Sunday Reflections

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

Our First Reading today is one through which God asks us through Isaiah “Whom will I send and who will go for Us?” Answer “here am I; send me to rebuild your Church.” The Second Reading is all about proclamation – strongly state to God (and others) that you will proclaim the Gospel.  In the Gospel Itself, hear Jesus say to you, “(Name,) do not be afraid; from now on you will catch people (to rebuild my Church).”

Once, when I was a seminarian studying theology, I was asked for some money by a man at the train station. I figured that he would buy alcohol with any money that I gave him, so I told him that I would not give him any money, but I would buy him something to eat. He seemed rather indecisive about this, but followed me into the cafeteria where I purchased a sandwich and coffee for him. When we walked outside, he took the sandwich and threw it at me, hitting me in the face with it. Of course, I was glad that he did not throw the coffee, too!

Jesus returned to Nazareth, where he grew up.  He was known in the city and in the temple, having completed his Sabbath faithfully.  There he heard the Scriptures and the promises of God, and the call of God.  So it was that, where it all began, he rose and read from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

     We are now in that part of the Church’s liturgical calendar that is called “Ordinary Time.”  This does not mean this part of the liturgical calendar is less important than other parts: what it does mean is that it does not have the specific focus that other parts have, e.g., doing penance in Lent or Christ’s Resurrection at Easter Time.  One other observation here.  I am privileged to be able to attend and celebrate Mass every day: if I am not careful, I can begin to take Eucharist for granted (do recall the old adage that familiarity breeds