Thursday of the Fourth Week

Reflection

As we go through our daily lives, it is easy to have our focus turn inward and downward. However, our proper orientation should be outward and upward. We should think beyond ourselves and order ourselves towards God. In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks us, "How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not accept the praise that comes from the Only God?" (John 5:44) We often seek to satisfy our own will and the will of others over and against attempting to satisfy the will of God.  We seek to get right with our fellow man rather than getting right with God. 

There is nothing wrong with praising one another, but it should be in recognition of the presence of God in others. Human praise is often not a good guide to what is right and wrong.  Praise that is based on worldly matters and values keep us looking inward and encourages sin. The praises that we give and receive should be directed towards fulfillment of the will of God.

Prayer

Dear Lord, during this Lenten season, help us to reject the temptation of worldly praise.  May we praise You for Your perfect goodness and seek to listen You to guide our words, actions, and values.  Amen.

Ben Newbury, ’23

Scripture

First Reading: Exodus 32:7-14
Psalm 106:19-23
Gospel: John 5:31-47

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Wednesday of the Fourth Week

Reflection

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says “I cannot do anything on my own.” What a radical statement! How often do we stubbornly try to live life without seeking support from those around us, or even from God? For me, the answer is too often. My ego and independence get the best of me, and I try to make it on my own. 

In the Psalm and First Reading, God reminds us of the support He gives to everyone in need—comforting His people, showing mercy to the afflicted, lifting up those who are falling down, and being compassionate towards all His works. He is there for us, even in all our struggles. 

Today’s readings are an invitation to trust in God and to ask Him to help us. Like Jesus, we too cannot do anything on our own. God offers so much guidance, comfort, and joy to those who choose to bring their problems and worries to Him. As the Psalm says, “the Lord is near to all who call upon Him.” Let us call upon God to come live within us. 

Prayer

Lord, help us to lean into Your support and love. Help us to trust in You, to call on You, and to seek You always.

Marina Jerry, ’19

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 49:8-15

Psalm 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18

Gospel: John 5:17-30

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Tuesday of the Fourth Week

Reflection

"Do you want to be well?” 

 This line stood out to me as I read today’s Gospel.  I think we all can stand there and say yes.  But do we really want to be healed from all that ails us?

 Lately every time I stop to pray, I feel like I ask God to heal something about me.  It could be anything from a physical pain, an emotional pain, or a spiritual pain.  As I reflected more on this question Jesus asks with the pains I was currently struggling with, I began to see that I might not really be saying a full yes to this question.  I thought about my physical pain and realized I might not be as consistent in my physical therapy as I should be.  I thought about my emotional pain and asked myself if I am truly ready to let go of the baggage I’m carrying.  I thought about my spiritual pains and noticed I could probably fit more time with God into my daily life. 

 In the Gospel story, Jesus commands the man to “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.”  How many of my pains can be healed or have my burdens feel lighter if I pick myself up and move forward?  If I follow Him without question or hesitation, it would be all of them.

Prayer

Lord, I want to be healed of my ailments like the man in today’s Gospel.  Let your Grace and Love surround me in my sufferings.  May I find comfort and healing in Your arms.  Amen.

Maura Grogan, ’14

Scripture

First Reading: Ezekiel 47: 1-9, 12
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
Gospel: John 5:1-16

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Monday of the Fourth Week

Reflection

As I remember the journey we have taken as a community over the last twelve months and reflect on today’s readings, I see in them a breath of fresh air and an assurance of good things to come. The readings are infused with an unrelenting optimism about the promise of the future. And the best thing is that we don’t have to wait to embrace that positive attitude.

Isaiah says that “there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create.” What God has created surrounds us all the time—and as we muddle through the end of winter and squish into the spring, we have an opportunity to watch God’s power as the natural world re-awakens all around us. As we approach the vernal equinox, our lives are tipping toward the light and our mourning may change into dancing with the dawn of each new day. The Lord provides for our rescue through our own faith. 

John’s Gospel continues to advance the idea of the need for us all to have faith, to believe. The royal official in the story believes that Jesus might save his child. Jesus cautions him saying that “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” But the official does believe and returns to find his son cured. We too, are challenged to put our faith in God and all His glory and to set aside our desire for a sign or proof of God.

