Third Sunday of Lent

Reflection

Lest we forget, this Sunday’s readings give us just another example of God’s loving mercy and kindness. From God’s response to the grumbling, quarrelling people of Massah and Meribah to Jesus’ compassionate interaction with the woman he meets at the well, Paul then sums it up clearly in his message to the Romans (and us): God proves His love for us in Christ’s death on a cross. We just need to remember, and believe.

In this year where COVID has directed many of our actions and reactions, I know I can relate to the grumblers. I can feel the desperation of those who want to believe and have hope in the power of God, but are struggling to be reassured.  COVID has just been one of many difficulties we’ve faced this year. Politically, socially, spiritually, our country is in turmoil. It is hard to know God’s peace when we don’t know God’s justice and mercy. We need to remember, and believe.

Like a beacon, Paul reminds us: hope does not disappoint. The love of God poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit will continue to guide our way, if we pause, feel it, know it to be true. God’s love poured into our hearts, God’s love for us through Jesus Christ, Jesus’ example to us of compassionate mercy and kindness. This is the living water from which we can heal, love, and praise.  We need to remember, and believe.

Prayer

Take a moment to pause, feel, and know God’s loving presence in your life. Compassionate and Merciful God, You allow me to drink from Your living water so I may live with hope, purpose, and love. Keep me faithful to You and Your will.  Help me to remember, and believe.

Heidi St. Peter, ’97, Assistant Dean for Advising

Scripture

First Reading: Exodus 20:1-17

Psalm 19:8—11

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Gospel: John 2:13-25

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website 

Saturday of the Second Week

Reflection

The Gospel story for today, the Prodigal Son, is one of the most beloved and well known. And that may mean we are too familiar with it! You know how it goes when we’ve heard a story many times. Our ears and heart go quickly to the finish, perhaps then missing a new or deeper insight. However, for as many times we’ve heard a story, we are never the same at a new hearing of it. 

This Lenten season we are still living through a global pandemic, the country is smarting from divisions, our planet suffers from the ecological damage inflicted on it. And each of us daily tries to meet what life is asking of us at home, in class, or at work. Into the midst of this we are given a story about a ruptured family with a surprise ending of unearned, undeserved, and unconditional love. The father (or mother!) does not play by the expected social norms of the day. In the parable this mother/father is unconventional in that the inheritance demanded (read choosing to leave with the very essence of the family, a shared bond of love, care and responsibility for one another) is handed over. It was unheard of, a father/mother refusing to demand submission or punish rebellion. Rather, the God of the prodigal acts with tender compassion, respects freedom, mourns alienation, waits patiently for our return and accepts us with love. Pure gift. How awesome and practically incomprehensible is that!  And because of this we can be and offer mercy and forgiveness and expansive love because we have first known and received it from our God of radical mercy. 

Prayer

Oh God of radical mercy and love, may we have mercy on ourselves, one another and our beautiful home, planet Earth. Give us hearts and ears and eyes that feel, see and hear your lavish love poured out on all. Then may we live mercifully toward all. 

Sister Anne Curtis, RSM, M ’83, Director, Mercy Ecology 

Scripture

First Reading: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20

Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Friday of the Second Week

Reflection

Imagine with me a vision described by a 21^st C. Christian—Mary is standing with black mothers watching their sons die on a tree. Can there be a more stark picture of hate acting out in murder, or of the love and grief felt by those mothers?

This image was related in a podcast I heard recently, and it has remained with me as our shameful history of slavery is being reexamined. The perspective of people of color who lived the experience of enslavement then, and now in the painful consequences presently, can only be understood as we ourselves know suffering, love, hatred, and God’s healing.

The themes of jealousy, hatred, and their consequences are carried through today’s readings of Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery (Genesis) and the landowner’s tenants killing his son to gain the inheritance (Matthew). We can find hope and healing in God’s goodness and mercy: Joseph forgives his brothers and is in a position in Egypt to save his people from famine. Jesus is the stone the builders rejected that became the cornerstone, revealing the face of a loving and healing God. He will offer His kingdom to those who will be fruitful, those who live and work in God’s love.

