THE2022BI SHOPI RETON LENTEN REFLECTI ON BOOKLET W RI TTEN BYTHEBIFACULTY& STAFF
The 2022 Bishop Ireton Lenten Reflection Booklet Written by the BI Faculty and Staff
Thank you to all the contributors. May God bless you as you read and reflect on His word this Lenten season. In memory of his passing to eternal life on March 3, 2021, this prayer book is dedicated to Brother Didacus R. Wilson, T.O.R. and his many years of service to Bishop Ireton High School as a teacher, administrator, colleague, mentor, friend and Disciple of Christ.
Opening Message By Kathleen McNutt, Head of School Dear Bishop Ireton Community, Lent is upon us, and we find ourselves preparing to follow Christ’s ministry, passion and death over the next 40 days. While we will all experience this liturgical season in different ways, we will all be ministered to by the same Spirit. It is this Spirit that will help us persevere in our observances of prayer, fasting, and service, whether it is here on Cambridge Road or in our homes. I am so grateful to the faculty and staff who have dedicated time and prayerful effort to provide the reflections in this year’s Salesian Lenten booklet. My prayer is that their words speak to your heart and mind, and help you focus on the season and the presence of God in your life. I hope that this is just one of the many ways that Christ will reach you and our community this Lent. May these opportunities of reading and reflection draw us closer to Him so that we can experience the joys of the Resurrection come Easter. God bless and Live Jesus,
Kathleen McNutt Head of School
Opening Salesian Lenten Reflection By Father Donald Heet, OSFS The Gospel for the 2nd Sunday of Lent describes the Transfiguration of Jesus, so when Francis de Sales preached on that Sunday, he reflected on what life will be like in heaven. Now, to be fair, he begins by citing the epistle for the day in which St. Paul declares that no one could describe his experience when he was taken up to “the third heaven,” but then Francis allows his imagination to proceed and picture what that eternally blessed life might be like, even though he knows the clearest vision of heaven we have in this life will be a pale reflection of the real thing. Much of his sermon centers around the eternal conversations we will have: conversations with people we know, with the angels, with saints to whom we have prayed, with the Blessed Mother, and with Jesus in his humanity. Each conversation will provide us with joy beyond our earthly power to imagine; throughout eternity, we will never tire of sharing our thoughts with each of these. Ultimately, however, they all point toward the divine interchange we will have with the Blessed Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Francis imagines God giving each of us our own divine word and our own divine name and sealing his gift with a kiss of peace. He then concludes, “In the heavenly Jerusalem, then, we will enjoy a very pleasing conversation with the blessed spirits, the angels, the cherubim and seraphim, the saints, with our Lady and glorious Mistress, with Our Lord and with the thrice holy and adorable Trinity – a conversation which will last forever and will be perpetually cheerful and joyous… If we take so much delight in the simple imagination of this unending happiness, how much more will we have in the actual possession of it! An endless felicity and glory, one that will last eternally and one which we can never lose.” Heavenly Father, you give us Lent as a time of preparation for Easter, the feast when we celebrate not only Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, but the promise of our own resurrection and eternal life of happiness. May that promise strengthen us to be faithful to our Lenten practices, practices that will point toward the glory of being united with you, your Son and the Holy Spirit in heaven. Amen.
Salesian Way of the Cross Based on the Writing of St. Francis de Sales Translated and amplified by The Rev. Lewis S. Fiorelli, O.S.F.S, Provincial of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales The "Way of the Cross" of suffering and affliction is a sure way, one which leads to God and to the perfection of his love if we are faithful. First Station -- Jesus Is Condemned to Death. The Cross is from God, but it is only "cross" if we do not join ourselves to it; for when we are strongly resolved to desire the cross which God gives to us then it is no longer a "cross" at all. If it is from God, why do we not desire it? Second Station -- Jesus Is Given His Cross. The Cross has been sanctified because it was the instrument which Jesus used for our Redemption. All Christians who aspire to heaven must take up the cross of the Lord and follow him. This will mean walking in his steps, imitating his virtues and having but one purpose and goal: his. Third Station -- Jesus Falls the First Time. Notice the infinite goodness of the Savior who wished to die the death of men and women to enable us to live according to the original expectation for Adam, that is, to live God's life. But to better grasp the humility of Our Lord, listen to what St. Paul writes: "Though he was God's Son, he emptied himself." (Phil. 2:6-7 freely) O, God, but it is wondrous that the Eternal Word should empty himself and set aside his proper glory for his creatures who measure up so poorly to his love! Fourth Station -- Jesus Meets His Mother. The Mother of Christ seeks out her Son who is the life of her life. And why does she seek him out? To be ever near him, her Son and her God. Fifth Station -- Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus. The evangelists do not name the majority of people who figure in the Passion. But they do recall the name of Simon who helps our Lord carry his cross. The cross is the royal gate by which we enter the temple of holiness. Love this altogether precious cross; look upon it with eyes of love. Sixth Station -- Veronica Cleanses the Face of Jesus. I reflect upon the way the Lord suffers. In his heart, he suffers willingly, with patience and love. The cross is a remedy capable of healing all our evils. Seventh Station -- Jesus Falls the Second Time. He suffers to witness to his love for us. O, how great is his love! Lord, I do not know if I have any love at all, but if I do, it is so little that it is content to shed a single tear; and it believes itself perfected when it utters a few sighs. And yet, O Good God, how much I insist and protest that I want to love you and give you my entire heart! Eighth Station -- Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem. Christ has made it clear that he loves our tears when they are caused by love. If we have tears, let us cry them altogether simply, because we certainly could not have a more worthy subject over which to cry. Ninth Station -- Jesus Falls the Third Time. My iniquity is indeed great. O, Lord, who will deliver me from this labyrinth if not you? We would have reason to fear if we relied on our own strength. For he is for us. Tenth Station -- Jesus Is Stripped of His Clothing. Christ stripped teaches us what we must do to please him: strip our hearts of all sorts of unworthy affections and pretenses, no longer loving them but desiring nothing other than him. Eleventh Station -- Jesus Is Nailed to The Cross. The Son of God is nailed to the Cross. What puts him there? Certainly it is love. Well, since it is certain that he died for us the least we ought to do for him is to live from love. He who wants to kiss Christ must mount his cross and be wounded by the thorns of his crown.
Twelfth Station -- Jesus Dies on The Cross. Our Lord chose the death of the Cross to witness to his Love. There he offered himself in love, unto love, by love and of love. Thirteenth Station -- Jesus Is Taken Down from The Cross. Love draws all the pains, torments, sufferings, sorrows, wounds, passion, Cross of our Lord into the heart of his holy Mother. The sword of death which cut through the body of this well-beloved Son also cut through the heart of this all-loving Mother. Fourteenth Station -- Jesus Is Placed in the Tomb. Love and death co-penetrate one another in the Savior's passion. We must die to every other love to live from Jesus' love, so that we may not die eternally. Fifteenth Station -- The Resurrection of Jesus. That we may live in your eternal love, O Savior of our souls, we sing eternally, "Live, Jesus! Jesus is the one I love! Live, Jesus, you whom I love. I love Jesus who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
Reflection by Brother Rick Wilson, Written in 2014, and Reprinted in His Memory Prayer While Suffering Abba, in your bloody hands Let my heart abide Abba, at your nailed feet Your grace impart Abba, in my scars I hide My Lord, let me be Beside your cross, side to side * Abba is Aramaic for Daddy
Reflection by Brother Rick Wilson, Written in 2016, and Reprinted in His Memory Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. A True Cross This year I would like to write a brief Lenten reflection on suffering. As you all know, last May I fell down two steps and fractured 8 ribs and, in the process, collapsed my left lung. I was taken to the trauma unit at Fairfax Hospital where I was listed in very serious condition. Suffice it to say, I thought I would not be leaving the hospital alive. Through prayers, visits from you all and family, even former students, I made it out of the trauma unit. Yes, I had pain, tears and almost, hopelessness. But that is not the point of my reflection. My point is to say it would be very easy to say that incident was a cross given to me by the Lord. That is too easy. I think too often we make designer crosses for ourselves. By that I mean we pick the cross we choose to mount, not the true cross we are given by our Lord. I find it very hard to accept help from others. This is a holdover from my dad who taught his five boys that getting help from others is a sign of weakness. The cross I truly was given to mount was the Lord saying, “Be still! I am coming to you through others. When you see your friends, family,…you see my face.” Let me tell you this was a true awakening! I saw the love outpouring from you all. I realized what it meant for the wounded healer to be healed. As religious, too often we take our charism to serve others too far and we never open enough to be served. Use this Lenten season to reflect on this: Am I making a designer cross for myself? What is God really asking me to endure? You may find the answer to that prayer quite surprising—even fearful. Lord, help me to know my true cross and not the designer cross I have fashioned for myself. Grant to me Lord the grace to see my cross and accept it as your Son did. Let me not pray for a designer cross but a true cross. Amen.
The First Sunday of Lent First Reading Deuteronomy 26: 4-10 The priest shall then take the basket from your hands and set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God. Then you shall declare in the presence of the LORD, your God, “My father was a refugee Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as a resident alien. But there he became a nation great, strong and numerous. When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us, imposing harsh servitude upon us, we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, and the LORD heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil and our oppression. Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders, and brought us to this place, and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Now, therefore, I have brought the first fruits of the products of the soil which you, LORD, have given me.” You shall set them before the LORD, your God, and you shall bow down before the LORD, your God.
