Daily Lenten Reflections

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Thursday of the Fourth Week

Reflection

Whenever we are lost nowadays, all it takes is a few taps on a smartphone for our GPS to show us the way. And yet, with unwavering confidence in our GPS, we occasionally ignore obvious signposts and drive unwittingly down dead end streets because we are determined that we (and our GPS) know the way, despite obvious signs otherwise.

“They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them.” Although these words were spoken about the Israelites during the Exodus, they could easily be applied to us today. Throughout Scripture, we find this again and again—people turning away from God, being “stiff necked” and refusing to see the truth of God around them, intent and determined to follow paths of their own choosing even if those paths lead them away from God. Whether it be the Israelites in Exile, the people of Nineveh, or a stubborn Pharisee, all missed or chose to ignore God’s message of truth, love and repentance at some point in their lives. Although we might be quick to judge these Biblical figures, how many times have we done the same? It is possible that if we had lived during the time of Jesus, “our vices, instead of melting away at His approach, would have kept us from acknowledging Him” and we would have “slipped away disillusioned at finding Him so ordinary, insufferably eccentric and even scandalous” (That Man is You, Louis Everly). But the truth is that not a day has gone by that we have not met Him. It is only that we have not acknowledged or recognized Him in our midst.

Although we might feel discouraged at how often we have turned away from God, today’s Scripture also provides us with a sense of hope. God has never stopped reaching out to us–through Moses, prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus and through the words and actions of those around us. God will never stop pursuing us with His love.

Prayer

God of life and truth, we pray that Lent will be a time when we turn back to Your truth, recognize Your presence among us, and accept the endless love that You offers us. May we not only see the truth, but be “signposts” pointing the way to You for others.

Anna Lester, ‘98, Assistant Director of Edmundite Campus Ministry

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

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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.”