Holy Thursday
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
I will never forget the first time I participated in a Holy Thursday service that included foot washing.
Wednesday of Holy Week
During Holy Week we journey with Christ in his Passion. Our readings today offer glimpses into his suffering. The Isaiah passage and the psalm describe some of the physical abuse, ridicule, insults, and rejection that Christ endured. The Gospel presents Jesus’ betrayal by Judas Iscariot, one of his closest companions. As we contemplate Christ’s suffering, we not only recognize the extent to which he was willing to suffer for our sake, we also better understand the passionate, unconditional, eternal love that motivated his suffering.
Tuesday of Holy Week
The difference between what we are called to be and what we actually are can be pretty stark sometimes. In the first reading, we heard what might sound like a coach’s pep talk before a big game. “It’s not enough for you to be my servant. I will make you a light to the nations!” Then in the second reading, Jesus predicts Peter will deny that he even knows our lord, not once, but three times. Peter, the first Pope, leader of the Church, which is a light to the nations! Whose idea was it to put him in charge?
Monday of Holy Week
“What’s the fastest plane in the world?” was a question my 7th-grade class asked our teacher. We were playing a favorite game of ours, Stump the Chump. As of yet, we had been unable to stump him. His response surprised us all as he asked, “Jet turbine or rocket-propelled?” We once again realized that we were out of our league. It turns out the fastest manned, jet turbine plane on record is the SR-71 Blackbird. The best part of that plane is that it is completely unarmed.
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Both readings today speak of God’s desire to gather into one all that has been torn apart. This unification comes after suffering, sin and a rejection of God. The prophets of the Old Testament speak of this promise, and Jesus becomes the person whose life, death and resurrection fulfill the covenant that God has offered. As followers of Jesus, we are called to imitate Jesus by our lives of sacrifice and love so all may be one.
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
This past Wednesday, March 24, was the memorial of St. Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador who was martyred in 1980 and canonized in 2018. Shot and killed at the altar while saying Mass, he was said to have anticipated this violent end to his life as he stood in solidarity with the poor of his country. In his words, “One who is committed to the poor must risk the same fate as the poor. And in El Salvador we know what the fate of the poor signifies: to disappear, to be tortured, to be captive, and to be found dead.” This awareness did not stop Oscar Romero from continuing to live the life of discipleship to which he was called. However, this was not without struggle. A conversion of heart occurred even while Romero was bishop. Similarly, while not without struggle, risk of death did not stop Jeremiah or Jesus.
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
In today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah offers a messianic message, “The virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means God is with us!” We have come to know that it was Mary, a young girl of no status, from the village of Nazareth. She was the one who was called from an insignificant place, chosen to be the mother of God.
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
The leadership of our parish have very intentionally defined what discipleship means for us as a community. Our mission statement tells us, “Immaculate Conception Parish is a community of disciples that embraces Christ's call to holiness, community and servant hood. We live our call to be Christ's disciples through our spirit-filled worship, empowering reflection on God's word, and genuine service to our neighbors. We also strive to Think like Jesus, Talk like Jesus and Act like Jesus®️, and in this way make God's unconditional love evident for all.” How do we become better able to Think, Talk, and Act like Jesus? We become more Christlike as we remain in his word and are set free by his truth. Today’s Gospel invites us into this liberating possibility.
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Following Jesus is hard. Really hard. And for good reason. And just in case we did not know that or somehow forgot it or otherwise have been distracted from it, the text from John today puts it to us directly.
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
On my computer monitor, I have a post-it note with a quote I don’t remember finding and it says, “Never accept a label in place of a story.” This is the call we are offered today. We are called to seek out the story and ask what else is going on that we are not seeing right away. And there is always more to the story.
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
“There is no place like home.” There is a lot of truth to this famous phrase from Dorothy as she escapes from OZ. For many of us, there really is no place like home. Home is relaxing and rejuvenating. We are secure and welcome at home. That is what home is supposed to be. This is why sins against the home are so damaging and terrible. When a home becomes a place of fear, isolation, and exhaustion it violates everything it is supposed to be. It was the mentioning of the home that drew my attention in today’s Gospel. After the debate among the Pharisees, it says, “Then each went to his own house.” Why does John give us this detail? Was it a good or bad thing?