Reflection By Stephen Crooker In the long history of the nation of Israel, the enslavement in Egypt is both a dark and profound experience for the Chosen People. Given the land of Israel, a land flowing with milk and honey, the Israelites could not live in the land in peace and found themselves slaves in the land of Egypt when their ancestors sought out a famine. In distress, the people turned to God repeatedly for help and direct assistance. Nothing happens…. for hundreds of years. Then, a promise was fulfilled with the birth of Moses, who would rise to save the Israelites from oppression and slavery. Moses was the leader and lawgiver for the Israelites, both in Egypt and in the Sinai Desert before their return to the Promised Land. As we begin the journey of Lent, we too are reminded and called. We are reminded that sin, division, and evil can dominate our lives. We can be slaves to sin. We are called to a higher level of existence, as were the Israelites. We are called to be a holy people, as were the Israelites. We are called to abide by law and standards, as were the Israelites. We are all called to bring our very best of our lives, gifts the Lord has given us, and place them in good use for the service of the Kingdom of God. Lent begins today. The journey into the spiritual desert begins today. The long walk Our Savior made to save us from sin is remembered now and always. Lent is a time to bring forth the best fruits of our efforts and dedicate that effort to the Lord as a model and example for others. Almighty and Everlasting God, You have given the human race Jesus Christ our Savior as a model of humility. He fulfilled Your Will by becoming Man and giving His life on the Cross. Help us to bear witness to You by following His example of suffering and make us worthy to share in His Resurrection. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen.
The First Sunday of Lent Responsorial Psalm Psalm 91: 1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shade of the Almighty, Say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.” No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent. For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You can tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon. Because he clings to me I will deliver him; because he knows my name I will set him on high. He will call upon me and I will answer; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and give him honor.
Reflection By Jane Hannon Psalm 91 juxtaposes vivid images that are terrifying and comforting in turn. In proclaiming God’s protection of His followers, the Psalmist rejoices that God has entrusted His angels to guard us against the dangers, large and small, that we encounter every day. A run-in with an asp, a viper, a dragon, or a lion would likely inspire even a person of lukewarm faith to cry out to God, but the threats and hardships we encounter in the twenty-first century can present themselves in more ambiguous, less overt, and even virtual forms. The first step in availing ourselves of God’s help is recognizing our need. What are the situations, dynamics, and habits that prevent me from living as fully as God intended? To “rest in the shadow of the Almighty” and take refuge in God’s love, we must be willing to let go of the dispositions, grudges, and willfulness that prevent us from recognizing and embracing God’s working in our lives. Lord, grant me the humility to acknowledge my need for protection. Give me the courage to stop blundering forth on my own. Help me to bend my will to accept Your deliverance. Amen.
The First Sunday of Lent Second Reading Romans 10: 8-13 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach), for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. For the scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Reflection By Father Noah Morey We read in the Letter to the Hebrews, “The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any twoedged sword.” The word of God makes something be that was not there before. God spoke at creation, and our beautiful, created world came about. At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “This is my Body,” and ordinary bread became His Body. Throughout the Letter to the Romans, St. Paul explains that salvation comes not from the external observances of the Mosaic Law, but rather through faith in Jesus. Yet, the Old Testament laws and regulations point forward to Jesus. Thus, faith is not simply a passive activity. God wants us to take an active role in salvation history. In quoting the Book of Deuteronomy, St. Paul shows that the word of God is very near to us. But God’s word is not simply a written word on a page from thousands of years ago. The Word of God is a Person, Jesus Christ, who speaks to our hearts. Thus, the true Word of God lives within us and leads us to eternal salvation, not because of nationality or personal merit, but through the free gift of Jesus Christ. Calling on Jesus as Lord is our request for the salvation that only God can bring to us. We were baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity when we first learned to call upon the name of the Lord. May we always carry the Word of God in our hearts so that He may carry out in us the mission He has entrusted to us. O God, help us to listen to your Word alive within us, so that we may be cleansed and transformed by the very mysteries we serve. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The First Sunday of Lent Gospel Reading Luke 4: 1-13 Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’” Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and: ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.
Reflection By Kathleen McNutt Temptation – our lives are filled with it, and in this Gospel, Jesus shows us not only that it can happen but how to face it… head on. Growing up, I loved the camp song “Going on a Bear Hunt.” This repetitive chant had the participant reciting and clapping about preparing to catch a bear while facing tall grass, a wide river, or even a dark cave. And along the way, you were reminded by the chant, “Can’t go over it; can’t go under it; can’t go around it; gotta go through it!” I sometimes hear those simple words in my head when something difficult comes my way, whether it be a challenge, a struggle or a temptation. Yes, we can do plenty to prevent troubles through good and virtuous decisions along the way, but that still doesn’t remove the many occasions where sin and temptation will present themselves. It is in times of struggle and temptation that strength of faith is needed to face whatever is thrown at us, because alas, we can’t go around it–we’ve gotta go through it–and deal with it head on. In the Gospel, Christ shows us that even He dealt with temptation. Through His perfection, He shows us that the way to defeat temptation is through our Christian response. Every time Satan challenged Him, Jesus responded with scripture, even when it seemed to be relentless. Christ didn’t just ignore or go around Satan, He dealt with him. He faced the temptation. How often do we deal with challenges and temptation in our own lives daily? And how often do we avoid things or delay our response, only to see our anxiety grow? Through scripture and prayer, God shows us how to deal with struggle; and through Christian community, God provides us with the strength and support to face temptation head on. As we begin our Lenten journey, let us remember that Christ is with us, showing us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. The journey may be filled with tall grasses, wide rivers and dark caves, but Christ is ready to go through it all with us.
The Second Sunday of Lent First Reading Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18 He took him outside and said: Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so, he added, will your descendants be. Abram put his faith in the LORD, who attributed it to him as an act of righteousness. He then said to him: I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession. “Lord GOD,” he asked, “how will I know that I will possess it?” He answered him: Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. He brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram scared them away. As the sun was about to set, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great, dark dread descended upon him. When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.
Reflection By Mary Sample Abraham is one of my favorite people in the Old Testament. He is our Father in Faith and there is so much to learn from him. I meditate often on "Trust". "Trusting God, have trust in God, have faith" are all expressions we hear often - easy to say but far more difficult to do. Abraham shows us how it's done. I can't imagine having faith in God would be easy. To receive a promise from God for a child that "shouldn't" ever come because of you and your wife being an older, non-childbearing age is not likely to have been an easy promise to trust in. And yet, Abraham does. Repeatedly he trusts God. In this covenant of the pieces - where the animals are cut in half - the promise being made is "If I break this covenant, may I become dead like these animals." We see here, the flame passing between the pieces, representing GOD's promise to Abraham - "I promise I will do this for you, if I don't, may I become dead like these animals." God came to Abraham's level and spoke to him, through a covenantal ceremony he would understand, to assure him of His trustworthiness. Unlike Abraham, we have the beauty of hindsight to know God is trustworthy. It can be helpful to remind ourselves of that as we make our way through this Lenten season. We are sons and daughters of the Living God - God who has shown us time and time again - that He is trustworthy and that our hearts are safe in His hands. For a closing prayer, think of a time in your life when God made himself known to you and showed you His trustworthiness - remind yourself of His goodness - and place your trust in Him.
The Second Sunday of Lent Responsorial Psalm Psalm 27: 1, 7-9, 13-14 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? Hear my voice, LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. “Come,” says my heart, “seek his face”; your face, LORD, do I seek! Do not hide your face from me; do not repel your servant in anger. You are my salvation; do not cast me off; do not forsake me, God my savior! I believe I shall see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!
Reflection By Tina Becker Now here are some verses to memorize! In times of stress, uncertainty and anxiety, we can focus on Psalm 27, 1-2 and 14 and remind ourselves where our true strength lies! These verses are the backbone for my “God has a Plan” mantra that helps me through tough times. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?” Yes, He is! When times are dark and we struggle to feel hopeful, we can turn to God. We can pour out our fears and rant about our stressors. He will not judge or condemn us – we are His children! He will send his Spirit to comfort us and show us a glimmer of the light at the end of the tunnel. “Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!” Okay, now here’s the hard part – patience. God is our light, salvation and refuge. He will comfort us and guide us. But our time is not His time. Our view is narrow and limited by our humanity. His view is unlimited, and His guidance leads to our salvation and the future He has planned for us. Can it get any better than that? God does have a plan! God, you are our hiding place and our refuge in the time of distress. We turn to you now, seeking comfort from the wounds of the world and power to face all our afflictions. Be present in our struggle and help us to rest in your eternal promises. Amen.
The Second Sunday of Lent Second Reading Philippians 3:17-4:1 Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.
