2015 Lent and Easter Easter season reflections

8/9/2019 2015 Lent and Easter Easter season reflections

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2015 LENT AND EASTER SEASONS REFLECTIONS

May 24, 2015

Pentecost SundayActs of the Apostles 2: 1-11; I Cornthans 12: !"-#, 12-1!; $ohn 20: 1%-2!

The beauty of Pentecost is that it alerts us to the presence of God’s Spirit in our lives and those of

many faiths and beliefs across the world. The day we witnessed an earthrise through the camera

held by the astronauts standing on the moon, our spiritual boundaries expanded immensely with

the realization that God’s Spirit permeates the entire universe.

To the ewish community described in today’s readings, Pentecost was the culmination of

Passover and a time to celebrate the gift of the covenant God made with the !sraelites and its

renewal for all ews throughout the "oman #mpire. $or the apostles, on the other hand, it wasthe day of fulfillment of esus’ promise to send the Spirit of love and truth who would teach them

everything. !t was a time of beginning the wor% for which esus had prepared them.

$or us, Pentecost continues to be a recurring pattern of the &oly Spirit’s unpredictable

intervention in human history. The presence of fire, the noise of rushing wind, and the unity of

the 'ord within a diversity of languages were symbols of the Spirit’s power to effect personal

and social transformation. !n the reading from the (cts of the (postles, Peter’s recall of the

prophet oel’s words )oel *+ - reminds us that God’s Spirit is shared with all, /our sons and

daughters and servants will spea%, and your young will see visions and your old will have

dreams, all through the &oly Spirit.0

!n his recent publication, Come Holy Spirit: Inner Fire, Giver of Life and Comforter of the Poor ,

1eonardo 2off refers to the &oly Spirit in words that denote energy, light, movement, action and

process. &e sees the Spirit everywhere in history and in Scripture brea%ing through the status

3uo at critical moments in our lives, 4hurch, and society.

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!n his exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel , Pope $rancis cites the growing poverty resulting from

global economic systems affecting the lives of poor people as a critical issue. &e as%s each of us

to leave our comfort zones to reach all the peripheries0 in need of the light of the Gospel. &e

believes that the &oly Spirit wants us to be a 4hurch that is poor and that stands in support of the

marginalized. &e sees a growing culture of exclusion in our world that prevents poor people

from being welcomed into the broader community. &e prefers that we be a 4hurch which is

bruised, hurting and dirty because we have been out on the streets with and on behalf of poor

people rather than a 4hurch which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to our

own security )567-.

'hen the apostles left the security of the upper room, they were no longer fearful of the mission

that lay ahead of them. They entered into the lives of the people around them. They encouraged

the newly formed communities to share and exchange resources with those who were in need.

The communities learned to ma%e space for persons of many cultures at the tables where they

prayed, bro%e bread and shared their hopes with one another. They were engaged in becoming a

Spirit8guided community in mission to the world of their time.

Pentecost began in the upper room within the chaos of Spirit8fed wind, fire and a flood of words.

!t continues to move from the upper room into our daily lives. Those of us who believe we have

personal and social responsibility for our world turn to the &oly Spirit and as% for the courage

and imagination to use our energies and resources to widen the inner circles, to ma%e room for

those who are excluded because they live on life’s margins. 4ome &oly Spirit and renew the face

of the #arth9

Sr. $ran 4unningham, S.S.S.$.

Parish "elations 4oordinator: 4atholic 4harities, ;ilwau%ee

May 1#, 2015

Sole&nty of the Ascenson of the 'ord

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11; Psal& 4#: 2-!, (-#, )-%; *phesans 1: 1#-2!; Mar+ 1(: 15-20

Matthe: 2): 1%a, 20"

Good things come to those who wait. Today’s readings for the Solemnity of the (scension of the

1ord spea% to waiting. !n the first reading from the (cts of the (postles, the (postles are as%edto be patient, stay in erusalem, and wait for God’s promise that they would be baptized with the

&oly Spirit. (nd while they were waiting, esus ascended into heaven and they were as%ed to

wait for &is return. The Second "eading from the letter to the #phesians, hints that we should be

patient and listen for 4hrist to call us to various parts of &is ministry < preachers, teachers,

evangelists. (nd finally, in the Gospel according to ;ar%, esus sends the disciples forward, into

http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.htmlhttp://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051415-ascension.cfmhttp://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051415-ascension.cfmhttp://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051415-ascension.cfmhttp://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051415-ascension.cfm


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the whole world, and then &e ascended into &eaven. The disciples went forward and preached

and taught and the 1ord wor%ed with them so that all would %now they were &is representatives.

! am going to hazard a guess that despite some trials, tribulations, and setbac%s, the (postles and

other disciples were happy to wait. They believed that waiting on the 1ord would eventually pay

off, and they were willing to ta%e that chance, and to fill others with that same expectation.2ecause they thought that esus would return in their lifetimes, they did not feel that it would be

a long wait.

2ut, what about us= &ere we are >,??? plus years later, and we are still waiting on 4hrist’s

Second 4oming. 'e believe although we have not seen. (nd on most days in our lives at

4atholic 4harities’ agencies and congregations, we demonstrate @ust how much we do believe in

the unseen.

'e maintain waiting lists for emergency services to clients not %nowing where the funding will

come from. (nd the funds come. The wal%8in freezer at the soup %itchen goes out, and we donot have funds budgeted for repairsAreplacement. (nd the funds come. 'e want to provide

services for our burgeoning homeless population. (nd the funds come. 'e believe strongly, and

our waiting pays off.

#ach morning when ! rise, ! as% the crucified esus, who ascended into heaven, to ma%e my

thoughts, the wor% of my hands, the steps that ! ta%e, and each beat of my heart, acts of love for

&im. !t %eeps me going throughout the day, and ma%es the waiting worthwhile.

4o3uese 1. 'illiams

Birector of Parish Social ;inistry

4atholic 4harities of Southeast Texas )2eaumont-

Aprl 12, 2015

Second Sunday of *aster; .ne Mercy Sunday

Acts of the Apostles 4: !2-!5; Psal& 11): 2-4, 1!-15, 22-24; I $ohn 5: 1-(; $ohn 20: 1%-!1

Several dozen from our "4!( community )neophytes Crecently baptizedD, sponsors, baptized

candidates preparing for full initiation in the 4hurch, and team members- were still on a

Triduum high0 after nine of us were baptized the previous Saturday night. (s we unpac%ed the

experience of the Triduum and today’s readings, (nne as%ed us how we would continue the

momentum from the last wee% through the entire #aster season )E? days: #aster Sunday8Pentecost Sunday, (pril E8;ay >6-.

! turned to Fristien, one of the neophytes, and admitted that this cradle 4atholic barely

maintained his #aster duty0 in >?E. ! snuc% in @ust under the wire on 'ednesday of &oly

'ee% when ! received the sacrament of reconciliation at the ational Shrine of the !mmaculate

4onception, a couple of hundred yards from my residence. ! did not tell her what my penance

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was, but did reveal that the priest’s wisdom that afternoon would be my guidepost this #aster

season.

(nd what about those we met in today’s readings= &ow would they maintain the momentum of

the resurrection experience= 1u%e writes that the first community of believers was united in

mind and heart, totally unattached to material goods, shared such things in common, and soldsurplus possessions and gave the proceeds to those living in poverty )(cts of the (postles 6+ *>8

*E-. The Psalmist writes how the descendants of !srael benefit from the mercy of God )Psalm

H+ 86-. The author of the Second "eading elevates not only esus as the Son of God and

"edeemer, but calls all of us victors when we believe that esus is the Son of God )! ohn E+ 8E-.

(nd ohn writes in the Gospel that the resurrected 1ord breathed his Spirit upon the disciples and

empowered them to continue his ministry of mercy and forgiveness toward others )ohn >?+ >>8

>*-.

$or reflection+

. Today’s readings are a natural for Bivine ;ercy Sunday, added to the 4hurch calendar by

Pope Saint ohn Paul !! in >???. $urthermore, Pope $rancis adopted the papal motto by mercy

and by choosing0 and on ;arch *, >?E, proclaimed an extraordinary @ubilee, a &oly /ear of

;ercy, for Becember H, >?E )the Solemnity of the !mmaculate 4onception of the 2lessed

Iirgin ;ary-8ovember >?, >?J )the Solemnity of Kur 1ord esus 4hrist, Fing of the

Lniverse-. &ow might we be more merciful toward our clients, parishioners, co8wor%ers, and

family=

>. Ta%e a moment to reflect on the words of Ferry 'eber ) Mercy in the City: Ho to Feed the

H!n"ry, Give #rin$ to the Thirsty, %isit the Imprisoned, and &eep 'o!r #ay Jo( C4hicago+

1oyola Press, >?6, p. 6H-D-+

MThis, in some ways, sums up the purpose of living a life of mercyNto let one another

%now that no one has to go it alone. To provide a place where people will accept you,

even with your flawsNeven when your choice of shoes is really, really strangeM.!

loo%ed forward to continuing our shared @ourney on the path of mercy, to places we’d

never been, and to the wor%s aheadNwor%s for which none of us is ever 3uite prepared,

but to which all of us are called.

