Academy of Saint Elizabeth | Lenten Devotional

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L E NT EN D E V OT I O N A L A book of devotions and reflections for a prayerful Lenten journey.

GOD BLESS US ALL.

2023 Academy of Saint Elizabeth Lenten Devotional Welcome to the Academy of Saint Elizabeth 2023 Lenten Devotional! In this devotional you will find the voices of students, administrators, teachers, alumnae, and other members of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth community. As we journey together through this Lenten season, you will find readings for each day of Lent. Each writer has chosen a specific passage from which to reflect upon. The scripture texts are from the New American Standard Bible and the readings remind us of the story of Jesus during Lent. We can see the times of teaching, traveling, discerning, and living into the promise of hope and the Resurrection into new life.

Each writer offers a unique perspective on this journey. It has been a tremendous privilege to read the work of all of the authors and to gain a glimpse of each person’s spiritual insight. Here, you will see their words of light, encouragement, and comfort. I am grateful for all of their time and talent in offering their reflections for this devotional.

Their expressions offer us strength for the journey of darkness and mystery. They remind us that we are not alone and that we are held in the embrace of Love. They also remind us that we travel together on this pilgrimage of Grace. Their words remind us that we need community and the communion of one another as we grow closer to God and to the life we are called to live.

In addition to the unique collection of voices, we are granted permission to wait and live into joyful hope all at the same time. We are reminded of new life, forgiveness, healing, and the renewal of spring. We are encouraged to live bravely into something new, something we are called to by God, and something that brings more love to the world.

May this Lenten season be filled with moments where you know that you are not alone as God guides you on your journey. May the readings, writings, and intentions of the authors speak to your spirit and affirm your precious place in the world. Perhaps they will affirm your place in the history of bringing the peace of God and the hope of the Resurrection to all you meet.

Wishing you many blessings of Grace this Easter season!

Dr. Kimberly Borin Theology Teacher

Ash Wednesday | February 22 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2 Psalm IV Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Joel 2:12-18 Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged, gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.

Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’” Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people. “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

As we begin the season of Lent, consider the meaning of Ash Wednesday and the Lenten journey.

What is God calling us to do during Lent? Who is He calling us to be? Clearly, He is asking us to “return” to him with an open heart acknowledging when we have failed so that– after 46 days, we may be “better” or changed in some way.

In this Bible passage we are uplifted and reminded of God’s great love for us as He is described as, “gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love…” We are called to return to the Lord with the understanding that he will accept us despite our faults or our sins. We are reminded that the persona of God is one of a caring, loving supporter – who simply wants the very best for us, very much like our parents. He is there for us today and always. He wants to forgive – he wants us to live blessed and gracious lives, and regardless of our mistakes, His forgiveness is constant and complete. The imagery presented makes one feel as though a celebration is about to take place, a grand party that we all want to be invited to attend: “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.” Perhaps, today, on this first day of Lent, we accept God’s invitation to join Him, our family and friends on a journey that may lead to a greater sense of purpose, light, love, and fulfillment.

Imagine the possibilities that exist in the anticipation of this magnificent journey. Let’s view it as a great opportunity to begin again and relish the enlightenment that comes from change and newness. May we heed the wise words of Pope Francis who said, “After a journey, we are no longer the same. There is always something new about those who have made a journey: they have learned new things, encountered new people and situations, and found inner strength amid the hardships and risks they met along the way. No one worships the Lord without first experiencing the interior growth that comes from embarking on a journey.” May we accept His invitation and journey together during this transformational season of Lent.

Mrs. Lynn Burek Principal Academy of Saint Elizabeth

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Thursday | February 23 Feast of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr Luke 9:22-25 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The Lenten season is upon us, and it is a time to begin a 40-day journey. This journey provides us the opportunity to break away from the normal routine of daily life. This is a journey that lets us strip away some of the distractions, stresses, and chaos that can easily take over in our lives. It is a journey that gives us time to strengthen our relationships with our family, our friends, and especially our faith. This spiritual journey can be different for everyone. It is a time to focus more on prayer, sacrifice, charity, and solidifying our relationship with God. In today’s reading from Deuteronomy, Moses speaks to the Israelites as they are coming to the end of their 40-year journey to reach the Promised Land. Moses has been leading them throughout this journey and he appeals to the Israelites to choose wisely each day between life and death. He promises God’s blessings to those who follow God’s commandments, which will lead to prosperity and life and warns of the consequences of disobedience, which may lead to adversity and death. Moses is relaying God’s message to the Israelites and asking them to choose a life of love, care, honesty, and prosperity in place of envy, exploitation, distrust, and isolation. He explains that this will be an ongoing, daily choice and one that should be made remembering always to “love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.”

As I reflect on this passage, it is a reminder to examine how we choose to live our lives.

There are choices we face each day, both great and small, and the small decisions are just as important as the great ones. Have we kept God at the forefront with each choice that we make? As we begin our Lenten journey this year, challenge yourself to be more cognizant of your relationship with God and your actions with others around you. Ask yourself the questions that Moses proclaimed to the Israelites. Are you loving the Lord your God each day? Are you walking in His ways through your actions? Are you keeping His commandments and heeding His words daily so that you will be blessed? Hopefully, you can answer yes to these questions and your days will be filled with prosperity and life.

Mrs. Lauren Corvo Assistant Principal Academy of Saint Elizabeth

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Friday | February 24 Matthew 9:14-15 Isaiah 58:1-9 They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. Why have we fasted,‘ they say, and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?‘ Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.

Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one‘s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?

Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. Today’s reading from the Prophet Isaiah delves into the meat, pun intended, of fasting. In it, the people approach the prophet, asking if he has seen their acts of penitence, their fasting and their humbling of themselves. However, Isaiah is having none of it. He calls the people on their hypocrisy and impiety. The type of fasting they cling to, a single day to humble themselves, abstaining from food, publicly showing their devotion is barely more than an act.

If anything, Isaiah’s tone at the beginning of this passage is contemptuous. He calls out the cruelty in their actions, particularly to their workers, the hypocrisy of claiming to give up something difficult while really only sacrificing something easy. The people, despite their clamors for recognition, are not behaving in a way that is pleasing to God. What strikes me as I examine this passage is that the fasting Isaiah calls for is far more radical than what the people at this time are doing; if we’re being honest, the fasting he calls for is more radical than our world can even handle right now. According to Isaiah, true fasting is to give up cruelty and neglect.

If we were to “loose the chains of injustice” and “set the oppressed free and break every yoke” today, where would we start? The extreme incarceration of black and brown bodies in this country? The continued separation of children from their families at the US borders? The refusal of our government to invest in social projects that could work to eliminate homelessness and poverty? The continued destruction of the natural environment for personal gain? The theft of rights from entire portions of the population?

If people came to Isaiah today with those same questions, I think they would be met with much the same answer. He would tell them to reflect, to extinguish the flames of hatred and racism, of sexism and xenophobia, that only in releasing hate and accepting love for one another will God answer our prayers.

For Isaiah and prophets like him, great teachers throughout the history of the world and religion, the common thread in their message is always to do kindness to others, to love others, and yet we are barely able to do the bare minimum!

For us to find that healing and that love of God, to connect with those around us and find our place in this global community, we must first start with ourselves. We must start with our own

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fasting, not to be seen and praised for our sacrifices, but to grow. Instead of lashing out in our hurt and pain and fear, let us instead greet each other with the grace and compassion that we all have as God’s children on this planet. This season is not about humbling ourselves to be seen but in letting go of the parts of ourselves that hold us back so that we can find that pure love and joy the world has to offer.

Ms. Caitlyn Roper English Teacher

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Saturday | February 25 Isaiah 58:9b-14 Luke 5:27-32 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting in the tax booth; and he said to him, Follow me. And he got up, left everything, and followed him.

In the Greek Orthodox faith, the Easter tradition of tsougrisma is a favorite game of children and adults alike. In this game, individuals take a red Easter egg and gently tap another individual’s egg to cause it to crack. The goal is to be the player who successfully cracks both ends of their opponent’s egg, thus bringing about good luck in the year ahead.

In the Gospel passage today, we find Jesus “cracking” into the eggshell of Levi, a tax collector.

Levi, like many other tax collectors of the time, possessed a hard-outer shell, fortified and sustained by his sins of greed. It was common for tax collectors to take additional taxes from the poor, not for the benefit of the government, but rather for that of their own pocket. When Jesus walks past Levi and sees him, Jesus, like the Red Easter Egg, comes smashing into Levi’s shell, cracking his defenses, and telling him to “Follow me.” The first crack of Levi’s shell is made, as Levi follows Jesus and then proceeds to throw a lavish banquet at his home.

While we do not know who was invited to this banquet, we can assume Jesus made the second, and final, crack on Levi’s shell since others question why Jesus is eating with tax collectors and sinners. Others, like Levi, are at this meal with Jesus and, like Levi, are having their hard-outer shells cracked as well. The shells of sin and death are being tempered by the Lord, the unbreakable Red Easter Egg, who sheds His blood on the cross so we can break our sinful ways.

May Christos, or the Greek for Christ, continue to crack the hard-outer shells of our lives throughout this Lenten season so that, like Levi, we can come to follow Christ more fully. And just as the participants taking part in tsougrisma proclaim at the end of the game, may we also rejoice, Christos Anesti, Alithos Anesti, or “Christ has risen, indeed He has risen!”

Mrs. Helen Kotoulas, Chief Financial & Operating Officer Mr. Joseph Zayia, Director of Communications Academy of Saint Elizabeth

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First Sunday of Lent | February 26 Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19 Psalm I Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and he said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning You’ And ‘On their hands they will lift You up, So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took Him along to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him. How many days was Jesus in the desert? Forty. How many times was Jesus tempted by the devil?

Three. How many times does Jesus say we should forgive? Seventy times seven. For many of us, these are questions that are not challenging because we’ve learned these numbers over and over again from Religion teachers, parents, and parish priests. They are certainly significant elements of the stories, but these are not ideal questions for critical thinking. It’s a better question for a teacher to ask her students to analyze the three temptations that Jesus faces.

Then, a good answer might compare the temptation of bread to choosing pleasure or satisfaction for our own needs over helping others; that response would continue on by connecting the temptation of worldly recognition to the challenge of overcoming excessive pride; that answer would round out by exploring the pursuit of power in our world among peers in context with the power of God. Admittedly, my conversations at home at the moment reflect recall type of questions more so than analysis questions. My three-year old son’s understanding of numbers is increasing quickly but is still limited. How many trucks are lined up? Even - how many wise men visited baby Jesus with gifts? My son knows the concepts of one and two; he will easily recognize one car or two shoes. Anything more than two is three. If I offer four raspberries or even ten M&Ms, he’ll still say that there are only three of that kind of food on his plate.

