The 2024 Bishop Ireton Lenten
Reflection Booklet
Written by the BI Faculty and StaffThank you to all the contributors. May God bless you as you read and reflect on His word this Lenten season.
Opening Message
By Kathleen McNutt, Head of SchoolDear Bishop Ireton Community,
Blessings to you and your family during this holy Lenten season, as we prepare the way to enter and accompany Christ in His passion, death, and resurrection If you are like me, you may feel like you just returned the boxes of the Christmas season to the attic, and yet, we are being called to deepen our faith and engage beyond the material world God is calling us into His years of ministry and His gift of salvation This booklet is a collection of reflections written by the Bishop Ireton faculty and staff to support you each week on the Sunday readings Wherever each one of us may be in our own spiritual journeys, this booklet is an invitation for us to listen, reflect and witness the love of God in a season of penance and renewal
I share my gratitude for the wonderful team that prepared the reflections in this booklet and to everyone in the Bishop Ireton community who is joining us in prayer. We hope these reflections provide just one more opportunity for contemplation during your observance of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday. As we walk Christ's journey together, let us pray that we are ready to listen to God’s Word and are open to God's mercy. He is certainly calling each of us.
“Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.” Jl 2:12-13
God Bless and Live Jesus,
Kathleen McNutt Head of School
Opening Lenten Reflection
By Father Noah Morey, ChaplainAnother Lent begins with the call to repentance The ashes which come from burned palm branches blessed on the previous Palm Sunday are an external sign of our internal repentance When I was younger, my siblings and I would compare who received the darkest ashes or the most recognizable cross on our foreheads. We were more impressed with the external sign. But the counsel of Jesus is far more important: “Repent and believe in the gospel.” This movement is internal and twofold: movement away from sin—repentance; and movement toward God—believing. Each Lent, we convert our hearts back to the Lord. The prophet Joel tells us to rend our hearts, not our garments, because repentance is interior, stemming from a contrite heart. For God is merciful, and he wants nothing more than to forgive us, heal us, and draw us into communion with Himself.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “Every other person who ever came into this world came into it to live. Jesus came into it to die.” So to understand His reason for coming to earth, we must meditate on his suffering and death. Even now, Jesus bears the marks of His crucifixion, the glorious symbols of his victory over death and evil. In fact, people recognize him by his wounds. The doubts of St. Thomas the Apostle were put to rest by a personal encounter with Jesus and his wounds. Thus, it’s not a morbid thing to meditate on the Passion Rather, by meditating on the Passion, we meditate on the great love of Him who suffers to redeem the world As we say in the Stations of the Cross: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world ”
In the gospel on Ash Wednesday (Mt 6:1-6, 16-18), Jesus highlights the three traditional practices of the Lenten season: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which are done to please God and not for any praise or temporal benefits we might receive here Through prayer, we practice justice toward God Time is His gift to us, which we give back a portion to Him in prayer In fasting, we practice justice toward ourselves, by exercising small bodily mortifications For if we can say “no” to chocolate or coffee today, then our will becomes stronger to say “no” to sin in the future. As one saint advised, “Don’t just fast from food and drink, but fast from following the path of sin.” In almsgiving, we practice justice toward others. For our Lenten observances should be more than inward and individual; they should be outward and social as well. By contributing to the Church and practicing charitable works, we put others before ourselves, just as Jesus did.
If this were our final Lent, how would we spend it differently than in past years? One year, it will be our final Lent. And so, we embark on the 40-day period of preparation for the Lord’s resurrection. We ask God, in the words of Psalm 51, to create a clean heart in us as we observe these holy days of Lent. For if we prepare well for Easter by converting our hearts now, then the Resurrection of Jesus will be even more glorious, in time and in eternity.
Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint Through Christ our Lord Amen
The Sacred Heart of Jesus: An Object of Affection to Recall During Lent
By Brother Dan Wisniewski, OSFSThis year, Lent began on February 14: Valentine’s Day. It may feel odd that Ash Wednesday, the first of forty days for us to engage in the three Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (works of mercy) is the same day traditionally filled with heart-shaped candies, flowers, and songs of love. Yet, we are taught by our faith that the greatest act of love that Jesus could give is His life for us, which we prayerfully remember in the Passion of our Lord on Good Friday, the culmination of the Lenten season. In his heart-to-heart spirituality, Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622), the Doctor of Divine Love, teaches us that we have a God who, first and foremost, loves us, and through His great love, we experience mercy and forgiveness Because he saw the powerful love expressed through this tremendous act of suffering on the cross, de Sales wrote at the conclusion of his Treatise on the Love of God (1616) that “Mount Calvary is the mount of lovers All love that does not take its origin from the Savior’s passion is foolish and perilous” (XII:13) What a bold statement!
In a Lenten sermon given to the Visitation Sisters in 1622, our patron described how this love between God and humanity is intimately held dear within the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
What will we do, dear souls, what will we become, I ask you, when through the Sacred Wound of His side we perceive that most adorable and most lovable Heart of our Master, aflame with love for us that Heart where we will see each of our names written in letters of love! . . . Surely, it will be a subject of very great consolation that we should be so dearly loved by Our Lord that He always bears us in His Heart. What delight for each of the blessed to see in this most sacred and most adorable Heart the thoughts of peace He had… for us, even at the hour of his Passion! Thoughts which not only prepared for us the principal means of our salvation, but also the divine attractions, inspirations, and good movements that this most gentle Savior wished to make use of to draw us to His most pure love!
Francis sees the image of the heart – the Sacred Heart of Jesus – as a central place where His love for each of us is personally inscribed, but also an object of affection which entices us to love Him more. Unlike the hearts we see on a decorated Valentine’s Day card or in the shape of a box of chocolates, the heart of Christ beats with an enduring love for us which lasts forever, even when we sin The heart imagery surrounding us at the start of Lent reminds me of how much Jesus loves us, to the point of death on a cross As I look inward with self-reflection and make acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during Lent, I want to remember that no matter what, God loves me I pray the same will happen for you! This object of affection sustains us in turning away from sin and doing good: loving our neighbor and embracing more fully our relationship of love with Jesus
It is fitting that Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day coincide this year, when we commemorate 350 years since the apparitions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), a Sister of the Visitation, the order founded by Francis de Sales and Saint Jane de Chantal (1572-1641) Margaret Mary’s descriptions of these experiences of Jesus and His Sacred Heart resonate with the language of Francis de Sales:
He made me understand that the ardent desire He had of being loved by humanity and of drawing them from the path of perdition into which Satan was hurrying them in great
numbers, had caused Him to fix upon this plan of manifesting His Heart to humanity… This He did in order that those who were willing to do all in their power to render and procure for Him honor, love, and glory might be enriched abundantly, even profusely, with these divine treasures of the Heart of God, which is their source.
As we journey through Lent, let us consider this object of affection – the Sacred Heart of Jesus – for what it is: true love and devotion. In our efforts during this season to “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel,” may we be strengthened in knowing the power of divine love in our lives.
