Sunday Fourth Week of Lent

Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: March 14, 2010
First Reading: Jos 5:9a, 10-12;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7 ; Second Reading: 2 Cor 5:17-21;
Gospel: Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 ;

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

First Reading  Jos 5:9a, 10-12

The LORD said to Joshua,

“Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”

While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho,

they celebrated the Passover

on the evening of the fourteenth of the month.

On the day after the Passover,

they ate of the produce of the land

in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain.

On that same day after the Passover,

on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.

No longer was there manna for the Israelites,

who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.
Responsorial Psalm  Ps 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7.

R.   Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be ever in my mouth.

Let my soul glory in the LORD;

the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R.  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Glorify the LORD with me,

let us together extol his name.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

R.  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,

and your faces may not blush with shame.

When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,

and from all his distress he saved him.

R.  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Second Reading  2 Cor 5:17-21

Brothers and sisters:

Whoever is in Christ is a new creation:

the old things have passed away;

behold, new things have come.

And all this is from God,

who has reconciled us to himself through Christ

and given us the ministry of reconciliation,

namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,

not counting their trespasses against them

and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

So we are ambassadors for Christ,

as if God were appealing through us.

We implore you on behalf of Christ,

be reconciled to God.

For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,

so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Gospel  Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,

but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So to them Jesus addressed this parable:

“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,

‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’

So the father divided the property between them.

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings

and set off to a distant country

where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.

When he had freely spent everything,

a severe famine struck that country,

and he found himself in dire need.

So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens

who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.

And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,

but nobody gave him any.

Coming to his senses he thought,

‘How many of my father’s hired workers

have more than enough food to eat,

but here am I, dying from hunger.

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I no longer deserve to be called your son;

treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’

So he got up and went back to his father.

While he was still a long way off,

his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.

He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

His son said to him,

‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;

I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

But his father ordered his servants,

‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;

put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.

Then let us celebrate with a feast,

because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;

he was lost, and has been found.’

Then the celebration began.

Now the older son had been out in the field

and, on his way back, as he neared the house,

he heard the sound of music and dancing.

He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.

The servant said to him,

‘Your brother has returned

and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf

because he has him back safe and sound.’

He became angry,

and when he refused to enter the house,

his father came out and pleaded with him.

He said to his father in reply,

‘Look, all these years I served you

and not once did I disobey your orders;

yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.

But when your son returns

who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,

for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’

He said to him,

‘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;

he was lost and has been found.’”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Commentary: The video reflections today offered by Rev. Richard Hilgartner are excellent. All about mercy and God's forgiveness. He also speaks about questions many people who are not Catholic ask people who are Catholic and reflects upon the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Check the video out, whether you are a Catholic or not - great thoughts.

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.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

Friday - Fourth Week of Lent

Today's readings: March 27, 2009
Reading One: Wis 2:1a, 12-22;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23 ;
Gospel: Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30;
go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)

We move closer and closer each day of Lent on a road of peace, and are given a choice, another chance - to pick which side of our duel nature we want to be. Day after day, with each day gone forever, the stakes get higher, the consequences of our actions today building upon a brighter future, or greater acts of futility. Will you be on the side that listens, and chooses to take refuge in God, forgive those who have caused you hurt and pain, & let it go ... or will you hold onto your opinion of your own righteousness, and the cancer that comes from the guilt, the shame and the inability to forgive. It is easy to look at all these things and see the transgressions of others - it is much more difficult to look at your own foolishness, and to ask God for help, and choose the path that on the face of it - a road that appears to be a path of destruction and violent death. It is violent. In truth, we get to choose a death to our own foolishness, or not. What awaits is rebirth, the life that comes from believing in God, seeking refuge in His words, and in His love. The salvation you seek, comes in doing what Jesus did - die to yourself for others. Forgiveness, mercy, and trusting in God alone leads to the treasure, The Kingdom of Heaven, which as - as He said - at hand. Now.

I am on the non-proverbial road today and tomorrow, a road that leads to Milwaukee, via Detroit - so today's comments are brief. Please pray for those you love, and tell them that you love them. And pray to God for the grace to forgive those who have hurt you. Take refuge in God, and He will rescue you from all your troubles. He will even rescue you from yourself.

Let me leave you with another song, a way to remember a prayer, in this case, another ancient prayer - St. Michael's Prayer. St. Michael is a archangel, like Gabriel the archangel - God's messenger. St. Michael the archangel is also known as God's Strength. A "heavy" prayer, not conducive to a song, which of course meant, I had to try. ahaha. Here it is, A Prayer to St. Michael.

