theJourney(beginning)

20030331

 

The Catholic Calendar for Monday, March 31, 2003
The Fourth Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 65:17-21
Psalm 30:2,4-6,11-13
John 4:43-54

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I will praise you Lord for you have rescued me.
You have preserved my life from among those
going down into the pit. (Ps 30:2,4)

Today's readings continue the theme of restoration, mercy and peace after the day of God's justifiable wrath.

With faith-filled hearts we anticipate the mercy of the Lord on those who love Him and seek to do His will. We have heard His Holy Word, we know that in a moment His anger can flair; but we know with ever increasing certainty, of His great and merciful love.

Let us then not be unduly worried, but watchful and vigilant. Let us pray for purity of heart, perseverance and trust that all the Lord foretold will be fulfilled.

I am the resurrection and the life, said the Lord;
he who believes in me will not die forever.

(from today's verse before the Gospel: Jn 11:25,26)

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds (drn3rd@hotmail.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:04 AM

20030330

 

The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, March 30, 2003
The Fourth Sunday in Lent
"Laetare Sunday"

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Chronicles 36:14-16,19-23
Psalm 137:1-6
Ephesians 2:4-10
John 3:14-21

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!" (Psalm 137:6)

Today's readings talk a lot about living in the 'light', letting our lives be guided by the light of Christ in our lives. It takes courage to live in the light because when we choose to follow Jesus, we bring to the open all those dark places within ourselves which we would rather not put under scrutiny. The safe, short-term option, the path of least resistance is to continue to go as we are going, to move with the masses and not live in the light.

But when we take the easy option, it's not really an easy option but a delusion. We're short-changing our true selves for short-term quick fixes which don't suffice; and all the time we could be working towards a more noble, concrete and infinitely rewarding goal, sharing in the joy and peace of Christ in eternity. Yes, the path of living in the light is more difficult, but look at the rewards!

Today, let us bring to mind all the crosses we are carrying in our lives. Perhaps, rather than asking the Lord to remove sufferings from us, let us thank Him for presenting us these hardships as opportunities, since very often we only remember our need of God when such trials arise.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

- Cliodhna Doyle (clia@cliadoyle.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 6:32 AM

20030329

 

The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, March 29, 2003
The Third Week in Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Hosea 6:1-6
Psalm 51:3-4,18-21b
Luke 18:9-14

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

About forgiveness...

Today's Gospel story is about our own self-righteousness. We read about two men, one a Pharisee and the other a lowly, utterly despised, tax collector. The Pharisee was filled with pride and arrogance, judging others. The tax collector was very humble and obedient to the laws of God, bowing his head and beating his breast, as he prayed to God for mercy and forgiveness. What must we the Pharisees and tax collectors in today's world do?

"For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice." (Hosea 6:6)

What a difference these opposite attitudes can make in the way we live our lives. If we have the mindset of the Pharisee, we expect God to see what a "great job" we are doing as we progress through Lent. We expect God will "see" what we have accomplished and reward us accordingly. If we are walking in the shoes of the tax collector, that's something different, we realize that we cannot earn righteousness on our own.

We can try "giving" (not giving something up) this Lent. It's not too late, just do something for someone whom you love, that you would not normally do, but don't tell them. Allow yourself the freedom of applying Luke's Gospel lesson in a way that will allow you to experience God's grace, in a special way. If we imitate the tax collector, we'll make God's mercy and love the foundation of our lives.

Lord Jesus,
renew our Faith today and every day.
Allow us to follow in your footsteps
as we journey toward your Easter Triduum.
Amen!

- Deacon Bill Powers (uujpow@aol.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 5:00 AM

20030328

 

The Catholic Calendar for Friday, March 28, 2003
The Third Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Hosea 14:2-10
Psalm 81:6-11,14,17
Mark 12:28-34

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Have you ever noticed how succinct and "to the point" God's Holy Word is? It's as if it was meant to be easily memorized for quick and frequent reference.

The other side of this reality is how hard it sometimes is to act on God's Word. As with this and other difficult and complex things a hierarchal understanding and approach is often useful. Jesus, The Word of God, and Author of all things, has provided us with just such hierarchal tool's for our salvation.

