The Gospel according to Mark (Mark 12:28-34)

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Opening Prayer:  My Jesus, I love you above all things and want to love others as you have loved me. Open my heart to hear your word and let it penetrate the good soil there, take root, and bear fruit that will last, which is love alone. 

Encountering Christ: I think the first question we need to ask ourselves is: Who or what do we love the most?

We are summoned by God the Father and commissioned by Jesus to practice love in all its forms. We are called to continue to love much deeper – especially in this Lenten Journey.

When we look at how Jesus lays out the commands to love the Father and then our neighbors it may seem elementary, but we all know how hard that really is. Do we REALLY love our neighbors like we love ourselves?? Let’s face it – probably not! We might say that is the case, but we normally favor ourselves over our neighbor – or even other family members for that matter.

You say “not so!” ….. well then let’s ask the question…. Do you take as much time in the morning visiting with your neighbor as you do getting ready each day? Do you greet your neighbors each day when you see them? Oh!…. How about that neighbor you don’t care for… you know, the one who annoys you and you wish would move away from the neighborhood??? That person OR persons are the very ones that Jesus speaks most about today in the gospel. Jesus tells us that God is the greatest of all and deserving of every ounce of love we can muster up. But he also says that we are challenged to love everyone else just like we love ourselves. Easy to say – hard to do!

So maybe this Lent we are suppose to really reflect on how we can better love others, which in turn will teach us how to better love ourselves. Example in point, think about how good you feel when you do something unexpected for someone else. It’s a natural feeling of warmth and goodness and one that we often tend to just glass over when it happens.

The scribes asked Jesus what was most important in life and he validated with his words, what the scribes already knew! Love is the key to the kingdom.

Take this opportunity to reflect on how important love really is – not only to you BUT to GOD! When we discern the true meaning of love then we can receive the affirmation from Jesus and his Father that we are not far from the Kingdom! If we understand pure love and its application in our world around us, then we will find that our lives will have more meaning and purpose. After all we ARE the children of God – AND we are made in His image and likeness! SO we are the ambassadors of love manifested in the world.

Closing Prayer: Jesus, I know that I can still grow in many areas of my life. I can be impatient, unkind, rude, self-centered, and ill-tempered at times. Increase the love and mercy in my heart and conform me to your image. May I die to myself and my preferences so that it is no longer I who lives, but you who lives in me.

Action for the Day: Watch the video below. Reflect on how you relate to one or more of the meanings of love. THEN… think about how you can share that love with someone else – not necessarily a close family member. That is too easy! We are called to stretch ourselves. Reach down deep in our heart and soul and think of some way to bring love to someone OR to some place in need today. Then – go spread that love and joy in your heart!

The Gospel according to Luke (11: 14-23) 

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Opening Prayer: Jesus, you are meek and humble of heart, but you are also powerful and mighty (Matthew 11:29, Ephesians 1:21). Come to my heart and reign there always as my King.

Encountering Christ: I remember as a young child I would imagine heaven as a place where “good” people go and spend eternity floating around on a cloud playing a harp.  As I continued to grow older my concept of heaven changed from harp playing, cloud floating, white robed people with wings into something a little more sophisticated.  Maybe like rolling hills, covered in flowers with beautiful trees, fresh streams, and beautiful skies, etc.

However, although my perception changed, maybe matured, it stayed the same in perceiving heaven as a place.  It appears that in today’s gospel we are witness to a scene where Jesus is trying to convey a message that identifies heaven as a person not a place.  He says that the kingdom of God has come upon them.  So, let’s think about why he says this and why we may perceive heaven as the presence of God.

There are many times Jesus drives out demons, this one being slightly different because the possessed man was mute.  Once released the man spoke and the crowed was amazed.  Maybe not so much because the man spoke but because they could not bring themselves to believe that God was in their midst. They were so blind they began to accuse Jesus of working for the devil, Beelzebul.  They must have reasoned that only someone with demonic powers could cast out a demon.  I can only imagine Jesus trying to explain why it would not seem reasonable for Satan to undo something evil.  He must have done this calmly and with the confidence of one who does not need to convince anyone he is the Son of God and it is only through the will of God that evil is overcome.  It is not by some great physical, earthly force that Jesus frees this man from this evil bondage.  It is by a mere finger that God is able to deliver this man from his suffering.

God the Son was in their midst providing this man a different life than he had been living.  One of liberation and happiness rather than bondage and suffering.  A life that has all the elements for total redemption, a peace that surpasses all understanding, and joy to the full.  This sounds like heaven to me.  What do you think?

