Wednesday of Holy Week

Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: March 31, 2010
First Reading: Is 50:4-9a;
Responsorial Psalm: 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34 ;
Gospel: Mt 26:14-25 ;

And here's an audio file and a video of a priest offering reflections.

First Reading:  Is 50:4-9a ;
The Lord GOD has given me
a well-trained tongue,
That I might know how to speak to the weary
a word that will rouse them.
Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I may hear;
And I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
My face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let him confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

Responsorial Psalm  69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34 ;
R.        Lord, in your great love, answer me.
For your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother’s sons,
because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R.        Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak,
I looked for sympathy, but there was none;
for consolers, not one could I find.
Rather they put gall in my food,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
R.        Lord, in your great love, answer me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving:
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
R.        Lord, in your great love, answer me.


Gospel   Mt 26:14-25
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”
He said,
“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
' The teacher says, My appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.' ”
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely it is not I, Lord?”
He said in reply,
“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
He answered, “You have said so.”

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Commentary: Holy Week provides many words that are hard to hear. Today's first reading in Isaiah continue the passages known as the suffering servant. And this is followed by a difficult psalm, where the writer is experiencing life's traumas and calls out to God for help. It reminds me of Psalm 55. And in the Gospel, the betrayal of Jesus begins in earnest, as Judas goes to the chief priests and asks how much they are willing to offer him if he hands Jesus over to them. As is often the case, the betrayal will be consummated in the darkness of night.

Jesus was very clear that no man or woman is exempt from suffering in the course of their lives. And now, He provides a perfect example of how each of us will be asked to carry our own cross. While few of us manage to do so quite as elegantly as Jesus does - who carries His cross, without complaint - like a lamb led to slaughter, as Isaiah says. We can and should take courage. Because God is with us each step of the way. We are blessed with a much deeper understanding of how deeply God loves us all through the suffering of His beloved Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. And, we also know how the story ends in a just a little time.

Surrender to God, and He will take care of everything. And I hope that all of us strive to help each other with our crosses, and assist each other by offering encouraging words of hope, weeping with those who weep, and also trusting in God to deliver us from our daily trials. Easter is right around the corner.

Wednesday, Third Week of Lent

Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: March 10, 2010
First Reading: Dt 4:1, 5-9;
Responsorial Psalm: 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 ;
Gospel: Mt 20:17-28 ;

And here's an audio file and a video of a priest offering reflections.

First Reading:  Dt 4:1, 5-9
Moses spoke to the people and said:
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees
as the LORD, my God, has commanded me,
that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?
“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”

Responsorial Psalm  147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
R.          Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R.        Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
R.        Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them.
R.        Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Gospel   Mt 5:17-19
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

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Commentary: eh, yeh yeh.  When we get into these types of readings, it often seems like all I can do is upset people. The funny thing about rules and culture, from a historical standpoint - is that since people have been writing about their world, society goes from doing a better job of following rules, to re-writing the rules, paying the price, and then returning to doing a better job of having more defined rules.

There's a comment I remember that said it very well. I could not find the quote, or who said it... but it basically went lke this. We do not like rules, because they hurt. We make rules, because breaking these rules hurts a lot more.

Jesus gave us just two rules. 1) Love God with all your heart, mind and soul. 2) Love each other as I loved you. That's it. But when you get older and a bit wiser, and learn the consequences of writing your own rule script - you realize that all those old rules in the 10 commandments, did not go away. Jesus just simplified it. And, once you understand that God and man did not make rules to inhibit you, but to help you live more full and fruitful lives, it is easier to accept them. The rules were created not to limit you, but for the love of you. Now - just so you do not think I am being self righteous about all this, do as Jesus says, not as I do, or have done. Thank God for His mercy.

Tuesday, Third Week of Lent

Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: March 9, 2010
First Reading: Dn 3:25, 34-43;
Responsorial Psalm: 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 ;
Gospel: Mt 18:21-35 ;

And here's an audio file and a video of a priest offering reflections.

First Reading:  Dn 3:25, 34-43
Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:
“For your name’s sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever,
or make void your covenant.
Do not take away your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
To whom you promised to multiply their offspring
like the stars of heaven,
or the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,
brought low everywhere in the world this day
because of our sins.
We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader,
no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense,
no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.
But with contrite heart and humble spirit
let us be received;
As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks,
or thousands of fat lambs,
So let our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly;
for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
And now we follow you with our whole heart,
we fear you and we pray to you.
Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.
Deliver us by your wonders,
and bring glory to your name, O Lord.”

Responsorial Psalm  25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9
R.         Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R.        Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R.        Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R.        Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Gospel   Mt 18:21-35
Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

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Commentary: For me, today's readings remind me of something I am so thankful for. God knows me, through and through - yes, the good stuff, but I would be wise to give that credit to God - but also, all the stupid and annoying parts about me too. The parts that are angry, tweaking, bullheaded, prideful, self absorbed (ok, I do not need to go on here - HA! I can forgive myself too. You do the same please.) And even knowing all that stuff - God still loves me. Suggestions to self - 1) ask God to help me do the same to others. 2) Do my best to do this too, with all my heart.

I love the story of Azariah... years ago, I had a confirmation class, and our "name" for the class was Azariah's Prayer. So - here's two multimedia files in honor of those wonderful kids. First, one from last year - a group called The Golden Gate Quartet recorded this song about the story in Charlotte many years ago. Check it out. And second, here's an audio file - of one of the kids (Janelle) in that Azariah's Prayer confirmation class, reading a story called The Parable of the Lilly. The kids are now much older, in college - I am so thankful, I saved those audio files. I hope it puts a big smile on your face and that your mind wanders to that place, when you were just a little kid.

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle
Today's readings: February 22, 2010
First Reading: 1 Pt 5:1-4;
Responsonrial Psalm: 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6

Gospel: Mt 16:13-19;

And here's an audio file; and a video of a priest offering reflections.

First Reading:  1 Pt 5:1-4

Beloved:
I exhort the presbyters among you,
as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ
and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Responsorial Psalm: 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6 ;
R.  (1)  The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R.        The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R.        The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R.        The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come.
R.        The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Gospel: Mt 16:13-19 ;
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

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Commentary:
Way back in the days when Christ walked the Earth, He conferred to Peter the title as the

first leader of the church, yes - that means Peter was the first Pope. And since those days,

the Pope of the Catholic church has been selected amongst the followers - in the early

days, it was the Presbyters, which means the elders. Why did Jesus pick Peter, whom he

called Cephas, which means rock? I mean - didn't Peter deny Jesus three times on the

night before the cruxifiction? Perhaps it seems an odd choice, but think about it. After

Christ is risen from the dead, Peter becomes quite the example for his followers, as 

described in the Acts of the Apostles. He is courageous, he is slow to anger, he is

constantly in prayer and he is blessed with many great acts, that were done by God

using Peter as His instrument. And also - wouldn't Peter be especially generous and

merciful, having denied Christ? Of course he would.

 What is also fascinating - is what happens immediately after this event, when Peter

is named head of the church. I won't spoil the story... read about it in the days to come.

Second Sunday of Lent

Today's readings: March 8, 2009
Reading One:
Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 ;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19 ;
Second Reading: Rom 8:31b-34 ;
Gospel: Mk 9:2-10 ; go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)

Today is Sunday so I will take a rest from blathering about how wonderful God has been to His silly black sheep of the family. He knows I am thankful. Hopefully, today's first reading bodes well for Duke as they play UNC, and a ram is offered in sacrifice. (But I fear He might not be rooting for the Blue Devils either). Have a great Sunday, rest and make sure you tell everyone in your family, that you love them.