Monday of the Second Week of Lent - March 1, 2021

-

Daniel 9: 4-10 Luke 6:36-38

Today’s gospel passage couldn’t be more fitting for recent times. In the past couple of years we’ve experienced civil unrest, social injustices and a political divide that feels heavier than it has in decades. Throw a devastating pandemic on top of all that and you have CHAOS! Of course, these divisions stem way back to past generations, before we were even born. But I feel we are rising back to the surface now and it is a time for change. 

This time in history has tested me, my family, and so too with every single person I know on so many different levels. The fear it has triggered is palpable. The pain is excruciating for some. Earlier today I listened to a podcast with Brené Brown and Episcopalian Bishop Michael Curry on “Love and Hope in Troubling Times.” Something Brené said really stuck with me: “I think people in pain, cause pain. I think people who hurt, hurt people and we don’t know what to do with our pain.” In these times, the pain we feel can definitely be connected to our struggles. Through all of these struggles, it’s so easy to stray away from the strongest helper we have: God.

The prophet Daniel says, “ we have sinned, been wicked, done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws...we are shamefaced for having sinned against you.” Still, our Lord continues to be compassionate and forgiving. Is this all one massive reminder to live more Christ-like? Can we be more compassionate and forgiving with ourselves and others, whatever “side” they may be on? I think the true gift of pain and struggle is the ability to forgive ourselves, as God forgives us. And therefore move on.

Q: What pain or struggle in my life has led to personal growth? How has my pain and struggle helped me be more compassionate and forgiving to others in pain?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Monday of the First Week of Lent - March 11, 2019

-
Leviticus19:1-2, 11-18  Matthew 25:31-46 As I read my assignment for today, I felt relief. I knew these readings; I could relate to them. I had heard them multiple times and thought that I understood them well. The first reading from Leviticus tells me to love my neighbor as myself and to judge my neighbor justly. I know this! I believe this in my head! I often find it difficult to carry out, but I do believe it. Today’s gospel, Matthew 25, many of us know well through readings, songs, and social concerns committees, "Whatever you do for one of the least of …mine, you do to me." Feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; welcome the stranger; clothe the naked; comfort the sick; visit the prisoner. We try to do these things in our life. I decided to read our parish book, Stranger God by Richard Beck, to see how it could expand my understanding of Matthew 25 – and expand it did! After I read the book, I realized that I had been reading Matthew 25 literally.
Read more

Fifth Sunday of Lent - March 26, 2023

-
Isaiah 43:16-21 Philippians 3:8-14 John 8:1-11 Unfortunately, I am able to easily say that death is the most significant image that is present in my life at this time. My wife of 50+ years died approximately 2½ years ago. My wife was a seriously  committed Catholic and she was able to accept her death after an illness of less than 2 years. She said, “Jim, I am ready.” I think a lot about what “ready” means and what it meant to Kathy! Clearly, Kathy thought that she had accomplished a full life of being a mother to our children, being a loving and faithful wife to me, and being an active and meaningful friend to the people she met and the organizations she assisted and contributed to. She was at her best when assisting “others.” Probably the biggest contribution Kathy made to me and our children was that she has made it easy for us to face our own deaths because she was “at peace” with her imminent death; and yet she showed us a graceful way to handle the process and demonstrate that Je
Read more

Annunciation of the Lord - March 25, 2021

-
Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10 Psalm 40:7-8a,8b-9,10,11 Hebrews 10:4-10 Luke 1:26-38 In the Responsorial Psalm, I hear these words, “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will,” and I immediately begin to hum the song we hear so often during mass: “Here I am Lord, here I am, I come to do your will.“ As I begin each day at my kitchen table reading the daily scriptures, a reflective app on my phone, and the daily devotional Jesus Calling, I sit in joyful hope, waiting to hear what God has to say to me. Although I don’t believe I will ever hear the enormous call that our mother Mary heard in the Annunciation of our Lord, I do try every day to listen and hear what God is calling me to do as a humble daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend. I feel all are called according to God’s plan in small and large ways; the trick is recognizing the signs when God is calling us. It is easy to get lost in all the “have to-dos of the day” in our crazy busy world. Today, let us start by asking Him to guide us to re
Read more