Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

Today's Readings

All of today's readings are rich with wisdom and perspective. Today's Gospel reading is the well-known story of the Prodigal Son, but I want to focus mainly on one verse in today's Psalm:

"For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him." (Psalm 103:11)

The Prophet Isaiah writes something similar: "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9). 

The general idea presented in these verses is straightforward enough - God is extremely kind and extremely wise - but what should we do about it? Most people would easily agree that these are fundamental aspects of God's character, but how should these qualities transform our own character and perspective?

One answer is presented in the first verse: we should fear God. We should honor God with our lives with the understanding that it is a scary thought to be apart from God. We should stand in astonishment and awe of God with the understanding that God holds us in the palm of God's hand and orchestrates each new day. We should love, respect, and obey God like children with the understanding that God is our Father. When we adopt this posture toward God, God's kindness abounds. We understand that all good things come from God, and we extend our roots into the river of God's kindness - where else would we extend them?

Another answer is this: we should not lean on our own understanding. In any given situation, particularly a difficult situation, my mind can only think of so many options, and many of those options can be quite pessimistic. When I lean on my own understanding as I attempt to make sense of my circumstances, there is always a very real possibility of despair. It is possible to think God is not in control. Yet, when we trust that God's ways and thoughts are incomprehensibly higher than our own thoughts, there is no room for despair. God has always saved God's people, even in the face of unthinkable circumstances. We read about Joseph, Moses, Ruth, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Mary, Paul, Francis, Clare, and so many more. They had faith in a God who knew much more than them, and they deeply trusted in that God. They knew that they could not predict the future in detail, but they trusted that God had their back, especially when they seemingly had no way out. Their perspective enabled them to live bold lives for God that we are still reflecting on today.

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us take a minute to consider the reality of God's faithfulness, steadfast love, surpassing kindness, and deep, deep wisdom and omniscience. Did Daniel actually survive for a night in the lion's den? Did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego really just walk right out of the furnace unscathed? Did Jesus really conquer the grave? If they did, and I believe they did, than we can approach the lions, furnaces, and crosses of our days with complete trust in the God who saved them - and that is excellent news for us!

Timothy Nagy
Assistant Director of Mission, Ministry & Interfaith Dialogue

Friday of the Second Week of Lent

Today's Readings

Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.

Heal those who are sick with the virus.  May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.

Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.

Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders. Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.

Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.

Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.

Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.

Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few,

Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace. 

Jesus Christ, heal us.

Kerry Weber

Kerry Weber is an executive editor of America.

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

Today's Readings

Luke 16:19-31

Every year during Lent I give up something that seems pretty trivial — chocolate, social media, Starbucks, etc. — and I get a chuckle over the McDonald’s filet-o-fish commercials (ever notice they pop up a lot during Lent?) as I abstain from meat on Fridays. While I am never perfect in my intentions, I do enjoy that Lent gives us a time to reflect, repent, and open our hearts and minds to God.

Today’s gospel reinforces that, in addition to making a sacrifice during Lent, we should also use this time to be more generous to others and the importance of instilling habits of generosity. In this reading, there is a very rich man who lives in luxury and an extremely poor man, Lazarus, lying at his door. When they die, their stations are drastically reversed. Lazarus goes to Abraham’s side and the rich man is stuck in a place of torment. Had the rich man listened to Moses and the prophets, repented and been generous to Lazarus, he would have avoided his fate.

It is important to treat others with kindness. Material items are not everything, but if we have the means, we should help those less fortunate. While kindness and generosity are values we should live every day, the Lenten season serves as a great reminder of these habits and gives us a time to practice these actions. So, next year for Lent, in addition to giving up some sweet treats, I think I’ll also go for 40 days of generous acts.

Emily Ward
Grants Manager

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

Today's Readings

Matthew 20:17-28

In today’s Gospel Reading, we are reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made for us as he describes the events that are to befall him once he and his disciples arrive in Jerusalem. The persecution, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ is the ultimate sacrifice made for us. It is easy to focus on the suffering and temptations Jesus faced during his time in the desert, as well as his sacrifice on the Cross, however, we need to focus on the reason why he endured all that suffering - the reason is Love.

Towards the end of the reading the sense of love is embodied through the words of Jesus:

“Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;

whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve

and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The idea of service is central to the life and death of Christ. The Son of Man came down from heaven to live among us, to feel what we feel, to suffer as we suffer and to serve us, and to show us how we should serve each other. We often hear that Jesus died for our sins, but another important reason that he endured all this suffering and death is because he loves us so deeply.

