Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12; Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; John 5:1-16
Summary
The Wonderful Stream – Begins with the vision of Ezekiel, a wonderful flow from beneath the Temple of God, which becomes streams flowing from the Holy City, then the imagery shifts to the source – via the Sign of a person (Messiah Jesus) and the actual flowing water of healing that is His Word: Rise Up, take your mat and walk.
Along each bank of the river every kind of fruit tree will grow; their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fresh fruit because the waters of the river flow out from the sanctuary. Their fruit is used for food, and their leaves for healing. Streams of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. God is in its midst; it shall not be shaken; God will help it at break of day.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked (Ez 47:12; PS 46:5-6; Isa 7:14; Jn 5:6-9).
Reflection
Water is an essential element of life and faith. Objectively it is necessary (as is baptism). But in our gospel portion today, we are made to remember that the water, and all its marvels, is but a reflection of the power of The One. And the healing comfort is in the person of Jesus.
Personal Reflection
My Jesus, Lord and Friend. For every person I see, pass or engage with today, allow the wonderful stream flow over them. May your healing words fill them: Rise, take up your mat, and walk.
Greetings on this the Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent Readings: Isaiah 65:17-21; Psalm 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b; John 4:43-54
Summary
Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. (Jn 4:50; Ps 30:2a).
Reflection
The word destiny has two related but distinct meanings. Destiny and destine.
Destiny is fate. Destine in the act of intending and/or choosing.
When taken together destiny means the thing we choose is to be our future fate.
In our gospel portion today, the royal official had a choice. He chose to ask, and trust Jesus to heal his son, who was near death even by simply saying so.
Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
Jesus healed from afar, his word alone is power and mercy.
As in the promise given in Isaiah, No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there, or the sound of crying; No longer shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, nor anyone who does not live a full lifetime (Isa 65:19b-20).
Jesus provided this ‘Sign’ for us to take comfort in our future – our destiny. But like the royal official, ask, trust, and believe – be living – in faith.
Personal Reflection
Lord, having celebrated Rejoice Sunday let us bring forward the joyful news of our fate or destiny in the destine of Jesus.
Greetings on this the Fourth Sunday of Lent Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
Summary
The Church gives us a remarkable set of Gospel readings for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent. Each one reveals something about our relationship with God, that is: Man’s Relevance to God. It is especially appropriate on Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, that we celebrate today. We Rejoice because God cares about Man.
There is a central meeting place in the predicament of man, our sinful failures, that is mirrored in the frustration of God – as expressed through the Prophets. The frustration is the disparity between God and the world. A disparity that is overcome in God, not in man. In our readings it is represented by the ‘three Thirsts‘.
The Lord, Our God, thirsts for us. While the direction with which the divine concern comes from is different (from on high), it is for the lifting up of his human family. It is also a relationship of reciprocity. We love God because God loves us. But the essential point – it is the Love that remains not the direction in which it begins.
3rd Sunday – last week – The Thirst for Water – Jesus is the Water of Life – The Samaritan Woman. 4th Sunday – this week – The Thirst for Light – Jesus is the Light of the World – The Man Born Blind. 5th Sunday – next week – The Thirst for Life – Jesus is the Life Giver/Life Restorer – The Raising of Lazarus.
Sidebar Note for Online version
1st Lent is The Temptation of Jesus.
2nd Lent is The Transfiguration of Jesus.
End Sidebar.
Our thirst for Lifegiving Water, Divine Light and Eternal Life have their origin in the Pathos of God – his heartfelt dilemma.
Look, the heavens, even the highest heavens, belong to the LORD, your God, as well as the earth and everything on it. Yet only on [you] your ancestors did the LORD set his heart to love them. He chose you, their descendants, from [with] all the peoples, as it is today. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life (Deut 10:-14-15; John 8:12).
The Arc (the trajectory) of this pathos is revealed in stages we we go through these Sunday Lent readings.
From last week – The Samaritan Woman – a foreigner, a woman, who thirsts. Jesus too thirsts – he came to the well, tired from his journey and thirsty. His thirst is for our thirst – I need for the life giving water.