Ash Wednesday
Reflection 1
By Stephen CrookerOur spiritual journey of Lent begins with the powerful words of the Prophet Joel calling us all to repentance. We are summoned to gather and prepare to draw us into a prodigious time of reflection. To this end, we must begin to reorient ourselves and how we look at self and others. In ancient Israel, the children of Abraham forsake Yahweh for false gods. The nation wobbled into the abyss of sin, despair, and moral confusion. The Prophet Joel proclaims to us all the very real need to prepare our lives for genuine metanoia. The Responsorial Psalm echoes the cry of the sinner to repent and begin anew. As the psalmist states, we often know our sins but shamefully retain them and do not cast away our failings. This is a journey of struggle and the cross. This Lent, we must link our sufferings with Our Lord, knowing His strength is given to us to help us overcome sin and seek holiness with all our hearts. This is our true cross.
Brother Richard Wilson, TOR, taught me this prayer for Lent some years ago, before he passed away in 2021. It echoes with the Prophet Joel in my heart, may it do so for you as well this Lent:
“Lord, help me to know my true cross and not the designer cross I have fashioned for myself. Grant to me Lord the grace to see my cross and accept it as your Son did. Let me not pray for a designer cross but a true cross. Amen.”
Reflection 2
By Wesley BergenRecently, a student in my theology class asked about the Good Friday tradition of veiling the statues and holy images of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the saints. “It’s cool, but why do we do it?”, she ended. Her question was a good one. Covering the holy images is one of many familiar liturgical contours along the ascent to Easter, and although it certainly feels like the right thing to do, I haven’t spent much time pondering the deeper why of it. On the spot, it was time to do some quick thinking.
I told her that we should start at the beginning, with Adam and Eve’s original Fall. It was there that our original communion with God was broken and we became estranged from our noble destiny. The Scriptures go on to tell of God’s continual outreach to the world through His chosen people Israel, trying through priests, prophets, judges, and kings to restore this broken communion as far as possible, yet never to any lasting effect. Ultimately, God Himself comes to us – the ‘heir of the vineyard’ (Mk.12:1-12, Lk. 20:9-19) – and the pattern of rejection repeats itself. “Think of it,” I said. “The Creator of us and all we can ever know, all we can ever desire, all we can ever dream of – He comes to us, and what do we do? We kill Him ” It is truly one of the astonishing features of our Christian faith that we acknowledge so great a depth of human depravity
Finally – I am long-winded sometimes, I admit – I was able to answer my student’s original question: we cover the images because it acknowledges the full depth of our depravity God comes to us, and we
don’t just ignore him or even ridicule him; no, the reality is much worse. We want Him dead. Somewhere in our fallen nature, we want those images – or, better, the realities they represent – covered, hidden, out of sight and out of mind.
Yet, we all know the story doesn’t end there. In the reading for Ash Wednesday, St. Paul speaks to us as an ambassador from a foreign kingdom – an ambassador for the King whose Son we have killed. Even now, the chance for reconciliation is offered to us, and “now is a very acceptable time” (2 Cor. 6:2). Here, then, is a very tidy summary of the entire Christian message: “ …be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” Yet again we find an astonishing feature of our faith, that the very death of Christ, for which we are guilty, is an integral part of our reconciliation to God
At the beginning of Lent, let us humbly embrace the ambassador’s message that the King desires reconciliation, praying an ancient prayer of penitence from a Doctor of the Church, St Ephrem the Syrian:
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, vain curiosity, lust for power, or idle talk But give to me, Thy servant, a spirit of soberness, humility, patience, and love O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to condemn my brother For blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages Amen
Reflection #3
By Mary BriodyWhen I read this passage, I think of my parents who were big believers in “living your faith.” The big difference as my dad explained between Catholics who act out their faith and so-called “holy rollers” was that we are not “showy” nor do we cite bible passages or speak of God in everyday conversation. We carry our faith deep inside and it is through our actions that God will see that we love Him and are following His way. So, I grew up listening to homilies every Sunday, but not reading the bible myself. Thus, when I started teaching in the Diocese many years ago, I was shocked by how many of my colleagues cited bible passages and prayed openly. Since I had been working in the public sector for years, I was pleasantly surprised that we started meetings with prayer, setting a peaceful tone and putting the meeting in perspective. So, I had to tweak my way of thinking that it is okay to talk about God and to openly pray. I now think it is our responsibility as Catholic role models to pray and offer up intentions in front of our students so that they will feel comfortable in their good and bad times to do the same In this passage, Matthew is obviously not asking us not to pray, but instead asking us to do some soul searching – are we praying or doing a good deed for recognition, to get accolades from our neighbors? Are we showy about it on Sunday and then on Monday morning cutting off someone on the roads even if we are late to work? This passage also makes me think of a poster in my room that reads, “What are you doing when nobody’s watching you?” It has a big eyeball on it to get the point across In today’s society we are being watched so much more than ever before, however, God’s eye is the only one we should care about We should not be sacrificing in this Lenten season for credit or on a “quid pro quo” basis where we expect something in return We should embrace the idea of offering something up and just doing something because it feels good for our soul
Dear God, Help me to sacrifice during this Lenten season in a way that honors You and does not seek to draw attention to myself. Help me to pray and seek out your guidance and to keep that in mind when going about everyday tasks and bigger acts. Help me to rise above the challenges I have given myself during Lent and offer up those sacrifices without making me on edge when around others. Help me to try
my best not to be hypocritical by praying and then not following those prayers in my actions. If I do make mistakes that I turn to You to ask for forgiveness and start the next day anew. Help me to be inspired by all of the sacrifices Jesus made for us and rejoice on Easter Sunday!
Reflection 4
By Erin ThielmanIt feels as if I just put all of the Christmas decorations away. I blinked and St. Valentine’s Day flew by. Now I see store shelves filled with Easter candy. Time has flown by yet again.
I took a look at my oldest child this morning and noticed that his school uniform pants are about an inch or so too short. Didn't I just have the hem taken out over Christmas break? My middle child also hit a major growth spurt and I had to immediately replace all of her school jumpers with the next size up Little Andrew, our youngest, is growing at an alarming rate and will take his first step any day now How is it that we can figure out how to put a man on the moon or code a new app that will go viral, yet we can't figure out how to slow down time?
With Ash Wednesday comes the first of the 40 days of Lent Scott Hahn says, "We love Lent because it's distinctive It sets us apart as a Christian people Fasting and abstinence are always countercultural, but especially in a land where marketers harvest desire from our emails and urge us hourly on social media to indulge ourselves By observing Lent we opt out of that We take up our cross daily, as Our Lord told us to do, and we carry it forward over the course of weeks. At the end we have a sense of satisfaction. We feel we've accomplished something through God's grace. For forty days we've conspired, cooperated, and collaborated closely with God - intentionally and intensely. And we like that feeling. We love Lent."
It's true. Catholics truly do love Lent. Don't let these 40 days get so busy in the daily grind that you miss out on delving into a deeper relationship with Christ. Have a plan. Implement the plan. During Lent, we participate in self-denial through fasting and abstinence in order to develop a sweet and loving relationship with our Almighty Creator. I challenge you to make this year's Lenten season purposeful.
Will you add a daily Rosary to your abstinence and fasting? Or, will you say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 pm each day in order to commemorate the time that is recognized as Jesus' death on the Cross? Will you do more spiritual reading and partake in Sacred Scripture? Perhaps you will volunteer to help your parish by washing and ironing all of the altar server robes? Or, as a family, you can volunteer to clean the Holy Water fonts These are all just suggestions The point is this: don't be so busy that you forget to add Jesus and your Lenten practices into your daily routine The more purposeful you make Lent, the sweeter the satisfaction will be on Easter Sunday
I pray that all of you will have a very purposeful Lenten season that will end in a more purposeful relationship between you and Jesus Christ
The First Sunday of Lent
Reflection 1
By Lonnell Battle“God makes a covenant with all the living beings. Although the evil in the human heart continues to flourish, God promises that never again will he destroy the earth in a flood. The sign of this covenant, or promise, is the rainbow,” writes James Campbell, a religious educator, in his article “Noah and the Flood” on the website for Loyola Press.
