Fourth Sunday of Lent Reflections . . .

 

Dianne Bergant, CSA

Readings:
Joshua 5:9a, 10-12
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

 

 

 

Rejoice!

It may seem strange that in the middle of Lent we are told to rejoice. The reason for this is not that we might have a breather from the rigors of penance. (How many of us are really even experiencing any rigors?) Rather, this moment of rejoicing fittingly follows the fundamental theme found in the readings for the other Sundays of this season, that theme being – the goodness of God. The versicle for the responsorial psalm might be used as a response to each of the three readings: “Taste and see the goodness of the LORD.”

In the first reading, we are reminded of how God cared for the Israelites while they were in the wilderness. They had accused God of bringing them out of Egypt so that they might die of hunger in the wilderness. And how did God respond? With punishment? No! The reading tells us that God fed them with mysterious bread that they called ‘manna.’ The people of Joshua’s time had at last arrived in the land of promise. They had been delivered from the reproach of Egypt, and they were now enjoying the produce of the land. They celebrated Passover in memory of God’s graciousness to their ancestors and to them. Their celebration was a way of rejoicing.

Paul tells the Corinthian converts that they are a new creation, made so through the blood of Christ. It was the unbounded love of God that was manifested in Christ. In a similar manner, it was the unbounded love of Christ, symbolized by the shedding of his blood, that had reconciled them with God and made them righteous. This is certainly reason to rejoice. In this reading, they do not offer sacrifice, as did the Israelites of Joshua’s time. Instead, the Corinthians are directed to act as agents of reconciliation throughout the entire world. In this way, they shared in God’s plan of salvation.

The gospel reading is one of the best-known and most striking examples of divine graciousness. Though traditionally known as the parable of the prodigal son, it describes the prodigality of the father. He is the one who seems to go to extremes in showering gifts on his repentant son. The theme of reconciliation, so prominent in the passage from Paul, is certainly evident here. It is the father, who in this parable represents God, who takes steps to be reconciled not only with the wayward son but also with the elder son who was dependable but unforgiving. As the loving father insists: “We must celebrate and rejoice.”

In the responsorial psalm we see the psalmist’s profound gratitude to God, and we hear the way this gratitude is expressed in rejoicing and praise. Having been delivered from fear, the psalmist both praises God and urges others to turn to God so that they too might be delivered and then praise God. Thus, the psalmist is acting as an agent of reconciliation.

As the author of 2 Timothy tells us: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). What lessons might we learn from today’s readings? The first and most important lesson to be learned is that of gratitude. There is so much for which each one of us should be grateful. Like the Israelites of old, we have been blessed with freedom and self-determination, the prosperity of the good earth, the love of family and friends. There is so much besides this, so much more that each one in her or his heart cannot even begin to recount God’s graciousness.

Like the Corinthians, we have been made a new creation; we have been given a second chance, in fact, many second chances; we have been called by God to continue God’s own work of reconciliation. In some ways, this is a very difficult blessing to appreciate. Freedom and food are tangible and we can easily be grateful for them. But few of us really grasp the notion of being a new creation with the responsibility of changing our way of living. The real reason for this may be that we are generally quite satisfied with our approach to life. Furthermore, we normally leave the task of reconciliation to religious or political negotiators. The challenge of this teaching may not yet have touched our minds and hearts.

Like the wayward son who never lost his father’s love, we have never really lost God’s love; we have been forgiven. We have experienced God’s forgiveness whenever our friends or family members or coworkers have forgiven us our selfishness or impatience. We do understand this kind of reconciliation, and we are usually grateful for it. Sometimes we even celebrate it.

This Sunday is set aside for us to recall God’s graciousness and to rejoice because of it. In many ways we have been dead, but through God’s grace we have come to life again; we have been lost, but have now been found. We have every reason to rejoice.

Dianne Bergant, CSA

https://learn.ctu.edu/

Hope . . .

 

“To hope means to be ready at every moment for that which is not yet born, and yet not become desperate if there is no birth in our lifetime.” (Erich Fromm)

Photo: Courtesy of SDE

Always beginning . . .

 

Beloved Is Where We Begin

If you would enter
into the wilderness,
do not begin
without a blessing.

Do not leave
without hearing
who you are:
Beloved,
named by the One
who has traveled this path
before you.

Do not go
without letting it echo
in your ears,
and if you find
it is hard
to let it into your heart,
do not despair.
That is what
this journey is for.

I cannot promise
this blessing will free you
from danger,
from fear,
from hunger
or thirst,
from the scorching
of sun
or the fall
of the night.

