Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Today's gospel reading (Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46) has some similarity to the show "Undercover Boss." The CEO or manager of a company goes undercover and does several of the grunt jobs available in his or her company. At the end of the show, the CEOs reveal themselves to the workers they've met, and either reward them (in really big ways) for their good work, or fire them for the poor work they did. The CEO is a bit like the vineyard owner, granting rewards or punishments for the tenants and laborers. Audiences find the show compelling, and sometimes even funny. After all, they're in on the joke: they know who the boss is!
Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
You’ve probably heard the saying something like, “people see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear.” I think there’s some truth to that, at least when we are in a closed or resistant frame of mind, or maybe in denial about something. Our perceptions can be influenced by what we believe to be true (or not true). Unfortunately, this can result in “blind spots” or a sort of selective hearing. This can be true in our spiritual lives as well. Today’s gospel reading (Luke 16:19-31), the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, provides us with a good example of just this sort of thing on two different levels.
Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
In Lumen Gentium, a document from Vatican II, we learn that the people of God by virtue of their Baptism share in Christ’s office of priest, prophet and king. This sharing means we too are called through grace to be faithful disciples who imitate Christ. In thinking of these three roles, do we see ourselves as priest, prophet and king? Would I dare think of myself as a prophet? Do I embrace my ministry as priest or prophet with joy, or is it more like resentment? Often our response is like Jeremiah, “Oh Lord, I am too young to do that.” Or like Jonah, “No Lord, your crazy if you think I’ll do that,” and then we run the other way. Sometimes we are like today’s disciples, “Sure we can drink the same cup Lord;” all the while failing to realize that Jesus means to lay down his life.
Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
Today’s readings seem very appropriately aligned with the fact that this evening every parish in the Archdiocese is offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of the “The Light is on for You.” I’ll admit that it has been quite some time since I have received this Sacrament and I recognize that as an opportunity I need to take advantage of more fully in order to enhance my relationship with God and those around me. I made a point to put tonight’s opportunity on my calendar in hopes to take advantage of this Lenten season as best I can. Today’s readings encourage me even more to pursue this Sacrament.
Monday of the Second Week in Lent
What do I do when I know I have sinned? Sometimes, I realize it is a repetitive weakness and other times it is an aberrancy. It doesn't matter. The fact is I know have sinned…again. Someone once told me I will never be any more than 'human'; no matter how hard I try, I will still find I sin. At some point, I accepted the truth of this. What I realize now is that the very fact I know my sin, is a precious gift. It is a gift from God. The question before me now is what do I do with this 'gift'?
Second Sunday of Lent
Some Catholics are facing a huge conundrum this Lent. St Patricks day falls on a Friday. “How can we not eat bangers and mash?” “Can I have green beer, even if I have given beer for Lent? “OMG! What are we going to do?” Someone sent me an e-mail asking if the archbishop was going to give a general dispensation this year. What do I say? I could say, “Jesus did not transform stones into bread in the desert!” Generally my answer has been, “Its up to you. What does your Lenten abstinence mean for you? What are you trying to accomplish through your Lenten abstinence?”
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Today’s Gospel contains a recognizable phrase in it. We are reminded of Jesus’ words, “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” These well-known words are easy to remember despite the difficulty of the challenge they set before us. However, while that challenge is real there is a lesson we can take from today’s Gospel as well as some encouragement.
Friday of the First Week of Lent
How does fasting help us live better in other parts of our lives? That's a question many of us have this time of year, when the stomach/soul connection doesn't particularly seem self-evident. I am reminded, though, of a Friday in Lent at the parish I attended when I lived in Virginia. I remember getting into a long, drawn-out argument about Catholic social teaching, money and poverty with a fellow member of the Body of Christ. Oh, we made each other angry, time and time again.
Thursday of the First Week in Lent
While driving in the car yesterday my 5 year old son Owen, who was still pondering Sunday's readings (he's a thinker!), asked me "But Mommy, why did God put the tree of knowledge in the garden if Adam and Eve couldn't eat the fruit?" While my immediate reaction was to stall with something like, "uhh, good question" while I prayed to God for Him to give me the right words, I eventually was able to talk through free will and the ability we have to choose to love God and listen to Him or to not (as best I could in preschool terms).
Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
How often in making a decision do we seek a sign? Discerning a choice, especially between two seemingly good things, can be difficult. Sometimes we get a push toward the choice by the word of a friend, or a verse of Scripture that keeps appearing in our prayer. At other times we seek a sign, and fail to recognize the one that we have been given.