Last fall I was especially struck by this verse when my Honors Freshman English class read the story of the flood. In fact, I find this covenant, a sacred agreement between God and man, very comforting as I look at the world today and all the ills of mankind, because despite all the wrongdoing in the world caused by man, God continues to love us. I am most grateful that God has kept his word not to destroy all living creatures again despite all the corruption, evil, and violence in our modern world. However, we as the human race, created in His image, owe something more in return for this sacred covenant. Mankind continues to break His commandments, wage unjust wars, hate those we should love, and exploit innocent vulnerable people There are times when I cannot help but think that it must be difficult for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as well as the Virgin Mary to watch all this happen, and yet they continue to guide us to the truth, forgive us our sins, and love us It gives me great hope that they are always there for us All this leads me to ask myself what I can do to improve my response to this sacred covenant, especially during Lent My answer is to start with prayer
God of the covenant, stretch your rainbow above us as a sign of your faithfulness In the beauty of creation may we see your love written large and make a response of faith, with your help, Amen - Fr
Greg Friedman, OFMReflection 2
By Betty LoiaBeloved: Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. 1 Peter 3:18
Every Lent, from childhood, I have considered what to give up Chocolate? Television? Coca Cola? I remember the difficulty I had giving up gum in fourth grade Lent dragged on that year as I recall How much gum did I even chew at age nine? One of my children entered Lent this year full of enthusiasm for sacrifice There would be no red meat, no wine at dinner, no desserts, and no sugar in the coffee! Naturally, he wanted the whole household to participate with him as a show of support So now we will spend a few weeks paying for our dietary sins
What this reading from the First Letter of Peter reminds us is that we really don’t need to “pay” for our sins at all. In fact, they have already been paid for by Jesus Christ. Fully man and fully God, he only needed to die once to pay the full price for all sinners. His sacrifice is so complete, Peter assures us, that it stretches throughout all space and time We proclaim in the Creed that Christ descended into hell Peter writes in verses 20-21 that Christ proclaimed to the disobedient spirits from the time of Noah As confusing as these ideas are, I think the point is that Christ’s sacrifice extends all the way back to even the earliest humans who could not have known him or known of him Now, in his triumph over sin and
death he “is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him” (1 Peter 3:22). His resurrection is our victory not only now, but for all ages to come.
Of course, Peter reminds us that God gives us the opportunity to cooperate with him in his great work of our salvation He gives us the sacrament of Baptism, prefigured in Noah and those “saved by water”, as a concrete way of sharing in Christ’s sacrifice and triumph The things we do on earth give us an opportunity to cooperate, even in our small ways with Jesus
Thank you, Lord, for reassuring me that I don’t have to save myself through my efforts, whether they are heroic or feeble. Accept my small efforts to unite myself to your sacrifice and let me always look to your Easter victory over sin and death as my hope.
Reflection 3
By Jennifer GrubAdam succumbed to Satan’s temptation in the garden of Eden, but Jesus withstood the devil’s assaults in the desert Jesus’s temptation played a crucial role in our redemption
The way Jesus overcomes every temptation is by choosing to trust in God’s Word. Each time Satan tempts Jesus to sin, Jesus confronts Satan with biblical truth by declaring “it is written” and then quoting scripture. Jesus fights each spiritual warfare battle with the power of God’s Word. Even when Satan offered him a shortcut. Jesus refused to worship anyone but God.
God provides for us We can forget that God will take good care of us, and be tempted to make decisions that seem like an easier or faster way to get what we need – or what we want, which sometimes doesn’t align with what’s best for us. We are tempted in so many ways and with God's grace we can choose the good.
The temptation of Jesus shows us that, no matter how intensely we’re tempted to sin, we can overcome that temptation Rather than relying on our own willpower to do so, we can rely on God
When His disciples came to Jesus, they asked Him: “Lord, teach us how to pray.” Jesus gave to them the The Lord’s Prayer. In it, it says “When you pray say, ‘Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’”
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name
Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil Amen
The Second Sunday of Lent
Reflection 1
By Paige JohnsonThe story of Abraham and Isaac is a famous one, and one that I dutifully learned in Sunday School when I was growing up, a well-behaved little WASP in Colorado. Sunday school was a perfunctory little gathering in a room that smelled like playdough and feet, but those Presbyterian ladies sure made us learn our Bible stories. I nodded solemnly when they said Wasn’t Abraham a good Christian? Wasn’t he obedient, to be willing to sacrifice his little boy like that when God asked him to? And wasn’t it good of God to stop him at the last minute and save Isaac? But what I was thinking was that if you really love God, he might ask you to do something scary and crazy Best to pray politely and try to keep your distance a bit
I grew up and became Catholic, but my reading of the Old Testament stayed both sporadic and erratic; a little Noah here, a little David and Solomon there; Adam and Eve and then Samson and Delilah. But after reading it chronologically (and by “reading,” I mean listening to the Bible in a Year podcast), Abraham had context for me. God was using Abraham to be THE guy who would receive God’s Covenant on behalf of humanity; to establish a permanent relationship with the one God so people would stop worshiping their weird statues, and to lay the foundation of our faith. Abraham proved himself to be true and loyal, and yes, the thing God asked him to do was huge It had to be, because it had to prefigure God giving up His son to save the world. But I was misunderstanding “sacrifice.” Maybe we are called to lay some things down on the altar not to eliminate them, but to give them to God and say, “Here, these are yours ” My family, my time, my job, everything; I need to make a mental altar at God’s feet, imagine myself laying those things down, and saying, “Here They’re yours Show me what to do ”
Lord, help me to lay all I have at your feet, and to trust you in all things
Reflection 2
By Catherine BoyleEmbarking on a new journey of life during the sacred season of Lent, Romans 8:31-34 intertwines with the chapters of my personal faith journey, weaving a story of resilience, sacrifice, and redemption. The opening question, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" isn't just a thought, but a theme that has echoed through the ups and downs of my life. It's a comforting reminder of divine support, urging me to recall those moments when God's unwavering presence became a guiding light in the darkness of my challenges. Whether it has been a setback in graduate school, challenges of a new marriage, or pursuing new goals, this question becomes a reminder to face life's trials with the assurance that, in our journey, adversities are opportunities for God to walk with us and accompany us.
One line in particular invites me to reflect on my own journey, sacrifices, and actions: "He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all " This line serves as a mirror held up to my choices as I examine my thoughts and actions- acknowledging my imperfections and embracing the overarching narrative of being chosen by God Lent becomes not just a season but a personal journey, but a time to reconcile within the overarching narrative of God's merciful love During this Lenten season, Romans
8:31-34 not only guides my professional resilience but becomes a path for my faith journey, shaping my perspective on challenges, sacrifices, introspection, and the ultimate redemption that is interwoven with the sacred journey of Lent.