First, we are told, we must love the Lord God above everything else with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength. This Great Commandment is the foundation for everything else; if we truly love God, we are eager to obey and please Him.

Just so that it is clear how pervasive our love of God was to be, Jesus reiterated the second Great Commandment, that we love our neighbor (in whom the Living God dwells) as ourselves.

Let us meditate on these Great Commandments and beg God to let them be operative in our lives, in our world.

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds (drn3rd@hotmail.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:43 AM

20030327

 

The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, March 27, 2003
The Third Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 7:23-28
Psalm 95:1-2,6-9
Luke 11:14-23

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's readings challenge us to listen to the wisdom of God, and it warns of the consequences that follow on not listening. As if God had not clearly commanded us to listen and obey! It's as simple as that.

What a mistake it is for us to think that obedience enslaves the human heart, and lessens our human dignity. To obey is simply to follow God's blueprint for happiness and fulfillment. To obey means to engage in that process of becoming all that God intends us to be, and that we, in our clearer moments, want so ardently ourselves.

Obedience is so essentially connected with love. A Loving obedience is what God desires of us; anything less is really unworthy of our God.

We can ask today, "How well do I listen to the words of God's wisdom?" "Do I leave space in my day for a deep internalizing of each small daily portion of wisdom proclaimed in the Liturgy, or suggested in private Scripture reading, and other spiritual reading, whispered by the Holy Spirit through prayer and contemplation?"

If I have ears attuned to many voices from these many directions, then I will become the person God intends me to be!

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore (smartins@twcny.rr.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:14 AM

20030326

 

The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, March 26, 2003
The Third Week in Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9
Psalm 147:12-13,15-16,19-20
Matthew 5:17-19

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"I have come not to abolish but to fulfill"

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. How often have we heard that? But do we know what it means?

The law is still with us. The law as laid out in the Hebrew Scriptures are the "limits" that describe the playing field of allowable behavior. If you follow those rules you are acting in a Godly fashion. However, you may not be acting in a perfect fashion. Jesus described, within that arena of the law, perfect behavior.

This is typified by the beatitudes and other guidelines that Jesus left with us. "A real friend is willing to lay down his life for others." "Blessed are the poor in spirit," and so forth.

So, while the Law and the Prophets described the minimum necessary to live a Godly life, Jesus described the truly desirable life in God -- He "perfected" the law and the prophets. In Jesus all truth is perfected and all human knowledge is brought to nothing.

Let us seek to live fully the teachings of Jesus and not seek to do merely the minimum that keeps us from the mouth of Hell. Our duty as Christians is to serve as a beacon, and a beacon needs to shine as brightly as possible.

- JuandelaCruz, T.O.Carm (sriddle415@yahoo.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:28 AM

20030325

 

The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 7:10-14;8:10
Psalm 40:7-11
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28)

Throughout Lent let us meditate on God's merciful love for us, His people, as He unfolds His plan to rescue us from spiritual death caused by the sin that separates us from Him. Salvation history reveals that God always engages people to carry out His plan, first through His prophets and in this final age by pouring out new life upon us in the Person of His only begotten Son. What better way to prove His love than coming to us in human flesh and offering Himself up as the ultimate and final sacrifice to expiate our sins? For all former sacrifices served only as an acknowledgement of sin and sorrow for it. Jesus, the Christ, opened salvation to all who in faith and good will, hear and follow Him, God's living Word.

To carry forth His plan, God prepared a special vessel to receive and bear His Son into this world. The young virgin Mary, demonstrates to us the marvelous works God can perform through those whose love and trust in Him exceed any personal considerations, who abandon themselves to doing His will, regardless of possible negative consequences. Mary's, "yes" brought salvation to the world while risking ruin to her reputation, alienating Joseph, her betrothed, and being stoned to death for her 'sin.' Our Lenten episodes of fasting, extra prayers and penances, works of kindness and larger Church donations, all pale in contrast to offering up one's earthly happiness and very life in obedience to our Creator, and all done for a race of ungrateful and unrepentant sinners.

