Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent - March 29, 2022

-

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12     John 5:1-16

It’s easy to focus on the negative. Somehow complaining about your day to a family member, spouse, or friend is almost more expected than talking about the positive parts.

That’s the first thing you notice in this Gospel story–the Pharisees’ reliance on the rule of law, or the negative element of the event. Jesus heals a man who had been ill for 38 (!) years. Jesus tells the man to pick up his mat and walk away, which he miraculously does. Later that day, which was the Sabbath, the Pharisees see the man walking, and they demand to know why he is breaking the law. The man tells them Jesus told him to, and the Pharisees use this as an excuse to begin to persecute Jesus.

Instead of focusing on the amazing fact that the man was healed, the Pharisees choose to look for the “wrong” or negative aspect. Jesus had literally performed a miracle. But all the Pharisees could see was that Jesus violated the “law.”

How often in our busy lives do we act like these Pharisees? I know I do. It’s easy to focus on the wrong things. We can always find something to get upset about, something that can bother us. As a lawyer, if opposing counsel is making my case miserable, I can bring that home with me. I’ll think about the case all night. I’m home, but I’m not present with my family.

When I do this, I’m a Pharisee. I’m so focused on the “law” that I’m missing the everyday miracles around me: my youngest child reading a new word flawlessly, my oldest child executing a perfect left turn while driving, or my middle child swishing a free throw. Letting yourself overthink the little wrong turns of the day rather than thinking about the right things is easy to do. But today, during Lent, and beyond, let’s ignore that Pharisee-like thinking, and instead, focus on seeing all the amazing miracles that are happening every day.

Q:  What amazing miracle did I witness today?


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