Deacon Scott

Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL. Apple Geek.

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day 34: Reconciliation

After a long day of hard work—especially the kind that leaves you tired, dusty, and uncomfortable—there is nothing quite like stepping into a warm shower. The water washes away what clings to you. The weight of the day lifts. You step out feeling lighter, cleaner, renewed. The Sacrament of Reconciliation does this for the soul.

Sin clings to us more than we realize. Small resentments, impatience, distractions in prayer, selfish choices, and sometimes more serious failures quietly accumulate. Over time, they weigh on the heart and dull our awareness of God’s presence. We may grow used to carrying them, but that does not mean they belong there.

Confession is God’s cleansing grace. It is not meant to shame us but to restore us. Like a refreshing shower after exhausting labor, this sacrament washes away what burdens us and returns us to spiritual clarity and peace. Jesus does not merely overlook our sins—He removes them.

Many avoid confession today because the world teaches us to excuse sin instead of surrender it. But the mercy of Christ is not something to fear. It is something to enter.

Lent is the perfect time to step into that grace. No sin is too great. No habit too persistent. No soul too weary.

Let the Lord wash your heart clean again.

Read today’s full reflection:
https://t.co/4Sjab6I1ER

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day 33: Pride

Pride is the most dangerous of all sins because it hides itself so well. Unlike other sins, it rarely feels like rebellion. It often feels like strength, confidence, independence, or even righteousness. But pride quietly places self where God belongs.

The reflection today reminds us that pride shows itself in subtle but revealing ways: being easily offended, needing recognition, resisting correction, judging others, or insisting on our own way. These attitudes seem small at first, yet they slowly reshape the soul. Pride makes us less teachable, less charitable, and less open to grace.

This is why pride is so spiritually dangerous. It closes the door to conversion.

Our culture encourages pride constantly. We are told to define our own truth, defend our image, promote ourselves, and demand affirmation. Humility, by contrast, is often misunderstood as weakness. But humility is not weakness—it is truth. It is seeing ourselves as we really are before God: loved, dependent, and in need of mercy.

The humble person does not need to win every argument. The humble person can accept correction. The humble person serves without needing applause. Most importantly, the humble person allows God to remain God.

Satan fell through pride. Adam grasped at equality with God through pride. And every time we insist on our own will over His, the same temptation returns.

Yet the remedy is simple and powerful: ask for the grace of self-knowledge. True humility begins when we allow God to show us who we really are. Only then can He reshape us into who we are meant to be.

Today, ask the Lord for the courage to see yourself honestly. Humility opens the soul to grace—and grace changes everything.

Read today’s full reflection:
https://t.co/PLwZycCN3a

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day Thirty-Two: Lust or Purity

Today’s reflection reminds us that sexuality is a sacred gift from God—but one the enemy eagerly distorts. Our culture has become increasingly immodest, seductive, and sensual, making lust seem normal rather than dangerous. Yet lust quietly reshapes the way we see others and ourselves, turning persons into objects and love into self-gratification.

This is precisely why lust is such an effective temptation. It begins with something natural and good—our God-given desire for love and union—and subtly twists it. The devil exploits the strength of this desire, knowing how easily it can be misused and how quickly it can become habitual. Even more, he takes advantage of the shame and discouragement that often follow, trapping souls in cycles that feel difficult to escape.

Lust also confuses our identity. When sexuality is separated from God’s design, we lose sight of who we are as sons and daughters of the Father. Disordered desire promises freedom but produces restlessness, dissatisfaction, and isolation instead. What appears attractive at first gradually weakens our capacity for authentic love.

The remedy is chastity and purity of heart. Chastity rightly orders our desires according to our vocation, and purity allows grace to transform our passions into self-giving love. Christ shows us this path from the Cross in His total surrender to the Father. When we imitate His self-gift, our hearts are healed and our desires restored to their true purpose.

Ask the Lord today to purify your mind and heart so that your love becomes free, faithful, and truly life-giving.