Reflection 3
By Kathleen McNuttIf you ever visit the Rosary Walk and Garden at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., you will come to the beautiful stone artwork of the fourth Luminous Mystery, the Transformation. Art is one way to experience and share this message of the scriptures. Glorious white garments, a changed appearance, beautiful blue skies - Christ is transformed before his disciples into His true glory as God's son. The artwork is beautiful, but for the disciples in real time, what a sight that must have been!
This week's gospel reading tells the full story of Christ's transformation and the shock, surprise and GOODNESS that Peter, John and Andrew felt at the dazzling view of Jesus Let us remember that we, too, are working towards the day when we might have the opportunity to see Christ in all His glory in Heaven At the same time, we must also look for glimpses of His glory here on earth now, through prayer and through the goodness of others Christ shows Himself to us every day in countless small ways Every time we experience a smile, a kind word, a moment of peace, an offering of forgiveness, or a joyful event, God is with us Every time we reach out to help our neighbor, a moment of transfiguration happens in the encounter. Each time someone shows care and concern for us, God is reaching us and demonstrating his glory.
As Lent continues, let us open our hearts to hear Jesus speaking to us. Let us slow down and look for those moments and small opportunities of transfiguration in our own lives as we work to prepare ourselves for the one day when we may experience the glory of God in Heaven.
The Third Sunday of Lent
Reflection 1
By Tania SlatonThe Ten Commandments show us how to live well with God and others As Catholic high school teachers we are also tasked with teaching both academic knowledge and moral wisdom to the students entrusted to our care
The commandment to put God first reminds us to prioritize faith and virtue in our lives and teaching Honoring parents and respecting others teach the importance of love and respect in our community We must create an environment where students feel valued and treat each other with dignity
Commands against lying, stealing, and coveting highlight the importance of honesty, integrity, and contentment It's our duty to instill these virtues in students, guiding them to make ethical choices
Ultimately, reflecting on the Commandments reminds us of our sacred duty as teachers. We're not just educators but also mentors, shaping responsible, compassionate, and morally upright individuals who reflect God's love.
Reflection 2
By Courtney Foster1 Cor 1:22-25 - For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength
Human beings seek to understand, and in some way control, the world around us by trying to deduce its meaning. We try to impose order on it in any way we can, from the ancients who named the stars and planets for mythological characters, to modern scientists who seek a unified field theory. For creatures so set on making sense of things, it’s perfectly reasonable that the mystery of salvation should seem crazy at first glance. It makes no sense for death by Crucifixion to be a sign of ultimate victory. It makes no sense for something as patently impossible as the Resurrection to have occurred.
In his 1902 essay “A Defence of Nonsense,” G. K. Chesterton points out that nonsense literature, like that of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear, serves to restore our sense of wonder at even the most commonplace of things: “Everything has in fact another side to it, like the moon, the patroness of nonsense. Viewed from the other side, a bird is a blossom broken loose from its chain of stalk, a man a quadruped begging on its hind legs…This is the side of things which tends most truly to spiritual wonder.” How much more then, can this divine “foolishness” described by Paul (one might say, nonsense literature by the very Author of being) restore our awe at His works? The fall of man is a perfectly logical thing, when we consider the suffering in this world But to look at it through the prism of the Resurrection is to see it wondrously transformed into the “happy fault, that merited so great a Redeemer!”
Easter this year is immediately followed by April 1, traditionally the Feast of All Fools Let us use this Lent to look deeply at our own shortcomings and consider their “other side:” opportunities to admit our faults and receive forgiveness Let it make us into Holy Fools, filled with wonder at the might and mercy
of God, and ready to proclaim unabashedly the divine nonsense of Salvation to an all too sane and serious world.
Reflection 3
By Jessica ConnerFrom childhood, I remember this reading - people were bad, and Jesus got angry With age and maturity, the deeper meanings of Jesus’ actions as told by John become more apparent
Jesus is pointing out the hypocrisy of worldly self-serving actions happening in a sacred and spiritual place. His actions clear and clean the temple. We are reminded that Lent is a time for us to to clean and prepare our hearts for Jesus. It is a time to focus on the sacrifice and love of God, rather than our worldly pursuits.
This broader seasonal message can influence my weekly routine. I need to prepare myself for prayer. I need to still my mind, quiet my errant thoughts, and be with God in the moment. I extend this idea to weekly Mass. For me, Sunday is typically a prep day. After Mass I jump into chores and grocery shopping, grading, lesson planning and getting ready for the week ahead. As such, during Sunday Mass my mind often wanders to my “To Do” list, to the world. I should let my time at Sunday Mass be one of proper prayer; not let my worldly focus intrude on my time with God.
*A suggestion for stilling your mind: acknowledge the thoughts that enter, but do not dwell on them Acknowledge and release Ask God to guide you through that thought and back to focusing on his teachings of love
The Fourth Sunday of Lent
Reflection 1
By Lana O’Donnell“Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you ” I believe by nature that I am a sentimental person It is not uncommon for me to become very nostalgic about things, people, places, or even time periods in my life I find myself sometimes longing for places that I absolutely love, whether that is the mountains of Alaska or the warmth of the beaches in Miami It is important for me as I yearn for these places or even previous seasons of my life that I remember that I am called to the eternal and that in the eternal, I find the source and summit of my joy The joys of this world are good and beautiful, but they are simply glimpses of the one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever So how do I “place Jerusalem ahead my joy,” as the Psalmist states? I must always return to Him and make the active choice to recognize that the same Christ who is present in the tabernacle here in Alexandria is the same Jesus that was in the tabernacle of my parish in Guatemala The same Jesus present in my daily work and duties is the same Jesus who was present to me at the top of the mountain where all was calm and silent. Let me not forget this truth, let me not forget that He is the reason and source of all my joy, both in this life and the next.
Reflection 2
By Molly McGrawThe theme of my small group at church this year is “Come to the Feast”, which is inspired by scripture passages that reveal God’s invitation for humanity to share in the divine life and fully participate in His grace. On the first day the group met, our leader opened the discussion with the following questions: “What do you think of when you hear the word ‘feast’?” and “What do you do when preparing to attend a feast?”
When I envision a feast, I imagine abundance. There’s always an excess of food, and the host is always pushing Tupperwares full of leftovers onto the guests as they head out the door. There’s always an outpouring of hospitality from the hosts, and it’s always clear that those throwing the feast put in a great deal of energy setting the table, preparing the courses, and arranging the seats
The image of a feast I have in my head is much like God’s grace discussed by St Paul in Ephesians 2:4-10 Paul reminds the Church in Ephesus that God is “rich in mercy” St Paul emphasizes that it is through grace that we have been saved, writing that God “raised us up with him”, that “he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus ” The diction throughout this passage is of abundance Rich in mercy, great love, immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness St Paul shows us that God’s goodness never runs dry, that there is an overflowing of grace offered to us by God.
When I am invited to a dinner party, I always think about what I can bring. It’s the first question I ask, and, in part, this is because I want to contribute to the feast, just as I want to offer up my God-given gifts to Him and any community I am a part of; however, in many ways, I think my desire to bring something to the table is because I want to check all the boxes RSVP on time, bring a side dish or desert, wear the right attire, engage with all the other party guests. In short, I want to be the type of guest that gets invited back again one day. This compulsion, however, is denounced by St. Paul in our reading today. He
states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gifts of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.”
