Visitation Lenten Reflections

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 f...

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15  Sipping coffee, peeking at the wet blanket of snow through my blinds, I am filled with words. My mind fumbles wondering the feeling of the upper room that Passover night. I can only equate it to when a loved one is dying and all gather at some sacred place surrounded by family and friends sharing a meal. Mindful it is probably the last time to capture yet one more memory or another layer of love. Feelings of anticipatory grief, melancholy, laughter, spilled out and shared through story and humor. Were these the feelings echoed in the walls of the upper room?  Most of us by the time we are in our middle years have had the opportunity to journey with someone we love with many varieties of caregiving. I think of this part of life as the ‘washing of feet’. We model Christ and begin a journey with our parents or loved one when it is time to take them to the doctor, change their sheets, listen to their worries, hold their han...

Isaiah 50:4-9a Matthew 26:14-25  In today’s readings, we are given stories of two people, one who would stick by the Lord no matter what and one who is willing to betray the Lord for material items. In Isaiah 50:4-9A, he speaks of how he will never rebel against God nor will he betray him; but in Matthew 26:14-25, Judas looks to hand over Jesus to the chief priests for silver. As we near the end of Holy Week and prepare for the Passion of Christ and his Resurrection three days later, it is easy to focus on the material things that we may have given up for Lent. It is easy to want to give up as the long forty days of Lent are coming to an end.  However, as much as we may want to go back to our material things or our other ways of life, today’s readings remind us to aspire to be like Isaiah, not turning our back on Christ. They remind us that what Jesus endured after Judas’s betrayal was horrible, but he did it to give us eternal life. We must appreciate what Jesus did for us, r...

Isaiah 49:1-6 John 13:21-33, 36-38  Today’s readings remind me of all that is hidden from us. And how much we are hidden from ourselves.  In Isaiah, the servant says, “I thought that I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly spent my strength.” Like we all do, the servant at one time felt that he was bereft of and hidden from God. Then, the servant declares that now he is a sharp-edged sword concealed in the shadow of His arm and a polished arrow hidden in His quiver. He has transformed from believing himself hidden from God to knowing that he is being hidden by God to be used to show his glory.  When I sit in Church, I marvel at your faces for I see you as hidden arrows and concealed swords to “make a light to the nations.” I wonder that you may not know, for I doubt it in myself, the extraordinary strength that you give to those around you. By your example of simply showing up, God makes you a rock of refuge, a stronghold of safety. Your presence in that space, e...

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 famil...

Matthew 21:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14 - 27:66  Palm Sunday always begins with an account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for the last time. Although much of his ministry seems to take place in the towns surrounding Jerusalem – in Bethany and Jericho, Capernaum and Magdala, Zephora and Samaria, and along the shores of the Galilean Sea - since Jesus was a child (Lk. 2:41ff ) he has traveled to the City on a Hill for the great feast days of his faith.  In preparation for this reflection, I’ve been meditating on this well-known scene of Jesus entering the Holy City on a donkey, welcomed with praise from the crowds, palms waving in the air. I close my eyes and hear the sound of Mariam’s tambourine and songs to Hosanna in the Highest. I feel bodies pressing up against me; all of us in this together, all of us here to see Jesus. I recall a School of Religion lesson by parishioner Phil Major where he compared Jesus’ entry to how a Roman military hero would have...

Ezekiel 37:21-28 John 11:45-56  In both the first reading and the Gospel today, the underlying theme I see is the struggle for power and the sides of that power that separate us. Through the prophet Ezekiel God is wanting to gather his people so they are not divided into two kingdoms. I would be remiss if I did not point out that obvious struggle that is still present in our society today. Republican, Democrat, right, left, gay, straight, black, white, rich, poor…it seems we are more divided than we have ever been.  I don’t know about you, but I crave peace in my own life. I do my best to listen to the other point of view and befriend those who have a different view than me. I don’t always succeed but I think God gives us grace for trying. Ultimately, he wants all people to share in his covenant of peace.  In the Gospel reading, the same struggle for power continues. The people in power were fearful of losing that power. They decided they were going to kill Jesus. In doin...

Jeremiah 20:10-13 John 10:31-42  In today’s Gospel, we are shown a very powerful message that what we do in representation of the Lord, or other faithful acts, is more impactful than speaking about it. Our parish exhibits this same message, that actions speak louder than words. At Visitation, not only do we encourage others to help in the community, we do more tangible actions like making care bags for the homeless and sponsoring Morning Glory Ministries. It is not enough to say that you are a philanthropist or a hardworking person. It is important to do the actions that truly embody those ideals.  To be honest, sometimes I wonder if this message even means anything because, “doesn’t just saying thank you do the same thing as paying a kind act forward?” As time has gone on I have been able to unlock a deeper meaning to this message. Sure, sometimes it is okay to just say “thank you,” but maybe the scenario calls for something more. This could be holding the door for the next p...