Read today’s full reflection:
https://t.co/iVuPN2YafJ

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day 31: Greed or Generosity

Greed is not only about money or possessions. It can also appear in our spiritual lives when we begin to seek consolations, feelings, or experiences more than we seek God Himself. When that happens, even good things can subtly take His place. True freedom begins when we learn to accept both consolation and dryness with trust.

Jesus calls us to something deeper: poverty of spirit. This poverty is not deprivation but dependence. It is the recognition that everything we have—our time, talents, relationships, resources, and even our spiritual gifts—comes from God and is meant to return to Him in love. As today’s reflection reminds us, generosity flows from wisdom: we discover the purpose of what we possess and use it for God’s glory and the good of others.

On the Cross, Jesus revealed the perfect model of generosity. He gave not only His life but even His Mother to us. Nothing was held back. That same spirit of total self-giving is the path He invites us to follow.

Lent is a privileged time to examine what we cling to—material comforts, control, recognition, or even spiritual feelings—and to place them back into God’s hands. When we do, we discover that generosity does not impoverish us. It enlarges our hearts and fills us with lasting peace.

Ask today: What am I holding onto that God is inviting me to give?

Read today’s full reflection:
https://t.co/anfeQ63sp8

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

"The Lord Stands Beside Us Like a Mighty Champion" My homily this morning at Mass. Jeremiah and our Gospel remind us that faith does not remove life’s struggles but gives us confidence that the Lord stands beside us like a mighty champion. https://t.co/a4ufNr7K2B

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day 29: Gluttony or Self-Control

Gluttony is often reduced to overeating, but its roots go deeper. Physical gluttony begins when we look to food, drink, or comfort as our primary source of satisfaction rather than receiving them as gifts ordered toward health and strength for God’s service. When we habitually eat more than we need, seek constant snacking, crave luxury over simplicity, or turn to food to soothe anxiety or boredom, the body quietly begins to lead the soul instead of serving it.

This matters spiritually. The discipline of moderate eating trains the will. It teaches patience, detachment, gratitude, and freedom. Even small acts—choosing a simpler portion, resisting unnecessary treats, or fasting with intention—strengthen our ability to say yes to God in greater matters. Self-control in the body opens space for grace in the soul.

Lent reminds us that true satisfaction does not come from fullness of the stomach but from communion with God. Jesus fasted in the desert to show us that we do not live on bread alone, and He invites us to rediscover the joy that comes from ordered desire and trusting reliance on the Father.

Today, notice what you reach for when you feel tired, restless, or discouraged. Let moderation become an act of love that makes room for God to satisfy the deeper hunger of your heart.

Read today’s full reflection:
https://t.co/giveuw3i2W

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day Twenty-Eight: Envy or Joy?

Envy quietly steals peace from the heart. It turns our attention away from God’s gifts to us and fixes our eyes on what others have instead. We begin comparing, measuring, and resenting—forgetting that the Father distributes His grace with perfect wisdom and love.

Some envy is worldly. We may look at another’s success, possessions, recognition, or influence and feel diminished. But these things pass. When our hearts cling to what is temporary, envy grows easily because there will always be someone with more. The remedy is to seek first the Kingdom of God and the lasting riches of Heaven.

There is also a more subtle spiritual envy. This appears when we see holiness, virtue, or fruitful ministry in another person and feel discouraged or overlooked. Instead of rejoicing that God is at work, we quietly wish those gifts were ours. Yet the truth is simple: we are on the same team. Every grace given to another strengthens the whole Body of Christ. (My Catholic Life!)

Jesus shows us the antidote from the Cross when He promises Paradise to the good thief. His mercy reminds us that we should desire salvation and holiness for every soul. When we truly want Heaven for others, envy gives way to joy.

Today, ask yourself honestly: Do I rejoice in the blessings God gives others? Or do I compare and compete? A grateful heart is a free heart. When we thank God for the goodness we see in others, we begin to share in their joy—and grow closer to Him together.

Read today’s full reflection:
https://t.co/uYuBWyEvGk

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

“Lazarus, Come Out!” A homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus reveals His power over death and prepares us for Holy Week. Jesus calls us to step out of our tombs and live. https://t.co/sfa6gRtRzE

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day 27: Sloth or Diligence

Sloth is often misunderstood as simple laziness, but spiritually it runs much deeper. It is a quiet resistance to grace—a preference for comfort over conversion, distraction over devotion, and ease over love of God. The slothful soul begins choosing what is easiest rather than what is holy.

