Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent - March 16, 2021

-

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 John 5:1-16

In Ezekiel, the Temple of the Lord is the source of water and water is the source of all Life. From a trickle the water turns into a stream and then into a river. The water brings Life everywhere it goes and becomes stronger as it expands outward.

Life comes from God, and in the absence of God, there is no life, only death and despair. We may not immediately see death in the absence of God, just like a person in the desert does not immediately become thirsty. But with time, the absence of God in our lives will bring death – like a person dying of thirst in the desert.

So, what does God make the source of the water in today’s first reading? It comes from his Temple (as a trickle) and fl ows out through his Believers (becoming a mighty river.) Without the Temple and without his Believers, the water cannot spread and carry the power of Life with it.

This is why going to Mass is a weekly obligation, and not an individual choice. Going to Mass isn’t a self-help exercise, it is how God waters his creation with Life and protects His creation from the forces of evil and death. God “needs” his people to go Mass, take the Eucharist and spread out across the world like water giving His Life.

Again, in the Gospel of John, water is the source of Life in the healing Pool of Bethesda. Jesus finds a lame man unable to reach the pool before the crowd, so Jesus heals him. Jesus shows that it is He that bestows the water with its life-giving power. It is Jesus that gives the Church and its people the Gift of Life.

What does this mean for me? God gave me His Church and Holy Mass to receive the gift of Life from Him and sends that Life flowing across this world. He is the ultimate source of Life.

Q: Do you feel obligated to participate in Mass every Sunday (virtual or otherwise during covid)? What is the source of your obligation?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Passion of the Lord (Good Friday) - April 7, 2023

-
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1—19:42  Every morning when I go to Mass and the Priest asks for our intentions for the day, my response is for “wisdom, courage, comfort and trust.” Wisdom to fi gure out the answer, the courage to carry it out, and the comfort that it is the best solution and the trust to know God is guiding us in the best way. When I read the Psalms for today, I was taken back by David’s trust in the Lord to guide him and keep him safe. “In you, Lord, I take refuge”  A good friend coined this prayer when I was helping my parents navigate through my brother’s cancer. He passed away, but I continue to take comfort in those words and try daily to TRUST. Many people have commented on how they appreciate that petition so I continue to pray it.  There are big things and little things that come into our lives that require us to trust as David did. Some things are as small as smiling at the person at the traffic light or as big as standing up for another’s r
Read more

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

Monday of Holy Week - April 3, 2023

-
Isaiah 42:1-7 John 12:1-11  One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be more mindful about how I spend my time. When we started having kids, everyone was always telling us, “enjoy it while it lasts because they grow up so fast!” I’d look at my tiny baby and think, yeah okay, we’ve got a long way to go. Fast forward 6 years, we have a kindergartener, and I am constantly asking myself, “where did the time go!?!?”  This Gospel is a reminder to me that I need to take advantage of every moment just as Mary decided to take advantage of that special moment with Jesus when she anointed his feet. It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life and fi nd ourselves just going through the motions without putting much thought into the importance of our actions. When I am at church, am I really present? I often fi nd that my focus is on how my children are behaving and if they are disturbing the people around us. When I am at home, am I making the most of my time with my family? Sadly,
Read more