aadbdstarter

Scripture:

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
John 8:31-42

Reflection:

This past week I was reading from one of the more prominent biblical authors, Raymond Brown who named three levels of believers in John’s gospel.  First were those who believed.  These are the people who believed so whole heartedly that they were willing to die for their convictions and beliefs in the risen Lord. These are the people of John’s community who through martyrdom brought hundreds of people into the faith.  The second group were those who refused to believe.  For example, the Fourth Sunday of Lent we listened to the religious leaders who were scrutinizing the man born blind.  They refused to see the man who had a physical and spiritual transformation.  Consequently they refused to believe, and purposefully chose to stay in their blindness so they could continue to refuse to believe.  Raymond Brown named a third category we never hear very much of. He was describing people who claim they believe but their actions never put them in line with the real believers.   I bring this up because today’s Gospel addresses this third category.   The author states clearly that Jesus is addressing people who believe in him, but the content is a strong accusation and a judgment that they are not living out of freedom, they are not living out of the blessedness of their father Abraham, and indeed they were trying to kill him.   These are not the kind of people I would find very supportive in my ministry.  Yet John doesn’t give up on them.  He is always trying to move them from initial belief or initial faith towards something more sustaining and more substantial faith.  Jesus isn’t the supper nice loving Jesus we may desire.  Note, the accusations are blatant and certainly not watered down.  Jesus lights a pretty big fire under them to attempt to get them to move.

And speaking of big fires, in the reading from Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar’s livid rage faces off with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It is the classic story we have all heard, and even read to our children and grandchildren.  On one level it is how God protected these three because they refused to serve the deity of the Babylonians or worship the golden statue.  Some people choose to listen to the Lord God’s ability to protect and these three as they have chosen to suffer for the honor of what they believe.  But if you look a little deeper, the angel that was sent to protect the three from the heat of the flames also ends up cooling the flames of Nebuchadnezzar’s wrath.  And out of the King’s mouth are words of praise, as he blesses the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.   Indeed the King goes from the fires of rage to the sincerity of blessing the true God.

When this reading came up a few weeks ago for some of the grade school children in the parish, I was surprised at how quickly they caught on with the metaphor of this reading.  “You know, when you are about to get in trouble”, I said to them,  “and things start getting  a little warm, or even hot ….. Do you ever take a moment to call forth God’s angel?”  That is a lesson to learn, And Nebuchadnezzar gives us another lesson.  How do you move from livid rage to sincere words of blessing and praise to God?

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Numbers 21: 4-9
John 8: 21-30

 

Reflection:

Following Jesus With Heart and Soul

The words of Jesus to the Pharisees in today’s Gospel are very strong:  “…you will die in your sin.  Where I am going you cannot come.”  Somehow they had interpreted his words to mean that Jesus was going to commit suicide and go to hell where they as “righteous” people could not follow.  Wrong!  What we have is a case of supreme irony:  in fact, Jesus would lay down his life in sacrifice, passing to the glory of heaven – while the self-righteous Pharisees could not experience heaven because of their sins.

Time and again the Gospels tell us that Jesus came in love to call sinners:  tax collectors, people caught in adultery… wayward souls of all types who suffer because of their sinfulness.  Jesus was stern with the Pharisees because they had taken the heart and spirit out of religion; they thought their salvation was guaranteed because of their descent from Abraham; religion was reduced to mere hypocritical observance of a multiplicity of minute regulations.  In fact the Pharisees had become complacent and saw themselves as beyond the message of Jesus.

As we move into the homestretch of Lent, with the solemn celebrations of the Paschal Triduum ahead of us, we are encouraged to open ourselves to renewed hearts and souls, awakened to the power of God’s mercy and love, and challenged to witness our faith in our contemporary world.  It’s prime time to review our faith lives.  What about your Lenten prayer, your penitential practices, your acts of charity that were part of your initial Ash Wednesday fervor?  Have we become lethargic or complacent, or perhaps more involved with complaints about our current conditions or the things we don’t have?  Do we take Jesus for granted?  It’s time to move on…

Jesus is the Master Evangelist!  He comes to save us from ourselves and share with us the beauty of God’s infinite love.  May these concluding days of Lent prompt an even deeper renewal of our faith, and a heartfelt, burning desire to share this Good News with our world!

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is a member of the Passionist community in Chicago, Illinois. 