This temptation is subtle in our time. It rarely looks dramatic. Instead, it appears as postponed prayer, neglected charity, endless scrolling, or the quiet thought: I’ll begin tomorrow. Over time, these small choices weaken our zeal and make the spiritual life feel heavy rather than joyful.

Diligence is the remedy. It is not frantic activity or perfectionism. True diligence is steady fidelity. It is choosing prayer when we feel dry, kindness when we feel tired, and trust when we feel discouraged. Diligence keeps the heart turned toward God even when enthusiasm fades.

Lent invites us to notice where sloth has quietly settled into our habits. Perhaps the Lord is asking for just one small act of renewed effort today: a few extra minutes of prayer, a sincere act of charity, or a willingness to begin again.

Grace strengthens every step we take toward Him. When we respond with diligence, even in small ways, the soul awakens and begins to move again with purpose and peace.

Read today’s full reflection:
https://t.co/k0rQby6pFs

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day 26: Angels

After Jesus resists the devil in the desert, Scripture tells us: “Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.” This moment reveals a powerful truth—God never allows temptation without also sending help.

We often focus only on the struggle: the temptation, the weakness, the battle within. But today’s reflection shifts our focus. We are not alone. Heaven is actively assisting us.

The Church teaches that God sends different angels for different purposes. Most personally, each of us has a guardian angel—a constant companion who guides, protects, and prompts us toward what is good. Even when we feel alone, we are not.

There are also the archangels, sent for specific missions:
St. Michael the Archangel defends us in spiritual battle,
St. Gabriel the Archangel delivers God’s truth, and
St. Raphael the Archangel brings healing and guidance.

Beyond these are other choirs of angels who help carry out God’s will in ways we do not see—but their presence reminds us that God’s care is ordered, intentional, and constant.

When Jesus rejected temptation, angels came to strengthen Him. The same is true for us. When we turn to God in our weakness, Heaven responds.

So don’t fight alone.

Call upon your guardian angel.
Ask St. Michael to defend you.
Trust that God’s help is already near.

Because the same Lord who allows the trial…
is the One who sends His angels to minister to you.

40 Days in the Desert – Day 26: Angels
You are never alone—Heaven is fighting for you.

Read today’s full reflection: https://t.co/KMG3ciuFq3

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

"Walking with Christ in a Divided World" My homily this morning at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Remain faithful and trust God amid anxiety, political division, and global uncertainty. While the world may reject the just, God never does. https://t.co/kMki9wt2JF

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day 25: Worship

Worship is not just something we do—it is who we are created to be. At its core, worship is pure love: a total, self-giving response to God who loves us first. And yet, every day we hear two competing voices. One invites us to adore God alone. The other subtly draws us to worship something else—success, comfort, control, or even ourselves.

The truth is simple but demanding: whatever we love most, we worship. Only one object of worship will truly satisfy the human heart. Worship is nothing other than pure love, and that love alone fulfills us.

How easy it is to give God partial worship—some time, some attention—while holding back parts of our heart. But God asks for everything, not because He needs it, but because we do. Only in total surrender do we find true freedom.

Lent is a time to examine what we truly worship. What do you cling to? What do you fear losing? These reveal the altar of your heart.

Today, choose to worship God alone—with an undivided heart.

Read today’s full reflection: https://t.co/WSipu4txhP

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day 24: Idols

It’s easy to assume that idol worship is a thing of the past. After all, we don’t carve statues or bow before golden images. But today’s reflection calls us to look more honestly at our hearts—because idols are often far more subtle, and far more dangerous.

An idol is anything we begin to trust, love, or depend on more than God.

It can be money, security, health, comfort, success, reputation, control, or even relationships. None of these are bad in themselves. In fact, many are blessings. But when they become our source of identity or our ultimate hope, they quietly take the place that belongs to God alone.

This is the same temptation Jesus faced in the desert: “All of this can be yours.” A shortcut. A compromise. A way to gain everything—without the Cross.

