Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

Readings for Thursday of the Third Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Jer 7:23-28

In this oracle, the Prophet Jeremiah, speaking with the voice of God, reminds the people that the Lord desires fidelity from them and they are not listening. In this passage we see Jeremiah referring to man’s fallen nature (not quite Original Sin) as he points to “the hardness of their evil hearts”

In the final verse of this passage we hear something echoed in the Gospel today; “Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech.” The people rejecting the “word” would seem to predict rejection of the Messiah, the Word made Flesh.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Psalm 95 is a song of thanksgiving familiar to all of those who pray the Liturgy of the Hours. It is used as the Invitatory (the invitation to prayer) each morning. In the final strophes we see it relate to Jeremiah’s prophetic argument, reminding us how our fathers grew stubborn in the wilderness (of the Exodus) when at Meribah and Massah they challenged and provoked God.

Gospel Lk 11:14-23

In the Gospel from St. Luke we find Jesus, in spite of his miraculous cure of the mute, being rejected by the people. The accuse him of representing a false God – Baal (the Jewish people nicknamed Baal – Beelzebul “Lord of Flies”).

In response to the crowd asking for a “sign”, Jesus (basically equating that false belief in Baal with Satan) forcefully rejects that notion. He sees in their request for a sign the desire to see a different kind of sign – a sign that would validate their view of what the Messiah should be – kingly and powerful in secular rule.

Jesus attacks their logic by saying that no kingdom could stand if its servants attacked each other. He makes it clear that by attacking evil he demonstrates that he comes from God. He goes on using analogy to say that God will always conquer evil (God is stronger than the strongest evil) and further, rejecting God’s Son amounts to standing on the side of evil.

Homily:

We are given two pieces of scripture today that speak to the battle that rages between light and darkness. The path we walk has many branchings and we have to make daily decisions about which way to turn. How often the way that seems easiest, most pleasant, most rewarding is the wrong way.

We see in scripture that we are being called to decide – who do our actions say we follow? We profess that we follow the one Lord with our mouths, just as the people of Jeremiah’s day. But God asks more than “lip service”. He calls us; Christ calls us to stand up and be counted through our actions.

When we hear in the Gospel how he is challenged, we understand that it is easy for us to stand with those ancient Jews and ask God to be what we want him to be. We ask him to show us a sign that the easy course is best; we rationalize that, since God loves us, He must want us to accept the apple from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We must ask ourselves who offers us that apple.

Today the message is clear, the Gospel even summed it up for us; “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” I hate to be cliché but; “What’s in your wallet?”

Pax
[1] After 04/07
[2] The image presented today is “St Michael and the Satan” by Raffaello Sanzio, 1518

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

Readings for Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Dt 4:1, 5-9

This passage from Deuteronomy marks the end of the historical part of the book and the beginning of Moses’ presentation of the law and statutes. He addresses the whole people telling them that unless they follow the statutes which he is about to present, they do not receive what God promises the faithful, in this case the land of milk and honey (recall last Sunday’s reading from Exodus).

Responsorial Psalm Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem

This section of Psalm 147, a psalm of praise, gives us the second of three strophes contained therein. In this section, the psalmist praises God’s rule over nature and the seasons (winter; “…He spreads snow like wool; frost he strews like ashes.”) It concludes with another aspect of the "word" of Yahweh: His "ordinances" are for Israel alone

Gospel Mt 5:17-19

In this early encounter between Jesus’ mission and the Law of Moses we are told that Jesus came to “fulfill” the law, to bring it to perfection in the messiah. He supports the rabbinical teaching of the time which breaks the 613 individual precepts of the law found in the Pentateuch into “great and small” based upon their seriousness when he refers to breaking the least of the commandments.

The passage is concluded in almost Mosaic style by saying that those who follow the law will be great in heaven. This draws a distinction from those who would break the law being least in heaven in the previous sentence.

Reflection:

What strikes us most immediately in Wednesday's readings is the link between Moses giving the Law to the Hebrew People and his instructions to them to be faithful to it and Jesus who comes to fulfill it. It is pretty easy to see how Jesus came to fulfill what the Prophets had been saying for the 2,000 years of Hebrew history. There were enough clues in the Old Testament scriptures to lead us to understand that statement before he (Jesus) made it. What takes more thought, though, is how he came to fulfill the Law.

The reason that is a difficult question for us is that, to us, the Law is a set of rules that guide behavior. We must first understand the view of the Hebrews concerning the Law if we are to realize the immense import of the statement Jesus made when he said; "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." The statement from the commentary really helps us here:

"The Law was thought to be the summary of all wisdom-human and divine, the revelation of God himself, a complete and a secure guide of conduct and endowed with a sacramental assurance of good relations with God." (Jerome Biblical Commentary on Mt 5:17)

When we look at his statement through this lens, we understand. What Jesus said in that short statement was; he came to reveal the living God. He came to provide the path to the Lord God; the Logos (Word) made flesh.

It kind of takes the whole revelation to a new level once we see that the Law Moses presented was more than just rules. The question that understanding stimulates in us is; if the law of Christ was more than rules for the early Christians, what should it be for us today?

If we accept Christ's word as being the "sacramental assurance of good relations with God", what place must the word assume in our lives? The “word” is not only a guide to our actions but our hearts; not only our thoughts but our prayers. Today we pray that God’s Law, fulfilled in Christ, will be expressed by our actions..

Pax

[1] After 04/07
[2] The image presented today is “Moses” by Guido Reni, 1600-10

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

Readings for Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Dn 3:25, 34-43

The reading from Daniel is the Prayer of Azariah (Abednego) one of three companions to Daniel that were thrown into a "white hot" furnace at the command of King Nebuchadnezzar because they would not worship the idol made of gold he had commanded to be made.