 Prayer

Lord, help me to see beyond the challenges and setbacks I have encountered recently and to look with renewed hope and optimism toward the glory and the promise of the next moment.

John Devlin, Professor of Fine Arts, Theatre

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 65:17-21
Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-12a, 13b
Gospel: John 4:43-54

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 Fourth Sunday of Lent

Reflection

“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,” Jesus says in today’s Gospel from John (3:14-21), “so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” It wasn’t enough for God to become flesh in Jesus. It wasn’t enough to heal the sick, feed the poor, and raise the dead. It wasn’t enough for Jesus to give us His very self—His Body and Blood—at the Last Supper. Through Jesus, God kept giving the human person signs that He loves us. In our stubbornness, we beckoned for more signs, more wonders. And God kept delivering. God must’ve wondered if we would ever get it. 

God did not give up. He let the unthinkable happen. He gave His only Son over to the authorities who put Him to death. He allowed Him to be lifted up on the cross, as today’s Gospel reminds us. Just maybe we will now understand and believe in God’s love.

The Church is two weeks away from Palm Sunday and Holy Week. We will walk with Jesus through His passion, death and resurrection. We do so every year as a reminder of what God has done for us. It wasn’t enough simply to be here; He had to die and rise for us to get it. Do you get it now?

Prayer

Dear Lord, inspire me to get it. To understand. To know You and love You as You love me. In this is found eternal life!

Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois, Saint Michael’s College Board of Trustees

Scripture

First Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23

Psalm 137:1-6

Second Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10

Gospel: John 3:14-21

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Saturday of the Third Week
Reflection

Today’s readings confront us with messages that are challenging as well as subtle in their implications, because they address not only our external actions but also the purity of our motives. The first reading concludes with the words, “For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Love, which in its essence is active concern for the welfare of a person or persons other than oneself, must be at the heart of all our actions, and we must always remember that God is love and that “he who loves abides in God, and God in him.” In the responsorial psalm we read “It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.” Instead we must offer a “contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.” We must be contrite when our actions are not simply for the benefit of others but rather to make ourselves look good in the eyes of others.

In today’s Gospel, we have the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, the latter of whom was a member of a despised profession. The Pharisee prides himself on his good deeds, which are designed to call public attention to himself. The tax collector, on the other hand, is sincerely sorry for whatever wrong he has done and seeks forgiveness and God’s mercy. The tax collector, unlike the Pharisee, “went home justified” because of his sincere repentance for his past misdeeds and his humble desire to do better in the future.

Prayer

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One and One in Three, give us the strength to act with sincerity and simplicity in all that we do.

Lorraine Sterritt, President of Saint Michael’s College and Norbert Lain, Instructor in Latin, Greek, and of Medical and Scientific Terminology

Scripture

First Reading: Hosea 6:1-6
Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21b
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 Friday of the Third Week

Reflection

We are often called to reflect on what is truly important in our lives, and many find this difficult to do. So much of life seems to be predicated on accumulation: we crave and seek objects, status, degrees, whatever it is that we feel will fill us, creating ‘idols’ of these things that sap our drive and energy. The dialog that we see here between Jesus and the scribe shows the two men thoughtfully engaged in conversation about this very issue of ‘importance’. They come to the wise conclusion that regard for God and regard for other humans need to be the core of any moral understanding and of any religious impulse. A sad and enduring irony of religion is that in seeking most intently to be in God’s favor, we can make an ‘idol’ of religion itself, with ritual and practice becoming more important than a regard for justice, and a desire to connect with and understand our fellow humans. Loving God and loving neighbor is worth more than any ritual or sacrifice, as the scribe adroitly points out. Indeed, he is echoing a concept that has been known and grappled with throughout salvation history: the prophet Hosea echoes the same refrain. True renewal comes from turning to the Lord, reflecting on how we are being challenged to grow and improve, being encouraged to cast off our idols. To understand that the health of our communities and our human connections can be a reflection of our connection to the Lord is true prudence and true wisdom.

Prayer

Lord, we live together on this earth, and ask through Your grace to live together in eternity. Help us to understand what it is You truly ask, that we may set our hearts on what is true.

Fr. Michael Carter, SSE ’12, Lecturer of Religious Studies.

Scripture

First Reading: Hosea 14:2-10
Psalm 81:6c-11b, 14, 17
Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website