But Jesus refuses.

And in doing so, He reveals a powerful truth: anything we place above God will eventually disappoint us. Idols always overpromise and underdeliver. They may satisfy for a moment, but they cannot fulfill the deepest longing of the human heart.

Only God can do that.

So today we are invited to ask a difficult but necessary question: What is competing with God in my life? What do I cling to? What am I afraid to lose?

Lent is a time of purification. A time to gently but firmly remove anything that has taken God’s rightful place. Not because God wants less for us—but because He desires to give us infinitely more.

Choose Christ. Choose the Cross. Let go of what cannot save—and embrace the One who can.

Read today’s full reflection: https://t.co/zkfgO8mIQb

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day Twenty-Three: True Heights

In today’s reflection, the devil takes Jesus to a very high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence. From that lofty place he promises Jesus power and glory—if only Jesus will bow down and worship him.

This temptation reveals one of the devil’s most subtle tactics. He often begins not by inviting us directly into sin, but by dazzling us. He first impresses us with something that appears beautiful, successful, powerful, or desirable. Only afterward does the deeper temptation appear.

We experience this in many ways. It might be the desire for recognition, influence, success, or control over our circumstances. None of these things look sinful at first glance. In fact, they can appear quite good. But when they begin to pull our hearts away from God, they quietly become a trap.

This is why the spiritual life calls us not only to reject sin itself, but also to avoid the near occasion of sin. Certain environments, habits, and situations place us closer to temptation than we should be. Wisdom helps us recognize those places and step back from them before they lead us further away from God.

Jesus faced this temptation so that our human nature could be strengthened through His victory. By rejecting worldly power and glory, He teaches us where true greatness is found.

The world promises impressive views from its mountains of success and prestige. But the true height of the human soul is reached only when we worship God alone.

Read today’s full reflection:
https://t.co/BNZhjXzmvR

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

"Lord, I Want to See" My homily at the 10:00 Mass today at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Let us ask the Lord to remove whatever blinds us so that, recognizing Jesus for who He truly is, we can say with faith: “I do believe, Lord.” https://t.co/AS4KIT2TwZ

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day 22: Joy

As we cross the midpoint of our Lenten journey, we often find our initial fervor beginning to wane. The "desert" can feel increasingly dry, and the sacrifices we made with such resolve on Ash Wednesday may now feel like heavy burdens. However, today’s reflection invites us to look past the immediate "fun" of worldly distractions to the profound, lasting fruit of a well-lived Lent: Joy.

It is essential to distinguish between "fun" and "joy." While fun is found in temporary pleasures—vacations, hobbies, or social gatherings—joy is a spiritual fruit born of freedom from sin, clear thinking, and a deeper union with God’s will. The path to joy is often arduous, much like the labor of giving birth or the intense focus required for a final exam. Lent is not designed to be "fun"; it is designed to be transformative. It requires us to look honestly at our sins, which is a difficult and humbling task. Yet, it is precisely through this purification that the soul finds its greatest satisfaction.

Consider Jesus at this midpoint of His forty days. By now, the physical toll would have been immense—hunger, thirst, and exhaustion were His constant companions. Yet, He did not waver. He remained focused on the joy of the Resurrection and the salvation of souls that would follow His sacrifice. This divine perspective allowed Him to endure the heat of the desert and the weight of the Cross.

If your Lenten commitment has begun to waver, use this day to reinvigorate your spirit. Do not lose your drive. The road to the joy of Easter is paved with the hard work of Lent. By embracing the desert now, we prepare ourselves to fully experience the glory of the Resurrection. Let us pray for the grace to persevere, trusting that the Lord is leading us toward a joy that no earthly pleasure can provide.

Read today's full reflection:
https://t.co/0PiqaHnMJ4

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert -- Day 21: Tempting God

In today's reflection for Day 21 of our Lenten journey, we confront the subtle and often misunderstood sin of "tempting God." Drawing from the second temptation of Jesus in the desert, where the devil suggests He throw Himself from the pinnacle of the Temple, we are reminded of Christ's firm response: "You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test." To tempt God is to place our own expectations, desires, or conditions upon Him, rather than surrendering to His perfect and holy will.