Azariah’s prayer is for the whole people of Israel, who are in dyer straights. He prays (You may recognize some of the final verses as being included in Offertory Prayer in the Mass.) that God accept a humble and contrite heart in lieu of the traditional animal sacrifice required of their tradition at that time.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Psalm 25 is an individual lament. The sinful psalmist prays that “Your ways” be made know. This request directs us to repentance and ultimately justice.

Gospel Mt 18:21-35

We begin this rather lengthy Gospel passage with the discourse on “Forgiveness”. Peter asks the question that paraphrases one asked in the book of Genesis by Lamech (Genesis 4:24.). He is looking for guidance in the form of a finite amount of forgiveness and in answer receives the command that forgiveness must infinite (represented by the multiples of seven and 10).

To emphasize this need for forgiveness, the Lord launches into the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. The moral of this particular parable is, the measure we use to judge others is the same measure that will be used by God to measure us when we come before him. Here is how the Jerome Biblical Commentary sums up that parable:

“The model is the forgiveness of God, which knows no limit; and neither should man's forgiveness. If man does not forgive, he cannot expect forgiveness; if he does not renounce his own claims, which are small, he cannot ask God to dismiss the claims against him.”

Reflection:

Today the Lord charges us to look at forgiveness. We start by hearing Azariah (I hadn’t recalled that all three, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, had been renamed from Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) praying that God would be merciful. Then, the psalmist prays that God’s way might be made known to him, and finally Jesus tells us that God’s way is infinite mercy and forgiveness.

We must therefore ask ourselves what we need to be forgiven for and who we need to forgive. It is part of the way of Lent that we should do our very best to find the answers to those questions for our own good. We cannot have the Lord’s peace without it.

Have you ever known a person who was hurt by another (physically or emotionally) that could not find forgiveness for that person? If you have, did you see how that anger or even hatred ate that person’s soul from the inside? Did you notice how that emotion festered and colored every part of the person’s life; other relationships, activities, and even life pursuits.

It has been observed that revenge or retribution (the inverse of forgiveness) is the driver for most violent crime. It is, in its most widespread form. the reason for racial and religious violence, including the sectarian violence we are seeing in the Middle East. That is not to say that forgiveness is not present in Islam – that is not the case. Rather a culture of vengeance has grown up in the region that is self perpetuating – vengeance spurs more vengeance, spiraling out of control. The same forces caused the feuds in Appalachia (the Hatfields and McCoys).

At a more personal level though, those same emotions of hatred or a drive for vengeance are self destructive. They change our very core from one in harmony with God to one at odds with him. The person who cannot find forgiveness is one who can never find peace. That is why it is so important for us to follow Christ’s command and forgive as we are forgiven.

Today we look inside and find any place where we still cling to anger, the desire for retribution, or hatred and we offer that to God and ask that, when we come before him, he will show us that same measure of mercy we have extended to others.

Pax
[1] After 04/07
[2] The image presented today is “The Seven Acts of Mercy” by Caravaggio, 1607

Monday of the Third Week of Lent

Monday of the Third Week of Lent

Readings for Monday of the Third Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab

This story of the conversion of Naaman through Elisha’s office as Prophet has some interesting historical and ritual material. First, it is ironic that the King of Aram, who was an antagonist of Israel, would send one of his key people to Israel. That is why the King of Israel tore his garments

Next we see Elisha not coming out of his house to instruct Naaman, but sending word to him. He did so because to come into the presence of one with leprosy would have caused him ritual impurity. Clearly Naaman did not know this, since he complained about it. Finally, the Jordan River, from a hygienic perspective, is not as good as the clear springs of Damascus. The healing accomplished was to bring Naaman to confess there is no God but God (in Israel).

Responsorial Psalm Ps 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4
R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?

Psalms 42 and 43 are hymns of praise and express longing for God’s presence. The use of the deer (hind) longing for water links nicely back to the reading from Kings where water and the allusion to Baptism was used to bring belief out of unbelief.

Gospel Lk 4:24-30

The Gospel passage today places Jesus at his home town speaking in the synagogue. The people there were questioning his authority since they knew him as a child and knew his family. What we see here is his response to their questioning his status and authority.

We understand why the people were upset when we consider that, in his analogy explaining why he could accomplish no works from God, he used Elijah going to a widow in Sidon (not Israel) and Elisha curing Naaman (a Syrian not an Israelite). This would have placed Jesus on a par with the great Prophets, blasphemy in the eyes of his old neighbors.

Reflection:

What guidance shall we take away from our scripture today? Clearly, the story from Kings, of Naaman being cured through the intersession of Elisha links us directly to Jesus in Luke, challenging the people in his hometown synagogue. And the story there tells us that Jesus was rejected, not because the people did not know who he was, they knew him too well.

For people who delve deeply into scripture there is a clear warning here. When we break things down too far we easily forget that the whole is something totally holy while the parts may seem ordinary. Perhaps that is the lesson for all of us. Try this; let’s take a few words and define them.

-And: conjunction (used to connect grammatically coordinate words, phrases, or clauses)
-Body: noun, "the physical structure and material substance of an animal or plant, living or dead."
-Eat: verb “to take into the mouth and swallow for nourishment”
-Is: verb, "to exist or live"
-My: pronoun, the nominative singular pronoun, used by a speaker in referring to himself or herself.
-Take: verb “to get into one's hold or possession by voluntary action”
-This: pronoun (used to indicate a person, thing, idea, state, event, time, or remark)”

Taken as their definitions describe them they are words, pieces of grammar, ordinary and used in many contexts and circumstances. However, when they are arranged in a certain order and under certain circumstances they take on an entirely different significance; “Take this and eat, this is my body.”