Thurday - Fourth Week of Lent

Today's readings: March 26, 2009
Reading One: Ex 32:7-14;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 23 ;
Gospel: Jn 5:31-47;
go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)

It all depends on how you read, or how your heart listens to the words in today's Gospel. It is easy to read the words in a way that comes off as harsh words, words condemning the listener, perhaps a little angry or really angry. Or maybe just upset, like a parent who is upset with a stubborn child and scolding it before sending the insolent child to their room. But maybe the words are offered in a different tone. I do not know, but I imagine Jesus saying these words - reaching out in a soft tone, trying to merely inform people He loves them dearly, what the truth is. He really is the Son of God. He is only trying to help you understand so that you might believe something that is true. Follow the dots - John the Baptist testified Jesus as the Christ. God himself testified, but you did not listen. And so does Moses, yes even the words in the old testament point to Jesus.

Jesus does not have to glorify himself. He is going to take all the miracles He performed, and the people He healed, and all His perfect words, and because we are so stubborn, and His love is so great - He will show us one more time, once and for all, and for all time, show us how much God loves each and every one of us. And if you blessed to see that, you are called to see everyone that way as well.

When we do this - we will finally be following Jesus' simple command - all the law we need to understand, and follow:

is to love God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength.

If we do that, we also will love our neighbor in a new way. Love them as God loves each and every one of us struggling creatures. Perfectly, without fear, pouring out like a fountain.

The blessings that come from following the law are untold treasures, beyond what words might convey. Imagine for just a moment - the love that dwells within God, endless, infinite, boundless love pouring out of your heart in galactic proportions. Love that can only come from God it is so good. Even in the darkest hours of the human condition - sickness, broken hearts, shattered dreams, and wounded souls - there's no room for despair to even get a foothold. That love burns it up and everything dark, is made light.

Tuesday - Third Week of Lent

Today's readings: March 17, 2009
Reading One: Dn 3:25, 34-43;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 ;
Gospel: Mt 18:21-35; go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)

Today is a good day to contemplate forgiveness and mercy. Well, actually - every day is a good day for this, but why not actually do soething about this today. When folks get under our skin, or do something to us where we feel wronged, we are given a choice. We can either be mad at them, and hold onto this anger - or we can do what it takes to forgive them, in spite of what transpired. If you are blessed with the wisdom that comes from getting older, and learn life's lessons along the way, you will probably gain a good understanding that being angry and spiteful toward someone who did you wrong, is very much like a gun that shoots bullets in two directions. One toward the enemy, or the offending party, and unfortunately - the other bullet aims straight for your own heart. Yes, you actually shoot yourself - but not in the foot, the bullet goes straight for your own heart.

Or perhaps you find yourself on the other side of this equation - where you did something that offends another person, and a good friend won't forgive you. For your own well being, the answer again lies in forgiveness and mercy. Do you really want to return the animus pointed in your direction? I hope not. Forgive them, and know you really are sorry for what you did that offended them, and go further and forgive them for deciding to undermine the friendship you value. So many times in life, you will see that the anger and animus of righteous indignation gets passed along, to someone other than the person you are mad at in the first place. I remember an interesting story about this from Bishop Fulton Sheen. He compared this phenomenon to a line of people, where the first person slaps the second person. And then, for no good reason, or perhaps maybe there was a reason - the second person slaps the third person in line, and then the third person slaps the fourth person. This chain of anger will continue on down the line, until someone just stops the madness. They get slapped, and forgive. They really don't want to slap anyone else. Guess what - you can be that person.

Why don't you try and be that person today. Perhaps you have a friend that you at odds with, or perhaps a neighbor who you are annoyed with for making your dog crazy. Whatever it is - STOP being annoyed, and actually do something to repair the relationship. Step out of your box of anger, and rise above the madness that slaps back or worse - teaches your beautiful children to share the animus you feel toward your friend or neighbor. The anger you feel inside is a prison of your own making. You do have a choice. Choose to be a person who forgives and doesn't choose to hold onto the anger. Even if you have to forgive 77,000 times - the price of lugging around the animus, will not only weigh you down, it can even make you sick or kill you. And there's no time like now to make that choice. Put the key into the lock of your prison door, and let yourself be free. Trust Jesus on this - He knows what He is talking about. Forgive and you will be forgiven too. By the way, it feels great when you make this choice. But it your choice, stay angry if that is the path you want walk on. If you think about it however, you will what is best for you. Anger and animus - or forgiveness and freedom from the stress of hate. This isn't really rocket science here folks. Go with the choice that makes your burden light, or fill up your soul with a bunch of heavy rocks.

Monday - Third Week of Lent

Today's readings: March 16, 2009
Reading One: 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4 ;
Gospel: Lk 4:24-30; go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)

The one who is the greatest - is the one who is the least, a slave. I think the message for today is all about humility. Namaan was a great man, who contracted leprosy - and he heard from the slave girl about a great prophet who might be able to heal him. His heart was ready - but when Elijah told him to do something simple, he balked at the remedy, until a simple slave set him straight. Likewise, the folks in the Gospel reading thought Jesus was great, but when he told them some stories from the Old Testament, stories they knew and believed, they turned on Jesus in anger because the stories made them feel like they were no longer the chosen people of God. They lost their humility.