So for me as I read this Gospel passage, I know that Jesus was tempted three times, but I imagine that he could be tempted any more than two times and every time he would respond the same way- by rejecting Satan. We know that numbers don’t always take on literal meanings in the Bible. Even in this passage, the forty days is understood to symbolically mean a long time. Maybe, then, a toddler’s understanding of the concept of three isn’t so far off. Perhaps we can take this as a reminder that no matter how many times we face temptation, whether it’s four times or twelve times or seventy times seven times, we must respond emphatically each time by not giving in, just like Jesus.

Mrs. Kelly Donnelly Theology Teacher

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Monday | February 27 Feast of Saint Gregory of Narek, Abbot and Doctor of the Church Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 Matthew 25:31-46 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

As most of us know, Jesus will come again to judge whether we followed his word or disregarded it as we went about our daily lives. With that, Jesus will part the nations and separate them into two groups: the righteous and the unrighteous. The righteous will be granted eternal life in heaven because they went the extra mile to live through Jesus every moment of their lives. However, the unrighteous will be denied their entrance into heaven because they did not fulfill the tasks that Jesus put them on this earth to do. This is to say that when The Judgment comes, we must be ready for it. It is not enough to only perform good deeds half of the time on earth, but rather all of the time.

Jesus saved us from our sins and their consequences, which was a result of his death on the cross.

Now, as those who are present on this earth right at this given moment, it is our turn to return the favor and carry out his mission of treating everyone with respect and dignity while also spreading the Good News.

Now, you may be asking yourself, "How can I do this?" Well, the answer is to simply be the best version of yourself every single day. What this means is to always lend a helping hand to those in need. Especially during the Lenten season, it is important to try and give back to your community. Whether that is by volunteering in a soup kitchen, which embodies the task of "For when I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat." Alternatively, you can donate clothes to your local clothing drives, which fulfill the task of "For I was naked, and you clothed me."

There are so many different ways to give to the less fortunate, but it is up to us to carry out that mission. As described in the parable, those who do not give back will not be granted entrance into the eternal fire. If you do not help those in need, that means you are not helping Jesus.

Therefore, you are not actively pursuing God’s mission on earth.

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We do not know when Jesus will come to judge the nations, but what we do know is that if we live each and every day through Jesus, then there is a greater chance that, when that time comes, we will be given access to the Kingdom of God. When we perform these good deeds that Jesus has laid out for us to do, the action is as if we are doing them for Jesus.

Lent is a time of giving, growth, and grace, and continuing Jesus’ mission on earth during this time is the most important part. Jesus loves each and every one of us, and giving back is a way to show our love for Him. So, take every day one at a time, and take that extra step each day to make a difference in someone’s life will maybe one day grant us access to the Kingdom of God. Maggie Sullivan Class of 2023

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Tuesday | February 28 Isaiah 55:10-11 Matthew 6:7-15 And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom comes.

Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’

For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.

This passage conveys an important message regarding the true meaning of prayer. Oftentimes, we believe that religion needs to be ritualistic and complex. However, the effectiveness of prayer does not rely on its grandiose nature or length. True communication with God is done through intention.

God is always with us, and so he always knows what we need before we even ask him. Thus, when we believe that superfluous wording is necessary to pray, it shows that we do not really know God. This is the reason that Jesus provides the Lord’s Prayer. Through this prayer, Jesus teaches us the proper way to put our intentions into words. The prayer begins with praise and identification of the power of God in heaven. It states the fact that all things are essentially done by the will and decision of God. This means that God may not always answer our prayers in the ways that we intend. However, God knows what is best for us, and so all decisions are made by his divine judgment.

The prayer ends with a petition to God for forgiveness. It establishes the core Christian value that, just as we are forgiven, we need to forgive others. This is similar to the golden rule that we must treat others the way that we want to be treated. It emphasizes the fact that prayer is done through both thoughts and actions. In order to show God that we are genuine in our petitions, we must model the behavior that we would like to receive.

Emily Crabbe Class of 2023

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Wednesday | March 1 Jonah 3:1-10 Luke 11:29-32 Now as the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it demands a sign, and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

The passage I chose was Luke 11:29-32, the sign of Jonah. While reading this, a couple of things stood out to me. What mainly stood out to me was when the passage states that the Son of Man will be shown to this generation, and the “Queen of the South” will rise up and judge the men because she came from the end of the earth. I interpreted the “Queen of the South” as the Devil because the Devil does not want people to turn to Jesus, which many people will do during the End Times.

Another thing that stood out to me was when someone said, “This generation is a wicked generation; it demands a sign, and so no sign will be given to it.” I interpreted this as Jesus calling Christians to be different from the world and spread the Word of God. In addition, ‘the sign’ can show readers that when Jesus returns, He will bring much more than what the world can provide.

A third thing within the previous quote that stood out to me was how the ‘wicked generation’ can affect teenagers. Teenagers are treated like kids but are expected to act like adults, which can make it difficult to understand where they belong. I believe that the ‘wicked generation’ is overall making it difficult for people to know who they are, and, in addition people are also affected by the pressures of social media. More than ever, we need the hope of healing that is revealed during Lent. This hope and light will guide our way.

Sophia Dobrusin Class of 2023

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Thursday | March 2 Esther C: 12, 14-16, 23-25 Matthew 7:7-12 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or what person is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

In this passage, we see Jesus telling us to ask and we shall receive. We can see the words “ask,” “seek,” and “knock” as steps for us to follow in order to receive our desires. Asking and receiving are not seen as very common, as we are often told that asking for gifts or other things we want can be rude or impolite. In this passage, however, Jesus is giving us permission, even urging us to ask!

He is showing us that there are gifts available to us and all we need to do is seek, ask, and knock.

This passage further dives into how we can give back to our “children.” Once we receive gifts, in return, we give gifts. The passage poses the question, “When his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone?” When Jesus says this, he is trying to ask ‘When your child is in need, will you give them what they want or what is necessary?’ If your child needs water, you will not give them poison. You will provide what they need. By helping provide what is necessary, we can follow the golden rule, ‘Treat others how you want to be treated.’

When we ask God for gifts, it may not be gifts such as money, power, or physical things because God knows this is not what we need. The parent giving the child a proper gift is a smaller example of the broad idea of God, the all-knowing Father, giving the best gift for what we need. In return, we can help others with our gifts. This asking and receiving in return is directly related to the golden rule. By treating others correctly and giving them what they need, we, in return, will be treated correctly and get what we need. The golden rule is a continuous cycle that leads to positive outcomes and helping one another. We can apply the golden rule to our everyday lives by treating the people around us exactly how we would like to be treated. This habit can build community and form strong, positive relationships. The golden rule is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Caroline Clarke Class of 2023

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Friday | March 3 Feast of Saint Katharine Drexel Ezekiel 18:21-28 Matthew 5:20-26 For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last quadrans.

We all have debts we can’t pay back. How do you pay back your mother for sitting up with you all night when you had the flu? Or your wife for bearing your children? Or those same children making everything you have to do each day worth it? There are, of course, the debts we aren’t even personally aware of: the soldier risking her life for yours; the EMT at the ready, just in case; the nameless builders and Sisters of Charity who built our beautiful school.

In today’s readings from the great prophet Ezekiel, we are reminded that the wages of sin is death. God is just; He cannot be other. When we conjure images in our mind of an “Old Testament God,” we might picture a judge casting down aspersions. Conversely, we too often tend to think of Jesus as we do our grandparents: all loving, but not too demanding, so long as we are just nice people. But today’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus doesn’t do away with the law, He raises the bar. Most people go through life without murdering, who can claim never have to been angry with a brother? Certainly not anyone who has driven down Route 287 during rush hour. Yes, Jesus came and transformed the law: He transformed it into something that even the strictest Pharisee could not fulfill. In the end, Justice must be met; the wages of sin, paid.

On the darkest of Fridays, God turned the inconceivable into something good: our debt was, and is, paid. As we journey through this season of Lent, we do well to remember the horrific cost of the greatest debt that we can’t pay back. We’re all deep in debt and no amount of training in Dr. Altonjy’s personal finance class will ever free us from that debt; only God can balance those books.

Mr. David Gillespie History Teacher

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Saturday | March 4 Feast of Saint Casimir Deuteronomy 26:16-19 Matthew 5:43-48 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

In today’s Gospel from Matthew (5:43 – 48), we are reminded to do something so difficult and different than what our human nature tells us. As people who are not perfect – with our own faults and shortcomings, we tend to live by judgment of people based on what they have done to us or for us. It’s easy to love those who would do anything for us. However, if we have been wronged by an acquaintance, friend, family member, or neighbor, our tendency is to dislike – perhaps even “hate” that person. Hate is a strong word, but a real emotion that many of us feel at one point or another in our ever-evolving relationships and interactions with the human race.

And, quite honestly, you can’t blame someone for despising a mean, cruel, or vindictive person.

Whether in word or action, when we are persecuted, it feels bad and leads us to unproductive and hurtful relationships with these other fellow human beings. As the gospel begins, You have heard that it was said, ‘love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ That seems pretty simple!

But instead, the gospel challenges us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors.

Are you kidding?! Love the people who have done mean things to us? Pray for the people who we (unfortunately) wish revenge? Wouldn’t we rather see them get hurt, too? Don’t you feel “justice” when something bad happens to them? Moreover, if something bad does happen to someone who has treated us poorly, we feel happy and vindicated! And yet, we are called to do just the opposite. That seems pretty difficult!

But let’s face it, haven’t we wronged Jesus at some point by disobeying the commandments, not finding time to pray, staying away from church, etc.? Yet, Jesus forgives us and offers His guidance in today’s Gospel by reminding us to do the same so that we may prove ourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven. What a challenge Jesus presents us with!

Every time we recite the Our Father, we say “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Are we really living up to what we are saying? Do we really forgive those who have mistreated us or are we just reciting words in a prayer?

As we move through our Lenten journey, maybe we can try harder to not wish bad feelings towards others who we might consider our enemies and remember to take the challenge of trying to forgive them instead. Our lives and the world would be a better place!

Dr. Thomas Altonjy Math Teacher

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Second Sunday of Lent | March 5 Genesis 12:1-4a/2 Tm 1:8b-10 Psalm II Matthew 17:1-9 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” And raising their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone. When they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”

Since childhood, I have annually listened to the Mass reading of the Transfiguration with complete awe. The Transfiguration is a miraculous experience happening to Jesus, which reveals his divine nature, and it is witnessed by his three closest companions. It is an event that may be best defined as sublime, and, generally, is beyond my limited comprehension as a human being.

In my attempt to better understand the Transfiguration, I reflexively found myself doing the same thing—year after year—placing myself in the footsteps of Jesus and the three apostles, imagining what each may have been experiencing and feeling that day. Years later, I found out my “walking-in-the-footsteps” process actually is a “Franciscan method” of coming to know/experience scripture. However, this process has consistently left me with more questions about this event worthy of reflection.

