Fourth Sunday of Lent

Who is Without Sin?

Have you ever met anyone who is perfect? And when you have met someone who acted as if they were, you were probably tempted to “put them in their place!”

A “big sinner” is dragged in front of Jesus in today’s Gospel  the Woman caught in the act of adultery. The scribes and Pharisees feel fully justified, quoting Mosaic law. This is a perfect opportunity to trap Jesus. What will he say? What will he do?
Jesus says: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” What does he do? He begins writing on the ground with his finger, and little by little, one by one, the accusers fade away.
Jesus is left alone with the woman accused and reached out to her with the gift of healing: “Go, and from now on, sin no more.”

These same powerful words are spoken to us as we continue our Lenten journey to new life!

The Third Sunday of Lent

Come To The Living Water!

Living Water! What is “Living Water?” What is the best water in the world?

We are told that we live alongside the best water in the world, on the shores of the second largest body of fresh water on the planet, although you might not guess it, with all who drink “bottled” water instead! For most of us, living water is taken for granted because fresh water is so abundant where we live. Yet even today with all our technology, fresh water is a “life and death” concern and issue for billions of people!

In today’s Gospel reading from John, Jesus talks about and uses the image of “living water” as he encounters the Samaritan Woman at the well. Through this encounter, she is confronted with who she really is, and who she can truly become. She is called to faith and responds enthusiastically!

The story recalls our encounter with “Living Water” at our Baptism. What have we taken for granted about that life-saving event for us? This is a time to Come to the Living Water!

Second Sunday of Lent

“This is my beloved Son,
Listen to him.”

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

First Sunday of Lent

Resist Temptation! Repent And Believe!

The Desert
— a stark, foreboding place, dangerous and life-threatening. Hot in the day, cold at night, the desert is a seemingly “lifeless” place.

Yet there is life in the desert. There is life to be discovered in the desert! And that is why Jesus, before beginning his ministry, first goes into the desert for forty days and nights.
Mark tells us in the Gospel reading that Jesus is driven into the desert  to pray, to fast, and yes, to be tempted. He will emerge from the desert strong, determined and fortified. He will proclaim his message: “This is the time of fulfilment, The Kingdom of God is at hand. Re-pent, and believe in the gospel!”

We have begun our Lenten journey. We are challenged to make a “desert place” in our lives, a time, a place, an attitude where we can return to a spirit of prayer, where we can fast from those things that keep us from God and one another. Yes, this can be a time of fulfillment! Repent and believe in the gospel!

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I Have Come To Make You One!

One! One with what? One with who? Becoming one, becoming Whole, is a goal, a challenge!

What does becoming One, becoming whole mean? In the context of today’s Gospel story from Mark, Jesus healing the man burdened with leprosy, it is first of all living with an incurable disease. Even worse, it is about being made an outcast, cut off from the rest of the world, being as useless!

With great courage the afflicted man approaches Jesus, breaking society’s rules by coming out of isolation, making his profession of faith: “If you wish, you can make me clean!” Jesus’ response is: “I do will it. Be made clean!”

The story points to the unclean condition and isolation that SIN afflicts on our lives, cutting us off from the life and health that God offers us. As we celebrate World Marriage Day and International Day this weekend, like the afflicted man, we need to pursue together Jesus, who wills to MAKE US ONE!

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 4th, 2018

Celebrating Black History Month!

Looking For Good News!

Everyone is looking for some GOOD NEWS! Where can you find it? Who has it? What do you have to do to get it?

Of course, there is good news and then there is REALLY GOOD NEWS! Sometimes a bit of luck, good fortune, a little relief, or a surprising turn of events can be for us GOOD NEWS!

The Scriptures today call us to the GOOD NEWS that lasts! Obtaining it is not without challenges or struggles, though. The plight of Job in the first reading seems like anything but Good News. Paul tells us in the second reading that he has made himself a slave to all to win over as many as possible—all for the sake of The Gospel—the Good News.

Jesus begins his ministry in the Gospel of Mark by preaching and healing. People swarm to him because He is The Good News! We turn to Him today to find GOOD NEWS. We work to form our lives in his image that through our humble efforts all those around us might experience GOOD NEWS!

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A New Teaching With Authority!

What was it about Jesus? How did he so suddenly gain popularity? What were people coming from far and wide attracted to about Jesus?

The answer seems obvious. For one thing, he worked miracles. For another, he quickly became known as a great teacher. But there was also something else, beyond his healing powers, his compassion, his attractive presence. He taught with authority!

What was this authority people sensed? It was his integrity. He didn’t need to drop names of great teachers he had, or how long and hard he had studied. He believed what he read, taught what he believed, and lived what he taught. That made all the difference in the world.

Let us all strive to be the same kind of teacher: To believe what we read, teach what we believe and live what we teach!

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Is The Time Of Fulfillment!

What time is it? The Time of fulfillment of what? What is about to happen?
After the arrest of John the Baptist Jesus began his ministry in Galilee. What was he about to do? Proclaim the Gospel of God. How did he announce it? With these words: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

If we have not ever heard these words before, we might think something new and radical was about to happen. Yet, perhaps because we have heard these words so many times before, we take the message for granted and don’t expect anything new and radical to happen. And that is precisely the problem. We are the problem. Without true repentance, without firm belief in the gospel, the Kingdom of God will not be at hand for us. This is the time to make it happen!

Repent and Believe in the Gospel!