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
As we enter deeper into this time of isolation, separation, illness and uncertainty, I find that I have good days and bad days - days where this makes sense on some level and days where I am short-tempered and frustrated and angry that so much is out of my control. Today is one of the latter days. Even though the sun is shining and the birds are chirping, I have been on edge. I’ve lost my temper and yelled at my kids. I snapped at my husband. I prayed for this whole thing to just be over.
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.” (Ps 18:7) In a reflection on the current reality, today’s psalm resonates deeply in my heart. For all intents and purposes, our lives have virtually (pun intended) been turned upside down. Distress. This week, Dr. Acton referenced the movie Groundhog Day, specifically how Bill Murray’s character went through the stages of grief. Distress. We have friends who live at a distance from close family who are being directly impacted by COVID-19 but they are unable to be with them. Distress. My college roommate is a diocesan priest and his heart aches at limitations placed on the sacraments and his ability to minister to others. Distress. Adults and students are under increased strain caused by isolation, creating vulnerabilities for depression and anxiety. Distress. Many are experiencing some sort of grief, fear, concern, distress right now. We pray for those struggling with sickness and those caring for them.
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
The text from John that is before us today is a tough one. It’s the sort of reading that calls one to seek out a good commentary to try to figure it out. I say that because if you try to get the meaning of what Jesus is saying off the surface of the text, you can end up in a very bad place. Without context, it can sound like Jesus is just ripping “the Jews”—as if “the Jews” are his opponents. You won’t be surprised to hear that many a Christian over the years has used this reading as a weapon against Jews.
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today’s first reading brings us the familiar story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their deliverance by God from the fiery furnace. Fans of the Veggie Tales cartoons will remember them as Rach, Shack, and Benny. In fact, if you’re at home with your children (or even if it’s just you!), you might enjoy watching the episode based on this scripture reading with them and discussing the biblical message. You can find the full-length version here. This scripture from Daniel is so timely as we find ourselves in the fiery furnace of a pandemic. Just as God delivered the three friends from the crisis in which they found themselves, so also will God deliver us. And not only did these three men experience deliverance, they used the opportunity of crisis to witness courageously to their faith. Because of their faith and their boldness to share it, the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar repented and experienced conversion. May our faith and love for God shine through these troubled days so that others may come to know the loving deliverance of our Lord. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain that focus when our fears, anxieties, despair, and the whole host of human emotions try to take over. How do we keep faith, hope, and love in the driver’s seat during times like this? I think our responsorial psalm gives us an answer.
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
I love you! How often do we say these words? I love you! How often do we hear these words? I love you! How often do we let these words settle into our souls in a way that allows us to be lifted up? If we could go back ten or twenty years and tell our younger selves a few things what would they be?
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Several months ago there was a big fuss about a priest refusing Joe Biden communion. In the future there will be more media fusses about all sorts of events and human interactions. Today’s readings seem to offer us a Godly perspective on how we handle the media and the fuss.
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
“Then each went to his own house.” Although this is the last sentence in today’s gospel reading, it could be a headline for today’s news. This move to separate during Jesus’ time came from a place of division and judgment. As many of us ”go to our own house” to shelter in, our choice to distance ourselves from each other has a completely different viewpoint. As followers of Christ, our social isolation can reflect our awareness of the unity of all people, and our call to love each other even in the face of great suffering and loss.
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Most people do not want to die. Even Jesus avoided death; he didn’t resist it, but avoided it (as we hear in today’s gospel, he did not want to travel in Judea because he knew some there were trying to kill him). And in the book of Wisdom, a few verses prior to the start of today’s passage, we read, “...God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.” (Wisdom 1:13) I find this reassuring as we are forced to look squarely at death and the heightened risk of so many people’s lives in our country and world right now.
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
In today’s first reading from the Book of Exodus (32:7-14), Moses begs God to spare his people, even though they have created a golden calf to worship as their god. Moses had remained faithful, so God promises to make of him a great nation after destroying the Israelites. But Moses implores God to remember his promise to his chosen people and relent. God relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
I will admit that I feel intimidated writing the reflection for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. This has been a highly significant feast day for me personally, for many years. I experienced a “divine interruption,” a startling, supernatural work of God in my life on this date, March 25, 2011. This act of God took place prior to my conversion to Catholicism, certainly before my awareness or knowledge of feast days, and definitely without my conscious awareness at the time that God was up to something. It was only through spiritual hindsight that I came to recognize the marvelous and extravagant gift that God imparted to me that day. I also came to understand that Christ’s activity in my life was influenced by His Mother, my Mother’s intercession. I am in awe once again, as I type these words, lost in wonderment, overcome by gratitude, marveling at our Blessed Mother’s constant care and intercession. Her continual, uninterrupted ministry is to bring us closer to her son, our Lord Jesus Christ. How can I offer a reflection that even begins to honor our Blessed Mother and her love for each of us? I feel intimidated. From that space, I offer a simple prayer: Lend me your heart, dear Mother.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
These days, there is a lot of fear in popular discourse. While present circumstances are unique to our world, a general fear of disaster is common throughout human history. The psalms are loaded with human-divine reactions to it. Today’s Psalm is an excellent example and a balm to our troubled minds.
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
Today’s first reading begins with these words - “Come, let us return to the LORD, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” - Hos 6: 1 - 3
Friday of the Third Week of Lent
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The story from Matthew that we read today seems like exactly the story that we need. What a model. Joseph thinks he knows what’s ahead. He is engaged to Mary and their wedding is approaching. I can imagine that he is feeling very good about all that. He has much to look forward to. Living with his wife, starting a family, watching that family mature. He might even have thought for a moment about years down the road when he and Mary would enjoy their grandchildren.
Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Today’s readings have a common theme – God’s words and commandments for God’s people. God’s love undergirds all of God’s instructions and counsel. God desires the very best for each one of us, God’s beloved daughters and sons. Because God desires that we thrive and enjoy abundant life, God reaches out to us in love and teaches us how to live. I can’t help but draw some parallels between today’s texts and the current global health crisis. As we respond personally and collectively to the current situation, let us consider how today’s readings help to guide us.
Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
What does it take for us to be moved by compassion? In today’s Gospel, the Master is moved with compassion when the servant bows down and begs for mercy. The servant also promises to pay the master in full. When the servant refuses to show the same compassion, the Master intervenes. The story almost feels easy to place ourselves.
Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Children of Men came out when I was in college. If you are unfamiliar with it, it is a movie based on a book and is set in the near future after a near-apocalyptic tragedy. Human beings stopped being able to conceive children. The movie is set nearly two decades after the strange event and this gritty, violent, and intense movie shows the imaginings of how much harsher the world would be if we were not tempered by our love for children. This may spoil part of the movie for you, but this theme is driven home when an entire warzone comes to a halt as soldiers hear the cries of a newborn child being carried through the violence. The darkness and grittiness of Children of Men came to mind as I read today's first reading.
Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
All of today’s scripture focuses on the great mercy of God. This is the Good News! We find great joy and hope in the belief that God will always be ready to forgive and welcome us back. The challenge for us is that we sometimes believe that God’s mercy should be limited to those we believe deserve His forgiveness. Jesus reminds us that God’s mercy is beyond measure and is available to all who ask and believe.