Reflection By Ryan Fannon "Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." There is so much to reflect on in these powerful words from Saint Paul to the Philippians. The first is how easy it is for so many of us in today's world to get caught up in what can "I" accomplish today. All the things that keep us so busy and occupy our waking hours from our jobs, family time, social time, travel, exercise and social media. In fact, so many things can completely occupy our minds every day as we go at a frantic pace to get our daily to do list accomplished. Daily tasks can completely consume our minds to a point where we may even forget to pray or take time to stop and thank God for our blessings. The gift of Bishop Ireton High School is the presence of prayer and togetherness that reminds us every day on Cambridge Road to stop, reflect, pray and be grateful for all God has given us. To realize it’s not what “I” can accomplish today that truly matters, but what can be accomplished when working through God’s plan for us daily. There is an amazing peace that exists when we do things for and through the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ and not for ourselves. O God, please give us the strength to live our lives for you and not for earthly reasons and the prayerful knowledge to know the difference that is not always crystal clear to us during this lifetime. Please give us the power and resilience needed through the Lord’s guidance to learn from our past mistakes and not repeat them. Please help us give back during our life in meaningful ways that please You and to do so with a pure heart and not for earthly reward. For all this and more, we pray and thank you Lord for the continued guidance and blessings over our Bishop Ireton community as we stand firm in you. Amen.
The Second Sunday of Lent Gospel Reading Luke 9: 28b-36 About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.
Reflection By Jon Pressimone In this Gospel, we hear how Peter, James and John encounter Jesus in his transfigured state. For three practicing Jews, to see your best friend shining like the sun and conversing with two of the most important historical figures of your faith, it only makes sense that they were astounded. Of course, they would want to stay there, erecting tents for these three to remain in this miracle for as long as possible. However, after the voice of God proclaims Jesus as his son, the moment ends, and they journey back down from the mountain. How often do we experience moments that we want to last forever? There are many days from my past in which I would love to just live—my wedding day, a particularly great day at the beach, an incredible camping trip with friends. All these amazing moments are a taste of what is to come, just as Jesus’ transfiguration was a glimpse of his true form. However, after these special moments, we must return to the ordinary world in which we live. Lent is a time spent in the world. This season of fasting reminds us daily that our lives are missing something essential. It is easy to focus on God when things are great, and we are basking in his divine presence. Lent, however, provides a chance for us to practice reflecting on God when things are challenging. When we’re hungry, tired or really craving that Starbucks we gave up, God is just as much present as He is at Mass on Sunday. Use this time down in the valley to remember what that mountaintop will be like in the future.
The Third Sunday of Lent First Reading Exodus 17: 3-7 Here, then, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “Why then did you bring us up out of Egypt? To have us die of thirst with our children and our livestock? So Moses cried out to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? A little more and they will stone me!” The LORD answered Moses: Go on ahead of the people, and take along with you some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the Nile. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink. Moses did this, in the sight of the elders of Israel. The place was named Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled there and tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD in our midst or not?”
Reflection By Joseph Jacobeen At times, I have been forced into the life’s ‘deserts,’ into spiritual dryness, sometimes even feeling deserted by God. I can relate to the Israelites’ complaints. “The desert? Really, God? This is your amazing plan?” Why, after freeing his people from slavery and the worship of false gods, did God make his Chosen people wander in the wilderness? Why does our Good God allow any of us to face these trials? It is not His vengeance, but God’s love that leads His people to the desert. In the Scriptures, the wilderness is most often a place to encounter God. Jesus Himself spends many nights in the desert alone with His Father. There, freed from all the distractions, God teaches his people that it is by relying on Him—not their false gods—that they will be happy. Lent provides us time to detach from the things or activities we focus on instead of God. To identify our own ‘false gods’ we can ask ourselves, “What do I turn to in times of pain or boredom? Where do I seek fulfillment?” God invites us to give up temporary distractions (maybe chocolate, excessive media use, ungodly self-reliance, or sin). Without these short-term comforts, we free ourselves to feel our deeper thirst for God. Then, with the desperation of a desert dweller, we must seek Him. We might find that our driest desert is a gift, an opportunity to have our heart’s thirst quenched by God. Father, what are the false, unfulfilling gods I turn to, rather than You? Help me to approach the trials of today as an invitation to thirst for You, to seek You, and to find You.
The Third Sunday of Lent Responsorial Psalm Psalm 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; cry out to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with a song of praise, joyfully sing out our psalms. Enter, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, we are the people he shepherds, the sheep in his hands. Oh, that today you would hear his voice: Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert. There your ancestors tested me; they tried me though they had seen my works.
Reflection By Katie Rice When I’m feeling happy, I sing. I’ll sing while I’m cooking, cleaning, taking a shower, walking the dog, or even when going from one room to another. Anytime I am alone or not engaged in conversation I will hum or play around with notes until I hear the vocal sound I want to produce. Singing flows naturally when I’m feeling at peace. When I’m worried, sad, and overwhelmed I don’t feel like singing at all. When I am weighed down by impending tasks and insecurities, the act of singing – or even just listening to music – seems like a distraction I can’t afford with all that I have to mentally juggle. The funny thing is, I can’t afford NOT to sing, particularly when I have so much that is emotionally weighing me down. Singing brings me joy. Music transports me to a different place, where only the notes, the rhythm, and the cadences exist. Singing lifts words off the page, lifts my spirit, and fills me with love. It renews my faith in something much greater than myself and my limited understanding of Life. Of the Great Creator. King David and other authors of the Book of Psalms knew this transcendent nature of singing. “Sing joyfully to the Lord,” for example, wasn’t an invitation to just sing whenever you felt like it. Or even to sing beautifully, as many people thought was necessary. Rather, the authors urged people to sing “joyfully” in thanksgiving for all they had, despite slavery, starvation, imprisonment, and the many other catastrophes of war and tyranny. In modern times, we know that every new day can bring grief (old, new, unexpected), as well as frustration, pain, anxiety, tensions between friends, family, co-workers and entire countries. But what if we were to sing despite all of that? And, not just for ourselves, but what if were to sing with or for others? Music–the ultimate universal language in my opinion (in addition to love, of course) –has the power to unify those who sing and experience song together. There is no arguing about middle C, or that singing involves vibrating vocal cords, or that harmony often exists in thirds and sixths. We just sing what we collectively see and hear. Even during Lent, a time of fasting, reflection, and preparation, we sing; however, the upbeat songs of Ordinary Time are replaced with the soulful, contemplative songs of Lent, often written in minor instead of major keys. Inspired by the Book of Psalms, this lovely traditional hymn is one I begin with when I’m feeling down or overwhelmed: No storm can shake my inmost calm When to that Rock I’m clinging Since Love is lord of heav’n and earth How can I keep from singing? How can I - or all of us, really- keep from singing? Gracious and Holy Father, give us the wisdom to discover You, the intelligence to understand You, the diligence to seek after You, the patience to wait for You, eyes to behold You, a heart to meditate upon You, and a life to proclaim You, through the power of the Spirit of Jesus, our Lord. Amen. -St. Benedict
The Third Sunday of Lent Second Reading Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
Reflection By Lonnell Battle I selected this reading because the title given was “Faith, Hope and Love” and I thought it would be a simple, straightforward topic about which to write. However, I had to dig a little deeper due to the first verse which states, “since we have been justified by faith.” To be honest, I was not certain what that meant and why Paul used the word “justified,” so I did some research. I learned that our justification is a grace received when we become Christians at the time of our baptism, that separates us from Adam’s sinfulness and that through our justification, we have peace with God, and we are motivated to continue to live our lives maintaining our justified condition. It is an incredible gift due to our faith in God’s love and belief that Christ died for us despite our sinfulness. This justification by faith allows us to have hope for an eternal life in Heaven because God’s grace has been infused into us through the Holy Spirit. Through Christ’s death on the Cross for our sins, the Faithful are filled with hope because of how it demonstrates the greatness of God’s love for us. It shows us that God’s love and grace and willingness to forgive will always be greater than all of mankind’s sins combined. This brings me back to the title – Through our faith, God’s act of grace allows us to have hope through all our difficulties in life due to His everlasting love for us. As an educator, both teacher and administrator, I need to remind myself that God’s grace is a loving gift, not something I earn through what I do, and that I should challenge myself to try to approach each challenge I face at work or elsewhere with God’s always present love as the model to follow. A Prayer for Hope Heavenly father, I am your humble servant, I come before you today in need of hope. There are times when I feel helpless, There are times when I feel weak. I pray for hope. I need hope for a better future. I need hope for a better life. I need hope for love and kindness. Some say that the sky is at it's darkest just before the light. I pray that this is true, for all seems dark. I need your light, Lord, in every way. I pray to be filled with your light from head to toe. To bask in your glory. To know that all is right in the world, as you have planned, and as you want it to be. Help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith and glory. In your name I pray, Amen.