What was Jesus’ intention when he took the three apostles he was closest to up the mountain? Luke’s version states that Jesus took the three “on the mountain to pray.” Did Jesus have foreknowledge of the miraculous event that was to transpire, or was he surprised that God took this moment to reveal Jesus’ divine nature aloud, albeit in a more private venue?

If Jesus had no awareness of the forthcoming event, was he in need of some support beyond the experience of shared prayer, and is this why he wanted the time on the mountain? Was the weight of his divinity ever a burden for the human Jesus? If so, was Jesus’ desire to be in prayer with these three apostles opportunity to silently “share/lighten the burden” of this destiny? Such a vignette would not be unlike the experience of the evening in Gethsemane yet to come.

If Jesus had awareness of the forthcoming event, why does he (and God) privilege Peter, James and John to be witness to this revelation of Jesus’ divinity? I suspect the aim of having them be privy to Jesus’ Transfiguration was to strengthen/solidify the apostles’ faith—in anticipation of Jesus’s upcoming passion/sufferings as well as the many challenges the apostles would endure throughout their eventual ministry—spreading the faith after Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascendance into heaven—no easy task—and seeing the role of the divine in all of this.

When the three see Jesus transfigured, and then talking with Moses and Elijah, scripture tells us that Peter wants to put up a tabernacle (booth/tent) for each; clearly he wants the event to last for a longer period of time. However, a cloud soon comes and overshadows their sight, with God revealing who Jesus is; the three are afraid but are reassured by Jesus. A miraculous event happens but does not last. While the apostles are left with the event only as a memory—there can be no doubt—this memory is a powerful gift and could sustain them in their future when

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experiencing doubt, despair, fatigue or challenge in what lay ahead for them.

Just as God allowed the three apostles to be witness to the Transfiguration, God continues to provide us with episodic glimpses of Himself and the faith—they may come is small ways and are likely fleeting in nature but they are gifts. Be not afraid! Be open to these opportunities as they can sustain us on the road we are asked to travel.

Dr. Barbara Tylenda, ’75 Founder of the Tylenda Family Scholarship

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Monday | March 6 Daniel 9:4b-10 Luke 6:36-38 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

Lent is a time for reflection and selflessness. Often people are told to “give up something for Lent” and sacrifice just like Jesus did in the desert for the 40 days and 40 nights. After taking some time to reflect upon this passage from the New Testament, I wanted to apply it to the season of Lent.

Instead of Lent being a season of “giving up” it should be a season of giving back. Not only to the people around you and for others, but for yourself.

“Be merciful” to be merciful, you have to give mercy to yourself. By giving back to yourself and putting in energy to yourself you can give back to others. In order to have energy to help and serve others you have to have energy for yourself. During this season of Lent do not forget to be there for yourself so that you can continue to serve others.

Molly McKegney Class of 2023 The time of Lent is a time of giving up something and doing something for yourself. To “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,” is to be grateful for all that you have and to give back to people just as Jesus did. Jesus sacrificed himself for us for 40 days in the desert. During this time, we are told by the church to give up a physical, mental, or emotional distraction. By doing this we are being merciful towards ourselves as we grow in our faith during the Lenten Journey. This mercy will continue on to grace the lives of others as we follow in Jesus’ footsteps and come together as one.

Ally Handler Class of 2023

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Tuesday | March 7 Feast of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Therefore, whatever they tell you - do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them. And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people. But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Quand nous célébrons Noël, la fête de la naissance du Christ, il est important de se rappeler qui est le véritable chef. C'est Dieu. En tant que chrétiens, nous devons voir que Dieu a créé tant de choses pour nous. Il nous a créés, ainsi que le monde.

Nous devons ignorer ceux qui prétendent être Dieu. Une fois que nous reconnaissons Dieu comme notre berger, nous sommes alors capables de reconnaître notre rôle d'humbles serviteurs.

Pour suivre correctement la parole de Dieu, nous devons essayer de servir les autres, plutôt que d'essayer de ne servir que nous-mêmes. Nous devons travailler pour tous : pour nous-mêmes et pour les autres, et, en retour, pour Dieu.

Dans Matthieu 23:1-12, Jésus dit à ses disciples d'éviter l'hypocrisie. Il condamne les scribes et les pharisiens pour avoir une trop haute opinion d'eux-mêmes pour faire le travail. Puis il enseigne qu'il y a de l'honneur dans l'humilité. Cela signifie que nous devons être humbles et répandre la parole du Seigneur à tous.

Cela nous montrons que nous devons faire les bonnes actions pour les bonnes raisons. Si une action est faite uniquement pour être reconnue, ce n'est pas une bonne action. Par conséquent, nous devons accomplir ces actes en silence, sans avoir besoin d'un regard attentif. Cela nous permettra d'être exaltés au nom de Dieu.

Translation: When we celebrate Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ, it is important to remember who the true leader is. It is God. We as Christians must see that God created so much for us. He created us, and the world.

We must ignore those who claim to be God. Once we recognize God as our Sheperd, we are then able to recognize our role as His humble servants.

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To properly follow the word of God, we must try to serve others, rather than trying to only serve ourselves. We must work for all: ourselves and for others, and, in turn, for God. In Matthew 23:1-12, Jesus tells his disciples to avoid hypocrisy. He condemns the scribes and Pharisees for thinking too highly of themselves to do the job. Then he teaches that there is honor in humility. This means that we are to be humble and spread the word of the Lord to all.

This shows us that we should do the right actions for the right reasons. If an action is done only for recognition, it is not a good action. Therefore, we must perform these acts in silence, not in need of a watchful eye. This will allow us to be exalted in God's name.

Madame Emilia Gonzalez French Teacher French IV and AP French Class Students Emilia Lucas, 23 Alyssa Rossini, ‘23 Lauren Santoriello, ‘23 Cate Schneider, ‘23 Sophia Vail, ‘23

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Wednesday | March 8 Feast of Saint John of God Jeremiah 18:18-20 Matthew 20:17-28 As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the road He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and flog and crucify, and on the third day He will be raised up.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you desire?” She said to Him, “Say that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine shall sit, one at Your right, and one at Your left.” But Jesus replied, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit at My right and at My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”

And after hearing this, the other ten disciples became indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and those in high position exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

It is not always easy to do the right thing. In his last hours before sacrificing His life on the cross, Jesus turned to God in a moment of doubt and fear. It is a part of our human nature to doubt and fear, but it is how we overcome these feelings that truly matters. In verse 23, Jesus says,“You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” We should not look to do the right thing because it means we will be the greatest or have power.

Rather to live like Jesus and live to our full potential is through service and making sacrifices. In order to understand happiness and love, pain and suffering must exist. Jesus was willing to die for us on the cross because of the deep and true love that God has for us.

I had the honor of meeting several Ukrainian soldiers injured defending Ukraine. Two soldiers had their right arm amputated. One of them is being treated for a dangerous infection in his leg, with the possibility that it may need to be amputated. Another one had a prosthetic leg.

Each of these soldiers is seeking treatment in the U.S. and is planning on going back to Ukraine to their brigade once they are treated. Every emotion you could think of, I felt at once - gratitude, sadness, pride, and anger. My mind could not understand why innocent people are being hurt and killed in this war. But what this war has revealed is the deep love that each Ukrainian has for their country.

These men are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice to save Ukraine and her people. Yet, when you thank them for all that they have done, they don’t understand why you are thanking them.

They feel that this is their duty to their country; this is what they must do. In verses 26-28, Jesus says, “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” These men have such love for the people of Ukraine that they are willing to make whatever sacrifice necessary for a free Ukraine.

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Although I will never understand why Ukraine must suffer through such pain and agony, I do know that these Ukrainian soldiers, among many other Ukrainians, serve an example of what it means to truly live by Jesus’ message of servitude, sacrifice, and love.

Uliana Leschuk Class of 2023

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Thursday | March 9 Feast of Saint Frances of Rome Jeremiah 17:5-10 Luke 16:19-31 Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed from the scraps which fell from the rich man’s table; not only that, the dogs also were coming and licking his sores. Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he raised his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his arms. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor will any people cross over from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I request of you, father, that you send him to my father’s house for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as well.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’

Jesus tells this story to his disciples about a rich man who feasted daily and wore splendid clothes.

The rich man showed no compassion toward Lazarus who was hungry and covered in sores while sitting outside the gates of the rich man’s home. After death, the rich man is in agony in Hades, while Lazarus is in comfort in the bosom of Abraham. The man begs Abraham to send Lazarus to bring him a drop of water but Abraham replies that it is too late and there is a chasm them. Then the man asks him to send a messenger to warn his five brothers, but Abraham tells him the brothers have numerous ways to be able to understand what God expects of them.

This story is a difficult one for those living in America where our lifestyle stands in contrast to the majority of people in the world. As Christians, God’s judgment has everything to do with the generosity of our time and money to those less fortunate than us. We are the brothers in this story and we still have time to do God’s will. Jesus has taught us about compassion through His actions toward the poor. He commands us to love the Lord our God and love our neighbors as ourselves.

During this Lenten season, let us pray about what we can do to follow Jesus’ example. Let us ask Jesus to open our eyes to see the suffering of others, to enable us to discern their needs, and to give us the compassion to help those whom he sends our way.

Ms. Suzanne Bartsch Casana, ‘69

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Friday | March 10 Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46 “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and he leased it to vine-growers and went on a journey. And when the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his fruit. And the vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they did the same things to them.

But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinegrowers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let’s kill him and take possession of his inheritance!’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?”

They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other vine-growers, who will pay him the fruit in the proper seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘A stone which the builders rejected, This has become the chief cornerstone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit.

This passage, Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46 is commonly known as the Parable of the Landowner or the Parable of the Tenants. In this parable, Jesus is teaching his listeners about the commitment to faith, and a call to action. A landowner creates a beautiful vineyard, complete with fences, towers, and a winepress. The landowner then leaves the vineyard to other people to take care of the land.

They take good care of the land until they begin to turn against each other and hurt one another.

The landowner sends his son thinking that he can help fix this problem. Thinking that they will get the son’s inheritance, the tenants kill the son. When put into simple terms, this story connects to the story of creation and Jesus. When the vineyard or the earth was created, the landowner, God, put tenants, humans, on the land to take care of it. When the tenants began to sin, the landowner sent his son, the same as when humans continued to sin, God sent his son, Jesus as a savior. The tenants then killing the son, connects to the Romans killing Jesus.

Just as a landowner or tenant takes care of their land or vineyard, we as Christians must take care of the Kingdom of God and treat each other with respect. Verse 43, “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit” describes the action that we must take. We have to “take care of” the kingdom. This is done by having good faith, being kind, praying, and being a good Christian. The words “will be taken away from you” when referring to God’s kingdom is a shocking and scary thing to think about but the answer is easy. Showing people the Bible or bringing a friend to church are a few ways to take care of the kingdom of God. We are all given “vineyards” of our lives, not just the kingdom of God. Each part of our environments are different vineyards that we have to take care of, for example, our families, friends, peers, coworkers, etc. We are called to take care of these vineyards by being kind, loving, compassionate, and humble. When we are given something by God, this parable reminds us that we are to take action and take good care of it or else we may lose it.

ErinGrace Boyle Class of 2023

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Saturday | March 11 Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” And so He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

In your opinion is Jesus “shocking” or “radical”? Jesus was a man of his time that often partook in certain situations that were considered “radical” for his time period. He was not a man who abided by traditional rules like the ordinary Pharisees of the day. Jesus’ unique manner of breaking normal “rules”, brought Christianity into a “new age” of faith. Jesus displays this behavior through the story of The Lost Sheep, where he preaches to a group of tax collectors and sinners. Through the analogy of the Lost Sheep, Jesus explains the importance of every human being that is made in the image and likeness of God. Even through a sea of righteous and holy people, sinners are as important as those who live a life full of morality. Jesus emphasizes the importance and love that sinners deserve, as well as those who live a life of holiness. Sinners deserve not only love, but also compassion and forgiveness.

Growing up is one of the most exciting, yet treacherous and difficult processes. While growing from childhood to adolescence, into adulthood, we are susceptible to making mistakes and making decisions that may not benefit us. Wrongdoings and mistakes are meant to teach us how to proceed when we face a difficult situation. Though we may feel attacked or judged because of our sins, we must repent and ask for forgiveness. We must trust God’s all-forgiving and merciful manner, and allow ourselves to be welcomed with his love. Just as Jesus felt judged and criticized for eating and interacting with the sinners, we may feel shunned for mistakes. Although this may feel hard to escape, it is crucial to recognize that God is always present to vouch for all - sinners and non-sinners.

Just as Jesus presented the symbol of the shepherd, holding the sheep on his shoulders with pride, we can picture God holding us on his shoulders, protecting and guiding us. I’m sure that at one point in time, we have felt like a lost sheep in the sea of those who may seem more educated, more holy, or more important than us. It’s quite easy to compare yourself to those who seem “good” or “perfect”. Yet, our imperfections, our failures, and our wrongdoings create our individuality.

Thus, this story displays not only the equal importance of each child of God, but also the abundance of forgiveness that we are granted from the Lord.

Kathleen Byrne Class of 2023

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Exodus 17:3-7 Rom 5:1-2, 5-8 Psalm III

Third Sunday of Lent | March 12

John 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42 So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired from His journey, was just sitting by the well.

It was about the sixth hour.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away to the city to buy food. So the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, though You are a Jew, are asking me for a drink, though I am a Samaritan woman?”

(For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus replied to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She said to Him, “Sir, You have no bucket and the well is deep; where then do You get this living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well and drank of it himself, and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.”

The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty, nor come all the way here to draw water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.”

Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”

In this passage, Jesus and the disciples have been traveling for a while. Exhausted, hungry, and thirsty, the disciples head into the town of Samaria for food, and Jesus stays behind at the village well. There he meets a lone woman and starts up a conversation with her. This is unusual for two reasons: one, men in the ancient world did not associate with women they were not related to, and two, this woman is also a Samaritan, a Jewish sect that the Jews of Jesus’s time considered impure and not true adherents to the law of Moses. Why was this woman going to the community well at the hottest point of the day? Who is she avoiding? Jesus mentions that she has had several husbands, and assumptions have been made about her and her life; is she a sinner? But, this isn’t the point.

The point is that Jesus does not judge or condemn her. Instead, Jesus has an engaging dialogue with the Samaritan woman and offers Himself as living water. He is offering her a renewed sense of her faith, a renewed connection to God and to hope. The Samaritan woman realizes that Jesus is the Messiah whom they have been waiting for. Jesus is extending himself as living water for her to receive and she in turn acknowledges the Holy Spirit, the giver of life. And then she takes His message and proclaims it to the entire town. She is an evangelist and a disciple, the Holy Spirit in motion.

Water cleanses us, water refreshes us, water calms us - water is essential for our minds and

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bodies, and Jesus, as the living water, is essential for our souls, for our relationship with God. This relationship can develop within us with the help of the Holy Spirit, the Divine Sophia. Recognizing Her as She flows through us - the lure to make decisions, to further our quest, to answer a call establishing our connection with Christ and God, quenching our spiritual thirst and sustaining us on our faith journey.

Mrs. Janet Antico Theology Teacher

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Monday | March 13 2 Kings 5:1-15ab Luke 4:24-30 But He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a severe famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

And there were many with leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and brought Him to the crest of the hill on which their city had been built, so that they could throw Him down from the cliff. But He passed through their midst and went on His way.

It is not always easy to listen. This is especially true, if the suggestion we are hearing, is not really something we want to hear. In this story Naaman, the great Syrian warrior has come to Israel to pay for healing. He is told that in order to heal he must bathe in the river Jordan, seven times. He finds this suggestion not to his liking and decides to turn around and just be on his way instead. His servants plead with him to listen to the suggestion, to turn around, and to bathe in the river seven times as he has been told. He listens to them. Before entering the river, for healing, he must also remove his breastplate of armor – a symbol of strength, protection, and power. It must have been quite a humbling moment.

In this story, it is no accident that the powerful warrior must listen to those without power, his servants. The fighter with the shield must also become vulnerable, open, and willing to be healed by the cleansing waters without his armor. Perhaps his healing in the river also comes from listening, being vulnerable, and receiving care from those around him.

During Lent, we too are searching for healing and finding our way. We are often asked to remove our armor, surrender, and be baptized by water and love. Our journey is not always easy and often we, like Naaman, are waiting for answers that we have already rehearsed in our mind.

This season, let us be surprised as we listen and hear something new. Let us have the courage to hear from those around us that we may not often attend to. Let us also remove any armor that gets in the way of our healing. Let us take a chance to dip our toe in the River Jordan and see what beauty our healing can reveal.

Dr. Kimberly Borin Theology Teacher

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Tuesday | March 14 Daniel 3:25, 34-43 Matthew 18:21-35 Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. And when he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his master commanded that he be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the master of that slave felt compassion, and he released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe!’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling, and went and threw him in prison until he would pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their master all that had happened. Then summoning him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Forgiveness can be a problematic action. Whether someone has done you wrong or you have done them wrong, it is hard to forgive. Holding a grudge seems to be the easier way out. In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells Matthew to forgive his sinner up to seventy-seven times instead of seven times.

We know that Jesus did not mean seventy-seven times, he meant infinite times. No matter how many times a person sins against you, it is necessary to forgive them. Forgiving your neighbor is hard, but as Jesus said, you must do it, over and over again.

Put yourself in the position of someone begging for forgiveness. Wouldn't you want someone you care about to forgive you for something you feel sorry for? If you ever find yourself failing to forgive your friend, put yourself in their shoes. Being forgiven releases a weight from your shoulders; Don't you want to do that for someone you care about? Forgiveness is the key to growth and they work hand in hand. Both you and the person you are forgiving learn a lesson in order to grow. Growth and forgiveness will help others become stronger and closer to God. Jesus’ lesson taught in Matthew 18:21-35 may be hard for some, but necessary for all.

Lucia Ferriso Class of 2023

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Wednesday | March 15 Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Although this scripture passage is only three verses long it packs a very powerful message. The Pharisees often criticized Jesus for breaking the letter of the law for their idea of religion was keeping way too many petty rules and regulations. Jesus had a different idea: observing external laws was not enough. Jesus wants listening hearts, courageous, generous, and discerning hearts.

Hearts like his. So while He seemed to break some of the Jewish laws of the day, Jesus never broke either of the two great commandments – loving God, and loving others as ourselves.

The commandment to love goes to the root of things and should illuminate our daily lives.

This commandment should be paramount in our lives because God loves us and our neighbor with an overwhelming love, and we should respond in kind. Our mantra should always be to “Pass His love on!”

To paraphrase a prayer by Cardinal Saint John Henry Newman, “Lord make me live my life so well that when people look into my eyes they no longer see me but you.” For that to happen we must live as Christ lived, we must love as Christ loves. Today take time to look into your heart and answer these questions:” Do I reflect Jesus to others by how I live my life? Do I love others as I know Christ loves me?”

Deacon Peter Fiore Theology Teacher

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Thursday | March 16 Jeremiah 7:23-28 Luke 11:14-23 And He was casting out a mute demon; when the demon had gone out, the man who was previously unable to speak talked, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He casts out the demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven. But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. And if Satan also has been divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you claim that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Yet if by Beelzebul I cast out the demons, by whom do your sons cast them out?

Therefore, they will be your judges. But if I cast out the demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are secure. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, that man takes away his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder.

The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.

Luke 11:14-23 reminds us of the love and care that God has for the afflicted, including those possessed by demons. We see how Jesus healed the man in the story, regardless of the public ridicule that he faced from others. Especially when associating himself with the impoverished and the ill, Jesus was subjected to a plethora of attacks and backlash from society. Nonetheless, Jesus continued to face such obstacles before making the ultimate sacrifice and opening the gates of Heaven to us. It seems that the Bible is inviting us to have a similar mentality to Jesus when tasked with the choice to serve others or not. How can we overcome hindrances that may arise when we attempt to help others? Is our determination to follow in Jesus’ path greater than the barriers we may face when doing so?

It is not always easy to do the right thing, especially when it may seem like a tribulation to us. However, as Christians, it’s important for us to try to remember Bible passages such as Luke 11:14-23. The Gospel constantly reminds us of the love and compassion that God shows to us, and, more specifically, that He shows to the afflicted. In spite of the barriers that Jesus faced when helping people such as the man possessed by the demon, he always offered his ability to heal to those who needed it. Similarly, Christ’s actions inspire us to offer our care and compassion to those who need it. Although it may sometimes come with personal sacrifice, the selflessness of Christ that we strive to embody helps us to serve others while further developing our own relationship with God. Sophia Vail Class of 2023

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Friday | March 17 Feast of Saint Patrick, Bishop Hosea 14:2-10 Mark 12:28-34 One of the scribes came up and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no other besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And then, no one dared any longer to question Him. When asked about the greatest of all commandments Jesus first quotes the Hebrew scriptures: “[Y]ou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” He then adds, “The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” In Jesus’ time there were 613 Jewish commandments extracted from the Hebrew scriptures. His reply to the scribe is shockingly simple: the two greatest commandments are simply to love God and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Shockingly simple on the surface, yes, but a challenge to obey.