Today, let our hearts be filled with loving gratitude for God's great gifts to us made possible through Mary's sacrifices and sufferings and God's unfathomable and incomprehensible love for His errant children.

Compassionate Father,
as we participate in Lenten sacrifices,
let us offer them to You
as tokens of love and gratitude
for the incomparable gift of Your Son,
our Savior,
and His mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds (mlbocko@borg.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:11 AM

20030324

 

The Catholic Calendar for Monday, March 24, 2003
The Third Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Kings 5:1-15
Psalm 42:2-3;43:3-4
Luke 4:24-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's gospel Jesus refers to the story of Naaman, a metaphor explained in great detail in today's first reading from the Second Book of Kings. At first, Naaman was insulted when asked to wash in Israel's Jordan River. Yet Naaman, a gentile, was cured while many lepers in Israel remained uncured.

Jesus revealed himself as Messiah and Savior, not only for the Jews, but also for the gentiles and for all humanity. We know this, but the Jews didn't accept that. Instead, in their pride, they were angered and smarted at Jesus' reminder of the story of Naaman.

It is important for us to remember that Jesus came to make eternal life possible for everyone. From these scriptures, we should be encouraged to be obedient to God's voice, to do good when faced with the possibility of doing the selfish alternative: to commit a sin.

Let us draw from the faith, the power and the salvation that God has brought us -- to transform our hearts now and always.

If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts. (Ps. 95:8)

- joachim, ocds

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 5:28 AM

20030323

 

The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, March 23, 2003
The Third Sunday in Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Exodus 20:1-17 or 20:1-3,7-8,12-17
Psalm 19:8,9,10,11
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
John 2:13-25

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

We are raised and educated to think of Jesus as a kind and merciful person. Many of us love the image of Christ as the Good Shepherd, or Christ holding and playing with the children. The image of Christ in the gospel is very different. Perhaps if we had been there we might have become frightened. Christ is depicted as a very angry person!

In the first reading we are reminded that God brought us out of Egypt, out of slavery, The reading goes on to describe the ten commandments, as means to assist us from returning to the slavery of the soul. For instance, we are not to worship other gods.

Christ became very angry in the gospel of today. We see Him making a whip and turning over the tables where money exchanges were taking place. God is a jealous God. He wants to give His love and have us share our being with Him, now that He has delivered us out of slavery.

Lent is a good time to reflect seriously on this subject. Have we allowed other gods to enter the 'temple' of our being, causing the same lack of respect that made Christ so angry? Obviously we need to conduct the business of our daily lives, but are we more concerned with the temporal affairs of our lives than of keeping our temples as a place of worship?

After Christ became so upset, the disciples recalled the scriptural passage....regarding zeal for the house of God being a consuming zeal. When we think of the word 'zeal' we might think of words such as: enthusiasm, energy, unrelenting energy, positive goals and direction. Are these words that we can use in describing our own efforts at keeping our own temples for the Father?

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit
to cleanse my soul
of all gods but You alone. Amen.

- Joan of Jesus, ocds (jmurphy@utica.edu)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 6:32 AM

20030322

 

The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, March 22, 2003
The Second Week in Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Micah 7:14-15,18-20
Psalm 103:1-2,3-4,9-10,11-12
Luke 15:1-3,11-32

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

About forgiveness...

Today's Gospel tells us about a man who forgave his long-lost son who, being down on his luck, has unexpectedly returned to his family. A celebration is planned, joy abounds; yet, there is disappointment from the elder son who challenges his father's actions.

Jesus is the same today, yesterday and forever. He loves us! How wonderful to know that the Son of Man, born of a Virgin, became man and showed us how to love -- and to forgive. Yet, we have division in even the best of families, hurts from our childhood, lack of love in our lives, even separation that never reunites us until the death of a once-loved relative.

Luke recounts for us the abundance of God's love, mercy, forgiveness and most of all His compassion and kindness. This is a good reminder for us during this second week of Lent. It is never easy for us to say "I'm sorry, I was wrong, please forgive me." It is so easy to continue to live our lives, ignoring the compassion shown in this scripture.

