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Daily Meditations

on Lenten Gospels - Cycle C -

Msgr. John Zenz

Holy Name Parish

Birmingham, MI

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My friends,

The goal of Lent is preparing us to renew our

baptismal covenant bond with the Lord and all

the other members of Christ’s Body the Church at

Easter. Some years, we already have health

issues or family concerns that demand our

prayerful and loving attention; no need of further

sacrifice. If we are choosing a penance, consider

something that needs attention (perhaps an

addiction, a relationship that’s gone sour,

neglecting prayer and quiet-time with the Lord).

Many of us approach Lent as a time to study and

grow in love of the Lord through the daily

Scriptures of Lent. A few thoughts to mull over

each day can enhance our prayer, expand our

thoughts, challenge our prejudices, purify our

motivation and strengthen our resolve to be more

loving toward God and neighbor. At the urging

of my parishioners, I offer this booklet, the

“product” of the Holy Spirit working through me.

I trust that as you read, reflect and pray, you

will find in these simple meditations a pathway

to the new life of Easter and beyond. May the

Holy Spirit touch your mind and heart.

Your brother and fellow pilgrim,

Pastor, Holy Name Birmingham, MI

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When does Lent begin and when does it end? In the Eastern Catholic Churches (Maronite, Chaldean etc.), Lent beings on the Sunday which is seven weeks before Easter. In the Latin/Roman rite, our custom is to begin Lent on a Wednesday; we need the four extra days to compensate for the fact that we say Lent ends on Holy Thursday afternoon as we begin the Triduum.

Are Sundays Lent? Yes, but since every Sunday is the Lord’s day and the day of Resurrection, Lenten penances do not have to be observed.

The Scriptures for these opening days of Lent emphasize the three traditional penances or gestures of love: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Fasting helps us feel the pain and hunger of the world for earthly and spiritual nourishment and thus sets us in the right frame of spirit to pray and to be generous with all in need.

The Porch of Lent

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[Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18]

Performing Religious Acts

God must have a sense of

humor: in today’s Gospel Jesus

warns us against performing

religious acts in order to be

noticed and yet, immediately

after this very Gospel we will

all be marked with ashes on

our foreheads! What is the

message here? Lenten practices of any kind are

a means of expressing love; they are not

intended to get God’s attention or earn the

esteem of others. A good meditation follows:

What motivates my activities - a desire for

recognition or pure love?

A second insight from today’s Gospel: there is

still something to be said to external expressions

of charity. Our public acts of prayer, service and

penance remind us that Lent is a communal

journey. We show support and encourage each

other as we receive ashes together. By our

humble willingness to be marked with ashes, we

remind each other our salvation is not complete

without loving concern for others.

Don’t look in the mirror. But when you see someone with ashes,

smile and pray for them.

Ash Wednesday - March 6, 2019

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[Luke 9:22-25]

Taking Up Our Cross

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a

single step! Every step of our Lenten journey

is equally significant. On every journey there

are many “crossroads.” The “cross” is part of

our normal, everyday life. During Lent we

remember that Christ came to share our

crosses and that we are invited to share

Christ’s cross. We do so as we deal with a

chronic illness, distress or anxiety; or as we

strive for healing in a relationship fraught

with tension and anger.

Jesus teaches us that crosses can be

transformed by loving acceptance. To be sure,

there is still pain, struggle and uncertainty but

accepting the cross that we discover becomes

easier when we do it with love and remember

that others are ready to help us with our

burdens.

Pray for and with people whose cross is evident to you. Remember people are

praying for you as well!

Thursday, March 7, 2019

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Friday, March 8, 2019

[Matthew 9:14-16]

The Fasting God Wishes

For many, Lent is a time for dieting, “giving up”

favorite foods or drinks. Yet Lenten fasting is

not necessarily about food and certainly not to

lose weight! Fasting is a spiritual discipline:

many of us might profit by giving up gossip or

complaining about certain people. Maybe our

fasting could be less time on the internet

(especially on sites that could lead to

temptations). Perhaps fasting could mean

listening patiently to my spouse or children.

To put all this another way: fasting of any kind

should help me become more sympathetic to the

struggles and needs of others.

Ask yourself this question: is my Lenten penance/fasting making me more grouchy or

more sensitive and thoughtful?

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Saturday, March 9, 2019

[Luke 5:27-32]

A Call to Conversion One of the main purposes of Lent is to prepare

us for a deeper conversion to Christ and His

Body the Church at Easter. Today’s Gospel tells

us about the call and conversion of Levi

(Matthew) the tax collector.

A call to discipleship is

also a call to conversion;

true discipleship entails a

willingness to embrace a

whole new way of life cen-

tered on love of Christ.

Our Lenten journey is

about a growing commit-

ment to a life-long conver-

sion, consecrating more

and more of our time, talent and treasure to the

Lord Jesus.

Conversion happens throughout our life everyday. Conversion happens on

many levels - intellectually, affectively, morally, spiritually.

What conversion do I need

at this time in my life?

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Settling In

The first three weeks of Lent we hear from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and consider our own need for conversion.

If you have ever taken an Ignatian retreat you can identify with the recommendation to begin the journey by contemplating our purpose in life and whether we are in harmony with God’s plan for us and through us. Such is the spirit of the Scriptures for this week: a prolonged self-examination of conscience.

This examen is done not in a scrupulous or mo-rose fashion, but in a spirit of joyful gratitude. The question we ask is not so much: what have I done wrong but rather, how could I be more lov-ing and generous, more focused on the good-ness of God and others, more aware of and grateful for my own spiritual gifts?

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Sunday, March 10, 2019

[Luke 4:1-13]

Led by the Spirit

As St. Luke recounts Christ's three tempta-

tions he underscores the point that Christ was

filled with the Spirit and led by the Spirit into

the desert. Why would the Spirit want Him to

battle the devil? The temptations helped

Christ clarify the focus of His mission and to

come to greater confidence, the reassuring en-

ergy of the Spirit carrying Him along.