"esources for further consideration

Pope $rancis, &oly /ear of ;ercy (nnounced,0 )ri"ins, (pril 7, >?E, pp. O>68O>E.

'eber, Ferry. Mercy in the City: Ho to Feed the H!n"ry, Give #rin$ to the Thirsty, %isit the Imprisoned, and &eep

'o!r #ay Jo(. 4hicago, !llinois+ 1oyola Press, >?6.


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'uerl, Bonald '., and ;i%e (3uilina. The Feasts: Ho the Ch!rch 'ear Forms *s +s Catholics . ew /or%+

!mage, >?6.

2r. Steve &erro, K. Praem.

;anager of ;ission "esources and Bata, 4atholic 4harities LS(

Aprl 11, 2015

Saturday thn the /cta.e of *aster

Acts of the Apostles 4: 1!-21; Mar+ 1(: %-15

Bid you ever doubt some good news= Bid you ever disbelieve that someone unremar%able oruneducated could share some truth about a reality= The earliest and closest followers of esusseem to have found themselves in this dilemma+ surely he cannot be alive: those who told us arereally not that trustworthy. 'e need more credible evidence99

!n today’s $irst "eading from the (cts of (postles, Peter and ohn’s credentials are challenged by the leading religious authorities of their day. 'itnesses saw them heal a man, but how couldthis be, since they are uneducated, ordinary men0 with little authority or training. #ven worse,they were followers of esus88that Kne who had caused some trouble and died. These ordinary,uneducated persons, however, persevered in their faith in this resurrected esus who empoweredthem to spread Good ews0 to the entire world.

2ut initially these men were not that easy to convince of the events of the first #aster. !n today’sGospel, ;ar% tells the story of continuing disbelief in the Good ews told by those who may notmatter < who had no standing88in this world. esus had appeared to ;ary ;agdalene but the(postles did not believe her: esus had appeared to two traveling along the road to the country: but the (postles did not believe them either. ot credible enough.

esus then appears to the Twelve, and rebu%ed them for their unbelief and hardness of heart);ar% J+ 6b-.0 They did not hear0 those who testified to the Truth of the "esurrection andappearances of esus. So too today. Bo ! really believe this Good ews= 'hat evidence do !need to prove that esus is alive=

So too in our ministries and services accompanying persons, families and communities that may be poor and marginalized--do we have trust that they themselves can share the truth of theirneeds and their hopes= Bo we believe that these persons, families and communities have enoughcredible evidence0 or credible enough standing0 to shape our services and advocacy= ! %nowthat in our B(, 4atholic 4harities accompanies those in need with mutual solidarity and a deep

respect for their dignity and worth. 'e %now that they have credible standing in the worldeven though others may disbelieve this fact.

Buring the Iision >??? process, 4atholic 4harities LS( established this Iision Statement+

2elieving in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life andthe dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of esus given to the 4hurch. To thisend, 4atholic 4harities wor%s with individuals, families, and communities to help them



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meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a @ust andcompassionate society.

! %now that as 4atholic 4harities we listen closely to the voice of those who are poor andmarginalized to hear0 what they need, hear0 what gifts and assets they offer, and hear0

wisdom for our own lives as we are transformed through our interactions with others88others0who the world oftentimes refuses to see as credible0 enough. 'e see these marginalized anddis8empowered persons as made in God’s image and li%eness. 'e see 4hrist in each other. Thatis credible enough9

(s we continue to ponder our faith and wor%s during this #aster season, let us recommitourselves to accompany those who are marginalized and not credible0 in the world by givingthem a voice in a world that does not want to hear the cry of the poor. 1et us, li%e the first(postles, live out daily esus’ command+ to go and proclaim the Gospel88Good ews88to all.

$or reflection+

. !n the light of today’s readings, pause to reflect over the words of St. $rancis of (ssisi,(lways proclaim the Gospel: when necessary, use words.0

>. &ow can you apply today’s reflection for your own tendencies in meetings with staff, familymembers, parishioners, and others you are in relationship with=

2rian ". 4orbinSenior Iice President, Social Policy: 4atholic 4harities LS(

Aprl 10, 2015

rday thn the /cta.e of *asterActs of the Apostles 4: 1-12; $ohn 21: 1-14

3e s the stone reected "y you, the "ulders, hch has "eco&e the cornerstone367

Acts of the Apostles 4: 11

!n many ways, erome was a typical * year old growing up in the 7J?s and 7O?s. &e en@oyed

;ighty ;ites baseball, loved to fish, and was especially fond of football. Lnder aged but very

bright for his grade level, he loo%ed forward to a high school football career after great gridiron

exploits as a grade schooler, under the careful watch of his coachAfather. &e and his family

would sacrifice for him to attend the local esuit athletic and academic powerhouse: with a

wee%end @ob in the school’s laboratory, they could swing the higher tuition rate.

So, you can imagine the re@ection that he felt in (ugust of his freshman year when he was cut

from the freshman high school football team. 'as his dream shot, were all of his and his

family’s sacrifices for naught= &is dad, long time football player himself, encouraged him not to

give up: improve his s%ills in the offseason so that the team could not cut him next fall.



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2ut there was a spot for him on the freshman roster after all. Shortly after he was cut, the

coaches recognized a few open roster spots and invited him bac% onto the team. erome did not

dis those who had written him off @ust a few days earlier, but than%fully re@oined the team.

2efore he graduated from high school, he would rac% up 3uite a few honors88 (ll 4onference

offensive guard and second team (ll 4onference linebac%er: team captain: Tom Shaw (wardwinner, bestowed every year to the finest 4hristian student athlete of the school’s senior class.

&e went on to 4(( Bivision !!! football, even coaching during a redshirt year. The * year

old who was cut from his ninth grade team would also mature into a successful middle school

football coach and founder of a youth rugby program.

So what does this all have to do with the life, death, and resurrection of 4hrist and his first

century followers, described so beautifully in today’s readings= Bid 4hrist, after undergoing a

shameful trial and death, stri%e bac% at others after his glorious resurrection= Kf course not9 Bid

Peter, after having embarrassed himself more than once in the Gospels, climb under a roc% and

hide for the rest of his life after his 1ord died the death of a common criminal= Kf course not9

3e s the stone reected "y you, the "ulders, hch has "eco&e the cornerstone367

Acts of the Apostles 4: 11

Kne truly does God’s will, even after having been re@ected by peers or authority figures, if one

remains attuned to the will of God and demonstrates a life style of servant leadership. (nd

when one succeeds after re@ection with malice toward none, is there not a resurrection story

somewhere to be told=

or reflecton:

. &ave you ever been discounted or re@ected for a position on an athletic team: company,

agency, diocesan, or parish staff: or production cast but been fortunate to later achieve in the

same field= &ow did your past re@ection affect your leadership in your new role=

>. 'e have many opportunities to choose leaders of state and our wor% places. 'hen

considering the next new hire or legislative representative, might you consider allowing one who

was formerly re@ected to rise to a new position of status= Bo we recognize that the stone re@ected

by the builders might become a cornerstone=

2r. Steve &erro, K. Praem.;anager of ;ission "esources and Bata

Aprl %, 2015

8hursday n the /cta.e of *aster

Acts of the Apostles !: 11-2(; 'u+e 24: !5-4)

Have yo! anythin" here to eat-.1u%e >6+6c



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&ave you anything here to eat=0 the resurrected esus as%s the disciples in erusalem. 'hile

they were originally startled by his appearance, once he’d passed0 their test by showing them

his hands and his feet, they realized it was esus. Then incredulous for @oy,0 they responded by

giving him some ba%ed fish.

&ow many times have we heard this same 3uestion= &ow have we responded= ! suppose if we

are to be truly honest, much of it depends upon who was doing the as%ing+ a dear friend who

happened to be in the neighborhood, our teen8aged son home from trac% practice, our spouse

returning home after a long day at wor%, a single mom who’s been on her feet for the last ?

hours at her minimum wage @ob, a little girl whose main meal is her school’s free lunch, an

elderly woman deciding between paying for her prescriptions and buying groceries, a recovering

alcoholic on the side of the road who isn’t fairing too well with his recovery,0 a teen in sagging

pants and a hoodie sweatshirt, a big bald guy covered in tattoos and piercings, or the homeless

woman living in the bushes behind the parish= #ach might elicit a different response. !n my own

life, ! %now there have been instances when ! was less than charitable in my thoughts and in my

words when the 3uestion was posed. Sometimes, ! didn’t feel li%e coo%ing. Kther times ! didn’t

want to share a favorite dish. (nd then, there were the really sad moments, when ! made unfair

assumptions and @udgments about the person as%ing.