That same message speaks to faith in general. A few days ago I referenced a new book on the New York Times Best Seller List. It was written by a notable atheist scientist and titled “God, the Failed Hypothesis” I believe it is unfortunate but true that some scientists who delve so deeply in to the physical world, loose the wonder and cannot understand the miracle of what they study.

Just as Jesus was confronted by his neighbors and driven out, so do these unfortunate dupes loose their way and are deprived of the glory which is God’s creation. It is a good lesson for all of us. Let us pray that we keep that innocent perspective that allows us to see God and through that sight, receive His blessing.

Pax

[1] After 04/07
[2] The image presented today is “The Captive Hebrew Maid That Waited on Naaman's Wife” from a Bible Printed by Edward Gover, 1870s

Third Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent

Readings for the Third Sunday of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15

The passage from Exodus is the story of God’s call of Moses from the burning bush. The Lord indicates that he has “come down” indicating that He will intervene in the plight of the Israelites.

There is concern from Moses that he must be able to tell the Israelites the name of the God in whose name he comes. The Lord names himself “I am who am.” Giving no name that can be used to have dominion over (see Genesis – man names the animals).

He goes further, instructing Moses to tell them that he is the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. This identification was cited by early Christians as proof of the resurrection, since the patriarchs live on in God who is the God of the living.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Psalm 103, continued from yesterday, praises God for this compassion and forgiveness and recalls Moses’ mission and the salvation brought through it.

Reading II 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12

St. Paul begins here linking Christian baptism to one of its ancient symbols, Moses leading the Hebrews through the parted waters of the sea. He goes on to link the Eucharist to God feeding the (the Hebrews) in the wilderness with manna. Yet because they rejected Christ “who followed them, most were struck down.

He uses this example (later expressed in St. John’s Gospel as Jesus said “Your ancestors ate bread in the wilderness, yet they died.) to warn against the discontent that comes from living a life focused on spiritual wealth, not earthly possessions.

Gospel Lk 13:1-9

In the first section of this reading Jesus speaks about two incidents; a group of Galileans apparently killed by Pilate (possibly at the temple “…whose blood Pilate mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.”), and eighteen people accidentally killed when a tower under construction collapsed. These incidents related to Jesus gave him the opportunity to call everyone to repentance, since like those who had died (who he tells us were not singled out because of their sins), we do not know when the end will come.

He continues his lesion with the Parable of the Fig Tree. This particular story would seem to indicate that the coming of the Christ (“…I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it”) God has given them (us) time to repent, and through him find salvation.

Homily:

I want to confess something to all of you here today. I recently went to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In sacramental grace, I laid bare my soul and offered to God, all of the thoughts words, and deeds I believed had violated his commandments since my last visit. I said, with all sincerity that I was sorry for having done, said and thought the things that violated the Lord’s law of love and I promised, again sincerely, that I would do everything in my power to avoid those failings in the future.

After I had done this, I received from God’s servant, the Priest who sat before me in the place of Christ, provided some actions on my part that would demonstrate my sincerity and confirmed the Lord’s forgiveness of all these actions.

I left the confessional feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I went to the parking lot, got in my car and headed out into the world. I had not gone three blocks when some jerk, talking on his cell phone when he should have been paying attention to his driving, almost caused me to get into an accident. The expletive I uttered at that instant and the dark thoughts that followed almost caused me to turn around and go back to Church and start all over.

We are not like Christ whose thoughts for the driver who I cursed would probably have been; “God, look over this son of mine, his actions may cause him to come to harm and possibly to harm others.” There are probably among you some very holy people whose thoughts in that circumstance may have been along those lines. I pray that I might get there one day.

Scripture today, especially from the Gospel points to one very important theme of lent. The Lord is being told by one of the crowds that frequently gather about two situations in which unexpected death had occurred. First, Pilate (yes, that Pilate) had apparently slaughtered a group of people, probably at the temple, since the Gospel relates that “…whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices”

The Gospel goes on to talk about 18 people who were killed in Jerusalem when one of the towers that guarded the aqueduct that fed the pool of Salome collapsed on them. Scholars believe this may have been an act of zealot sabotage.

In both these cases, the Lord does not condemn the person in the case of Pilate or persons in the second instance. Rather he points to the need for repentance; we do not know the hour or day when we will be called home to the Father.

In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus gives us the Parable of the Fig Tree. He tells of a land owner who was waiting for this tree to bear fruit and after three years, when it did not, he told his gardener to cut it down, since all it was doing was depleting the soil of his garden. The gardener asked for patience and offered to;” …cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it” if the landowner would be patient a while longer.

This story is very good news for us. It tells us that the Lord, while he expects us to bear fruit through our prayers, words, and actions, is willing to be patient. The urgency of that call to repentance is amplified by the parable. Jesus comes as the Gardener to nourish us so that we might bear fruit but we must turn away from sin to do so.

As we continue our Lenten journey of introspection, looking for ways to more effectively answer God’s call to us (a burning bush would be nice), we recognize that we must repent, not just in our heart and prayers, but those thoughts and prayers must be expressed in actions, what we do, how we treat others. We need to be constantly striving to live the example Jesus gave us, because we do not know the day or the hour.

Pax
[1] After 04/07
[2] The image presented today is “Moses before the Burning Bush” by Domenico Feti, 1613-14

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

Readings for Saturday of the Second Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Mic 7:14-15, 18-20

This is the very end of the Book of the Prophet Micah. In the previous chapters he has chastised and condemned the excesses and corruption of Jerusalem and Samaria (rich exploiters of the poor, fraudulent merchants, venal judges, corrupt priests and prophets). Now at the end, he presents the Lord’s forgiveness and mercy to those who return to him.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Continuing the theme of forgiveness, Psalm 103 is a song of praise to God for his mercy. It recognizes both God’s mercy and our need, as sinners, for it.