Each year on the First Sunday of Lent we re-

flect on Christ’s temptations so that we our-

selves might find renewed courage and convic-

tion as we battle our own struggles of body or

spirit. Even Christ was tempted! But He re-

sisted because of the deep love He had for the

Father. Overcoming temptation is not about

our will-power; moving beyond temptations re-

quires a positive energy, an awareness that the

Spirit is with me precisely in the challenge.

God allows the temptations for our purification.

What temptations are you experiencing at this time? Imagine yourself surrounded

by the embrace of the Spirit as you face these struggles.

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Monday, March 11, 2019

[Matthew 25:31-46]

Anticipate Heaven: Love Now

Building on the witness and example of the

Hebrew prophets, Jesus often spoke about the

reign of God and articulated a vision of life

eternal where all will share life with God. In

parables, He used images of banquets and

weddings and in His miracles He manifested the

healing and restoring power of God’s life and

love.

Our Lenten goal is not just Easter but life

eternal; Christ’s Resurrection anticipates the

promised life to come. In today’s parable about

the Last Judgment, we see that heaven unfolds

here and now as we are attentive to the gifts and

needs of each other, especially those who are

hungry, thirsty, naked, strangers, sick or

imprisoned.

Who might be the “least” of your brothers or

sisters at this time? Do you have a genuine

concern for the homeless, for refugees and

prisoners?

Are you humble enough to let others serve

you as one in need in body or spirit?

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Tuesday, March 12, 2019

[Matthew 6:7-15]

Powerful Words

All words have great

power; we can console

and affirm by a kind

word but we can also

hurt someone deeply by

our sarcasm and cynicism. If our words have

power to influence others, how much more must

God’s own words transform minds and hearts.

Today’ we hear the Lord’s Prayer according to

Matthew, words we know by heart and often

take for granted or rush through. When we pray

the Lord’s Prayer we are speaking God’s own

words back to Him. Surely, with attentive joy,

the Lord will hear and recognize His own words!

He will gladly provide us daily bread, forgiveness

and protection even as we promise to partner

with Him in fulfilling His will, His plan of love

for us all.

As you pray these words today, remember especially those preparing for the

Easter sacraments and all who are struggling to come “home.”

Our Father awaits us all!

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Wednesday, March 13, 2019

[Luke 11:29-32]

The Sign of Jonah

The story of Jonah foreshadows the Death-

Resurrection of Christ. Jonah spent three days

in the belly of the whale; Christ waited for Res-

urrection on the third day. In some way Jonah’s

life story was his message: the reluctant prophet

had to hear his own message of conversion. The

challenge he proclaimed to the people of Nineveh

was something he himself needed to obey. He

had to believe that even the dreaded Ninevites

were loved by God.

Christ’s message of “death-to-self” for the sake of

others was a teaching He perfectly embodied by

His obedience unto death. What Jonah partially

preached and partially embodied, Jesus was able

to announce and effect completely. Christ is the

“sign of Jonah,” the abiding and effective sign of

transformation.

How do I embody “good news” to others, especially those living with deep anger

toward God or others?

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[Matthew 7:7-12]

It Never Hurts to Ask!

Most of us do not like to ask for assistance or a

favor, even from our family members or close

friends. It is humbling to ask and can be very

awkward and embarrassing if the person so

addressed cannot help or chooses not to do so.

Today’s Gospel reminds us

that it is worth the risk to

pray and ask the Lord Jesus

to provide what we believe we

need for our spiritual well-

being. God always hears us.

He always answers us—but

He does not necessarily in the

way we might have initially

wanted.

He knows us through and through and He

appreciates the truth that the very act of asking

strengthens the relationships between us.

Asking is a sign of confidence and a willingness

to admit our limitations; asking puts us at the

threshold of vulnerability and deeper intimacy.

What would you like to ask from God? What might He like to ask of you??

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[Matthew 5:20-26]

The Poison of Anger

Anger eats away at persons

who allow themselves to ob-

sess over some disappoint-

ment or apparent slight

which seems to have dimin-

ished them. If we do not let

go of our anger, it will only

get worse and imprison us.

So it is that Jesus advises us today to make

peace with our brother or sister - even if it

means leaving our sacrificial offering at the

Lord's altar while we do so.

Brooding anger prevents us from being able to

pray in a detached and open manner; if our

heart is bitter and full of poisonous thoughts,

how can we make a genuine offering of ourselves

to God?

The Eucharist is intended to be an experience of

the presence of Christ’s mercy, a means of heal-

ing for all who participate in this sacramental

encounter with Christ. His sacrifice heals any

and all who come to Him.

What anger do I need to give the Lord so that together we can transform and heal my heart?

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[Matthew 5:42-48]

Being Perfect by Accepting

Imperfection

In today’s verses from the Sermon on the Mount,

Jesus commands something absolutely

impossible: “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father

is perfect.” How could we even attain such a

state??

Perfection here - based on the Greek term used

(telos) - has not to do with moral purity or being

flawless. In its root sense, perfection refers to

reaching our goal, fulfilling all we can be.

On our own, in a competitive way, we can never

be “perfect,” but working together with others

and accepting each other’s imperfections, we

compliment each other and help each other

reach “perfection.”

When I can be at peace with my chronic

struggles, faults and failings, I’m actually on the

road to perfection because at that moment, I am

ready to confess my need

for God and others.

Who helps me to grow toward wholeness? Who

am I helping move closer to

perfection/fullness?

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Changing Slowly

Most things in life happen slowly. Spring - due this week - arrives in its own mysterious fash-ion and not simply in response to our calen-dar! The same is true of spiritual transitions, discernment and conversion. It’s all about pa-tience with the “process,” a gradual “letting go” of people and things, opinions and prejudices,

anger and fears.

Part of the goal of this first half of Lent is be-coming less self-absorbed so that by the second half of Lent we might be ready to take on the mind and heart

of Jesus as He undergoes His Passion.