The Third Sunday of Lent Gospel Reading John 4: 5-42 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” [The woman] said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the well is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus answered her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people 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 the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.” At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, “What are you looking for?” or “Why are you talking with her?” The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?” They went out of the town and came to him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here’? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest. The reaper is already receiving his payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work.” Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.” When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”
Reflection By Mary Briody I’ll never forget when my parents decided to move between my 7th and 8th grade years in school. I was loving life at St. Joe’s in Beltsville, MD and had been there since 1st grade with just one more year until graduation. They decided to build a new home on a 20-acre plot in Clarksville, MD. It was a dream for their family to have a nice big colonial home on a hill with a beautiful view and a creek at the far end of the property. They called it “Walnut Creek.” This part of Maryland was more rural than the suburbia I had grown up in. When I went to St. Louis school for the first time, I thought how big these farm boys are. I sat behind one and had a hard time seeing the teacher! It was a long two months of keeping my head down and doing my work. I remember going up the stairs at one point at school and thinking–it’s only one year–then, I’ll be in high school, and everyone will be the “new kid” not just me. That was in early November and the very next week was a tryout for the CYO basketball team. I made the team and there were opportunities to hang out and get to know some of the girls a bit better. At recess the next week, I was hanging out with some of them and I overheard the point guard, Katie, say to another girl, “yeah, she’s cool” and the rest of my 8th grade year was a banner year–our basketball team did well, I won the Optimist speech contest, and I was elected by my classmates to crown Mary which was the biggest honor for an 8th grade girl at St. Louis. Katie was my “woman at the well” who spoke a kind word about me to others and paved the way for me. In this reading from John, the Samaritan woman spoke to her community about “the Jew” who most perceived as an enemy and in so many words said, “Jesus is cool!” Of course, He is. He promises and delivers a life where even water, one of our most basic needs, is not needed for our souls. Instead, our souls are nurtured with the words of God and performing deeds that act out our faith - deeds like speaking well of others even if they seem like our enemies. How powerful positive words and a vote of confidence can be! Dear God, Please help me to always be welcoming to strangers. Help me to recognize the light of God in every one of my students, especially the ones who hide it most. Help me to remember that saying kind words to others and about others is like the Samaritan woman at the well who spread the good news about Jesus. Amen
The Fourth Sunday of Lent First Reading 1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6-7, 10-13a The LORD said to Samuel: How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for from among his sons I have decided on a king. As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the anointed is here before the LORD.” But the LORD said to Samuel: Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The LORD looks into the heart. In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not sit down to eat until he arrives here.” Jesse had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth with beautiful eyes, and good looking. The LORD said: There—anoint him, for this is the one! Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David. Then Samuel set out for Ramah.
Reflection By Kevin Weiss Don’t judge a book by its cover… or your kings by their stature. Imagine being David, coming back from a day in the fields: sunbaked, footsore, reeking of sheep, and starving for supper. Suddenly, this stranger pours oil on your head and names you the king of Israel! Reading of David’s humble beginning blends beautifully with the psalm which follows, “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23). God is elegantly depicted as a gentle and powerful shepherd tending us, the sheep of His flock. Likewise, we see how David is a faithful shepherd who received the divine election neither for his brawn, nor for his brains, but for his heart: “‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22). The wonderful story of David’s mighty victory over the brash and blasphemous Goliath remains vivid even in popular culture as the prototypical underdog story (1 Sam 17). The popular vision of this, however, can sometimes seemingly overlook the foundation for David’s victory. Goliath was by no means some ‘dog that David can bat away with a stick’ (v. 43). He was a mountain of a man, experienced in battle, and glad to cut down anyone who stood in his path. Where does David derive this audacity? On what grounds does he suppose to slay the Philistine? His strength and hope is in God. The Holy Spirit is at work in him, since with his anointing “the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David” (1 Sam16:13). Keep in mind, by no means is David some flawless hero. He is anointed, but He is not the Messiah (“anointed” in Hebrew). King David does rule Israel well, generally, but he is also an adulterer and murderer, and his kingdom is nearly sundered as his sons fought for the throne. David was a sinner, but the character of his heart always won the day: he humbly returned to the Lord seeking forgiveness, being restored to righteousness by God’s loving kindness. Don’t judge yourself by your inadequacies, your failures, or your fears. Hope, instead, in the Spirit who is alive in you. “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.” (John Paul II) Offer a prayer of gratitude to God for His Mercy, then read Psalm 51, David’s prayer of repentance while dwelling in His Mercy.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.
Reflection By Meredith Tombs This Psalm is a reassuring prayer - peaceful, melodic, perfect - reminding us that we, the faithful, are consistently guided and supported. Still, I love looking further at the nuances of the diction and structure… Verse two implies that God cares for and guides us repeatedly: he cares for me in pastureS - plural - and leads me to [multiple] still waterS. This isn’t just one event or situation - it’s constant and plentiful. In my personal life, full of inconsistency and uncertainty, God’s constant presence is my biggest blessing. Similarly, verse three explains how I’m guided along right paths (pathS plural - guided through numerous decisions and crossroads in life). The footnote helped highlight that “right” paths are both right (as in correct) and righteous. It’s astounding to consider that we can face challenges and use our own Godinspired wisdom to freely choose these right paths. Finally, I’d like to explore the use of possessive pronouns, as in: • MY shepherd • MY soul • MY life I learned this idea from a podcast, and applying it here was intriguing: we usually think of “my” as possessive, meaning we have ownership. But what if we interpret “my” to represent a deeper reciprocal relationship, rather than our ownership? “The Lord is my shepherd” who relates to me and cares for me. I do not possess or encompass him; rather, I am HIS. “He restores my soul:” a soul which grants me life and thought, purpose and freedom. Not a thing that belongs to me, but a thing in a relationship with me. “All the days of my life” are not days I am leading, but days I am blessed with and days that bless me. And “all the days of my life” pale in comparison to the conclusion of this psalm, pointing out the endless days we’ll have with the Lord. Heavenly Father - we thank you for your constant presence in our lives, even when we might not recognize where you are. We are blessed with your grace and guidance in relation to our freedom. May we use these gifts for your glory. Amen.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent Second Reading Ephesians 5: 8-14 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
Reflection By Andrew Curtin If we had any illusions that following Christ would be an easy road, today's second reading should shatter them. Exposing "fruitless works" is fraught with peril and frustration and will often set us at odds with others, some of whom may claim to be disciples as well. Speaking truth to power is always difficult and dangerous, especially when doing so means taking the part of the powerless against those who would discriminate against or marginalize them. Demanding justice has a cost, as many before us have learned. Nevertheless, it is what we are called to do. Considering that call to arms against injustice, the first part of this phrase flies under the radar sometimes. But it's in many ways more challenging. Most people view ourselves as the heroes of our own stories, after all, when that big moment to stand up for our beliefs arrives, we find a way to rally to the occasion and stand strong. In some ways, it's easier to go out on a limb in a big, visible, dramatic way. Sometimes it's much, much harder to avoid "taking part in fruitless works of darkness" in small ways throughout the day than it is to stand up to a larger injustice. Think about it: how many times have I been proud of something noteworthy and good that I've done to expose injustice or evil, while overlooking the little ways in which I alienate others around me by my behavior? How many times have I "gone along" with something unpleasant or looked the other way in the face of a tasteless joke or other small injustice rather than challenging it for fear of the social cost? How often have I gone along with or even just walked away from something that made me uncomfortable or that I knew to be wrong because it didn't make me quite uncomfortable enough to provoke a big, inconvenient reaction? That's the real challenge of discipleship, I think, and it begs the question: what good is it to stand up against "fruitless works of darkness" in big, visible ways if we "take part" in them in a thousand little ways in between? St. Francis de Sales calls us to consider the ways in which the little moments of our daily lives can be an opportunity for discipleship. This Lent, let us also consider the ways in which we fail to treat them as such, and to resolve anew to "take no part in the fruitless works of darkness" and live in the light of Easter joy.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reading John 9: 1-41 As he passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while 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 spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So they said to him, “[So] how were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went there and washed and was able to see.” And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.” They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” [But] others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.” So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.” He replied, “If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.” So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.” The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.
Reflection By Tim Guy While the first seven and last seven lines in these 41 lines of scripture from John’s Gospel describe the actions of Jesus; the middle thirty lines involve everyone else; many of whom were “blind” in one way or another despite being in the same place at the same time. Beginning with the disciples who expressed distress upon encountering the man who was born blind; calmed by the assumption that the infliction was a mark of sin. How about the neighbors? Some could not make sense of what had happened; calmed by the rationalization that there must be two different men. What about the pharisees, distressed by a perceived challenge to their power and privilege; calmed by idea that they could return to normal by finding evidence of a crime. Imagine the parents and the fear and anxiety they must have experienced at being summoned to testify before the pharisees; calmed that their clever response of “ask him” evaded the question. (Did they high five each other as they walked out of that meeting?) I’ve been thinking, reading and talking a lot about “equanimity” over the past months. Like so many characters in this Gospel story, there is so much I do not see. But the Gospel reminds us that despite our personal experiences and perceptions and emotions and thoughts, a divine plan is playing out – a miracle may be happening right in front of us – but is it one I am not able to see because of my own fears, assumptions, or will. Could what I perceive to be a reason to celebrate or a reason to lament be part of a bigger plan to which I remain blind? How can I be among those who are blessed to “see”? Jesus reveals to the disciples that the man’s blindness is not a mark of sin, rather “it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.” And the eyes of the neighbors are opened by the testimony of the man who was born blind “The man called Jesus…” In the daily intention, we pray for grace. Perhaps that grace will open my eyes. Look with favor, Lord, on your household. Grant that, though our flesh be humbled by abstinence from food, our souls, hungering after you, may be resplendent in your sight.
The Fifth Sunday of Lent First Reading Ezekiel 37: 12-14 “The prince among them shall shoulder his load in darkness and go out through the hole they dug in the wall to bring him out. His face shall be covered so that he cannot even see the ground. I will spread my net over him and he shall be caught in my snare. I will bring him into Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans, though he shall not see it, and there he shall die. All his retinue, his aides and all his troops, I will scatter to the winds and pursue them with the sword.”