The VILLAGE concludes: You are the Savior of the World.
From this week – The Man Born Blind – a Son of Jews, not born in sin, a begger at the temple gate. He wanted to see. Jesus wanted to be seen and see into the blind man. Do you believe in the Son of Man? Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
The MAN concludes: Son of Man. Jesus’s self-description, used to emphasize both his true humanity and his role as the divine, authority-bearing Messiah prophesied in Daniel.
For next week – The Raising of Lazarus – a NAMED person, a friend. The people were crying. Mary and Martha were crying. And Jesus wept.
MARTHA concludes: She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
As you can see the readings bring us through the pathway of Foreigner, a son Outside the Temple, to a close Friend with a real name.
Reflection
Our gospel portion these three Sundays takes us from outsiders to a broken, unnamed son to friends in need. Jesus’ longing becomes our longing. His from abundance of grace and mercy. Ours from the need for grace and mercy.
Personal Reflection
Which do you feel you are?
Outside of his love (the fear of emptiness)? Ask for the life giving waters.
Blind son of the Church (the fear of darkness)? Ask for the sight to see Jesus again.
Living a lifeless life or even near death? (the fear of final loss) Ask the Resurrection for help. Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
In our three gospel stories, Jesus takes the initiative.
He speaks first.
He seeks the person.
He reveals himself.
Never forget that he does not forget you!
Even today, at the Eucharistic banquet we have the Summit of this giving – Life giving body and blood of our Lord. He knows we are hungry and thirsty for him. As he is for us.
Greetings on this the Saturday of the Third Week of Lent Readings: Hosea 6:1-6; Psalm 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab; Luke 18:9-14
Summary
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else (Lk 18:9).
Reflection
The tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former (Lk 18:13-14b).
Personal Reflection
We have all become like something unclean, all our just deeds are like polluted rags; We have all withered like leaves, and our crimes carry us away like the wind (Isa 64:5).
We have but one true power. The autonomy to seek the face of God in humility and contrition. All self-righteousness and false piety are anathema to the Lord.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn (Ps 51:19).
Come, let us return to the LORD, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. (Hos 6:1)
Greetings on this the Friday of the Third Week of Lent Readings: Hosea 14:2-10; Psalm 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17; Mark 12:28-34
Summary
Which is the first of all the commandments?
Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
(Mk 12:28b-31)
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’
And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
(Mk 12:32-33)
Reflection
And when Jesus saw that [he] answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God. (Mk 12:34).
“Not far” – common theological interpretation of the phrase indicates that Jesus is noting that the Scribe understands and yet still needs to repent (not far = still outside). This correlates well with our first reading: Return, Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have stumbled because of your iniquity (Hos 14:2).
Yet I offer another understanding.
I’m right here. In front of you. The Kingdom of God. The Kingdom is not a place but a person, not a contract with debts and credits, but a meeting of hearts.
Love the Lord. Love your neighbor.
This encounter is given in all three Synoptic Gospels. Mark gives it the full weight.
Matthew – omits the Scribe’s response. Luke – trims the Scribe’s response.
Personal Reflection
I do not believe for a minute that any Scribe, layperson, priest or deacon can possibly have this dialog with the Lord and not be reflecting the interior state of the heart. Wanting to be in the presence of the Lord and love the way the Lord loves. The personalization of the engagement is the key difference of the accounts.
It shares its core with Mark 10. Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” (Mk 10:21).
Today, we don’t answer Jesus merely with the Catechism, Canon Law or Ecclesial regulation. We must answer from the heart.
Greetings on this the Thursday of the Third Week of Lent Readings: Jeremiah 7:23-28; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Luke 11:14-23
Summary
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, for I am gracious and merciful. It is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you (Ps 95:8; Jl 2:12-13; Lk 11:20).
Reflection
He was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed (Lk 11:14).
I don’t want to go down the path of discussing demonology, the hardheartedness of the leadership and the accusation of Beelzebul. All distractions.
It is worth noting that the mute man was able to speak because from within him he heard the Lord and returned to him and received the healing balm of the Lord’s mercy and grace.