Gospel Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

The topic of repentance and forgiveness comes to a climax with St. Luke’s Parable of the Prodigal Son. The imagery is instantly clear that this is to be an analogy. The father in the story represents God and the Prodigal Son us, if we repent our sins. Interestingly, the older brother is also us when we do not forgive those who have also sinned.

Reflection:

Today we are asked, by scripture, to reflect upon one of the three major themes of Lent, repentance and forgiveness. It has been said that we, as Catholics, mourn our faith. Those who say such things were probably looking only at this facet of our journey. Because reflection, contrition, and confession are one of the most difficult parts of our faith tradition, many of the sects that have formed since the schism that was the “Reformation” have chosen not to incorporate that deep self evaluation into their practices.

I recall many years ago I was working with a very avid Southern Baptist. When I told him that I had given something up for lent in the course of discussing lunch one day, he responded: “We don’t believe in lent. It’s not biblical.”

I probably could have done a better job of explaining that Lent is not only biblical but compulsory for the Christian who would try to follow the Lord. I was in my late 20’s or early 30’s and had not even started formation for the Diaconate. But I know I scored enough points to give him pause. He never challenged me on faith again.

The message we take away from the scripture today is both personal and communal. First, we recognize that God loves us, not only in spite of our sins, but including our sins. He accepts that, while we fall and rise, fall and rise, we are trying to get to him and for that we receive his mercy.

The Prodigal Son was not welcomed home and then punished. He was not welcomed home and then put to work as a servant. He was welcomed home by a loving embrace that spoke of unconditional acceptance.

As we said in the commentary, the story casts us in the role of that returning son. We are accepted home and loved by the Heavenly Father when we repent and return. But, we are also cast in the role of the faithful older brother who is jealous because he had never seen the intense love His Father had for him. Our daily gift is that, when we are faithful, we bask in the Father’s love. We forget that sometimes and it is only when we fall that we fell the Father’s strong arms lift us up.

Another hard part for us in this continuing role of the “Older Brother” is that we are chided too, like he was by his father; “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again.” We are asked to embrace those who have wronged us, rejoice because they have turned away from actions that have harmed us. We are asked to be merciful as God our Father is merciful.

Let’s pray today for both forgiveness and strength to forgive.

Pax

[1] After 04/07
[2] The Image presented today is “The Return of the Prodigal Son” by Harmenszoon van Rijn Rembrandt

Friday of the Second Week of Lent &

Friday of the Second Week of Lent &
Saint Frances of Rome

Biographical Information about St. Frances of Rome[1][2]
Readings for Friday of the Second Week of Lent[3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a

The story from Genesis is that of Joseph, the son of Israel, being taken and sold into slavery by his brothers. The story is actually told by both authors of Genesis the Yahwist and the Elohist and there are some inconsistencies as a result (specifically which brother tried to save him). On the main points they agree – instead of killing Joseph as they had initially intended they sold him to Ishmaelites (Arabs) who took him as a slave to Egypt.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

Psalm 105 recalls the Genesis story, speaking also of the fate of Joseph in Egypt and how God rescued and supported in his slavery.

Gospel Mt 21:33-43, 45-46

The Parable of The Wicked Husbandmen from Matthew is the Gospel today. Placed with the story of Joseph’s capture and exile because of jealousy, we feel the same emotions in the tenants who wish to first withhold what they owe and then kill the son of the land owner so they can take his inheritance.

The symbolism that runs through the parable is rich and we will not try to capture it in this short commentary (see the Deacon-Sailor Archive for more complete analysis).

Reflection:

The scripture today seems to bring us back to were we were on Wednesday of this week, that those who choose to follow the Lord will meet with resistance and possibly death at the hands of those who oppose God’s will. We see it in Genesis – an oral tradition that was handed down from some four thousand years before Christ walked the earth. We hear it from Christ who related his parable two thousand years ago. We see it around us today.

It is hard for us to understand why people have such impulses. The brothers of Joseph were jealous of his favored status with their father, we can see that. And the tenants in the parable Jesus told were driven from greed. That too is a human emotion we can understand. Where we find difficulty is in those who attack us and our beliefs because of what we represent. In case you are wondering where this thought came from, I direct your attention to the New York Times Best Seller List.

When doing some research yesterday I went to a web source called Science News Online. There in the banner at the top of the page was a flashing advertisement from a publisher (aptly) named Prometheus Books promoting their most recent best seller: “God: The Failed Hypothesis “ subtitled “How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist”

We must wonder why a person (the author claims to be a physicist) first would wish to attack belief in God (a God coincidently that loves him in spite of himself) and second, why a publisher would take such a work to the public and finally why a publication claiming to be an objective source would advertise it.

If, as we follow our own blissful spirituality of Lent, feel that the evil one has ignored us, we only need to look at things like this to know that he has taken a more insidious approach. I am sure zealous people of faith will refute the “science” this person chooses to support his claims. And the atheistic community will rise up and squeal “See how the Christians try to suppress logic and degrade true science with their superstitions.” They will twist the truth and, perhaps for a day, gain some strength. Our best defense is to continue to proclaim, in a humble and compassionate way, the love of God; a love so great that he gave his only Son, knowing that the people he loved would deny him and the claim he did not exist.

Pax

[1] If your Lenten reading list has grown short, there is a free ebook about St. Frances of Rome at Project Gutenberg
[2] The image presented today is “Madonna and Child with St. Frances of Rome” by Orazio Gentileschi
[3] After 04/07

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent &
Saint John of God, Religious

Biographical Information about St. John of God
Readings for Thursday of the Second Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Jer 17:5-10

This passage from Jeremiah is part of the wisdom says (Sapiential Sayings). The first uses opposition or comparison imagery to demonstrate that the wise person trusts in God while the foolish one trusts in his own strength or the help of others. The psalm below borrowed this imagery to portray the true heart of faithfulness.