Until we walk through the door, we will all eventually reach and find out what awaits us, it may help to focus on who waits for us.  As the popular song “I Can Only Imagine” reminds us, we will be so happy we won’t think about where we are, we will hardly be able to contain ourselves.  Will we dance, kneel, sing, or simply be in awe?!  What will we do in the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.?

Why wait.  Why don’t we recognize Jesus present to us now, in the Holy Eucharist, in each other, and in the many ways he makes his presence known so that we can experience heaven on earth as a preview of what is to come for those who trust, believe, and participate in his will.

Closing Prayer: Dear Lord, please help us see you in the face of our family, friends, and even our enemies.  May we accept the grace you offer in so many ways and cooperate with the promptings of the Holy Spirit so that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Action for the Day: Be the heaven someone needs today.  There is plenty of suffering and heartache in need of transformation.  In the midst of the good and the bad remind others, maybe even yourself, that Jesus is ready to give us glimpses of heaven (himself) in the smiles, hugs (air hugs for now), and love we can share with anyone at any time.

The Gospel according to Matthew (5:17-19)

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Opening Prayer: Grant we pray, O Lord, that, schooled through Lenten observance and nourished by your word, through holy restraint we may be devoted to you with all our heart and be ever united in prayer. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen

Encountering Christ:

Remembrance is a mesmerizing thing. We can suppress the things that have hurt us in order to shelter ourselves. We can call up happy memories around certain dates, or when we smell an aroma coming from the kitchen or hear that special song. We can often find, out of nowhere, a memory from when we were younger, and wonder where that memory came from and why at this moment. In today’s Gospel, remembering is significant. We are told to be on the lookout, don’t forget, or else…they’re not comforting words to us, if we are honest with ourselves. They may make us a little uneasy. Which of God’s laws have we chosen to forget out of convenience or laziness? What do we need to remember in order to make a course correction in our life, right now, so that our path stays on God’s course rather than our own? Jesus tells us that whoever obeys these laws will be called the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mosaic Law is contained in the Torah, which are the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. For the Jewish people in Christ’s time, strict obedience to this law was thought absolutely necessary for salvation. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets; his coming is the source of our true salvation. St. John tells us how Jesus completes the law: “From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). 

Jesus demonstrated his fulfillment as the law and the prophets at the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36). On Mount Tabor, Jesus’ appearance became dazzling white as he prayed. Moses (representing the law) and Elijah (representing the prophets) “appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” All the promises that God made to his people throughout salvation history and recorded in the Old Testament were accomplished in Christ.

As Catholics, we consider the Ten Commandments that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai as divine law, because God himself revealed this law to his people. When Jesus came to earth, he revealed even more of this divine law. According to the Catechism, “Jesus acknowledged the Ten Commandments, but he also showed the power of the Spirit at work in their letter” (CCC 2054). Jesus added “grace and truth” to the Commandments when he added love: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). He is the goal of the law, and all law is to be interpreted through him. Jesus is love (1 John 4:8). Jesus is love in itself–it is the fulfillment of the commandments. Love is the new law!

Closing Prayer: Direct, O Lord, we pray, the hearts of your faithful, and in your kindness grant your servants this grace that, abiding in the love and their neighbor, they may fulfill the whole of your commands, Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Action of the Day: Jesus, you are the commandments. You are the law. Help me to continue to fulfill your law by loving you with everything I have and loving my neighbor as myself. Do something kind to the neighbors who live on both sides of you.

The Gospel according to Matthew (18:21-35) 

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,

“Lord, if my brother sins against me,

how often must I forgive him?

As many as seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king

who decided to settle accounts with his servants.

When he began the accounting,

a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.

Since he had no way of paying it back,

his master ordered him to be sold,

along with his wife, his children, and all his property,

in payment of the debt.

At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,

‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’

Moved with compassion the master of that servant

let him go and forgave him the loan.

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants

who owed him a much smaller amount.

He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,

‘Pay back what you owe.’

Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,

‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

But he refused.

Instead, he had him put in prison

until he paid back the debt.

Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,

they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master

and reported the whole affair.

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!

I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.

Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,

as I had pity on you?’

Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers

until he should pay back the whole debt.

So will my heavenly Father do to you,

unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

Opening Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for forgiving me, no matter how many times I may stray from the path you have for me.  Help me to imitate Your endless mercy by showing mercy to any who may hurt me.  Help me to forgive from the heart, and trust that You will be with me to heal the hurts I face.  Amen.

Encountering Christ:

Being able to forgive is a great challenge to us as human beings.  It seems so much easier to be able to hold onto resentment and grudges when someone wrongs us.  We feel “justified” in having these feelings, because of the wrong done to us.  But, as Jesus points out in today’s Gospel, that is not the way of a follower of Christ.  Jesus even puts the goal in an even more lofty location, for not only do we have to forgive once, but repeatedly.