Today the Catholic Church honors Saint Patrick who along with Brigid of Kildare and Columba are the patron saints of Ireland. Patrick lived in the 4th and 5th centuries C.E. And, while we may enjoy the festivities associated with this day, they have little to do with the real Patrick, the man who lived out the two great commandments in ancient Ireland. Patrick was a Roman Briton by birth, born in Scotland or Wales to a prominent family. As a teenager he and many of his father’s slaves were stolen and sold into slavery by Irish pirates. Thus began six years of captivity in Ireland, during which he worked as a shepherd and – alone in the fields with the sheep – his spiritual conversion began. After years of suffering and intense prayer, Patrick had a dream in which he was told where to find a ship to return to Britain.

Arriving home, Patrick continued his studies and was ordained to the priesthood. Then Patrick had another dream in which the Irish people implored him to return to Ireland and he did so, living among the hostile Irish as a witness to Christ. Patrick taught the Gospel in the Gaelic language and used Gaelic symbols to teach the Irish people about God. While it may be a fable, it is said that he used the three leaves of the shamrock to illustrate the Trinity, three Persons in one God. Despite the hostility of the Druids, Patrick succeeded in converting many of the Irish people to Christianity.

His years as a slave deepened his love of God to the extent that he could turn his back on his family, certain safety in Britain, and a comfortable life as a priest. His observance of the two great commandments compelled him to return to the land in which he had been enslaved, moved by his love of the Irish people. Borrowing the first line of an old hymn we pray, “Great and glorious Saint Patrick, pray for your dear children.”

Sister Noreen Neary, SC Chairwoman of Seton Ministries & Archivist for the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth

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Saturday | March 18 Feast of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Hosea 6:1-6 Luke 18:9-14 Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The story of the tax collector and the Pharisee teaches a crucial lesson about humility. These two men, representing opposite sides of society during Jesus’ time, are both praying in a temple. While a tax collector is often looked down upon, a Pharisee is more respected and admired. However, the way in which they express their faith shows the true juxtaposition of their occupations and their humility. The tax collector humbly prays to the Lord, recognizing his sins and his wrongdoings silently as he beats his chest. He knows he has done wrong, and he is asking God to forgive him.

He is humble about his life, for he knows that he is not as perfect as God would like him to be, yet his attempts to better himself are seen by God. Meanwhile, the Pharisee is the opposite of humble.

He, like many others in society, views himself as an example to society, for he finds no flaws within himself. Attempting to boast his self-righteousness, he prays to God, thanking Him for making him so “perfect.”

Here it is clear that these two men have extremely contrasting ideals about themselves.

While the tax collector is extremely humble about himself and his faith, the Pharisee is not. At the end of this reading, Luke exclaims that “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Showing off our accomplishments is not appreciated by God. It is humility that helps us grow in faith, love, and our relationship with God. Our world today is often hyperfocused on how we can be better than the people around us.

Constantly comparing ourselves to our classmates, friends, family, and enemies can create a race in society to be better than everyone else. Whether it is looking better or being better, the competition to win in life is not limited to any specific category. People often do good things only with the intention to look like a better person. However, it is more considerate and rewarding to simply do good to help others. Instead of trying to impress other people with our consideration, humankind should be attempting to make others feel good about themselves when they lend a helping hand.

Our good deeds are always seen by God and that is what matters. It does not matter if one person or 3,000 people see our kindness and accomplishments, as long as we are being humble about it, we will be rewarded by God. Bragging and trying to prove our superiority over others only turns the world into a competition to seem like a better person rather than actually being a better person.

Lauren Santoriello Class of 2023

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Fourth Sunday of Lent | March 19 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Ephesians 5:8-14 Psalm IV John 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” When He had said this, He spit on the ground, and made mud from the saliva, and applied the mud to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.”

So he left and washed, and came back seeing. So the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is this not the one who used to sit and beg?” Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” The man himself kept saying, “I am the one.” So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made mud, and spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” And they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought the man who was previously blind to the Pharisees.

Now it was a Sabbath on the day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied mud to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was dissension among them. So they said again to the man who was blind, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”

In this passage, Jesus heals a man who was blind even though it was the Sabbath. In the Jewish faith, it is prohibited to do any sort of work on this day. Despite this, Jesus still saw a person in need and stepped up to the task. This shows us that we should always take the opportunity to help others. We may be busy or have other things going on but the person will greatly appreciate it and a few minutes won’t matter too much to your life. Just as Jesus completely changed this man’s life, you may also change someone’s life, even in the slightest way. Something that may seem small to you may be big to the person you are helping.

Jesus also mentions how he was sent from God so it is his duty to help out this man no matter the day in the name of God. It is the Sabbath but he still heals this man, which would be seen as work. Despite this, Jesus knows what God would have wanted and trusts his instincts to do the right thing and help this person no matter what others will say. God wants us to help others and just like Jesus, we were put on this earth by God, each with our own abilities so we should use them whenever we are able to help God and make God’s kingdom a better place. People may have different opinions and wonder why you are helping, but if you think it is important and are doing it for the right reasons then it shouldn’t matter what others think.

Similarly to this, others were blaming the man for being blind and saying it was because he or his family had been sinners. Jesus heard this but still decided to help the man saying that it was God who gave him blindness but it was for the works of God, positive not negative. Each person has a different story and it is important to remember not to judge people because you never

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know what they have been through and what story they bear about their life. Maybe you think it is someone’s fault they are in their current situation. It is still good to help them because this is not always the case and even if it is their fault, they may now want to change, which is great. It is important to help anyone whenever you get the chance, even if you have other things going on because you never know what a person’s story is or what they are currently going through and even the smallest thing may make the biggest difference to them.

Annabella Biondo Class of 2023

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Monday | March 20 Feast of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16 Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 Luke 2:41-51 Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.

For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

We, like Joseph, become subject to internal and societal conflicts each day. The righteous father of the Messiah sought to protect his soon-to-be wife from the shame that ensues from premarital childbearing. Cooperating with the written law, he planned to quietly divorce his fiancé, until the angel of the Lord communicated the great justification that is God’s plan. This enlightenment propelled Joseph to remain by Mary’s side through the birth and growth of their son, Jesus Christ.

In Matthew, we observe Joseph’s initial hesitation to fulfill his destiny. The law strictly forbade the concept of giving birth to a child prior to husband and wife living together in marriage.

Joseph knew of this and the consequences it would bring to Mary. With this, he acted how he saw most fit to be in accordance with both the law and the wellbeing of his fiancé. Then, Joseph’s encounter with the angel in his dream inspired him to carry out his paternal mission, thus displaying the fruit that is born from ultimate faith in the Lord God. We as the children of God must maintain complete trust in our Heavenly Father, as He has a plan of salvation for all.

Also within this passage of Matthew’s primary chapter is the gray-area that seems to make difficult decisions even harder. The relationship between Joseph and Mary was destined by God for the continuation of mankind. However, remaining together following the premarital birth of their child would lead to excruciatingly painful consequences for both parties. Like Joseph, we often struggle to make the right decision under controversial circumstances. We wince at the idea of hurting others when making decisions for ourselves. Joseph demonstrates that in times like this, we must place our ultimate trust in God, for He knows the best for each and every one of us.

Cate Schneider Class of 2023

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Monday | March 21 Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 John 5:1-16 After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem, by the Sheep Gate, there is a pool which in Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these porticoes lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, limping, or paralyzed.

Now a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. Jesus, upon seeing this man lying there and knowing that he had already been in that condition for a long time, said to him, “Do you want to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.

Now it was a Sabbath on that day. So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is a Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick it up and walk’?” But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” The man went away, and informed the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on a Sabbath.

The story of the Healing at Bethesda is about a man who had been suffering from illness for years and wanted to get healed at the pool at Bethesda. The pool at Bethesda was where many people would get healed but only one person could be healed at a time. The man wanted to be cured of his illness so he made his way to the pool but due to that illness, he was unable to move and put himself in the pool to be healed.

He waited for many years for someone or something to help him but no one came to him.

One Sabbath day Jesus went to the pool and saw the man sitting and wondered why he didn’t go and get healed. Jesus asked the man “Do you want to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.

The story of the Healing at Bethesda shows how no matter when you need it or what you need Jesus will be there to help you. The man was sick and had a crippling illness so it is believed that he had sinned greatly and that his illness was caused by these sins. This just shows that even if you have sinned, Jesus will forgive you and accept you no matter how big or small you have sinned.

Another thing the story shows us is that if you are determined and wait what you want will come to you. The man was determined and waited for a long time to be healed and was eventually healed because Jesus had come to him. Jesus will be there to help you achieve what you want and will be there to forgive you.

Naomi Murphy Class of 2023

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Wednesday | March 22 Isaiah 49:8-15 John 5:17-30 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working. ”For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, a time is coming and even now has arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment.“ I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me. Love is a very powerful feeling and emotion that can be hard for our bodies to understand and use.

In this passage, God reminds us that we are able to love and it shines through within us. It may be a confusing feeling or a feeling that we may not understand, but God works with us to understand the feeling of love. The feeling of love is our journey, our path with God, and our approach to eternal life. God is our guide just as he is a guide to Jesus Christ himself. Although Jesus and God are the same, Jesus is claiming to have the same attributes as God the Father Himself.

At the end of the day, God is our judge, but we must also review our own actions. We are the ones who make our own choices and decisions. We let love rule our day and our path of love in God helps us do so. God and love are two of the most important factors to our success. If you listen to and trust in the word of God, your path of love will truly be successful and righteous. It will be filled with splendor and hope. My God is your God. My love is your love. Love is love.

Sydney Foer Class of 2023

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Thursday | March 23 Feast of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, Bishop Ex 32:7-14 John 5:31-47 “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. You have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do— testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father who sent Me, He has testified about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. Also you do not have His word remaining in you, because you do not believe Him whom He sent. You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.

I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have put your hope.

For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

I sat and prayed with this reading several times before it struck me. The word – testify/testimony is mentioned at least 12 times in this one section. What message is Jesus giving to me/us by emphasizing this word? The dictionary meaning of these words is “to make a solemn declaration; to bear witness to; attest; to affirm as fact or truth to afford evidence of in any manner; to state or declare under oath in court.” Of course, this is what Jesus is calling us to during this time of Lent in preparation for the Resurrection, for the New Life that He will be witnessing to.

We, too, are called to testify to our call as Christians. We are called to show others by our behavior and by the way that we treat others that we, too, exemplify the testimony of our loving God. We, too, have that spark of Jesus Christ in us and we prove that every time we do a good act, help another person or display kindness in some way. These 40 days of Lent call us each day to grow in our testimony to Jesus, which means to bear witness to Him by our behavior.

In addition to practicing your own testimony during Lent, you may also want to see if you can find that testimony in other people. Not by judging them but by admiring their goodness and noticing how they too, like you, are growing in your witness as a Christian and your love for God in the way that you treat others. Do this so that when Easter comes you, too, can give testimony with Jesus that your light shines with New Life.