God’s feast, His offering of eternal life, is not an invitation that I can game or negotiate or manipulate; rather, it’s freely given. Even when I go to confession before Sunday Mass and meditate on the readings in advance, I’m never ready or prepared or deserving of the gift of Christ’s Body and Blood. I’m not worthy, but He redeems all. St. Paul ends by writing, “For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live them.” There’s comfort and joy (Laetare!) in this message we’ve been created by the Maker of the Universe, redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and called to the good works God has prepared in advance. God, the most charitable and invitational Host, only needs us to accept the invitation to His feast and allow His abundance to utterly transform our lives
Prayer: Jesus, dispel my compulsion to try to earn a seat at your table and give me the humility to accept your abundant grace
Reflection 3
By Nicole DiLorenzoGod’s wish is for all of us to see the light and to have eternal life, however, since there was so much darkness and sin in the world, He had to send His only son here to save them.
When I read this passage, my heart goes out to those who do not know God. Knowing God and having Him in your life brings so much joy and fulfillment to your life.
I was blessed to have had two parents who raised me as a Catholic and sacrificed to educate me in Catholic schools all my life. And now, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work a job where I can pray multiple times a day, renewing and deepening my faith through daily prayer, Mass, and retreats. My upbringing, personal experiences and surrounding myself around like-minded people have given me the gift to know God and to have Him as an integral part of my life.
I am by no means perfect and have much more work to do in my journey as a Christian. But over the past few years, I have explored my faith by listening to the Bible in a Year podcast and have begun to reflect more about my faith and what I believe As I continue to grow in my faith, I have felt an even stronger connection to God, which has helped me through personal adversities I have faced
I often think about those who have not had the gift of knowing God Some are born into situations where their parents do not introduce them to God or teach them the importance of living a faith-filled life Not having that experience early on makes it difficult for people to believe later in life However, if they can open their hearts to God and put their faith in Him, they will understand the miracle of what God has to offer
One example of this is with my stepson, who was not raised in any faith. I struggled with him being able to understand my faith because he lacked any foundation. I tried to model and teach without being pushy, but I knew my efforts were not having an impact. He was dealing with a lot of adversity, and I tried to let him know that calling upon God helps us get through the challenging times. He could not understand what I was saying, which was difficult.
When he moved across the country, he started attending church with his boss. Since he was living with his boss, he was told he had to go every week. This turned out to be a life-changing experience for him. Several months after he moved away, we were on the phone, and he said, “God is good!” I was speechless. Then he started preaching to me about how we need God in our lives. I was in shock! In just a few months, he opened his heart to God and became a believer! He shares with me that when he has personal challenges, God helps him. The transformation has been one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences I have had. This is just an example of when you let God into your life you start to see the light.
I will continue to pray for those who do not know God. I hope one day they will open their hearts and see that having God in our lives makes our lives more complete If we all had that relationship with God, I believe this world would be a much better place
The Fifth Sunday of Lent
Reflection 1
By Tim GuyJeremiah speaks of a new covenant, one where God's law is inscribed on our hearts, fostering a deeply personal connection with the Divine. For me, these words evoke the essence of Lent a time of introspection, renewal, and the gentle whisper of God's presence in our lives.
They remind me of the gentle guidance of St. Francis de Sales, whose spirituality speaks of patience, compassion, and the nurturing of the human spirit. This scripture reminds me of the importance of embracing each person's unique journey toward God. Just as God promises to write His law on our hearts, we are called to journey alongside our students, colleagues, and community members, offering support, encouragement, and the gift of compassionate presence.
I was struck by the structure of the passage as well. I found the placement of the phrase, “oracle of the LORD” to be compelling as it was included in each verse and spent a good deal of time reflecting just on that element Can we also be messengers of His love (which we trust abundantly) so that His law is written on the hearts of everyone we encounter? For me, the repeated reference to “the oracle of the LORD” is a reminder that any good I may do is only possible through God’s grace “My God, give me Your grace ”
Today is also St Patrick's Day St Patrick’s courageous proclamation of the Gospel amidst adversity also resonates with me during this Lenten season His unwavering faith and commitment to sharing God's love serve as a beacon of inspiration, reminding me of the courage required to live out our faith authentically in the world today
As I contemplate these verses, I am drawn to consider how I can embody the spirit of Jeremiah's prophecy, St. Francis de Sales' gentleness, and St. Patrick's courage in my daily interactions. How can I surrender to God’s will, live in His grace, and create spaces where God's love is palpable, where individuals feel valued, accepted, and empowered to embrace their unique journey of faith?
St Patrick’s Breastplate
Christ be with me, Christ within me
Christ behind me, Christ before me
Christ beside me, Christ to win me
Christ to comfort me and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger
Christ in hearts of all that love me
Christ in mouth of friend or stranger
Reflection 2
By Rebecca VaccaroI think it must be human nature (it certainly is mine) to attempt to make sense of suffering by attaching a cause-effect relationship to it If we believe that bad things happen to bad people, then we can equally believe the comforting corollary: good things happen to good people After all, as Paul points out in the first verse of this reading, Jesus's prayers and supplications are heard "because of his reverence " Unfortunately, as we can often see in our own lives, this rational equation doesn’t always work Sometimes, often frequently, bad things happen to good people: friends, family, loved ones get sick, lose jobs, suffer, and die, all through no seeming fault of their own This fact (because it is a fact) can sometimes lead to doubt or distrust of God After all, what’s the point of doing good or even believing if it doesn’t do anything? If there is no correlation between our behavior and God’s Providence, as seen through actions in the world, what’s the point in trying?
As seemingly rational and safe as this thought process may seem (after all, who hasn’t tried to make themselves stop hoping for something because it will hurt less if they don’t get it), this reading from Hebrews challenges us to consider God’s Providence from a different perspective. As often as we have been the good person to whom bad things have happened, we have more often been the bad person who, unlike Christ, needed to learn obedience through suffering; we have received God’s blessings without deserving them. We are the fig tree referenced in Luke 13: 6-9, a tree that seems to be exhausting the soil, but still has the potential to bear fruit if given more time, cultivation, and the chance to repent. Therefore, during this season of Lent and throughout our lives, let us try to remember that, as frustrating as the seeming unfairness of God’s Providence may seem, it also carries a blessing; that apparent irrationality is what gives us the hope and the continual chance to repent and achieve the eternal salvation promised to all who obey Christ
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember, particularly in times of suffering, that Your ways are not our ways, nor are Your thoughts our thoughts The journey of faith through Your Son’s Passion and Death that we live out in our everyday lives is fraught with uncertainty and doubt You do not call us to be perfect through it all, but you do continually call us to believe in You, to hope in what You can do, and to love others as You love us We are all a fig tree that carries the potential to bear great fruit if we but repent and return to you
Reflection 3
By Caroline DuffyThis Gospel passage contains so much, but I will confine this to two points. First, I was struck by the fact that “Greeks” (Gentiles) told Philip, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus ” Is this not the longing of every human heart? Throughout the Gospels people “want to see Jesus” – they want to be healed, forgiven, reconciled, fed, and restored And Jesus does all of those things for them (and for us) He is the Son, who reconciles us to the Father – gives us new life through the new and eternal covenant – “writing it upon our hearts ”
The second point is Christ’s response to this request by the curious Greeks He doesn’t respond with “Yes!” or “Sure, have them come in!” Instead, He answers their desire with the Cross Jesus is the “obedient son,” “the grain of wheat who dies to bear much fruit ” He is not the star who wants to be seen and adulated by curious groupies; rather, He will be “lifted up” on the cross in order “to draw all” to
Himself. His glory (and ours) is the Cross. Somehow, I don’t think that was the response the Greeks, the Apostles – or us for that matter were looking for. After all, who wants the Cross? And yet, that’s the entire key to our life as Christians – to “seeing Jesus:” accepting our crosses and embracing them. Jesus shows us that when we accept our crosses with love, we too, become that grain of wheat who bears much fruit. The power of this self-emptying is what our Lenten practices are all about – choosing little crosses for ourselves so that we can more readily accept and embrace the ones we do not choose. So, in answer to our desire “to see Jesus” He responds with Cross, which is to say, He responds with love. Pope Saint John Paul II once stated, “The Cross is a sign of love without limits.”