This second week of Lent begins with Christ’s transfiguration - a momentary glimpse of His future glory, an encouraging sign of hope and promise for our own journey up and down the mountains of life.

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[Luke 9:28-36]

Transformed

Each year on the second Sun-

day of Lent we hear the story

of the Transfiguration of

Christ and how Peter, James

and John saw a glimpse of

His divine glory, a gift to pre-

pare and reassure them be-

fore the darkness of the

Passion.

As we hear this passage, we are reminded to

keep our eyes focused on Christ’s victory over

sin, fear and death and our share in that joy and

glory as we follow the path He trod. We also

recognize our own transformation/conversion

happening along the way.

This year this beautiful Gospel falls on St.

Patrick's Day. Patrick himself is a model of

transformation: having been captured and made

a slave by the Irish, once he escaped he chose to

go back to them but now as a priest. He spent

his life preaching the Gospel to the very people

who once enslaved Him! His transformation

brought about their transformation.

How might I transform a challenge of my own

into something beneficial for others?

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[Luke 6:35-38]

Compassion

Where St. Matthew says “Be perfect as your

Heavenly Father is perfect,” St. Luke, in today’s

Gospel, makes the expectations much more man-

ageable: “Be compassionate as your Father is

compassionate.”

Actually, the Lord is offering an invitation to us:

to share in His passionate love and concern for

all people, especially those suffering in body or

spirit and those weighed down by burdens of sin

and a sense of spiritual failure or unworthiness.

Jesus embodied compassion: He identified with

every person in their particular plight. He in-

vites us to have the courage, patience and hope

to be compassionate. More precisely, He is sug-

gesting we can let His compassion take over our

hearts and minds such that it will flow spontane-

ously and naturally through us to all we meet.

Identify with someone in need of compassion. Let Jesus love and heal

that person through you :)


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[Matthew 1:16-21]

In God’s Hands

St. Joseph is such an important saint that his

feast day “overrides” the normal Lenten read-

ings: husband of Mary and foster-father of Jesus,

a man of silent obedience, patron of workers and

a happy death, custodian of the Church.

Joseph, the righteous one, set aside his own de-

sire for personal perfection according to the Law

and chose to trust the angel’s command: he took

pregnant Mary as his wife, knowing full well the

child was not his. Joseph loved God and trusted

Him; he gave up control of his own plans and

desires for a “normal” life with Mary to become a

partner with God in a mystery that would totally

envelop him.

Do I let God have just a portion of my life or am I willing to let Him take over my

whole life and my dreams for

myself and my family?

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[Matthew 20:17-28]

What Does Power Mean to You?

On this first day of spring, we hear the mother of

James and John trying to manipulate Jesus into

giving her sons places of power in His eventual

kingdom. Jesus responds by talking directly to

James and John, asking them whether they can

drink His cup [of suffering] and reminding them

that true greatness comes by humble service and

self-sacrifice. A wholly different understanding

of power and glory!

Power is not necessarily a bad thing; the ques-

tion is how we use it. Do we use our authority to

control or manipulate others or do we see our-

selves as gifted for a role of servant leadership?

Many times, those who have the greatest impact

are not those who have a particular title or office.

We all have some kind of power!

What power do you have?

How do you exercise your power?

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[Luke 16:19-31]

Am I Blind?

In our society, everyone

knows the names of the

wealthy but rarely do we

know the names of the

poor.

The rich man in today’s

parable has no name

but the poor beggar does

have a name, Lazarus

(God is my helper).

The rich man is everyone; you and I are the rich

man. The rich man did not necessarily do any-

thing wrong. His “sin” was not even noticing

Lazarus. We all have a Lazarus in our life, a

needy person at our doorstep we simply do not

see.

Am I blind to the pain or struggle of someone in

my own family home? Do I notice - and care

about - the pain or struggle of people in my fami-

ly or my workplace? What about the millions of

“Lazaruses” all around the world, starving to

death, lonely and forgotten?

Get to know a Lazarus today!

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[Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46]

Strange Stewards!

Today’s parable reminds us that we are stew-

ards: we do not “own” the vineyard. We are ten-

ants, temporary managers of resources not our

own. Our main responsibility is to hand back to

the Lord all that He has confided to us. The

stewards in the parable stubbornly and arrogant-

ly refused to fulfill their one essential task - giv-

ing the owner his produce.

Jesus also uses the parable as a subtle way of

hinting at His own rejection and ultimate death:

the stewards not only rejected and killed the

messengers of the owner, they even killed the

owner’s son. Yet out of that tragedy God built

something new; the stone rejected becomes the

cornerstone!

Am I reluctant to give all back to the Lord? Do I sometimes fall into the trap of

thinking I’m the “owner”??

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[Luke 15:1-3, 11-32]

A Prodigal Welcome

As soon as we hear the adjective “prodigal” we

automatically pair it with the noun “son.” But

actually, if we read and pray with the text of

Luke 15, it is the father who is “prodigal” - that

is, generous and extravagant beyond belief.

There is no limit to his humble desire to please

both sons and he agonizes that the brothers do

not understand his love or accept and respect

each other.

The father’s whole demeanor is patient and lov-

ing trust; he shares all he has with his sons but

they do not grasp their blessings. They are

working out of a mindset of control and meas-

ured performance while the father speaks a lan-

guage of gift and blessing.

Note that the parable was addressed to the

Scribes and Pharisees who were critical of Jesus’

hospitality with tax collectors and sinners. The

religious leaders could not conceive of a Prodigal

God!

How has God been prodigal to you? How are you prodigal?

Are you at times jealous of God’s goodness

to others you think unworthy?

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You Never Can Tell

This third week of Lent, the Scriptures be-come more forceful on the urgent need for personal and communal conversion. The Sunday Gospel of Luke 13:1-9 sets the tone for the week, reminding us of the fragile na-ture of life and the wisdom of learning from the sufferings and struggles of all those around us. We are challenged not to judge others but rather to look in the mirror.

The Annunciation happens to fall on this Mon-day; the feast is yet another reminder of the mysterious ways of God. Humanly speaking, we never can tell what will happen next! Our role is to be open and ready for God’s gift and call.

Perhaps it might be timely to think about cele-brating the Sacrament of Penance.

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[Luke 13:1-9]

Never Stop Learning

Today’s Gospel from Luke is

a passage probably unfamil-

iar to most of us: people come

to Jesus with reports of two

recent tragedies and want

His opinion about why these people suffered

tragic deaths. Jesus refuses to fall into their

theological world view which said if some-

thing bad happened to a person or a group,

it must be God’s punishment for some sin.

Jesus takes the occasion to turn the situa-

tion into a “teachable moment.” He chal-

lenges the people to learn from the difficul-

ties of others rather than judge their moral

status. Best to look in the mirror and con-

sider our own need to live in a state of readi-

ness for the day and hour we will meet the

Lord.

Through the parable of the fig tree, Jesus

reminded His audience that time is a gift,

an opportunity to learn, to grow and change.

Am I perhaps too comfortable, even over-

confident, about where I stand with the Lord?

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[Luke 1:26-38]

The Annunciation of the Lord God’s Interruption This feast is so significant that our normal Lenten Scriptures are set aside. As this feast “interrupts” Lent, the arrival of the angel to Mary interrupted all the plans she and Joseph had for a “normal” married life together.

Most of us do not appreciate unexpected

interruptions changing our well-scheduled plans.

Yet, sometimes, interruptions can actually be a

blessing; such is certainly the case today!

And even more critically for us, God waited for

Mary’s free response of acceptance. He respected

her freedom to say yes or no.

Consider the times and ways God has “interrupted”

your life. He waits for our response!

This day keep repeating Mary’s response to the angel: “Let it be done to

me as you say.”

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[Matthew 18:21-35]

If Only I Really Knew

In today’s parable we hear the startling sto-

ry of a man forgiven a huge debt by his mas-

ter who then could not forgive a much small-

er debt owed him by a fellow servant. In-

stead of sharing the unexpected generosity

of the master with his fellow servant, the

man demanded immediate repayment. How

tragic! How blind!

But actually, the servant forgiven a great

debt could easily be you or me! We all have

the tendency to take for granted our “good

luck”/God’s great mercy. If only we knew

how much we’ve been forgiven, then we

would be more compassionate toward every

other person.

Do I extend to others the mercy God (and others) have shared with me?

Pray for the grace to recognize all the ways

I’ve been blessed by Divine Mercy.

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[Matthew 5:17-19]

Fulfilling the Law

Throughout the Sermon on

the Mount (chapters 5-7 of

Matthew) Jesus is presented

as the “new Moses” giving

“the Law” from the mountain.

Jesus explains that “keeping”

the Ten Commandments is much more than pas-

sive conformity to rules. We can and should go

deeper! As He Himself came to “fulfill” the Law,

we too must strive to find the deeper, inner spirit

of the Law.

“Fulfilling” the Law: the Greek word here has to

do with bringing something to perfection or com-

pletion. We “fulfill” the Law of God when we act

out of the motivation of love and gratitude rather

then fear or duty. We “fulfill” the Law as we try

to embody the Gospel to be good. For example, I

might not kill anyone but by my gossip, I destroy

the reputation of others. I might not kill but do

I care about people who are starving?

What is my sense of obedience to “the Law”: passive, external compliance or

enthusiastically embracing whatever is asked

of me by God or others?

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[Luke 11:14-23]

What’s Your Handicap?

Whether or not we play golf, we all have handi-

caps! Some of us deal with physical disabilities

that are obvious enough but some disabilities

could easily be overlooked - for example being

deaf or mute. Most handicaps are psychological

or intellectual: we are haunted by fears, ob-

sessed by addictions, full of anger or jealousy etc.

The path to spiritual wholeness and happiness

includes a willingness to recognize our handi-

caps and then honestly discuss them with a spir-

itual director, good friend, family member, men-

tor or therapist. The greatest tragedy is refusing

to admit our handicaps.

In today’s Gospel Jesus heals a mute man of his

disability or handicap but the crowd who wit-

nessed the event obstinately refused to believe in

Jesus; they had their own disability.

What’s my handicap? Might it be refusing to be open to

growth and change?


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[Matthew 12:28-34]

Love is never just “us”!

“Love is a decision, not just a feeling.” This

statement, often stressed in marriage prep ses-

sions, cannot be over emphasized! In our cul-

ture, “love” as a verb seems to take as its’ object

a whole spectrum of things - from chocolate to

rock stars, athletes or actors. We seem to have

diluted the dignity and special character of this

powerful word and what it should represent: life

-long openness and fidelity to the “other” even to

the point of great sacrifice and death itself.

We also tend to think of love primarily in an hor-

izontal manner - that is, between human beings.

As Christians, we believe that whenever two peo-

ple are in love, His love/presence flows through

us and bonds us together. All genuine love ulti-

mately comes from God and returns to Him. He

first loved us and showed us how to love. Our

love is a sharing in His loving presence and com-

mitment.

How is my Lenten journey helping me deepen and purify my love of God

and neighbor?

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[Luke 18:9-14]

Genuine Prayer

In today’s short parable St. Luke gives us a les-

son on how to pray (and how not to pray). The

Pharisee - well trained in the rituals of faith -

proudly stands up front in the Temple and re-

minds God of his own accomplishments and vir-

tues; he even compares himself with the tax col-

lector he notices in the distance. Essentially he

was not praying but just talking to himself!

The tax collector prayed from

his heart in humble fashion,

asking God for mercy. His

humility must have touched

God: a connection was made

between the tax collector and

the Lord.

What does my prayer sound

like? Bragging? Complain-

ing? Demanding? Quiet rest-

ing with the Lord? Interced-

ing for others?