Sister Marianne Tracey, SC Co-Director of Vocation and Mission Engagement Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth

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Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22

Friday | March 24

John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. So His brothers said to Him, “Move on from here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself is striving to be known publicly. If You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” For not even His brothers believed in Him. So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify about it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet fully arrived.”

Now having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as though in secret.

In our New Testament Honors class, we talk a great deal about discernment. These are the moments where we connect with God, our sense of Spirit and Wisdom and try to listen for the next right steps for our lives. Here, we imagine that Jesus was in a place of intense discernment amidst so many contradicting situations.

In this passage in John, we see the intensity and impending danger of Jesus’ ministry being revealed. He is aware that there is a plot to kill him and he feels that he needs to remain hidden, so as not to be killed at the festival. At the same time, he is a leader, a teacher, and a devout member of the Jewish faith. He is aware that the prophecy states that he will lead, challenge others, and if truly from God, will be saved by God. He is probably aware that this will not be revealed as people expect. As Jesus discerns attending the Festival of the Booths, we see him change his mind. He originally states that he will not go, but then, does attend, but only in secret.

We can never truly know what Jesus was thinking. However, we can imagine that he was sitting in the midst of a variety of feelings, worries, hopes, and imagined outcomes. In the end, he goes to the Festival and takes a chance in attending, hoping that he will be able to participate and be safe. How many times do we find ourselves in similar situations where we are weighing a variety of decisions and hoping to make the right choice? Perhaps in this passage, we can trust that God goes with us in all of the decisions.

Let us rest in the knowing that God goes before us and with us in places of indecision, fear, and hope. During Lent perhaps we can take a moment to breathe a sigh of relief, trusting that in those times of the unknown, we are never alone. The love and grace of God goes with us on all of our journeys, those that are clear, and those that continue to be a mystery. Let us walk forward with courage as the next beautiful step is revealed.

Dr. Kimberly Borin Theology Teacher

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Saturday | March 25 The Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10 Hebrews 10:4-10 Luke 1:26-38 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called infertile is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.”

And the angel departed from her.

Of all the people God could have chosen to raise his son, he chose an ordinary woman from the ordinary town of Nazareth. When the angel Gabriel visits Mary and greets her with praise, she is perplexed, and even scared.

At first, Mary struggles to comprehend that God has found favor with her of all people.

She even questions Gabriel how she could possibly go through with God’s seemingly impossible plan. Sometimes, God’s love can be perplexing. The idea that God knows each and every one of us deeply, and loves each and every one of us deeply, can be hard to wrap your head around, and yet it is true.

Even though Mary is confused by what Gabriel tells her, she takes a leap of faith and decides to trust in God’s plan. For an unmarried woman to be pregnant at the time, it not only would have been socially taboo, but also outright dangerous for Mary, so her decision took a large amount of courage.

By placing her trust in God, Mary brought so much light and love into this world. Every day, God calls on us to make difficult decisions. We may feel overwhelmed with indecisiveness or anxiety over these tough choices, but if we place our trust in God and drive our actions with love, we can never make the wrong decision.

Grace Potter Class of 2023

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Fifth Sunday of Lent | March 26 Ezekiel 37:12-14 Romans 8:8-11 Psalm I John 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.

Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.”

Jesus is attempting to convey to the audience through this tale that everything occurs for a reason.

Jesus understood he did not need to act quickly to save Lazarus. That wouldn't prove anything, but if he returned later and brought him back to life that would convince the populace that he is the Messiah and that God's power is real. They perceived it as Jesus neglecting them and taking his time, but Jesus saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate his might and ability to ultimately save them.

Although attending high school as a teenager may seem unjust to us, in reality, it is our way of life. Never once was it implied that it would be simple. There will be difficulties along the way. How would we learn if everything in life was perfect? Maybe Jesus has something different in mind for us if something doesn't go according to plan. Like in college, waiting to hear from a school that might change your life forever makes being a senior quite stressful. If you don't get accepted into a school, Jesus is telling you that it's not where you belong and that another school would be better for you.

Perhaps this story of divine timing is a reminder, that we may not know the end of the story and that God may have something better in mind for us. We can trust that in these times of waiting and hoping, that God will bring us to a place of new life too.

Katelyn Clifford Class of 2023

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Monday | March 27 Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41-62 John 8:1-11 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning He came again into the temple area, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began teaching them. Now the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery, and after placing her in the center of the courtyard, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” Now they were saying this to test Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. When they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Now when they heard this, they began leaving, one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman where she was, in the center of the courtyard.

And straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”

She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not sin any longer.”

It is easy to call others out for their misguided actions and sins, as the scribes and Pharisees did to the woman in this passage. It is easier to focus on the faults of others than recognize and acknowledge our own mistakes. Jesus reminds us in this passage that we have no right to judge others, as we too have sinned.

At the time, adultery was one of the worst sins a woman, specifically, could commit, and even then, Jesus reminds the surrounding crowd that one woman’s sin should not absolve them of the blame that comes with the brutal act of stoning, or even merely judging someone for their sins.

When the woman is left alone with Jesus, he brings her attention to the lack of surrounding people that were once condemning her, and he makes it a point to state that he does not condemn the woman as her neighbors had, but rather uses their absence as a symbol for his lack of condemnation.

Through another lens, it is important that we remember to forgive ourselves. Regardless of the gravity or severity of the sin or sins, we must remember that we cannot properly judge ourselves because we are not sinless. Just as the crowd had no right to stone the woman, we have no right to condemn ourselves because our judgment is skewed. On the contrary, God, and Jesus in the verse, are sinless, yet still choose forgiveness, as should we towards both ourselves and others.

Charlotte Scalamoni-Goldstein Class of 2023

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Numbers 21:4-9

Tuesday | March 28

John 8:21-30 Then He said again to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.”

Then they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I even been saying to you from the beginning? I have many things to say and to judge regarding you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I say to the world.” They did not realize that He was speaking to them about the Father.

So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am, and I do nothing on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” As He said these things, many came to believe in Him. John 8:21-30 tells us that Jesus is truly sent from God, and that God is a part of him. Everything Jesus does, he does with all of God’s greatness. He explains to his disciples that he is of a different background from them, and how he is “not of this world.” At first, the words of Jesus were misunderstood by the disciples. They were under the impression that he was going to kill himself when he said, “where I am going, you cannot come.”

Jesus then elaborates and the disciples realize he is speaking about the Father when He says, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am, and I do nothing on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me.” We can use what Jesus is preaching here in our daily lives. Great things happen when we rely on prayer, God, and our own spirituality. Personally, I like to rely on prayer before some of my Horseback Riding competitions as it gives me confidence that God is with me. I also like to focus on my inner spirit when I draw or create music. Relying on God and our spirituality is a beautiful thing that we can use everyday.

Casey Cox Class of 2023

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Wednesday | March 29 Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 John 8:31-42 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you are seeking to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak of the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.” They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born as a result of sexual immorality; we have one Father: God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came forth from God and am here; for I have not even come on My own, but He sent Me In this verse Jesus talks about the virtue of truth to the disciples. Jesus talks about the importance of truth and how it can impact one’s life. In specific Jesus is testing his disciples' truth. In this passage Jesus says “...the truth will set you free.”

When we look at Jesus’ words we truly can see the value of the meaning behind it. If Jesus is preaching this virtue of truth to his disciples we know that we should be incorporating truth as regularly into our lives as possible. Truth is a virtue that will help keep our lives free from sin. In verses thirty four through thirty five we see Jesus say, “... everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. Now the slave does not remain in the house forever...”

These verses in particular give us hope. If we sin we do not lose all our hope. Jesus preaches that one does not stay a slave on sin forever. We use the truth to free us from our sins because Jesus taught us that the truth will set us free.

Jordan Brenner Class of 2023

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Thursday | March 30 John 8:51-59 Genesis 17:3-9 Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall you be named Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.

I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.

And I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land where you live as a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

This passage discusses how God makes a covenant with Abraham. Previously known as Abram, God changes his name to Abraham, and promises him that he will have several descendants; many who will become kings in their future. This passage about prosperity, abundance, and legacy is important for us as we journey through Lent, which is portrayed as a liturgical period full of darkness and sacrifice.

Abraham’s role in the Bible takes a dramatic shift before God speaks to him. He and his wife, Sarah, are older, and were never able to have children. All of a sudden, he becomes responsible for hundreds of descendants, despite his old age. Abraham appears as someone who wasn’t a father at all, and yet is meant to be a father of many legacies. He’s challenged to raise these children to the best of his ability, and complete his covenant to God, or face consequences.

God places Abraham with the highest honor possible – the gift of life, over and over again. This raises the question of: how is it possible?

Simply put, Abraham had faith. In fact, he had so much faith that God changed his name because of it. This story shows that faith is the basic contributor of success. Above all odds, Abraham becomes the most important figure in the development of civilization, and faith as a whole. Thus, it proves that anyone can experience lent.

The purpose of Lent is to redirect people from darkness to light, this also holds true as we move from a winter season of cold weather and limited sunlight into warm weather, and an abundance of sun. Winter is a mixture of silence, darkness, hibernation into a season of growth.

One of the few things that shine a light through this period is Christmas, is the birth of Jesus Christ.

These gifts that are given to us to also offset the gloominess of winter.

This passage reminds us that we can trust in God’s promise of abundance and hope for our lives. At the end of Lent, we celebrate Jesus’s death and resurrection. We get to claim that hope for ourselves, that at the end of every Lent, we experience our own sense of renewal.

Alexa McCarus Class of 2023

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Friday | March 31 Jeremiah 20:10-13 John 10:31-42 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus replied to them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law: ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be nullified), are you saying of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

Therefore they were seeking again to arrest Him, and He eluded their grasp. And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He stayed there. Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.” And many believed in Him there.

I hear the whisperings of many...

As we prepare to commence Holy Week, the readings hype two figures who are not very popular!

That's weird, right? Jeremiah and Jesus are definitely not the cool kids in the Lenten narrative. On the one side, you have people raging against the Prophet Jeremiah. 'Denounce him!' Later, with another crowd, folks are picking up rocks to throw at Jesus. Jeremiah and Jesus are obviously losers, right? I know for a fact that both of them have zero followers on their SnapTokInstaFace accounts.

Why do J&J think they can be influencers? Because they are so lame, should we conform to the mob and vilify them? Well, actually, our Lenten observances of the past weeks force us to acknowledge and repudiate the times that we take up figurative rocks to throw at people and gossip whispers behind their backs.

Thus, the first lesson of Lenten self-reflection must be humility. Lent cautions us against conforming to the mob. Merely going along with the crowd is not a Lenten mindset. While preparing for the fulfillment of all prophesy in the Resurrection of Jesus, the impending Holy Week brings us to reflect on our personal relationship with God, to put down our rocks and to quit our whispers.