We often fall into this trap in our prayer lives without realizing it. We might pray for a specific outcome--a healing, a business success, or an academic achievement--and subconsciously attach a condition to God's love based on that result. If the healing doesn't happen, or the business fails, we may feel as though God has abandoned us or didn't listen. This mindset treats God as a servant to our personal plans rather than acknowledging Him as the Master of our souls.

True prayer is not about changing God's mind, but about allowing His will to change us. As Deacon Scott reflects, the only perfect prayer is the one modeled by Jesus in Gethsemane: "Not my will, but yours be done." When we stop testing God and start trusting Him, we find a peace that surpasses understanding. We must strive to conform our hearts to the petitions of the Lord's Prayer, seeking only that His Kingdom come. By letting go of our demand for proof or specific signs, we dismantle the deceptions of the evil one and enter into a deeper, more authentic relationship with our Creator. This Lent, let us examine the "if" statements in our prayers and replace them with a total surrender to the Father's love, knowing that His plan for us is always for our ultimate good and salvation.

Read today's full reflection: https://t.co/mvkuk7Gz7E

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert -- Day 20: Distortions

The journey through the Lenten wilderness brings us today to one of the most subtle and dangerous traps of the spiritual life: the distortion of truth. In the second temptation of Jesus, we witness the devil attempting to use the very Word of God as a weapon of deception.

By quoting Scripture--specifically Psalm 91--the tempter tries to lure our Lord into an act of spiritual pride, suggesting that He "test" the Father's love by flinging Himself from the pinnacle of the Temple. This moment serves as a profound warning for all who seek to follow Christ. It reminds us that even holy things, when twisted and removed from the context of humble obedience, can become instruments of our own undoing.

Distortion often begins not with an outright lie, but with a partial truth that is misapplied. We see this in our own lives when we justify our shadows by pointing to our strengths, or when we use the promise of God's mercy as an excuse to remain in our sins. When we "test" God, we are essentially demanding that He conform to our will, rather than surrendering ourselves to His. Jesus' response, "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test," is the ultimate antidote to this spiritual vertigo. It is a call to a faith that is grounded in trust, not in a demand for signs or spectacular interventions.

As we move deeper into this Lenten season, let us ask for the grace of discernment--to see through the distortions that the world, the flesh, and the devil place before us. True security is not found in forcing God's hand, but in resting securely in His palm, trusting that His providence is sufficient for every trial we face in this desert. Let us reject the lure of spiritual ego and embrace the quiet, steady path of faithful endurance.

Read today's full reflection: https://t.co/cc5IvLFZ3Y

[Deacon Scott @iDeaconScott]

40 Days in the Desert – Day 19: False Presumptions

In the quietude of our Lenten journey, we often find ourselves standing on the "pinnacle of the temple," not physically, but in the spiritual heights of our own pride or misunderstanding. Today’s reflection brings us to the second temptation of Jesus in the desert, where the tempter suggests a leap of faith—not one born of trust, but of presumption. The devil quotes Scripture, reminding Jesus that the angels will bear Him up. Yet, Jesus responds with the clarity of Divine Truth: "You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test."

To presume upon God is to demand that He conform to our will, our timing, and our specific expectations of how Grace should manifest. We often fall into this trap when we pray for specific outcomes and then feel abandoned when God does not "perform" the miracle we demanded. True faith is the opposite of presumption; it is a radical surrender to the Father’s providence, even when the path leads through the valley of the shadow. During these forty days, we are invited to examine the "tests" we subconsciously set for God. Are we following Him only because we expect a safety net, or are we following Him because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

Jesus’ refusal to throw Himself down is a profound act of humility. He did not need to prove His Sonship through a spectacle. In our own lives, we must learn to trust in the quiet, consistent presence of God rather than demanding dramatic signs. This Lent, let us strip away the false presumptions that God owes us a life free of struggle. Instead, let us ask for the grace to trust that His hand is already holding us, even when we don't feel the rush of angels' wings.

Read today's full reflection: https://t.co/5kGg1OKBdn