In a similar way, what voices do we listen to? Whom do we hear?
Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20; Matthew 5:17-19
Summary
Be on your guard and be very careful not to forget the things your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live, but make them known to your childreng and to your children’s children. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; You have the words of everlasting life. Whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Dt 4:9; See John 6:63c, 68c; Mt 5:19b).
Reflection
As we near the 4th Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday (or “Rejoice Sunday”) – Joyful pause – we stop to consider our grandparents role in remembering what the Lord has done for us.
Grandparents, you are our living memory. within you is the deposit of the Church, the history of our people and the hopes made present in the sons and daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Do not let the faith be forgotten nor slip from our hearts. Make them known, often and always.
Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent Readings: Daniel 3:25, 34-43; Psalm 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9; Matthew 18:21-35
Summary
But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received. Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your kindness are from of old. In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD. Then Peter approaching 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 (Dan 3:39a; PS 25:6, 7bc, MT 18:21-22).
Reflection
When a person says, “I cannot forgive them” often what they mean is: “I cannot stop feeling revulsion.”
“You may not be able to stop the revulsion today, but you can release vengeance today.”
What you CAN do:
Remove vengeance from your own hands.
Place the offender under God’s mercy and judgment.
Allow your heart time to soften – for as long as it takes.
Forgiveness and justice operate on two different timelines.
Pope John Paul II, 1980 encyclical Dives in Misericordia (“Rich in Mercy”).
John Paul II explains that when a person refuses the act of forgiveness because the offender never repented, the wounded person risks becoming bound to the offender indefinitely. The Pope writes that evil has a tendency to propagate itself through retaliation and resentment. Even if the injured person was originally innocent, the wound can begin to reshape the heart around the injury to a potentially disastrous effect.
Personal Reflection
Lord, for all those who feel the trap of unforgiveness, free them from the trap. Let them give you all the pain, anger, vengeance and revulsion. That only by Your Mercy, these things are converted to holiness. Amen.
Puzzle – FInding your way is easier if you know the end point. Humility is both trusting the process and/or knowing the outcome. Humble before God is the outcome and the pathway.
Greetings on this the Monday of the Third Week of Lent Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-15ab; Psalm 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4; Luke 4:24-30
Summary
I hope in the LORD, I trust in his word; with him there is kindness and plenteous redemption (See Psalm 130:5, 7).
Our hope in the Lord can only come from a humble heart and an inclusive heart – leaving none outside of the saving and healing graces of God.
Naaman
But his servants came up and reasoned with him: “My father, if the prophet told you to do something extraordinary, would you not do it? All the more since he told you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kng 5:13).
Widow in Zarephath
She said, “As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a few sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Afterwards you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.” She left and did as Elijah had said. She had enough to eat for a long time—he and she and her household. The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD spoken through Elijah (1 Kng 17:12-16).
The Rejection at Nazareth
When the people in the [gathering] heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away (Lk 4:28-30).
Reflection
In our gospel portion today, we have Jesus referencing the ancient stories of Naaman and the widow in Zarephath. Two thoughts here. Clearly, Jesus himself requires us to be at least generally aware of the stories of old and how the Lord answered the humble (or humbled) heart. And, how easy it is to fall into the expectation trap and get stuck there – even to the point of wanting to commit murder.
Personal Reflection
Three responses to the loving presence of the divine.
Naaman, a proud man, had to be ‘talked down’ from his expectations and accept the humble act of washing in the turbid waters of the Jordan. First he humbly took advice from a servant girl, his King and finally Elisha.
The humble widow did not complain or resist but accepted the request of Elijah and made the cakes in the hopes of the promised better days.
The leadership of Nazareth. Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum (Lk 4:23b).
Jesus had every intention of helping everyone and anyone who came to him for help. But he knew the deeper issue was jealousy. Their expectations were self-focused and exclusionary.
Lord, this day, may I not see Advantage, Acquisition and Alliance as a false hope and destructive instinct. Rather, humbly ask for me and others your healing grace.
