Tag: Lent

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Growing in Love and Holiness

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Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18
Responsorial: Psalm 103 1-4, 8, 10, 12-13
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022320.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

In today’s readings, Jesus continues to challenge the people about what fulfilling the Law means. Fulfilling the Law doesn’t mean doing the absolute minimum or following the pagans who subscribe to retributive justice, like an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. In Leviticus, we hear that God holds the people to a higher standard of conduct. “Be holy for, I the LORD your God am holy,” (Leviticus 19:2). And so, doing just the minimum isn’t gonna cut it.

Jesus explains that to be holy like God is to strive to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, (Matthew 5:48). What does that mean? That means we need to imitate the perfect love of our heavenly Father, who himself is love, (1 John 4:8).

Let’s look at what that means from the perspective of a married couple. Think about a story you’ve read or a movie or a show which was set in feudal times where there was an arranged marriage planned between an older lord and a young lady. Maybe this was done for some political or monetary advantage right. Well this is probably the dramatic setting of the story that will be resolved by a knight in shining armor who comes along to save the fair maiden. Right? Why? Because this idea of a marriage without love or romance is so depressing.

And a couple cannot grow in love unless that love is challenged by the stuff – the messiness of everyday life. It’s only through a couple growing in love and patience and kindness that they can to one another and, “I screwed up,” “I’m sorry,” and, “I forgive you.” Does that make sense?

Jesus tells us that image of growth in love should be applied not just to our spouses, but by all believers, to everyone all the time everywhere. It’s not enough to subscribe to the idea of an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth. That’s what it means to grow in love and holiness – what it means to emulate the Father.

That’s what St. Paul is talking about in his letter to the Corinthians. It seems like the church there is on the verge of splitting. It seems like the church is being pulled apart by different factions. Boy does that sound familiar. It sounds like our countries and even the Church itself are on the verge of being pulled apart by different factions in our own age. And we risk being pulled apart if we can’t look across the aisle with the love and the compassion of God.

Now these readings which challenge us to grow in love and holiness are particularly important this weekend. Why? Because we’re about to start our Lenten journeys and part of the exercise of Lent is to challenge ourselves to grow. Lent is a great opportunity to do what so many businesses do: pause and do some strategic planning. It’s a time to reflect on what’s worked, what hasn’t worked and what they need to do in the future. Each of us is challenged during Lent to look at our past year honestly – with a critical eye. What did we do this last year? What did we do well? Where did we go wrong? What do I need to change in my life that what will help me grow?

How do I do this? I can grow with the power of the Holy Spirit, and with the strength I draw from the sacraments. As I reflect on my life, I can bring to the Sacrament of Reconciliation those sins or root causes of sin in my life that are preventing me from growing or that are damaging my relationship with God. That leads us to our Lenten sacrifice.

A Lenten sacrifice should challenge us to grow spiritually. Let me suggest that what that can’t be is giving up chocolate. Let’s say you’re the type of person who kicks the dog or bites your sister, or maybe you bite the dog or kick your sister. How will giving up a piece of chocolate like a Dairy Milk help you overcome a sinful pattern in your lives? I don’t think it will. We need to dig deeper and figure out what will challenge me to grow in holiness.

Maybe this year you could go to mass every Sunday? Or maybe you could go to adoration for one hour every month? Maybe you could set aside a little time to pray – I mean really pray to Jesus. What I mean by that is sitting down and just trying to have a conversation with him. You can start out by saying you don’t know what you’re doing or if he’s listening – that’s okay – but just opening yourself up a little to talk with Jesus could be a start. But if we are going to grow in love and holiness, we have to start somewhere.

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I would like you to reflect on the following two questions.

  1. What are the things in my life that are preventing me from growing in love and holiness?
  2. What is my Lenten sacrifice going to be?

I think doing our homework will help prepare us for Lent so that we can grow in the love and holiness of God. Do you got it? Do you get it? Then go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

References:

  1. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
  2. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
  3. Montague, George T. SM. First Corinthians. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011.
  4. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

  1. Jesus, Lord of the world, 450
  2. Church as temple of the Holy Spirit, 797
  3. Purgatory, 1030-32
  4. Christian perfection, 1693, 2013
  5. Love of enemies, 2303, 2844

Resources:

  1. Learn more about being a Christian steward: http://usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/stewardship/index.cfm

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 79
Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022320.cfm
First Reading Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18
The LORD said to Moses,
“Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

“You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD.”

Responsorial
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Brothers and sisters:
Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Let no one deceive himself.
If any one among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:
God catches the wise in their own ruses,
and again:
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
that they are vain.

So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

Alleluia
John 2:5
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 5:38-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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Fourth Sunday of Lent: The Prodigal Son

picture of a boy, back to us, with a backpack slung over his shoulder walking down a deserted street

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Readings
First Reading: Joshua 5:9A, 10-12
Psalm: Psalm 34: 2-7
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

In today’s Gospel, Luke 15:1-3 and verses 11-32, we hear that all-familiar story about the Prodigal Son. In this story, the younger son wants his share of the estate now, so he asks his father to give it to him. His father agrees and the son leaves for another country and lives an indulgent life. He’s the life of the party – until the money runs out. Of course, when it rains, it pours, so the money doesn’t just run out. No! A famine strikes. Now this poor boy has no money and no food and so he goes to work on a farm. He realizes that even the pigs live better than him, so he decides to go home. His father’s servants are treated better than this, so he hopes to live and work on this father’s place. But when his father sees him in the distance, what does he do? He runs into the field and gives him a deep bearhug! And he orders the servants to take care of son and prepare a huge party in his honor.

