We recall at the start of Mass this day the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The crowds yelled out, "Hosanna", an expression that means, "Save us." They rightly acclaimed Him as the One who saves.
Yet He saves not in the way the world regards, for He wins through suffering, bleeding, and dying, on a Cross. In this suffering, Christ entrusts Himself to the Father, doing His will, that out of death would come a glorious Resurrection.
We who are baptized are joined to Christ, so that we share in His sufferings, and may have a share in His Resurrection.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Monday, March 14, 2016
March 13, 2016: Fifth Sunday of Lent
God is doing a marvelous work in the world: We no longer have to stand condemned before Him in our sin. Christ has come, showering us with mercy, directing us away from sin and condemnation to freedom from sin, and righteous living.
We turn our attention from the past because God is making us new, a great work that fills us with joy. The new work is that by faith we are made righteous, joining ourselves to Christ, striving forth to more fully embrace His Paschal Mystery, by which we are saved. In our strivings, we share in His sufferings, in the hope of attaining His Resurrection, which compels us to share the mercy we have received. And so we are part of making new the world.
We turn our attention from the past because God is making us new, a great work that fills us with joy. The new work is that by faith we are made righteous, joining ourselves to Christ, striving forth to more fully embrace His Paschal Mystery, by which we are saved. In our strivings, we share in His sufferings, in the hope of attaining His Resurrection, which compels us to share the mercy we have received. And so we are part of making new the world.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
March 6, 2016: Fourth Sunday of Lent/Laetare Sunday
We've surpassed the midpoint of Lent, and we take this opportunity to rejoice: We rejoice that God is gracious and merciful, ready to rush at us when we turn toward Him, to embrace us with His forgiveness.
We see this as the reality of our lives because God sent Jesus to be the Minister of Reconciliation. Jesus took sin upon Himself, suffering and dying to bring us back to God. We are now made a new creation in giving our lives to Christ, and then extend to others the mercy and forgiveness He has given us. Indeed, in such mercy we see a God who provides abundantly, as He did manna for the Hebrews for 40 years, and then the produce of the land. In Christ, we now have received His greatest provision.
We see this as the reality of our lives because God sent Jesus to be the Minister of Reconciliation. Jesus took sin upon Himself, suffering and dying to bring us back to God. We are now made a new creation in giving our lives to Christ, and then extend to others the mercy and forgiveness He has given us. Indeed, in such mercy we see a God who provides abundantly, as He did manna for the Hebrews for 40 years, and then the produce of the land. In Christ, we now have received His greatest provision.
Monday, February 29, 2016
February 28, 2016: Third Sunday of Lent
God comes to us in our lives, calling us to be something beyond ourselves, just as He called Moses while he was shepherding. Indeed, He appears in many and various ways, such that any place can be holy ground, because His Holy Presence transcends all space and time. (It makes me think back to the Sunday three years ago when I last heard these readings proclaimed, when I was on a service trip at St. Augustine in Winnebago, NE, where God worked marvelously in our group during our week there. And God even did something marvelous as I attended Mass in an unusual way this weekend, at 8 PM at historic Old St. Pat's in Chicago, which was also a wonderful chance to reconnect with my dear friend David Philippart.)
And as God works to transform us, we must always take care and be on our guard against sin, lest we fall away from the presence of God. He indeed desires to show us mercy, but that doesn't mean we'll escape the consequences of sin. So let us be mindful of our relationship with God, by which we are freed from sin that we may bear the fruits of being in relationship with Him, by which we extend God's life-giving mercies to others.
And as God works to transform us, we must always take care and be on our guard against sin, lest we fall away from the presence of God. He indeed desires to show us mercy, but that doesn't mean we'll escape the consequences of sin. So let us be mindful of our relationship with God, by which we are freed from sin that we may bear the fruits of being in relationship with Him, by which we extend God's life-giving mercies to others.