Lord, help me to die to myself, help me to never fear the crosses that come my way- because I know that I will find You there
Palm Sunday
Reflection 1
By Cathlene ShearonWhile reading this passage of Jesus entering the city with lots of cheers from the crowd, I kept thinking of when athletes enter the gym/field with music, cheers and pompoms waving at their entrance. We are expecting great things from them The crowd that cheered on Jesus and laying palms at his feet were the same people a few days later denying him When a team loses or makes a bad play, we too can be quick to turn our backs
However, in the passage, Jesus was humble and rode in on a donkey (a sign of peace), not a war horse or chariot so not to be thought of as a rival But He rode as a king with the borrowed donkey that no one has ever ridden, only kings would get the first seat privilege The Jews recalled the words of the Prophet Zechariah 500 years earlier:
“Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! / Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! / Behold: your king is coming to you; /a just savior is he, / Humble, and riding on a donkey, / on a colt, the foal of a donkey. / He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim / and the horse from Jerusalem” (Zec 9:9-10).
As teachers, we need to cheer on each other as we are also a team. We are in our own rooms where other faculty do not get a chance to view our sacrifices to make and perform our amazing lesson plans. We may look humble (or tired) when passing in the hallways just as Jesus was humble riding in on his donkey. We have to remember that we also do great things for our students and are not quick to turn our backs on those that need us most. Jesus did great things even when others were not watching, He never turns his back on us and made the ultimate sacrifice.
Lord, Bless our humble teachers. While our sacrifices may go unseen by our peers, they will be remembered by our students for many years to come. May we continue to stand up for those that cannot stand up for themselves and never turn our backs on those that need us most While Jesus influences our lives, help us to continue to influence our students by Living Jesus in our daily lives
Reflection 2
By Kathryn RiceThis first reading and Psalm poignantly illustrate one person’s painful lamentation in a moment of history. We can feel the desperation, the shame, and the agony of the speaker. The Psalm echoes with us even today because we often have those same feelings in a world where it is easy to get discouraged. In those moments of darkness, it is easy to feel that same desperation and wonder if anyone else has felt the same way. The fact that it still resonates with us shows that many of us feel this same darkness and desperation.
It is so easy to fixate on our own situation and forget how others have kept their faith despite facing practically insurmountable hurdles Their faith helped guide them through the horrors they’ve faced, both physically and psychologically Likewise, life may come at us mercilessly, and we might feel the wind is knocked out of us and the pain is unbearable But that is also when we can find God so near to us
He is eager for us to reach out and allow Him to touch us, reminding us that we are not alone. Our faith, the same faith that is shown by Isaiah and the Psalmists as they cry for help, is the faith that tells us God holds us in the palm of His hand. He is with us in the darkness and desperation. He is with us even when all the others have abandoned us. If we reach for Him, He will be there waiting to help, to console, to restore us, to help us endure.
Lord, may the Lenten Season remind us of the need to reach out to You and trust that You are with us, especially during our lowest moments.
Reflection 3
By Gina GarciaJust as we are approaching that final week of Lent, Holy Week, on Palm Sunday we are reminded of exactly Who Jesus is and everything He has done for us. “Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped taking the form of a slave coming in human likeness and found human in appearance ”
How often do we find ourselves grasping equality with God? When we ask God to grant a petition and our prayers are not answered as we would have them answered, do we not somehow feel that God has not listened to us? Do we not sometimes feel that when we ask God for something, He should just give us what we want? How often when something bad happens to us do we say, “Why me?” And yet, God the very Son of God, God himself, did not grasp equality with God Rather, “he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every other name.”
In some sense this reading seems to be a blueprint for how we must behave before God, what we must become to win favor with God. But following this blueprint is not easy. We must be humble and bear our crosses, we must accept the will of God, even when we might have wanted something else. We must conform our wills to God’s will for us in all things, “and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Help us Oh Lord to be humble like you, to be more aware in how we live of everything you have done for us on the cross. Help us to realize this in moments of difficulty. Rather than questioning why we must suffer, help us to unite our suffering with yours, realizing that what we must suffer is nothing compared to what you suffered for us and our sins.
Reflection 4
By Grattan BrownDuring the summer after my sophomore year in college, I worked as a bellman in Glacier Park Lodge in Montana We knew something was up with one of the other bellmen, who worked really hard during the shifts when he showed up but didn’t even show up for others One morning he did not show up to relieve me after I had worked the graveyard shift, and I was not happy about having to stay on for the morning as well I was finally dropping off to sleep when he came into the bellman’s quarters, flipped on the lights, and told all of us bellmen that he “needed to speak with us ” I had immediately thought of a few things I’d like to say to him when he informed us “I am an undercover agent working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and ” When you hear someone say these words, it doesn't really matter how
innocent of crime you know you are, you immediately search your memory for anything you did that might have looked like a crime.
I imagine that the Apostles, except Judas, felt this way when Jesus said “ ... one of you will betray me.” They “began to be distressed and to say to him, one by one, ‘Surely it is not I?’” I imagine that the Apostles, upon hearing Jesus’s words, began to search their memories for things they had done wrong, came up with a few sins, and felt their self-confidence washing away. After all, they were not saints yet.
None except Judas betrayed him, but as the evening of the Last Supper unfolds, they slept while they were supposed to accompany Jesus in his hour of sorrow, ran away after he was arrested, and denied that they knew him.
What did Jesus do to heal his Apostles’ awful state of mind? He gave them experiences that led them to cooperate with grace, the grace of the sacraments in particular Jesus had predicted Peter’s denial, and Peter’s sorrow for his sin is also the sorrow we feel in the Sacrament of Reconciliation Jesus said “This is my body” and “This is the cup of my blood” in their midst, and the recitation of those words has become the moment during the Mass when we are strengthened by the grace of the Eucharist Finally, Jesus prayed that God’s will be done even if it brought about his crucifixion
Jesus’ solution is simple: daily prayer, participation in the sacraments, and cooperation with grace to live holiness in the world. But that last bit gets complicated: Whether it be random encounters with people in society, the Church’s Lenten liturgies, or Jesus speaking to His Apostles at the Last Supper, we get provoked to search our memories for the things we have actually done wrong and to take them to prayer and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
And for the record, the FBI never interrogated me during that summer in Montana.
