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
The well known tale of the sinful woman who anoints the feet of Jesus assumes that the woman is Mary Magdalene. But the Gospels never claim that. Mary Magdalene never once took an alabaster jar to anoint either Jesus’ head or his feet to the chagrin of guests watching her. Anyone who thinks that needs to go and re-read the gospel passages.
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Immediately preceding today’s Gospel, John recounts the preeminent sign in Jesus’ public ministry, the raising of Lazarus. As the story unfolds here, we find ourselves at a fork in the road, a critical juncture for Jesus and for us. Will we believe and follow or deny and condemn? Will we embrace life or choose death? Confronted with our Lord, the religious leaders and the people of Jesus’ day had to choose. So do we. Lord, today and always, please give us the grace to believe you, to love you, and to die and rise in you.
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Game shows like to heighten suspense by asking, “Is that your final answer?” , which potentially psyches out the contestant. Today’s scriptures display a similar kind of suspenseful questioning, but for Christians, these readings will not psyche us out, but give us some faith and hope.
Today’s gospel reading (John 10:31-42) depicts just one of the many times that people have tried to arrest or kill Jesus. Thus far, it seems, Jesus stands as the traditional hero in an action film, capable of pulling stunning disappearing acts and just managing to escape from tight spots to the relief of adoring fans. Jesus is working against evil and going around doing good, and all the while managing to stay one step ahead of his enemies. But as we already know, Jesus’ enemies will one day succeed. Jesus’ own successes will disappear and in their place, his enemies will have appeared to succeed to the point of killing him.
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.”
Ah, but names can hurt! Names matter. Jesus illustrates this today, in giving himself a new name in our Gospel, “I AM,” the holy name that God revealed to Moses from the burning bush.
Many biblical figures and persons throughout history changed their names or had their names changed for them. In teaching the New Testament, I was compelled (especially with adolescents) to make clear that “Christ” was not Jesus’ surname (in fact it was “Bar Yosef”). The good Ursulines who taught me for 12 years insisted on addressing us by our full baptismal names “because that is the name you are known by God.”
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Have you ever wanted to ask God for a sign, but resisted? I have. Sometimes it feels silly, like I’m asking God to perform a magic trick. It’s not magic, though, to ask God to reassure us or to point out the way we should go, to announce God’s desire for our life. It’s a sign of trust in a loving God. I suspect that our reluctance to ask for signs, like Ahaz's, is rooted in fear. It can be difficult to trust the enormity of God’s love for each of us.
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today we remember St. Oscar Romero, archbishop of San Salvador and martyr who was assassinated while celebrating Eucharist on March 24, 1980. He was a voice for justice and peace in El Salvador, calling for mercy and reconciliation in a time of conflict. He was killed because he refused to side with the government, and combined charity and compassion for the poor of El Salvador with a passion for justice. Like Jesus, he challenged both religious authorities (fellow Bishops) and the world and continued to speak the truth, knowing this could cost him his life. He gave hope to the people over radio broadcasts, reminding them that they were the church and called to be prophets. Days before he died, Archbishop Romero told a reporter, “You can tell the people that if they succeed in killing me, that I forgive and bless those who do it. Hopefully, they will realize they are wasting their time. A bishop will die, but the church of God, which is the people, will never perish.” In a country of only 5.5 million - over 75,00 Salvadorans would be killed, one million would flee the country, another million left homeless, constantly on the run from the army.
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
The accused woman left standing before our Blessed Lord today is representative of those who are condemned by the self-righteousness of others. It has been suggested that the only sin for which Jesus of Nazareth had little patience is the sin of self-righteousness.
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,
"This is truly the Prophet."
Others said, "This is the Christ."
But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family
and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" (John 7: 40-41)
In Jesus’ time, people expected certain things from the Messiah, such as being from Bethlehem and a descendant of King David. Most likely, they also expected him to be a leader who would militarily overthrow the Romans. Jesus, however, was a nonviolent figure from Galilee of seemingly unknown origin (they did not realize he was from David’s family). Likewise, today’s Gospel challenges us to examine our expectations of Jesus.