Scripture:

Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62
John 8:1-11

Reflection:

Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.
John 8:7

Stone-throwing is so very common, and aren’t we all guilty? We may not throw physical stones, but the ones we throw may be just as hurtful. It’s so easy to judge others. Like the brother-in-law who is an alcoholic, or the school teacher who is having an affair, or the priest who seems harsh and unhappy and makes everyone feel unwelcome at church.

Rather than judging and gossiping about them, let’s at least pray for them, or even better, let’s ask the Lord to show us how to love them. Judgement doesn’t change anyone’s life, but love does.

I was praying one time at an abortion clinic and was probably having some judgmental thoughts about the “escort” who was working the door that day. His job was to keep the pro-life people from talking to his clients. As I prayed, the Lord reminded me that we are all His children and that He died for that man and loves him as much as He loves me. So here was a “brother” that I needed to love and pray for. It was cold that day, so I shared my gloves with him and prayed that his eyes would be opened one day to the truth of abortion.

Scripture tells us that “we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” We all need God’s love and mercy and forgiveness and we often experience God’s touch through another person.

God please forgive us when we judge others. Help us to see every person with Your eyes of compassion.

Janice Carleton and her husband Jim live in Bainbridge Island, Washington,  and partner with Passionist Fr. Cedric Pisegna in Fr. Cedric Ministries. She is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother of 6. Janice also leads women’s retreats and recently published her second book: God IS with Us. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.janicecarleton.com/ or email her at [email protected].

Scripture:

Ezekiel 37:12-14
Romans 8:8-11
John 11:1-45

Reflection:

When I entered the seminary as a freshman in high school, our studies in English introduced us to the writings of William Shakespeare; we studied Julius Caesar. Because we had to memorize passages from literature, I and my classmates can still quote from some of the works of “The Bard.”

As I sat down to write this reflection, the first thing that popped into my head was the line from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: “A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come (II,2, Caesar).” Caesar is protesting his courage in the face of omens, auguries and the political climate in Rome, all of which point to his impending assassination.

The thought of impending death does instill fear in the average person. Caesar proclaims his courage in the face of Rome’s desperation which may lead to his death.

In today’s gospel reading, the well-known passage of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, Jesus responds to his disciples who remind him that attempts were made on his life during their recent stay in Judea. “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?”

It is true that his healing of the man born blind, and his proclaiming his Divine Sonship have angered the popular leaders so much that they gathered stones to hurl at him (JN 10). He reminds the disciples that he is the “light” for their path, which will keep them from the harms of the darkness (the underworld). If one walks during the day, he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world.

In his response to his disciples, and in the unfolding of the events around the restoration of Lazarus’ life, Jesus asserts his power over death itself. Unlike Caesar, who could only claim the courage to die valiantly, Jesus begins to undermine the power of death over those who believe in his messianic identity.

Jesus elicits this faith in his messianic identity from Martha, when he says to 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?”

Martha’s response is that profession of faith: “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

The mission of Christ is not fulfilled in the singular relationship of a believer who calls Christ “savior.” When Jesus asks to be taken to where Lazarus has been laid, he prays before the crowd that has accompanied him with Mary and Martha to the burial site. The prayer of Jesus invokes the witness which he intends to present to the crowd, “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.”

The leaders of the people may have rejected Jesus as Messiah, but Jesus addresses the crowd “that they may believe that you sent me.”

The crowd will play a very important role in the week to come. After Palm Sunday, a day of festive chants and procession, will follow the drama of Good Friday, with the shouts of the crowd “Crucify him!”

As we come to the last two weeks of Lent, 2017, have we reinforced our profession of faith in Jesus as Savior, who conquers death for us, so that as a community, we can celebrate the victory over death that Jesus has shown us, and which is ours to share with him and with one another?

Fr. Arthur Carrillo, C.P., is the director of the Missions for Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 11:18-20
John 7:40-53

Reflection:

 Today is April Fools Day.  The origin of this unusual day is uncertain but the custom of having similar days when people play tricks on others goes far back in history and is spread over a large number of cultures.  The basic idea is to trick someone, usually in a lighthearted way, with some false news or deception.  When the person falls for it, they are labeled, “April fool”!

It so happens that the Scripture readings for today also speak about deception and false information, but not in the lighthearted spirit of April Fools day.  In a reading from Jeremiah we hear one of this mournful prophet’s laments.  His opponents are “hatching plots” against him but Jeremiah has failed to recognize this and suffers the consequences.  He prays that God would vindicate him and punish his enemies.  Even the Psalmist today (Psalm 7) speaks about being pursued by his enemies and cries to God to save him.  The response expresses the Psalmist’s trust in God even in the midst of treachery and falsehood: “O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.”