Now, when the older brother hears what is going on, he is ticked off! Here he’s been, the whole time, doing what he’s supposed to, working his butt off and never once has his father let him have a party! But his brother squanders his share of the wealth and he’s treated like a hero. And the father says, “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”
This is one of my favorite stories. That image of the father running into the field to meet his son who has returned home is a powerful image. Really, it’s a wonderful story that reminds us, as Bishop Robert Barron says, that the Bible is not the story of our quest for God. It’s about God’s passionate, relentless quest for us.

But there’s another dimension to this story though that I learned from Fr. Laurence Freeman, a Benedictine monk, that I think we need to pay attention to. Why is it that we become so angry when we see someone do something they shouldn’t do? Maybe it’s because we see a little bit of ourselves – or at least the something we might have done – in the person who did something wrong.

This story about these two brothers and the father is about us. It’s about both sides of our ego. One side wants to run after pleasure – think the mid-life crisis complete with new model car and partner. The other side takes the moral high ground and feels justified in condemnation.

Isn’t it also interesting how both brothers misunderstand the father’s reaction? The younger son expects his father to be angry and indignant and he’s hoping that he’ll be allowed to work as one of the slaves. The older brother is shocked that his father is so happy and welcoming.

In the symbolism of the father’s joy, a lack of self-importance, and the exuberance of his love we see our true self – our true nature which underpins all moral reasoning. Without knowledge of the essential truth of the unconditional nature of love, the ego will prevail. So how do we keep both sides of our ego in check? We pray. We experience the community of His church. Each time we pray, we are like the prodigal returning home to be embraced.

So, don’t condemn the wrongdoer once he or she has begun to change. We need to encourage rehabilitation by affirmation, forgiveness, and acceptance. Just as the father in the Gospel celebrates the return, we need to celebrate when those who do wrong in our lives come back. We need to do unto others as we would have them do us. Jesus tells us that just as he loves us, we need to love one another.

Homework! Lent is a time of simplification and strengthening our discipline where it is weak. After being nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and, in the Eucharist, please meditate on these two questions:

  1. Consider each of the three characters in the Gospel: the father, the Prodigal Son and the indignant son. Which one would you rather be?
  2. Considering how you answered the first question, how do you treat other people? Do you respond more like the Prodigal Son, the indignant son or the father?

I think by doing our homework we might identify areas in our life where we need to grow in faith, hope and love. Do you got it? Are you going to do it? Well good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. +Amen!

Here’s a great video song from Jason Michael Carroll that captures the spirit of today’s Gospel:

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Third Sunday of Lent

picture of a fruitless fig tree, the landlord and the laborer

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Readings
First Reading: Exodus 3:1-8A, 13-15
Psalm: Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

Hello! Just a special note about the readings today and for the next two Sundays. For people preparing to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil, parishes have the option of selecting readings from the A Cycle. Today, I’m going to reflect on Gospel for the readings from the C Cycle, Luke 13:1-9, the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.

The central theme of all the readings today, speak to us about God’s mercy and compassion. In today’s Gospel, for example, we hear about an owner who asks his gardener to cut down a tree that will not bear fruit. But the gardener asks for one more year to see if he can cultivate. This represents God’s mercy.

Now I think it’s easy enough to look at that particular reading and to say to yourself, clearly, we’re talking about non-believers. But I think there’s another message here. There are many people who claim to have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they come to church all the time, but like our fig tree, their lives bear no fruit. What fruit? Well, St. Paul gives us some examples in his letter to the Galatians – the fruits of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These fruits manifest in the way we live our lives. For example, doing good works – helping those who need help – is an example of how our fruits manifest.

In other words, is there any real conversion? Are they loving, or mean to those around them? Do they try to get along, or are they intolerant? Are they nice, or are they short-tempered or a bully?

Accepting Jesus Christ is more than just saying words. It has to mean real, authentic conversion. This time of Lent is a great opportunity to reflect on our faith life. Some people ask, why Lent? Lent isn’t in the Bible, so Lent is not necessary. Well, is biblically based, but you see, the Church in her wisdom knows that life is too busy and most of us don’t take the time to stop and reflect on the important things in our life – our families, our purpose, and our relationship with Jesus Christ. So Lent, and Advent for that matter, are times set aside to encourage us to slow down and think about this life that we’re blessed with – to think about our purpose. Is my life bearing fruit?

So, what prevents our life from bearing fruit? Sin. And I’m not talking about little sins. I’m talking about the big ones, like adultery and habitual sins like abusing drugs, alcohol or indulging in sins that exploit people like greed and pornography. This is a good time to ask ourselves if we burdened by sins like these and repent. Repentance doesn’t mean just asking for forgiveness. I can’t just sit on my back porch with a cup of coffee, watch the sunrise and say, “Jesus, forgive me!” I can’t just walk into a confessional without changing anything in my life. Repentance means more than that. Yes, we need to ask forgiveness, but it also means making amends to anyone we’ve hurt because of our sins and committing ourselves, with the grace of God, to not repeat these sins – to change our lives.

And that leads us to our homework today. Homework! Nourished by Jesus in the Word proclaimed in the Eucharist, ask yourself:

  1. What needs changing in my life right now?
  2. What steps am I taking this Lent to make sure that my faith bears fruit, perhaps through good works?

Got it? Are you going to do? Good! May each of us come to know the grace and peace of Jesus Christ. And may Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. +Amen!