For Reflection:

“Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)

Being forgiven and to forgive are the cycle of Christian life. What do you need and how would you like to be treated when it comes to forgiveness?

A MESSAGE FROM FR. JACK BUTLER:

Dear Friends,

We are BC, and as BC, we claim our Christian, Jesuit Catholic heritage. So like years of old when you attended the Heights, let's prepare for Easter together as a community, the BC community past and present.

As we begin Lent let us make a deal to accompany each other into the heart of God's love for us. God is love and is about love. God's love is always a gift and loving forgiveness is a sure sign of the presence of God. God always forgives us, but knowingly or unknowingly uses us to express that forgiveness to one another, and in so doing we appropriate forgiveness for ourselves.

Throughout Lent you are invited to listen to the hearts of others as they make God's love real for us through the telling of their own personal stories. The stories aren’t long – about two minutes each – but they are gifts to us to help us in our prayer and maybe in our action. Each clip will have a scripture passage and a question for personal reflection. Treat yourself each week to a new gift of forgiveness and love as shared by our friends through these short videos. Ponder where you are in need of God's love, or where God's love is calling you.

Lent is a time of renewal. Lent is a time of love. There is no need for self-hatred, in fact that in itself would be against God's love. There is no need for fear. God's love is free and God's love is grace itself. During this Lent, be open to God's love and forgiveness, and just maybe be inspired to be a sacrament of that love for another. Be assured that the sign of forgiving love is freedom. During this season, enjoy a deeper understanding that in fact you are the apple of God's eye. Forgiving love is not magic, nor does it erase memories. Iin fact, it might not even change the concrete reality, but what it does is transform within and allows the true meaning of Easter, the resurrection, to begin in us all.

~ Fr. Jack Butler

Vice President, Mission and Ministry

Alumni Responses:

"It is so often through testimony we journey closer to God. Thanks for sharing."   ~ Elizabeth Allen '87

"It is heartwarming to listen to the video comments and share them with friends on Facebook. Thank You." ~ Muriel Desrosiers '65

"Very nice reflection. Kindest regards." ~ Sally Healy NC'60

"Thank you for this gift of a soul stirring reflection.  The opportunity to reflect on this, and then put it into action is a grace from God, facilitated by BC.  How wonderful to be part of this faith community."

"It's important for us to realize that true FORGIVENESS is actually a gift from God.  We can struggle with forgiving but the peace and love that come with it and fully fill us is a pure gift. from the One who forgives us endlessly, patiently waiting for us to do the same.  Not because of this or that reason but as Jesus did, saying on the cross:  Forgive them for they know what they do.  We can always do that  because truly the "they" who hurt us actually don't really know what they are doing." ~ Fran Zubryd, MEd'87