Monday of the Third Week
Feast of Saint Joseph

Reflection

“Joseph was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame...”  Matthew 1:19.

Saint Joseph’s Day is ordinarily March 19, but the Third Sunday of Lent claimed that date this year, and Joseph, dutifully, obeys.  That’s almost lesson enough.  Joseph is “just,” “righteous,” as the Gospel of Matthew describes him, with the meaning that Joseph devotedly observed the Law of Moses,  the Law which defined Jewish identity and marked a true descendent of Abraham.

The Law which caused Joseph’s terrible dilemma: his betrothed wife was pregnant, and not by him.  The Law was clear:  Joseph “the just” should repudiate her.  But, no: that would expose her to public shame and perhaps even to the harsh punishment of an adulteress.  So, Joseph, led by mercy and the revelation which that mercy rewarded, chose beyond the requirements of the Law.

There is something almost subversive about this feast day, about a justice defined by mercy.  Isn’t that the way, though, that God fulfills his promises?  Always in surprising ways exceeding human expectation and boundaries?  Who could have guessed the Messiah would be conceived by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary?  that he would be brought into the line of David not by Joseph’s begetting but by Joseph’s faith?  and that there would be a Cross in store for him?  and a Resurrection?

Today we are celebrating a feast which honors and invokes a carpenter from a backwater village in an insignificant corner of the Roman Empire, as the guardian of God’s Son, and as Patron of the Universal Church, our guardian, too.  How surprising (and subversive) is that!

Prayer

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Fr. Richard Berube, S.S.E. ’66, Emeritus Professor, Religious Studies

Scripture

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16

Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29

Second Reading: Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2:41-51a

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Third Sunday of Lent

Reflection

The Samaritan woman was thirsty. At first glance, it might seem that she was thirsty for water since Jesus found her near a well. However, Jesus approached her knowing that her thirst was not only for water, but for truth. He offered to cease her thirst by offering her a different kind of water than that which was found in the well. His water would clean her of her sins and provide her with a new life lived in truth and goodness. After hearing what He had to offer her, the Samaritan woman had a decision to make. The Samaritan woman could have rejected this offer, but she instead begged Jesus to give her that water which He was offering to her.

There are many students in my college that are thirsty just like the Samaritan woman was in today’s Gospel. Even though I have only been in college for about a semester and a half, I have quickly come to realize that, like the Samaritan woman, most of us find ourselves thirsty. Thirsty for alcohol, sex, drugs, anything that brings pleasure to our bodies and fills up the emptiness we feel inside. Those things only temporarily fill the void within and cause us to become even more thirsty than we were to begin with. Until we realize that God is the only one that will ever quench that thirst, we will continue to be thirsty. We find out our identity and purpose in life when we find Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, when I thirst for earthly things, may You send Your Holy Spirit to help me become like the Samaritan woman and beg for the living water You have to offer me. Amen.

Elizabeth Lopez, ’20

Scripture

First Reading: Exodus 17:3-7

Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9

Second Reading: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

Gospel: John 4:5-42

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website 

Saturday of the Second Week

Reflection

Mercy. Forgiveness. Steadfast Love. Today’s readings send a message loud & clear—a message of a Loving God waiting for us, with open arms, to return.  For me, Lent has always been a time of facing the darkness inside myself, taking a good hard look at the many, MANY ways I fail and turn away from God.  While it is uncomfortable and humbling, I look forward to the time the Church sets aside for us to spend our time in the desert, to really work at being who we are called to be.  I need the reminder to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to spend more time in prayer, to come before Jesus as I am and sit in awe of the One who loves me. 

Yet, I want to hide; I find comfort in the busyness and muck of my everyday life.  Making time to be still seems less important and as the days of Lent fly by I find myself saying, “Next week.  Tomorrow. There’s time.” I am a contradiction.  I long for what Lent invites me to, yet I still fail.  We are all invited to come home. 

Years ago, as I was working with a group of children preparing for their first Sacraments of Reconciliation & Eucharist, we were reading today’s Gospel—but it was introduced as the story of “The Forgiving Father” (as opposed to the way I had always known the story of “The Prodigal Son”). The focus was not on the failings of the son.  The emphasis was how Loving & Forgiving the Father is.  Maybe Lent isn’t really so much about our failings, but rather our longing to be with the Forgiving Father who waits for us.  We are called to draw near to the Jesus who loves us in a way we will never truly grasp.  Fr. Mike Cronogue, a man who embodied God’s love & mercy in my life often said to me, “God loves you in the striving.” It seems too simplistic, but what if it really is that “easy?” So let us strive. Let us take this time to be still enough to just be loved.

Prayer

Jesus, help us to make time in our lives to just BE in Your presence.  Give us resolve to answer Your call, to come running to You and let ourselves experience the fullness of the love You offer us.  Amen.

