As we draw near to the great festival of the Resurrection, we go forth with the powerful assurance of God's promise of Resurrection.
While we await the Resurrection of the dead at the end of time, we experience Resurrection even now in Jesus.
He came to our world as a human, and rather than shunning suffering and death, He faced them head on, and demonstrated His power over them, first with Lazarus, and later in His own Resurrection.
Jesus promises to work the same power in us, so even though we die physically, our death doesn't have the final word, because God will raise us by His power. This promise gives us hope and purpose all through life.
And God brings us life now through His Spirit, freeing us from the sin that holds us in death's clutches, and draws us so closely into relationship with Him, so that, as baptized people, we may walk in newness of Life now unto Heaven.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
March 25, 2020: Feast of the Annunciation
Today's feast is called the Annunciation, and what an announcement Gabriel made to Mary, that she would bear the Son of God, Who would rule mightily.
When Mary asked how it would happen, Gabriel made clear that God had it all worked out, and sought for her to take her part.
Her "Yes" made her part of God's plan to bear the gift of salvation to all the world.
And by saying, "Yes" to God, trusting Him and being obedient, we, too, can be part of continuing to bring God's salvation to the world.
Our constant "yes"-es draw us, and others, closer to God, Who sent His Son to reconcile the world.
That will make for quite a celebration in 9 months.
As an additional note, it's fitting that Maryland's first settlers arrived there on this day, starting a colony sharing Mary's name. And it would be a place that would advance religious freedom in the United States, which would be part of a new flourishing of religion, whereby people would draw close to God.
When Mary asked how it would happen, Gabriel made clear that God had it all worked out, and sought for her to take her part.
Her "Yes" made her part of God's plan to bear the gift of salvation to all the world.
And by saying, "Yes" to God, trusting Him and being obedient, we, too, can be part of continuing to bring God's salvation to the world.
Our constant "yes"-es draw us, and others, closer to God, Who sent His Son to reconcile the world.
That will make for quite a celebration in 9 months.
As an additional note, it's fitting that Maryland's first settlers arrived there on this day, starting a colony sharing Mary's name. And it would be a place that would advance religious freedom in the United States, which would be part of a new flourishing of religion, whereby people would draw close to God.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
March 22, 2020: Fourth Sunday of Lent/Laetare Sunday
We rejoice on this Laetare Sunday because half of Lent 2020 has elapsed, as of last Thursday, March 19.
And we furthermore rejoice because God has come to our world to enlighten us, freeing us from sin that blinds so that we may truly see Him as He is, and ourselves for who we are. Indeed, the man born blind was not in sin, nor were his parents. Rather, as Jesus indicates, God was doing something new in our world, so that physical maladies would be an opportunity for God to do His works in the world.
We are called to open our hearts to God, and remove that which blinds us, open to how God is at work. God sees into our hearts, as He indicates to Samuel when he goes to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the King of Israel. God sees into our hearts, seeing us as those He created, and calls us to the holiness for which He made us. His Spirit rushes upon us to lead us closer to Him, Who Shepherds us into the ways of Eternal Life. And when we cooperate with His Spirit, the works we do are Light, making God visible in our world.
It is this Light that carries us through even dire times as the situation the world is in now, so that we may strive through the difficulties and sorrows to attain to the Resurrection and New Life. And God has shown us a way to Him.
And we furthermore rejoice because God has come to our world to enlighten us, freeing us from sin that blinds so that we may truly see Him as He is, and ourselves for who we are. Indeed, the man born blind was not in sin, nor were his parents. Rather, as Jesus indicates, God was doing something new in our world, so that physical maladies would be an opportunity for God to do His works in the world.
We are called to open our hearts to God, and remove that which blinds us, open to how God is at work. God sees into our hearts, as He indicates to Samuel when he goes to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the King of Israel. God sees into our hearts, seeing us as those He created, and calls us to the holiness for which He made us. His Spirit rushes upon us to lead us closer to Him, Who Shepherds us into the ways of Eternal Life. And when we cooperate with His Spirit, the works we do are Light, making God visible in our world.
It is this Light that carries us through even dire times as the situation the world is in now, so that we may strive through the difficulties and sorrows to attain to the Resurrection and New Life. And God has shown us a way to Him.
March 19, 2020: Feast of St. Joseph
We rejoice this day on the Feast of St. Joseph, which also marks the midpoint of Lent 2020.
God promised that the line of David would be established forever, which happened through David's descendent Jesus.
We give thanks for St. Joseph, who heard the word of God and obeyed, taking his part in the unfolding of God's plan of salvation for the world.
We, too, are called to part of that plan, as we have faith in God, and act on that faith. In such faith, God makes us righteous in His sight.
God promised that the line of David would be established forever, which happened through David's descendent Jesus.
We give thanks for St. Joseph, who heard the word of God and obeyed, taking his part in the unfolding of God's plan of salvation for the world.