On Tuesday evenings, I teach an amazing group of 6th graders, but in truth - it is always these kids who teach me. They teach me what innocence is, they teach me about having a pure heart, they teach about so many things it is not possible for me to write them all down. Thank you to all my sweet kids in 6th grade religious education, who instruct the teacher.

Last week I shared with them a way to help understand humility, and how God fills us with His strength when we are weak. How in weakness, we become strong, because we are filled with God's strength. I did not make up this demonstration, I do not know who did, but I will pass it on. I went over to the sink and filled up a coffee carafe with water. I said to them, this water represents God's life giving water. The I took a balloon and said this represents our pride, how full of ourselves we might be, or as the expression goes - having a big head. I put the balloon in the carafe filled with water and blew it up. The air, hot air no doubt - displaced the God's life giving water and it spilled out over the sides and into the sink. I explained, when we have a big head, there's no room for God's life giving water. But when we are humble, the life giving water can fill up our souls. I let the water out of the balloon and filled up the carafe. I am not sure if they really understood the lesson that night, but I prayed that they might one day when they need it most. And I have faith that my prayer was heard, and hope that God in his kindness, will help them out when they get too full of themselves, and that this simple lesson might serve them well, giving them the real strength that only comes from God. At the times they will need it most. And also, that they will learn to stay humble, like they are now as children, so that they will always be filled with God's strength, which is so much more than a bunch of hot air. Please pray for me - I need to learn this lesson every day, and to apply it every day. Because at some time during the day, I screw up and start blowing up the balloon.

Tuesday, First Week of Lent

Today's readings: March 3, 2009
Reading One: Is 55:10-11 ;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19 ;
Gospel : Mt 6:7-15 ;
go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page)
And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)

A few days ago, I mentioned the Gospel reading from several weeks ago, on February 11 - and how the words just stuck with me. Basically, it said that we sin, a.k.a. how we mess up our relationship with God, by what comes from our hearts, not by what we eat. I bring it up again because for most folks, all we do for Lent to sacrifice is give up something that we eat, or drink - something that we put INTO our mouths. But Jesus tells us, that is not where sin comes from. He tells us it has much more to do with what comes OUT of our mouths, and how these bad words, come from the heart. In the course of my exciting life, I have had many situations where someone really came down on me very hard, and I was left with a difficult choice. Do I stay angry, and curse the day they were born - or do I follow Jesus' advice, and forgive. At many times during my life, what was done to me was beyond my capacity to forgive, and thank God, I was blessed to learn at an early age that I STILL needed to forgive and forget, otherwise I would carry a huge load, an unbearable burden, that was a lot like a cancer. But I could ask for Divine help, to forgive the unforgivable. I understood all too well - I needed to forgive, not only for the sake of the offending party, but I also needed to forgive in order to take care of myself. Today's Gospel continues along this line of thought and ends with these words.

If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

The words are quite serious, and I hope you get a better understanding of what is meant by "Fear of the Lord". The words are not couched in any disclaimers. Jesus is not a liar - he is indeed telling it like it is. As such, I urge you - if you are giving up a glass of wine each night, or chocolates, fast food, you are really missing the point. Raise the bar! Try this in addition to the tiny sacrifice, and follow the suggestion offered by God's beloved son, whose only wish is to make your joy complete - give up your anger and animus to the folks who wronged you. Forgive them. Give up the part in your heart that holds onto hatred and bitter feelings. If you do, I think you will have the same experience that countless folks have learned for themselves - you will get rid of the part of you, that is killing you.

And if it is too much for you to do on your own, because the hurt was so deep and all consuming, ask for Divine help. My own experience is that prayers of this nature are so warmly welcomed by God, that not only does he answer these prayers, and grants you the grace to forgive - he also in His infinite generosity, gives you blessings beyond what you deserve, just because you listened well and asked for help where you needed in it most, in matters of utmost importance. How deeply I hope at least one person who reads this, heeds the call, not from me, but from the perfect being who only told the truth. Jesus.

Seven years ago, and many times since - I was faced with this very situation and absolutely needed to forgive things beyond my strength and capacity. I asked for God's help. I asked again and again, because I was stubborn and foolish. He healed me each time, more and more each time - and my life has never been the same. Not only did I lose the cancer of the animus I held onto, but I was blessed beyond my wildest dreams for trying and trying again to simply do what was asked of me. FORGIVE.

Other areas to really focus on - is to love those who need it most. The folks who are alone, sick, abandoned and desperately poor. Reach out your hand and help them out of the hole, whether the hole was created by difficult times, or whether they dug the hole for themselves. As Jesus said in the Gospel on Sunday - what you do for the least of you. Offer your hand and help to God in those poor folks who need it most. God will remember his friends. He will also remember those who turned their backs on Him.