!n this #aster season, may we be reminded that as recipients of God’s grace, we are to be

generous stewards of the abundance of the earth’s resources. #verything is a gift from our

gracious and loving God and therefore meant to be shared and e3uitably distributed.

"eflection 3uestions+

. 'hat sorts of tests0 do we re3uire of those who see% our assistance=>. 'hat does it ta%e for us to recognize the 4hrist in them=

#ear Jes!s, help !s to see in others hat yo! see, "ive !s hearts to love as yo! love and the

co!ra"e to respond incred!lo!s for /oy. the ne0t time e hear: have yo! anythin" to eat-.

1o matter ho is as$in"2

4arol Bufresne

;ember of the 44LS( Parish Social ;inistry Section: Birector of &uman 4oncerns,

!mmaculate 4onception 4atholic 4hurch )&ampton, Iirginia-

Aprl ), 2015

9ednesday thn the /cta.e of *aster

Acts of the Apostles !: 1-10; 'u+e 24: 1!-!5

3+nd it happened that, hile he as ith them at ta(le, he too$ (read, said the (lessin",

(ro$e it, and "ave it to them2 4ith that their eyes ere opened and they reco"ni5ed him,

(!t he vanished from their si"ht32. 1u%e >6+ *?8*



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'hat do you thin% potential donors, local ministers, blogsters, letters writers to your local

diocesan or city newspaper, mean when they say or infer, /ou are not 4atholic enough0= !

recently as%ed this of a few in our office and another agency staff. Bepending on your local

setting, ! suspect that this will be answered differently.

Today’s Gospel is one of the more pointed stories in the ew Testament. ! suspect that each ofus has felt li%e one of the two disciples on the way to #mmaus, feeling lost, numb, left behind.

Perhaps some of us have even had the opportunity to be the source of insight or inspiration that

the risen 1ord was for the disciples. 2ut ! %eep coming bac% to the fact that the disciples’ eyes

were open as a result of the blessing, brea%ing, and sharing of the bread.

To bless, brea%, and share is part of our 4atholic identity and what ! hope our agencies, parishes,

and families are able to incorporate in their own existences. To blessNto call to prayer: to brea%

Nto call to mind esus’ offering his life for us: to shareNto invite others into our good fortune.

This is pretty 4atholic for me9

$or reflection+

. &ow can we become more intentional about calling others to bless, brea%, and share in our

4atholic 4harities agencies, congregations, or families=

>. &ow can we become more understanding, and perhaps even more enlightening and

compassionate, to those who might feel left behind=

2r. Steve &erro, K. Praem.

;anager of ;ission "esources and Bata

Aprl #, 2015

8uesday 9thn the /cta.e of *aster

Acts of the Apostles 2: !(-41; $ohn 20: 11-1)

(cts +*J86< 'hat shall we do, 2rothers= "epent.

ohn >?+8H < 'here have you put him= She did not recognize him.

! am racist. Kh, ! don’t mean to be. ! love all people, as esus calls us to do. 2ut !’m white, so8called

middle class, beyond the age of reason < and !’m part of the system that the &oly $ather calls the empire

of money. There are economic systems0 he went on that must ma%e war in order to survive. (neconomic system centered on the god of money also needsMto maintain the frenetic pace of consumption

inherent in it )see Pope $rancis, Q(ddress to the Participants in the 'orld ;eeting of Popular

;ovements,’ Kctober >H, >?6-.0

Lntil recently ! patronized one of the national ban%s that was a ma@or cause of the recent mortgage crisis,

which most viciously attac%ed people of color < and still does. ! pay taxes that fund the world’s greatest

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war machine and arms dealer. 'e %now that the conduct of war always wor%s disproportionately against

those in poverty and people of color, whether our own or the enemy.0

'hat shall we do, 2rothers )(cts of the (postles + *O-=0 "epent0 Peter replied. !n striving for racial

@ustice implicit in serving those in poverty, ! first need to repent )change- of my racist tendencies< to

resist the system that ! have helped to build over a lifetime.

Tell me where you have put him )ohn >?+E-.0 !n those lines at the emergency food pantry, in the

waiting room at Social Services, in the one room rentals heated only by a dangerous %erosene heater.

That’s where we’ve put him.

! often pray 1ord, let me see your face.0 (nd every time the 1ord responds, 1oo% around90 &e is the

face of the blac% and 1atino families living in hovels without ade3uate heat. ! must stop seeing them as

blac% and 1atino0 and see them as people, the face of esus, as people esus loves. (nd ! must stop

seeing myself as different from them.

$or your reflection+

. &ow do ! answer the crowd when they cry 'hat shall we do=0

>. 'e all loo% for esus in the sisters and brothers we serve. Bo ! continue to see them as different from

me= Bo ! treat them differently from how ! respond to the person living next door to me when they as%

for a little help=

Patric% ugent

4atholic 4harities LS( Parish Social ;inistry Section: ;ember of the 2oard, 4all To (ctionA;aryland

and St. ;ary "efuge of Sinners Parish )4ambridge, ;aryland-

Aprl (, 2015Monday thn the /cta.e of *aster

Acts of the Apostles 2: 14, 22-!!; Matthe 2): )-15

#aster ;onday88what a day for celebration and (lleluias.0 2ut it is also a day for intense

pondering. Kur readings today refer to a dead 1ord brought bac% to life because God raised

him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it

)(cts of the (postles >+ >6-.0

!t is easy to picture those who %new esus as sad, de@ected, mournful and perhaps hopeless. &ow

could they see his torture and death as anything but an end= &ow final the end must have felt to

each of them. !n our time and our understanding it would be hard to interpret his death as

anything but a tragedy that left them adrift. &owever, in God’s time and understanding, loo%ing

at the truth on #aster ;onday we now %now that there was so much more.

!n our understanding of time and circumstance, our 1ord’s death was the end of the sentence

where God had always intended a comma. !n one of my favorite reflections from oanna



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'eaver, she challenges us to, ever put a period where God puts a comma. ust when you

thin% the sentence is over, the most important part may be yet to come.0

!n our wor% with those who struggle with crisis, poverty, hopelessness, homelessness, hunger,

isolation, illness and so many other challenges, we must ma%e a commitment to remember that

our efforts and our example can create opportunities for God to complete sentences for us andour clients with unfathomed results.

$or reflection+

. Thin% of a moment when you experienced the death of a loved one. 'as there a scripture,

story, or person who helped you move from a feeling of personal loss to one of new life=

. The Gospel refers to the disciples embracing the feet of esus );atthew >H+7-. $r. "on

"olheiser )( Genuflection in 1ove,0 Give *s This #ay, (pril >?E, pp. *H8*7- describes how

esus changed the symbol of this embrace from one of servant hood or leaderAfollower to love

and e3uality. &ave you ever experienced this upgrade0 in relationship from a parent, teacher,

supervisor, minister, or other mentor= &ow did it feel to move from an une3ual to an e3ual=

Susan "auscher #xecutive Birector: 4atholic 4harities of the Biocese of Pittsburgh

Aprl 5, 2015

8he esurrecton of the 'ord

Acts 10: !4a, !#-4!; Colossans !: 1-4; $ohn 20: 1-%

"e@oice9 Through &is death and resurrection, 4hrist overcame sin for all of us. &e fulfilled

God’s promise of mercy for all who believe.

Today’s readings consistently contrast death and life, old and new. ;ost importantly, they

emphasize the need to die before we can have life, to shed the old before the new can present

itself. This challenge arises over and over in our spiritual, physical, emotional, and wor% lives.

Lntil we forego constant busyness and connectivity we may not dedicate enough time each day

to prayer. 'e may not en@oy physical health unless we die to the bad habits of complacency,

eating too much sugar or indulging in addictive behavior. Kur relationships are better if we die

to competition, @ealousy, self8importance, and an insatiable desire for our wants to ta%e priority.Perhaps our wor% has become stagnant, using familiar but inappropriate responses to new clients

and contexts.

The Gospel today gives us more than a hint about how we might respond to the good news of

esus’ resurrection. ohn repeatedly uses the verb Qran’ to describe the disciples’ response to their

discovery of esus’ absence from the tomb. ;ary ran to the disciples to share the news of her



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discovery. Simon Peter and ohn ran to the tomb to confirm the news. !magine the urgency, the

sense of confusion and 3uestion, the possible hope that the three responders felt. !n response,

they didn’t wal%, stroll or saunter. (ll three ran.

The great opportunity of our time is to reduce poverty and strengthen family life. Poverty and

internal wea%ness of family life plays out as increased rates of hunger, domestic violence,incarceration, unemployment and underemployment in our community. 'e are called to respond

to God’s call without hesitation, by running, not wal%ing to the aid of the vulnerable among us.

