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, Second Week of Lent

Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: March 2, 2010
First Reading: Is 1:10, 16-20;
Responsorial Psalm: 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23 ;
Gospel: Mt 23:1-12 ;

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

 First Reading:  Is 1:10, 16-20
Wash yourselves clean!
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.
Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

Responsorial Psalm  50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
R.      To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R.        To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R.        To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R.        To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Gospel   Mt 23:1-12
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Commentary: Yesterday I had the opportunity to accompany a priest
to a local hospital where he was asked to perform the rite of Annointing of the Sick, which back in the day, was called Extreme Unction. It is such a lovely rite and is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. The rite begins with the priest absolving the sick person of all their sins - all of them committed in the course of their lifetime. And a sweet reminder, of how deeply they are loved by Jesus. Soon the time will come, when Jesus will come for them and for the sick person to make the final surrender into God's loving hands. No matter how tough or faithful one might be, I sincerely doubt anyone is ever really ready for this moment, except for maybe the saints. It is not an easy trial - the final suffering and death. That said, I am convinced it is much easier if we spend time in prayer and seek to grow close to God all the days of our life. When we do that - we are less afraid, and better still - we might even be anticipating this cross-over to the heavenly kingdom. And also - find ourselves with a much lighter load to carry while we live. We can actually live the full life God is offering to all of us, and allow Him to make our joy complete. If you are honest with yourself - you know, we are the ones holding back.

So take advantage of the Lenten Season - and make amends. Humble yourself and grow closer in  God's loving relationship. He will help you get there - just ask.

Saturday, First Week of Lent

Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: February 26, 2010
First Reading: Dt 26:16-19;
Responsorial Psalm: 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8 ;
Gospel: Mt 5:43-48 ;

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

First Reading:  Dt 26:16-19
Moses spoke to the people, saying:
“This day the LORD, your God,
commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.
Be careful, then,
to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
Today you are making this agreement with the LORD:
he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways
and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,
and to hearken to his voice.
And today the LORD is making this agreement with you:
you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you;
and provided you keep all his commandments,
he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory
above all other nations he has made,
and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,
as he promised.”

Responsorial Psalm:  119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
R.       Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R.        Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
R.        Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
I will give you thanks with an upright heart,
when I have learned your just ordinances.
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
R.        Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Gospel:   Mt 5:43-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Wednesday - Third Week of Lent

Today's readings: March 18, 2009
Reading One: Dt 4:1, 5-9;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 ;
Gospel: Mt 5:17-19; go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)

In today's world, sometimes it feels like there are about a hundred million versions of the Gospel. But they all begin with, The Gospel according to me. haha. I remember on my way through Georgia last week, I saw a bumper sticker that read - Jesus is a liberal. But somehow, I do not think he would be very charitable toward abortions or stem cell research. But what do I know... in the Gospel according to me. The good news for Catholics, is that the church goes through a lot of effort to try and come up with cohesive policy decisions on current matters of controversy, like abortion, stem cell research, pre-marital sex - you know, all the topics that people have a hard time talking about, even among friends. If you think about that, we the people - can't even discuss a lot of these topics with any semblance of civil discourse. As I reflect upon that, it says a lot about our society, and also reminds me of Monday's Gospel reading, where Jesus said some things that made the people want to throw him over the cliff to his death. They wanted to kill this wonderful, gentle man - because he got them upset, and said something truthful using their own sacred writings. Human nature is quite extraordinary. If you examine the readings from the last few days, from Sunday through Wednesday - you will notice a pattern, and see how the readings tie together. It explains a lot about why people get so angry, and how we twist Jesus' words and manipulate them to our own liking. There is a lot to consider over the past few days. Hard words to listen to, and harder still if you point the words toward yourself, and see where Jesus is shining a bright light on where you could improve yourself.

Sunday - Third Week of Lent

Today's readings: March 15, 2009
Reading One:
Ex 20:1-17 or 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17 ;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 ;
Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:22-25 ;
Gospel: Jn 2:13-25 ; go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)

I found an old book with reflections for Lent on the shelf today and picked it up for some reason after it sat on the shelf for 6 years unopened,since Lent 2003. Why, I have no idea. And I found the day that corresponded to today's readings that offered some thoughts from a priest named Father Richard Veras. He shared that for many people, Jesus is the nicest, sweetest, and kindest person we could ever imagine - and how we can begin to follow a figment of our imagination regarding who Jesus is and what he is about. We become like a little kid who dreams about finding Mr/Mrs Right and how our dreams are limited by our imagination, as opposed to what is actually the truth. The Jesus of our imagination can be malleable, and we can fall into the trap of manipulating this dreamy Jesus to rationalize every sin and leave unchallenged every attitude and behavior.

In today's reading, Jesus refuses to stay in the box of our imagined world. He breaks out of our imagined world and shows himself to be very real, and honestly it is kind of scary too. His disciples are also very confused.

But Jesus does not trust Himself to men because He understands our human nature all too well. He knows how we manipulate the truth and explain away things or situations that make us uneasy. So, what are supposed to do?

He asks us to trust not in ourselves or the imagined Jesus, the one we can put into a box with our limits - but to the Jesus that is beyond our understanding. The Jesus that is very real. The Jesus He really is. Our minds can actually make Him something less than He is if we fall into this trap. His Love is very much like a fire that can refine and purify but that will not be an easy or pleasant process a lot of the time. I spoke with a friend yesterday who told me she once prayed over and over again for patience. And in the course of the next year - so many difficult things happened where she learned to be patient because she had no choice. I laughed because I remembered similar experiences relating to prayer. And I said - you know what is funny, it didn't, in my own experience, have to be so hard, but my stubborn nature made it so. I actually did have a choice, I just needed to trust in Him, and not my imagined Jesus.

There's a good book on this subject that is called Your God is Too Small. Check it out for the first time or read it again if you find yourself in spot where your faith is dry or that you find yourself getting little out of your relationship with God. Have a great day of rest, and please pray for those you know that could use a prayer, including yourself. We all need prayers for ourselves and each other. And please, if you can - say a prayer for me.