May They Be One

October 25 Wednesday
29th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)

Psalm 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8
Our help is in the name of the Lord.

1st Reading: Romans 6:12-18

Gospel: Luke 12: 39-48

“Pay attention to this: If the master of the house had known at what time the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

Peter said, “Lord, did you tell this parable only for us, or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Imagine, then, the wise and faithful steward whom the master sets over his other servants to give them food rations at the proper time. Fortunate is this servant if his master on coming home finds him doing his work. Truly, I say to you, the master will put him in charge of all his property.

But it may be that the steward thinks: 'My Lord delays in coming,' and he begins to abuse the menservants and the servant girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk. Then the master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he doesn't know. He will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.

“The servant who knew his master’s will, but did not prepare to do what his master wanted, will be punished with sound blows; but the one who did what deserved a punishment without knowing it shall receive fewer blows. Much will be required of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one entrusted with more.”

Reflection: "The world will end for us at an hour we do not know."

Since Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after Easter, his faithful followers have been waiting for him to return. During his earthly ministry, Jesus began preparing his disciples for the day of his return, cautioning them to remain always prepared since they would not know the moment of his return. Even today, we continue to wait and to prepare for Jesus’ return.

We've been waiting for that return for almost two thousand years. It’s easy to lose a sense of urgency in that amount of time, ceasing to prepare by following God’s commandments. Still, we continue to wait for Jesus’ return which will bring an end to the world as we know it. The world will end for us (in death or through Jesus’ return) at an hour we do not know. This uncertainty demands that each of us purify our hearts and souls so that we are ready to meet the Lord. May the Lord find us to be diligent and faithful servants when our day of judgment comes.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

March 09 Thursday
2nd Week of Lent
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet/White)
St. Frances of Rome, religious

Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

1st Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Once there was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted every day. At his gate lay Lazarus, a poor man covered with sores, who longed to eat just the scraps falling from the rich man’s table. Even dogs used to come and lick his sores. It happened that the poor man died, and angels carried him to take his place with Abraham. The rich man also died, and was buried. From the netherworld where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Abraham afar off, and with him Lazarus at rest.

He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus, with the tip of his finger dipped in water, to cool my tongue, for I suffer so much in this fire!’ Abraham replied, ‘My son, remember that in your lifetime you were well-off, while the lot of Lazarus was misfortune. Now he is in comfort, and you are in agony.

The rich man implored once more, ‘Then I beg you, Father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father’s house, where my five brothers live. Let him warn them, so that they may not end up in this place of torment.’

Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Reflection: "See Lazarus as a person with dignity and value."

One of the greatest tragedies in today’s Gospel is that even after he died and was in torment in the netherworld, the rich man still doesn’t seem to have learned his lesson. Seeing Lazarus with Abraham, he begs Abraham to send Lazarus to bring him water and to warn his brothers. The rich man still does not see Lazarus as a person with dignity and value. Instead, he sees him as a tool to be used to help the rich man and his brothers – “more important people.” The rich man does not even address his request to Lazarus, speaking to Abraham instead.

How often do we ignore the needs of those we see each day? How often do we value people primarily for what they can do for us? Wrapped up in our own concerns, it is easy to fail to notice those in need. It is easy to ignore the humanity of those who serve our needs, denying them even common courtesy. This Lent, the example of Lazarus and the rich man should open our eyes and shake us from our selfish isolation.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

March 01 Wednesday
1st Week of Lent
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet)

Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

1st Reading: Jonah 3:1-10

Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

As the crowd increased, Jesus spoke the following words: “People of the present time are troubled people. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be a sign for this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here, there is greater than Solomon. The people of Nineveh will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for Jonah’s preaching made them turn from their sins, and here, there is greater than Jonah.

Reflection: "God loves us relentlessly."

Jonah is one of the most fascinating and relatable characters in Scripture. God called him to be a prophet and to proclaim a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh. But Jonah didn’t like the Ninevites, so he didn’t want them to repent and be saved. So Jonah tried to escape God’s call, boarding a ship going in the opposite direction. Following storms that almost sank the ship, Jonah ends up tossed overboard, swallowed by a large fish, and spit back on the shore to head out again.

Despite all of his efforts to avoid God’s call, Jonah did go to Nineveh. Not only did he preach his message of repentance, his preaching was enormously successful. Even the king repented and turned away from evil. Nineveh was saved.

The story of Jonah serves as a reminder that God loves us relentlessly. He will keep calling us and drawing us near. He will never abandon or forget us. Even when we ignore or reject God’s offers of love and mercy, he will continue to wait for us to turn to him.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

February 22 Ash Wednesday
Begin Lenten preparation for the Easter Triduum.
Day of fast (ages 18-59) and abstinence from meat (age 14 and up)
Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet)

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 & 17
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

1st Reading: Joel 2:12-18

2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Be careful not to make a show of your good deeds before people. If you do so, you do not gain anything from your Father in heaven. When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be noticed in the synagogues and in the streets, in order to be praised by people. I assure you, they have their reward. If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift remains really secret. Your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

When you pray, do not be like those who want to be noticed. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners, in order to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have their reward. When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is with you in secret; and your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you. When you fast, do not put on a miserable face, as do the hypocrites. They put on a gloomy face, so that people can see they are fasting. I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful, because you are not fasting for appearances or for people, but for your Father, who sees beyond appearances. And your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

Reflection: "Lent is springtime."

Today we begin Lent, a season to re-commit ourselves to our baptismal commitment and to prepare our hearts for Easter through acts of penance, especially prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The word “Lent” comes from an Old English word meaning springtime and this is what Lent should be for us. In the spring, farmers prepare and plant their fields. They will tend those fields with care over the long summer, looking forward to the harvest.

In the same way we can use Lent to prepare our souls. We fast to remove the obstacles that keep us from sharing Christ’s mission like a farmer removes stones that might hinder his planting. We give alms to help unite our hearts with the less fortunate, as a farmer gently plants and nourishes the seeds. We pray that we may know God’s will and have the courage to pursue it, as a farmer conditions the soil to receive the seeds.

If we use this season to prepare our souls, our hearts, and our lives, we can come to Easter ready to live more fully our baptismal call to follow Christ and to share in the harvest banquet of heaven.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)