$or reflection+

. 'hat old habits, values or attitudes might need to die such that we can run to a new way of

living, both personally and professionally=

>. &ow can we renew, refresh, realign ourselves andAor our efforts to serve the poor and

vulnerable more appropriately=

Sharon 2urns

Birector, 4atholic 4harities Biocese of #vansville

Aprl 4, 2015

oly Saturday

eness 1: 1-2: 22; eness 22: 1-1); *e+el !(: 1(-1#a, 1)-2); o&ans (: !-11; Mar+ 1(: 1-#

'ho will roll bac% the stone for us );ar% J+ *-M=0 Those words leap off the page whenever

! read this Gospel passage and ! find them particularly compelling through the lens of 4atholic

4harities. !n our line of wor%, we run into ;arys and Salomes every day. &ow many need the

hope and promise of 4hrist’s resurrection, the peace of &is redemption, or simply the comfort

that comes from %nowing &is love exists even for them=

2ut time and again, we see that &e is not so easily found. Time and again, life’s heartaches and

setbac%s stand in their way. ust thin% of the circumstances the morning ;ary and Salome went

to the tomb to anoint our 1ord’s body. The disciples were already in hiding. &aving watched as

their teacher had been crucified and now fearful for their own lives, they scattered and loc%ed

themselves away lest they too be persecuted. !magine how disappointed and disheartened they

must have been to see evil’s apparent victory over their 1ord. Their faith must have been sha%en

to the core. 4ontemplate Simon Peter who denied esus three times, or Thomas, who @ust days

later had to put his fingers through esus’ very wounds to convince himself that his teacher was

there among them9 2ut despite this overwhelming atmosphere of anxiety and despair, these two

< ;ary and Salome < found the courage to march to &is tomb. Bespite %nowing full well that a

boulder weighing several tons literally stood between them and their 1ord, they rose up early and

went to see% &im. They believed that a way would present itself, that someone would help.

mailto:[email protected]://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040415.cfmhttp://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040415.cfmmailto:[email protected]://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040415.cfmhttp://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040415.cfm


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Those served by 4atholic 4harities and parish ministry show very much the same courage,

although they may not even realize it. !t might be the yo%e of drug addiction or the despair of an

unwed, teenage mother who has been abandoned by family and friends. ;aybe it’s the sadness

of the homebound elderly who struggle with devastating loneliness. There are countless

obstructions to %nowing God’s love and we are familiar with all too many of them. 2ut we must

ta%e heart because those we serve also have the courage to see% &im, enough courage to as%,

'ho will roll bac% the stone=0

So ! as% you plainly, will it be us= To be sure, ! am certain that we have the best part in all of

this. 'e should be on guard lest the tedium of our daily wor% fools us. 'e are not simply

delivering social services. o. Kur wor% achieves something much greater, for we are

facilitators of 4hrist. 'e roll bac% life’s barriers with such unwavering and methodical

dedication that they, those who need 4hrist’s love most, find hope, and in doing so, find our

1ord. ust thin%9 &ow many transformations have we personally witnessed= Bo you believe it

was the physical meal, or the diapers, or even the shelter that you helped provide that triggered a

new life, a resurrected life= Kr was it the hope, conviction, or @oy that comes from %nowing you

are loved < not @ust by neighbors < but by God= 'e must li%en ourselves to the hope8filled angel

in the tomb, bringing good news where they thought there was only despair, harbingers of a new

life, a second chance.

!n tonight’s second reading, (braham responded &ere ! am )Genesis >>+ -,0 when the 1ord

called out for him. 'hat better response when those in need as%, 'ho will roll bac% the

stone=0

$or reflection+

. 1iterally thousands of children and adults are fully received into the 4atholic faith this

evening during the #aster Iigil liturgy. Ta%e a moment to welcome them in prayer.

>. 'ho has rolled away the stone0 for you in your life=

1aura 4assell

4hief #xecutive Kfficer, 4atholic 4harities of the Biocese of "oc%ville 4entre

Aprl !, 2015

ood rday

Isaah 52: 1!-5!: 12; e"res 4: 14-1(, 5: #-%; $ohn 1): 1-1%: 42

+ "rave as assi"ned to him amon" the ic$ed3tho!"h he had done no ron"2. !saiah E*+7

'e tolerate, even celebrate the in@ustice of esus’ death this day because we %now that thevictory is won on #aster. evertheless, an innocent man, who had done no wrong nor spo%enany falsehood,0 was put to death on a cross. Today is the day to allow the inhumanity of it all totouch us.



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;ost of us see the victims of in@ustice every day when we reach out to our nation’s poor andmarginalized people. (nd there are days when the pain of those we serve touches us deeply.Their pain and our heartache is not something we can celebrateNyet.

'e have wor% to do changing the cruel and dysfunctional systems and relationships thatvictimize those we serve. $oremost among the bro%en systems in need of change is thelegislative process itself that has fallen victim to the idolatry of money.

!n profound irony, this day we venerate the cross, the very instrument of an innocent man’sdeath. Today, we do not honor money, or physical power or even sharpened intellects. 'eremember what the world considered failure was to be God’s instrument of salvation.

'hen will the other deliverers of death be transformed=

'hen will the guns that %illed Tamir "ice or Trayvon, or M be silenced=

'hen will the fear that underlies our inability to face the realities of our racist culture beovercome in us by the love of God=

'hen will the doors to the foreclosed homes be unloc%ed so the family sleeping in their cold cara few bloc%s away can have a warm place to sleep=

'hen will the corporate powers li%e $ord repair the earth they poisoned that leave ative(mericans dying=

'hen will the gurneys to which death row inmates are strapped be needed no longer=

'hen will we learn that our resort to the violence of war is itself the terrorism we see% todestroy=

This day ! pray that the gurneys, guns, loc%ed doors and poisoned earth may all one day becelebrated as symbols of the victory of God’s transforming power among us.

"eflection Ruestions

. &ow is God’s saving power at wor% in you to address the dysfunctional systems that createand sustain poverty=

>. &ow do you best sustain your faith that God will triumph over evil, in@ustice and death=

$ran% ;c4ann, 4SP8(4atholic 4harities LS( Parish Social ;inistry Section:

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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ustice and Peace $acilitator for the Sisters of St. oseph of Peace and ;ember: &umanBevelopment and Social ustice ;inistry, St. (nastasia’s Parish, Teanec%, ew ersey

oly 8hursdayAprl 2, 2015

*


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Compassionate God,

yo!r "enero!s presence

is alays att!ned to h!rtin" ones2'o!r listenin" ear is (ent

toard the cries of the o!nded

'o!r heart of love fills ith tears for the s!fferin"2

T!rn my inard eye to see

that I am not alone2 I am a part of all of life2

6ach one7s /oy and sorro

is my /oy and sorro,

and mine is theirs2 May I dra stren"th

from this inner comm!nion2

May it daily recommit me

to (e a compassionate presence for all ho str!""le ith life7s pain2

Source+ The &eart of 4ompassion0 from 'o!r Sorro is My Sorro, by oyce "upp. ew /or%+The 4rossroads Publishing 4o., 777.

$or reflection+

'hat are the ways that your agency or parish demonstrates its love for one another < for guests, parishioners, and for colleagues='hat are the examples of love and hospitality in your life= Ta%e a moment and than% those people and offer a prayer of than%sgiving to God.

;aura ;oser Birector of 4ommunications, 4atholic 1egal !nformation etwor%

Aprl 1, 2015

9ednesday of oly 9ee+

Isaah 50: 4-%a; Matthe 2(: 14-25

Kn this day before we enter into the holiest days of the liturgical year we are as%ed to pause and

reflect upon the life of true servants of God, those called to manifest the divine attributes of

@ustice, courage, and love to a world which does not understand the true meaning of those

actions.

!n the passage from !saiah, we see the image of a true servant of God, the one who clearly

testifies to the presence of God living in, among, and through us. The true servant of God is the

one who is intimately connected to God in a relationship of attentive hearing for morning after



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morning he opens my ear that ! may hear )!saiah E?+ 6-.0 'ith courage and conviction those

words translate into actions of consolation, of encouragement, of challenge to the weary of the

world who loo% for a sign that their God lives among them and will triumph over the challenges

of a world of dar%ness, chaos, and turmoil. The true servant manifests unyielding integrity even

in the face of manifest hostility because the true servant %nows that the 1ord God is my help,

therefore ! am not disgraced )!saiah E?+ O-.0

(nd yet, even God8;ade8;an, esus himself, was to suffer the ultimate betrayal of an intimate

and trusted friend who simply could not understand or accept the design of salvation necessitated

by the self8centeredness of humanity. esus, the personification of the Suffering Servant, taught

by words and example how to live that delicate balance of the existential condition of humanity

see%ing our eschatological future in the %ingdom to come. udas !scariot, because he chose to

loo% at the world through the lens of the former over the latter, could not believe or accept that

the path chosen by esus was the way of God. udas thought he %new a better way. udas chose

not to be the Servant but the ;aster9

'e live in a world which cries out desperately for the Servants willing to suffer for the sa%e of

the @ustice and peace of the Fingdom of God. Through the grace of our baptism we recognize

ourselves as being called to be prophets in the world in imitation of esus who is Priest, Prophet,

and Fing. Through the gifts of prayer and the sacraments we see% to anchor ourselves in an

attitude of attentive listening to the urgings of the Spirit, hoping always that God will %eep out

ears open that we may hear his will. 2ut sometimes we are li%e udas9 'e too thin% God must

surely be mista%en9 This cannot be the divine will90 and we set off on a plan of our ma%ing, a

course of action of our design and in so doing betray the loving relationship of trust and love

with the Kne 'ho Saves. 'e want to believe that we would never have betrayed esus as didudas !scariot but perhaps, at times, we do.

or reflecton:

. Bo we see% to have our ears opened so that we may understand how best to spea% to

the weary a word that will rouse them0=

>. &ow do we ourselves deal with the balance between living in a world of apparent

in@ustice, of violence, of ine3uality and our belief in a God who has created a world of good and wills all things for the perfection of the world=

*. &ow do we handle our own betrayals of the relationship with esus when we fail to

let his will be done=


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$r. 2ernard Klszews%i,

4ross 4atholic Kutreach: 2oca "aton, $la.

