Thursday of the Fifth Week

Reflection

As we approach the holiest week in the Church calendar, today’s readings tell us that the God we count on is a covenant-keeping God who is forever present. The gospel passage in John is part of a longer narrative describing the interactions between Jesus and doubting elders who are offended by His teachings in the Temple. The climax of the argument comes when Jesus says “before Abraham was made, I am”. We might wonder about the last two words: do they contain an error in tense that should be corrected by substituting ‘was’ for ‘am’? In fact, the stunning meaning of Jesus’ “I am” is illuminated in today’s first reading, in which God uses the same words when speaking with Abram. Thus, there could not be a more definitive expression by Jesus of His one-ness with the Father than His use of the two simple words “I am”. The covenant of God is neither time-dependent nor condition-dependent. We experience its manifestations in the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. In the beauty of the world, in the love we share with others, in the questions we may have about our place in this life, in the feelings we have as we experience the wonder of this coming Holy Week. In the here and now, as we write, as we read, is God’s unchanging presence and faithfulness. Let us focus on those in the days ahead.

Prayer

Lord, your faithful presence is always with us. Help us to see it in all that we do.

Bill Geiger
Member of the Worshiping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Genesis 17:3-9
Psalm 105:4-9
Gospel: John 8:51-59

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Wednesday of the Fifth Week

The Annunciation of the Lord
Reflection

The Lenten season itself takes a holiday on March 25, nine months before Christmas, to celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation. This day, falling in the midst of Lent, the season of penitence, calls us to reflect on the definitive moment in salvation history: with Gabriel’s greeting to Mary, the Church believes Jesus truly becomes incarnate. Conceived in her womb, Christ begins life as we all do: small, frail, dependent, needing parental care within his mother’s body and without. Much has been written about the shock and surprise Mary must have felt in this moment: “how can this be?” As one of the most illustrated moments in salvation history (and in the whole history of western art), our greatest artists have sought to capture her shock, her awe, her fear that turns to trust, moving her to proclaim “May it be done to me according to your word.”

Readers of sacred scripture may not be as surprised as Mary was: the Church has long believed that the Anointed One would be born of a virgin, one of the many prophecies of Isaiah that foretold the arrival of Christ. No one, however, usually expects that a prophecy will be fulfilled in themselves. Yet all of us, in our own ways, are called upon to be ready to hear the Lord’s call whenever and however it may come. From Isaiah, to Mary, to Christ himself as quoted in the Letter to the Hebrews, the same refrain echoes: “I come to do your will, O God.” May we all be ready to heed the call.

Prayer

O God, who willed that your Word should take on the reality of human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that we, who confess our Redeemer to be God and man, may merit to become partakers even in his divine nature, through Christ our Lord.

Michael R. Carter, S.S.E. ’12
Director of Campus Ministry

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10
Psalm 40:7-11
Second Reading: Hebrews 10:4-10
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Tuesday of the Fifth Week

Reflection

In today’s fast-paced world, we are so used to a fast-paced life that we often become very impatient and unwilling to trust the process or journey. In the first reading, the people of Israel are tired, hungry, and discouraged. They are becoming “worn out by the journey,” and this tiredness turns into frustration and complaints to God and Moses. Instead of remembering all that God has done for them, they are filled with complaints and blindness to the good that God has provided them in their lives. It is easy to recognize ourselves in them. When our prayers are not answered right away, or not on the timeline we desire, it is easy to turn to complaining. In the moments of this doubt, we are tempted to believe that God has led us astray. God does not erase all our struggles instantly, but He invites us to lift our eyes to Him and trust the path He has perfectly aligned for each of us. During this time of Lent, it is a time to turn away from the temptation to complain and instead turn to confidence in the Lord and the plan He has perfectly crafted for each one of us on our journeys.

Prayer

As we prepare for the coming of Easter, may we find peace and confidence in the plan the Lord has created for each and every one of us on our journeys, and turn our complaining into confidence in Him.

Kayley Bell, ’27

Scripture

First Reading: Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21
Gospel: John 8:21-30

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Monday of the Fifth Week

Reflection

My mother has a saying, “there but for the grace of God go I.” It was often invoked when she listened to one of her children critiquing someone else’s behavior. This phrase came to mind as I was reading John’s Gospel where the woman who has sinned is brought before Jesus. Her shortcomings are publicly proclaimed by the standard bearers of her time and she is to be condemned for them. Perhaps we have been the “scribes and Pharisees”- quick to point out other’s faults and mistakes while cloaking ourselves in righteousness; forgetting that tomorrow we might well find ourselves on the other side of the line in need of grace? Perhaps we, like the woman, know what it is to have our worst mistakes widely broadcast; standing exposed and braced for the judgement of others while struggling with our conscience?