We, too, are called to part of that plan, as we have faith in God, and act on that faith. In such faith, God makes us righteous in His sight.
Sunday, March 15, 2020
March 15, 2020: Third Sunday of Lent
We, as humans, are all thirsting and hungering for something.
The Hebrews, having just been redeemed from slavery in Egypt, hunger for good in the desert, and as is described in the first reading for today, they thirst for water in great desperation.
Yet maybe their physical thirst reveals their deeper thirst, like the woman at the well.
She's longing to belong in the midst of so many social standards that exclude her.
She is initially hesitant to embrace what Jesus has to offer, because she doesn't get it.
But Jesus continues to reach out to her, and she then realizes what He has to offer her will satisfy her deep-seated thirst.
God satisfies us because, as St. Paul writes, Jesus showed the full extent of God's love by dying for us sinners, demonstrating that He has met our greatest need for salvation.
So let us reach to Jesus Who probes deeply into our lives so that our deep-seated thirst for meaning in life can be satisfied by His Presence with us.
Especially in the midst of the highly pressing situation at hand, we can have the assurance that our God accompanies us: Let us rejoice in our God, not hardening our hearts, but opening them to Him, so He may pour forth living water into our hearts, and we may be truly alive, as He sustains us.
The Hebrews, having just been redeemed from slavery in Egypt, hunger for good in the desert, and as is described in the first reading for today, they thirst for water in great desperation.
Yet maybe their physical thirst reveals their deeper thirst, like the woman at the well.
She's longing to belong in the midst of so many social standards that exclude her.
She is initially hesitant to embrace what Jesus has to offer, because she doesn't get it.
But Jesus continues to reach out to her, and she then realizes what He has to offer her will satisfy her deep-seated thirst.
God satisfies us because, as St. Paul writes, Jesus showed the full extent of God's love by dying for us sinners, demonstrating that He has met our greatest need for salvation.
So let us reach to Jesus Who probes deeply into our lives so that our deep-seated thirst for meaning in life can be satisfied by His Presence with us.
Especially in the midst of the highly pressing situation at hand, we can have the assurance that our God accompanies us: Let us rejoice in our God, not hardening our hearts, but opening them to Him, so He may pour forth living water into our hearts, and we may be truly alive, as He sustains us.
Sunday, March 8, 2020
March 8, 2020: Second Sunday of Lent
Lent gives us an opportunity to broaden our horizons, to experience God like never before.
God calls Abram to venture to a new land, and promises he'll be a blessing to all the world.
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John, up a mountain, and they experience the fullness of His glory.
This experience gives us a glimpse of where we're headed, that we're bound for experiencing the glory of God.
Even now, we experience it, because, like St. Paul writes, we are called to a life of holiness.
With this call, and its promises, we can strive with great perseverance toward the Glory of God.
God calls Abram to venture to a new land, and promises he'll be a blessing to all the world.
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John, up a mountain, and they experience the fullness of His glory.
This experience gives us a glimpse of where we're headed, that we're bound for experiencing the glory of God.
Even now, we experience it, because, like St. Paul writes, we are called to a life of holiness.
With this call, and its promises, we can strive with great perseverance toward the Glory of God.
Sunday, March 1, 2020
March 1, 2020: First Sunday of Lent
There is a stark contrast between the First Reading and the Gospel reading.
Satan comes to Eve with deceptive statements, and she disobeys God's command.
Satan comes to Jesus in the wilderness, when He is in a vulnerable state, also with deceptive statements. Yet Jesus remains fully obedient to the Father, grounding Himself in the Word of Truth.
As impactful, in a devastating way, as Adam and Eve's disobedience was, St. Paul writes in the selection from Romans 5, today's 2nd reading, that Christ's obedience was just as impactful, in a powerful way, reversing the curse of sin.
We share in the victory that Christ won in the wilderness against Satan as we ground ourselves in the Word of God, which is Truth that sustains us. And as we turn from sin, we are brought alive as God restores His presence to us in a whole new way.
As we stand near the start of our Lenten journey, let us hold close to Christ, letting Him speak His life-giving words, and following His way of obedience through all temptations.
Satan comes to Eve with deceptive statements, and she disobeys God's command.
Satan comes to Jesus in the wilderness, when He is in a vulnerable state, also with deceptive statements. Yet Jesus remains fully obedient to the Father, grounding Himself in the Word of Truth.
As impactful, in a devastating way, as Adam and Eve's disobedience was, St. Paul writes in the selection from Romans 5, today's 2nd reading, that Christ's obedience was just as impactful, in a powerful way, reversing the curse of sin.
We share in the victory that Christ won in the wilderness against Satan as we ground ourselves in the Word of God, which is Truth that sustains us. And as we turn from sin, we are brought alive as God restores His presence to us in a whole new way.
As we stand near the start of our Lenten journey, let us hold close to Christ, letting Him speak His life-giving words, and following His way of obedience through all temptations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)