Spy Wednesday
Reflection
By Stephen CrookerThe spiritual journey of Lent is quickly ending. The most profound events of Holy Week await us with the Last Supper, the arrest of Our Lord and His trial and execution. Today, the Catholic Church marks two major moments First, the holy Passover and its preparation to become what is known as the Last Supper
Second, another sinister plan is underway today One rooted in greed, sin, and ego This is the day when Judas Iscariot sought out the moment and opportunity to turn from Disciple to traitor A cash reward was offered to Judas for the legendary thirty pieces of silver As did Adam, Judas will turn away from the divine plan Judas, like Adam, embraced the false message of worldly desire Jesus will be victorious over sin
For today, however, we note Judas’ moment as found and implemented for betrayal Our Lord’s great statement to “Get away, Satan!” is our rally and call as well on this day as we begin to close our Lenten journey. Get away from sin! Get away from division! Get away from lying! Follow the Lord into the Tridium this year. Walk with Him and know that your journey is not one that is made alone.
God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I investigate my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love.
Holy Thursday
Reflection 1
By Jane HannonThe first reading tells of the Passover, when God intervened to liberate the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and instructed them to “observe this day throughout your generations as a statute forever.” There were strict instructions on the preparation of the Passover meal. The slaughtered lamb provided the means of distinguishing the firstborn sons of the Israelites to be spared, as judgment was imposed on their oppressors. The lamb was to be consumed in community with small households joining others, but this was no leisurely feast: “This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you will eat it in a hurry.” The flight from Egypt marked the beginning of a long journey for the Chosen People.
As the penitential season of Lent draws to close, we reflect on our own need for Divine liberation, especially from our sins and our failings, and on how we rely on God to sustain us during our journey.
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the sacrifice you made for me
Please sustain me on my journey
Grant that I may always be attuned to your guidance
May I intervene for others in need as you did
Amen
Reflection 2
By Rosie DriscollOn January 8 of this year, my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. On the cover of our wedding program, we included the following lines from John Donne’s poem “The Canonization”:
We die and rise the same, and prove Mysterious by this love
We chose Donne’s words because they so beautifully capture how the sacrament of marriage reflects the sacrament of the Eucharist, the institution of which St Paul recounts here in his first letter to the Corinthians
As in the Eucharist bread and wine are transformed into Jesus’ body and blood, so in the sacrament of marriage, celebrated in the sacrifice of the Mass, husband and wife are transformed: the two become one and partake in a particular way – through daily sacrifice of self for love of the other – in the mystery of faith.
Whatever our vocation may be, St. Paul reminds us that we are all called to God’s table to be transformed - by the sacrifice of His body and blood - into One Body of Christ in which each member dies to self for love of the many. When we partake of the Eucharist we re-member His sacrificed limbs, knitting them into the mystical Body of Christ. God transforms death into life; the sacrifice is the feast.
Dear Lord,
We give you thanks for the sacrifice of your Son on the cross and upon the altar of the Eucharist. We humbly ask you to give us the strength we need To re-member you each day
To love one another as you love us and to build your Kingdom on earth.
Reflection 3
By Ryan FannonThe lessons we learn from the Bible can impact our lives in so many positive ways. This Gospel of John 13: 1-15 teaches us so much about the humility and servant leadership of Jesus.
Jesus knew his time on earth was ending, and yet he felt compelled to continue to serve. Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. Simon Peter said to Jesus, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me."
Simon Peter did not understand initially. He felt that Jesus was King, and he should not be the one washing the feet of the disciples. Jesus teaches us so much here about being an everyday servant. Jesus, through this beautiful example of washing the disciples' feet, shows us about the power of doing for others, being a servant leader, and being selfless.
Simon Peter then began to understand more clearly what Jesus was really teaching and said to Jesus, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well " This is the power of the teachings of Jesus during his time on earth Earlier Jesus had said to Simon Peter, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later " Through listening carefully and learning, Simon Peter began to better understand that no task or act of kindness was too small in the eyes of Jesus
This teaching of Jesus to Simon Peter and the disciples reminds us of the importance of not feeling we are above others We're all created equal in the image and likeness of God Jesus consistently led through his examples as the Son of God that life is not about using your position of power for personal gain and stature but using it to humbly serve others. Be thoughtful and kind to others. It's amazing that one nice thing you say to others daily can change their entire day for the better. Jesus has taught us everything we do matters, everything.
Towards the end of this Gospel passage, Jesus says, "If I therefore, the master and teacher have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."
For all this and more, we pray and thank you God for the lessons your son Jesus taught us during his time on earth. May these invaluable lessons taught by your son Jesus allow us to serve you and others during this incredible gift of life you have provided us. Guide us, Lord, to be trusted servants, just as your son Jesus was to his disciples. Amen.
Good Friday
Reflection 1
By Lucy LuOn Good Friday, we come face to face with the reality of suffering, which remains unfathomable to our human minds unaided by Divine Revelation. The Word of God in the first reading reveals to us that our sufferings are mysteriously “embraced” by the design of salvation. In the Gospel of Mark, my favorite Gospel, Jesus has already bested the devil and begun the new creation in his first miracle (Mk 1:21-27). Jesus did not only cast out unclean spirits with his word. He also traded places with us and suffered with us. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us so that we did not have to die a second death. The true meaning of Christ’s Passion is revealed here: “It was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured” (Is 53:4). Jesus took our place as sinners so we could take his place in the Kingdom of God as children. Today, when we contemplate Jesus’s wounds, we should remember that “he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity” (Is 53:5). Moreover, the Psalms open our eyes to see beneath the physical suffering into the Sacred Heart of Jesus: a heart that was willing to bear all wrongs, all abuse, and all poverty; a heart in the most distressing moment was crying out most intimately to Abba daddy: “Into your hands I commend my spirit” (Ps 31:6)
Imagine Christ our Lord present before you upon the cross, and begin to speak with him, asking how it is that though he is the Creator, he has stooped to become man, and to pass from eternal life to death here in time, and thus he might die for our sins
Ask yourself in front of the crucifix:
“What have I done for Christ?”
“What am I doing for Christ?”
“What ought I do for Christ?”
Reflection 2
By Rebecca VaccaroAs I get older, I find myself thinking about the parts of the Passion narratives for which we have scant details. What must it have been like to be Judas or Peter or Pilate? What about Annas or Caiphas or even Barrabas? My wonderings are not original; Pär Lagerkvist's Barabbas, Henryk Sienkiewicz's Quo Vadis, and Lloyd C. Douglas's The Robe (among many others) all reimagine various aspects of Christ's Passion and Death in interesting ways. Unlike these writers, who focus primarily on what happens to particular characters after the Crucifixion, I find myself coming back to the question of motivation: Why would any of these characters do what they did at this moment? While there are perhaps many historical and theological answers to this question, I prefer two: fear and faith
Fear can sometimes lead us to do terrible things There is a case to be made that Judas, Annas, Caiphas, and certainly Pilate and Peter acted out of fear. On a historical level, Jesus was both a threat and a disappointment, a possibly dissenting Jew with a large number of followers who claimed to be a king, but who was not going to overthrow the Romans. The fear Jesus evoked in these characters is the fear that all of us face when we are asked to take a leap of faith What if this doesn't work out? What if it
does not matter the way I think it does? Or, in the words of Pilate, what is truth and what do I do if it doesn't exist? The story of the Passion is, to me, a story about what fear, particularly fear of the unknown, can do to people.