March !1, 2015

8uesday of oly 9ee+ Isaah 4%: 1-(; $ohn 1!:21-!!, !(-!)

;y mom has always loved ta%ing photographs. She isn’t a professional, but has an eye forcomposition and loves to document 1ittle 1eague games, school plays, and the everydayactivities of family life in creative ways.

Kne year, my dad bought her an expensive camera as a 4hristmas present, and that thing was her baby. She got so much en@oyment out of the different settings and capabilities of the high8ende3uipment. The next spring, ! spotted a seagull during a day at the par%, and as%ed to use thecamera to ta%e a picture88/es, but be careful90

! wasn’t.

(s soon as ! heard the crac% of the lens on the pavement, ! wanted to disappear. ! had beenentrusted with my mom’s favorite gift88and a symbol of my dad’s love to her88and through mynegligence, ! had dropped it. !t was beyond repair. ! wanted to ma%e it up to her, to fix it, to payfor a new one, but there was no way !’d be able to.

#very &oly 'ee%, ! remember that story and the feeling of being sincerely sorry, but beingunable to come close to repairing the damage done. 4reated by God, blessed in so many ways,humans have a %nac% of repaying our tremendous debt to our 4reator by ignoring his plan for us.

2y ourselves, we are unable to set our relationship with God aright88we owe him everything. 'ecannot return to him anything he has not already given us.

#ven Peter, who witnessed 4hrist transfigured, numerous miracles, and, as we read in today’sGospel, pledged his undying loyalty to the point of death, denied %nowing esus three times. (lltoo cognizant of our offenses, it’s tempting to ignore the pain and blood of 4hrist’s passion. Thegiddy @oy of #aster is glorious: the wal% to 4alvary is tortuous, gruesome.

2ut this wee% isn’t made for despair at what we have done to 4hrist. !t’s a time to than% him forhis sacrifice and glory in our redemption. !n the 4rucifixion, 4hrist offers himself as expiationfor our sins: he intercedes for us and reconciles us with the $ather. 2ut through the power of the

4ross, esus bears our faults, ma%es amends, and heals our wounds.

'e all have stories of things we’ve bro%en88relationships, responsibilities, cherished gifts88thatwe’ve been unable to repair or reconcile. The families who come to our agencies for aid: ourcowor%ers, families, and friends88every one of us %nows how the weight of previous mista%escan, at times, blot out all promise of a better tomorrow.



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2ut the promise of the 4rucifixion is that when we turn ourselves over to 4hrist, he willreconcile us with the God who made us. &e was pierced for our sins, crushed for our ini3uity.&e bore the punishment that ma%es us whole, by his wounds we were healed )!saiah E*+*-.0 2yourselves, we can do nothing to atone for our offenses: with him, there is nothing God won’tforgive.

or reflecton:

•'hat past mista%es are weighing you down= &ow can this &oly 'ee% be a time of laying

down your burden at 4hrist’s feet and accepting his love and forgiveness=

•&ow can your daily wor% accompany those you serve in their @ourney to escape the weight of

previous mista%es or burdens=

•2e %ind, Plato is 3uoted as saying, for everyone you meet is carrying a heavier burden. &ow

can you go out of your way to, li%e Simon of 4yrene, help clients, cowor%ers, family members

or friends, carry their cross=

Patrc+ =ron

;anager, 4ommunications otre Bame Partnership: 4atholic 4harities LS(

March !0, 2015

Monday of oly 9ee+

Isaah 42: 1-#; $ohn 12: 1-11

Thin% of a person you %now with a 3uiet spirit. !t is this person who can settle a situation with a

word or a loo%. &ow do you respond to him or her= !n !saiah today, we read that @ustice is brought forth, not crying and shouting, but with a 3uiet spirit. 'hat a witness9 !t seems that oursociety today spends a lot of time yelling and not really listening. The 3uiet spirit is lost in all therhetoric. !t is a good lesson for me. ! love to tal%. ! have to remind myself that sometimes it is better to listen. !t is when ! stop and listen that ! hear the voice of God in the other. God’swhisper.

!t is the whisper that brea%s through the noise. The whisper is the light for the nations.0 !ttranslates well the wor% of 4atholic 4harities and our parishes and @ustice. !t is the connection between faith, sacraments, and the ritual of the 4hurch in collaboration with the option for thosewho are poor. ;ary ma%es a beautiful gesture in a 3uiet manner by anointing esus’ feet. (3uiet, sacred moment that spea%s volumes. esus said we will always have the poor with us. Kur wor% for @ustice will continue. !n this moment, esus 3uietly reminds us that the sacred momentsare important as well.

(s we are wor%ing for @ustice for those who are poor, the elderly, and disabled, we need to ma%espace for the 3uiet, sacred moments. 'e can use these moments to strengthen ourselves for thewor% of @ustice. The 3uiet can help us be a light. Sometimes shouting is needed to be heard andget attention. &owever, when we %eeping running up against walls, its time to ta%e a step bac%



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(!t on a cross (eteen to thieves2 8 George ;ac1eod

4ounting heads, chec%ing numbers,turning away the human overflow,was a tas% deeply despised.

&ow do you tell your sistersto find some other place,and abandon these souls to cold oblivion=

I am sorry,. ! mumbled,fearful to lin% eyes,with this woman re@ected.

Jes!s cried o!t in a lo!d voice, 6loi, 6loi, lema sa(achthani-. 3

My God, my God, hy have yo! forsa$en me-. 8;ar% E+*6

Grasping my hand with frigid fingers,she consoled me with a warm benediction.1ot to orry,. she intoned. I7m (lessed.

Stung by such unexpected grace! stood transfixed,while the wic%ed wind whipped around me.

;y grateful gaze followed heras she too% her bearingsat the windswept crossroads between 'ilson and Sheridan.

Ho can this poor oman,

!nsheltered on a retched ni"ht,

$no that she is (lessed-.

Though decades have gone by,the feeling, the figure, the face of this suffering servanthave never left me.

Still she reflects the faith it ta%esto stand at the windswept foot of the crossand bear witness to a world bereft.

There ere also omen loo$in" on from a distance2 +mon" them ere Mary Ma"dalene, Mary

the mother of the yo!n"er James and of Joses, and Salome2

These omen had folloed him hen he as in Galilee and ministered to him28;ar% E+6?86

!n our zeal to serve and care,


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we can forget that we too are healedin the mutuality of ministry.

4e enco!nter yo!, Christ;of;the;mar"ins,

amon" those ho live alon" the frin"es of o!r orld2

+nd visitin" ith yo! e find that o!r h!n"er for meanin" is fed,o!r thirst for p!rpose is satisfied,

e are elcomed and are no lon"er stran"ers,

o!r di"nity is restored8 o!r pain healed,and e are set free2 84ross"oads Prayer

4hat co!ld it mean to (e a ith;stander.

ho loo$s !pon this orld from the foot of the cross-4ith hom do yo! stand, and hat do yo! itness that (rea$s the heart of God-

Ta$e !s o!tside, ) Christ, o!tside holiness,

o!t to here soldiers c!rse and nations clashat the crossroads of the orld222

8George ;ac1eod

oe GrantBirector of Programs: ust$aith ;inistries )1ouisville, Fy.-

March 2), 2015

Saturday of the fth 9ee+ of 'ent

*>e+el !#: 21-2); $ohn 11: 45-5(

The boo% of #ze%iel includes a condemnation of !srael for its idolatry and, for the same reason, a

condemnation of the surrounding nations. !t concludes on a hopeful note, the restoration of

!srael, the chosen people of God.

Today’s $irst "eading envisions a time when the scattered remnants of God’s people will be

gathered together into a new and restored !srael. They will abandon their idols and their sins will

be forgiven. The new !srael will be lead forever by a descendant of Bavid and God will never

again abandon &is people but be present among them forever.

