Sunday Reading Reflections:

March 28, 2010
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Reading 1 Reflection:

Although the writer probably had Israel itself in mind, his inspired verses in this first reading give us a perfect Holy Week portrait of Christ. The Son of God has been prepared and sent by God to "rouse" the people.

When his teaching stirs up opposition, he does not fight back or run away. He does not give in or give up. No matter what happens to him, Jesus anchors himself in God and continues to trust.

Reading 2 Reflection:

Paul's hymn of praise gives us another Holy Week portrait of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Freely, Jesus chose to "bring himself down" to our human condition. Freely, he humbled himself to suffer persecution and death on a cross. Freely, he gave his life in one long and glorious prayer of obedience to God.

Gospel Reflection:

Today is called both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. Since the early centuries of the Church, Christians have carried palm branches in joyful processions on this day. We sing or shout, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" like the crowd that followed Jesus into Jerusalem at the beginning of what we now call Holy Week. This year we hear the passion account from Luke's Gospel. It tells a moving story of Jesus, who consoles the "good criminal" and forgives those who nailed him to the cross.

Sunday Reading Reflections:

March 21, 2010
Fifth Sunday of Lent

Reading 1 Reflection:

To stir up their hope about what God would do for them in the future, the Israelites often looked back to see what God had done for them in the past. The prophet helps them to do just that in today's reading.

He recalls their exodus from Egypt and how God provided for them in the desert. Then he says, "Look ahead!" In other words, whatever great deeds God had done in the past, God can always do something new and greater.

Reading 2 Reflection:

You have probably noticed that Paul often talks about himself and his own faith experiences in order to convince others to follow Christ. Today he recalls that he has given up everything to make room for Christ in his life.

He knows it isn't easy to do this. But in the end he will share in Christ's Resurrection. That is why Paul describes himself as a runner, pushing on toward the finish line.

Gospel Reflection:

Once again the scribes and Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus. They bring him a woman caught in the act of adultery. The Law of Moses requires that the adulteress should die. If Jesus does not agree, he will look like someone who does not respect the Law of Moses. To the Pharisees' amazement, Jesus at first ignores them.

Then he stops them in their tracks with an unexpected challenge: "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." One by one the judges and critics drop their stones and drift away. Now that they recognize their own need for forgiveness, they are not ready to condemn someone else. Neither does Jesus condemn the woman. He simply requires her to turn away from sin. Now she has a chance for a new beginning.

Sunday Reading Reflections:

March 14, 2010
Fourth Sunday of Lent

Reading 1 Reflection:

The Passover celebration described in today's reading is the first in the Promised Land. Because they have now settled in Canaan, the people no longer need the manna (the "bread from heaven") God has been providing on their journey through the desert. Their new homeland will produce all the food they need.

Reading 2 Reflection:

Paul enthusiastically describes how God has made all things new through Christ. He pictures each of us as an ambassador of peace sent by God to our own little corner of the world. To be effective ambassadors, we must first experience God's peace in our lives. One way we can do this is through the sacrament of Reconciliation, a sacrament of peace.

Gospel Reflection:

Religious people often criticized Jesus for eating and associating with sinners. But these people did not realize that everyone needs God's mercy and love. In today's gospel story, Jesus wants us to know what God's mercy is like. When anyone sins and is sorry for that sin, God rushes out at top speed to embrace that person. Even when we feel that we may be undeserving of God's love, Jesus tells us that God rejoices like the father in the gospel story.

Sunday Reading Reflections:

March 7, 2010
Third Sunday of Lent

Reading 1 Reflection:

What a dramatic scene the Book of Exodus depicts for us today! Moses, who had escaped from Egypt, is now a shepherd. He has been leading a simple life tending sheep. But all that changes in an instant when he encounters a burning bush at Mount Horeb. As he takes a closer look, he hears God calling him by name and instructing him to take off his sandals as a mark of respect for this holy place.

God assures Moses that the cries of the people in captivity have been heard. God will not only rescue the people but will lead them to the Promised Land. When Moses realizes that God wants him to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites, Moses says that the people will not believe him because he does not know God's name. Moses learns God's name. It is Yahweh, meaning "I am who am."

Reading 2 Reflection:

Paul's letter to the Christian community at Corinth is filled with advice about keeping the faith. In today's reading he reminds the people that they cannot take their new faith for granted. Faith means that we are called to conversion, to turn to God each day.

Lent is a season of penance, a time for conversion. Our challenge is to give evidence that we are truly followers of Christ. Pray together: Lord, teach us the meaning of conversion. Help us to live lives of service and love.

Gospel Reflection:

Sometimes when we see a terrible accident or hear about people who are being persecuted, we may think that such things will never happen to us. Some people in Jesus' time believed that those who suffered such tragedies and injustices were being punished because they were great sinners. Jesus sets them straight in today's gospel reading. He says that suffering comes from injustice in our world.