Joining in this line-up is a strange passage from the Gospel of John.  Center stage is not Jesus himself but his opponents.  First of all, the crowds who have been listening to Jesus and struck by the beauty and power of his words, wonder who he is.  Some say “the prophet,” others “the Christ.”  But an argument breaks out—if Jesus were the Messiah he would be from Bethlehem as the Scriptures say, and not from Galilee, where they assume Jesus was born (i.e., in the town of Nazareth).  So intense is the debate that it prompts some in the crowd to turn their hostility to Jesus and want to arrest him.

Then we have an episode in which guards who had been sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to arrest Jesus fail to do so because they were dazzled by Jesus’ words: “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”  But instead of being impressed by the guards’ testimony, Jesus’ opponents conclude these soldiers were deceived.  Nicodemus, one of the group of leaders, however, speaks up for Jesus and the truth: “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?”  But the other leaders mock him: “You are not from Galilee also, are you?  Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” (After the death of Jesus, Nicodemus will bring a large quantity of precious oils to anoint the body of Jesus, a sign that he has become a disciple…).

Deception and treachery all around!  There is a lot of discussion today in our political arena about “fake news” and “lying.”  Some would even see such deception as a valid political strategy.  But the readings today remind us that deception and failing to grasp the truth have dire consequences.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told his disciples, “let your ‘yes’ be a ‘yes’ and you ‘no’ be a ‘no’.  We are called as followers of Jesus to speak the truth in love.  Telling lies and publishing falsehoods is ultimately destructive behavior that breaks down trust and leads us in the wrong direction.

Fr. Donald Senior, C.P. is President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union.  He lives at the Passionist residence in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Scripture:

Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Reflection:

It’s an interesting thing, being human.  As children, we begin our journey with such optimism and enthusiasm – trying new things and experiencing so much of the diversity the world has to offer.  And as we travel through life we pick up our habits and idiosyncrasies, and develop our tastes and desires.  As time has passed, and as I’ve grown, I’ve become increasingly satisfied with my style, my place, and my routine (you could easily read “set in my ways” there…).

The problem begins when we become too comfortable with our ways.  When anything foreign or different, anything new or challenging comes along, we tend to immediately reject the experience.  It’s almost as though we live in a tomb we’ve built for ourselves out of fear and laze.  And when we do that, we end up closing any possibility of whatever good experience and grace that new thing has to offer us.  It’s as though we turn blind to the good for fear of the bad.  If you’re anything like me, you’ll be able to relate to that immediately.

The people in our first reading must have felt that way.

“Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us…  He styles himself as a child of the Lord.  His ways are different; he is a hardship for us…  With revilement and torture let us put him to the test.  Let us see what will happen to him.  Let us condemn him to a shameful death.”

See Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22

 Reading that, it would be easy to mistake it for having been written by one of the four evangelists in the Passion narratives. It seems that it may be exactly what those who plotted Jesus’ death would have said as they tried to rationalize the horror they were about to inflict upon him… the shame, the blood, the hurt, the death.

Yes, Jesus would suffer that same fate outlined in the first reading.  “How inconvenient it is to be better people.  Let’s kill him – that’d be easier.”  It’s true, his ways can seem pretty inconvenient.  Let’s look at just a few of his teachings.

“Our Father”                    This means that everyone is my brother or sister?  Everyone???
“Love one another”       I have to treat everyone with love?   Everyone???
“Thy will be done”         I don’t get to have my wants done?  But I know better…

Yep…pretty inconvenient.

The passage from Wisdom we hear today ends with this:

“These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them.” Wisdom 2:21

It would be so much easier to turn a blind eye and willfully ignore the things and people that are challenging to us.  Who is it that you are hiding from?  The friend that hurt you?  The homeless person on the freeway off-ramp?  The single father hurting after a brutal divorce?  An autistic child? The Christian who is openly proud of their faith?  The convict?  The military veteran suffering the aftereffects of gruesome battle?  The young mother now living in a wheelchair?  How about the child with cancer?  The Muslim family running from their homeland in search of a peaceful life?  The aging friend now forced to live in a convalescent facility? A former friend who told you they’re gay?

All of the above?

How often are we blinded by the mission of another?  How many times have we killed the unfamiliar and challenging?  And how many graces and blessings have we lost as a result of that attitude?