But I can tell you
that on this path
there will be help.

I can tell you
that on this way
there will be rest.

I can tell you
that you will know
the strange graces
that come to our aid
only on a road
such as this,
that fly to meet us
bearing comfort
and strength,
that come alongside us
for no other cause
than to lean themselves
toward our ear
and with their
curious insistence
whisper our name:

Beloved.
Beloved.
Beloved.

 —Jan Richardson
from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons

The Prodigal Son's Return . . .

 

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Ivor Williams (1908-1982)

 

The Mother of the Prodigal Son

 

Where is the mother of the prodigal son
On that day so long ago?
What were her thoughts
And what were her fears
As she watched him turn to go?

 

How many times in the dark of night
Did the tears slide down her face?
Did she get out of bed
And fall on her knees,
Just to pray that her boy was safe?

 

How were the days when she did not know
Was he alive? Was he warm? Was he well?
Who were his friends?
And where did he sleep?
Was there anyone there she could tell?

 

But, oh, on that day when she looked down the road
As she had looked since her son went away,
Did love unspeakable flood her soul?
Did she cry?
What did she say?

 

I think when the father had welcomed their son
And the boy had greeted his brother,
That the servants made a path
For him to enter the door
And the waiting arms of his mother.
Author: Chis

The Grace of Hope!

 Rough Translations by Jan Richardson

Hope nonetheless.

Hope despite.

Hope regardless.

Hope still.

Hope where we had ceased to hope.

Hope amid what threatens hope.

Hope with those who feed our hope.

Hope beyond what we had hoped.

Hope that draws us past our limits.

Hope that defies expectations.

Hope that questions what we have known.

Hope that makes a way where there is none.

Hope that takes us past our fear.

Hope that calls us into life.

Hope that holds us beyond death.

Hope that blesses those to come.

From: Circle of Grace, Wanton Gospeller Press, Orlando, FL, 2015

 http://www.janrichardson.com/index.htmlichardson.com 

©Jan Richardson. janrichardson.com 

March 23, 2025: Jaime L. Waters Preaches for the Third Sunday of Lent

Reflection for Third Sunday of Lent . . .

 Kevin P. Considine, PhD

Readings:

Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15

Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11.

1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

Luke 13:1-9

 

 

 

“Swatting”.  It’s a relatively new slang term.  It means that a person calls in an anonymous threat to a school in order to force the SWAT team to show up. This usually is a bomb threat or an imminent active shooter. The SWAT, armed to the teeth, forcefully enters the school to neutralize the threat and clears the building. And, afterwards, everyone discovers that the threat was a hoax. The point of “swatting” is to terrorize the students, faculty, and staff through a sick prank.  On Ash Wednesday, this happened at my eldest son’s high school.  Luckily, everyone was physically safe and accounted for.  But the anger I feel as a father is overwhelming.  It’s of a high intensity when your flesh and blood is terrorized, especially for no known reason.  It perhaps can be called a “holy anger”.

So, this week’s reading from Luke’s Gospel makes sense to me. There is something important going on in Jesus’ fiery teaching on repentance. As a parent, I get it.

Oftentimes, we hear the impassioned words of Jesus, or the prophets and we shudder.  Why so harsh?  Why so angry?  Why so immediate? The answer is simple.  It comes from a place of love.  Like the love of a parent. A love that suffers greatly when harm is done. And a love that cannot rest until there is justice, repair, and a better future for everyone.

When speaking of the massacred Galileans and the victims of the disaster at Siloam, Jesus separates “receiving” harm from “deserving” to receive harm.  For Jesus, harm has been a mournful social fact.  It has happened and nothing can undo that.  As people understandably ask “why” such catastrophes could happen, they often fall back on the trope of “the victims must have done something to deserve it”— they sinned, or their parents sinned.  Jesus does not deny that people sin; but he does alter the framework of the question.  In effect, he says “of course they sinned. And of course they did not deserve the harm that happened to them.”  He then tells his hearers to repent so that they, too, do not perish.

“Repent, says the Lord; the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Repent means to turn around and walk a different path.  This call to repent is not because God desires punishment.  And it’s not because God is a God of wrathful vengeance.  No, it’s because God sees what we don’t: the far-reaching consequences of actions that cause harm.