Say the “Jesus prayer” we have inherited from the ancient Church of the East: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on

me, a sinner.” Repeat it over and over.

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Rejoice!

We are transitioning into the second part of Lent and so we are called to “rejoice.” Laetare Sunday invites us to take the focus off our-selves, our sins and fears and meditate in-stead on the merciful love of Jesus our savior. Entering into His mind and heart we will expe-rience true and lasting joy even in the midst of suffering, a joy that flows from the confidence that like the prodigal son and even the elder judgmental son, we are deeply loved.

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[Luke 15:1-3, 11-32]

A Dysfunctional or Gifted Family?

Something was not quite right at the “Prodigal

Family” home! The father seems incredibly lov-

ing, patient and forgiving but the younger son

could not wait to move out. The older brother

seems not to have understood the father’s “love

language” and was angry and resentful. Some-

thing’s missing: maybe a mom or a sister?

Might not the above summary description be

made of many homes and families?

The two sons embody that part of each of us that

has a hard time accepting love as a gift: we

would rather earn love and esteem; we hate to be

identified as someone who does not carry his or

her own “weight.” Only if we start from a per-

spective of gift will we recognize that all is

shared, not “privately owned.” Is that not the

very point of being a “family”?

This parable could be read (and prayed over) on

many levels - our nuclear family, our parish fam-

ily, our world community. The parable invites us

to renew our “membership” in “family” on all

these levels!

Pray over the parable as father,

younger son and then older brother.

Where do you fit in the

story right now?

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Monday, April 1, 2019

[John 4:43-54]

The Beginning of the New Creation

Our Lenten journey takes on a new intensity.

From here onward our Gospels are from John.

Remembering that the goal of Lent is not just

arriving at the feast of Easter, John invites us to

look to the larger drama and dream of God - a

whole new creation where we will all share the

Resurrection of Christ.

The first half of John’s Gospel (chapters 1-11) is

framed around seven signs that manifest the

glory or presence of God shining through Christ.

Today’s Gospel is the second of seven signs. Like

the first sign, it also takes place in the humble

town of Cana in Galilee. An unusual aspect of

this miracle is that Jesus healed simply by His

Word - ”long-distance” as it were. The royal offi-

cial’s son was restored to life, a sign of the eter-

nal life Jesus wants to share with all of us.

Ask for the healing you yourself need in body or spirit. Like the royal official,

intercede for someone you know

who is suffering.

36

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

[John 5:1-16]

The Lord’s Healing Word

In today’s Scripture from John 5, Jesus works

His third sign and again, by His Word alone.

The crippled man does not even need to be im-

mersed in the healing waters.

The Word of the Lord is

enough! Jesus’ power goes

beyond all human and nat-

ural laws. He can (and

does) work “outside the

box” - including healing on

the Sabbath, the day of

total rest from any kind of

work whatsoever. (More on

that tomorrow!)

But note, the paralytic still had a role to play.

He had to decide whether to believe Jesus and

take the risk of picking up his mat. He believed

and began to walk. But there was a “price” to be

paid - he was violating the Sabbath by carrying

his mat.

Do I believe in the power of the Lord’s Word to change that which is “paralyzed” in me?

Do I have the courage to pick up my

“mat” (whatever I hold as a crutch) and

walk freely and openly toward Jesus?

37

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

[John 5:17-30]

Manifesting the Father’s Presence

Throughout the Gospels Jesus never drew atten-

tion to himself: He always pointed people toward

the Heavenly Father. His joy was to be the

obedient Son of the Father, accomplishing the

works of His Father. Jesus’ whole identity was

His relationship with the Father. For Jesus obe-

dience was not a series of actions performed or

things accepted, rather, His very being itself pro-

claimed His complete trust in the Father and His

openness to God’s plan.

As people criticized Jesus for “working” (healing

the paralytic) on the Sabbath, His response was

simple: “The Father goes on working and so must I.” Whatever the Father

does, the Son also does: they are

One. Creation could not contin-

ue in existence unless God sus-

tained it: God keeps creation

going. As Jesus healed, He was

manifesting the Father’s desire

to restore and renew all life.

God, that is, the Father and the

Son, cannot be limited or con-

strained by human timetables!

God is always “at work” but we need Sabbath rest. Ultimately our greatest “work” is letting

God take over and radiate through us. Think about God radiating and working through

you. Pray for the grace to manifest His pres-

ence and not to get in the way.

38

Thursday, April 4, 2019

[John 5:31-47]

Who Is My Audience?

Whenever we speak or act, even if we are explic-

itly conscious of it, we have a presumed

“audience”. Most of us worry about “popular

opinion” and what people might say about us; we

seek human approval and acceptance. We want

to be part of the “in” crowd and fear being ex-

cluded or ostracized.

In today’s Gospel Jesus has harsh and challeng-

ing words for His Jewish audience (no people

pleaser He!): “How can you believe when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?” Sadly,

His words could easily be addressed to any of us!

St. Teresa of Calcutta often said she never

prayed for success but only to be faithful. She

did what she believed was the right and neces-

sary thing - regardless of public opinion.

Am I too conscious of appearances and approval “ratings”? How might I be humble

like the Lord, with the Lord and for the Lord?

39

Friday, April 5, 2019

[John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30]

Adoring the Mystery

Throughout John’s Gos-

pel Jesus is on “trial”

before the public, espe-

cially the religious lead-

ers. As Jesus’ ministry

comes under greater

scrutiny, the crowds

must decide whether to

stay with Him. One of

the compelling ques-

tions that hung in the

air was the origin of Jesus: is He or is He not an

ordinary man from Nazareth?

We too have the choice each day to decide who

Jesus is for us. Is He a person of history we imi-

tate? A miracle worker we need from time to

time? Do I really adore Jesus? Can I worship

someone I do not totally understand? Am I will-

ing to declare my love for the Lord?

Contemplate the crucified Christ. Adore the mystery of His loving presence:

He still suffers with us.

