Annunciation of Our Lord March 25, Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; Psalm 40:7-11; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38

Transcription

1 Annunciation of Our Lord March 25, 2010 Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; Psalm 40:7-11; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38 Reflection: Today s celebration, while recognizing Mary s cooperation and participation, focuses on the Father s long-range plan for the Redemption recorded in the Old Testament prophets and psalms, a New Testament letter, and the Infancy Narrative of Luke. Repeating certain readings from Advent s Fourth Sunday used in preparation for the birth of Jesus the Mystery of the Incarnation God made Man, this new covenant, replacing the old covenant, unfolds for us to see in these four steps. Isaiah: In the days of Ahaz, King of Judah, enemies went up to attack Jerusalem but were unable to conquer it. The House of David feared until Ahaz spoke of a sign the Lord himself will give: The Virgin shall be with child and bear a son and shall name him Immanuel. In Psalm 40, David shows gratitude for the help the Lord has given him. Sacrifices and holocausts were not asked; rather ears open to obedience were given. David answers: Behold I come; to do your will is my delight. Hebrew s letter further develops the plan of salvation: it is impossible for blood from animal sacrifices to take sins away. So, Jesus upon coming into the world, recognizes sacrifice and offering were not desired. Instead, a body has been prepared for him and he accepts, saying: I have come to do your will, O God. By this will, we have been sanctified: Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins: his own body and blood. The Lucan Gospel tells the familiar story: Gabriel appearing to Mary, informing her of her role in the divine plan to which Mary responds Let it be done to me. May our response to the will of the Father be like Mary s. Suggested Action: Pray daily to have ears to listen, hearts to hear, and the grace to say with Mary Let it be done to me. Sister Maryla Farfour, IHM Scranton, Pennsylvania

2 Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent March 26, 2010 Scripture: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 18:2-7; John 10:31-42 Reflection: I started to write, The theme of violence hits you in the face, and I realized how subconsciously our language has been affected by so much violence! Indeed, as I contemplated these three readings, violence was a predominant theme. Last evening, two helicopters roared overhead and we knew that probably something violent had happened. Everyday the news is filled with all kinds of violence. The readings, however, also contain one of our faith s pearls of great price, the rock we can always turn to in order to live in peace in the midst of violence. Each day, in prayer, we need to tap into this reservoir of grace to be a presence of peace wherever we are. Yahweh is at my side, says Jeremiah; the psalmist says, I take shelter in him, my rock... my stronghold and my refuge. In my distress I called to Yahweh and to my God I cried... He heard my voice. Even in the Gospel we read of the Jews fetching stones to throw at Jesus more violence! Jesus seems rather calm as he talks them down, saying that if they believe in the works he is doing, they will know for sure that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father. Now that s a great promise to us, too, of course. What are the works God is doing in your life right now? Are you sure about God s presence and care? Look around, pay attention. All around us the kingdom is coming. Suggested Action: Today, pay attention. See the kingdom coming. In whatever form it takes, meet the violence of the day. Lord Jesus, give me Your peace. Sister Ancilla Maloney, IHM New York, New York

3 Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent March 27, 2010 Scripture: Ezekiel 37:21-28; Jeremiah 31:13; John 11:45-56 Reflection: In reflecting on these readings, I could not help but be struck by the infinite, enduring love of our God and the magnificent measures God takes throughout all of our history to convince us of that love. No matter how bad our sins and failures; no matter how miserable the life we have sown by our pride, selfishness, greed, lust and whatever other evils we can do, God is reaching out with forgiveness and the opportunity to return to God s love and the joy and peace of that place. In John 11, we see a loving and merciful God reflected by Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead even though this incident becomes reason for the Sanhedrin to decide that for the good of the nation, Jesus must die. Jesus, the human reflection of God, is willing to give his life for the people. It is amazing that God can be so patient and so loving with people who so often do not give him a second thought or, who deliberately go against the things God asks us to do. God does expect us to respond to the goodness and love held out to us with love, respect, and a sincere effort to follow the laws and precepts given us. Over and over again when the people went astray, they found themselves in sad and tragic situations. God waits for us to realize that only by returning to God will we find the true peace and joy that is offered us. Simply, God wants to be the center of our lives. That was made perfectly clear in the first commandment! The sad thing is that people never seem to learn. We can point out so many situations in our world today that would not be if we listened to the Word of God. Suggested Action: Today, find one thing in your life that needs to be changed to put God in the center of your life and concentrate on doing something about it. Sister Teresa Raftery, IHM Manhasset, New York

4 Palm Sunday March 28, 2010 Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23; 56 Reflection: Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat. Lk 22:31 Photos of baptisms abound in signs and symbols of innocence. There are clean candles, pure water, mild oil, and white garments. Despite the fact that the neophyte has been signed with the cross, no one thinks of the sacrament as the gateway to assault and battery. Vocation advertisements, similarly, show radiant, peace-filled sisters loving one another s company and doing kindly deeds. No one would suspect that these women might also be faced with trial, doubt, and thwarted efforts. Yet the following of Christ, to which all of us have been called by baptism and by vows, entails a mix of beatific moments and waking nightmares. As Simon Peter was warned by Jesus, so we can expect to be sifted like wheat. It s what happens when God and the good strain forward in a broken world. All of our lives will be touched by misunderstanding, loss, and pain. Isaiah of the flintface acknowledged it. The psalmist sang of the spitting-on that can accompany commitment. Paul knew self-emptying. Jesus recognized betrayal as the price of righteousness and truth. It should be no surprise, then, that we who are on the way should encounter struggles and failures. The good news, though, is that the end has already been set: the banquet table and the wide embrace of God s reign. The promise of the passion and Holy Week is that our going forth steadfastly for the sake of shalom will return our smiles, our innocence, our blessed assurance. As Jesus pledged, it s a dominion which has already been assigned to us. Suggested Action: Some time this week express gratitude or reach out to someone who has caused me discomfort and grief. Sister Pamela Smith, SSCM Bluffton, South Carolina

5 Monday of Holy Week March 29, 2010 Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14; John 12:1-11 Reflection: Sometimes grief makes a person do crazy things. After all, in today s Gospel, Mary s anointing of Jesus follows the story of her brother, Lazarus, being raised from the dead. How did Mary react to that roller coaster of emotions, hurtling from inconsolable grief and a feeling of utter abandonment by Jesus to this unbelievable turnaround: Lazarus, bewildered but alive, stumbling out of his grave into the embrace of his equally stunned sisters? Was that experience the catalyst a few days later for Mary s act of seeming madness, this wasteful anointing? Some might draw that conclusion as they watched this woman enter the banquet room where Jesus was being honored and pour a pound of costly ointment over his feet. Others might think, as the scent of the nard perfumed the air, that Mary s gesture evidenced a gratitude that was extravagant, symbolic, and more telling than mere words. Still others might compare the madness of this woman, Mary, to the actions of another woman the widow placing her last two coins in the Temple treasury, giving all that she had to live on. Madness, or largeness of heart? Perhaps this anointing was the only way Mary knew to show Jesus how profoundly grateful she was for the life once taken away and now returned to her. It was all she could do, and it was everything. Suggested Action: Surprise someone today or surprise yourself with an extravagant and loving gesture of gratitude. Sister Christine Koellhoffer, IHM Island Park, New York