 

Jesus’ response to the woman’s situation is powerful in two ways I think. First, when He refrains from condemning her and challenges her accusers instead to “let the one among you who is without sin throw the first stone at her,” He reminds us that we all will sin and be in need of grace during our journeys. Christians must act with compassion. To be shown mercy we must extend mercy. Second, Jesus reminds us that, like the woman, when we sin it does not have to define or trap us forever. We can choose to turn from sin and when we do the “grace of God” will bring us a fresh start. God will always show us compassion.

Prayer

O Lord, may there always be compassion, grace and mercy for others in my heart, in my words and in my actions. Help me to extend my empathy for others and refrain from being judgmental. Amen.

Amy Rock-Wardwell, ’96
Member of the Worshipping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62

Psalm 23:1-6

Gospel: John 8:1-11

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Reflection

This Sunday we are invited to ponder and pray with the theme of resurrection and the divinity of Christ. In the Ezekiel reading we are told that God said, “you shall know I am the Lord when I open your graves and have you rise from them.” So, as we read in John’s Gospel that Jesus asks that Lazarus’ grave be opened and invites him to come out, Jesus is letting all present know that yes, he is the Lord, the Christ.

Clearly Jesus has a plan as he hears that Lazarus has died. He doesn’t go quickly but waits a number of days and says to his disciples “I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe.” Clearly after 4 days in the tomb Lazarus is dead, so what happens once Jesus gets there has to be believed that it comes from God. Martha brings forth the Resurrection mes-sage when she and Jesus meet and have their discussion about Lazarus rising and Jesus is assured that she believes in the resurrection on the last day. Her response “Yes Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God...”

However, through this dialogue and when Mary arrives, we also read that as Jesus allows his friends and others to express that they believe he is the Christ, he also shows his very human side and “gets perturbed and weeps” at times. Much to ponder in these readings as we prepare for the Resurrection.

Prayer

May I find quiet moments this week to have my own dialogue with Jesus and pray for the Spirit of God to be more and more present in my daily life. Amen. 

Lindora Cabral, RSM

Scripture

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14
Psalm 130:1-8
Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11
Gospel: John 11:1-45

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Saturday of the Fourth Week

Reflection

The confusion, speculation, and division among the people in today’s Gospel comes just after Jesus said “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink…as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’”

The people were divided. Was Jesus a prophet to be heard? The Messiah to be followed? A blasphemer to be seized? Guards who heard Jesus’ words directly declined to arrest him, despite the authorities and Pharisees not believing in Jesus.

Within the Gospel, Nicodemus offers a question relevant to our time and our faith – “Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” Indeed, do we or our legal system judge or seize others simply based on their origin or their relation to authority figures? Or, as Nicodemus intimates, do we look deeper to hear their words and see their actions and then make informed decisions? The latter is a practical extension of Jesus’ directive to love our neighbors as ourselves.

In times of confusion, speculation, and division, let us turn to the source, hear and see for ourselves, and make just decisions. We must see to it that our legal system does the same, as Nicodemus’ question begs. In our own journeys of faith, let us go to the source for firsthand connection. Let us hear Jesus’ words and consider his actions. We believe they give us what we need in order to know and believe that Jesus is the Living Water.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, especially as we reflect on our actions and responses during this time of Lent, let us turn to your words of Love and Living Water to discern the right path forward.

Jonathan ’87 & Marilyn Billings ’87, P’10

Scripture

First Reading: Jeremiah 11:18-20

Psalm 7:2-3; 9b-12

Gospel: John 7:40-53

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Friday of the Fourth Week

Reflection

I was there when they tried to arrest him, and I was secretly happy that he slipped away. Could this Jesus really be the Christ?

I want to ask those around me what they think. I want to ask if they also wonder whether he may be the one. But I’m afraid. Powerful people revile him and are eager to condemn him. I’m not terribly surprised, since Jesus is clearly not afraid to speak truth to power. I silently cheer him on! We all know they’re corrupt, but rare is the person who will stand up to them.

During the Feast of Tabernacles, it is our tradition to extend hospitality, to celebrate the fruits of the harvest, to give thanks for all we have been given and to give back to God in return. If only I’d had the courage to speak up and to invite him to join me and my,family for a meal. Perhaps we would now know for sure.

Prayer

Lord, we welcome you to our table and into our hearts, with gratitude for all we have been given. Grant that we may generously give back by loving our neighbors and give us the courage to speak your truth each day.

Rick Coté, ’89
Saint Michael’s College Board of Trustees

Scripture

First Reading: Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22
Psalm 34:17-21, 23
Gospel: John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website