Reflection By Stephen Crooker One of the darkest periods in the history of Israel was the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BC and the subsequent exile into the land of the Babylonian Empire as slaves of King Nebuchadnezzar. The emotional and theological scars of this event can be seen even today in places such as Jerusalem. Easter is coming; but not yet. We are in the liturgical Fifth Week of Lent. Ezekiel is a prophet of visions. These unique visions were meant to remind and inspire the captive Israelites in Babylon. There is a reason Jerusalem, God’s holy city, fell to the Babylonians. There is a reason God allowed the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. There is hope for the exiled Children of Israel. The answer will not come in a day, week or a month. It will be hundreds of years to come, but redemption will soon be at hand. We do not have to wait decades or centuries to see our redemption. It is at hand. Centuries past, Ezekiel reminded his readers of the pain they endured. He also gave them a way forward, not left along to find their way in darkness. Our Lord will conquer sin and evil. Our Lord will conquer death itself. While we may be scattered to winds, we will not be vanquished. Easter is coming soon. Amen. My loving Lord, it's so hard to love the world sometimes and to love it the way Jesus did seems impossible. Help me to be inspired by his love and guided by his example. Most of all, I want to accept that I can't do it alone, and that trying is an arrogance of self-centeredness. I need you, dear God, to give me support in this journey. Show me how to unlock my heart so that I am less selfish. Let me be less fearful of the pain and darkness that will be transformed by you into Easter joy.
The Fifth Sunday of Lent Responsorial Psalm Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Out of the depths I call to you, LORD; Lord, hear my cry! May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, LORD, keep account of sins, Lord, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness and so you are revered. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits and I hope for his word. My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak. More than sentinels for daybreak, let Israel hope in the LORD, For with the LORD is mercy, with him is plenteous redemption, And he will redeem Israel from all its sins.
Reflection By Kathleen McNutt When I was a child, I thought the word “hope” referred to wishing for things I wanted to have or to have happen in the future. I remember hoping for certain gifts or treats, or even hoping for something particular to happen when I grew up, but I only saw my role in hope/hoping as a passive one. In essence, hope was akin to luck. Through faith and prayer and a lot of trial and error along the way, I have learned the importance of hope (particularly during the pandemic!). The Responsorial Psalm this week takes us on a journey from despair to the hope of redemption, and it shows us that hope requires engaged action, not passive fingers crossed. It also reminds us that our hope must be in God, not in materials things. True hope flows when we embrace and accept Christ’s message of love and mercy. So have hope in God as He works in and through you this Lenten season!
The Fifth Sunday of Lent Second Reading Romans 8: 8-11 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Reflection By Stephen Crooker Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans is his most complete theological work. Theologically, there exists a struggle between man and sin. We know the right but choose the wrong. Ultimately, we either exercise our free will properly and serve the Lord or we serve sin and become slaves to sin. Saint Paul reminds us of and guides us to understand that we are called to a higher level of living and loving. Christ is the way to overcome sin and embrace a life of holiness. Man cannot be defined by sin and death alone. God created Adam and Eve to have unity with God and live abundantly. The Resurrection is the definitive proof that Jesus is Lord and Redeemer, and death has now power over Him. Until the end of the age, we live in faith and rest on the mercy of God and hold fast in faith to the words of Our Lord. Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
The Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reading John 11: 1-45 Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” He said this, and then told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” So the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.” So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go to die with him.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.”29As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him.30For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?” So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.
Reflection By Father Noah Morey The raising of Lazarus foreshadows Jesus’ greatest miracle of all—His own resurrection. For if Jesus has power to call a dead man back to life after four days, He can certainly raise up His own body on the third day. Lazarus emerged from the tomb, alive at the word of Jesus. Nothing can stay dead in the presence of Jesus because He is the resurrection and the life. Sometimes, though, the Lord tests our faith. When we face a calamity or challenge, we might want to cry out with Martha and Mary: “Lord, if you had been here, my [loved one] would not have died.” But God knows what’s best for us, even if we don’t understand in the moment. God can use suffering and death for His purposes, although their role in His plan may remain hidden right now. Jesus said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God.” Jesus is in full control of the situation, and He is with us in our weakness. Jesus is deeply moved at the reality of death; twice, Jesus was “perturbed”—internally moved to the depths of his spirit. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of his friend. So God Himself knows the pain of losing a loved one. He can relate to our suffering and transform it into something that serves His glory and our salvation. For if we truly believe that all are alive in Christ, then we are only as far away from someone as the nearest tabernacle. And we can communicate with our loved ones when we pray in front of the tabernacle, because the Real Presence of Jesus transcends space and time and even the grave itself. When God gives the word, we who have been redeemed by the death of His Son will be raised up to the glory of the resurrection. This great hope is in store for us who put our faith completely in the risen Lord Jesus Christ! O Jesus, you have the power over life and death. You are the resurrection and the life. May we believe in your power to transform our lowly bodies after the pattern your own glorious body. Amen.
Palm Sunday At the Procession with the Palms Luke 19: 28-40 After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethpage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’” So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying this colt?” They answered, “The Master has need of it.” So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”
Reflection By Kevin Weiss The donkey has never merited much admiration. It’s known for its stubbornness, its ugly “hee-hon” bray, and its ignoble use as a pack animal. While Luke’s Gospel refers here to a “colt” (Greek: põlos), we know from the other Gospels that it was “a colt, the foal of an ass” (Mt 21:5; Greek: põlon huion hupozugiou). Growing up with the movie Shrek and hearing “Dominic the Donkey” on the radio every Advent, I have a somewhat comical image of these beasts of burden. Having been to a petting zoo, however, I know better. There’s a good reason why Pinocchio gets turned into a donkey and why St. Francis dubbed his body “Brother Ass.” But the Lord has chosen the donkey. Pitiable, yet Chosen (Miserando atque Eligendo, Pope Francis’ motto). The donkey represents the Church as much as it does the individual soul. We, each and as a whole, the miserable yet chosen people of the Lord, are a “stiff-necked people” (Ex 34:9), foolish and sinful. We are stubborn, and the things we have to say are just noise more often than not. All things considered, we’re not that far off from the proverbial beasts of burden. Admitting this miserable weakness, however, we can also acknowledge the call of God. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11). As the donkey was called to bear the Lord into the city amid the acclamations, so it belongs to us to bear the Lord in His glory. While we may feel at different times like we are useless or unworthy servants, tied to some post in a village, we are called to bear Him in glory! He may appear meeker and gentler than we presumed. We may not even recognize our dignity or the greatness of our task. The truth remains the same. You are the donkey, and the Master has need of you. Jesus, Son of God, you took on yourself our nature and went forward to suffer death on the cross for us. By your Passion you have set us free from eternal death. Preserve us in your grace; for you and live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Palm Sunday First Reading Isaiah 50: 4-7 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, That I might know how to answer the weary a word that will waken them. Morning after morning he wakens my ear to hear as disciples do; The Lord GOD opened my ear; I did not refuse, did not turn away. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who tore out my beard; My face I did not hide from insults and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; Therefore I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
Reflection By Thomas Cogliano What will a sign from God look like? Will it come as a chariot of flames flying in from above? Will it come in the form of a burning bush? Or will there be a divine voice thundering from above in an audible whisper but with a hint of gravitas behind it? Are these the out-of-worldly designs that we have come to expect if we were to imagine having a conversation with the divine? Perhaps the signs of God’s presence are as subtle as the earthly presence of Jesus. After all, Jesus did not assume mortal flesh and had himself raised as the child of noblemen who could seize earthly power so easily. He preached the Gospel as a carpenter, not as a noble prince, a temple priest, or a seasoned general. He did not seek noble magistrates, judges, princes, or military commanders to follow him directly, but rather looked to fishermen to spread the Good News. God’s signs of presence can be felt in subtle gestures that to the skeptic can be chalked up to natural coincidence but to the faithful can be interpreted confidently as a heavenly message. Only the human soul can truly know to spot the difference. For all the faithful, it is imperative to open our ears to listen and open our eyes to see the subtleties steered our way. We are all called to holiness. We are all called to preach and set forth the example for others to emulate. Is this passage asking us all to be like Isaiah and preach some futuristic prophecy? No. The passage is asking us to be ambassadors of Christ, to represent His goodness and His holiness through example, charitable works, selfless deeds, and loving words. There is no manual or guidebook that will detail the mannerisms expected of a faithful Christian because our own Free Will and soul-inspired conscience will guide us all to do what is right. The faithful know the message and it is up to that same faithful to live it so others can be fulfilled by it. Then and only then, will we truly become “fishers of men.” All-powerful, eternal God, you have chosen to give mankind a model of humility; our Savior took on our flesh, and subjected himself to the Cross. Grant us the grace to preserve faithfully the lessons he has given us in his Passion and to have a share in His Resurrection. This we ask of you through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.
Palm Sunday Responsorial Psalm Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer; they shake their heads at me: “He relied on the LORD—let him deliver him; if he loves him, let him rescue him.” Dogs surround me; a pack of evildoers closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and my feet I can count all my bones. They stare at me and gloat; they divide my garments among them; for my clothing they cast lots. But you, LORD, do not stay far off; my strength, come quickly to help me. Then I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the assembly I will praise you: “You who fear the LORD, give praise! All descendants of Jacob, give honor; show reverence, all descendants of Israel!
