Friday of the Second Week

Reflection

How many times in Jesus’ parables do we find the opposite of worldly wisdom? We think we’ve grasped bits of how to be successful and live a good life, only to find an unexpected person or event enters our story? I’m surprised almost daily by a new perspective or outcome emerging out of left field. Imagine the disbelief of Joseph’s jealous and murderous brothers when they find him in Egypt, lord and ruler of all the king’s possessions. Their father’s favorite son, whom they had sold into slavery, turns out to be their people’s savior in the midst of famine.

In Matthew’s Gospel parable about the greedy vineyard tenants, the landowner assumes that his son will be respected as the heir and all will be well. Not so. The unfaithful laborers will kill him and lose every-thing. The vineyard (God’s Kingdom) will go to people who will produce good fruit.

Likewise, in referring to himself, Jesus notes that “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done and it is wonderful in our eyes.”

The psalm calls us to “remember the marvels the Lord has done”, in times gone by and in our own lives. Our Lord provides for and loves us beyond measure, so we pray...

Prayer

Loving Father of us all, help us recognize and give thanks for the cornerstones you provide in our lives. Amen.

Jan Hancock, M’12, P’99, P’09
Chapel Choir

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

Today’s readings have a common theme of God-centered generosity of heart in contrast to rejection of God, turning instead to a false god of earthly prosperity.

Psalm 1 was written as a preface to the Psalter most likely during King David’s reign around 1,000 BC or later. Jeremiah, a priest and prophet (c.570 BC – 650 BC), would have known Psalm 1 and borrowed its imagery for today’s first reading. Both readings describe relationship with God as a tree planted near a stream, its roots stretching to the water’s life-giving nourishment for fruitful blessings. The heart turned away from God is “as chaff that the wind blows away” (Psalm 1) or as a shrub planted in the barren salt lands (Jeremiah). Loving relationship with God brings us nourishment of faith, hope and charity, and a pathway to everlasting life. The Gospel translates the Old Testament imagery into the parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus. In this passage and throughout Jesus’ ministry, we hear that God favors the poor and brings heavenly re-lief to the suffering. Our actions of generosity, recognizing Christ among us, are key to salvation.

Prayer

We ask the intersession of our patron saints to inspire generosity of heart and to embolden our actions to respond to the needs of the poor. We pray that our Lenten prayers and actions will bring us and others closer to you, God, our Love.

Ann Cousins
Member of the Worshipping Community

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

An environmental activist friend of mine wrote a piece recently, “The Problem with Limits”. Reading and meditating on today’s liturgical readings, his piece struck me as an applicable analogy. As people concerned about the health of our earth, its lands we try to protect for the people, for our children, the experience of creation, a direction pointed to God, we look at “limits” to put on others - corporations, etc. that push the environment to its very ‘limits’ (in our estimation — external limits) and clearly headed beyond. The end point of the piece is what we need to be doing is “self-limitation”, to the point of changing ourselves - to give up to give others.

I believe this is Jesus’ point in his discussion with his apostles along the road to Jerusalem. James and John have their mother approach Jesus with their request of being “enthroned” sitting to the right and left of Jesus in his kingdom to come. Instead, he explains to them that the point is changing oneself from expecting to be served by others, to serving others. In terms of sacrifice (self-limitation) Jesus stresses that we make the preemptive move into “drinking of the cup” ourselves instead of always asking others to drink it.

The prophet Jeremiah, in our first reading, has exposed truth about the corruption of “the men of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem” and now they are plotting to take his life. It seems even today that truth is under attack. The bottom line: trust in God.

Prayer

God, help me to understand where and how I can ‘self-limit’ for the benefit of others - all people, our non-human sisters and brothers, and our earth, home to all. 

Maura Kelley
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

Isaiah’s reading is a call to justice, repentance and turning from evil to do good. Isaiah wants us to listen to God, to learn to do good and make justice our aim.

“Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD!” We need to things straight in all our actions. We “set things straight” by talking to the Lord and asking for the Lord’s forgiveness. We need to reflect on our thoughts and actions that day. We need to take time each evening to review our day and seek the Lord’s forgiveness for any sins we may have committed.

God tells us that we are all created equal. Setting things straight means loving all people in our world and recognizing all people are created equal.

Let us hear the words of the LORD and learn to be good.

Matthew reminds us “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled: but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” We must not do good deeds just because our friends and neighbors will be impressed with us. We must remain humble.

Prayer

Let us pray for all people in this world – Lord, please help me to love and embrace all people as my equals. Help me to bring peace to our world in all my words and actions. Let me recognize equity, diversity and inclusion. Help me to be humble.

Chris Pingert
Member of the Worshipping Community

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

In reflecting on today’s gospel by Luke, I can’t help but think of a similar phrase in Matthew 7:12 “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”— the Golden Rule. Only Luke is much more specific. He outlines the STOPS: judging, condemning and the DOs: be merciful, forgive, give gifts. The first reading calls us shame-faced (a word I was unfamiliar with) for having sinned against the Lord but then goes on to point out that God has met us with com-passion and forgiveness. We must follow that example.

The issue that challenges me most in these controversial political times is judging. I think God requires a bit more effort on my part. When tempted to judge another’s view of world events, I need to stop and be curious about why they believe as they do. Perhaps, in the end we will still disagree, but hopefully in a civil manner with-out hurling hurtful comments or dismissing each other as being ignorant. Perhaps trying this approach will give back the “good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing that is poured into our laps.”; Or in simpler terms…go easy on others and they will do the same for you. 

Prayer

Lord, help me to be aware of times when I’m quick to judge help me to remember that you have made each of us and do not measure us by our shamefulness but with love.

Mary Dennison
Member of the 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

Abram and Sara were from a prominent family of Ur, an ancient city with its affluence built on violence, oppression, and exploitation. God called this couple to leave their civilization of privilege and to go out into the unknown. God promised to be with them and show them a better way.

In our own faith journey we are called to step out and take a different direction into the unknown, trusting that what we have is not as good as it gets. We believe God’s promise that there is a better way.

Consider the horizon that is part of our daily lives. We pay extra money for homes with a view of the mountains on the distant horizon. We walk the shores of the ocean with our eyes fixed on the horizon. We do not know what is on the other side, yet it calls us. Faith is walking with God toward that horizon. In His presence we can endure life’s difficulties, accept what we did not expect to happen in our lives. We can leave the old self and take on a new self. We can take steps to move forward toward the horizon and into the unknown.

When the apostles witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus, they did not understand what happened but felt drawn to it. With Jesus we can take a new direction, a better way, the way of adding love to the universe, the way of compassion, kindness, goodness, reconciliation, forgiveness, The Way of Jesus.

Prayer

God, our Father, we place our trust in You. Let Your mercy be on us through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son Who lives with You in Unity with the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

Janice Couture
Member of the Worshipping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Saturday of the First Week

Reflection

In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses continues to instruct the people in the statutes and laws of the Lord which are perfect. What is so remarkable in this last book of the Torah is that these laws are given not as a reprimand but as the foundation of God’s covenant with His people. We have a God who calls us into relationship. He will be our God. We will be His people, a people sacred to Him as we keep His commandments.

In today’s gospel reading, Matthew tells us more about this covenant that God has made with His people. Just as Jesus loves us, he calls on us to love one another; to go beyond our bounds, beyond our comfort zone. It is not enough to love family, friends and others who gratify us. We must love our enemies. God is our perfect model of love as he “makes the sun shine on bad and good alike, and the rain to fall on the just and unjust.” The God who made and loves all of us, teaches us that we must love without discrimination.

The covenant God makes with us call us into a deeper relationship with Him and a love of others, even our enemies.

Prayer

God grant me the grace to love my enemies. Oh, how much more comfortable to find fault, to claim higher ground from which to look down on those I call enemy. I pray that you would move my heart this day to respond with love for all.

Jackie Lawson, M’89
Member of the Worshipping Community

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