The second saying describes the root of evil, the human heart whose secret plotting is transparent to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

This wisdom psalm follows the same theme as that expressed in Jeremiah (above). The focus is to look to God for guidance and not to trust only in the counsel of men.

Gospel Lk 16:19-31

The story of Lazarus and the Rich Man (some ancient texts name him "Nineveh") is found only in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus addresses this story to the Pharisees who were known to be fond of money. In this context we need to understand that all Jewish land owners were considered to be tenants of Yahweh, the landowner, and owed a tax to His representatives, the poor.

The rich man’s great sin was ignoring the suffering of Lazarus and when they both had passed from this life to the next, the rich man, suffering torment begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers. The “punch line” that follows must have been especially harsh for the Pharisaic audience - 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'" This last statement, of course, is also alluding to his own rejection by the scribes and Pharisees after his own resurrection.

Homily:

It is easy for us to see the consistent message in scripture today. The short answer is trust in God, listen to Him and follow His commandments. Jeremiah blasts us with wisdom saying; “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings”. He is supported by the psalmist who says; “…they (the wicked) are like chaff which the wind drives away” using the same image. The bottom line there – the good person follows God, the person who trusts in themselves is condemned.

We are then presented with the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man. We can easily identify the rich man as one who puts his faith in his wealth while Lazarus is taken to the bosom of God. The Rich Man begs Abraham to save his brothers from the same fate he is enduing and receives a "no" answer “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'" This amounts to a cliché “Ignorance of the Law is no excuse”.

Given to us as a story it is easy to see where Lazarus went wrong and to shake our heads knowingly. “Ah, if only he had helped Lazarus in life, he would not have ended up in torment.” -How many times have we walked past Lazarus? How many times have we looked the other way to avoid seeing someone in need? How many times have we said; “I will pray for you” when we should have said “How can I help?”

Yes, it is easy for us to see what Lazarus should have done. It is not so easy to put that same wisdom into practice in our own lives. Today our prayer is to ask God to help us see “Lazarus” when we meet. We pray that we will have the strength of faith and of will to provide help for those who truly need it and, in so doing, follow in the footsteps of the Saints, like St. John of God, who we remember today.

Pax

[1] After 04/07
[2] The Image presented today of St. John of God is taken from another source on the internet. The artist is undocumented. At the end is an image of St. John of God’s signature.

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent &
Memorial of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs

Biographical Information about Sts. Perpetua and Felicity
Readings for Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent[1][i]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Jer 18:18-20

Today’s scripture comes from that part of Jeremiah referred to as “Oracles in the Days of Jehoiakim”. The good king, Josiah, has died and with him the reforms Jeremiah was supporting. Now, in Jeremiah’s time, idolatry is creeping back in and the prophet is becoming unpopular. We hear the forces gathering against him in this reading. We also hear him pray to God that he might be remembered for his faithfulness.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:5-6, 14, 15-16
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

Psalm 31 is a lament in the face of adversity. Placed here, it could be a continuation of Jeremiah’s prayer from the first reading, asking for protection from those who would persecute.

Gospel Mt 20:17-28

St. Matthew’s Gospel reading gives us the third and most detailed description of the coming passion. Emphasizing the lack of understanding of this event, James and John have their mother ask Jesus to elevate them to places of honor in his kingdom. The Lord questions the two, asking if they can drink the cup he will drink (accept the fate of martyrdom). When they answer in the affirmative, the Lord almost pronounces their acceptance as a sentence of death.

The squabbling that occurs between the disciples following this exchange prompts the Lord to define Christian leadership again, saying that those who would lead must be servants, they cannot be like the scribes and Pharisees.

Reflection:

The common thread running through scripture today is not a happy one for those of us who claim the call to discipleship in the Lord. First we hear one of God’s great messengers, the Prophet Jeremiah. He is hearing plots against him and it is clear from his prayer the he takes them seriously and fears for his very life. The psalm supports this feeling, that the faithful are constantly encountering fierce opposition.

Finally, in the Gospel, the passage opens with Jesus stating in clear terms that “the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death”. Even his own disciples, who, being schooled in the Hebrew scriptures, would have seen this pattern in prophecy, did not understand what was about to happen.

If it happened to Jeremiah six hundred years before Christ, and it happened to Jesus as he said it would. He told Zebedee’s sons that they would follow him in death for their faith. We don’t have to be hit over the head too many times to guess that our path, followed faithfully, will be met with significant resistance. Look at those we memorialize today, Perpetua and Felicity, God choose them to be an example to us of how we are to face adversity, even from within their own families.
Are we to expect an easier time? Perhaps, we live in a society that is, for the most part, somewhat benign. Benign unless we get too ambitious and try to actually change the hearts of others. If we do that outside the comforting walls of the Church we see quickly the resistance that waits for us. Try just a little push in that direction and you will see.

Today our prayer is that we be given the strength of spirit given to Saints Perpetua and Felicity. May we be examples of fearless faith to others and thereby earn some piece of the reward promised to God’s faithful servants.

Pax

[1] After 04/07
[i] The Image presented today of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity is taken from another source on the internet. The artist is not identified.

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Readings for Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent[1][i]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Is 1:10, 16-20

This reading from the very first part of Isaiah contains one of what are called the “Law suit” oracles. They are so called because they are framed the same way as charges brought before Jewish courts were published. In this reading the charge leveled at his audience (probably at a feast day) is a reference to Sodom and Gomorrah.

The command the prophet brings is for the people to wash themselves clean, not in the physical sense but in the spiritual sense. Repent from the sin and return to God’s way. Note here the sin is not interior but of actions. In the same way, repentance is voiced in action not merely prayer.