With just two weeks of Lent 2017 left, let’s make a renewed effort, you and I, today, to break open the tomb of our own making.  To live Jesus’ example of care, love, acceptance and joy.  To be God’s light in our corner of the world.  This is our call and who we are as Christians – the Body of Christ.

Dear God, thank you for the gift of every blessing you offer us. Please, grant us the grace to live inconveniently. Amen.

Paul Puccinelli is Director of Liturgy & Music at St. Rita Parish in Sierra Madre, CA, and a member  of the Retreat-Team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center.

Feast of Saint John of Egypt, Hermit

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:8-15
John 5:17-30

Reflection:

As we move through the fourth week of Lent we are reminded of this being a joyful and hope filled time in the midst of our Lenten resolutions. An oasis in the middle of the desert. Some of us may still be struggling a day at a time with those things we have chosen to let go of for 40 days. Some of us may be cruising along and doing just fine.

The reading from the prophet Isaiah is that message of hope in the desert. A reminder of the covenant that was given to us though our ancestors of Salvation History. A message that calls us out of darkness and out of imprisonment. In the Scriptures these two things are not always literal. We can be in the dark about many things, especially ourselves. We can be imprisoned by our fears, addictions, low self esteem or an abusive situation. Isaiah reminds us that God does not forget the sons and daughters that he has created out of love. It is this relationship that we have with God that is cause for much rejoicing. We are not forgotten! We are not alone! Isaiah reminds us that we are “comforted” and “shown mercy”. This mercy and love is beyond any that can be shown by the best of humans. It exceeds all human capabilities. It is one of those “mysteries of God” that is difficult to wrap one’s mind around. And it is good to be reminded from time to time that God is kind, merciful and loving. God wants us to be happy!

What makes me happy?

The reading from the Gospel of John, in its complexity, simply is this: God has given us eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. All we need to do is to “hear” the Word of God and believe. The believe part is what is hard for most of us. Belief/Faith is a gift and God really does want us to have this free gift. It is our humanness that becomes the road block. I always remind my students that, “The hardest thing in life is being a Christian.” It is hard! The Word of God is not always easy to listen to. It challenges us to think and grow. The passage from John’s Gospel is complex and hard to comprehend or even wrap our minds around. I had to read it several times and ponder it for a few days before it began to sink in. The relationship that the Father and the Son have is one that is very complex and beyond human understanding. Yet God understands us. Knowing that we struggle with understanding eternal life. Eternal life is the ultimate place of rejoicing. Take time this week to rejoice in all you are in Christ.

Today, read the Gospel passage several times until a word or phrase touches your heart. Take that to prayer. What message is Jesus giving you?

Linda Schork is a theology teacher at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky

Scripture:

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12
John 4:43-54

Reflection:

Water has the ability to be life-giving as well as life-taking!  Farmers will tell you just enough rain will produce a bountiful harvest.  By the same token, too much rain or too little rain will affect the growing season in a negative way.  In the past year we have witnesses massive flooding in many areas of the country and world, often with devastating effects on human and ecological life.  In other areas the lack of rain gives way to hardship and loss for those involved.

In the first reading from Ezekiel today we find a picture of life-giving water!  Water seems to be flowing in all directions and leaving in its path all sorts of life and beauty!  There doesn’t seem to be any part of life, animal, nature and human that does not benefit from this wonderful gift of water!  How wonderful!

We have all experienced times of fruitfulness and abundance in our lives.  There have also been times of drought and frustrating dryness to be sure!  As we move closer to Holy Week and the special celebrations of Triduum leading up to the great feast of Easter, water becomes much more of a focal point.

On Holy Thursday, our parish will be invited to come together to share a soup/bread supper followed by the liturgy during which we will have the opportunity to wash one another’s feet.  We will focus not only on being of service to one another, but, also enjoying the cleansing waters shared by each other.  It is a special time for all who take part, especially our RCIA candidates and sponsors.

During the Easter Vigil we will invite five catechumens into the life-giving waters of baptism.  They have been preparing many months for this great celebration of new life.  We look forward in anticipation to celebrating with them along with the other seven candidates whom we will receive into full communion with the Catholic Church on this evening.  It is a special time for all who gather for this rite as we renew our baptismal promises and celebrate the newness of life that surrounds us not only within the church proper but outside where the beauty of springtime blossoms abundantly.

As we come to the Easter Season, may we celebrate and give thanks for this life-giving water of faith and love shared by our generous and loving God!!

Theresa Secord is a Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.