Monday of Holy Week
He will not cry out, nor make his voice heard in the street.
—First Oracle of the Servant of the LORD.
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
As we recently talked through the Sunday readings with our young family, one of our children remarked how foolish the featured disciples were. How could they not understand what Jesus was saying? It makes so much sense! Didn’t they trust Him that what He said would come true? How could they not have reconciled His words with the teachings they surely had learned?
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Standing up for what we believe in, for who we believe in, can bolster our faith.
This passage in the Gospel of John takes place on a winter day in Jerusalem during Hannukah (the festival of the Dedication).
Jesus strolls along the eastern portico of the Temple when a group of Jews (most likely synagogue leaders) “gathered around him” (John 10:24).
The scene escalates quickly. A few verses later, Jesus asserts his unity with God to his skeptical crowd: “The Father and I are one” (v. 30).
Today’s reading begins just after Jesus speaks these words. The Jews then pick up stones to render the appropriate punishment for blasphemy.
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“They took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.” John 8:59
Back in the 1950s, on his popular television show, Venerable Bishop Fulton Sheen had this to say in response to todays’ Gospel and the attempted stoning of Jesus:
To quote him here….
If I were not a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world. In other words, I would look for the Church which the world hated. My reason for doing this would be that if Christ is in any one of the churches, he must still be scorned as he was when he was on earth in the flesh. If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world!
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
I find the juxtaposition of these two bible stories very interesting. In our Old Testament reading we hear Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to worship the god of Nebuchadnezzar. When they are bound and thrown into the flames, we see they are rewarded for their faithfulness, as a fourth man walks them through the flames, protecting them. This faithfulness and subsequent miracle lead to a conversion in Nebuchadnezzar himself. Because they believe in the Lord and not in their own power, we hear him say, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Are you finding yourself a bit worn and tired at this stage of the Lenten journey? Is your patience with yourself and others near running out? If so, you’re in good company with the Israelites journeying with Moses through the harsh desert lands - missing their choice beverages and foods and drinking water.
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
In today’s liturgy, young prophet Daniel interrupts the court railroading of Susanna by demanding that her corrupt judges be questioned — so as to prevent the death of an innocent woman. Daniel is one of the first figures in salvation history to promote rights for women. “As she was being led to her death, the LORD raised up the Holy Spirit in a young boy, whose name was Daniel (Dn 13:44).” In a way, Daniel prefigures Jesus as an advocate for women.
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
In today’s Gospel, people seem to be confused about Jesus. Some thought he was a prophet, others thought he was Christ (Koine Greek for “Anointed One”), and others thought he was lying. There was also confusion about what to do with him. Arrest him? Hear him out? How can we apply this Scripture passage to our lives today?
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
Psalm 34:19a
My Dad is brokenhearted. My mother – his wife of 61 years – passed away a year ago, and he’s been grieving ever since. My sisters and I and the rest of our family have been grieving as well, of course, but my dad lost his beloved spouse, life partner, mother of his three children, grandmother of their ten grandchildren and great-grandmother of their two great-grandchildren. He has been practically lost without her. And that is breaking my heart.
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks about testifying. Merriam Webster says that to testify is “to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief or to bear witness. “ In the Bible, to “testify” often indicates that the individual is sharing something that they have experienced or observed particularly about God, who God is, and what God has done. Who or what gives testimony to Jesus in our lives, and how are we called to testify to what we believe?
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
John 5 begins with Jesus healing a paralyzed man on the sabbath (our Gospel yesterday). We need to understand today’s text in light of that sign. Jesus makes clear that this sign reveals his unique relationship as Son of the Father and the divine power with which he carries out his mission. Jesus’ signs, his miracles, are intended to reveal his divinity and bring us into relationship with him. As such they are much more than just mighty deeds! When we read the Gospels, we should do so opening ourselves up to the living Christ who is also our healer. Unlike any other historical account, the Gospels reveal someone who is alive and present. These sacred texts put us into direct contact with their protagonist, our Lord, the living Christ.* As we engage today’s Gospel, let us do so in faith, with radical receptivity, and a desire to be drawn more deeply into the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the mission to which he calls us.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Today’s readings are all about healing water – and therefore set us up for deep reflection about Baptism, our own and celebrating with those entering the church in just 3 weeks.
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
“Here comes the sun! It's been a long cold lonely winter. Here comes the sun. It seems like years since it's been here. Here comes the sun. I feel that ice is slowly melting. Here comes the sun. It seems like years since it's been here. Here comes the sun. Here comes the sun. It's alright.”
—The Beatles.
The above lyrics from George Harrison are echoed in today’s sun burst of a message from Isaiah: “There shall be joy and happiness…I will exalt in people. No more weeping or the sound of crying…I create joy and my people to be a delight…” (Isaiah 65:17-21).
Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
There were many things I anticipated before becoming a mother: how sweet it would be to wear my baby snuggled to my chest. How much I would love learning about this tiny human who was an amazing mix of me, my husband and also something entirely new. How proud I would be to wear the title of mother.
When our son was born, all of that was true. And, my earliest days of mothering were a crash course in sacrifice.
Friday of the Third Week of Lent
Speak the words. That’s all we need to do.
“Take words with you,” the prophet Hosea instructs, “and return to the Lord.”
So, let’s prayerfully prepare our words, our confessions, and repeat them in whispers to inscribe them on our hearts. Then, let’s bring our words to God.
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
We implore your majesty, O Lord, that, as the feast of our salvation draws ever closer, so we may press forward all the more eagerly towards the worthy celebration of the Paschal Mystery. - Collect (opening) prayer of the day.
Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
As I read through Moses’ warning to the Israelite people, I could not help but feel as if he were speaking these words directly to me. As they entered the land they were to occupy, he told them, “However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children's children” Deuteronomy 4:9.
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Today, our usual Lenten observance is interrupted with the wonderful feast-day of the Annunciation. The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary with surprising news that she is going to bear Jesus, the Son of God and gift to the world. The conversation between Mary and the angel is instructive for our relationship with God.
Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Was Jesus always a trouble maker? Or was he always someone who swam against the tide? Remember the old adage, “Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” He liked to provoke and ruffle feathers. There are hints of that in today’s Gospel. His neighbors in Nazareth, who knew him from infancy, are ready to hurl him off a cliff!
Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us about God’s forgiveness. The Parable of the Prodigal Son we read today is one of a series of a few parables that illustrate the mercy of God. The first parable Jesus starts with is the Parable of the Lost Sheep in which the shepherd leaves his flock of 99 sheep to find the one sheep that strayed away. The one after that is the Parable of the Lost Coin. A widow loses one coin and carefully searches her whole house for it. Then comes the parable in today’s Gospel. In all these stories, there is rejoicing when the lost is found.