Monday of the First Week

Reflection

Whether we like it or not, Lent is a season of discipline—a season of tangible growth and change in preparation of the glory of Easter.  And while the thought of Lenten discipline may turn our minds immediately to fasting, abstention from meat, and omission of “Alleluia” from our vocabulary, the readings and Gospel for today provide us with so much more.  The Lord is explicit in His instructions today, my friends.  In the first reading, He begins, with no small task, by saying to Moses, “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.”  In many ways, I believe that this invitation—this divine call to action — is the succinct and beautiful epitome of the Lenten season.  Be holy, for the Lord our God is holy. The instructions that follow are equally important, “You shall not steal.  You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.  You shall love your neighbor as yourself”…and many more.

 

The readings today remind us of the purest and love-motivated discipline that we should strive to exemplify throughout our Lenten journey this year.  Our fasting, our abstentions, our “giving up”—these disciplines are significant—and they help us grow.  However, I pray that our determination to be holy, as our Lord is, will guide our spiritual growth and transform our hearts that we may enter the Church on Easter Sunday as a truly changed Easter people. 

 

 Prayer
Lord, open our ears to hear Your call to holiness today.  Help us to discipline ourselves throughout this season of Lent to appreciate our earthly and bodily sacrifices but also to consciously change our mind and our actions to become more holy like You.  Amen. 

 

Eliza McDonald, ’17

 

 

Scripture
First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
Psalm 19:8-10, 15
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

First Sunday of Lent

Reflection

To be honest, there was a time when I inwardly rebelled at the length of Lent, six weeks or 40 days. It seemed to me that Advent, my favorite liturgical season, was only four weeks, a time of joyful expectation of Christmas. So, why make Lent, with its heavy emphasis on self-denial and contrition, a longer period? Is it a sort of masochism for the Church to dwell on that which hurts?

             

I think (and hope!) that I have now come to a more mature appreciation of Lent and its connection to Jesus’ own 40 days of fasting and prayer in the desert, which we hear about in this Sunday’s Gospel reading. If Jesus, who was without sin, felt a need for disciplining His human nature, how much greater is that need for us?

 

It is significant, I believe, that the temptations that the devil or power of evil held out to Jesus are similar to temptations that we ourselves encounter, perhaps on a more or less regular basis: over-indulgence of our appetites, undue desire or lust for possessions and power, etc. We surely need to be strengthened, as was Jesus, through prayer, discipline and the help of God’s Holy Spirit, in order to resist and overcome such temptations.  So, Lent can be a spiritually salutary time for all of us. 

 

Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, come and lead us and guide us on our Lenten journey, so that like Jesus, we may overcome any power of evil that comes our way. 

 

Fr. Ray Doherty, S.S.E. ’51,  Campus Minister

 

 

Scripture

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Psalm 91:1-2, 10-15
Second Reading:  Romans 10:8-13
Gospel: Luke 4:1-13

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Reflection

Today’s readings present us with a choice.  We can be content to dwell on our own self-interests, blind to oppression and the injustices inflicted on others, or enlightened by the Lord, we can turn our hearts, minds, and actions towards those in need.  The journey of Lent is the journey from darkness into light and God is our guide.  Just as the daylight gently pushes away winter’s gloom a little more each day, so the grace of God will renew those who help the afflicted. But this is a task we cannot undertake merely through our own good intention. We are asked to observe the Sabbath, giving over our time and personal interests to honor and delight in the Lord in the celebration of the Sabbath.  Only then, strengthened by Christ’s love and nourished by grace, will we truly be prepared to do the Lord’s work.

 

How often do we set out on the Lenten journey with determination and a plan of self-sacrifice, only to fall flat?  We are human, afflicted by sin; imperfection is imbedded in our DNA.  We may fail in our Lenten purpose; we will certainly fail, and fail often, in our attempts to fulfill the divine purpose. When we succumb to selfishness or malice, there is always an opportunity to choose again, to start over on the journey, be it for forty days or forty years.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus is scolded by the Pharisees and scribes for feasting with the tax collectors.  He replies, “I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”  We are the sinners and we are called to repentance, not just for one day or forty days, but always.  God is waiting for us to come into the light.

 

 

Prayer

O Lord, teach us to trust in Your patience and forgiveness as we find our way, through fits and starts, into the light of Your everlasting love.   

 

Chris Clary, Director of Career Development

 

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 58:9b-14

Psalm 86:1-6

Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

 

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

 
 

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Reflection

Jesus reminds us today that there is a time for everything, a time to mourn and a time to celebrate.  While He was present on this earth, He urged His disciples, the disciples of John, and the Pharisees to celebrate with Him, warning them that there will come a time of mourning.  Yet, we must examine this reading in the context of the first reading from Isaiah where God calls His people not to fast absent mindedly, but instead to care for those who are hungry, oppressed, and treated unjustly.  God notes that we must not turn our back on our own, something all too easy to do.  Indeed, living in the small bubble of the Saint Michael’s community makes it a simple task to ignore problems right here in Burlington, Vermont; as a college student, I need not ever leave campus if I so desire. 