Reflection By Caroline Duffy The Responsorial Psalm for Palm Sunday is taken from Psalm 22. Written centuries before the events on Good Friday, the words of the psalmist with great precision and with vivid effect portray the drama that will be recounted in today’s Gospel account of the Passion. These are the same words that Christ prays while hanging on the cross. What is Christ showing us by praying this Psalm? So many things come to mind, here a just a few. First, that He is our brother – He truly shares our human nature. “He worked with human hands, He thought with a human mind, He acted with a human will and with a human heart He loved. Born of the Virgin Mary, He has truly been made one of us, like us in all things except sin” (GS 22). As our brother, He feels pain, but because His human nature was not defiled or dulled by sin – His pain was more acute. Because He is our brother, He could bear our punishment. Because He is our brother, He knows – He knows what it feels like to be rejected, betrayed, abandoned, derided and persecuted. Because He is our brother he knows suffering and death. Second, as a good brother, He shows us how to be in right relationship with our Father. This might sound strange since the opening line of the psalm seems to be an accusation of abandonment toward a neglectful, disinterested and absent father. Yet, a closer look reveals the prayer of a man who in this present moment is tormented and desolate – and he does not hold back. But even in the midst of his dire present, he recalls the past. He knows that God has always delivered Israel, often in dramatic fashion. He knows that God keeps is promises, that He is faithful to His covenant. And he knows that God is a loving father. And this gives him hope. Hope in the God of Israel. Hope not just in God, but “my God, my God.” In his pain, the psalmist (and Christ) cry out, “my God”, “my help.” His plea is made in the faith and trust of a son to his loving Father who “holds him in the palm of his hand.” This deep hope helps to strengthen obedience – another lesson our Brother teaches us from the cross. Despite our modern allergy to all/any form of pain and suffering, Christ obedience to His Father’s plan of salvation reminds us the suffering is not only NOT meaningless, but a means of redemption. The Via Dolorosa is the path that leads to Easter Sunday – the two are mysteriously tied together. As Pope Benedict reminds us: “death and life are interwoven in the inseparable mystery and life triumphs…It is the victory of faith which can transform death into the gift of life, the abyss of sorrow into a source of hope.” The very rhythm and structure of Psalm 22 makes this apparent: the description of suffering and torment; the recollection of God’s previous salvific deeds toward Israel; the praise of “my God” whose name he will “proclaim in the assembly” because “he has not spurned nor disdained the wretched man in his misery, nor did he turn his face away from him, but when he cried out to him, he heard him.” This obedience of the Son teaches us how to see the loving hand of Providence at work even (and especially) during those times when He seems to be absent. Let us pray that whenever we encounter pain and suffering in our lives, that we remember the goodness of our Loving God, who will never abandon us, but rather will save us and help us to bear our cross. We need only like Christ, trust in Him, so that our plea will be transformed into praise.
Palm Sunday Second Reading Philippians 2: 6-11 Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Reflection By Chelsea Powell It is incredible to me how Jesus manifested on earth, both physically and spiritually. Though equal to God, with endless options to display power beyond imagination, Jesus did not choose that path. “As the Son of God, who is fully God, Jesus is eternal, holy, sovereign, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.” Yet He did not exploit His divinity. Rather than appearing as a powerful Being and demanding service, He placed Himself in a position to serve others. His humble appearance allowed others to relate to and learn from His humble actions. He inspires us to live a life of humility in unity with others. These two very basic concepts, humility and unity, are so often overlooked or brushed aside today as people strive to get ahead and win at all costs. But we can only be united, with God and with each other, by putting the needs of others before our own desires and actively caring for one another. High school is a difficult time for young adults to navigate, as students discover and strive to reconcile who they are and who they want to be. It can be terrifying to not worry about one’s status or be ready to accept humiliations. Jesus chose to humble Himself and display His loving, faithful, and merciful nature. All we can do is try to demonstrate our own humility and try to inspire students to live lives of humility like Jesus. A Prayer to Find Your Way I become quiet and focused on the Spirit of God. Alone with the presence of God, I feel a great serenity. I rediscover how refreshing it feels to be calm and at peace. I feel as if waves of peace are washing over me and clearing away any tenseness and anxiety. I know that I am eternally one with God. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen. -Unknown
Palm Sunday Gospel Reading Luke 22: 14 - 23: 56 When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. “And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table; for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.” And they began to debate among themselves who among them would do such a deed. Then an argument broke out among them about which of them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors’; but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves. It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” He said to him, “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.” But he replied, “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me.” He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing,” they replied. He said to them, “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, ‘He was counted among the wicked’; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.” Then they said, “Lord, look, there are two swords here.” But he replied, “It is enough!” Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” [And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.] When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.” While he was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” His
disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked, “Lord, shall we strike with a sword?” And one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said in reply, “Stop, no more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards and elders who had come for him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? Day after day I was with you in the temple area, and you did not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness.” After arresting him they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest; Peter was following at a distance. They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat down with them. When a maid saw him seated in the light, she looked intently at him and said, “This man too was with him.” But he denied it saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A short while later someone else saw him and said, “You too are one of them”; but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.” About an hour later, still another insisted, “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly. The men who held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him. They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they reviled him in saying many other things against him. When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us,” but he replied to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth.” Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. They brought charges against him, saying, “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Messiah, a king.” Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, “I find this man not guilty.” But they were adamant and said, “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here.” On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. [Even] Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” (Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.) Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them
a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished. As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”] They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine, they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last. The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent beyond doubt.” When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events. Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.
Reflection By Dan Murphy The selection poses love alongside treachery. Jesus forswears nourishment and speaks of coming anguish with certainty; his pain is the fulfillment of God’s kingdom. His immiseration might be just this, precisely this, and utterly, for Jesus knows the course of human frailty and elects undeterred to meet perfidy as abjection and agony. All this he presages. "Love," as we might imperfectly call it, cannot encompass the motivation; it is love of another kind, a kind that prefigures human dimension and supersedes our capacity for expression. He will be betrayed, but his is a love that discloses God’s ways are not our ways. As we enter the Holy Week, let us reflect in solemnity and know again in prayer what our savior has endured for us.
Holy Thursday First Reading Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14 “The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month will stand at the head of your calendar; you will reckon it the first month of the year. Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth of this month every family must procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household. If a household is too small for a lamb, it along with its nearest neighbor will procure one, and apportion the lamb’s cost in proportion to the number of persons, according to what each household consumes. Your lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish. You may take it from either the sheep or the goats. You will keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then, with the whole community of Israel assembled, it will be slaughtered during the evening twilight. They will take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They will consume its meat that same night, eating it roasted with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you will eat it in a hurry. It is the LORD’s Passover. For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every firstborn in the land, human being and beast alike, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt—I, the LORD! But for you the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thereby, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you. This day will be a day of remembrance for you, which your future generations will celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD; you will celebrate it as a statute forever.”
Reflection By Stephen Crooker Among the numerous events of the Old Testament and the life of Israel, the Passover is a pinnacle of profound history and theology. It marked the time when God literally intervened and saved His people from the wrath of the Egyptians and certain destruction. At the conclusion of the plagues that beset Egypt and Pharaoh, God informed Moses of the divine prescription to mark an event that would be known as the Passover, when God would pass over the homes of the Israelites and inflict the final plague on the Egyptians: the death of the firstborn. Jesus celebrated Passover annually with His family. Our Lord was raised and educated in Jewish theology. The Passover we recall today is foundational to the Catholic Church. Tonight, we mark the establishment of the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood. As the Children of Israel began their journey from slavery into freedom under Moses, now humanity is set free from sin and we commence our journey to God, made possible through the death of Our Lord. The lamb without blemish of the Passover is replaced with the sinless Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. The Apostles were in awe and most likely overwhelmed by what they experienced and heard. Close your eyes, listen to the Word of God, and see the moments of the Last Supper in your mind. Hear Our Lord. Hear the commands given to Moses from God. Connect the themes. This was done for you. This was done for me. O Lord Jesus, in order that the merits of your sacrifice on the Cross might be applied to every soul of all time, you willed that it should be renewed upon the altar. At the Last Supper, you said: "Do this in remembrance of me." By these words you gave your apostles and their successors the power to consecrate and to the command to do what you yourself did. I believe that the Mass is both a sacrifice and a memorial- reenacting your passion, death and resurrection. Help me to realize that the Mass is the greatest gift of God to us and our greatest gift to God.
Holy Thursday Responsorial Psalm Psalm 116: 12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18 How can I repay the LORD for all the great good done for me? I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. Dear in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his devoted. LORD, I am your servant, your servant, the child of your maidservant; you have loosed my bonds. I will offer a sacrifice of praise and call on the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
Reflection By Sheila Baehre In this psalm, we are invited to practice the virtue of gratitude. In yet another new year with COVID upon us, it is important that we remember that God continues to be good to us. The psalm's first line delivers the admonition that we should be thankful and "repay the Lord for all [His] great good." In verse 16 we are gently chided to recall that we are God's servants, and in verse 18 that we should "pay our vows to the Lord in the presence of his people." Isn't that why we stop and pray each day at the beginning of every class? Revisiting the beginning of the psalm, we receive the reminder that we owe a debt to the Lord. Holding my new granddaughter these past few months (yes, I managed to work that in here!), I am reminded of Carl Sandburg's quote that “A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.” I cannot fail but see God's goodness in my granddaughter, and I am beholden to Him for this gift. Dear God, continue to remind us to be thankful for all the good there is in the world and all our many blessings. Each day brings many opportunities to see You in our lives and be grateful.