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Maybe you’ve heard the saying something like, “To grieve is to have loved.” We naturally grieve the loss of something or someone we have loved. This is what came to mind as I reflected on today’s psalm response, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” I can’t imagine anyone choosing to have their heart broken, yet being brokenhearted is the result of having cared, having loved, having risked opening our hearts enough to feel the loss, the hurt, the heartbreak when it comes.
Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I recently heard a podcast about how important it is for parents and grandparents to pass along their faith through words and actions. All of the readings today, highlight people who believed in God and God’s promises, and lived out their faith in a way so that future generations saw these promises come to fulfillment. Each of us today, no matter what station we are in our lives, is called to do the same.
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
As I pray with today’s readings, one of my mom’s favorite photos comes to mind. It is a photo of her standing by the sink with three of her young grandchildren standing on chairs, helping her do the dishes. Mom did most of the work, for sure. But they gladly stood beside her, doing what they could. They were “big stuff” on their chairs, working with mom and helping in this important task. Mom invited them to the work, because she loved and trusted them. They loved doing it because they loved her.
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
The prophet Isaiah is significant to our Advent and Lenten journeys. Many of us have been led to believe that prophets “foretell the future.” But in Catholic and mainline Protestant scholarship, prophets are seers of the big patterns; they see what is always and forever true. They are forthtellers and not foretellers.
Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
Jesus addresses a parable to all of us today. Our Lord reminds each one of us that we are sinners in need of God’s mercy. May the life-giving words of the Gospel call us to repentance and deep conversion this day. And may we pray with sincerity the verse before the Gospel, If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
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
"By the power of Beelzebub" refers to an accusation made by his opponents against Jesus in today’s Gospel (Luke 11:14-23). Certain Pharisees claimed our Lord cast out demons using the power of the "ruler of demons," rather than divine power, a charge Jesus refutes. In other contexts, Beelzebub (literally "Lord of the Flies") is associated with gluttony, appearing in ancient Babylonian writings, medieval demonology and modern fiction with various demonic abilities.
Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Family life is spirit-filled. When it’s healthy, it is life-giving. Care, respect, serving one another, and being able to rely on one another - these are foundational to healthy family life. Ideally, we’d need only one rule, love one another. Love is expressed in showing up for one another day after day, doing the dishes before we are asked, taking care of our own things, recognizing when someone is overwhelmed, and taking care of them…Practically, we need the structure that rules or guides provide - who is responsible for the dishes, the trash, paying the electric bill, sorting the laundry (and making sure the socks aren’t in a ball when they go through the laundry)?
Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
Have you ever experienced being forgiven in a way that transformed you ?
I recall a misunderstanding between myself and a friend that I inadvertently hurt by being late to our planned appointment. I was inconsiderate by keeping my friend waiting, while I delayed and spent time talking with someone else. Though it was an important visitor I was speaking with, I had gotten into a bad habit of running late. When I finally showed up for our planned get-together time, my friend was very angry with me and couldn’t speak to me. Dismayed, I sought advice from others on what I should do. They understood both perspectives and said - You could start by simply saying you’re sorry. It was a simple response, and I realized how difficult it was for me to do. I was rationalizing and making excuses for my behavior, and not simply facing my shortcomings and the feelings of my friend. I had failed my friend, and not considered their needs while I tended to my own. With resolve, I mustered an apology and told my friend I was sorry, and what I could have done better and we were able to work it out. I am grateful that we have remained friends to this day, and this experience of realizing the vulnerability and preciousness of the friendship and not taking my friend’s patience for granted, led me to a deeper understanding. I am grateful that I had to face the pain in this situation, and ponder more deeply the impacts of my behavior. My friend accepted my apology, which relieved me. This and other experiences of forgiveness have deepened my ability to empathize and feel with the other person. The process of forgiving and needing forgiveness is lifelong and a beautiful way that bonds us in God’s love.
Monday of the Third Week of Easter
“Little Yeshu (Jesus) is a bit too big for his britches!”
Granted that the above quote is not found directly in today’s Gospel, but it might have been. It’s been said that “you can never go home again.” Jesus certainly finds this to be true. Folks in Nazareth remember Yosef & Maryam’s boy. They knew Yeshu as a toddler needing a diaper change. They knew him as an awkward, gawky adolescent. After his bar mitzvah they recall him sitting in the front section of the local synagogue every Shabbat with Yosef and the other men.