That passage is a message of hope to a discouraged people. 2ut the Gospels ma%e clear that this

restoration or new covenant will not be a new nation based on the ;osaic 1aw, nor be lead by a

;essiah %ing who will throw off the "oman yo%e. This was the desire of the esus’ ewish

contemporaries.



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!n today’s Gospel, some of the ews0 are the opponents of esus, and are lead by the scribes

and Pharisees0 )of course, not all ews, including not all scribes and Pharisees, opposed esus-.

The statement of 4aiaphas was eventually fulfilled, but for a different purpose than he intended.

esus’ death was not a long term defeat for &is followers. Some of the ewish people would

continue to long for a restored earthly %ingdom li%e the !srael of old. esus, the Son of Bavid

and the new Passover8 would be the one to gather together all peoples into a new !srael, based on

&is martyrdom and resurrection.

or reflecton:

. &ow do you process your feelings when someone does not fulfill the role that you had hoped

for=

>. &ave you done harm to someone when he or she did not fulfill the expectation that you had

for him or her= !f so, see% forgiveness.

Fevin 4ushing44LS( Parish Social ;inistry Section, Kur 1ady of 1oretto 4hurch )ovato, 4alif.-

March 2#, 2015

rday of the fth 9ee+ of 'ent

$ere&ah 20: 10-1!; Psal&s 1): 2-!a, !"c-4, 5-(, #; $ohn 10: !1-42

&ow fre3uently we feel overwhelmed by the many demands on our life. (s eremiah says,Terror and disturbance seems li%e it is on every side )eremiah >?+ ?-.0 So it is with thosewho are poor, who live every day entrusting their lives and sometimes even their very survival tothe 1ord. eremiah tells us that in their distress they have called upon the 1ord, and he has heardtheir voice. &is response is often to as% us to to wal% in solidarity with those who are poor.02ut who are they= 'hy is it important to wal% with them= ;other Teresa tells that each isesus in disguise.

Those suffering from poverty, sic%ness, unemployment, loneliness, and emotional hurts surroundus. 'e are to help them through their struggles by wal%ing with them. 'hat exactly does thatmean to wal% with them0= !t means to share the hurt they feel in their diminished dignity as ahuman person. !t means to help restore that dignity by being with them and helping them carrytheir burden.

To be a part of these good wor%s from the $ather, we have to ma%e time to hear the story of their poverty. !t is in hearing their story that we feel compassion and empathy and are moved to reachout to them. 'e may be moved to serve them by providing food or clothing. 'e may be movedto advocate for them and their families with the school system and other legal entities. Some of



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. Ta%e a moment to pray with ason 4oghill’s rendition of today’s Psalm. Bo you see thePsalmist’s prayer becoming yours=

>. !n light of the psalm and the martyrdom of (rchbishop "omero, how do we see our missionas part of extending the option for the poor=

4laudette 2ur3ue;ember of the 44LS( Parish Social ;inistry Section: 'ebmaster and Iolunteer at St. Patric%4hurch )Phenix 4ity, (labama-

Monday, March 2!, 2015

Monday of the fth 9ee+ of 'ent

anel 1!: 41c-(2; $ohn ): 1-11

Today’s readings are filled with messages and parables related directly to false witness, @ustice and the often 3uoted response from Pope $rancis, 'ho am ! to @udge=0

;orning prayer begins with Beuteronomy 7+ E8J, 7, Kne witness alone shall not standagainst someone in regards to any crime or offense that may have been committed: a charge shallstand only on the testimony of two or three witnessesM.!f the witness is a false witnessand has falsely accused the other, you shall do to the false witness @ust as the false witness planned to do to the other.0

Similarly, the Kld Testament reading for today’s ;ass contains Baniel *+ 6H867, E>8E* (reyou such fools, K children of !srael9 To condemn a person of !srael without examination andwithout clear evidence= "eturn to court for they have testified falsely against herM.ow haveyour past sins come to term+ passing un@ust sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing theguiltyMThe innocent and @ust you shall not put to death.0

$inally, our 1ord in today’s Gospel )ohn H+ Ob- writes in the sand and spea%s to the Phariseesand elders on punishment for the adulteress, 1et the one among you who is without sin be thefirst to throw a stone at herM0

'e need not overanalyze these scriptures. 'hen we respond as individuals or 4atholic 4haritiesstaff, or when the 4hurch magisterium responds, it can be easy to say yes0 to some and no0 toothers. Praise God for the message from Pope $rancis, witnessed and affirmed in today’sreadings, 'ho am ! to @udge=0 Befinitely it is not, &ow am ! to @udge=0 1et us serve withopen hearts, open minds and without discrimination9

$or reflection+

. &ave you ever been forgiven by others and God when some seemed ready to banish you fromthe community=

>. Ta%e a moment to pray for those being held in detention, without due process of the law.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0ASfj-5lyImailto:[email protected]://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032315.cfmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0ASfj-5lyImailto:[email protected]://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032315.cfm


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Shared by the staff of 4atholic 4harities of the Biocese of ew Llm, ;inn.

March 22, 2015

fth Sunday of 'ent

$ere&ah !1: !1-!4; e"res 5: #-%; $ohn 12: 20-!!

+ll from the least to the "reatest shall $no me, says the L)9#, for I ill for"ive their evildoin"

and remem(er their sin no more )eremiah *+ *6-.

Kn this $ifth Sunday of 1ent, two wee%s before #aster, we are reminded once again of GodUsunconditional divine love, forgiveness and hope that is demonstrated through this new covenant.

'hat is hope= !s hope a longing or desire, or is it a trust that something will be different= &opeis all of these things, and more. Providing &elp. 4reating &ope. ;any of our 4atholic 4haritiesuse this, or a variation of this tagline, to encapsulate our mission.

#ach and every person that we are honored to @ourney beside comes to us with great hope. &opethat someone will be able to truly understand his or her circumstances. &ope that they are not @udged. &ope that this time, things may be different.

God continually demonstrates &is love and desire to minister to the least among us. &e isfaithful, even when we are not. &e loves all, even when we do not. &e forgives all, even whenwe cannot forgive ourselves. God is calling us into a closer relationship with him and with oneanother. !t is a time of great celebration9

$or reflection+

. 'hat does hope0 mean to you=

>. &ow do you interpret the promise of hope from the $irst "eading, (ll, from the least to thegreatest shall %now me, says the 1ord=0

Tracy ;orrison#xecutive Birector, 4atholic 4harities of the (rchdiocese of Bubu3ue

March 21, 2015Saturday of the ourth 9ee+ of 'ent

$ere&ah 11: 1)-20; $ohn #: 40-5!

Today we hear the Pharisees 3uestion esus’ birthplace. Through the 4hristmas story, we %now

where esus came from. evertheless, we %now very little about the circumstances surrounding

esus’ childhood and early life. ! am forced to wonder of the impact of esus being born of ;ary

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and oseph and having been raised in azareth of Galilee. 1ater in today’s Gospel, it is

suggested that Galilee could never give rise to a prophet. ! wonder, was esus written off by

some because of where he was raised or were some so diabolically opposed to him that they

would loo% for any reason, trivial or substantive, to dishonor him=

Bo we accept the goodness of people who might come from the other side of the trac%s0 orfrom out of town0= Kr are we so blinded by preconceived expectations of the new agency

director, pastor, program manager, mayor, governor, or 4#K that we cannot live for the moment

and appreciate the wor%ings of the Spirit in the here and now= (re we so obsessed with the

uncovering or learning of every s%eleton in one’s closet that we fail to recognize the inherent

goodness of all people, created in the image of God=

Though the first Presidential primary is about ten months away, perhaps this Gospel challenges

all of us to loo% beyond a leader’s socio8economic upbringing and @udge him or her by how he or

she has demonstrated the ability to lead for the betterment of the common good and inspire

others to do li%ewise.

$or refection+

. 'as there a time in your life when you were pre@udged by others because of your upbringing=

!f so, how did that ma%e you feel=

>. &ave you ever been the victim of another drudging up a trivial fault for the sa%e of who

%nows what= !f so, have you been able to move beyond this seemingly unfounded or un@ustified

charge=

2r. Steve &erro, K. Praem.;anager of ;ission "esources and Bata, 4atholic 4harities LS(

March 20, 2015

rday of the ourth 9ee+ of 'ent

9sdo& 2:1a, 12-22; Psal& !4:1#-1), 1%-20, 21 and 2!; Matthe 4:4"; $ohn #:1-2, 10, 25-

!0

!f there is one thing ! have learned while wor%ing in ministry with those who do direct servicewith people marginalized by me, and you, and our society, it is that the words the Psalmist writes

in today’s readings are too true+ The Lord is close to the (ro$enhearted )Psalm *6+7-. The 1ordis close to the bro%en, period. (nd while it is the temptation of manyNmyself includedNto wantto fix what is bro%en, again and again ! witness the grace that occurs when ! enter into the bro%enness.