The reading concludes with the consequences of the choices before them. If they accept and return to God, they will be forgiven and good things will be theirs. If, on the other hand, they do not, eternal death awaits them.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Psalm 50 has what is known as “Prophetic Liturgy” structure. It was probably used as part of one of the Hebrew feasts (most likely dealing with the renewal of the covenant (Feast of Tabernacles?).

In this selection, although sacrifice is mentioned, it is more the sincerity of those offering it that is in question. (“Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?”). The psalmist calls the people to authentic action that will merit God’s salvation.

Gospel Mt 23:1-12

The Gospel continues the theme of authentic worship (that is worship that changes the actions of the faithful). Matthew gives us Jesus' discourse that upholds the Law of Moses and at the same time chastises those who misuse it. He describes in detail how the scribes and Pharisees burden the people with ritual but do not practice that same law.

The selection concludes with an interpretation of Christian leadership which is one of humility and compassion rather than one of prideful superiority.

Reflection:

Once again today we are given scripture that has a consistent theme that should be very clear to us. We are told that our worship must be authentic, not just for others to see, but from the heart. Further we are told that what we profess must be visible in our actions.

In the first reading from Isaiah we hear the prophet calling the people to repentance. We note with interest that the call to repentance is not asking for prayer of sacrifice or worship. It is asking for actions; “Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.”

Then we move into Psalm 50. Again we hear the prophetic tones – “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you…” It is for insincerity that God takes offense. It is the one who with one side of their mouth proclaims their love of God and on the other professes their hatred for another. We cannot have it both ways. Either we love the Father and our neighbor, or we are like the hypocrites.

To put icing on the cake (For our friends in Canada and Michigan, icing is: a sugary toping placed on deserts, not: shooting the puck the length of the ice, and touched first by the opposition.), the Lord paints a clear picture of the authentic example of faith by contrasting the example of the scribes and Pharisees. He says clearly that if worship is made a burden, we’ve missed something. If our response to the law does not result in love of God and man, we have seriously missed the point.

Today our prayer is this; that we live our faith in a way that expresses God’s love for us and for those around us. We ask the Holy Spirit for the strength to accomplish this task, because it is difficult. Make us worthy, Lord, to be called your disciples.

Pax

[1] After 04/07
[i] The image presented today is “The Prophet Isaiah” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1726-29)

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

Readings for Monday of the Second Week of Lent[1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Dn 9:4b-10

We find in this reading from Daniel a prayer of repentance. This is not an individual prayer, but a prayer of the whole people. In addition to enumerating the failings of the people it also asks for compassion and forgiveness.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Psalm 79 is a lament over the destruction of the Temple. This passage is a plea for compassion and help while repenting from their sins (“Deliver us and pardon our sins for your name’s sake.”).

Gospel Lk 6:36-38

The Lord takes a quote from the Old Testament and twists it just slightly. In the OT the phrase frequently used is “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy” (e.g. Leviticus 19:2) He goes further to tell the people that they need to stop judging or condemning but to forgive. He concludes by saying that: “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” In other words, the standard against which you judge others will be used to judge you.

Reflection:

The scripture today paints a tenant of our Lord almost in terms of one used in mathematics. You may remember from your early days in school the Reflexive Property: “This property shows us if two expressions are set equal to one another, it does not matter in which order they are presented. (If a = b, then b = a).” If we forgive each other the Lord will forgive us, God forgives us therefore we forgive each other.

Sorry that just sort of snuck out, but the key we are given today is crucial to our understanding of the mind of Christ. To understand Him we must understand forgiveness. Forgiveness is not just a word and it is even more than a single action. It is very complex and has at least two distinct levels.

Let’s look first at the forgiveness Daniel asks for in the first reading. This prayer was not in the original Hebrew text of Daniel (scholars tell us that the grammar used is much better than the older original). The prayer was inserted because it was implicit in the act of repentance that requested forgiveness from God. The language, with which it is addressed, however, could have been sent to a banker about a loan, forgiveness by the numbers. When we, as individuals ask for God’s mercy, compassion, and forgiveness we expect something different.

In contrast when someone we do not know does us some wrong and we forgive them, we do so on a conditional basis. We forgive them, but we don’t need to like them and we sure as heck are not going to trust them in the same situation any time soon.

When someone close to us, say a family member, does us an injustice and asks for forgiveness, depending on the seriousness of our violation of trust, we may forgive them as we do a stranger, with conditions, or we may forgive them as one we deeply love, without conditions. Unconditional forgiveness is what we ask for and expect from God. Unconditional forgiveness can only be given if the faults of the other are clearly and deeply known by the other and there is a level of acceptance along with forgiveness. This type of forgiveness is most frequently seen in our lives by the forgiveness of a loving parent for the failings of one of their children.

Today our prayer is one of repentance for our past failings. We ask the Lord for unconditional forgiveness and ask to be readmitted to His grace. As we utter this prayer we hear, if we listen carefully, his words come back to us; “…the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Pax[i]

[1] After 04/07
[i] The image today is “Christ and the Adulterous Woman” by Pieter van Lint

Second Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent

Readings for the Second Sunday of Lent[1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Gn 15:5-12, 17-18

We hear, in this reading, of the ritual formalization of the covenant between God and Abram (before his name was changed to Abraham). A 3 year old animal was ritually mature, and the animals being cut in half is preserved today as a sign of that covenant. We see it in the sacrifice of the Mass when the Priest breaks the large host in half and pronounces the words; “This is the Lamb of God…” While it is not explicit in this text, Abram probably walked between the halves of the sacrifice to symbolize what happened to them would also happen to him if he failed in his part of the bargan.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Similar in tenor to Psalm 23, we hear in this passage both a profession of faith (“The Lord is my light and my salvation”) and a plea for help (“Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call;”). Taken in total it is a consolation for all who have faith. This psalm is also the first option in vigil services for deceased found in the Rite of Christian Funerals.

