Sunday Reflections

During the lengthy Lenten season we have avoided the ‘A’ word, Alleluia.  Now it is time to proclaim it loud – ALLELUIA!!  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is not only a date on the calendar – April 21 this year – or even the weeks that the Easter candle continues in the sanctuary of the Church, but should be about the attitude of hope that we bring to the world.  This is the Charism of the Congregation of the Resurrection – hope – that God can do the impossible and the improbable.  The disciples did not understand the words of Jesus about his ‘rising’.  They

Today is among the most important liturgical days in the year; so listen to today’s scriptural readings very closely and absorb them into your very being!  There is a great amount of salvation history in them that calls us to make today’s readings the core of our being.

One of the most significant phrases in the Gospels emerges this Sunday when Jesus says "neither do I condemn you" to the woman caught in adultery.  By law, Jesus had every right to condemn her but he chooses not to.  Perhaps even a compassionate glance accompanied his words that continue to soften so many hardened hearts. 

Sometimes the Scriptures bring forth a strong reaction from people.  I find this to be one of them, like in Matthew 20:1-16 (the workers in the vineyard), which brings people to say, “It’s not fair!”  Many identify with the other son, the one who was dutiful and faithful, obedient and hard working.  Thus, they feel ‘hard done by’ and protest such a forgiving father.  It is difficult for some to understand that the ‘logic’ of God is not ours.  Instead of 2 + 2 = 4, God tells us that 2 + 2 = 5.  It may not make sense, but that is the way of God.  The gospel

We are presently well into this Holy Season of Lent.  Who is this “we”? All of us baptized into Jesus Christ who form the Body of Christ made visible and present here on earth – all of us who incarnate the Risen One in order to proclaim His Saving Gospel for the world.

Unfortunately at this time we are the Christian Community also hanging our heads in shame and sorrow because of the greatest abominable shame in the Church’s History – that of sexual abuse within the Church.  It is like a huge malignant cancer throughout the world that rests at our feet!

The story of the fall in the Garden of Eden is about humanity’s inability to trust in God, but it is also the story about how God never compels, but continues to invite humanity into a relationship that depends upon God’s graciousness. While the first man and woman could not trust in the creator and his ways, Abraham stands as one who responds to God’s invitation and is justifiably called the “Father of Faith.”

The temptations of Jesus call our attention to one of the goals of the Lenten season – to overcome the attraction to evil, temptation and sin.  We don’t have to look far outside ourselves, or around us, to see such sources.  Jesus, as God-made-man, shows us how to resist temptation.  He forever had his eyes on the will of the Father.  This special ‘sight’ helped him to constantly distinguish between the call to grace, and the call to evil, temptation and sin.  Our temptation may not be bread, power, and security, but the evil one knows us well enough to know exactly

THE WORD OF GOD! What happens when we encounter the Word of God, let us say at Sunday Mass?  Looking back quickly on my long priestly ministry, I notice that the approach usually taken was to roll up our sleeves and tackle the Word to get Its’ message.  When stated this way, we realize a problem immediately – we do not master the Word but we should let the Word master us!

Part of the Charism Statement for the Congregation of the Resurrection reads: “We believe that God’s love for us is merciful and unfailing. We have not earned his love. We are nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing without God. We are attracted to evil. We are sinners. Yet, God continues to draw us to himself.”

Our world today is confused and confusing.  What the world tells us makes us happy, is not on the list of gospel values that lead to true happiness.  In fact some of the things most looked down upon in our society – humility, forgiveness, compassion, generosity, dependence – are high on the list that the Lord proclaims not only by his teaching, but by his life, suffering, death and resurrection.  I am sure that those who listened to Jesus on that day were also confused, as he proclaimed the reward that awaited the “poor, “hungry”, those “who weep”, and those “hated”.  Eq