Deacon Steve Holton, Fort Worth Serra Club Chaplain, offers monthly spiritual reflections here on our website and at club events to guide our lives, prayer and work as Serrans.
A founding member of Holy Family Parish since 1969, Deacon Steve was ordained to the permanent diaconate in August 2020 and has been assigned to Saint Peter the Apostle in White Settlement since then. Married to Debi Holton since 1981, the couple has two daughters and three grandchildren. Deacon Steve was appointed Chaplain of Fort Worth Serra Club by Bishop Olson in August 2023.

God's plan is Perfect!

Brothers and sisters,
 
I pray that your Lenten journey has enriched your spiritual life through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, assisting you to expose the stumbling blocks interfering with God’s perfect plan for your life. Dealing with our limitations and shortcomings is only part of the challenges that affect our lives. The trauma of an extremely polarized secular society can poison all relationships, starting in our own family and spreading into every community, nation, and finally, the whole world. Humanity is deeply divided, living in ideological silos that conceal, distort, overshadow and diminish the joyful truth of Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Glorious Resurrection. In the beauty of God’s perfect plan, Jesus, both human and divine, experienced the same challenges all humans are exposed to, bringing temptation to sin.
 
On the first Sunday of Lent, Jesus completes his 40-day sojourn in the desert, overcoming isolation and fasting. Concluding this time of prayer, reflection, and suffering, Jesus emerges with a great hunger. In this weakened state, Satan tempts Jesus and offers nourishment, power, and glory if Jesus denies God and the plan for His life. Jesus promptly rejects the evil one, firmly responding, “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
 
On the second Sunday of Lent, the Gospel message tells us that Jesus ascends a mountain to pray, taking with him Peter, James, and John. Jesus’ appearance changes, and his clothing becomes dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus. Their discussion is centered around Jesus’s exodus and exactly what he will accomplish in Jerusalem. This narrative not only reveals the horrific fate awaiting Jesus, but this event also confirms Jesus’ divinity as the voice from the cloud says, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him!”
 
On the third Sunday of Lent, some people question Jesus about certain Galileans who were killed at the hands of Pilate for their traditional sacrificial offering. Perhaps they are implying that their punishment was due to their sinfulness. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think these Galileans suffered in this way because they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?... By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” Then he told them the parable of a three-year-old fig tree planted in an orchard that produced no fruit. The landowner instructs the gardener to cut it down. The gardener appeals to allow him one more year to cultivate and fertilize it. The gospel message is clear, calling us to repent and turn away from our sinfulness. The merciful gardener (God) demonstrates his immeasurable compassion and mercy as he patiently gives all humanity more time to bear good fruits.
 
On the fourth Sunday of Lent, we encounter the parable of the prodigal son. This is a beautiful story of unconditional love from a father, a father without judgment and condemnation, a father who cares so deeply for his children that he allows them to make their own choices. Yet when they stumble, he opens his arms to embrace the lost son (or daughter) and welcomes them home. Of course, the other son, who faithfully remained home, took issue with his father’s unconditional love. The father’s response? “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” In reflection, which child are we?
 
On the fifth Sunday, we hear the magnificent story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, individuals who have a special relationship with Jesus. So much so that at the news of Lazarus’s death, Jesus appears perturbed and deeply troubled. Later, when Jesus saw Martha weeping, Jesus would ask her “Where have you laid him?” and then Jesus wept. Jesus’s humanity is on full display. As the story continues, Jesus’ divine nature and power from on high resurrects Lazarus some four days after being placed in a tomb. The power of our God has no limitations!
 
The final Sunday of Lent before Easter, known as Palm Sunday, reveals the lengthy Passion narrative of Jesus. Starting with the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood, Jesus gives his disciples these instructions: “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” The narrative continues with Jesus’ prayer and agony in the garden, the betrayal of Judas, Jesus’ arrest, mock trial, and scourging, and finally being led away for his crucifixion.
 
These six Gospel readings taken from the Gospel of Luke expose the reader to God’s call to repentance on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” We see the unconditional love of our heavenly Father as he demonstrates patience, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. First giving his children more time to produce fruit that lasts, proof that no matter what we do, God does not abandon us. By raising Lazarus from the dead, we see the limitless power of God. This is the perfect example of what Jesus has in store for every faithful Catholic – eternal life with the most Holy Trinity!
 
Brothers and sisters, I pray that you each find solace, comfort, and peace on Resurrection Sunday, as “God so loved the world, He sent his only begotten Son to free us from sin.” Through the sacraments, instituted in His one True Church, may we be nourished by the sacred words of scripture. May Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity through the Eucharist prepare us for God’s perfect plan for our eternal life in paradise!

God Bless you all!
Deacon Steve Holton, Chaplain
Serra Club Fort Worth