Reading II Phil 3:17—4:1

The longer form of this reading provides a contrast for the faithful. In the first part of the reading (Phil 3:17-20) identifies those who “…conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.” They do so by focusing their efforts on themselves (their stomach, their glory, earthly things).

Or Phil 3:20---4:1

The second part of Paul’s scripture reading is the promise to the faithful members of the community. The promise is that, in the end, they will be conformed to Christ in spirit and body.

Gospel Lk 9:28b-36

We are given St. Luke’s story about the Transfiguration. Jesus goes up a mountain (to a high place – representative of Hebrew altars or places of worship; frequently identified as “high places.”) with Peter James and John. His appearance changed and the disciples observe him conversing about “his exodus” (Jesus’ exodus would be the Passion to which he was moving) with Moses and Elijah.

The disciples response to this vision was first to “make three tents” alluding to the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles placing the Lord on the same plane as Moses and Elijah. Before any response was made, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them and God’s voice came from the cloud, announcing “This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” Jesus is elevated above Moses and Elijah to a place with God Himself.

It is clear from this story and the other Transfiguration accounts that this event was kept secret until after Jesus death and resurrection. It was after that time that the true significance of the event was understood by the Christian community and the event placed in its proper position chronologically.

Reflection:

Let’s take the main themes from each of the readings today and just free associate them for a moment. First we have the Abram forming a covenant with God. The ritual is defined and the gift of God is bestowed – God gives Abram the promise of a multitude of descendents and the land for them to occupy. The key theme from this scripture passage is God’s love for his people.


Next we have the Psalm that is a profession of faith and a plea for peace and salvation in the face of challenges. This is followed immediately by St. Paul telling the Philippians that their focus must be on Jesus and their reward would be transformation.

Finally we are given the story of Jesus’ transfiguration and the revelation from God who tells us in this account; “This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” It is interesting to note that in the Jerusalem Bible translation (click on the link provided above) this passage is translated: “This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him”

On this, the Second Sunday of Lent, what message should we take away? Should we reflect on the significance of God’s covenant with Abram? Should we embrace the idea that we walk between the two pieces of the Lord’s body broken for us in the new covenant? Should we ask ourselves, how much mercy God has shown us by not holding us accountable (in this life) for not being able to live up to our part of the bargain?

Or, should we focus instead on Paul’s lesson? Should we be asking ourselves if we are acting as enemies of the Cross of Christ? Are we, even during our Lenten fast, still focused on our stomachs, our own glory, or on earthly things?

The final possibility is to reflect upon Christ’s glorified and transformed body. Understand that it was this transfiguration that was the forerunner to his resurrection into heaven and it was in this transfigured body he returned to his disciples. It is this transfigured flesh and blood that returns to us in the blessed sacrifice of the Eucharist.

Taken one at a time, these themes stand independently. There is of course a common thread that runs from the covenant of Moses through the New Covenant in Jesus to the exhortation to us to be like Christ. We pray today that we may facilitate that transfiguration we hope for ourselves that we might be made worthy of the New Covenant in Christ.

Pax

Note: The two images inserted today are draft charcoals by Matthias Grünewald and titled "An Apostle from the Transfiguration" c. 1511

[1] After 04/07

Saturday of the First Week of Lent

Saturday of the First Week of Lent &
Saint Katharine Drexel, Virgin

Biographical Information about St. Katharine[1]
Readings for Saturday of the First Week of Lent[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Dt 26:16-19

This reading from Deuteronomy is the final agreement in Moses’ Covenant. In it the Israelites are told that for their part they must always follow God’s commandments and statutes. For his part, the Lord has made them his special possession, favored above the other nations he has made.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

An acrostic poem; each of the eight verses of the first strophe (aleph) begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet; each verse of the second strophe (beth) begins with the second letter; and so on for all 22 letters of the alphabet.

The entire work is in praise of the Law, and the joys to be found in keeping it. It is not "legalism" but a love and desire for the word of God in Israel's Law, which is the expression of the Lord's revelation of himself and his will for man.

Gospel Mt 5:43-48

This reading continues what was started yesterday. Jesus takes the commandment to love thy neighbor and gives it a deeper meaning. He goes further and strengthens this commandment including ones enemies in that list of those to be prayed for and loved.

Reflection: [3]

It constantly amazes me how many things Jesus changed when he came. If you think about it, God, Yahweh, had had not only a relationship established with the Hebrew peoples, but a covenant (several actually) for thousands of years. They had developed a national identity around that relationship. The Old Testament is all about the racial experience of God. We see it established in the first reading from Deuteronomy with the conclusion of the covenant of Moses.

The Hebrews had a view of God called the "God of Justice" view. If something bad happened to a person, a group, or even the whole of the nation, it was because they had failed to live up to God's expectations. They recognized God's omnipotence but failed to see the underlying purpose for his outreach. This developed over years and is chronicled through the books of the Law (of which Deuteronomy is one), the Prophets, and the rabbinical writings that reflected on the scripture.

Now comes Jesus, at a time when the Hebrew race had been conquered, again, and were under the rule of the greatest empire since Alexander. Into this rebellious time comes the Son of God proclaiming the Kingdom of God. More astonishing still, he preaches a message of peace and love. He tells his followers that not only do they need to follow the Law of Moses, but they must understand that the relationship with God, his father, was one of heart, not just rules. He told them (and us) that it was His will that the letter of the law be seen in the new light of compassion ("But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father")

This was not the "God of Justice" the Hebrews had come to know. They had missed something fundamental in the characteristics of their God (our God). He loves us. He loves us so much he revealed himself to us in his only Son. Talk about epiphany.