Meeghan Bird Matarazzo, ’97, Member of the Worshipping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20

Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Friday of the Second Week

Reflection

Today’s readings, despite their focus on jealousy, treachery, and murder, teach us that dreams come true. As we heard weeks ago from Sirach, “Before everyone are life and death, whichever they choose will be given them.” We have to choose which dreams to follow.

The ancient Greek tragedians had their tragic heroes suffer from hamartia, a fatal flaw in their thinking. Joseph’s brothers choose to sell him into slavery out of jealousy; the tenants of the vineyard slay the landowner’s son out of greed. Their failure to care about the suffering of others, their flawed thinking, causes them to sin. The behavior of the tenants grows worse throughout the reading, until finally murder seems an acceptable choice.

There is a belief that it takes 10,000 to become an expert at something. If we spend our lives dwelling in jealousy, resentment, bitterness, greed, we can become experts at them. However, we can choose otherwise: to become experts at forgiveness, mercy, love. “Set before you are fire and water; to whatever you choose, stretch out your hand.” Dreams come true. What we work for—consciously or unconsciously—will come to pass. Choose wisely.

Prayer

Joseph’s brothers refer to him disdainfully as “that master dreamer.” God, inspire us to be Your master dreamers. Give us the gift of wisdom and clear thinking. Guide us to do our part in working to build Your Kingdom.

TJ Bird Matarazzo, ’98, Member of the Worshipping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
Psalm 105:16-21
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Thursday of the Second Week

Reflection

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable in which a rich man lived side by side with a poor man, Lazarus. Even though Lazarus was so hungry and needy, the rich man gave no thought to him. How often are we blind to the suffering of others? We convince ourselves that we can’t help others because we don’t have enough money, or because what we have to give won’t have enough impact. When we walk through the city and see those who are homeless and struggling, how often have we looked the other way, without even a hello? The rich man treats Lazarus as if he were not a human being deserving of respect or love. May we not do the same.

God reminds us that we need to treat others with love and share our gifts with the world. If you have been blessed with abundant wealth, give to those who have none. If you have been blessed with a beautiful voice, sing in the church choir. If you have been blessed with patience, volunteer to help the elderly or small children. Jesus asks us to love unconditionally as He does. When the rich man begs to warn his brothers so that they may repent, Abraham says, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” We have a limited time on Earth. Let us live in God’s image and use our gifts to help others, rather than look the other way.

Prayer

Lord, help me to live in Your image, to love those around me, and to share the gifts You have given me.

Chris Holloway, ’17

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

Today’s Gospel shows us discipleship is not easy.  Jesus tells us things that are hard to understand and difficult to do.  He tells us to do things that defy common sense or that are contrary to the messages we receive from worldly society.  For instance,  He tells the Twelve that He will be killed like a common criminal!  He tells a mother that her children will be condemned to suffer for their position as disciples.  And finally, He instructs us to turn away from the lure of power and prestige and choose a life in service to others instead.  Why would Jesus ask such hard things of us? I think the answer is rather beautiful.  He asks because He loves us, and because He has faith in our ability to be strong and loving people.   Jesus is the teacher who holds high expectations for each one of His students.  The teacher who believes each of them has the innate capacity to succeed in the tasks set before them.  He asks us to do hard things because He believes each of us can learn and grow and reach our full potential through these challenges. And because our teacher shows such faith in us—we strive to do the work.  The reward of learning this skill of discipleship is not only everlasting life, but also  earthly life full of rich relationships, the joy of connection with others, and love. 

Prayer

O Lord my God, help me find the courage and the perseverance to do the hard things You ask of me,  the wisdom to see the ways I can be of service to those who need my strength, and the light of Your example to guide me when I lose my way.  Amen.

Amy Rock Wardwell, ’96, Member of the 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. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.” Isaiah’s words in today’s first reading are a call to action, a call to service, a call for justice for all. Jesus continues this theme, advising the crowd to observe what the Pharisees preach, but not to follow their example. With so many opposing views in today’s highly politicized climate, it might be difficult to discern what is right, but as Christians, we have Jesus’ teachings as our guide. His message of love and mercy can help us make real change. In the song, “Do Something,” Matthew West asks, “If not us, then who/If not me and you/Right now, it’s time for us to do something.” It’s often too easy to sit back and assume that someone else will do the work to fix a problem, and we make assurances to ourselves that we can’t really make a difference anyway. God put us on this earth to love and serve one another, and every person has the ability to create change, no matter how small. Mother Teresa once said, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” Those small acts of kindness can add up. Think about the wording of Isaiah’s command, “Learn to do good.” He uses “learn,” since doing good is a habit and way of living that needs to be practiced and grown. It can start small, but it should always be done with love.

Prayer

Lord, please bestow me with the strength, courage, and love to be Your willing servant.

Activity: Listen to and reflect on “Do Something” by Matthew West.

Rebecca Rouleau, ’18

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