This past fall ! co8led with a ;ary%noll lay missioner an urban immersion for teachers and stafffrom a 4atholic grade school in suburban Seattle. The immersion brought the group into the

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oseph located in the narthex of the church. 'hen serving at this parish, ! always try to say a

short prayer to St. oseph for strength, integrity and leadership < as a father, husband, friend and

leader of our local 4atholic 4harities agency.

Kf all of the inspired texts that we read in the 2ible, we never find a recorded word from St.

oseph. /et his strong character, obedience and faith is reflected in the lives of the entire &oly$amily. !t sets the course for all of us in our roles to 3uietly serve some of God’s most

vulnerable children through our many programs and services. 'e offer help, hope, integrity and

strength to those we serve, as St. oseph so assisted our 2lessed Iirgin ;other ;ary and our

2rother and Savior esus 4hrist.

(ccording to today’s Gospel, St. oseph overcame his human tendency to 3uietly remove

himself from his relationship with ;ary when he discovered her pregnancy. &e followed the

will of the &oly Spirit as the angel of the 1ord commanded him. ! can certainly relate to the

times that ! feel frustrated or overwhelmed in my own life and responsibilities, and how blessed

we all are to be able to turn to a man li%e St. oseph for inspiration and intercession during timesof anxiety.

Today’s Second "eading reminds us that the promise of faith is a gift. $aith must be embraced

and shared for it to ta%e hold and direct us. (s we all struggle with competing priorities in our

lives, we remember the righteousness that St. oseph represents to all of us. 'e can draw

strength and endurance from his many trials and tribulations, while remaining obedient and

faithful to the message and mission of forgiveness and salvation that esus offers to each of us

through our wor%, our families and our own faith @ourneys.

St. oseph, &usband of ;ary, @ust and obedient servant of our 1ord, please pray for us9

or reflecton:

. To learn more about the life of St. oseph, Spouse of the 2lessed Iirgin ;ary, clic% here.

>. Ta%e a moment to offer a prayer for all husbandAfather spouses. Pope ohn VV!!! offers this

prayer .

Beacon Tom "oberts

President 4#K, 4atholic 4harities of Southern evada

March 1), 2015

9ednesday of the ourth 9ee+ of 'ent

Isaah 4%: )-15; $ohn 5: 1#-!0

'hen is the appropriate time to do the ri"ht thin" , especially if the right thing to do maychallenge the status 3uo and place one’s life at ris%= The 1enten season is about the preparation

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of the believer through spiritual disciplines to live as a courageous follower of esus 4hrist. 1entis ever a time of self8examination and discipline. !t is a time to contemplate the ris%s of carrying4hrist’s cross < once a symbol of shame reserved for criminals and insurgentsN and thus,transform it into a symbol of courageous hope and new birth. (round the world, persons are being persecuted for their faith in God. (nd, many persons may find it easier to 3uestion the

authority of 4hrist at wor% in the world than to address the systemic needs of the people. Thesubtle 3uestion that today’s 1enten meditation as%s of us is < who are you and do you have thecourageous faith needed to do the right thing for God’s glory= 1et’s ta%e a closer loo%M

Today’s 1enten meditation is prefaced by esus’ presence arrival at the Sheep Gate in erusalem.&e is in a region called 2ethesda which means house of mercy0 or place of flowing water.0Kur passage begins shortly after esus miraculously heals a man who had been ill for *H years.esus noticed him and had mercy upon him. 2ut, it was the Sabbath day and healing wasforbidden on the Sabbath.

(fter *H years of bondage, esus believed that the right thing to do was to liberate him from his

infirmity. The religious rulers believed otherwise and thus 3uestioned the healed man regardingwho had the authority to heal him. The text does not that record any commentary that articulatesor expresses @oy at 4hrist’s miraculous wor%. They wanted to %now who had the nerve to do theright thing at, what was in their perspective, the wrong time. 'ho would dare challenge thestatus 3uo= 'ho had divine permission to present God at wor% in the world )heal-, especially onthe Sabbath= So, our passage begins with esus emphatically stating his divine authority and purpose. esus’ authority came from God the $ather and esus’ life is patterned after the $ather.esus will do whatever the $ather re3uires even if it costs him his earthly life and status."egardless of the day of the wee% and the powers who try to prevail against God’s will, it is everthe time to stand for liberating righteousness. The light of 4hrist must ever shine amidstdar%ness.

So, beloved, ! invite us to reflect upon the ways that God is calling us to courageously ta%e upour matsAcrosses and live in the liberating power of God to spea% truth to power8 to do the rightthing.

$or reflection+

. 'ho among us has perhaps been sent from God to challenge our perspectives about God’swill=

>. God has invited us to share our testimonies and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.(s 4hrist’s followers, we are called to do no harm and to do the right thing at all times so thatGod may forever be glorified and that the 1ight will ever shine amidst dar%ness. 'hat will weris% to fully follow 4hrist=

God is with us. Than%s be to God9

"ev. Br. Stacey 4ole 'ilson

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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2ea 1ewis

Birector, #vents Planning: 4atholic 4harities LS(

March 1(, 2015

Monday of the ourth 9ee+ of 'ent

Isaah (5: 1#-21; $ohn 4: 4!-54

1ast month, ! attended a brea%out group at the 4atholic Social ;inistry Gathering. 'e began to

discuss news of the terrible suffering that was filling the nightly news over the last month+ !S!1

had @ust carried out one of its most horrific attac%s: the #bola disease was continuing to destroy

families and communities by the hundreds of thousands in 'est (frica: and in our own country,

a divided, partisan 4ongress showed little sign of being able to accomplish anything in the way

of immigration reform, peace building in the ;iddle #ast, or increased foreign aid for those

living in destitution across the world. #xasperated by such stories of pain and suffering, one

participant as%ed the meeting facilitator, 'hat can we really accomplish in the face of such

suffering=0

(nd !’ll never forget what happened next. ( participant who had been silent until this point

arose, and in an impassioned voice, said, (s bad as things seem, remember, as 4hristians, we

are a people of hope. God is on the move, redeeming and healing the world this very moment.0

!t was such a simple theological statement, but in that context, in that room, his words were truly

prophetic. (nd suddenly the whole tone of the meeting changed+ we were reminded that God is

at wor% bringing about a %ingdom of @ustice and peace, and that we each had a part to play in

that.

! have to imagine that the prophet !saiah was doing something similar in our $irst "eading today,

inserting hope into a situation of despair. 2iblical scholars suggest that this passage from !saiah

was written after the destruction of erusalem when the nation of !srael was in exile. Things

must have loo%ed pretty blea% to the people of !srael+ their temple was destroyed, their

promised land0 was ta%en from them, and they felt utterly abandoned by their God. The people

hearing !saiah’s proclamation probably felt the same way that our group did at the 4atholic

Social ;inistry Gathering. (nd against this bac% drop of such sorrow and suffering, !saiah

actually ma%es what might have seemed li%e an absurd exhortation. &e tells these despairing

people to shout for @oy and be glad forever0 )!saiah JE+ H-9 'hy= 2ecause, he announces, God

is creating a new earth0 )!saiah JE+ O- where there will be no more weeping, no more

premature death )!saiah JE+ 78>?-.

Kur Gospel today suggests a similar setting of sorrow and suffering, a child sic% with an

incurable disease and a father pleading for help before his son dies. (nd @ust li%e !saiah, esus

brings unexpected hope into a seemingly hopeless situation by saying, /our son will live )ohn

6+ E*-0: instantly, the boy is healed.



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Today’s readings remind us that 4hrist is indeed on the move, bringing hope to places of

suffering and desolation. !saiah is not @ust offering us some eschatological promise for the

distant future. God is bringing about this new earth, no, through us. (s people of faith, as

people committed to @ustice, we %now that God wor%s by empoerin" !s to bring about &is hope

and healing. (nd ! believe we can see God at wor% every day in our parishes and agencies if we

%now where to loo%: at my agency, 4atholic 4harities of Tennessee, ! see families who were

homeless settling into their first home, hungry children now regularly being fed nourishing meals

)see !saiah JE+>-, seniors finding the support they need to live vibrant, healthy lives )see !saiah

JE+ >?-. $or those with eyes to see, !saiah’s new earth0 is already beginning to come into being

through our wor% for peace and @ustice.

1ent is certainly a time of fasting and repentance, but it is also a time of great hope. God is on

the move, empowering God’s children to heal the world, to raise the dead to new life.

or reflecton:

- Buring this 1ent, how have you experienced God calling you to bring hope and healing to

those who are hurting= &ow might you act on such a call=>- 'here do you see signs of !saiah’s new earth0 coming into existence in the midst of

desperation and suffering=

4ollen ;ayer is the Birector of Social Services for 4atholic 4harities of Tennessee. &e also

serves on the national 2oard of Birectors of ust$aith ;inistries and serves as a consultant on the

LS442’s Salt and 1ight 4ommittee.