Theologically, this is what we call sin. Because there is a kind of cause and effect in social life.  The harm we cause ripples throughout society, gains momentum, and leads to greater harm for more people as it becomes habituated into social norms.  God can see all of the possibilities and configurations in how this occurs.  We cannot.  So, a prophet accepts a difficult call by carrying God’s heart and seeing with God’s eyes for a season.  Then, they speak to prevent further harm and disaster by calling the people to repent, now!  To change, now!  To make better choices, now!  To break bad habits, now!  The “kingdom of heaven”—God’s presence and just social order—is already here. We just need to recognize it, believe it is possible, and choose to live into it.  Because the choices that we make as individuals, as well as the social norms that influence these choices, have consequences far beyond what we can see.  Repentance is a chance to break the cycle of wrongdoing and harm.  It is a chance at repair and restoration.

Repentance also means recognizing that deep place in our soul where God whispers to us “You are My Beloved”.  God invites us back to that first experience, like Moses with the burning bush, and by extension we who receive the story of Moses and that of the divine liberation of the Israelites from enslavement.  As we remember we are loved without condition and without limit, we are empowered to leave our habits of sinning and causing harm.  There is a reason why Jesus later says “Father, forgive them because they know not what they do”.  Because often, we do not understand the full implications of our actions.  And only God can forgive the most severe offenses and make a way out of no way.

There are few emotions as raw as that of a parent whose child is threatened with harm. Especially when the harm is a cowardly act of anonymous aggression that mimics larger social illnesses that our nation perpetually fails to acknowledge. Why, as a society, have we chosen to fail our children and young people so horribly that the terrorism of gun violence is “normal”?  In a time of nefarious political absurdity, there is no consensus response to that question that can lead to concrete action for the common good. Until there is, what endures is a holy anger. And a concurrent call to repentance away from serving violence and towards serving God’s work of justice, repair, and reconciliation.

These are the days we are living in. We adults must do better. We must repent for enabling many harmful social norms. We must believe we indeed are God’s Beloved and humbly live into the Way of Jesus. Our children and young people ask it of us. God asks it of us. Let us pray for a the courage, honesty, and self-awareness to do so.

Amen.

Kevin P. Considine, PhD 

Director, Robert J Schreiter, CPPS Institute for Precious Blood Spirituality

Adjunct Assistant Professor in Systematic Theology

Advisor, Certificate in Reconciliation and Restorative Justice

https://learn.ctu.edu/

Irish Blessing e-Water

The Crossing - An Irish Blessing

Annunciation ~ A Courageous "Yes" . . .

 

Fresco: Fra Angelico 1443

 “Annunciation”

We know the scene: the room, variously furnished,

almost always a lectern, a book; always

the tall lily.

       Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings,

the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,

whom she acknowledges, a guest.

 

But we are told of meek obedience. No one mentions

courage.

       The engendering Spirit

did not enter her without consent.

         God waited.

 

She was free

to accept or to refuse, choice

integral to humanness.

                  ____________________

Aren’t there annunciations

of one sort or another

in most lives?

         Some unwillingly

undertake great destinies,

enact them in sullen pride,

uncomprehending.

More often

those moments

      when roads of light and storm

      open from darkness in a man or woman,

are turned away from

in dread, in a wave of weakness, in despair

and with relief.

Ordinary lives continue.

                                 God does not smite them.

But the gates close, the pathway vanishes.

                  ____________________

She had been a child who played, ate, slept

like any other child–but unlike others,

wept only for pity, laughed

in joy not triumph.

Compassion and intelligence

fused in her, indivisible.

 

Called to a destiny more momentous

than any in all of Time,

she did not quail,

  only asked

a simple, ‘How can this be?’

and gravely, courteously,

took to heart the angel’s reply,

the astounding ministry she was offered:

 

to bear in her womb

Infinite weight and lightness; to carry

in hidden, finite inwardness,

nine months of Eternity; to contain

in slender vase of being,

the sum of power–

in narrow flesh,

the sum of light.

                     Then bring to birth,

push out into air, a Man-child

needing, like any other,

milk and love–

but who was God.

This was the moment no one speaks of,

when she could still refuse.

 

A breath unbreathed,

                                Spirit,

                                          suspended,

                                                            waiting.

                  ____________________

She did not cry, ‘I cannot. I am not worthy,’

Nor, ‘I have not the strength.’

She did not submit with gritted teeth,

                                                       raging, coerced.

Bravest of all humans,

                                  consent illumined her.

The room filled with its light,

the lily glowed in it,

                               and the iridescent wings.

Consent,

              courage unparalleled,

opened her utterly.

 

Author:  Denise Levertov- 1923-1997

A Time For A Prayer of Realties . . .

 A prayer for times like these

For a world where lies are accepted at face value;

hear our prayer, God of truth.

For a world where racism in high places is tolerated;

hear our prayer, God of the oppressed.