But God calls us to preferentially care the poor, a part of Catholic Social Teaching.  Preferentially caring for the poor means recognizing that issues like epidemics of disease tend to focus in on poorer populations, and healthcare institutions should as well. As Oscar Romero suggested, we have one reaction to a building we watch burning, but a much more frantic reaction to the burning building if we learned that our mother or father were inside.  As Catholics, we are called to look upon poverty from this perspective and see Christ in whoever might be suffering.

 

Prayer

Dear Lord, give me the courage and compassion to notice Your presence in everyone around me, those close to me and those I call strangers.

Greg Hamilton, ’16

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-9a

Psalm 51:3-6a, 18-19

Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

 

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Reflection
In the first reading, Moses instructs people to choose a life in the Lord. He says: “Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding His voice, and holding fast to Him. For that will mean life for you…” Moses clearly and directly speaks to the people. He challenges them to examine their own lives in Christ.  He reminds them of the good that the Lord has promised their descendants.

In this Lenten season, think about your own life in Christ. Do you work to spread His good news? Do you follow in the footsteps of Christ? Do you turn toward Him during times of struggle and strife? Do you place your trust and hope in the Lord? Do you make a daily choice to turn your eyes, mind, and heart toward Him?

The Lord speaks to each and every one of us, even though sometimes we aren’t willing to listen. He guides us down the right path and carries us upon His back when we can no longer carry ourselves. The psalmist says: “Blessed are they that hope in the Lord.”  Hope in the Lord that we may be renewed this Lenten season. Hope in the Lord who has planned a marvelous life for us. Hope in the Lord who gave His only Son because He loved us so very much.

 
Prayer

O Lord, our God, help me to turn my eyes, mind, and heart toward You. Let me be consoled by You in times of despair and helplessness.  Help me to spread Your good news. Guide me to the path that You have set forth for me. Help me to listen to Your voice, Lord. Amen.

Emily Carolin, ’16

 

Scripture
First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Psalm 1:1-4, 6

Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

Ash Wednesday

Reflection

Lent is a time of preparation for the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter. Ash Wednesday starts off this time of reflection and turning inward to evaluate our daily lives and habits. Often in our society, we are swept up in instant gratification and showing the world only our “good” selves. Today on Ash Wednesday, we as Christians are called to recognize our sinfulness and return to the Lord in a slow 40-day preparation and rejuvenation.

In the first reading by Joel, we are told to “return to [the Lord] with your whole heart,” for God is “gracious and merciful…slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.” The psalm also reminds us to cling to God and create a clean heart.

In Matthew’s Gospel today, we are reminded how we should give alms/charity, fast, and pray.  Matthew explains how we should do these things in “secret” and our Father will repay us. This does not mean to be ashamed of what we are doing. In fact, it is a reminder that as a Christian, we should be humble and to do these things for the Lord, not for others.

During this season, many people choose to give up something in their lives. I challenge you to give up something for these 40 days and not pick it back up on Easter. Lent is a time for transformation, a time to change habits that are hurting our relationship with God. Instead of just giving up chocolate, delete apps from your phone or set a certain amount of time for social media or TV watching and then spend this time with the Lord and with friends and family.

Prayer

May God give you a clean heart this Lenten season to grow closer to Him through almsgiving, fasting, and prayer.

Emma Kalamarides, ’16 

Scripture

First Reading: Joel 2:12-18

Psalm 51:3-6b, 12-14, 17

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

 

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

 

 

 

Join us on a Lenten Journey…

Lent is an incredible gift to us. Some of us receive it with eagerness as a time of healing and growth; others receive it with trepidation of the challenges and sacrifices that Lent can pose; still others receive it with indifference.  And yet regardless of where we are in our spiritual journeys, we are all given an opportunity during these 40 days to turn our hearts back towards God and deepen our relationship with God and others in a special way.  It offers a chance to take time to reflect on our lives and renew our commitment to open our hearts to God through prayer.

With this in mind, the students, faculty, staff, and members of the Saint Michael’s College worshipping community have come together to offer their reflections on the daily Scripture readings and what they are saying to us in our lives today...how they challenge and encourage us to feel God’s presence, love, and forgiveness each day during this sacred time. Each day of Lent, there will be a new reflection on this blog, based on the Scripture readings of the day, from Ash Wednesday through Easter. We encourage you to join us on a Lenten journey of reflecting and praying with us through this site.

We hope that these reflections are ones that inspire and help you grow deeper in your prayer life during the journey of Lent as we prepare for the Resurrection of Christ Jesus!  May we be inspired to open our eyes and see God’s deep, unconditional love present in our lives.

Please note that these reflections are not intended to represent theological views or statements by Edmundite Campus Ministry or Saint Michael’s College, but rather are a compilation of reflections as written by members of the campus and wider community of worshippers.