40

Saturday, April 6, 2019

[John 7:40-53]

Nicodemus, A Model of Conversion

Sometimes it can help our prayer to identify with

characters who play a role on the sidelines. In

John’s Gospel, Nicodemus receives three men-

tions. Very significantly he first comes to Jesus

at night; drawn to Jesus and fascinated by His

teaching he is not ready to risk being identified

with Jesus. His second appearance is in today’s

Gospel. Here he is bold enough to defend Jesus

in front of the other Pharisees (partial conver-

sion). At the time of Jesus’ death, he provided a

large quantity of spices for the

Lord’s burial (full discipleship).

We too go through stages of con-

version; in fact, conversion is a

life-long process. The early mo-

ments of our relationship with

the Lord resemble the beginning

of friendship - enjoying each oth-

er’s company, moving toward commitment. At

some point all relationships have “testing” or

purification. After living through such experi-

ences, there is a quiet confidence that the bonds

of love are strong enough to handle the ups and

downs of life. Even then, there still remains

room for an ever-deepening sense of quiet peace

and gentle mutual acceptance.

Where are you in your relationship with the Lord?

Do you sense a new and deeper conversion

happening in your heart this Lent?

41

Letting Go of Everything

This fifth week of Lent we are invited into the heated dialogue between Jesus and the Jew-ish leaders of His day, a debate about the mystery of the true identity of Jesus.

This dialogue and debate still goes on today - as it has throughout the ages: was Jesus really the Son of God in human flesh? Is Jesus really risen and Lord of all? If so, why His suffer-ing and death? Why our suf-fering and our death? Wasn’t the Messiah supposed to change every-thing?

The “answer” Jesus gives to all these ques-tions: silent acceptance of all that was done to Him. He constantly and continuously “let go” of any judgment, fear, ego or control. He let it be done unto Him.

42

Sunday, April 7, 2019

[John 8:1-11]

Our Subtle Saviour

How do you define or

understand the adjective

“subtle”? The dictionary

reminds us that the word has

to do with weaving a delicate

fabric. Subtlety has to do

with making fine distinctions or nuances, leaving

room for imagination and allowing for a variety

of possible interpretations.

The Lord Jesus was often very subtle as He

handled challenging questions and

confrontations such as this scene of the woman

caught in adultery.

His gesture of writing on the ground and saying

“Let the one without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” forced his audience to reflect on

their own imperfect pasts. Once they saw their

own failures, their harsh judgment softened.

Meanwhile, Jesus did not condemn the woman

nor did He forgive her: He told her to go on her

way and sin no more. In other words, both the

accusers and the accused were to examine their

lives and seek a new beginning.

Jesus saves but in a subtle way: He requires our

involvement in the process. His forgiveness is

not general amnesty but a call to personal

recognition of sin coupled with a cry for Divine

Mercy and a promise to be merciful to others.

Where am I in the process of being saved?

43


[John 8:12-20]

With the Light, a Decision

The background of John 7 and 8 is the “great

festival” of Tabernacles or Booths, originally an

autumn celebration that recalled God’s care for

His people in the desert years of Exodus. Water

and light were major parts of the celebration. In

today’s Gospel Jesus proclaims “I am the light of the world.”

The context of this saying must have been daz-

zling: all Jerusalem and beyond glowed for eight

nights with light from four giant menorahs in

the courtyard of the Temple. Jesus was telling

Pharisees and all who

would listen that He Him-

self is the true source of

lasting light. His light,

however, “calls the ques-

tion”: Once we see, we have

a choice. Will we accept

the light of Jesus or will we

choose darkness?

As we move toward Easter, natural light is ex-

tending and expanding; so too the supernatural

light of the Lord’s healing love.

Bask in the glow of the sun for a few minutes. As you do so, think about the one light which

brings truth and warmth, peace and under-standing to all people everywhere.

Remember also your departed who enjoy

light eternal.

44


[John 8:21-30]

Discovering the Divinity of Jesus

Trying to get through to the Jews, Jesus ex-

plained - prophetically - “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am…”

In the action of lifting Jesus up on the cross, they

would eventually see that He was the fulfillment

of what Moses had done in the desert - lifting up

the serpent to bring forgiveness and healing. In

the humiliation of being lifted up on the cross,

Jesus would be exalted! By the surrender of His

humanity, divine identity would radiate through

Him.

We know this truth in our lives too: as we face

our sins and struggles, we can experience heal-

ing and peace. When we are physically and psy-

chologically most broken,

our deepest, truest and most

beautiful self becomes mani-

fest. In our own humilia-

tion, divine glory and good-

ness become all the more

manifest.

We can best “connect” with

Jesus as we let go of our ego

and follow His example of

total emptiness and perfect

humility.

Talk to Jesus about your shame and pain and let Him forgive you and help you feel the begin-

ning of a new life with Him and for Him.

45


[John 8:31-42]

Who Is Really “Free”?

We all long for freedom - space, time and re-

sources to do whatever we would like without

any interruptions or other demands. We all

know full well no one enjoys such a life and truth

be told, such a life would end up being very bor-

ing and empty. The irony is that the more com-

mitted and anchored we are in relationships, the

freer we become. As G. K. Chesterton put it,

“When our heart is fixed, our hands are free.”

In today’s Gospel “the Jews” and Jesus argue yet

again. This time the discussion centers around

being true children of Abraham and therefore

“free.” Jesus explains that even if they are phys-

ically related to Abraham, they do not share his

spirituality. They are presuming their freedom

is an inheritance and Jesus explains that only by

accepting the Truth (Jesus) will they know last-

ing freedom. They are actually “enslaved” by

their own stubbornness!

How am I clinging to unhealthy opinions,

appetites, relationships?

How would I like to

become more

“free”?

46

Thursday, April 11, 2019

[John 8:51-59]

I am

“Before Abraham came to be, I am.”

