Be Humble

 

Matthew 23: 1-12

A Warning Against Hypocrisy

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

⁵ “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Like all ages in the past, ours is full of diverse opinions, philosophies, teachings and practices. Which  ones provide the answer to a full, happy and productive life? Jesus made it clear: humbly serve our Father in heaven and serve one another.  It may sound simple, but it is as demanding and at the same time as fulfilling as possible while we are on this earth. During these Lenten days, we might examine our approach to life. Is it the way of the Pharisees, or is it the humble way proposed by Jesus? He is our one instructor, let us humbly listen to and follow him.

Bro. Rene 

Jesus, you taught the crowd and your disciples that whoever was to be the greatest among them would be their servant. May all leaders be inspired by your example of humility, seeking not to exalt themselves at the expense of others, but rather to serve and support those under their care. Amen.

Br. Pablo Quan, C.S.C.

Effort and Grace

Luke 6: 36-38

³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others

³⁷ “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Looks like the ball is in our court.  If we want mercy, we must show mercy first.  If we don't want to be condemned or judged, we mustn't condemn or judge others. Forgiveness?  We must forgive first. Give, and it will be given to us. This is all easy to read, but to put into practice, it takes work, self-reflection, determination, and reliance on God that comes through prayer. Lent is about this, a cleansing, a change of behavior.  This could be our "mission impossible" for this second week of Lent. We are not alone.  Ask for the needed grace and it will be given.

Bro. Rene

God, the greatest gift we can give you is being merciful to our sisters and brothers. In order to forgive, however, we have to let go of the pain we hold. Letting go of those hurts is a hard sacrifice—help us to die to ourselves willingly so that we can live in your mercy. Amen.

 Rev. Vincent Nguyen, C.S.C.

Listen To Him

 

Matthew 17: 1-9

The Transfiguration

17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

We get this glimpse of who Jesus is, the Son of God, to encourage us in our Lenten journey, just as the Apostles needed encouragement for what was yet to come: the capture of Jesus, his passion and death.  We know not what lies ahead in our lives, but certainly these days of Lent should find us making extra efforts to prepare and open our hearts to receive the graces of Easter.  The Evil One also uses this season to besiege us with all his might to deter us from this goal.  We need Tabor to remind and fortify us to  keep our eyes on Jesus and the mission he has given us.  May we not be distracted by the devil's wiles and temptations, but keep our eyes on the Transfigured Jesus, a preview of the Risen Jesus, and a preview of what awaits us if we remain faithful to him. 

 Bro. Rene

Lord Jesus: You shared the joy of your Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John. But when they heard our Father’s voice from the cloud, they were terrified. You touched them and told them not to be afraid. Lord Jesus, be with me when I am joyful and when I am afraid. Amen.

Rev. Jim Lackenmier, C.S.C.

Striving For Perfection

 

Matthew 5: 43-48

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

We all want to to and be the best we can, but love our enemies? That goes against the goad, but it's what Jesus said to do, and it's what leads to peace in our hearts and communities, and and eternal life in heaven.  Jesus challenges us to do more than the tax collectors and pagans do, and not simply love those who love us, but love our enemies, and persecutors, those whose views and actions are the opposite of ours, those who "drive us crazy".  Not easy to do, but the challenge is there: do these things, and "be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect."  What a goal for Lent, for life!

Bro. Rene

Heavenly Father, your Word is active and alive, effective and enlivening. It achieves the end for which you send it. Transformed by your Word and filled with your Spirit, may our words not be empty, but may we imitate you by speaking true words of forgiveness from the heart to those who sin against us. Amen.

Rev. Terry Ehrman, C.S.C.

Clean Your Slate

Matthew 5: 20-26

²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Jesus reminds us that we can sin in thought as well as in action and that if we harbor bad feelings or thoughts about another, we ought to clean the slate before we proceed with our worship or offering.  Lent is a good time for slate cleaning, for reconciliation, for settling differences, for smoothing out the wrinkles of our past. What can I do to put this teaching of Jesus into practice today and in the days ahead?

Bro. Rene 

Lord, you know all too well that it is so easy for us to hold on to resentments, to live with anger even at the slightest of offenses. Help us to forgive and reconcile with each other, so that we may come to know and accept your mercy in our lives and extend that same mercy to others. Amen.

  Rev. Andrew Gawrych, C.S.C.

Keep It Simple

 

Matthew 7: 7-12

Ask, Seek, Knock

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

 

 Jesus simplifies the formula for harmony with others, for  being a faithful disciple and being a witness to the power of God.  Just be kind, trusting and faithful. These few verses merit a good deal of reflection and when fully absorbed into our behavior, can make a huge difference in our interaction with others.  An ideal passage for our Lenten prayer and practice.

Bro. Rene
Lord, your son taught us that those who ask, receive; that those who seek, find; and that those who knock, have the door opened for them. May we pray with such believing faith, trusting in your divine providence, so that we may receive the gifts you wish to give to us as we faithfully seek to follow your son. Amen.

  Rev. Andrew Gawrych, C.S.C.

 

Greater Than Jonah

 

Luke 11: 29-32

The Sign of Jonah

²⁹ As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. ³¹ The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

How often in our prayer do we ask for a "sign", a proof that God hears us or approves us?  It seems like this is a normal course and sometimes God does comply and give us the requested sign. When I was asked to consider going to Rwanda, I prayed for a sign at 3 am and later that morning Fr. Walter Buckius began the Mass for Mission Sunday with the introduction, "We are all called to be missionaries; some of us are called to leave their own countries."  Bong...There was my clear answer, fortified later in the Mass by the hymn, "Be Not Afraid"...I go before you always....Come follow me."  And so I did. The sign was clear and the mission to Rwanda was one of the best things I ever did.  Of course, it was God's plan and "Father knows best." May we not fear to ask for a sign, but let us also be ready to heed it, for indeed it comes from One greater than Jonah!

Bro Rene

Father in Heaven, as he was lifted high on the Cross your son Jesus Christ gave us the ultimate sign of your love. Convert our hearts to rely on you. Deepen our faith, help us to carry our own crosses, so that we may place all our hope in your power to save. Amen.

  Rev. Mr. Andrew Fritz, C.S.C.