Daily Lenten Reflections

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Saturday of the First Week

Reflection

Moses speaks of the sacred as a blessing to be cherished. Sacredness is reverence and respect. God holds each person as holy, all of us, no exceptions.

Psalm 119 reminds us that innocence is a path of blessing. Innocence resides in our intention when encountering the challenges of life and seeks to walk with forgiveness and understanding. God’s blessedness is a protection when we walk with a pure heart trusting in God’s grace.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus calls us to a radical transformation of our human nature. He instructs us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. There are millions who suffer persecution, the systematic mistreatment of an individual inflicting suffering. The natural human response to persecution is anger, resentment or even hatred. Jesus encounters our humanity and says, “Wait a minute.” Only love heals the hurt caused in relationship. Forgiveness is the only healing response to persecution. Love and forgiveness together is the only path to authentic relationship and community.

Rather than an unreachable paradox, Jesus offers us the key to our happiness as well as our salvation.

Prayer

Beloved God, show us the path of love and forgiveness so that Your healing light may shine in our hearts as witness to Your living presence among us. Blessed Jesus, may we love one another as You love us so that we may be messengers of God’s peace.

Carol Fournier, M‘12

Scripture
First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-38

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

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Mission of Edmundite Campus Ministry

The Mission of Edmundite Campus Ministry at Saint Michael’s College is to share the Good News of the Gospel with the College community by facilitating encounter with Jesus Christ. We do this through the celebration of the Church’s Liturgy, in programs promoting knowledge of the Catholic faith, by developing ecumenical and interreligious relationships, and providing retreats and other opportunities for personal spiritual growth.

The Catholic and Edmundite tradition upon which the College was founded is grounded in the conviction that all women and men are created in the image and likeness of God providing a special dignity unique to each person. Such dignity requires human life to be respected in all of its stages recognizing that we are all children of God.

Therefore, in its pursuit of furthering the Reign of God, the Edmundite Campus Ministry staff seeks to interact with and support every member of the College community in their search for Truth, contributing to the “enhancement of the human person and to the advancement of human culture in light of the Catholic faith.”