I find it very hard to maintain my Lenten Sacrifice each year. Usually around this time I have given into temptation or laziness and have broken my sacrifice - this year it didn’t even last a week. However, today’s reading shows us that we don’t have to solely focus on the sacrifices Jesus made for us. By embracing the awesome power of Jesus’s love for us and living by the lessons of service that Jesus has taught us, we can focus on the love Christ has for us and understand why he endured so much suffering for the betterment of humanity.

Michael Conlon ‘21

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Today's Readings

Purim 2020

The Talmud, the classic repository of Jewish teachings from the first five centuries of the Common Era, tells the following story (Taanit 22a, paraphrased):

Rabbi Broka is in the market in a town called Bei Lefet, where Elijah the Prophet used to spend time with him frequently. One day Rabbi Broka says to Elijah, "Is there anyone here who is assured a place in the world to come?" And Elijah says, "No." But then as they're walking along Elijah says, "Yes, that man over there - he's assured a place in the world to come." As the story progresses we find out that the man is a jailor who passes as a non-Jew in order to protect imprisoned Jews – a very obvious candidate for an assured place in the world to come. A little while later they're walking along some more and Elijah says, "Oh those two people also - they're assured a place in the world to come." So Rabbi Broka catches up to them and says, "Hello - may I ask what you do?" And they say, "We are comedians, jesters. We go around cheering up sad people."

Elsewhere the Talmud tells of the sage named Rabbah (Shabbat 30b) who before he would start his lesson, would share a joke, and the rabbis would all laugh, and then they’d start studying.

The ancient rabbis understood the value of laughter and being happy and even silly, and I think that appreciation underlies at least some of their enthusiasm for the holiday of Purim, which falls this year on March 10. Purim celebrates and is celebrated with the biblical book of Esther, which tells the farcical, burlesque story of a buffoonish king, an evil and impetuous villain, a pious Jew, and his devoted niece, Esther, who is ultimately able to save the Jews from the villain’s evil plot to have them all killed. Purim is celebrated around the world with parties, costumes, plays and reenactments, carnivals, and feasts.

Purim is once a year – it’s a moment, in the context of a serious and demanding religion and our serious and demanding lives, a moment of just relaxing and having a good time. Before we start our lessons with the sages, before we turn our attention to Passover and its attendant laws and customs, not to mention culinary preparations. It’s a moment before all that begins, to celebrate the jesters who sustain the world and are assured a place in the world to come.

Jenny R. Labendz, PhD

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

Today's Readings

"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” - Luke 6:37-38 

Be merciful.

Stop judging.

Forgive and let it go. 

As humans we are inherently imperfect. Each of us. Today’s world, yesterday’s world, most likely tomorrow’s world will be as imperfect as today’s. We are shamefaced for having sinned, or been an accessory to sin through our silence, and live in the world we have indeed created. We must remember the only thing we can truly change is ourselves – in our actions, our hearts, our divine being. Don’t just notice what is right – BE WHAT IS RIGHT. If we all focused on perfecting our own life rather than focusing on others, maybe then we could become more perfect. Make small changes each day – forgive someone, and then another, and another – especially during this time of Lent. It’s not about being blind to the wrong...it’s about doing good despite what the world may teach us. Replace the weight of the wrongs with the light from your smile and be humbly righteous. Live the joy that you find along this journey – today and every day. 

Pax et Bonum!

Susan Weisman

Registrar

Second Sunday of Lent

Today's Readings

In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain and Jesus is transfigured before them – “his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.”  When we go to the mountain top with Jesus, what do we see as he is transfigured? Perhaps we are invited to see the brightness of hope for our world where there is injustice, discrimination, and rejection.  

We are sent into the world to make the all-embracing love of Christ known to others, especially those who take away the value, dignity, and worth of others.  Even when the message of the Gospel is not accepted, we do not give up. Each of us has been chosen and called to make the will of God known. It can be scary and challenging, but we know there is hope in the resurrection.  When we return from the mountain after experiencing the Transfiguration, do we take the brightness of hope with us responding to the call to evangelize, to bring the Gospel to others by making Christ present?  

Brother Joseph Bach, OSF
Director of Vocations
Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn