Thursday of the Second Week

Reflection

Each year as Lent is approaching, a particular feeling of hope and change encompasses my daily prayers. I think about what I could do differently to better myself and my relationships. It starts to feel like a season for change and a reason to take a deeper look. In today’s readings, we are given some advice on how to go about change and sustaining a change. The first is to trust in the Lord!  “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings.” Next is to persevere with a generous heart and to hold out hope. I have been told in other context that hope is not a plan, but when it comes to hope in the Lord, we are all blessed! It is the hope that we all can do better, better with ourselves, better with each other and better with the world around us. It is through this grace, this hope that change for the good is possible. It is not of our own doing but that which is guided by the gentle, kind, and loving presence of Jesus. It is in this place that hope expands, love grows and change is possible.

Prayer

Good and gracious God, as we approach this day with a hope-filled heart, remind us with your loving presence, that all things are possible.  Renew us.  Guide us in our journey towards change.  Bless us with a loving and kind heart. Amen.

Jeff Vincent
Associate Dean of Students
Director of Residence Life and Community Standards

Scripture
First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1:1-4, 6
Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Wednesday of the Second Week

Reflection

Many people today struggle with their purpose in life. Is that you? Do you ever wonder why you are here and what your life should be about?

For much of life, our focus is on school, work, raising a family, enjoying retirement, and keeping up with the general busyness of life. But is that truly our purpose? To just move through the seasons of life until our time here on earth is over? 

Today, we are reminded that Jesus modeled for us a new way to live. A life that leads to being “great,” according to scripture. Instead of going through life with an inward (self) focus, Jesus taught us to look outward. To serve. To look around and see what needs there are and how we can help. 

Our purpose is not to just sit back and be a consumer of things; we are called to do the opposite. Instead of asking what the world can give us, let’s instead ask, what can I give the world? Do I have gifts or talents that others could benefit from? Is there an area of helping or volunteering that is needed and brings me joy? Can I encourage someone by sending a text or a phone call?

Or how about this — how about the next time you go about your day, giving genuine eye contact and smiling at others? Sharing your inner joy in this manner serves them with a heart of acceptance. That is the easiest gift to give and may even turn someone's entire day around.

So today, let’s all smile both inwardly and outwardly. Let the light of Christ in us shine outward to others as we serve them with God’s love. In doing so, we will feel the inner joy Jesus intends for us and will realize our true and never-ending purpose here on earth: to give, serve, and love.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, please show me areas in my life where I could be more humble. Help me notice others more and live a more servant lifestyle as one of your followers. Thank you for teaching us your ways. Amen.

Mike Venuti and Kerry Hemms
Worshipping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Jeremiah 18:18-20
Psalm 31:5-6, 14-16
Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Tuesday of the Second Week

Reflection

“Cease doing evil. Learn to do good.” If only it was that easy. Today’s readings assure us it is that simple, even if some days seem difficult. We must stop one action as we learn another way. And God is here to help.

Every day we’re faced with choices – how we show up in our classrooms or offices, how we greet our neighbors, how we respond to others, whether we offer a hand or avert our eyes, if we’re honest and courageous, or fearful and untrustworthy, if we judge or seek to understand, if we surrender to our addictions or find another way. These choices in our days – some small and others not so – are what our lives become. Will we “preach not practice,” and “love places of honor” or shall we try to “set things right” with willing, humble hearts? The choice is ours.

We are reminded today of the importance of living lives of integrity, realizing and relishing in God’s mercy. While we are not perfect, we can always continue to learn and do better. God is here to help.

Prayer

Good and gracious God, remind me of Your presence, mercy, and love as I strive to set things right. Amen.

Heidi St. Peter
Class of 1996
Director of Purposeful Learning

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20

Psalm 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Monday of the Second Week

Reflection

Like Jesus, we are asked to invest ourselves in God’s work of healing reconciliation. Knowing that we stand under the waterfall of infinite mercy and compassion, we can let mercy flow freely through us. That we receive God’s forgiveness undeservedly allows us to give it without question.

Prayer

O God, don’t deal with us according to our failings. We trust in your infinite kindness and mercy. Amen.

Hank Lambert
Worshipping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Daniel 9:4b-10

Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13

Gospel: Luke 6:36-38

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Second Sunday of Lent

Reflection

Friends, what does it mean to be open to change by God? Who is God calling us to be? How can we respond?

Today's readings are of a well-known scene of the transfiguration in Mark paired with Genesis 22 and Romans 8. In the Gospel, Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John. He is, by definition, changed in form. We hear God tell them, “This is my beloved son. Listen to him!” Alongside Jesus appear, Moses and Elijah, who are well known in our Hebrew Scriptures. These figures, including Abraham, whom we met in our first reading, were all changed by God. They each became the beloved figures that we know of. Their lives were difficult, as each faced challenges. Even Jesus, God’s beloved son, faced death, as Romans chapter 8 reminds us, “he who did not spare his only son.” Yet despite this, these figures all responded yes and trusted that God would transform them to serve him. Can you think of others who answered God's call in scripture or your life? How has their faith and desire to serve God changed them? 

To respond to God is to be open to be transfigured by him.  We may not entirely understand what we are answering to, which is what faith is for. To say “Here I am” even though the road ahead can be hard and unknown. Let us walk in faith into the mystery through which God transforms us to serve him and our world. 

Prayer

Gracious God, transfigure us into the people you call us to be.  Teach us to listen to your beloved son so that we may serve you and others. Open our eyes, ears, and hearts in faith to the mystery of who you are. May you call each of us, and may we answer, “Here I am!” Amen.

Rada Ruggles
Saint Michael’s College Alumni ’23
Boston College School of Theology and Ministry M.Div. ’26

Scripture

First Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19
Second Reading: Romans 8:31b-34
Gospel: Mark 9:2-10

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Saturday of the First Week

Reflection

As we conclude the first full week of Lent, these readings offer hope and considerable challenge. In Deuteronomy, we encounter the conclusion of Moses’ exhortation to the people of Israel in preparation to enter the Promised Land. This covenant renewal and commitment to follow God’s commands reminded the people of their special relationship with God. We are encouraged to follow the statutes and decrees of the Lord with all our heart and all our soul, so that we can become “a people peculiarly his own.” As Psalm 119 reminds us, “Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.”

Matthew’s gospel continues Jesus’ teaching on humility and love in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus states that we should expand those whom we love to include our enemies and persecutors, striving to “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

These readings are desperately needed in our world today. We have been moving away from peace in war-ravaged regions, including the Middle East and Ukraine. Nevertheless, we are called to pray for lasting peace, for victims of war, and for those who bring violence into these areas. We are called to embrace Christ’s teaching and pray for those perceived as enemies.

Pope Francis’ words from a homily on Matthew’s passage are illuminating:

“Even we, all of us, have enemies – all of us. Some are weak enemies, some strong. So often we too become the enemies of others; we do not love them. Jesus tells us that we must love our enemies. This is no easy matter, and in general, we think that Jesus is asking too much of us…
This is the mystery of salvation: with forgiveness, with love for our enemy, we become poorer. But this poverty is a seed-bearing fruit for others, as Jesus’ poverty became grace for us all, salvation.”

Prayer

Dear Lord, through your life and death, you offer a transformational example of how to love our enemies. Each day, may we respond to your call, follow your example, and sow the seeds of peace in our communities and world. Amen.

George Ashline
Department of Mathematics

Scripture

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

Friday of the First Week

Reflection

Our readings today focus on the importance of embracing a virtuous life, tending to our intentions and behavior, and the persistent opportunities for redemption offered by God. Those who follow a virtuous way of life are prompted not to break faith with the Lord. But those who have transgressed against God or man are reassured that if we turn our hearts to God and mend our ways, it is never too late to be saved by the Lord. We are reminded to trust the word of God.

There is also a focus on justice in the readings. We may not always understand God’s justice especially in regard to reformed sinners. Through our belief in the ultimate kindness of God and our faithful striving to live a virtuous life, we are assured of salvation.

Jesus sets a high standard for behavior when he calls his us to surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Meeting this standard begins by becoming aware of our behavior and where we fall short of our aspirations. Matthew encourages us first to recognize our human limitations, then to name them, and most importantly, to take actions to reconcile with our brothers. In following this practice, we may continue in a virtuous way of life.

Prayer

Lord, I am a sinner in need of your understanding love and forgiveness. Help me to be humble, to recognize my human limitations, and to trust in your redemptive promise. Amen.

John Devlin
Professor of Fine Arts, Theatre

Scripture
First Reading: Ezekiel 18:21-28
Psalm 130:1-8
Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

Reflection

Today’s Gospel is the familiar story from Matthew of the call of Peter to be the rock upon which the church will be built. See Jesus walking along with his disciples in Caesarea Philippi. Along the walk, Jesus stopped. He asked a direct question to each disciple. But who do you say that I am? Jesus looked them in the eye when he asked that question. They’ve known Jesus all this time. What do they believe? The answer will change their lives. They’re nervous, now knowing what to say. “You are the Christ,” Peter answered, “the Son of the living God.” Yes! Peter answered for all of them and Jesus accepted his answer. Jesus then told Peter he would be the rock upon which the Church would be built. 

Lent gives us an opportunity to open our hearts to Christ, to be sure we can answer that question as did Peter. Take time this Lent to pray, fast and give alms. The reason for these Lenten practices is to deepen our relationship with Jesus, to know him better. By Easter, be ready to answer the question Jesus posed in this Gospel. Allow yourself time to formulate an answer to that question that comes from your heart. It’s much like telling someone why you love that person. It’s unique to the individual. So will your answer be with Christ. Pray about it, fast and be generous, and Jesus will reveal himself to you. Be ready, like Peter, to be told your life will change because you’ll know who Jesus is.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, inspire me to know you better, to be like Peter who knew you, loved you and followed you. Be patient with me, Lord, as I formulate an answer to the question: But who do you say I am? Amen.

Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois
Board of Trustees

Scripture

First Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Psalm 23:1-6

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

Wednesday of the First Week

Reflection

Today we are reminded to look inward, become aware of our sins, and recognize the need for God’s forgiveness in our lives. The readings reinforce the idea that God delivers on His promises and illuminates how we should put Him at the center of our lives. While it can be challenging to place our trust in God, we can rest assured that God’s word is true. The scripture we hear today invites us to change our hearts and our minds to be more like that of Jesus. Instead of casting doubt on what God does in our lives, we are called to renew our faith through Him and look beyond ourselves to the Lord for guidance, strength, peace and salvation. Salvation is a gift that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

The readings suggest if we truly stop to look around us, there are signs that reveal God’s existence in our daily lives. We are called to be more mindful of God’s presence in our lives and the dangers of when we turn away from Him. While we can be resistant to repentance, we must repent to cast out darkness and welcome in the light of Christ. Scripture highlights genuine restoration and leads us to God’s response of humility, hope, mercy, and freedom.

The light of Jesus is shining, so we must look within ourselves to determine what is blocking the light of Jesus from entering our lives. When we drift away from prioritizing God in our lives, we can rest assured His forgiveness is limitless. This Lenten season, I encourage you to ask God to help you resist temptation, increase your love for Him, grant you His wisdom, and desire to do what is pleasing to Him.

Prayer

Gracious and merciful God, help us not only be ready to hear your word, but to live by it. Reinforce within us our commitment and devotion to you and open our minds and hearts to allow us to draw nearer to You. Cleanse us from our sins and lead us to eternal peace. Amen.

Felicia Fil
Class of 2024

Scripture

First Reading: Jonah 3:1-10
Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

Tuesday of the First Week 

Reflection

Jesus’ teaching on how we are to pray come after He has previously instructed his followers on the Beatitudes, which describe how God’s blessings are to be imparted to those having virtues such as meekness, mercy, righteousness, and reconciliation. They speak to our interactions with others, and teach us ways in which we can give. But when Jesus turns to teaching us how to pray, He tells us to do so in privacy, enabling us to have a personal conversation with God. And in the Lord’s prayer, after first praising God, we submit our personal petitions, most of which can be understood in terms of basic human needs [bread, lack of debt (housing), etc.].

It is the generality of these needs that lets us expand our Lord’s prayer from strictly private to its public sharing at Mass. By extending our hands, either individually or connected to others, we express our openness to God in partnership and bonding with other believers. Our greater community may be seen to include not only those who recite the Lord’s prayer directly (Catholics and other Christians), but all others who, either individually or in another religious group, believe in God. In the words of Henri Nouwen, “To pray means to open our hands before God … recognizing that God is wherever we are.” Today we add “and where other believers are.”

Prayer

You, Lord, have eyes for the just and ears for their cry. Open and refresh our hearts as we bond with others who seek you. Amen.

Bill Geiger
Worshipping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11

Psalm 34:4-7, 16-19

Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

Monday of the First Week

Reflection

Our Reflection on the readings for this day begin in Leviticus, where the ritual laws of the tribe of Levi are listed. Our readings begin with the Lord’s words to Moses,” … to speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them:  Be Holy, for I, the Lord, your God am Holy.” After touching on many of the commandments we know, it ends with”… take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

We then move on to respond to the Psalm with Jesus’ words (John 6:63b) “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.”  The Psalm itself sings the perfection of God’s laws in all that the laws bring to us.  “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul … giving wisdom to the simple…rejoicing the heart… enlightening the eye…the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. 

The final reading is about the second coming of Jesus, where all are divided by Jesus into those who will inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and the accursed who will go into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Jesus makes clear that the way to the kingdom of eternal life is to love our neighbors. Feeding, clothing, caring for each other in sickness or in prison, welcoming strangers, any good we do for someone else is as though we had done it to Jesus Himself. We are imitating Jesus’ love and caring for us. It goes on every day, all day, from the gift of our being which we tend ignore though it is every moment we live, to the glory of nature around us, our family and friends, and the gifts of food, drink, time, shelter, the kindness of strangers. All that is good is from the Lord.  As in Leviticus, we are asked to be Holy for the Lord your God is Holy. Be like God, do for each other as God does in His endless love for us. He does show us how to be Holy, his ordinances are true and all of them just.

As we prepare to walk with Jesus to Golgotha and bear witness to his sacrifice of Love, these readings lead us to our God and Savior and show us our present path to be truly beside Him, through the daily love and care of each other.

 Prayer

Dearest Lord, let the words of my mouth, and the thought of my heart and my works of love for others find favor before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.

Stephanie Noakes
Class of 1980, MA ’09, P ’05

Scripture

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
Psalm 19:8-10, 15
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

First Sunday of Lent

Reflection

The Ark that saved Noah symbolized the Church for the early Christians. The great flood prefigured Baptism as Christians entered the Paschal Mystery: Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. The time in the ark paralleled Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. We renew and reaffirm our baptismal call during Lent.

Why was Noah saved? Noah was saved because he obediently built an ark and trusted God. The storms of life can destroy us unless we place ourselves in the ark. In the ark, we experience God’s protection and presence.

Are we building God’s vessel? Do we trust God? Are we entrusting our lives to God? Those are questions at the heart of Baptism.

Besides Noah’s Ark, the most sacred religious symbol for God’s people was the Ark of the Covenant, which housed the Ten Commandments. They expressed how God’s people should live. That Ark led God’s people to the Promised Land.

More accurately, their relationship with God and one another enabled them to enter the Promised Land.  In Solomon’s Temple, the Ark rested in the Holy of Holies, where God’s divine presence dwelt.  

In Mary’s Litany, we recognize her holiness with the titles: spiritual vessel, vessel of honor, singular vessel of devotion, and Ark of the Covenant. Those titles recognize her as “bearer of Christ.”  Baptism calls us to be God’s vessels, too.

Do others see us as God’s vessel? When others encounter us, are we bearers of Christ?

Prayer

Ever-loving and ever-present God, help me build my life into a vessel of honor. Enable me to be a singular vessel of devotion as a bearer of Christ who shows the way, knows the truth, and experiences your abundant life. Amen.

Father Dick Myhalyk, S.S.E.
Class of 1966 – B.S. in Chemistry

Scripture

First Reading: Genesis 9:8-15
Psalm 25:4-9
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Gospel: Mark 1:12-15

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Reflection

In today’s Gospel, Jesus encourages Levi, a sinner, to leave his “post” and follow Him.  I interpret this literally and figuratively.  In my mind, I see Levi’s post like a little toll booth-he is inside of four walls- which have closed him off to others.  Levi’s booth is also a spiritual barrier he has put up around himself which prevents him from following in the ways of the Lord.  

Wisely, Levi seizes the opportunity to begin anew.  His encounter with Jesus breaks his barrier.  This makes me wonder:  What is my “booth” - the things that close me off from getting closer to God?  When I need to find more compassion, more patience and more love for others, God often sends a person who calls me out of my routine somehow and reminds me to find a better way.  How often do I listen to those calls?  Like Levi, I can choose to heed those calls. I can be willing to leave my post- where I’ve been enclosed by sinful actions or a selfish mindset and reset.  Like Levi, I can celebrate those that call to me, because they bring me closer to walking in God’s Truth.

Prayer

O Lord, thank you for those people you send who become my lights in the darkness and remind me how to walk in your ways. Help me to be a repairer and a restorer for others who need light as you are for me. Amen.

Amy Rock-Wardwell
Class of 1996

Scripture
First Reading: Isaiah 58:9b-14

Psalm 86:1-6

Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Reflection

In today’s reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, we hear God telling His people the fasting that He desires. What stands out about God’s vision of a true fast is that He does not separate our interior act of repentance from the concern we hold for our brothers and sisters. Fasting and prayer are how we surrender to God the gifts He has given us so that He can convert and better dispose us to cooperation with His will. 

God speaks of feeding the hungry, sheltering the stranger, and clothing the naked. We hear Our Lord say in Matthew 25:40, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” In His call for mercy and almsgiving toward our neighbors in today’s reading, God prepares the Jewish people for when He will become Man, sharing in our hunger, need for shelter, and nakedness. At no moment is this truer than at His Passion on Good Friday.

The Church follows Christ’s call to mercy in her tradition, giving us the corporal works of mercy. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2447 states these as “feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and burying the dead.” This lent, let us reflect on how God is calling us to witness to Christ’s mercy for our brothers and sisters in these powerful ways.

Prayer

Lord, I come to you this day thankful that You have fully revealed the source of love and mercy to us, Your Son and our Lord Jesus Christ. May my prayers, works, and sufferings this lent proclaim your mercy to the whole world, particularly those souls You have entrusted to my care. Amen.

Trevor Johnson
Class of 2024

Scripture
First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-9a
Psalm 51:3-6b, 18-19
Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website