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Everything has a purpose. Everything has an end for which it was made. The purpose of the rain is to water the earth and it does not return until it has achieved this end. If the rain fails in its purpose, it causes a chain reaction. Rain allows things to grow, such as wheat and corn. Without this we couldn’t produce things such as bread or, well, I’ll let Luke Bryan carry on the corn analogy. All in all, rain is a good thing, but only if it achieves its end for which it was sent.
Monday of the First Week of Lent
Every morning as part of my daily routine, I read an excerpt from Robert Ellsberg’s book “Blessed Among Us.” These writings describe the lives of the saints, soon to be saints, or people who have lived “holy” lives. I enjoy reading these stories, since many of the people he describes are contemporary (living in the 1800’s-2000) and they demonstrate that even in more modern times people can and do live holy lives. Although most people do not believe they can be holy, today’s readings specifically tell us that every one of us is called to be holy- wherever we are and in whatever we do. When we live and act as God commands, we allow others to see the holiness of God in us. By our example of holiness we not only reflect God’s goodness, but we glorify Him with our lives.
First Sunday of Lent
Each year, we keep aside fourty days out of 352, for fasting, abstinence, penance, and prayer. If we really think about it, it seems strange that an entire people would put themselves through artificial hardships. The rest of the year, we try to make life easier. The rest of the year we strive to avoid hardships, inconveniences and pain. And yet, for fourty days, we freely and willfully submit ourselves to the Lenten penances. Why? Why are we putting ourselves through these hardships? Merely because of tradition? Or is it guilt? Is there a deeper meaning to our personal Lenten penances?
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
It is Lent. We are getting deeper into a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. During this time it is easy to get distracted by what we aren’t doing. There are habits, foods, or drinks from which we are fasting and that is good. However, sometimes I don’t think we explore enough prepositions. Not only are there the things from which I fast, there are things for which I fast. This broader view can be summarized to include fasting for prayer, fasting for charity, and fasting for obedience.
Friday after Ash Wednesday
When I was on a contemplative retreat a few years ago, I had a conversation with one of the monks about contemplation and the spiritual life. At that time, I had in mind that contemplation was supposed to be about attaining greater and greater spiritual heights. I supposed that I would find God and fall in love with God more and more through my own silent prayer and my time spent thinking about God.
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Today’s readings show us the type of life we can expect to live if we place our trust in God’s providence. In Deuteronomy we read the original life-or-death question from Moses: Follow God to life and prosperity, or do it yourself and face certain death. With a choice so plain, it’s surprising that anyone would choose not to follow the Lord. Yet so many people do not follow. Why?
Ash Wednesday
Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2) These words from St. Paul’s intone a sense of urgency to the people of Corinth. An even greater urgency can be found in the first reading from the prophet Joel, “Even now, say the Lord, return to me with your whole heart. (Joel 2:12) This urgency is recognized by many of us today as we turn out in large numbers to attend Ash Wednesday services. It is ironic then that this sign of the cross in ash on our foreheads marks us so outwardly when the readings strongly push for inward conversion.
Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
I’ve been thinking lately that the advice given in the Bible about how to live seems opposed to much of the advice that we are given by our 21st-century, Western culture. We are told by the world to pursue wealth, success, and power but justice and wisdom are not put forth as things worthy of our time or energy. The readings today emphasize the need for human beings to pursue the latter qualities if we are going to find favor with God.
Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
In Ignatian Spirituality one of the basic concepts is 'Magis' which, in Latin, means 'more'. Magis, refers to the ever-increasing generosity, openness, and greatheartedness necessary to develop and sustain relationships with God and others. "Magis has been described as 'the Jesuit “itch”—a restlessness in service, an ambition to maintain high standards of performance, a desire to conquer new frontiers." (ignatianspirtuality.com) For us, magis is our willingness to always give more got the glory of God. We are loved by a God who loves without limit. While we try our best to love him in return, what more can we do? How can we be living examples of 'the magis'…the 'more'?
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
We continue with our reflection of the Sermon on the Mount in today’s gospel reading. Jesus has been contrasting the Old Testament Laws with his New Laws. He said, “You have heard that it was said of old… but I say to you….” In the same way, Jesus now contrasts paganism and Christian discipleship. We heard Jesus say last week, “And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?” On the contrary, Jesus asked his disciples to love enemies and pray for those who persecute. And then, when he teaches them how to pray, he asks them not to babble like the pagans. In today’s reading he says, “So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.’ (Mt 6:33).