For a world where people with disabilities are mocked;

hear our prayer, God of the disadvantaged.

For a world where the rich hold the reins of power;

hear our prayer, God of the poor.

For a world where men violate women with impunity;

hear our prayer, God of the downtrodden.

For a world where the earth is ignored and neglected;

hear our prayer, God of the voiceless.

For a world where nations interfere in enemies’ elections;

hear our prayer, God of the disenfranchised.

For a world where the church is charmed by false gods;

hear our prayer, God of the lost.

For a world where free speech is threatened;

hear our prayer, God of the silenced.

For a world where hatred is growing by leaps and bounds;

hear our prayer, God of the vulnerable.

For a world where dissent is dangerous and necessary,

hear our prayer, God of those who suffer for righteousness’ sake.

God of hope, we turn to you for vision and courage

as we strive to be faithful in word and deed,

followers of Christ in times like these.

https://carolpenner.typepad.com/leadinginworship/2016/12/a-prayer-for-times-like-these.html

Annunciation . . . and a murmured "yes."

  Poem  "Fiat"  

by Bishop. Robert Morneau on viewing 

Henry O. Tanner’s

The Annunciation - 1988

On her bed of doubt,
in wrinkled night garment,
she sat, glancing with fear
at a golden shaft of streaming light,
pondering perhaps, "Was this
but a sequel to a dream?"
The light too brief for disbelief,
yet its silence eased not her trembling.
Somehow she murmured a "yes"
and with that the light's love and life
pierced her heart
and lodged in her womb.
The room remained the same
- rug still need smoothing
- jug and paten awaiting using.
Now all was different
in a maiden's soft but firm fiat.

March 16, 2025: Mayella Vasquez Preaches for the Second Sunday of Lent

A Prayer for the Week . . .

 

 

 

Loving Spirit of Wisdom,
guide my thoughts and my memories.
 
In the light of your love,
may I see
what is important for me to remember,
what is important for me to
hold to my heart,
and what I need simply to
let go of in peace,

 

for I trust you to be my guide
even when the path
seems unclear to me.
Through Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Author: Sister Rose Hoover, r.c.

Patrick ~ Man of Courage, Man of Myth!

St. Patrick

 

May your troubles be less
And your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come though your door

The Blessing of Light, Rain and Earth

May the blessing of Light be on you
light without and light within.

May the blessed sunlight shine on you
And warm your heart till it glows
Like a great peat fire, so that the stranger
may come and warm himself at it
and also a friend.

And may the light shine out of the two eyes of you
Like a candle set in the windows of a house
Bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.
And may the blessing of the Rain be upon you, the soft sweet rain.
May it fall upon your spirit so that all the little flowers may spring up
And shed their sweetness on the air
And may the blessing of the Great Rains be on you
May they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean
And leave there many a shining pool where the blue of heaven shines
And sometimes a star.

And may the blessing of the Earth be upon you, the great round earth
May you ever have a kindly greeting for them you pass
As you're going along the roads
May the earth be soft under you when you rest upon it
Tire at the end of the day
And may it rest easy over you
When at the last you lay out under it
May it rest so lightly over you
That your soul may be out from under it quickly
And up, and off, and on its way to God.

(Author Unknown)

Just for today . . .

 Gracious God,

Thank you for the gift of today.

Refresh me. Invite me to discover your presence
In each person that I meet
And every event that I encounter.
Teach me when to speak and when to listen
When to ponder and when to share.
In moments of challenge and decision
Attune my heart to the whisperings of your Wisdom.
As I undertake ordinary and unnoticed tasks,
Gift me with simple joy.
When my day goes well, may I rejoice.
When it grows difficult, surprise me with
New possibilities.
When life is overwhelming, call me to
Sabbath moments
To restore your Peace and Harmony.
May my living today reveal your Goodness.

- Pat Bergen, C.S.J.

Lenten pondering . . . So what is the Good News for us today?

 GOSPEL MT 6:1-6, 16-18

Story:

A businessman needing to attend a conference in a faraway city decided to travel on country roads rather than the freeways so he could enjoy a relaxing journey.  After some hours of traveling he realized he was hopelessly lost.  Seeing a farmer tending his field on the side of the road, he stopped to ask for directions.   “Can you tell me how far it is to Chicago?” he asked the farmer.  “Well, I don’t rightly know,” the farmer replied.

Well, can you tell me how far I am from Fond du Lac, WI?” the businessman questioned again.  

“Well, I don’t rightly know,” the farmer again replied.  “Can you at least tell me the quickest way to the main road?”  The exasperated businessman asked.  

“Nope, I don’t rightly know,” the farmer again answered.