Genesis 17:3-9 John 8:51-59  In the first reading Abraham (formerly Abram) was made “father of a host of nations” for maintaining God’s covenant. In return God asked that Abraham’s descendants keep their covenant throughout all the ages. Now, as a ‘Type A’ person I struggle with this deeply, as I want to be 100% in control of my narrative, and think I know what is best for me. After years of struggling with grief and loss I hated to hear “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” I felt my life was out of control, but I eventually learned it was just out of MY control. I needed to surrender myself to God and uphold my covenant to him. Now this requires patience, and I can assure you that is a virtue I have yet to master. If we remain patient and faithful to our covenant with God, we too will continue to receive God’s unconditional blessings and he will deliver gifts beyond our wildest dreams…it may just be on a different timeline than we originally planned.  As Jesus promi...

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 John 8:31-42  This Gospel passage begins with Jesus promising those who already believed in him that if they “remain in my word… [they] will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” The believers and would-be disciples seem to take offense at the suggestion that they are not already “free” because they are descendants (sons) of Abraham. Jesus explains further, “everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” I think Jesus wants them to accept that we are all slaves of sin and no person, whatever your religion or background, is immune. Jesus is challenging those who already believe in him that “belief,” even belief that is handed down to them for generations, is not enough to set them free from sin.  I confess that until recently my life was mostly “semi-secular” in belief and practice. I believed in God, but never understood how sacrificing his Son Jesus was an act of love so that we may be forgiven for our sins. However, after my own son Matthew...

Numbers 21:4-9 John 8:21-30 The first reading from the Book of Numbers takes us to the Israelites, who amid a long and difficult journey through the desert with no end in sight, begin to complain and lose faith in Moses and God. “But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!’” Upon reflecting on this reading, I immediately think about my relationship with God during the “long and difficult journeys” in life. When my life is going well, it is generally easy to be faithful and practice gratitude for all God has given me. However, it is during the difficult times, when my patience is worn thin, that it is easy to lose faith and complain against God, just as the Israelites did in the desert. It is easy to question God and place blame on Him for these hardships.  It is during these difficult journeys that...

Daniel 13:41c-62 John 8:12-20 In today’s readings we witness God’s abundant mercy. In the first reading from the book of Daniel, a falsely accused woman turns to God for help to be spared from being condemned to death. In John’s Gospel, we hear the story of the Pharisees bringing an adulteress before Jesus to validate their right to stone her. In both stories, our Lord responds with mercy and love coming to their aid, saving the women from being put to death, despite their guilt or innocence. One of the lessons I take away is that just as the women rushed to God’s aid, I too should run to God, especially in times of trouble or need. There will be times in our lives when we identify with the  feelings the characters in these passages feel: fear, shame, guilt, humility. God has the ability to soothe hearts with His forgiveness and soften hearts with His wisdom. He responds with compassion and love. Our Lord is so gracious. I should also reflect on my actions. When have I chosen sin? ...

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 tha...

Isaiah 7:10-14: 8:10 Hebrews 10:4-10 Luke 1:26-38 Asking God for a Sign So often we find ourselves deeper in prayer and reflection in a time of need. And so, often we find ourselves too busy to stop and do anything, let alone pray, thank God for his many blessings, listen to God talking to us, and yes, ask God for a sign when we need it. These readings and the messages they are telling us are a great reminder to find that closeness to God, and to make prayer, receiving Jesus in Communion and spending time listening and hearing what God is calling us to do – a priority in our lives. In the Annunciation of the Lord, Gabriel came to Mary and told her she was to carry the son of God. While this was a very clear sign, I feel we often miss the signs God is trying to convey to us. Maybe we are not wanting to hear what God is telling us, or we’re too busy to listen, or we don’t spend enough time in prayer and reflection to know when God is actually speaking to us? Lent is a wonderful time in o...

Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22 John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Sometimes I fi nd myself thinking the same way as the people described in Wisdom. This faith that I profess is obnoxious! There are so many rules! It’s tough! It’s a hardship for me! The ways of the just, of Jesus, are too different from mine! At which point I’m faced with a decision: settle for my comfortable, well-planned, and easy life, or take strides toward Heaven. Why do our lives seem so contradictory to the ways of the Saints? I suppose it’s a simple yet difficult truth. The devil, or wicked, wants us to fix our eyes and hearts solely on this earth, this life. He wants us to put all stock in the here and now. So, we race after the pleasure, money, power, prestige like it’s going to give us everything we want. No wonder our lives can seem vastly different than that of Jesus. God never created us to continuously dwell on this earth, though. He intends for us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. How can we look forward to, or even make str...

Exodus 32:7-14 John 5:31-47 The year 2020 was a tumultuous year for our family. Over the course of my journey, I felt tremendous shame for my past words and actions. For months, I punished myself and felt unworthy of forgiveness- people’s or God’s. Through prayer and meditation, I discovered that my unwillingness to forgive myself was selfish. In a way, I was playing God. If God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, could deliver me from personal ruin and forgive me, then what was blocking me from forgiving myself? The answers were self-will and a lack of faith. Although I still struggle with grace at times, God’s love allows me to embrace progress instead of perfection. In Exodus 32:7-14, God demonstrates His own progress. The Israelites violate a commandment and anger God. God reacts instead of responding. He is passionate about “Moses’ people” and demands punishment. He wants the Israelites to pay for their sins. Moses, undeterred by God’s anger, reasons with God. Moses appeals to God’s...

Isaiah 49:8-15 John 5:17-30 The season of Lent can be difficult at times, don’t you think? We read scripture each week about a story where we know the ending, the pain and suffering to come of our Savior and the need to understand it in our own lives for our own salvation. Important stuff! However, I find today’s readings from Isaiah and John to be especially helpful in my own life. Each day for us brings new challenges. How can we expect to make this journey on our own? Isaiah reminds us of the words and promise of our Lord, “In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you.” Isaiah continues, “To those in darkness: Show yourselves!” I like the image of being the people of the light, doing all that we can with the blessings our Lord has provided. Each day is not just about what I can do, it is what I can do with and for God. Even Jesus says, “I cannot do anything on my own.” My desire this Lent is to continue to seek understanding, to embrace humility, and ask for G...

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 John 5:1-16 Today’s Gospel is a story not only of healing but also a glimpse into Jesus establishing His authority. He was in Jerusalem for a Jewish feast when he performed a healing on the Sabbath and then instructed the healed paralytic to take up his mat and walk. Scripture reveals that Jesus’ actions were controversial for many of the Jews in the crowd. With confidence in his authority, Jesus demonstrated a new way of defining what is truly important according to God’s Law. I was struck by a couple of aspects in this reading. Firstly, in the Gospel of John it was Jesus who instigated the contact with the paralytic man. When Jesus saw him lying there he knew he had been ill for a long time. His question to the man was, “Do you want to be well?” Since the man didn’t know of Jesus, he didn’t answer that question. The man just told Him that he wanted help getting into the pool when the water stirred and then he would have a chance to be healed. He didn’t grasp what J...

2 Samuel 7:4-5a,12-14a,16 Romans 4:13,16-18,22 Matthew 1:16,18-21,24a Fr. Richard Saale presided at the funeral of my 88 year-old paternal grandfather, Gasperi. That was 45 years ago yet I remember well how Fr. Saale described him in his homily. It went something like this: “Men like Gasperi are the real heroes in this world. He was a respectful son and brother, a faithful husband and dutiful father. He kept the faith.” I was an adult but had never really thought about my grandfather as a person until I heard these words. I always felt closer to my grandma; she was more dynamic and fun. I was also named after her. Allow me to reminisce more on this Feast of St. Joseph since I share part of his name too.   From my earliest memories, St. Joseph was my favorite saint. I adopted him, or he, me, as my patron. I’ve thought about this a lot through the decades: what was it about Joseph, or the stories of him, that first drew me close? And what is it about St. Joseph that keeps me close? S...

1 Samuel 16:1b,6-7,10-13a Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 In today’s second reading we hear the words “you were once darkness, but now you are light in the lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” In our hurried life day to day, minute to minute, many times it is easy to forget to live as children of light. We easily succumb to the rapid dealings of our earthly mode, the seemingly endless tasks we burden ourselves with. We forget about the “Light” God has given us at every step and every encounter we maneuver throughout each day. Today we should “try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” We should try to give a smile to a stranger as we walk to our next destination. We can pleasantly return a greeting from all whom we interact with. If we slow our pace down, we can see the bright Light that God has bestowed upon us even if we feel our situation is challenging and sorrowful. We can ...