Holy Thursday Second Reading 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Reflection By Lana Gonzalez The words of Jesus at the Last Supper, “This is my Body that is for you,” can be a phrase that I hear so often at Mass that I can sometimes become numb to how powerful these words are; how powerful the Eucharist really is. One of my favorite parts of teaching theology is that my own prayer is impacted by what I get to teach. Earlier this year I taught the course “The Mission of Jesus” for the first time in a long time and throughout every lesson I realized that all that the Lord wants is to be united with us and ever since that Fall in the Garden, He has been trying in every way to get closer to us. He makes covenants with us, He becomes Incarnate and walks among us, He gives Himself fully on the cross so that we can be redeemed and be with Him in Heaven, but He doesn’t just want to be closer to us in Heaven-He wants to be one with us now and He wants to be so close to us that He gives Himself in the form of bread that has been transubstantiated so that He truly dwells within us and becomes one with us. There is nothing more intimate that can happen to my body here on earth than when I receive Him fully in the Eucharist, for He dwells deeply within me. He says, “This is my body,” and gives Himself unreservedly for me to receive Him and to allow every part of my body and soul to be transformed in Him. So today, I remember this love, this intimacy, this communion that Christ gives me when He says, “This is my Body,” and I receive Him into my own. Lord, we praise you for the gift of Yourself in this Most Holy Sacrament. Thank you for giving Yourself entirely to us and for being God who wants nothing more than communion with us. As we receive You today, may we know the true depths of this Sacrament and allow You to transform our entire being as we encounter the intimacy of all You in the Eucharist.
Holy Thursday Gospel Reading John 13: 1-15 Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.
Reflection By Josh Goldman There are two distinct parts of this Gospel reading that always catch my attention. The first is that Jesus is very much aware that his time on earth is coming to an end. “Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father.” That’s heavy. I have to imagine that part of Jesus must have felt fear and anxiety at His pending death. After all, it’s only human to feel that way about the end of life— especially for someone who was only 33. He very well could have pleaded for a longer life from God. But He knew the life He was meant to lead. And as such, there was a calmness about Jesus we can see in this passage that is admirable. We are often told to live as Jesus did. I think that’s often taken as “be a good person” or “love others.” While those are certainly aspirational goals, Jesus’ steady demeanor and faith in the heavenly Father even in the face of pain, suffering and death shouldn’t be overlooked as something to which we should strive. The second is the whole business of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. There’s something you should know about me before I expound on this moment from Jesus. I barely like my own feet. I’d be happy if they were out of sight and out of mind. I certainly wouldn’t ever consider washing someone else’s feet, especially feet in Jesus’ time. Many people at that time probably walked barefoot or with a simple sandal, so you can imagine the dirt and grime. And yet, despite all of that, here is the Son of God, the Messiah, the one who has come to save us all and deliver us into eternal life, humbling himself and washing the feet of his disciples. There are two readings of this act from Jesus. The first is literal. He is very clearly telling his disciples, and by extension us, that if He can humble Himself to do unpleasant and difficult tasks for others, so too should we (something Saint Mother Teresa demonstrated beautifully in her life). The second is metaphorical. Jesus is using the washing of the feet to signify the cleansing of souls from sin. He instructed his disciples: “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Though the institution of the Sacrament of Penance wouldn’t come until after His Resurrection, this is certainly an indication of Jesus’ desire for our souls to be washed clean so that we might enjoy eternal happiness in Heaven. What a beautiful act of giving from our Lord even amidst the trials and turmoil He knew were just ahead of Him on the cross. Dear Lord, grant me the gift of humility. Please guide me to put others before myself in everything that I do. Thank you for your fervent example of how to live and how to love.
Good Friday First Reading Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at him—so marred were his features, beyond that of mortals his appearance, beyond that of human beings—So shall he startle many nations, kings shall stand speechless; For those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; He had no majestic bearing to catch our eye, no beauty to draw us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, knowing pain, like one from whom you turn your face, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured. We thought of him as stricken, struck down by God and afflicted, but he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, all following our own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth; Like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before shearers, he did not open his mouth. Seized and condemned, he was taken away. Who would have thought any more of his destiny? For he was cut off from the land of the living, struck for the sins of his people. He was given a grave among the wicked, a burial place with evildoers, though he had done no wrong, nor was deceit found in his mouth. But it was the LORD’s will to crush him with pain. By making his life as a reparation offering, he shall see his offspring, shall lengthen his days, and the LORD’s will shall be accomplished through him. Because of his anguish he shall see the light; because of his knowledge he shall be content; My servant, the just one, shall justify the many, their iniquity he shall bear. Therefore, I will give him his portion among the many, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death, was counted among the transgressors, Bore the sins of many, and interceded for the transgressors.
Reflection By Rory O’Donnell This reading is the prophecy in Isaiah known as the Suffering Servant Passage. In it we are told of a servant whom God glorifies through an intense suffering. The suffering is physical and emotional. The social scandal is twofold: his suffering is the result of a perversion of justice and we the people reject him, judging him to be anathema. Yet the suffering he performs is a kind of redemptive one. It bears our offenses, heals us, and makes us whole. Through the Christian lens, we understand this to be Jesus Christ, God, the suffering servant par excellence. God is infinite and utterly transcendent. Thus, the gap between him and us is infinite. However, he gives up his divinity, and so his sacrifice is of infinite measure. God is also perfect, and so his sacrifice is also perfect and perfectly accomplishes the intercession. The exchange on the other side of this sacrifice or what is merited by this sacrifice is the greatest reward: eternal life, eternal joy, and the ability to become the best versions of ourselves, which is the life God intended us to live when creating us. During Lent, we are called to sacrifice. We can call to mind that through our Baptism, we have a share in the priesthood of Christ. His sacrifice is why any of ours has meaning, but truly, our suffering has purpose. How can we imitate our savior? What do we do when we encounter unfairness? Do we bear the bruises for others?
Good Friday Responsorial Psalm Psalm 31: 2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 In you, LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me; Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, God of truth. To all my foes I am a thing of scorn, and especially to my neighbors a horror to my friends. When they see me in public, they quickly shy away. I am forgotten, out of mind like the dead; I am like a worn-out tool. But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My destiny is in your hands; rescue me from my enemies, from the hands of my pursuers. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your mercy. Be strong and take heart, all who hope in the LORD.
Reflection By Gina Garcia Psalm 31 is a cry from David to God that is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. The imagery and descriptions that David provides invite us to recall how we, in times of trial and tribulation should unite our suffering to His. David’s cry invites us to reflect on the great meaning and redemption that suffering in this life affords us. It is in our suffering that we truly understand the meaning of what God has done in sending His only son for the salvation of the world. David calls out to God that he is mocked and scorned, conspired against. His enemies have plotted to take his life and his friends have betrayed and abandoned him. He speaks of his sorrows and the toll that his suffering has taken on his physical strength. All these descriptions cannot but remind us of Jesus’ agony in the garden and the hours leading up to and including his walk on calvary and death. David’s images are reminiscent of the crown of thorns, “I am a thing of scorn,” Peter’s betrayal, “when they see me in public they quickly shy away,” the mocking of the crowds against him, even as Jesus was dying, “which speak arrogantly against the righteous in contempt and scorn.” Similarly, we recall his trust in God the Father when David says those same words that Jesus will later say to that same Father, “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” David reminds us that no matter how difficult our trials become, how weak and inept we feel, our hope is in our God. By placing our trust in Him when we are in times of great need, we will never be abandoned or alone. When everyone else turns their backs on us, our God will sustain us if we trust in Him. He and He alone provides the justice and mercy we need. “The Lord protects the loyal but repays the arrogant in full.”
Good Friday Second Reading Hebrews 4: 14-16; 5: 7-9 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Reflection By Kory Naduvilekunnel The overarching theme of the letter to the Hebrews is the eternal High Priesthood of Jesus - His role as mediator between God and humanity. In ancient Israel, through the Levitical priest, every believer had personal and uninhibited access to God. Whereas the office of the Jewish high priest was filled by a temporary appointee whose imperfect sacrifice had to be repeated over and over, the author of the epistle presents the eternal priesthood of Christ who offered just one sacrifice that was perfect, thereby redeeming all of humankind once and for all. Because our High Priest is one among us (Emmanuel), we can freely approach Him. In Him, the Seat of Judgement is transformed into the Throne of Grace. He can understand us just as we are, and act as the perfect mediator between us and God. We can tell Him that we love Him, and confess our sins to Him. When we open our hearts to Him, He will tell us what to do. Prayer is our opportunity to listen to what He has to say to us in turn. As the pain of Good Friday is followed by the joy of the Resurrection, this day offers assurance to those who submit to the Father’s will that failure will give way to triumph, despair to hope, darkness to light, and death to eternal life in Him. Lord Jesus, our eternal High Priest, we thank You for establishing the Sacrament of Holy Orders to continue Your work of redemption on earth. You have bestowed Your own priesthood and ministry upon those who have answered your call, and made them in the likeness of Your own priesthood. You have made them prophets of Your truth, dispensers of Your Grace, and shepherds of our souls. You have appointed them to comfort the afflicted and feed Your people with Your Body and Blood. Lord, we thank You for calling priests from among us so that, like the God with Us, they understand us as they share our lives, our joys and sorrows, our success and failures. We thank You for the shining example of our countless faithful priests and beg Your forgiveness for the failings of the few who have fallen. We thank You in a very special way for our very own Father Noah. Thank You for his unflinching fidelity to his vocation and his tireless ministry of spiritually nourishing and energizing the sheep entrusted to his care. Continue to strengthen him and all Your priests with Your presence in their hearts, Your holiness in their souls, and Your joy in their spirits. Amen.