These bold words of Jesus must have deeply

startled and troubled the Jews who were arguing

with Jesus and basing their arguments on their

bond with Abraham. It made no sense: Jesus

was still in His thirties. How could He be “older”

than Abraham? Furthermore, to speak and pro-

nounce the great “I am” was blasphemy. What

was Jesus trying to say?

Throughout John’s Gospel Jesus refers to Him-

self by means of these two most powerful words:

I am. In a sense Jesus is the only person who

could ever proclaim these words; all of us have

need of qualifying adjectives or nouns after our

“I am”: a nurse, a teacher, a believer, a seeker.

I am struggling, tired, hungry. Jesus was

“complete” - fully human and fully divine. There

was no question of His perfect integrity!

Rest with Jesus the great “I am.” Reflect on how every part of your life subsists

in Him and His being. Promise not to be so caught up with “doing”

and try to enjoy “being” with and for the

Lord Jesus.

47

Friday, April 12, 2019

[John 10:31-42]

Consecrated and Sent

One of the phrases used to describe Christ Jesus

in Vatican II comes from today’s Gospel -

”consecrated and sent.”

John 10 is written

against the backdrop of

the Feast of Dedication,

an eight day festival of

light (Hanukkah) remem-

bering how the Jerusalem

Temple was rededicated

in 164 B.C. after it had

been reclaimed during

the Maccabean revolt.

Jesus, dialoguing with

the Jews, is speaking of Himself as the true tem-

ple or dwelling of God, a presence which is dy-

namic, not static or limited to one place: He was

sent from God the Father.

We too are “consecrated and sent” at our Bap-

tism; we share in Christ’s three-fold mission of

priestly, prophetic and kingly servant leader-

ship. We are consecrated anew each day as we

dedicate to the Lord the very core of our being

and reserve it for God alone.

Do I “fill” the sacred space of my heart with worldly desires and attractions?

How can I keep my heart pure and totally

available for the Lord?

48

Saturday, April 13, 2019

[John 11:45-57]

One Dies That All May Be One

We typically say “Jesus came to save us from our sins.” Another way of explaining His mission

would be: Jesus came to call us out of the isola-

tion of sin into the solidarity of grace. He came

to gather a people who would truly belong to

God. In John’s Gospel a number of times Jesus

speaks of His destiny in terms of being lifted up

that all people might be drawn to Him.

[John 12:32, 3:14, 8:28]

In today’s passage from John 11, the Jewish lead-

ers worry about the impact Jesus’ teaching is

having on the delicate peace they seek to pre-

serve with the Roman government; they fear the

Romans may take over the land and they will

lose their own power and influence. So Caiaphas,

the High Priest, proclaims that it is better that

one man die for the sake of the

nation. Ironically, his argu-

ment was prophetic: one man -

Christ - died so that all might

be saved. As His followers, we

are called to accept His gift of

salvation and to follow His

example of being ready to

spend our gifts, even our life

itself for the sake of others.

How have I sacrificed myself for the sake of others and their physical or

spiritual well-being?

49

What Makes Holy Week Whole?

In English there is a beautiful resonance of the words “holy” and “whole.” That which is frag-mented and partial is not yet whole, not yet holy. Holiness “happens” when we allow love to fill in the missing spaces and the broken pieces of the mosaic.

This week is “holy” because of the total, self-less love of Jesus; “He loved His own to the end,” that is, to the utmost possible. He held nothing back.

In the Passion according to Luke, Jesus’ final hours, steps and breaths are all manifesta-tions of divine mercy and how it can transform that which is tragic and evil into something beautiful.

Forgiveness and peace is dispensed to any and all who are open to receive. Holiness and wholeness are available if we so choose.

Reflect on the words of Jesus from the cross in the Gospel of Luke.

50

Sunday, April 14, 2019

[Luke 22:14-23:56]

A Journey of Mercy

This year we hear the Passion

according to St. Luke.

Throughout Luke’s Gospel, a

major focus is Jesus as the

merciful presence of God’s

healing peace and joy. Luke’s

Passion highlights mercy given

and received. Consider how

Luke takes certain scenes from

the other Gospels and empha-

sizes mercy:

Jesus looks at Peter even as Peter is deny-

ing Him (a glance of healing, forgiving

love).

Shuttled back and forth between Pilate

and Herod, the gentle, silent presence of

Jesus brings peace between these erstwhile

enemies.

Jesus comforts the women of Jerusalem.

As He is crucified, He prays, “Father for-give them they know not what they do.”

He promises the repentant: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Meditate on the gift of Divine Mercy - a gift that also brings a responsibility to be merciful

by forgiving others and by being

generous to all in need.

51


[John 12:1-11]

Tenderness to Jesus and to All

When Judas observes the tender, gentle and gen-

erous gesture of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus

with precious oil, he complains. He does not un-

derstand tenderness; to him, it seems wasteful.

Perhaps he never fully understood or accepted

Jesus and His love.

Jesus’ reply to Judas is significant. “You always have the poor with you but you do not always have me.” Many have puzzled over His words

but one way to explain them might be as follows:

Jesus’ physical presence

would no longer be visible

and we would no longer be

able to touch Him but we

can encounter Him in the

least of our brothers and

sisters. By showing tender-

ness to “the poor” we are

actually showing love to

Him. Any act of generosity, patience, thoughtful

kindness is meaningful; no gesture of love is ever

a waste!

Do I truly love Jesus? In other words, do I let myself be drawn to Him and let myself be embraced by Him?

Do I have the courage to embrace Him as well?

Prepare for Holy Thursday by imagining

Him at your feet ready to wash you.

52


[John 13:21-33, 36-38]

Loving Even His Betrayer

Jesus was loved and admired

by many yet He also knew

very well that many - espe-

cially the religious leaders -

despised Him. Despite oppo-

sition, till His last breath,

He continued reaching out

with patient attempts to call

them to share His vision.

Even with His own disciple,

Judas, Jesus kept trying to

connect. As a gesture of inti-

macy He dipped the morsel of food and shared it

with Him. But Judas had already made up his

mind and closed his heart.

