers. As we begin this holy season of Lent, it is a great time for us to ask ourselves how we may lose our lives for Christ.

Questions for Reflection:
What are the crosses we carry, and how can we carry these crosses in ways that build up God’s kingdom?
How can be become more detached from our own desires and orient our lives towards Christ?

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Stephanie Smith
Stephanie is a resident parishioner and an active member of the Graduate/Young Professional group at St. Mary Student Parish. She teaches theology and coaches volleyball at Divine Child High School in Dearborn.
Email: stephlogan9@gmail.com

Show Me Love

written by Fr. Eric Sundrup, SJ on Ash Wednesday

Have you seen the Coca Cola commercial #MakeItHappy? If not take a quick look.  That odd synthesized chorus in the background is “Show Me Love” by Hundred Waters.

It’s an interesting lens to use today as everyone starts putting up #AshTag selfies. We are capable of great cruelty and ugliness. We are also capable of great love and forgiveness. What are you going to spread this Lent?

Today’s readings warn us about the dangers of forgetting why we fast.

Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them…

When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites…

To paraphrase Jesus a little: If you fast or do righteous deeds… Show me love. Don’t lose track of the love that is at the base of your Lenten preparation, the reason for your fasting.

When we mark ourselves with ashes today, we remind ourselves that we are sinners and we are in need of redemption. Try not to give into pride. We don’t mark ourselves to be praised and exulted. We mark ourselves because we know we need help. We need preparation. We need to change. We need to be converted. We mark ourselves because we are sinners, sinners who have hope.

The first lines of the song on the Coca Cola commercial say:

 Don’t let me show cruelty
Though I may make mistakes
Don’t let me show ugliness
Though I know I can hate

Today we acknowledge the reality of our cruelty and our ugliness. We acknowledge our need to prepare. We will make mistakes. We know we can hate. But that doesn’t need to be the end of the story. Let us pray that the ashes on our foreheads remind us of our need to be converted. Let us pray that our fasting lead us to conversion. Now is the time to prepare. We prepare ourselves so that we might show love more fully every day.

Show me love
Show me love
Show me love

Questions for Reflection:
In what areas of your life are you most in need of help, change, or redemption?  Talk to God about these things and ask God for help.
How might you show love this Lent?

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Fr. Eric Sundrup, SJ
Fr. Eric was ordained in June 2014 and joined the SMSP Campus Ministry staff in August. A native of Cincinnati, OH, Fr. Eric relocated to Ann Arbor after completing his degree at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA. Fr. Eric spent part of his Jesuit training living and working in Bolivia and Peru and is excited to be working with our vibrant Hispanic ministry.
Email: esundrup@smspnewman.org

Now is the Time

Welcome!  The time is here – the St. Mary Student Parish blog is back for the season of Lent with daily reflections from a wide variety of voices including students, SMSP staff, UM faculty, young professionals and resident parishioners.

As we journey with Jesus and one another through the desert this Lent, let our hearts be open so that we may be ready to receive the joy and new life that Jesus promises to each one of us through his Easter resurrection.

Come back tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, to hear from Fr. Eric Sundrup, SJ or sign up to receive our blog updates via email on the menu to the right.  Until then, check out this video from Busted Halo to learn all about Ash Wednesday and Lent in 2 minutes.