Claire Smith

Scripture:

Ezekiel 37:21-28
John 11:45-56

Reflection:

Days of Judgement

Today’s chapter of John’s gospel begins with the raising of Lazarus of Bethany. Even before it happens, as the story begins, we hear that it is his sister, “Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair”. Then follows the beautiful dialogue with Lazarus’ other sister, Martha, “I am the Resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? Yes, Lord; I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

Then along with Mary and Martha, Jesus’ dear friends, sharing their tears, they approach the tomb. Overriding the caution of the ever-practical Martha that there will be a stench, Jesus calls forth Lazarus.

Today’s reading then continues. The council agrees that Jesus performs many signs, and the result will be that the Romans will destroy the Holy Places and the nation. We hear the a great prophecy that bears the weight of authority because it is made by the high priest: ‘It is expedient that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish’. Then John gives us the reason for the passion and death of Jesus: “He prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one all of God’s children who are scattered abroad”.

How contrary to the sign of Jesus in raising Lazarus, to the hope filled the words of Jesus to Martha, and to the joy in the neighborhood of Bethany! Both Matthew and Mark make clear there is not purity of intention in what they High Priest says. They tell us Pilate was aware that Jesus is handed over out of jealousy.

Our gospel today takes a special meaning by its place in the liturgy of Lent. Tomorrow we will remember the jubilant palm procession that welcomes Jesus to Jerusalem. In the synoptic gospels what follows is the cleansing of the temple, and the judgment against Jesus and the determination that he be destroyed.

On Monday we will hear of another welcome. A dinner celebrating Lazarus life! Perhaps the moment comes when the ever-attentive Martha thinks, ‘what is my sister doing now?’, as she sees Mary approach Jesus, open the expensive jar of perfume and pour it over Jesus’ feet. The house is silent as Mary slowly and reverently uses her long hair to wipe the feet of Jesus. Fragrance fills the house. She gives away the rich perfume but wants what clings to Jesus to cling to her also. What a different judgment of Jesus, what a response of love and gratitude to the one who raised her brother to life.

As the high priest acts with anger, so the silence in the home of Bethany is broken when Judas voices his anger. No purity of intention; he too does not understand love.

What Jesus did was not only for Lazarus but for all of God’s scattered children, gathering us from the fear of death to life. What Mary does, an action that will always be told in the telling of the Gospel, expresses love from all of us.

Fr. William Murphy, CP is a member of Immaculate Conception Passionist Community in Jamaica, New York.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 20:10-13
John 10:31-42

Reflection:

Happy Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent!

Have you ever felt like you were drowning?

Water — the ocean, lakes, rivers, and streams — have always been places where I’ve found peace and solace.  But there was this one day…

Many years ago, while performing on tour with a symphony orchestra, some of us walked out of our hotel and out to the beach to spend our morning off.  Everything began so calmly and joyfully as I went out to swim a little.  Suddenly, without warning, some rough tide rolled in and I became caught in the current, and was pulled out a considerable distance from shore.  I realized I was alone out there, and panic began to ensue.  The water began to cover my head, I started flailing my arms above my head and cried out as loud as I could, “Help.”

What I hadn’t realized was that there were some people — people whom I didn’t know at all — who had seen what was going on, hopped on a small craft, and were already rushing out to save me.  My arm was grabbed and pulled, and I found myself sitting on their boat, heading back to shore… to safety.

Being underwater really did stink… but before I even knew I needed help; my rescue had already been set in motion.  I was pretty fortunate that day…

But there are some times I find myself experiencing other types of “drownings.”  I’m no stranger to being hurt by friends, family members, and partners… I don’t think any of us are.  And I’m also no stranger to hurting other people, even if inadvertently.  One such moment was very recently, while closing in on the end of a very deeply challenging and emotional day on many levels.  While in conversation with friends, I had become so frustrated with a series of exchanges that, eventually, I found myself under a flood of frustration – my arms flailing above my head – but instead of crying “Help,” I spoke in a tone not indicative of the love I share for them.  And for that, I’ll always be filled with regret.

Being “underwater” can really stink.

I guess it’s probably a pretty universal thing for all of us humans to have times when it feels like we’re just underwater.  There we are, walking along our path with a calm normalcy, and suddenly, without warning, rainclouds come and open up, unleashing their stores of water, flooding us, and making dark all that surrounds us.  And when that happens, how easy is it to feel just so very alone.

Our Psalm in today’s Liturgy of the Word (Psalm 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7) sings,

“The breakers of death surged round about me,
    the destroying floods overwhelmed me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD
    and my cry to him reached his ears.”

There will always be times we find ourselves “underwater,” feeling so very alone — as though nobody else in the world knows what we’re going through.  But God is always there, trying to reach us, hold us, help us.  In fact, God knows and sets in-motion our salvation long before we even realize we’re in need.  God is there, sending companions to help us on our journey.  God is there, trying to reach us through the very experiences and encounters of our daily lives — our every-single-moment… if only we would listen.

Who has been God to you in your need?
How has God used you to help others in their need?

Dear Lord,
I’m underwater… and it sure feels like a lot, lately.
My arms are flailing, and I’m screaming for help…
for someone to save me.
I know you’re there, but sometimes I don’t recognize you.
And other times, I try to ignore you.
Please,
open my ears to the sound of your voice.
Open my eyes to the sight of your presence.
Open my heart to the outpouring of your love.
And, please, dear Lord,
help me be the kind of person
that can bring You to life
to all the people in my world today.
Amen.

Peace and love to you today, and forever.

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

Scripture:

Genesis 17:3-9
John 8:51-59

Reflection:

I have been sharing the scrutinies with the elect for the past couple of weeks, and I find myself enlightened as well. We may listen to the word of God, and think we get it, but unless you are going deeper into understanding what we are reading, we may be missing a great deal of information. 

We see so many times in scripture where, for example, the Pharisees tell us the law, but Jesus says something completely opposite of what the Pharisees want us to believe – it is Jesus’ ideals of compassion and mercy that come through to all who hear him. In today’s readings, we see that the authorities could not grasp the idea that Jesus is the Son of God. As Jesus says, they claim to know God, but unlike them, Jesus says that he knows God and keeps his word. The people walking in Jesus’ midst who believed in his miracles were able to accept those miracles as truth – they believed!

Sometimes I find myself asking what it is that Jesus wants me to get out of the readings. Some days when I go to mass, it seems that the Homilist is talking to me – directly to me. And that is what the people in Jesus’ time had as well. They knew Jesus was mysterious, but so many had seen his miracles, or heard him speak his beautiful parables, and believed. 

Allow yourself to separate from the desperation of wanting to understand and grasp every reading you attempt to read. There are some things that are mysterious for a reason. God will open those doors for you as he sees fit. Don’t be the stone thrower, but the one whose glory comes from the Father through understanding and belief.

Patty Masson is the Director of Adult Formation and Evangelization at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring, Texas.