St. John the Baptist and Jesus were mocked and betrayed, reminding us that how we respond to rejection in our lives speaks to our character and Faith. But in the end, our celebration of the coming Resurrection fulfills Lenten truth: God is in Love with you, and He sent this message in Person, foretold by His prophets. So, we come before God without excuse, rocks or whispers, to bask in His Divine desire for us. Not with the mob or groupthink, but with your own heart whom He has called!

Father Tom Fallone, J.D. Saint Thomas More Church

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Saturday | April 1 Ezekiel 37:21-28 John 11:45-56 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things, which Jesus had done. Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council meeting, and they were saying, “What are we doing in regard to the fact that this man is performing many signs? If we let Him go on like this, all the people will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take over both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor are you taking into account that it is in your best interest that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish instead.” Now he did not say this on his own, but as he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation; and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they planned together to kill Him. Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country prior to the Passover, in order to purify themselves. So they were looking for Jesus, and saying to one another as they stood in the temple area, “What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?”

We are on the threshold of Holy Week when we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the gospel we see the conspiracy that will bring about the death of Jesus spring into motion. The book of Leviticus (Chapter 16) makes reference to a ritual of “scapegoating.”

Scapegoating was a ritual of atonement in which a goat is released into the wilderness bearing all the sins of the community, which have been placed on the goat’s head by a priest. While we are far distant from the world of animal sacrifices, the practice of scapegoating is all too familiar to us-imagining that the way to safety and security for a group is to place blame on others and to victimize them.

In today’s gospel, Caiaphas uses the process of scapegoating to justify the death of Jesus – it is better that one person die than that the entire nation perish. How often we see scapegoating at work in our social and cultural institutions. Political rivals scapegoat and demonize each other. The homeless “ruin” our inner cities. Asylum seekers “threaten” our borders. Billionaires pay virtually no taxes yet the poor are seen as a drain on our financial resources. We are not immune from the tendency to scapegoat in our personal lives as well. Think of the people in your life who really “push your buttons.”

Instead of assigning blame, try to practice in their regard something that St. Ignatius of Loyola suggested, “Always presume good will in another,” Resist the delicious temptation of endless rehearsing in our minds the real or imagined faults of others and pray for them instead. The season of Lent reminds us that the world is not “us and them.” It is only “us” - all of us dependent on God’s compassion and mercy.

Father Terrence Moran Director of Peace, Justice and Ecological Integrity Office Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth

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Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord | April 2 Matthew 21:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Psalm II Matthew 26:14-27:66 or 27:11-54 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “So You are the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not offer any answer. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they are testifying against You?” And still He did not answer him in regard to even a single charge, so the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the Passover Feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed Him over. And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “See that you have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to put Jesus to death. And the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” But he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” Yet they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”Now when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; you yourselves shall see.” And all the people replied, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Palm Sunday is one of the most important days in the Catholic faith. It is the day where Jesus rode into Jerusalem to be greatly welcomed by His followers. However, Palm Sunday also instigates Holy Week, which is what Catholics consider to be the most solemn week of the year. The main symbol for Palm Sunday is palm branches that are blessed by the priests during the mass. These branches are considered symbols of victory and triumph, which demonstrate various meanings. The palms could exemplify Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, but they could also illustrate the glorious end to Holy Week with the resurrection of Jesus. While Palm Sunday appears to be a celebratory day, it truly marks the beginning of the suffering and passion of Jesus.

Matthew 27:11-54 is the story of Jesus being sentenced to death. Pilate and the other chief priests accused Jesus of being the “King of the Jews” and spreading His own message. It was customary for the governor to release one prisoner of the crowd’s choosing at this time. The crowd was so intent on having Jesus crucified that they chose to release a known murderer, Barabbas.

Pilate was shocked by this choice and states “Why? What evil has he done?” (Matthew 27:23).

Although Pilate did not agree with their decision, he concedes to the crowd and Jesus is sentenced to death on a cross.

This story has an extremely powerful and applicable message. Jesus was killed because these people were so full of hatred and resentment towards Him that they could not realize He was doing nothing wrong. While Jesus understood God’s plan, He still asks God to forgive these people, and by extension generations to come. Isaiah 50:5 states, “The Lord God opened my ear; I did not refuse, did not turn away.” Jesus never gave up on humanity and we should never give up on Him.

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The first message from his passage is how it rarely benefits people to be so full of hate. In today’s society, groups are so divided and can never seem to come to a compromise.

However, by being open to discussions and understandings, the world could be a stronger and more unified place. A second important message that is quite clear is how God will always love each and every one of us. If Jesus was able to forgive those who crucified Him and hated everything He stood for, we should be able to forgive friends, family, and peers for, in comparison, frivolous matters. All of these ideas simply fall under the fact that if everyone truly lives out the message of Jesus, the world would not only be peaceful, but we would have a stronger chance of working towards inner peace.

Katie Dusko Class of 2023

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Monday of Holy Week | April 3 Isaiah 42:1-7 John 12:1-11 Therefore, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a dinner there, and Martha was serving; and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not on account of Jesus only, but so that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

In this scene, Mary anoints Jesus with a high-priced perfume at a dinner. Mary is honoring Jesus with what she has in the moment to honor who he is and what he represents. She is glad to sacrifice something valuable in order to express her love for Jesus. Mary’s internal gift, given by God, is her act of love toward Jesus. From this story, we understand that we should not hold back anything from God. In our relationships with God, we should not hold back our love from God. He is worthy of all our love and he doesn’t hold back his love from us. So, like Mary in this story, we should give our wholehearted devotion to God. Each one of us has unique gifts given by God. Through these gifts, we have the opportunity to show our love for Jesus through our work and traits. The gifts can consist of being kind, having a good sense of humor, or being extremely good at math. Each one of these traits allows us to share them with others. As we share them with the public, we are also sharing them with Jesus. Through our actions, we are bringing our gifts forward to honor our love of Jesus. For example, in Mary’s gift of internal love, Jesus is very gracious in his attitude toward Mary and praises her act of love toward him. This shows us that every little thing we do for others is how we honor Jesus. The story of Mary anointing Jesus reminds us that the littlest things can make a huge difference in someone else’s life.

Isabella Cortes Class of 2023

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Tuesday of Holy Week | April 4 Isaiah 49:1-6 John 13:21-33, 36-38 When Jesus had said these things, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. Lying back on Jesus’ chest was one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter nodded to this disciple and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” He then simply leaned back on Jesus’ chest and said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus then answered, “That man is the one for whom I shall dip the piece of bread and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the piece of bread, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After this, Satan then entered him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you are doing, do it quickly.” Now none of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were assuming, since Judas kept the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we need for the feast”; or else, that he was to give something to the poor. So after receiving the piece of bread, he left immediately; and it was night.

Therefore when he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. Little children, I am still with you a little longer. You will look for Me; and just as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

Throughout this passage we see Jesus talking with his disciples about how someone will betray him. Jesus then gives Judas a piece of bread silently saying he was the only who was going to betray him that night. In this passage Jesus says, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him” which means that even though Judas betrayed God's only son he would still forgive him of his sins and would not judge him. People like Judas make mistakes and we shouldn’t judge people for them. They don't make us who we are. Some people get clouded by temptations and get lost.

Forgiveness and betrayal are some of the main elements of this passage but Intuition and love are other topics that are hidden throughout the story. Jesus said “Little children, I am still with you a little longer. You will look for Me; and just as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.” He was already predicting his death and how he would rise to heaven where his disciples couldn't go with him, at least not yet. Jesus knew what would happen but he never stopped loving us along with his disciples, even when he was being nailed to the cross.

Lily Moran Class of 2023

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Wednesday of Holy Week | April 5 Isaiah 50:4-9a Matthew 26:14-25 Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. And from then on he looked for a good opportunity to betray Jesus. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”

The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve. And as they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Being deeply grieved, they began saying to Him, each one: “Surely it is not I, Lord?” And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is going away just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”

As a young child, learning about the betrayal of Jesus by Judas caused me great distress. In grammar school religion class, I can recall that my classmates and I were outraged that one of Jesus’ Apostles would betray him for 30 pieces of silver. We blamed Judas for everything that happened to Jesus, up to and including the crucifixion. While this may have been an immature view on things, Sr. Maria tried to explain that he was just doing his part in fulfilling the prophecy that was determined before Jesus was born. However, we were not convinced. Judas was one of Jesus’ best friends.

How do you betray a friend like that? Not to mention, this is a lot different from telling on your friend for doing something wrong, isn’t it? Jesus was tortured and killed because of Judas’ betrayal of Him. As a student in high school, our religious instruction was a bit more sophisticated and we learned that Judas was most likely not even aware of the true implication of his betrayal or that it would lead to Jesus' subsequent death. Judas could not forgive himself and took his own life for his betrayal. We reflected on this and considered if that would be what Jesus would have wanted for him. He was all about forgiveness after all. At his worst time, He asked his Heavenly Father to ‘forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’. Ultimately, Judas was doing his part in what would lead to Jesus’ resurrection and didn’t that happen so all of us could be saved?

I look at this Gospel story in two ways, both of which are thoughtful ways to reflect during this season of Lent. On the one hand, we need to look inwardly and realize what kind of person and friend we want to be. Judas’ name has often been used synonymously with betrayal or treason. Do we want to be that person who betrays another or do we want to be the person that others can count on? I think we can use Judas’ betrayal as a cautionary tale and to learn from his mistake, even though it may have been destined to happen. I believe that God has a plan for us and that some things that happen to us are predetermined by Him. And I also believe that He puts choices in our way and wants us to follow in His Son’s example and make the right choices, even when it is not easy to do so. Actually, I believe He wants us to do this, especially when it is not easy. That is the real challenge. Let us all try to make the right choices when faced with these challenges.

The second takeaway from Judas’ betrayal and the subsequent events is slightly different, but continues in this vein. Let’s not forget that while Judas betrayed Jesus, he was not the only one.

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Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him more than once, even though Peter said he would not do so. We know that Jesus forgave both of them for their betrayal of Him. Maybe the second takeaway is that we need to forgive ourselves sometimes when we fail to do the right thing. It should always be the goal to live a righteous life, but we will make mistakes. We will stumble and fall at times, but we have to brush ourselves off and try again to do the right thing the next time.

Jesus taught us to forgive others who wrong us, but we need to start with forgiving ourselves.

Ms. Beth-Ellen Walsh Director of School & College Counseling

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Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday) | April 6 Revelation 1:5-8 Luke 4:16-21 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. And He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” And He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all the people in the synagogue were intently directed at Him. Now He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Holy Thursday is one of the most important, complex and profound days of celebration and holds the foundation of our belief. Beginning with the Last Supper, in his final days Jesus offers himself as the sacrificial lamb and demonstrates to his disciples the meaning of servitude, sacrifice and salvation. His life is the example we follow as believers as He leads us all on God’s mission of having the character of charism.