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today’s celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph is even more significant this year since Pope Francis declared it the Year of St. Joseph. In his apostolic letter on Dec 8, 2020, Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart), Pope Francis describes several characteristics and values of St. Joseph that we can all take to heart as a model for our own lives. In particular, he identifies the rather countercultural qualities of tenderness, obedience, acceptance, creative courageousness, and selflessness (or as he states, “in the shadows”). I don’t know about you, but I often witness a world placing too much value on assertiveness, ambition, dominance, toughness, guts, glory, determination, and strength, especially when it comes to the qualities of men. There is so much beautiful content and insight shared by Pope Francis. I would just like to highlight a few pieces and encourage you to read the letter in full.
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
An evangelical couple who were touring Amish Country one summer day learned about the many apparently peculiar and contradictory practices of the Amish. They learned, for instance, that the Amish can’t own cars but they can ride in them. They can’t plug into the electrical grid, but they can power a lamp in their living room with a generator. And while they can’t have a landline phone in their house, they can have a cell phone in their pocket. The more the couple learned about these seeming contradictions in Amish life, the more puzzled they became. As their day of touring came to a close at an Old Order Amish home (where they enjoyed an Amish-style dinner cooked for them for a fee), the couple asked their hosts the question that had been nagging at them all day: “You have all these rules that govern your Amish life. And, honestly, they don’t make much sense to us. So, as born-again Christians we just want to know—are you saved?” To that, the Amish couple replied, “we don’t know. You’ll have to ask our neighbors.”
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
One of the toughest tasks I was ever given in my life began with, “It’s thirty six hours you will not die of hunger or thirst.” Then they marched us to a place on the side of a mountain gave us a space to occupy a quart of water, a notebook and pen a short rope and a tarp. They left telling us they would be back the next day to get us. The staff at this camp had done this exercise before. We had everything we needed all we really needed to do was to trust what counselors had said. Instead I saw this ten foot square area as a prison. And it became a prison of my own making in that I failed to believe what I had been promised.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
I find myself sometimes being slow to realize when God is offering grace in my life, slow to pick up on clues pointing me in one direction or another and to recognize God’s voice speaking to me through the events of my life. The readings for today suggest that I need to pay more attention to the ways that grace is offered to me on a daily basis.
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
"I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth…" How often have we recited this during Mass and for how many years? Even reciting something as consequential as this can become rote. Sadly, many of us say these words and go on…unmoved by the significance of what we have just proclaimed. The point is I am saying that 'I believe'!
Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
God’s abundant mercy is a gift that is available for all people. As disciples of Jesus we are called to be merciful to others as God is merciful to us. In order to receive and to offer mercy, we must come from a position of humility. Today’s scripture remind us that being humble allows us to recognize both our need for forgiveness and our call to forgive. God desires our mercy, since forgiveness and love is necessary to build the Kingdom of God.
Friday of the Third Week of Lent
This may sound strange, but sometimes I forget that God is God and I don’t have to carry the burden of the world (or even of my clients or family members) alone. I don’t want to believe that I think I am God (or a god or goddess), but I’m aware that I am at times guilty of acting or thinking/worrying as if it’s all up to me. It’s actually a relief to me when I have those moments of realization, as arrogant as it sounds, that I am not God! One of my favorite prayers is a rather simple and honest one of Pope Saint John XXIII who apparently would say before sleep at the end of the day, “It’s your Church, Lord. I’m going to bed!”
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
In today's first reading I am drawn to the statement, "This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people." The Lord tells us to listen to his voice. While this sounds easy, it is often challenging to hear God's voice, in order to listen. Amid all of the noise of our lives, we must discern the Lord's voice. We can not expect to naturally and organically just hear his voice. We need to carve out time and space in which we are intentionally listening for the Lord's voice. We can hear his voice when we engage in daily prayer, when we spend time with the scriptures and when we create daily, intentional times of silence.
Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Imagine the impact the Church would have in the world if all Christ-followers authentically lived out the Gospel! One of the valid criticisms voiced by non-believers is that Christians don’t “walk the talk.” Our witness becomes one of hypocrisy rather than authenticity when we hear God’s Word but don’t put it into practice. Today’s readings invite us to consider the extent to which we “hear and observe” God’s word. As we more genuinely follow Christ’s teachings, not only will we experience the blessings of abundant life, but we become influential witnesses to Christ’s truth and love, drawing others into the presence of God. Our lives become contagious with the Gospel as we hear and transmit life and love.