As much as the events of Good Friday are about the negative effects of fear, the lines from Paul's letter to the Hebrews remind us about how faith can help us face our fear, even if we cannot overcome fear completely. We need not despair, as Judas did. Instead, we can have the confidence to ask for grace, mercy, and timely help With these, we can try Try to believe, as Lagerkvist imagines Barabbas doing and as I have often thought may have been the way of Pilate after the Crucifixion. Try to be brave, like Peter, who, with the other disciples, lived in fear of the Jews (John 20:19), but ultimately became a martyr Most importantly, try to love, in spite of pain, loss, and threat. On the most fundamental level, the story of the Passion is about Christ's love for us, a love lived in spite of fear Luke 22:42-44 narrates that Christ's fear was so intense that He sweated blood. Yet His love overcame His fear. He went through immense physical, emotional, and psychological suffering because He wished good with His love: good for people like Annas, Caiphas, and Barrabas, who perhaps did not know him and certainly did not love him back; good for the likes of Pilate, who did not seem sure that God existed; and good for Peter and even Judas, friends who let their fear and disappointment override their love and loyalty.
Ultimately, we, like the characters in Gospel accounts of the Passion, may never be able to overcome our fears Indeed, our faith may be such that we are only able to say, along with Lagerkvist's Barabbas, "I want to believe." Despite our doubts and fears, we can know that the love of Christ for us, as exhibited in his Passion and Death, exists now and forever, and no betrayal is too great to separate ourselves from that love. In this knowledge, we can do our best to make our imperfect lives a testament to the power of belief, courage and love of God, self, and others
Lord, in difficult times, particularly times of crisis, help us to remember that, while we may not be able to cast out all of our fear, Your love will help us to live with and through it. Help us to not be overwhelmed, but to persevere in Your love Allow us to remember the words of St Teresa of Calcutta: "God doesn't require us to succeed, [H]e only requires that [we] try."
Reflection 3
By Joseph Jacobeen“O my people, what have I done to you? Or how have I offended you? Answer me.”
(The Good Friday Reproaches)
Often in the Gospels, people come looking for Jesus, because they want Him to do some good deed for them. Jesus is so generous and gives without requiring a “please” or “thank you.” Do they ever wonder what price Jesus pays?
Jesus, do I take your goodness for granted?
In the Passion account, the crowd is again looking for Jesus, but this time with a new purpose. They hunt for Jesus, but not to demand a favor. Instead, they came to reject Him, He who claimed to be God, who claimed to have some right over their lives. Peter answers their rejection with indignation and violence, drawing his sword against the crowd.
Do I respond to the attacks, frustrations, and injuries in my life like Peter?
Jesus teaches us a different way. He reaches out and heals the one who would arrest him. Jesus commands His followers (including you and me): “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” Turn the other cheek, even to receive another kiss of betrayal!
Jesus calls the cup of suffering a gift! The betrayal The torture The pain The rejection The condemnation The nails The abandonment All a gift! Can I call “gift” all the pain, confusion, doubt, and uncertainty in my life? Are they opportunities to lean on Jesus?
“O my people, what have I done to you?”
Oh, Jesus You have not offended me You have given me every good thing I thank you for the pleasant gifts I thank you also for the share in your cross of love Let me share in it joyfully by shouldering my current burdens with confidence and peace. Amen.
Easter Sunday
Reflection 1
By Jennifer StackpoleThe passage from Acts 10:34a, 37-43 is a powerful reflection on the nature of God’s love and the impact of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Here are a few reflections on this passage.
God’s Inclusive Love: Peter’s realization that “God does not show favoritism” reinforces the nature of God’s love and grace. This makes us examine our own attitudes and prejudices, encouraging us to accept and embrace all people as equally valued and loved by God, regardless of their background or social status Love each other as you would love yourself
Jesus’s Ministry: The powerful ministry of Jesus, anointing with the Holy Spirit. This calls us to reflect on the impression Jesus left on others as he healed the sick and freed people of evil This inspires us to have compassion for others by sharing hope and helping those in need
The Crucifixion and Resurrection: This passage causes us to pause and contemplate the sacrifices Jesus made because of his love for us This encourages us to reflect on the depth of God’s love for us promising a renewed life.
Witness and Testimony: How can we embrace the transformative power of Christ in our lives and share it with others?
Forgiveness and Salvation: Forgiveness is universal Christ offers us freedom in forgiveness and salvation and encourages us to forgive ourselves Sharing this with others creates messages of hope and love
This beautiful passage helps us contemplate God’s love and the power of Christ. This reflection encourages us to be compassionate and forgiving in our own lives while sharing hope and love with others. He is Risen. Let us Rejoice.
Reflection 2
By Jeanne BlissWhat I love most about these profound words of St Paul to the Colossians is the reminder that we are called to seek what is above - not what is of this world. And that it is in that seeking that we find joy and life.
There is such peace in knowing that our lives are “hidden with Christ in God.” When I am afraid or feeling overwhelmed with work or life, I am reminded that my life is with Christ in God, that I am completely and totally within his loving care I don’t need to look to things outside of me for peace - that peace is already there if I just seek it
Remembering this is not an easy thing to do. It is so easy to get caught up in the worries and cares of our busy and often over-scheduled lives
During this sacred season of Lent, let us redirect our focus and fix our gaze and our hearts on what is above - on the eternal truths that lie beyond our concerns of this earthly existence
Dear Lord - Thank you for the gift of a life that transcends this earth, and for allowing us to experience a peace that surpasses all understanding while here on earth simply by fixing our eyes on you, and truly seeking you May I have the desire to seek you in all that I do Amen
Reflection 3
By Gabby BaniquedWhen Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb, it is not as she expected. I imagine she was shocked to find the stone rolled away, and even more so to find the tomb empty She then runs and shares the news with Peter and John, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” After seeing the tomb, the two disciples return home with their own incomplete understanding of what happened to Jesus Mary Magdalene, however, stays outside of the tomb, weeping
I have had some spectacular Easter Sundays. Last year, I heard Easter Sunday Mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions in Fatima, Portugal Surrounded by hundreds of pilgrims, hearing prayers and hymns in different languages, standing in the area where the three children, Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia, were first visited by Our Lady…it should have been the most prime place to say, “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” While everyone around me was rejoicing, just like Mary Magdalene, I was still grieving at the empty tomb. In the face of dashed expectations, disappointment, grief and unknowns, I often find myself stuck and unmoving, even when the good news is so clear and true: yes, Christ did rise from the dead. He conquered sin and death!
I struggle with the transition between Lent and Easter because I struggle to let go of my own understanding. My limited human understanding might conclude that death has the final say and that God is someplace else, a place that I cannot reach However, even when we are stuck in our ways, leaning on our own understanding, and weeping at the tomb, Jesus comes to us, just like He came to Mary Magdalene. And just like Mary Magdalene, we might not recognize Him!
On this Easter Sunday, may we open our eyes and recognize the Risen Christ, who desires to encounter us on this beautiful day. For those of us who might feel “stuck” in Lent, or are struggling to feel celebratory on this day, may we also recognize that Christ is with us too, even if the joy and goodness of Easter has yet to truly penetrate our hearts
Dear Jesus, I invite you into the places of my heart that are still sorrowful, even on this Easter day. Please lend me Your understanding when I struggle to make sense of what is in front of me. Please teach me how to find joy even in adversity, grief, or uncertainty Please instill in me a desire to proclaim ‘Alleluia, Christ has Risen!’ even when I don’t feel especially convicted by that truth. May my heart be opened to Your love and grace, and my eyes be opened to the goodness of Your plan. Amen.