Prayer

“Help us have the courage to awaken to greater truth, greater humility, and greater care for one another. May we place our hope in what matters and what lasts, trusting in Your eternal presence and love. Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our suffering world.” (Richard. Rohr, OFM)

Jan Hancock M ’12, P ’99, P’09, Member of the Worshipping Community

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

An unnamed rich man clothed in purple robes and expensive linen lives inside a gate feasting on all the pleasures and luxuries that money can buy. A poor man named Lazarus covered in sores barely survives outside the gate, — hungry, suffering, ignored. 

The story flips after the two men die. There is a reversal of fortunes:  Lazarus is carried away by the angels and is united with Abraham. The rich man descends into hell and becomes thirsty and unreachable as he remains unnamed. 

This meaningful, yet unambiguous parable built on contrasts, may be particularly poignant now. At this time, when we are closing in on ourselves, closing our doors against the pandemic, safeguarding our personal fortunes, fearful of losing our wealth and our livelihoods, how can we still extend ourselves to those in need? This is the question that is asked of us today.

The Gospel begs: How can we open our eyes, our hearts, our hands, and our doors, to the poor?  Right here. Right now. Even in the middle of a pandemic.

Prayer

May I be like the tree planted besides the waters that stretches herself to the stream. In this year of drought, may my leaves stay green for those that surround me.  Grant me a generous heart. May I seek and comfort Lazarus all the days of my life. Amen. 

Antonia Messuri, Assistant Dean of Academics, Director of the Office of Accessibility Services

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

We see in the Gospel reading for today that Jesus is preparing for a trip with His disciples to Jerusalem. On this trip, Jesus knows that He is going to be condemned to death. Jesus tells everyone with him that He is going to die, yet chooses to do it in a cryptic way. He allows His point to get across, yet does so in a way that keeps the meaning of His words concealed.

When we come across hard times in our lives, the answers that God gives us sometimes come in the exact same way. The answers that God gives us can feel like a game of Where’s Waldo. Waldo is there on each page; sometimes he is harder to find than others. Yet each time, we spend so much time focusing on the picture. We become so focused on the present and not on the bigger picture. Sometimes, all we need is to take a step back and our answers might just be staring us in the face, just like Waldo.

Prayer

Loving God, thank You for the wonderful people in our lives. Help us to focus more on them and show them the appreciation that we have for them. 

Alec Guzauckas, ’20

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

The theme of today’s Scripture is to act in service of others. This service is not self-fulfilling, but unbelievably selfless. We are being called to be like Christ and to care for our neighbors without any expectation for reciprocation. All too often we do things for others while secretly anticipating a response. The Scripture attempts to bring to light this human fault and redirect us towards participating in charitable works for selfless reasons.

Furthermore, the Scripture continues to express the theme of practicing what you preach. When speaking about the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus explains to His followers that they should not follow their example. According to Jesus, “...they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them” (Mt 23: 1-12). It is common for us to recognize the importance of showing compassion towards others, but when it comes time to actually care for our neighbors, our philanthropic gusto seems to wear out. Instead of exclusively becoming aware of our burdens and the burdens of our neighbors, we should actively work together to move them. Through our imitation of Jesus in ways such as kindness, generosity, and humility, we can share the gift of His light with others and lessen our collective burdens.

Prayer

Lord, please remind us to be humble of heart, mind, body, and spirit. Show us Your light so that we may share it with others. Remind us to be selfless in charity and to do good works in Your name. Amen.

Marge Riccardelli, ’21

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

As I reflected upon today’s readings I could not believe my eyes!  I was randomly assigned this day and the Gospel words from Luke struck to the core of how I try to act in my faith and the message that I attempt to convey to my children is that faith in action.  I often say to my children kindness begets kindness.  It has sunk in as two of them have a tattoo of this saying on their arms and I see in their hearts this kindness everyday. Luke has tattooed this in my heart as well, “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”  Compassion, mercy and forgiveness.  In the Responsorial Psalm it reads: “Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins...may your compassion quickly come to us.”  Far to often we judge ourselves and other according to our sins. Today, Luke reminds us to see the good, to act with compassion, to forgive, and show mercy.

Prayer

Lord make us quick to kindness, deep with compassion, and filled with forgiveness for ourselves and our neighbors.  Strengthen our resolve in this Lenten season to renew ourselves in Your deep and everlasting love.

Jeff Vincent, ’93, M’07, P’21, Director, Residential Life and Community Standards and Assistant Dean of Students

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