Is it any wonder then, with Jesus redefining our relationship with God and the Laws he passed on to us through the Prophets, that the religious rulers of the Jews did not like him? How much easier is it to follow the laws of the Old Testament than the Laws of the New Covenant? How much easier is it to love just our friends and families than it is to love our enemies as Christ tells us? It is the difference between having a father who loves you and one who treats you like property.

Pax

[1] A word about Memorials: today the Dioceses of the United States are given the option of celebrating the Memorial of St. Katherine Drexel. You will note if you look at the Universalis Site, the Diocese in Canada do not have that same option. This is one area that the Universal Church allows local Churches to have some latitude to maintain traditions specific to that region. I will try to find out the authority behind making these decisions; it must be pretty high up. A note in the Ordo for yesterday said: “Tomorrow, the first Friday Votive Mass for the Sacred Heart is forbidden during lent. (see Directives, no. 9)”
[2] After 04/07
[3] Taken from my reflection in 2006

Friday of the First Week of Lent

Friday of the First Week of Lent

Readings for Friday of the First Week of Lent[1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Ez 18:21-28

The Prophet Ezekiel begins this reading by saying that if an evil person turns away from their sins they will earn redemption. Speaking for God, he says that the Lord does not enjoy punishing those who disobey, rather he rejoices when repentance leads to redemption.

The reading continues saying that if a virtuous person falls into sin and turns from the righteous path, that person will die because of his sin.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Psalm 130 is a song of lament. The psalmist cries out to God to hear the voice of the one who calls and to forgive the sins they have committed. The refrain sums up the lament saying if there is not forgiveness all will fall because all have sinned.

Gospel Mt 5:20-26

This passage is the first of six examples of conduct demanded of the Christian disciple. The first three, including this one today, takes a commandment of Mosaic Law and deepens the meaning. Today the Lord takes “You shall not Kill” to a new level. He reminds us that we must not only avoid the impulse to physically act against another person but must also change our outlook in such a way that our thoughts do not take us into sin.

Reflection:

We are held to a higher standard! To this point in our Lenten journey we have been given the basics of discipleship. Now as we come to the end of our first week, we see that even in those areas were we have been doing a good job, we are asked to take it to the next level.

The Prophet Ezekiel starts us by saying that if we turn away from sin, God will give us life. He then reminds us, however, of a very disturbing truth. If we back slide after living a life full of virtue, we do not achieve that reward, in spite of all the good we may have done. (As an aside, what does this say to our evangelical brethren who claim that once they have been saved they are always saved?)

Putting two concepts together, as Christian disciples, we find we are on a set of narrow stairs that go only up. The Lord pushes us; “Take the next step.” He tells us. “Your righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees.” (He speaks of those who only follow the letter of the Law.) If we even think of turning back we fall. Of course in that analogy, there is a railing we can hold on to, the Lord. If we feel ourselves sliding we can quickly reach out a grab hold of that safety line and keep our balance.

Consider for a moment how unusually this precept is, in the entire world. In almost all of the non-Christian world, vengeance is not only permitted but is an expected reaction. Hatred of one’s neighbor is an accepted and even taught response perceived injustice. Power over others is embraced as wholly good. And today, we are told; “But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment”.

We are held to the highest standards. What we are asked to do today is take the next step. Where ever we are on that long stair, we need to look at our lives and decide what that next step up might be. If we say, “I already am praying and doing my best to help those I meet.” Perhaps the next step is to actively look for those who need our help. If we are praying for those we know, the next step may be to pray for those we don’t know. There is always that next step, and today we are asked to take it.

Pax

[1] After 04/07

Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Readings for Thursday of the First Week of Lent[1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25

In this rare reading from the Book of Esther, we find her in great distress praying for the deliverance of the people of Israel. They are to be put to death by an evil Persian King (Haman). She places all of her trust in God’s mercy, confident that He will intercede.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me

Psalm 138 is a psalm of thanksgiving. Placed here it almost feels like a continuation of the prayer of Esther. It praises God for his saving works and expresses confidence in His saving help.

Gospel Mt 7:7-12

In this passage from the Gospel of St. Matthew Jesus tells us that, if we pray to the Father, what we ask for will be given. This universal truth, he explains is because of God’s infinite love for us. In this case he uses the analogy of a father feeding his child and how even sinful parents give good things to their children.

Almost as an afterthought, the Lord then delivers to us what has been called since the 18th century, the “Golden Rule.” No old testament quote exactly correlates to this quote so we must accept it as an interpretation by the Lord, probably the Law in Leviticus.

Homily:

When I was young, I can remember loving my mother’s home-made (Chef Boyardee- that she doctored up, they did not have pizza places that delivered back then). There were 5 of us children and I could never get enough. I’d ask for more and she’d say no. I always wondered why she did simply make more so I could gorge myself. Now, as an adult, I understand that there were good reasons why she did not give me everything I asked for. I am sure if I had asked for more salad or vegetables she would have given them to me (after she had picked her self up off the floor). It took me a while to understand that she helped me moderate my desires.

In scripture today we hear prayer. We hear Esther praying for the deliverance for the Jewish people in Persia and we hear David’s song of prayer in the Psalm. Finally we hear Jesus himself tell us that all we need to do is ask and our loving Father will give us what we ask for.

Our problem is that when we don’t get what we ask for we tend to become like children who are denied the fourth piece of Pizza. We don’t understand why our Heavenly Father does not accede to what we believe is a reasonable request. This becomes especially true when misfortune greets us and stays for a while. We pray day after day that the situation in which we find ourselves will get better and over time we can loose heart, loose our trust that God’s love will be revealed in time.

Today we pray not just for what we desperately need, but also for strength and perseverance as we walk the way of Lent. We do so with faith that God our loving father always answers prayers, but in His time, not ours.

Pax

[1] After 04/07