“You really don’t know very much at all, do you?” blurted the impatient businessman.

“Nope, not much, but I ain’t lost,” the farmer calmly answered.

Lent is a season of spiritual growth – and possibly we will need to take leave of the “business as usual” main roads in our lives and risk taking some back roads that may lead us into spaces within ourselves that we have hesitated visiting.   We may find ourselves having to be more aware or watchful of signs and symbols that gently direct us to the next turn on our journey.  We may even find ourselves a little lost and having to stop to ask for directions or just sit listening for the soft and intimate voice of the Divine whispering encouragement to our fearful and anxious hearts. 

It is said that Lent is not an event – It is not something that happens to us.  It is at most a microcosm of what turns out to be a lifelong journey to the center of the Self.  The purpose of Lent is to confront us with ourselves in a way that’s conscious and purposeful, that enables us to deal with the rest of life well.  

In our gospel today, Jesus addressees the three pillars of religion in ancient Judaism – prayer, fasting and almsgiving – the voice of Jesus down the ages warns us about being seduced into believing that any of the practices, by virtue of their own worthiness, is really religious.

About those who got their satisfaction out of standing up in the synagogues or praying on the streets, he warned his disciples “When you pray, go into your room alone and pray in secret.”

To those who gave great alms and in return got great publicity for it, he said, “When you give alms do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

In regard to those whose fasting was done with public fanfare and insincere distress, he said to his own followers, “When you fast, dress up, look your best.”  In other words, lighten up and smile!

So what is the Good News for us today?

The story goes that the Holy Man, Nasrudin was now an old man looking back on his life.  He sat with his friends in the tea shop telling his story.

“When I was young I was fiery – I wanted to awaken everyone.  I prayed to God to give me the strength to change the world.”

“In mid-life I awoke one day and realized my life was half over and I had changed no one.  So I prayed to God to give me the strength to change those close around me who so much needed it.”

“Alas, now I am old and my prayer is simpler, ‘God,’ I ask, ‘please give me the strength to as least change myself.’”

March 9, 2025: Ana Gonzalez, OP Preaches for the First Sunday of Lent

A LENTEN PRAYER

God of peace,

you do not want us to know relentless worry

but rather a humble repentance of heart.

It is like a surge of trusting that enables us 

to place our faults in you.

And then, by the inner light of forgiveness,

little by little we discover a peace of heart.

Christ of compassion,

through your Gospel we discover

that measuring what we are or what we are not leads nowhere.

What matters is the humble trusting of faith.

By it we are led to glimpse the innocence of God

And to understand that “all God can do is give love.”

Holy Spirit,

even when we can feel nothing of your presence, 

you are always there.

You remain continually active in us,

opening little ways forward to escape from our dead ends

And to move towards the essential of faith, of trust.

May we ever keep safe in all its fullness

the gift your love once gave

and your mercy now restores.

Amen

— Taizé, adapted

God of All Peoples . . .

 

Prayer of Lenten Solidarity

God of All Peoples,

As we look ahead to our Lenten journey,

may our fasting be a hunger for justice,

our alms an offering of peace,

and our prayers a reflection of humble and grateful hearts.

We ask the Holy Spirit to accompany us

as we spend these 40 days reflecting

on what it means to be companions on the journey

to encounter our global human family.

How may this encounter with our neighbor transform our own lives?

How may our prayers, fasting and almsgiving support those worldwide

who are forced to flee their homes for safety or better opportunities?

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God forever and ever.

AMEN

(CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES)

Giving up? Giving over?

 Poem: "For Lent" by Monica Lavia 

What are you giving up for Lent? Adam asked of Eve.

Well, Eve said. I am thinking I should give up apples.

And what about you, husband of mine? 

Adam replied, I think I am going to give up taking advice from you.

What are you giving up for Lent? 

Abel asked his brother Cain?

Cain replied, I am going to try to give up my anger 

Lest in a weak moment, I injure someone I love.

What are you giving up for Lent?

Jacob asked his twin, Esau.

Apparently, my birthright, little brother of mine. 

What are you giving up for Lent?

Moses asked of Aaron?

I am going to give up worshiping false gods                                                 

Especially the golden calf variety.                                                                  

What about you? Aaron asked Moses in return.                                          

I am giving up my need to see the promised land.       

                              

What are you giving up for Lent?        

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar asked Job.                                                          

I am giving up trying to understand the mind of God.    

                             

What are you giving up for Lent?  I asked of Mary. 

She whispered her response so softly

I had to move in close to her to hear her hushed reply:

My only Son