This passage from Luke provides us with the foundation of Jesus’s ministry and the associated mission of the Holy Spirit in our lives today. Not only does it show us that Jesus is the anointed one but brings two points forward that salvation is for all and that social justice is a part of the mission and character of God. The passage from Isaiah that Jesus reads, prophetically speaks of the anointed one who will be sent to bring good news. In the temple this passage had been associated with the release from prejudice and persecution of the Jews, rebuilding of a nation and recompence for wrongdoings. Now Jesus presents in his sermon that by the Spirit of the Lord, He is the anointed one and that his mission is to bring the good news of salvation, no mention of acts of retribution or rebuilding of a physical nation but salvation and freedom from “captivity” for all people who do not yet know the loving character of God. Luke presents this passage as a declaration of a new spirit, that the Holy Spirit has anointed us all to the Lord’s mission. Relative to this passage and as recognition of Jesus’s mission are the verses from Revelation 1: 5-8 “and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever, Amen.” This passage was the closing for every one of my pastor’s services when I was younger and I still reflect on it as true.

In reading the passages from Isaiah, Luke and Revelation it is amazing how God’s plan works in the world and our lives. To be given the gift of salvation by the sacrifice of Jesus and to be offered the strength and guidance to move forward in God’s mission by the Holy Spirit, truly speaks to of the caring character of a loving God. Our daily challenge is to stay focused on His mission, which is hopefully our mission, that we loving serve others and demonstrate a life of caring and kindness. I hope you are able to spend some time mediating on the mission of caring for all and lean on the Holy Spirit to guide you in your mission.

Mrs. Gail DeFreitas, Administrative Assistant Student Services & Counseling/Attendance

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Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday) | April 7 Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1—19:42 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, carrying His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called, Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. Now Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written: “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; rather, write that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts: a part to each soldier, and the tunic also; but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be.” This happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “They divided My garments among themselves, and they cast lots for My clothing.” Therefore the soldiers did these things. Now beside the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. So when Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Now then, since it was the day of preparation, to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath, the Jews requested of Pilate that their legs be broken, and the bodies be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other who was crucified with Him; but after they came to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Yet one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. For these things took place so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look at Him whom they pierced.” Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, requested of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.

Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred litras weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

John is portraying the chaos that was happening at the time of Jesus’ handover, torture, and death on the cross. It stirs many emotions, anger, love, hatred, patience, betrayal, and forgiveness. It is such a roller coaster that I feel emotionally exhausted after reading the passage. These are natural

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feelings to encounter.

The unconditional love that Jesus has for us, He died to save us from our sins so we can have an eternal life with Him, can be difficult for someone to comprehend. Why doesn’t He ask His Father to take this cup away and live out the rest of His life on earth? Why do His friends betray Him to the authorities of the time? Why does Peter deny knowing Him? With hindsight, one can probably answer these questions with an adamant, “He had the power to save Himself why didn’t he?” or “I would never act that way”.

Maybe the passage wants us to reflect on these questions: Would I be able to die for Jesus as he died for a sinner like me? Do I have enough faith to trust that God will take care of me as He says he will? Do I have the belief that Abraham had when he was willing to sacrifice Isaac? Or am I like Judas who lives for this world and not for all eternity?

The only perfect person I know is Jesus and even He was misunderstood during His time on earth. This makes me reflect on St. Paul and his writings. In 1Corinthians 2:8, “The wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” In addition, he writes in Acts 26:23, “That the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Jesus, thank you for loving us so much that you took on our sins so that we can be with You for all eternity. Help us further Your Father’s Kingdom and bless the people You put into our lives everyday while on earth.

Holy Spirit please guide us to be strong enough to die for Jesus if we are confronted to choose between this world or Gods Word. As humans we all have faults and no one is perfect and we know Your Spirit will guide us to further towards His Glory. Amen All Glory to God. Mr. Matthew Scalaro, P ‘16 Knights of Saint Elizabeth

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Holy Saturday | April 8 Genesis 1:1—2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 Romans 6:3-11 Matthew 28:1-10 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.

And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook from fear of him and became like dead men. And the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to report to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Rejoice!” And they came up and took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go, bring word to My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.” The most important day in the Christian year is Easter Sunday, when Jesus was raised to new life.

Because of this, Christians made Sunday their Sabbath. Jesus’ death and resurrection opens the possibility of eternal life. Through resurrection, Christians believe life has triumphed over death, good over evil, hope over despair. The resurrection is a sign of God's great power. Nothing is too great for God to achieve, and this is comforting and encouraging for Christians who may experience difficult times.

Jesus also makes use of flawed people in his mission of bringing this hope. He wants the disciples to know that they will meet him in Galilee. Jesus thereby forgives them for their failures, doubts, and fears. He even calls them his “brothers.” They betrayed him and deserted him at the time of his trial and death. But now he restores them as his emissaries and trusts them once again to represent him. And so it is with us. We are like the disciples. We are flawed persons and have failed him often as individuals and sometimes as a church. But Jesus continues to call us his disciples to follow him into the world and to represent him.

In addition, forgiveness and failure shape the relationship between humans. Life is full of mistakes because no one is perfect, despite what things might look like on the outside. We all encounter the unexpected and have to pave a way to get to the future. But in order to move forward, forgiveness is key. Forgiveness is God's promise not to count our sins against us. It's a way to restore our faith. Forgiveness is also a way to heal our relationships, and ourselves as well.

Ava Marcantonio Class of 2023 Just before Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilot, the mob yelled, “Crucify Him!” For the crowd, Jesus was flatly labeled as a threat to the spiritual community. I can’t help but think of all the many lessons we’ve learned, and perhaps not learned, when we are engaged in dualistic thinking. Us vs. them, good vs. bad, holiness vs. evil, Jew vs. Gentile, etc. In many historical atrocities, humans cause so much suffering, inflicting pain that often lasts for generations. Often, the intolerance for diversity stems from misunderstandings about dualism. Duality doesn’t always mean contrasting results or opposites; it is often complimentary and related. This means we can’t have life without

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death or love with our loss. It’s all a balance and shared experience.

The collective experience of suffering isn’t a dualistic or individual problem. Universal suffering affects all of humanity. The collective consciousness bears the pain and suffering together. It cannot be separated into segments of people or individual experiences. When Jesus died on the cross, with love for us, He knew there was meaning in His suffering. His believers hoped there was a meaning in His death but that doesn’t mitigate the pain He experienced as well as the pain experienced by all those who loved Him. It was a sacrifice and display of true love only demonstrable for us and with us by Jesus. It is up to us, His ancestors, to love one another, reduce suffering, display empathy and offer forgiveness so that His sacrifice and its meaning stays true in everlasting life.

And so, in our small, close knit school, when one of us is suffering, we are all suffering as a community. There is no amount of suffering that is a singular experience even when it feels alone and isolating. That is the universal non-dualistic truth. When we experience pain, hardships or loss such as death, dignity or independence we are each given the opportunity to find meaning in each other’s suffering because it creates a space of belonging. It comes from our ability to bear a proverbial cross for each other so that one person doesn’t have to experience it alone. The hope, light and love we share between us is what matters.

When suffering is shared, it becomes divided. When it’s divided it becomes something that we are all responsible for with each other. We don’t ignore each other’s needs emotionally, physically and spiritually. We work together to find meaning in our experience and strive to show to each other light, love and hope each and every day.

Ms. Megan Knight Director of Development & Alumnae Relations Academy of Saint Elizabeth

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Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord | April 9 Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 Matthew 28:1-10 Luke 24:13-35 John 20:1-9 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already removed from the tomb.

So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put Him.” So Peter and the other disciple left, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead, faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first; and he stooped to look in, and saw the linen wrappings lying there; however he did not go in. So Simon Peter also came, following him, and he entered the tomb; and he looked at the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings but folded up in a place by itself.

So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb also entered then, and he saw and believed.

For they did not yet understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead.

Esperanza (Hope) En la época de Pascua, se celebra la fiesta más importante en el Cristianismo, la Santísima Resurrección de Cristo. Un momento de regocijo y profunda alegría después de los sobrios días de cuaresma, es la presentación de un nuevo comienzo en nuestra fé y en nuestras vidas. La esencia primordial de este importantísimo evento es la esperanza, la virtud que por definición le da el nombre a la confianza de que algo se puede lograr sin importar la adversidad. Este texto sagrado es muy poderoso y significativo.

Cuenta la historia de la resurrección de Jesús y cómo María Magdalena fue la primera persona de ver que Jesús no estaba en el sepulcro. Los discípulos de Jesús, María Magdalena, todos se sentían desamparados por la muerte de su gran maestro, temerosos de lo que estaba por venir, y asustados por la persecución. Sin embargo, aún perduraba la esperanza, especialmente en María Magdalena, en que Dios no los dejará desamparados, sino que Jesús volverá al mundo a traer salvación.

María Magdalena tuvo fé y esperanza por la gracia de Dios. En esta estación de Cuaresma, tenemos que estar tranquilos y esperanzados para la venida y resurrección de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Debemos confiar porque él tiene un plan para cada uno de nosotros. Si confíamos en Dios, nunca podremos perder la esperanza de un mejor porvenir. Esta fecha nos recuerda que hasta en los momentos más oscuros y difíciles, siempre volverá la luz y la paz mientras haya esperanza, ya que Dios nunca nos abandona.

Translation During Easter time the most important holiday in Christianity is celebrated, the Holy Resurrection of Christ. It is the presentation of a new beginning in our faith and in our lives, a moment of rejoicing and deep joy after the sober days of Lent. The primordial essence of this very important event is hope, the virtue that by definition gives its name to the confidence that something can be achieved regardless of adversity.

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This sacred text is powerful and significant, as it tells the story of the resurrection of Jesus and how Mary Magdalene was the first person to see that Jesus was not in the tomb. The disciples of Jesus and Mary Magdalene all felt helpless by the death of their great teacher. They were fearful of what was to come and frightened by persecution. However, there was still hope (Esperanza); especially seen in Mary Magdalene, that God will not leave them defenseless, but that Jesus will return to the world to bring salvation.

Mary Magdalene’s faith and hope were by the grace of God. In this season of Lent, we have to be calm and hopeful for the coming and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must trust because he has a plan for each of us. If we trust in God, we can never lose hope for a better future. This date reminds us that even in the darkest and most difficult moments, light and peace will always return as long as there is hope, since God never abandons us.

Sra. Joan Braulio Spanish Teacher AP Spanish Class Students María Clara Bragagnolo Rose, ‘24 Emma Kelly, ‘23 Emma Marsh, ‘23 Kathleen Ott de Vries, ‘23 Allison Shannon, ‘23 Keiri Shuyama, ‘24

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With grateful appreciation to all of the members of our community for contributing to our annual Lenten Devotional. Your contributions make our Lenten journey personal and meaningful.

May you be blessed by God's eternal grace and unconditional love.