Monday, February 22, 2016
February 21, 2016: Second Sunday of Lent
Recently, I attended my Mom's graduation for her MSN. It was a special experience for me to see her in the midst of this celebration, knowing I'll be there in not too much longer, after I finish the work ahead of me. I can't help but connect this experience with the Gospel reading that's always proclaimed on the 2nd Sunday of Lent.
The story of the Transfiguration reminds us of what lies ahead as we continue on our Lenten journey toward the annual celebration at the Paschal Triduum of the death and Resurrection of Christ. Peter, James, and John get a glimpse of Christ is His glory, after Peter had just acclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, and He in turn had predicted His passion of suffering and death. They, and we, see that after suffering follows the glory of Resurrection.
So now we have hope that because Jesus is glorified, we who are His will share in His glory, too. We no longer have to confine ourselves to what is on Earth, but can look above to what is in Heaven, as St. Paul writes of so eloquently in the 2nd reading. It is this vision that transforms us even now to live like Christ in this life.
And our promise of Heaven is sure because God makes a covenant with us, just as He did with Abram to assure Him of the certainty of His promises.
Truly with the Psalmist we can declare the Lord is our Light and Salvation.
The story of the Transfiguration reminds us of what lies ahead as we continue on our Lenten journey toward the annual celebration at the Paschal Triduum of the death and Resurrection of Christ. Peter, James, and John get a glimpse of Christ is His glory, after Peter had just acclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, and He in turn had predicted His passion of suffering and death. They, and we, see that after suffering follows the glory of Resurrection.
So now we have hope that because Jesus is glorified, we who are His will share in His glory, too. We no longer have to confine ourselves to what is on Earth, but can look above to what is in Heaven, as St. Paul writes of so eloquently in the 2nd reading. It is this vision that transforms us even now to live like Christ in this life.
And our promise of Heaven is sure because God makes a covenant with us, just as He did with Abram to assure Him of the certainty of His promises.
Truly with the Psalmist we can declare the Lord is our Light and Salvation.
Monday, February 15, 2016
February 14, 2016: First Sunday of Lent
At the start of our Lenten journey, we hear again the Gospel story about Jesus's time in the desert, during which He is tempted by Satan. Unlike the Hebrews of long before who put God to the test and were unfaithful, Jesus stood strong in the Word of God and refused to give into temptation and use His powers for His own benefit.
We, too, are called to ground ourselves in who we are, that we are children of God and have a relationship with Him because He first came and loved us, saving us from sin that we might live. And so we declare Him as our personal Savior and Lord. But we don't just proclaim words--we trust in Him day by day as we turn from our desires to His. And it is at the end of Lent, when Easter comes, that we renew ourselves in the faith that, in baptism, brought us into relationship with Him.
We, too, are called to ground ourselves in who we are, that we are children of God and have a relationship with Him because He first came and loved us, saving us from sin that we might live. And so we declare Him as our personal Savior and Lord. But we don't just proclaim words--we trust in Him day by day as we turn from our desires to His. And it is at the end of Lent, when Easter comes, that we renew ourselves in the faith that, in baptism, brought us into relationship with Him.
Friday, February 12, 2016
February 10, 2016: Ash Wednesday
As we began this season of Lent 2016, I was reminded in an important way of a key phrase associated with this day, and certainly its name: "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
This saying makes us face the reality of our mortality, that our time in this life is limited and we will one day die. It sobers us up so that we realize the importance of making the most of the time we have to live lives that are righteous and pleasing to God.
So on this day, we are called to repentance and belief, turning away from sin to be faithful to the Gospel. We live our belief in God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. And in these practices of faith, we experience the day of God's salvation now.
This saying makes us face the reality of our mortality, that our time in this life is limited and we will one day die. It sobers us up so that we realize the importance of making the most of the time we have to live lives that are righteous and pleasing to God.
So on this day, we are called to repentance and belief, turning away from sin to be faithful to the Gospel. We live our belief in God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. And in these practices of faith, we experience the day of God's salvation now.
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