Jesus died for the forgiveness of all sin - even the

sin of Judas. Jesus died forgiving Peter and all

the disciples who deserted Him. No one is be-

yond the scope of Jesus’ love. The question is

whether we will truly accept His forgiveness.

Try to enter into the mind and heart of Jesus as He prepares to die.

Consider yourself as one of the billions of people He was specifically loving and for

whom He was ready to die.

53


[Matthew 26:14-25]

Surely Not I, Lord?

This last Gospel before the Triduum ends with a

lingering question, the question each of the

twelve asked Jesus when He announced that one

of them would betray Him. They each asked:

“Surely not I, Lord?” In other words, there must

have been already some sense of shame in each

one of them.

As we prepare to share in the intimacy of Jesus’

loving death and glorious resurrection, it is good

for us to identify with the disciples and to admit

with all humility that we have failed at times to

believe and trust the Lord. We have doubted

whether we were worthy of His love. We have

resisted giving up control and hesitated truly

following the Lord without reserve.

Enter into a meaningful, open and honest

confession directly with the Lord today or on Good Friday.

Articulate the times and ways you remember

pulling away from Him and let Him reas-

sure you that you are indeed forgiven

and that nothing will destroy His commitment of

love for you.

54

Holy Thursday - April 18, 2019

[John 13:1-15]

A Night of Intimacy

The Gospel assigned for tonight shares the pow-

erful story of the Lord washing the feet of His

disciples. While Matthew, Mark and Luke tell of

the Passover meal itself

and the gift of the Holy

Eucharist, John chooses

to emphasize an action of

love that embodied and

manifested the abiding

meaning of the Eucha-

rist. The two gestures -

giving of the bread and

cup and the washing of

the feet - compliment

and explain each other.

In both of these intimate actions, Jesus touches

and becomes one with each of the disciples in a

very personal and unique manner and yet He is

also displaying one same love for all of them. He

is reminding them of their utter dependence on

Him: He must wash them (forgive them) and He

alone can nourish them. His Death-Resurrection

will fulfill these gestures: His intimacy of love

and mercy will be made manifest and available

for all the world to see, receive and share!

Imagine yourself with the Lord and the other disciples at table.

Let Him wash your feet and hand you the bread and the cup.

Accept His gift: that is all He wishes from you.

55

Good Friday - April 19, 2019

[John 18 and 19]

A Death, A Birth

As John tells the

story of Christ’s

death, the story

reaches its’ climax

with the conversa-

tion of Jesus speak-

ing to His mother

and the disciple He

loved. Connecting

them to each other,

He has fulfilled His

last responsibility.

His mother will be

cared for and the Beloved Disciple will not be

alone. The Church is coming to birth at the foot

of the cross. As further proof, John notes that

blood and water flowed from the pierced side of

the Lord as He hung in death: blood and water

are part of the birthing process.

Out of His death comes new life. The Resurrec-

tion was already dawning and the Church was

coming into being. The “work” of redemption

was being passed onto us. It is up to us to accept

the gift of becoming part of the Lord’s new family

and new Body, the Church.

Good Friday is a day to reflect and pray for the unity and harmony of the Church.

Christ still suffers whenever any member

of the Church, His Body, is suffering.

56

Holy Saturday - April 20, 2019

[Luke 24:1-12]

Remember!

The entire Easter Vigil is a celebration of re-

membrance, a “making present” of the story of

salvation from creation through Exodus to the

Death-Resurrection of Jesus and our own sacra-

mental experience of this mystery.

Our remembrance is also an anticipation of our

shared future with the Lord and each other.

Past and future converge in our Easter Vigil; our

vigil service is the threshold not just to Easter

morning but the doorway to the banquet of eter-

nal life.

Two times in tonight’s Gospel we hear the verb

“remember” - first as a command from the angels

and then as an action the women carried out .

They remembered His words. Memory gives us

hope. Memory unites us. When we lose our

memory, the rest of the Church “re-members” for

us! Amen. Alleluia!

Meditate on the sweep of God’s love through-

out history and how we are part of this

dynamic as we welcome new

members into the

Church this night.

57

Easter Sunday - April 20, 2019

[John 20:1-10]

Discovery!

The Paschal Mystery (the process of the Death-

Resurrection of Christ) pulled back the “veil”

that prevented us from understanding God’s

Trinitarian love. Christ's resurrection is more

than just the fact He is alive again. His resur-

rection was His return to the Father and reunion

with the Holy Spirit

The Easter Gospel in John is about “discovering”

the traces of what God has done: an empty tomb

with the burial clothes left behind and the face

veil carefully wrapped up by itself. These signs

are the beginning of a new way of seeing and

experiencing the Jesus as Lord and God, eternal

Son of the Father. The “veil” is always being

pulled back by God’s initiative each day of our

lives when we are open to the mystery of love,

forgiveness, compassion, joy, service and hope.

Resurrection is a verb, a process that unfolds day

by day until we too “pass-over” into eternal life

and are received fully into the Trinitarian com-

munion. For now, we share in the mystery of

their love in a sacramental manner and then

face-to-face.

Easter is more than a day on the calendar or the

completion of our Lenten journey. Easter is an

unending process of discovering the full depth of

God’s love for us all.

Pray again and again: “Glory be to the Father

and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit!

58

A Beginning Without an End

An empty tomb, an opening we can enter without fear. Now, all tombs are soon to be emptied! Death is not the last word.

Apparitions despite closed doors and solid walls. Nothing can hold back His all-encompassing presence, love and mercy.

A presence and a voice: peace! Physical and psy-chological wounds are healed. Touch and see.

The fabric of community pulled apart at the seams is now being restored. Forgiveness accepted and shared.

Body and blood passed on to all who hunger and thirst.

A candle burns so brightly it can never be extinguished. Fire and wind, water and oil. Splash and laugh. Born again and again. More and more passing over. Amen. Alleluia!

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