March 15, 2015ourth Sunday of 'ent Second Scrutny for the *lectD

I Sa&uel 1(: 1", (-#, 10-1!a; *phesans 5: )-14; $ohn %: 1-41

I came into this orld for /!d"ment, so that those ho do not see mi"ht see, and those ho do

see mi"ht (ecome (lind )ohn 7+ *7-2.

Kne of the true blessings of 1ent is that the 4hurch helps us to set aside time to reflect on what itmeans to be a disciple of esus and a child of God. Today, on the $ourth Sunday of 1ent, theSecond Scrutiny for 4atechumens, we focus on what it means to see0 as God does, and what itmeans to see or recognize esus as the 1ight of life. !n the Gospel story today, the man born

blind who can now see is able to see0 esus for who he is, while others are so caught up in theminutia of the law that they can’t recognize the wor% of God right in front of them.

1ast 1ent, our pastor as%ed our parish community to see and be0 blessing in the world. #achday we were to find one blessing that we received and one way in which we could be a blessingto someone around us. The activity wasn’t intended to be a pious focus on counting your blessings,0 but rather an invitation to see how God is wor%ing in the world around us all the time,

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while also allowing God to wor% through us, to allow ourselves to be God’s light in the world.

$or reflection+

. (m ! ta%ing time this 1ent to see God’s light in the world=

>. (t other points in the Gospels, esus instructs his disciples to be light for the world. &owam ! doing that for those ! encounter in my daily life88wor%, home, church, and other venues=

*. Bo ! recognize the light of esus in people ! encounter, especially those who ma%e it mostdifficult= Kr, am ! li%e the Pharisees, focused on all of the unimportant details )li%e the sin of theman born blind and the sin of wor%ing on the Sabbath- and completely unable to see the wor% ofGod=

Teresa IolanteParish Partners Program ;anager, 4atholic 4harities of the (rchdiocese of 'ashington

March 14, 2015

Saturday of the 8hrd 9ee+ of 'ent

osea (: 1-(; 'u+e 1): %-14

Lord, please hear my plea2 I am (!t a loly servant strivin" to ac$noled"e yo! and do yo!r

ill daily2 Many times I have fallen short, (!t yo! have shon me mercy2 )ften my heart has(een f!ll of o!nds that I tho!"ht co!ld not (e healed, (!t thro!"h it all, I tr!st that I honor yo!

daily thro!"h my "ood or$s2 = Sheena L2 Cres

!n light of today’s $irst "eading, it was not surprising that the 3uote above reflects my truefeelings. (s a servant of the 1ord esus 4hrist, ! am in constant battle with the 3uestion, 'hy is

the 1ord allowing this to happen to me=0

Today is ;arch 6th, which falls during the Third 'ee% of the 1enten season. ! cannot help butreflect on what would have been the >*rd birthday of my cousin who was gunned down in ovember of >?6. ! do not believe in chance, but rather that God had a purpose in mind for meto reflect on today’s scripture.

'hen ! learned of my cousin’s passing, ! was unable to spea% or move. ! remember saying,1ord my God, this cannot be real90 ;y heart was flooded with emotions as the tears began to burst from my face. She was my heart and our bond was 4hrist9 (s the tears continued to flow, !could not understand how this wound could be healed. ! could not believe the 1ord felt that ! was

strong enough to handle such a blow to my heartN! was disappointed in God.

/et as time went on, ! felt the presence of the 1ord surrounding me. &ealing began, and !, thedaughter of a Beacon and the niece of a 2ishop, felt ashamed of the feelings of disbelief ! hadduring a time when ! needed the 1ord the most. &ow could ! 3uestion &is will= 2ut as thereading tells us, 4ome, let us return to the 1ord, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us )&oseaJ+ -M.0. 'ithout a doubt, my heart had been bro%en and even through my disbelief, the 1ord



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managed to dry my tears and cleanse and mend my wounds. 2ecause of this, ! am able to standand bring honor to his name.

!t is my prayer that this 1enten season will be a time of growth and healing for all of us.

$or reflection+

. $or what personal loss might we see% healing=

>. &ow might we become more attuned to God’s loving desire to bind this wound=

Sheena 1efaye 4rewsSr. 4reative Birector, 4atholic 4harities LS(

March 1!, 2015

rday of the 8hrd 9ee+ of 'ent

osea 14: 2-10; Mar+ 12: 2)-!4

Perhaps at times we too act li%e the teacher of the 1aw and feel the need to reach out. 1ord, !am overwhelmed with all those who need my help < immigrants and unaccompanied minors,violence across our scorched earth, human slavery, the hungry and homeless, our creationdecimated by those responsible to care for it, billions of brothers and sisters short changed bytheir own %in. ! can’t deal with it all9 1ocally, !’m swamped with too many customers for mylimited resources. 1ord, which challenge do you want me to pursue=0

To better appreciate today’s scripture story, it might be helpful to go bac% a little in ;ar%’sGospel. !n the prior chapter, esus triumphantly rode into erusalem. The people welcomed himwith palms and open arms. 'hen he went into the Temple and saw what was happening in God’shouse, he angrily drove out the merchants and money changers.

The chief priests and teachers of the 1aw heard of this and became fearful. They saw how positively the people had responded to esus. Fnowing this was esus from azareth, thecarpenter’s son, and that nothing good could come from azareth, they boldly confronted him,2y what authority do you act li%e this );atthew + >H-=0 esus responded with his own3uestion about ohn the 2aptist. The high priests realized that esus had trapped them, so theytold him they could not respond. esus retorted, either will ! tell what authority ! have to act as! do );ar% + >7-.0

The chief priests continued their attac%s on esus. Their next step was to send the Pharisees totest him. 'hen that was found lac%ing, the Sadducees were lined up to trap esus. This toofailed. ( teacher of the 1aw who had been listening to these discussions by his peers, admiredhow esus held his own. 4ourageously, ignoring his fellow priests, he approached the 1ord withsincerity and as%ed him, 'hich commandment is first of all );atthew + >H-=0

(s today’s Gospel passage portrays, esus was tested many times. !f we follow esus, can weexpect to be treated any differently= 'e have been blessed by his call. 'e need to remindourselves that &e is always with us. &e has blessed each of us special gifts. &e has given us the



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mind to understand, and the strength to prevail. Kur hearts enable us to see what is not visible toour eyes. 'e should be confident that we are prepared to meet the challenges put in front of us because we are not alone. 'e %now that God is with us.

Saint Teresa of (vila tells us, Kur 1ord does not care so much for the importance of our wor%s

as for the love with which they are done.0 ! thin% it is essential that we remember that God isn’texpecting us to do it all by ourselves. &e is in charge. Kur response is simply, &ere ! am 1ord, !am here to do your will.0

$or reflection+

. &ave you tried theologian, Br. &oward Thurman’s approach to the dilemma of decidingwhich challenge to confront= +s$ yo!rself hat ma$es yo! come alive and do that, (eca!se theorld needs people ho come alive2.

>. 'hen we feel overwhelmed or severely challenged, we might want to consider the wisdom of obel Peace prize winner, Iaclav &avel+ Hope is not the same as /oy hen thin"s are "oin"ell, or illin"ness to invest in enterprises that are o(vio!sly headed for s!ccess, (!t rather toor$ for somethin" to s!cceed2 Hope is definitely not the same as optimism2 It is not the

conviction that somethin" ill t!rn o!t ell, (!t the certainty that somethin" ma$es sense,

re"ardless of ho it t!rns o!t2.

*. Thomas ;erton expresses his thoughts in a similar manner+ #o not depend on the hope ofres!lts2 4hen yo! are doin" the sort of or$ yo! have ta$en on, essentially an apostolic or$,

yo! may have to meet the fact that yo!r or$ ill (e apparently orthless and achieve no res!ltat all, if not res!lts opposite to hat yo! e0pect2 +s yo! "et !sed to this idea, yo! start more and

more to concentrate not on the res!lts (!t on the val!e, the ri"htness, the tr!th of the or$

itself2.

Stan $itzgerald;ember of the 44LS( Parish Social ;inistry Section: St. $rancis of (ssisi Parish )San ose,4alif.-

March 12, 2015

8hursday of the 8hrd 9ee+ of 'ent

$ere&ah #: 2!-2); 'u+e 11: 14-2!

&arden not your hearts

! donUt %now how the weather has been where you are, but here in (ustin, Texas, the weather has been blea%. 4old, dar%, rainy and foggy.

!n reflecting on todayUs readings, ! thin% this is how our minds and our lives seem when we havehardened our heart against our God. Sometimes we donUt even realize we have hardened ourhearts until we loo% up and see how blea% the weather around us really is.



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but not our inherent need to connect and share our stories with others. /ou might even say it’ssomething that God built into our ve

2015 Lent and Easter Easter season reflections

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