Peter even says in his question of our Lord, “must I forgive even seven times?”  Seven, in the Bible, always refers to completion or fulfillment – think of the seven days it took for God to create the universe, as described in Genesis.  So, Peter is asking if he really has to “completely” forgive, and Jesus’ response is that even “complete” forgiveness is not enough.  No, He says that Peter has to forgive “seventy-seven times” (or some would read it as “seventy times seven times”).  In essence, Jesus is saying that we not only are called to forgive completely from our hearts, but to do it without keeping score in any way.  How can we even consider doing this?

We can do it if we ponder the amount of forgiveness that God has for each one of us.  He is like the master in today’s parable who forgives the relatively small debt of one of his servants out of mercy for that person.  God does no less for each one of us, no matter how many times we return to Him, and no matter how many times we return, due to the same sin that we can’t seem to banish from our lives.  That bottomless well of mercy will never run out, and that’s what Jesus is saying in his response to Peter.

Our pastor used this line in his homily this past Sunday and I think it is really relevant in our thinking of this particular reading: The Bible points out that “the measure we measure will be measured back to us” at the time of the final judgment.  We want God to have a very merciful judgment of each one of us.  The only way that is possible is if each of us is merciful and forgiving, even though it is hard.  We can’t do it on our own, but with God’s help, we can do anything.  For, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Phil 4:13). 

It’s not our own strength that makes it possible to forgive – it is all a gift from the God who created us and who loves us.  Can we be people known for forgiveness, rather than for bitterness?  Can we use this Lenten journey to ask God to help us find the way to forgive completely, even as we are completely forgiven, just for asking?  Let us forgive, without counting the cost, and love, because that is our calling as a follower of Jesus.

Closing Prayer: Father God, give me the grace to forgive, even and especially when it is difficult.  Help me to have Your wisdom and grace to forgive completely, even as you have forgiven me.  Amen.

Action for the Day: Think of a person that you need to forgive, and pray for the grace to be able to forgive that person completely!  Such a blessing to have that weight off of your heart!

The Gospel according to Luke (Lk 4:24-30)

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

Opening Prayer: Jesus, you ask me to love my enemies and pray for people who persecute me (cf. Matthew 5:44). This is not an easy commandment. Help me to truly love and pray for anyone in my life that has caused me harm.

Encountering Christ:

How would it feel if people from your work, social group, parish, or even your home would drive you out and force you to leave? Have you ever been “fired” from anything? Or you weren’t chosen to be on the team or group? That is exactly what Jesus had encountered and I can’t help to think of the things He must have combatted. Such as abandonment, resentment, heart break, rejection and the suffering. I know most of us would suffer knowing that my people denied us.

One of the first places Jesus went to begin His public ministry was His own hometown. After entering the Synagogue and reading from the Prophet Isaiah, Jesus proclaimed that the prophecy of Isaiah was now fulfilled in His very person. This caused His townspeople to be outraged at Him, thinking He was blaspheming. So, they shockingly sought to immediately kill Jesus by driving Him out of their town to the brow of a hill off which they meant to throw Him. 

No matter what we may suffer in life, if God permits it, then it is always possible for that suffering to share in the redeeming power of the Cross. Consider any suffering you have endured and embrace it freely, knowing that if God permitted it, then He certainly has some greater purpose in mind. Surrender that suffering over with the utmost confidence and trust and allow God to do glorious things through it.

“For most of us, our Spiritual Teacher is our suffering. Because eventually the suffering brings about awakening.”  – Eckhart Tolle

We, our soul, must walk through such suffering to go higher, further, deeper, or longer. The virtue of hope, with great irony, is the fruit of a learned capacity to suffer wisely, calmly, and generously. The ego demands successes to survive; the soul needs only meaning to thrive. Somehow hope provides its own kind of meaning, in a most mysterious way.  

Suffering, of course, can lead us in one of two directions. It can make us very bitter and close us down, or it can make us wise, compassionate, and utterly open. Our hearts open either because they have been softened, or perhaps because suffering makes us feel like we have nothing more to lose. It is when our backs are up against the wall is when we find a way through that struggle and end with a positive outcome. This is how we learn and gain from wisdom.

Closing Prayer: Loving our enemies is difficult. It stirs up many different emotions: anger, resentment, fear, and pride. Lord, grant me the desire to want my enemies to be loved by you. Grant me the grace to love the people that upset or annoy me. Grant me the courage and love to pray for anyone who has hurt me or sinned against me.

Action of the Day: Lord, today by your grace I will pray for one person whom I find difficult to love.