Good Friday Gospel Reading John 18: 1 – 19: 42 When he had said this, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM,” they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm. The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed. Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to
them and said, “What charge do you bring [against] this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone,” in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered [him], “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now 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 Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the
tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” in order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled [that says]: “They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots.” This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may [come to] believe. For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled: “Not a bone of it will be broken.” And again another passage says: “They will look upon him whom they have pierced.” After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
Reflection By Rebecca Vaccaro As I get older, I find myself thinking about the parts of the Passion narratives for which we have scant details. What must it have been like to be Judas or Peter or Pilate? What about Annas or Caiphas or even Barabbas? My wonderings are not original; Pär Lagerkvist's Barabbas, Henryk Sienkiewicz's Quo Vadis, and Lloyd C. Douglas's The Robe (among many others) all reimagine various aspects of Christ's Passion and Death in interesting ways. Unlike these writers, who focus primarily on what happens to particular characters after the Crucifixion, I find myself coming back to the question of motivation: Why would any of these characters do what they did at this moment? While there are perhaps many historical and theological answers to this question, I prefer two: fear and faith. Fear can sometimes lead us to do terrible things. There is a case to be made that Judas, Annas, Caiphas, and certainly Pilate and Peter acted out of fear. On a historical level, Jesus was both a threat and a disappointment, a possibly dissenting Jew with many followers who claimed to be a king, but who was not going to overthrow the Romans. The fear Jesus evoked in these characters is the fear that all of us face when we are asked to take a leap of faith. What if this doesn't work out? What if it does not matter the way I think it does? Or, in the words of Pilate, what is truth and what do I do if it doesn't exist? The story of the Passion is, to me, a story about what fear, particularly fear of the unknown, can do to people. As much as Luke's account of the Passion is about the negative effects of fear, it is also about how faith can help us face our fear, even if we cannot overcome fear completely. We need not despair, as Judas did. Instead, we can try. Try to believe, as Lagerkvist imagines Barabbas doing and as I have often thought may have been the way of Pilate after the Crucifixion. Try to be brave, like Peter, who, with the other disciples, lived in fear of the Jews (John 20:19), but ultimately became a martyr. Most importantly, try to love, despite pain, loss, and threat. On the most fundamental level, the story of the Passion is about Christ's love for us, a love lived despite fear. Luke 22:42-44 narrates that Christ's fear was so intense that He sweated blood. Yet His love overcame His fear. He went through immense physical, emotional, and psychological suffering because He wished good with His love: good for people like Annas, Caiphas, and Barabbas, who perhaps did not know him and certainly did not love him back; good for the likes of Pilate, who did not seem sure that God existed; and good for Peter and even Judas, friends who let their fear and disappointment override their love and loyalty. Ultimately, we, like the characters in Luke's Passion account, may never be able to overcome our fears. Indeed, our faith may be such that we are only able to say, along with Lagerkvist's Barabbas, "I want to believe." Despite our doubts and fears, we can know that the love of Christ for us, as exhibited in his Passion and Death, exists now and forever, and no betrayal is too great to separate ourselves from that love. In this knowledge, we can do our best to make our imperfect lives a testament to the power of belief, courage and love of God, self, and others. Lord, in difficult times, particularly times of crisis, help us to remember that, while we may not be able to cast out all our fear, your love will help us to live with and through it. Help us to not be overwhelmed, but to persevere in Your love. Allow us to remember the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta: "God doesn't require us to succeed, [H]e only requires that [we] try."
Easter Sunday First Reading Acts 10: 34a, 37-43 Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. What has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and (in) Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised (on) the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Reflection By Father Noah Morey We believe in the resurrection of Jesus, not on blind faith, but on the testimony of eyewitnesses. The apostles were cowering in fear and were in no frame of mind to steal the body and lie about His resurrection. The gospels don’t hide the apostles’ timidity during the Passion of Jesus. So what changed these timid men who abandoned Jesus in his hour of need into bold evangelizers only a short time later? Their encounter with the risen Lord changed everything. They could never be the same after this encounter and they became heralds of this good news to the entire world. And they faced great hardships and even martyrdom for their belief. But St. John Chrysostom wrote, “If they had not seen him risen and had proof of his power, they would not have risked so much.” So the resurrection is not simply a spiritual reality, but a bodily truth. The apostles saw Jesus and ate and drank with him after He rose from the dead. And we look forward to the resurrection of our own bodies on the last day. Peter and the apostles—and indeed, each one of us—received a commission from the Lord. We are witnesses (the Greek word is “martyr”) to the resurrection, for you and I have been changed forever by the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus wants to bring forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation to all who believe in Him. But we all encounter the risen Lord every day in the ordinary details of daily life. We encounter him in the Scriptures, in the Eucharist, and in serving the poor. We eat and drink with him in the members of our family. May we have the eyes of faith to recognize Jesus alive among us and treat Him accordingly. O God, grant that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord’s resurrection, may through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Easter Sunday Responsorial Psalm Psalm 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever. Let Israel say: his mercy endures forever. the LORD’s right hand is raised; the LORD’s right hand works valiantly.” I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the LORD. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.
Reflection By Jennifer Grubb God is our salvation, and this is our song. The truth that is consistently displayed in Psalm 118 is that there is life, powerful victory and unending abundance of goodness. The Psalm tells us not only about Jesus Christ and his work of redemption but also about ourselves and of our need to trust God and praise him in all circumstances. It’s a truly inspirational Psalm in its hope, joy, optimism, and faith. Of all the many gifts from God inspiring our gratitude, His mercy is at the top of the list. God has mercy on us in our sins, our trials, our setbacks, our worries For Jewish people this psalm was used for liturgical purposes in the synagogue as responsive reading. Today, this Psalm is still recited in the practice of the Seder meal. In this act of praise and worship people gather to remember the bitterness of their past but acknowledge a hopeful future. No matter what you’re up against, be confident in God’s unchanging love for you, always. We’ve been called to trust and heavily rely on the constant goodness, power, authority and love of God forever; this is our song of praise. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, and his mercy endures forever.”
Easter Sunday Second Reading Colossians 3: 1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.
Reflection By Nicole DiLorenzo Being raised Catholic and attending Catholic schools for 19 years provided a solid foundation for my faith and my value system. It has been gratifying for me to have the opportunity to work in a school that focuses on faith and serving the community. As a counselor, I am often saddened by the anxiety and stress my students feel because of outside influences they hear daily. Social media sites like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. have had a profoundly negative impact on the psyche of our students. People care too much about what others think and ignore what really matters. We often lose sight of what is important in life or who gets the most likes on social media. Caring what your peers are doing outside of school should not matter. Instead, we need to take a step back and understand our true calling. What is our true purpose on Earth? Do we think God cares how popular we are? Do we think He cares how many likes we get on TikTok or even what brand of shoes we wear? No! We are here for a bigger purpose! “To live in peace, serve God and help those around us.” Sure, it’s okay to want nice things and to feel liked, but when we lose sight of our purpose, we create a bigger problem for ourselves. Instead, we need to be mindful of our purpose and remember to bring God into every facet of our life. He should be the center of our universe. We need to remember, that if it weren’t for God, none of us would be here.
Easter Sunday Gospel Reading John 20: 1-9 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
Reflection By Mike Rauer It is Easter Sunday; we witness the Resurrection of Our Blessed Lord and find the empty tomb. Everyone attends the sacrifice of the Easter Holy Mass in their finest attire. The churches are full of those who believe, those who attend from duty and those who make their semi-annual visit. Do we fully understand what the Resurrection and the empty tomb really means? When we are at Mass and the priest opens the tabernacle and removes the body of Our Lord, it is the Resurrection of our Lord as on Easter Sunday. The open tabernacle signifies Our Lord coming to us on that very first Easter, and the empty tabernacle signifies the empty tomb. Each time we visit the church for the Holy Mass we are again participating in the Resurrection of Our Lord. He is opening His tomb and coming to us with the reminder that it is a new day. Every Mass gives us the opportunity to again start anew in our lives, to begin our Faith journey. Jesus reminds us by His Resurrection that we too will have our own personal resurrection in our Faith. The legacy of what Our Blessed Lord leaves us is found in the “linen cloths lying on the ground … rolled up.” These linen cloths will become for us the tangible reminder of his image and suffering as evidenced by the Shroud of Turin or the Veil of Manoppello. When we see these venerable images, we can grasp an understanding of the suffering that Our Blessed Lord endured for our salvation. We must also remember when viewing these sacred relics that this will be the face that will judge us in the end. On our own resurrection over death, will we be ready to face our Judge?