Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Archives for March 2021
Tuesday of
Daily Scripture, March 23, 2021
Scripture:
Reflection:
In our first reading from Numbers, the Israelites, out of frustration and exhaustion and impatience, complain against God and Moses, and God punishes them by sending saraph serpents who bite the people, and many of them die. The people repent, and ask Moses to intercede for them. And in response, God tells Moses to fashion a bronze serpent, mount it on a pole, “and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover.”
In our Gospel reading from John, Jesus is again trying to tell the people who He is. Finally, Jesus says to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.”
When we reflect on Jesus on the Cross, can we believe that the love and sacrifice demonstrated there really come from God? Can we believe God really loves us that much? I ask the question because if we really do believe in God’s love for us, then we can look at Jesus on the Cross, and, like the Israelites in the desert bitten by the serpent, we, too, can “recover.”
We can recover from despair and anxiety. We can recover from anger and bitterness. We can recover from prejudice and hatred and fear. We can recover from weariness and apathy and complacency.
Jesus is I AM for us. Jesus is God’s love revealed to us. May we look upon Him and see His love and sacrifice and be healed.
Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.
Monday of
the Fifth Week
of Lent
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Paul Wadell – Extended Interview
Inspired by prophets - Paul listens for God's message of hope
Enjoy Paul Wadell's extended interview for our Spring 2021 issue of The Passionists magazine. The interview was conducted by Ms. Mary Kay McPartlin, Faith Catholic Publishing, Lansing, Michigan.
Father Victor Hoagland, CP, Extended Interview
Love - Father Victor preaches an age-old message in a modern world
Enjoy Father Victor's extended interview for our Spring 2021 issue of The Passionists magazine. The interview was conducted by Ms. Mary Kay McPartlin, Faith Catholic Publishing, Lansing, Michigan.
Daily Scripture, March 22, 2021
Scripture:
Reflection:
In ages past (the mid-1960s specifically), a group of fourteen-year-old boys knelt in chapel for the first time as the Freshman Class of Passionist Seminary. The late afternoon sun cascaded in through golden paned windows high on the chapel walls as Fr. Director stood in front of the altar and addressed us in the thunderous voice of Moses handing down the Ten Commandments…
“There are many rules in the student guides you’ve just been given. But there are two rules that are more important than any of the those. Break one of these two and you will be sent home IMMEDIATELY and for good”, he said unsmiling.
We trembled in our pews like rabbits in a lightning storm as Father continued booming…
“You will NOT swim in the lake at any time. You will never climb the water tower or be anywhere near it”.
The water tower was our 120 ft sentinel which loomed over the Midwest farmlands that surrounded the Prep. Being terrified of heights, I had no desire to ever break that rule. It took us at least a week to realize that if your canoe tipped over into the lake, you weren’t really swimming. To my knowledge, no one was ever expelled for swimming in the lake and no one was ever caught climbing the water tower.
The intentions of the laws were clear. The professed wanted to keep us safe while we were in their care.
The story of Susanna illustrates the difficulty the Jews were having in balancing the letter of the law of Moses against the intent of those laws, which were ultimately made to keep them safe. The laws were intended to be strict, but leavened by the merciful nature of God ~ like the love of a Father for his children who will undoubtedly err. Susanna was falsely accused of adultery, a sin which demanded an execution by stoning. A young Daniel cried out against this stern sentence which was imposed without justice or mercy. (Daniel 13)
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me;” (Psalm 23)
This same conundrum is addressed in the trap the Pharisees tried to lay for Jesus. Presented with a woman caught in adultery, (or perhaps fornication. This is not clear in translation), they asked Him how she should be punished. If Jesus did not agree to stone her, then He was defying the Law of Moses. If He did agree to abide strictly by the Law, He would be defying Roman authority which said only Roman justice could apply the death penalty.
Being caught in adultery, dragged through the streets, and threatened with death by stoning, the woman had been grievously punished for her transgression. In His mercy, Jesus forgave her while instructing her to sin no more. (John 8)
We are judged, forgiven, and we will be forgiven again; as long as we strive to sin no more ~ judge others with the same mercy granted us ~ and stand against injustice suffered by others. Lord, help me not be found wanting…
Ray Alonzo is the father of three children, grandfather of two, and husband to Jan for 45 years. He is a USN Vietnam Veteran, and a 1969 graduate of Mother of Good Counsel Passionist Prep Seminary. Ray currently serves on the Passionist Alumni Council.
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Daily Scripture, March 21, 2021
Scripture:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Hebrews 5:7-9
John 12:20-33
Reflection:
Amen, Amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. (John 12: 24)
This scripture is from today’s gospel and speaks of death. What comes to mind when you think about your death? For the believer, death is a passing from this earthly world to our eternal life with God. However, this scripture passage talks about death in another manner. The grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies and begets much fruit. We are the grain of wheat and by dying to oneself we produce an abundance of fruit.
An important and hurried and stressed businessman visits a Zen master, seeking guidance. The Zen master sits down, invites the businessman to sit, and pours the visitor a cup of tea. But even after the tea fills the cup, the Zen master continues to pour, allowing the tea to spill. The businessman is taken aback, “Stop pouring the tea! The cup is full and can’t hold any more.” The Zen master replies: “Yes. So, it is with you. You will not be able to receive my guidance, unless you empty some space first.” (Adapted from Terry Hershey’s Sabbath Moment Reflection for 3/18/2019)
I can relate to the businessman. There is something alluring about filling space. And something very unnerving about being asked to empty (or let go of) whatever I’ve stockpiled to fill that space. But I do know this. When there is no empty space, I pay the price. One of my goals for Lent was to spend more time in prayer and reflection. I fell short of this goal. My space for prayer filled up with la ist of to-do’s.
First, reflect today on your death. What epitaph do you want on your tombstone?
Second, reflect upon that ways you can die to yourself. What are practical and concrete ways to let go and let God so as to become new life.
Carl Middleton is a theologian/ethicist and a member of the Passionist Family.