O Lord, you are kind and merciful.
Help me to be like You.
Amen

- Deacon Bill Powers (uujpow@aol.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:11 AM

20030321

 

The Catholic Calendar for Friday, March 21, 2003
The Second Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 37:3-4,12-13,17-28
Psalm 105:16-21
Matthew 21:33-43,45-46

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The story of how Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery is almost unreal. To think that kind of jealousy could exist between brothers is something foreign to me. What is it that turns human hearts against one another making unspeakable crimes possible?

When I came to grips that it is sin that generates such aberrations, I began (believe it or not), to have hope that all the egregious activities of man against his brother could indeed be eradicated. What's more I came to know that such a momentous change was not (thankfully) going to depend on some slick psychological, social and economic "work arounds" or programs, but on the power and mercy of God and our cooperation with His grace.

In these difficult and unsure days let us take the time to reflect on how sin has mutated our human relationships and let us turn and return to God our only sure and certain remedy, our only hope.

Lord, all my hope is in Your mercy.

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds (drn3rd@hotmail.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:23 AM

20030320

 

The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, March 20, 2003
The Second Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1:1-4,6
Luke 16:19-31

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

One of the great fruits of fasting is identification with those who are destitute. The experience of hunger "levels the playing field"!

How consoled Lazarus must have been after reading the prophet Jeremiah. King Hezekiah, like Nicodemus in his relationship with Jesus, supported Jeremiah only "after dark" in daylight, he abandoned him to his enemies!

How well do we support and defend Jesus and the principles of the Gospel "in the daylight"?

To ignore the poor, to just "do nothing" in the face of their poverty and suffering, is the common crime of those who are so much better off. Are we guilty of indifference to the poor? Of words without deeds? Have I planned any works of justice this Lent? What are they? I need to spend time in serious reflection on today's Gospel.

Let me schedule in now my talk with the Lord about daily justice... and where I fit in.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore (smartins@twcny.rr.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:09 AM

20030319

 

The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14,16
Psalm 89:2-5,27,29
Romans 4:13,16-18,22
Matthew 1:16,18-21,24

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him..." (Matthew 1:24)

Obedience -- the virtue that may precede and be the foundation of all the others. Joseph is exemplary of this virtue, which is at once so demanding and so utterly liberating. We tend to think of obedience as humiliation and as a kind of bondage. We want to be in control, we want to make things happen our way, we want to be in charge. All too often, we want to be in charge not only of ourselves, but of everyone else as well.

But Joseph shows us how to obey God. He simply listens and acts upon what he hears. Listening, first and foremost, being open to hear God's word is the first requisite of obedience. We cannot obey if we're listening to the buzzing in our own head and attributing it to God. The only way to hear God is to spend time, a lot of time, in prayer and reading scripture.

The second aspect of obedience is that we do what we are told. When we hear God and it is very clear that something is demanded of us, we should act on it. Whatever we may hear, we should bring it first to a spiritual director or counselor to be certain that we are discerning correctly.

The spirit of obedience to God is so important to the restoration of the Church and to the salvation of God's people. What are people to think if they see us all running our separate directions, all following separate agendas, "being individuals" and "marching to our own drummers?" We do all people a disservice when we do not act in obedience to God's commands.

So let us take Joseph as our model for the day. Let us follow his humility and his uncommon good sense. After all, do we REALLY need to be in charge with things in the world the way they are?

- JuandelaCruz, T.O.Carm (sriddle415@yahoo.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:19 AM

20030318

 

The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, March 18, 2003
The Second Week in Lent
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 1:10,16-20
Psalm 50: 8-9,16-17,21,23
Matthew 23:1-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"All their works are performed to be seen." (Matthew 23:5)

One mark of humility is the ability to admit being wrong, that someone else has a greater wisdom than we. True humility results from our drawing close to God, for He alone can impart this virtue to us. As we draw close to Him, His Holy Spirit bathes us in His truth and love; and in this light we begin to see our sins and imperfections. He does this not to "put us down" but actually to "lift us up" out of sin to a higher level of existence, to participate fully in the perfect life exemplified in Christ. God's purpose is to make us worthy citizens of His kingdom.

Our need for this process called sanctification, as revealed in today's readings, requires discipline which means that from moment to moment, through our choices, we are to conform our will to God's will. We will experience failures along the way until we become proficient in hearing God and obeying His Word. Our assent to God's wisdom is the only way open to us if together with others we sincerely wish to build communities and nations pervaded by peace, justice and joy, and to build a world that gives honor and glory to God and to us as His children. Failures should not discourage us but be seen as opportunities given to us by God to move up higher, come closer to Him through repentance and reform. Also we must trust that God's commands are given to us as mercy, not as means of judging us harshly; for God knows our human weaknesses and sees every mitigating circumstance affecting our choices.

Christ's indictment of the Pharisees and Scribes applies to Church people in every age, those who outwardly and pridefully flaunt their piety while inwardly remaining devoid of God's life. God cannot fill a vessel with His goodness, truth and love if it is already filled to the brim with "self."

Father of life, truth and love,
open our hearts to receive and obey your Word,
that He may free us from our self-imposed darkness.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds (mlbocko@borg.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:11 AM

20030317

 

The Catholic Calendar for Monday, March 17, 2003
The Second Week of Lent
St. Patrick, bishop

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 9:4-10
Psalm 79:8,9,11,13
Luke 6:36-38

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I think that we'll see that the scriptures for this Monday are apocalyptic. The unknown writer of the Book of Daniel reminisced about past trials and punishments of the Jewish people. He laments the same misfortunes of his day, his own sins and all the people of Israel. And we see that today's Psalm cries out to God for compassion, pardon, and release from our sinful habits that grip us so firmly.

Then Jesus tells us so simply and calmly that we must be compassionate as the Father is compassionate, that we must not judge so that we will not be judged; that we must pardon so that we will be pardoned. For in so giving shall we receive, not only in good measure, but "pressed down, shaken together, running over...." This is a very real promise from God Himself!

Let us not become like those who take no responsibility for their sins, who continually seek their own selfish will, who trample down everyone in their path. Rather, let us be kind and forgiving to all, generous and helpful to those who cry out for help. Let each of us seek the Lord's call in every moment of this day, and every day of our lives.

- joachim, ocds

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:28 AM

20030316

 

The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, March 16, 2003
The Second Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 22:1-2,9,10-13,15-18
Psalm 116:10,15-19
Romans 8:31-34
Mark 9:2-10

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's Gospel, Peter, James and John witness the transfiguration of Jesus on the mount. While this transcending experience must have been a terrifying experience for them, it must also have validated the hope and trust they placed in Jesus as their Lord and teacher. Very often on our journey of faith, we encounter desert periods where we can feel a distance from the guidance and love of the Holy Spirit and question whether we are on the right path. Other times, we can experience a deep knowledge and awareness within us that Jesus is close to us, residing in the depths of our hearts. It is these prize moments that make our Faith worthwhile as we try and live our knowledge of Jesus in the everyday secular world.

So let us not be fearful and anxious regarding the ups and downs of our journey of Faith. Placing our trust in God, His plans will always bear fruit in us according to His design, not our own.

- Cliodhna Doyle (clia@cliadoyle.com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 6:56 AM

20030315

 

The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, March 15, 2003
The First Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Psalm 119:1-2,4-8
Matthew 5:43-48

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The Lord seems to know so well how to encourage us toward perfection without overwhelming us into despair in the face of so lofty an aspiration. In the secular world, the word "perfection" creates visions of neurotic and obsessive behavior and portends failure.

And yet Jesus said, we must be made perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. How, Lord, are we to do that? Could the Jesus who loves us, ask of us the impossible and set us up for failure? Could he assign us an oppressive and unattainable task? Never! God so loved the world, we are told and we believe, that He gave us His only Son -- to imitate, to comfort us, to feed us with His very flesh and blood.

Dearest Jesus, I love and believe. I will imitate you. I will go to you when I fail and need your mercy and forgiveness to help pick me up and try even harder. I will eat your Sacred Body and drink your Precious Blood and become what I eat and drink: Christ in the world -- my very Perfection!

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds (drn3rd@hotmail.com

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:33 AM