Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer

Gospel John 8:21-20 Jesus said to the Pharisees: "I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come." So the Jews said, "He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, 'Where I am going you cannot come'?" He said to them, "You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins." So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world." They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. So Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him." Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him. Reflection Jesus asked his listeners where they belong. And it's a very important question for us. Where do we belong? The world above is a world of truth, beauty, love and forgiveness. The world below is filled with lies. Division. Discord. It's clear that Jesus is saying, that's a choice. One brings life. One brings death. So as Jesus is about to end his ministry, he's saying, Please, please choose me. Choose my message. Choose the life that was destined for you. The Closing prayer Father, awaken us. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear and a mouth to speak truth, love and hope. The world is longing for these gifts. Make us instruments to bring them to the people that we love that are close to us. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel John 8:1-11 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,  and all the people started coming to him,  and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman  who had been caught in adultery  and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught  in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin  be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” Reflection I love the body language of Jesus in this story. When confronted with the law that was without mercy, and Jesus being addressed about this problem, he acts as if he's not interested. So he sort of stoops down and just is distracting himself by writing something on the ground. What is he saying? He's trying to remind all of us that in his teaching we are freed of our sin and there's nothing a sin can ever do to separate us from the love of God. We do that kind of separation. He never leaves us because of our sins. He knows we are going to be sinners. That's how he created us. And what I love in this story is the way he reminds those who were so rigidly caught in the law thinking as long as they did what they were told, they weren't actually ever sinning. They knew they were sinners. And those who create an unbelievable burden on all of us to not sin are always guilty of a sin. The sin of the absence of compassion and understanding. Closing Prayer Father, we need your compassion, your understanding. And I know we talk a lot about being forgiving to other people, but nothing is more important than looking in a mirror and forgiving ourselves for everything we feel that we have never been able to accomplish or things that we've done that we're filled with shame and guilt about. Give us this freedom with the excessive concern about our faults, and let us focus on what you long to see in us an openness, a desire for you, a desire that is longing for your love. We need to give you permission to love us as we are as a sinner. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orginal Airdate: March 26, 2023 Ezekiel 37:12-14 | Romans 8:8-11 | John 11:1-45 By your help we beseech you, oh Lord our God.  May we walk eagerly in the same charity with which, out of love for the world, your Son handed himself over to death.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel John 7:40-53 Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, "This is truly the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not bring him?" The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." So the Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed." Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, "Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?" They answered and said to him, "You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." Then each went to his own house. Reflection Jesus still today creates division. Different faiths have different ways of seeing His way of life. People accept parts of him without accepting other parts of him. It's natural. We have our own little world, and I'm struck by the last words of this passage. Then they all went to their own house, their own tradition, their own way of seeing life. And house is also a beautiful image of the church. The church is a house for believers, believing in the one God with the one message of redemption that gives life to everyone. Let us work to create one house, one church, one belief in one great gift, God's presence within us. Closing Prayer Father, help us never to be caught up in judgment of others who think differently than ourselves. Let us simply seek your truth with the most open heart we can have, meaning that we long to be shown things that we don't yet know. It's clinging to the past that gets us in trouble. Give us the freedom to become something new. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, "Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from." So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, "You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come. Reflection Jesus is coming to the end of his public ministry and he realizes that there's little hope for these men to change their minds and open their hearts to him. And so, in a way, he screams out things to them. Such as you think you know me? You don't know me at all. And they say, No we know a messiah, we know about him and you're not him. So it's interesting that expectations that we have about who God is and how he works are so crucial to be in line with the truth. We want to know who this Jesus is and how he works in our life today. That's our task. That's the work of Lent. Closing Prayer Father, expectations of who you are is crucial for us in terms of being receptive of the great gift to your indwelling presence. Help us to let go of preconceived notions and make us open to the fullness of who you are. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. Reflection I often wonder how much Joseph and Mary knew who Jesus would be as he grew and proclaimed a new truth, a new awareness of God. I don't believe they did know the fullness of who He would be. And it reminds me so much that when we are dealing with him and asking him to guide our life, he's taking us step by step, not directly to the end and the purpose of our fullness of life, but rather each step is something that is one more step toward the fullness of who he wants us to be. Takes time, reflection, and wonder, and the imagination that somehow in each of our lives we have a goal to complete and we will never know fully the fullness of that until we're with God in heaven forever. Closing Prayer Father, you speak to us in so many ways through dreams, through other signs, through a person's experiences they share with us. Help us always to be eagerly listening to how you are revealing to us the role that we're asked to play in this world. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel John 5:17-30 Jesus answered the Jews: "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. "I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” Reflection When one thinks about the ways in which the Pharisees and scribes heard the message of Jesus. The message contained in this passage is easy to see that it was something they could not fathom. Jesus, a man saying that he is one with God the Father. In the tradition of the Old Testament, God could never get close to humans. Human could not get close to Gods because there was such distance between them. But in the New Testament we see the most marvelous revelation. God is like us. God is one who wants to be in us, with us, for us. This intimacy with God was considered to be blasphemous, and for many it remains kind of mute in their spiritual life because they can't quite fully grasp the fact that God truly dwells within our hearts. It is from there that He guides us. Yes, the stories of Scripture are important, and the works of the church are so important, but nothing is more potent than God living within your heart, guiding you, directing you, enabling you to judge with compassion, understanding, and to find peace. Closing Prayer Father, indwelling presence is everything for us as we listen attentively to the Kingdom of Heaven that God so beautifully describes in the words of Jesus. A place where we are filled with His capacity for love and forgiveness and understanding and healing. So keep us in touch with this great gift. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  John 5:1-16 There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk." Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat." He answered them, "The man who made me well told me, 'Take up your mat and walk.'" They asked him, "Who is the man who told you, 'Take it up and walk'?" The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, "Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you." The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath. Reflection It's fascinating to look at the different ways in which Jesus used his power to heal. Sometimes people begged him to do it. Sometimes someone touched him and he didn't even know that he was then healing them. And there's this story where this man just was simply asked, Would you like to be better? But you like to be healed? The man didn't ask him for that. So what I'm hearing in this is that there's this way in which this love that God has for you and me is so connected to the healing power that he had. It is not something that has to be earned or worked for as much as it's simply something that has to be believed in. Do you want God to heal you of things? Do you want to change? Do you want to let go of patterns of behavior that have been part of you, but you know somehow they're not healthy for you? That's all we need to have, giving him permission to do his work. Closing Prayer Father, during the season of Lent, give us that wisdom that we need to have in terms of reflection on things that we might be caught up in that we need to be released from. Help us always to put more trust in your work in us, than in our work trying to fix ourselves to be pleasing to you. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel John 4:43-54 At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast. Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. Now this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea. Reflection Jesus was used to people constantly looking at him, wondering who he was, and they wanted some kind of proof that he was who said he was. And it was tiring to Jesus to constantly prove before anyone would believe in him that he was who he said he was. What's different here is this man looked at Jesus and knew who he was, knew the power he had, believed he had it, and simply said, Please come before my child dies. And Jesus knew the difference in a moment. He was not asking for Jesus to prove who he was. He was simply asking Jesus to do what he came into the world to do. It's a beautiful way of understanding what belief and faith really is in Jesus. Closing Prayer Father, confidence. Confidence is you are in our life giving us all that we need. Enabling us to do the things we're called to do. Help us to be always conscious of this presence within us that will always accomplish what is necessary. It is not we who do your work, it is you who do your work through us. That's our confidence, always in you and in your presence. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Airdate: March 19, 2023 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a | Ephesians 5:8-14 | John 9:1-41 Oh God, who through your word reconcile the human race to yourself in a wonderful way, grant, we pray, that with prompt devotion and eager faith, the Christian people may hasten toward the solemn celebrations to come.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 18:9-14 Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Reflection I know you probably have people in your life like I do that seem to always be pointing out the negative, mostly in someone else. And there's something about a disposition of self-righteousness that does tend to be critical of everyone who isn't doing what they think they should be doing. It's usually a sign that they're really not content with what they are, or who they are. So bless us with an understanding of the human nature that we all share. So we will not focus so much on judgment, but understanding and forgiveness. Closing Prayer Father, free is from the spirit of criticism and condemnation. It sneaks into our vocabulary. We find ourselves often picking at other people, picking at situations, always pointing out what is wrong. Bless us with the release of that and let us look always toward that which is positive. Honoring those who do well, complimenting those who do well. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Mark 12:28-34 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions. Reflection It's clear in this passage that Jesus has a clear message as to what the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God is going to be like. It's a constant evolution of consciousness that moves people more and more into one single focus to love, to love God, to love who we are, to love our brothers and sisters, to love everything that God has created. Love is the most important thing because it is the one thing that brings the essence of the Kingdom of God together. It's called Union Communion. Oneness. That's what we long for. An end to the isolation, the fear, the anger, the shame that keeps us separated. Love unites us. Everything else tends to divide us. Closing Prayer Father, you give us a prayer that we are taught to recite over and over. It's the only time you taught us how to pray. And one of the key lines in it is we pray thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So bless us with knowing and also longing for this union and communion that love can bring to your kingdom and make it real for all of us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 11:14-23 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons." Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Reflection Jesus knew that the message that he was giving was difficult. And in this passage, he's speaking to the crowds and all he is pleading for is one simple thing. I want you to somehow trust me. I want you to join me, not be against me in this work that I have for you, which is to open your heart and mind to a truth you cannot yet see. So I love the way it ends when he's simply saying, If you are with me, then you're not in any way, shape, or form resisting me. Just trust in my words, trust that they're true, even though you can't yet fully understand them. You see that I have power over evil. That is all you need to be with me on. We together. Me and you have power over evil. Closing Prayer Father, your power is beyond our imagining, and what we long for is the ability to be a person who is engaged with you in all that you call us to do and to be. We know there is weaknesses with us, we know that we are prone to doing the wrong thing. But if we trust in your power within us, overcoming all those evil, dark places that are there, we will find the fullness of light. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 5:17-19 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” Reflection The Jews had developed along with to Ten Commandments another over 600 regulations and rules. Jesus is not talking about them. He's talking about the heart of the law and the heart of the message of the prophets. The law is to love God yourself and others, and the words of the Prophet were always the truth. So all he's saying is that the kingdom of Heaven is going to be based always in what is absolutely true. And when one lives more and more in the truth, one creates this beautiful thing called the Kingdom of Heaven. Closing Prayer Father, open our hearts to the fullness of who you are as a teacher, opening our hearts to the most fundamental truths that when we embrace them, understand them, obey them, we find this beautiful place that God has called us to, The Kingdom of Heaven, a place where there is peace and unity and joy. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  Matthew 18:21-35 Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.” Reflection In our relationship with God, it seems to me it all begins when you understand who He is and who he is for us. This God loves, cares for us. Longs for nothing more than we grow and change and evolve. That's his compassionate heart. And when one is not touched by that, if one does not feel that compassion, one cannot understand the demand from the gospel that we must always be people filled with forgiveness. This man that's in this story is not touched by the kindness of God. He doesn't feel that as a compassionate act, just as something that helped him out, that something that gave him more of what he wanted. He was totally wrapped up in himself. In his ego and what was good for him. So the first and most important thing for each of us is to understand the love that God has for us, and once we feel it, once we have it in our heart, we will always give it to others. Closing Prayer Father, you're the source of everything for us. You are the one who creates within us compassion, empathy, love, forgiveness. Help us to be open to this gift. Help us to know that without you, we can fall into the trap of being fully focused on ourself and whatever works for us. But we need your compassion in our hearts. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 4:24-30 Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. Reflection When the people of Nazareth realized that Jesus had a gift, he spoke with authority and they recognized him as the young boy that grew up in their midst, and he was even by many, considered to be illegitimate. So they didn't have any way of accepting the uniqueness that he displayed. And their response was anger, because he simply said, You aren't listening to me. It's interesting how anger can be a response to a criticism when we're afraid of what it's demanding of us. Jesus demands we change. And when we are seeing in Scripture ourselves being examples of what we shouldn't be, we need to receive it generously, and open hearted desiring to change. Closing Prayer Father, our daily lives are often filled with situations where we are criticizing ourselves or being criticized by others, and let us always have an open heart to that. Make sure that we listen to see if there's any truth in that criticism and not be like the people of Nazareth who became angry and attacked the one who brought the criticism to light. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Airdate: March 12, 2026 Exodus 17:3-7 | Romans 5:1-2,5-8 | John 4:5-42 O God, author of every mercy and of all goodness, who in fasting, prayer and almsgiving have shown us a remedy for sin, look graciously on this confession of our lowliness, that we, who are bowed down by our conscience, may always be lifted up by your mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them Jesus addressed this parable. "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."' So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'" Reflection I like focusing on the unhappy brother. Because he's so like the righteousness of so many of the people that Jesus was trying to reach. If you do what you're told, that's all that's required. But Jesus is coming into the world not for those people, but more for the sinner, for the younger son, for the one who sought life and wanted it more than anything else but made all the mistakes. And that's what we need to take to heart about this passage. God favors those who long to live and find life, and you can't do that without making mistakes. Let us never fear that our sins are the obstacle. We need to have passion, enthusiasm for life. We need to seek it and we make mistakes, and when we make mistakes, then we simply recognize that we are always forgiven.] Closing Prayer Father, your love is consistent. You are our father. You're the father of those of us who sin. You're the father of those of us who follow the rules rigorously. Let us be the same. Let us embrace all those who seek to please you and not judge them. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.' They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit." When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet. Reflection I wonder what the Pharisees felt when they'd hear words of Jesus condemning their life. Many of them must have felt somehow that they were guilty of what Jesus was saying. But when they're all together, when they're trying to protect what has been their way of life for so long, they are so resistant to hearing the truth. He reminds us that we have to be radically open to transformation and change if we're serious about following the Christ. We're to leave so many ways in which we've seen life to enter into the true work that God has called us to. Let us not be like the Pharisees. Let us be open to hearing exactly what Jesus is saying and knowing what needs to be changed in our life and not feeling responsible to be the one who changes it, but to allow him to do his work, to transform us into his son. Closing Prayer Father, when we see or feel that the words you speak are directly to us and we can know that we are not yet where we should be, help us always to be excited about the possibility of change and not wallow in shame or guilt that will get us nowhere. To admit, to see our darkness is essential. And until we do, we'll never be able to feel the healing power of your presence. And we ask this In Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 6:19-31 Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'" Reflection In the world of the Pharisees, they taught what is called the prosperity gospel. But back then it was just simply an understanding that the more that you follow the rules and regulations, the more perfectly you follow the law, the more you would be blessed by God. And the blessing of God was not to make you into a servant as Jesus explains it, but to make you prosperous, important. And all the things you longed for and needed physically, emotionally would be there for you. It was a misunderstanding completely of what it is that God is asking from us. He's not asking us to do what we're told and then be blessed. He's calling us to something so much more complex and beautiful. To be human beings who live in a world listening to our own needs and the needs of others, and longing for nothing more than to relieve the pain and suffering that they see there. The rich man had no interest in anyone who was suffering because they were considered unworthy. What a radical change. That Jesus had brought to the temple and what an important change that would actually save the world. Closing Prayer Father, one might say that you treated the Pharisees harshly and seem to condemn them, but we know basically inside of you there was a longing and a desire that every single one of them would be touched and transformed and move away from their shallow understanding of what God is really about to something richer and fuller. But as you condemn them, it's so clearly that what you were condemning were their ideas, their ways, not them individually. So bless us with understanding and patience with people who are not seeing the role that God has promised to inspire them and nurture them in. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 20:17-28 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day." Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom." Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can." He replied, "My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Reflection It's clear that when the disciples heard the proclamation that Jesus made about what was to happen to Him at the end of his life, they didn't grasp it. They were confused. And I think it's fascinating to see James and John with their mommy coming to Jesus and asking for a special favor that they be put in positions of greatest authority and respect and honor. And Jesus is just shaking his head and saying, you know, they don't yet get it. They don't understand. And all he does is say, you know what you're asking? You really don't even know what you're asking. First of all, things like that are in my father's hands. I'm not the one determining what the future will be like. My father is the one in charge. But please know this, he keeps saying, please know that what I'm asking you to become is not people of great honor and prestige and importance. But you've all got to be servants. Keep service in mind. It's essential. Closing Prayer Father, our nature thrives in positions of authority and power. We like to have things that make us seem successful, and that's nothing unusual for a human being. The ego is sort of set in a way that that's what they want, but we have to always counter those desires with such a simple and beautiful teaching that comes up over and over again. We're not here to be served. We're here to serve. And we asked this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  Matthew 23:1-12 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Reflection It's interesting that in our culture, we tend to feel that we should give more honor to people who have positions of power. Or, we pay more attention to people who have some kind of public celebrity status. So interesting that we do that when we are told over and over again by our one teacher that we are all one. We are all equal. Yes, someone may have a position of responsibility that's greater than ours, but it doesn't mean that they're more valuable. So help us to recognize everyone as your child, as the one you have asked to be a servant to the people around them. That's the heart of this message of Jesus, to be servants to one another as equals, as brothers and sisters, united. Closing Prayer Father, the oneness that we have is something that slips through our fingers. We tend to be caught up in a cultural expectation of the importance and what makes people important. So bless us with an open heart to see the beauty and the dignity of everyone and to offer ourselves in service to all. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 6:36-38 Jesus said to his disciples: "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” Reflection I often wonder what the disciples thought because in this conversation with Jesus, he's saying you have to be just like your father. You have to be like God. I can't imagine what that would have sounded like when they knew that God was so distant from them. And their sins always separated them from God. But the beautiful message of Jesus is there's intimacy with ourselves in God. And when we can feel Him doing the things he longs to do, not judging, but rather forgiving and calling us into places of abundance, we will in turn be that way to each other. But it's interesting. First it happens to us, a gift to us, and then we understand the beauty of what that might mean to someone else is we're called to give them a gift. Closing Prayer Father, we are to become like you. And we have to remember that when we are asked to do the things that you do, we can only do them through your power, through your presence within us. It's such a privilege to be an instrument of giving to others when the source is you. It gives us a sense of importance, a sense of meaning in our life. And we thank you for this work that you've given to us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Airdate: March 8, 2020 Genesis 12:1-4a | 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 | Matthew 17:1-9 Oh God, who commanded us to listen to your Beloved Son, be pleased, we pray, to nourish us inwardly by your word that, with spiritual sight made pure, we may rejoice to behold your glory through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Reflection Whenever Jesus teaches His disciples, that they need to become a person that they, in their hearts do not believe they could ever be, you know you're at the heart of his teaching. When he asks us to love our enemies, to never want retaliation or punishment. He's revealing something that he is, and at the heart of his message he's saying, Everything I'm asking you to do is not something you are called to develop or to do, but you do it with me. He enters into us. He is the source of our ability not to judge, not to condemn, not to separate ourselves from others, but to always rely upon his wisdom, his love, his understanding to flow through us. That's the mystery of the Kingdom. God in us, and we in God. Closing Prayer Father, when we think about perfection, we often think about our doing everything perfectly. That is not the perfection that God is asking us to have. The one perfect thing we can do is rely more on God than on ourselves to be the people He's calling us to be. To be perfectly attuned to the father is what is the desire of the father's heart. So bless us with union and communion with the source that is perfectly attuned to the needs and wants of our brothers and sisters and ourselves. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 5:20-26 Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Reflection The Pharisees were all about righteousness. And the mistake they made is that it didn't matter how you felt or what your intention was, as long as you did the action as perfectly as possible that was somehow pleasing to God. So the Ten Commandments could be followed very rigorously, but at the same time, Jesus is opening up a whole new way of seeing ourselves in our relationships. It's not simply about whether we do negative things to each other or must do good things to each other. It's where are you? What's your intention? The mind in the will can follow those kinds of commands that demand action. Only the heart which is promised to be filled with divinity can love. Can never want to do anything that limits a person's dignity, their value, their worth So the beauty of this passage is in keeping us in touch with our intentions. Caring for one another is the most righteous act that we can perform. Closing Prayer Father, open our hearts to the mystery of you within us so that we can turn to that beautiful presence and know that we can put on your disposition toward the world, toward each other. You are not a judging figure, but you are a forgiving figure. You are a teacher that gives us a sense of the importance of empathy and understanding of one another. Bless us with your way and not the way of a system that ignores the heart's intention. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 7:7-12 Jesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.” Reflection Ask, seek and knock could be read simply as emphasis like really ask. Ask again. Really, really ask. But they're three very different things. When you ask God for something, you need to pay attention for the answer to come to you. It's not just boom! automatically you pray and boom! you get an answer that can happen, but more likely it's simply a need to ponder how the answer is going to come. And that's the work of seeking. And then knocking is when you find the new insight, then it's going to be opening a whole new world to you. So wonder and ponder with me what it means to really ask, and to seek, and to knock. Closing Prayer Father, your heart is filled with a desire to teach, to awaken, to lead. Help us never to not pay attention to the ways in which you have chosen to communicate with us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 11:29-32 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.” Reflection There's an interesting comparison between the Old Testament and New Testament in this passage. The Old Testament was powerful. It did teach us things. But there's something so much greater than all of those, the stories of prophets and kings and patriarchs. They all led up to something radically new, radically different. And this effectiveness of the words in the ministry, in the presence of Jesus, is radically new. And so we need to pay attention always to the New Testament as the core of the teaching that fulfills the Old Testament. Closing Prayer Father, in the Old Testament, you were proving that you were the one and only God, and you began slowly to reveal yourself to those that you called to be your followers. But it was not until the New Testament that you were able to reveal fully what your intention is for all of us, it's to pay attention to all that you are teaching us and to go through a transition filled with the wisdom greater than Solomon, the ability to change a world better than Jonah. That's how our inheritance, bless us with it. Help us to be aware of it, to live in the New Testament. And we asked this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  Matthew 6:7-15 Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” Reflection We remember the story of the Tower of Babel and how it was that when God saw people working together he said, I want to create different languages so that they can't understand each other. Calling that a babble. So what he's saying is that when you speak just words without intention, just to repeat them over and over again, there is no way that there's any kind of communication with God. No, the way we communicate with him is yes, saying certain words. But the intention of those words have to be in our hearts as we pray them. The way Jesus taught us to pray is to recognize who He is, to work for what He longs to establish. To know that it will happen. And most especially, to be nurtured with the power to do something that's so essential. A core teaching. Forgive. Forgive one another. And as you do that, your father is in that very action, forgiving you. Closing Prayer Father, make our hearts one with your heart, our eyes like your eyes. Help us to see what is needed to do what you call us to do so that we can establish the Kingdom of God and dwell in its healing presence. The presence of a God in us growing, developing into a kingdom of love and forgiveness. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Reflection The severity of the punishment of those who do not care for one another is not to be taken literally. For God is forgiveness. But what this parable does make clear is what is it that we are going to be judged on? What is it that we are here to do? And it seems so simple and so perfect. But he adds something to it, he's saying, yes what we're here to do is to take care of one another. But what is in this parable is the mystery that when we care for one another, we are caring for God. God's call, God's longing. He longs for us to be instruments of His feeding people, nurturing them, healing them. So to be partners with him we must understand this parable completely. God is the source of all that we have to give to one another, and his desire is we do just that. That's what makes us followers. Good sheep. Listening attentively, hearing the voice of our master. Closing Prayer Father, a great mystery is that we are all connected. We are all somehow participating in your divinity. Help us to be sensitive to that. Help us to have a reverence for others and for ourselves, and for the world we live in. And help us to know that when we care for things, appreciate things, love things, we are truly creating your kingdom on earth. And we ask this In Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Airdate: February 26, 2023 Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 | Romans 5:12-19 | Matthew 4:1-11 Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and, by worthy conduct, pursue their effects.    Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 5:27-32 Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” Refection It's fascinating to me that the audience that was most open to Jesus were the people who somehow knew their need for something to change them. They were aware, as we might be aware, of something in our body that doesn't really feel right. And we go to someone and we say, What is it that we need to do or I need to do to take away this pain? People that know they are sinners carry a certain shame and a certain guilt that is healthy and Jesus comes to heal that. And it's terrifying to think that the Scribes and Pharisees never, ever thought about whether or not they were doing the will of God, which is taking care of people. They simply took care of themselves, and displayed themselves as examples of perfection. Closing Prayer Farther, it's fascinating that throughout the ministry that you had on this earth, there was this constant conflict between your work and the work of the religion that was destined to reveal you. It gives us a sense of the tension that will probably always be there between institutions and the work of God in our hearts. Help us to deal with this problem and to find a peaceful solution, knowing that the church, institutions are there to help. And yet they are always secondary to the work of God in our hearts. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 9:14-15 The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Reflection The disciples of John did not have the benefit of the teaching of Jesus, and I'm sure it was difficult for them to shift their attention away from their teacher, John the Baptist, and to Jesus the Messiah. But what is clear that Jesus is trying to say is that John's message was preparing them for who he is and who he is, is God's presence in a human being and he's here to proclaim that that is our inheritance. So Jesus underscores the fact that the goal of the Kingdom is closeness with God. And when that God is present, there is no need to be fasting. Closing Prayer Father, your presence is something that we need to pay attention to, to know that you dwell within us. We celebrate it in a beautiful way through rituals, the presence of God, in the mystery of transubstantiation coming and dwelling in our hearts as Catholics. It's a beautiful image. And he comes in so many different ways. But it's important that we not fall into the trap of not understanding fully that God truly does want to marry us. He is the bridegroom and we are the bride. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 9:22-25 Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” Reflection I often wonder what the disciples must have felt when Jesus reveals to them that He must suffer greatly. Be rejected, be killed. And then this confusing phrase rising from the dead three days later. But if you want to see how this passage is written by Luke, he goes on to explain what basically Jesus is saying in his ministry. It's a reflection of what he told his disciples in private. It's just saying you have to deny your very self, meaning your false self. You're not your true self. You must do whatever is asked of you and basically do it with an unselfishness that says, I'm not focused at all at taking care of myself, but losing a sense of importance to surrender to something more important, which is building the kingdom. Closing Prayer Father, suffering, accepting everything is not natural to our ego, but it is natural to our hearts, our core. We know we are called to surrender to everything you have offered us, no matter what the cost. And we know that we should not be working for ourselves, but for our brothers and sisters. So bless us during this season of Lent with a greater understanding of this core teaching, we must be in service to each other. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” Reflection Jesus describes in this passage righteous deeds. One is being generous, sharing what you have with others. Another is to be a person that converses with God, that talks to him, listens to him in their hearts. And one is about anticipating the Kingdom of Heaven, giving up things that do not help the kingdom to come. And all these, what we're seeing is the power of intention to do anything just to be seen, to be held in esteem by others. Shows that the reason one is doing something is not for the purpose that it was made for, but for something else. Nothing is important that we pay attention to the intention of our hearts. We are generous because God has been generous to us. We spend time in prayer because we believe that He talks to us. And when we are overwhelmed by things that keep our attention away from the core of what it means to be a part of the Kingdom of God on this planet, we are called to be attentive to knowing that everything we do that is in tune with the work of our father is bringing about the kingdom. Closing Prayer Father, we worry about heaven or hell, purgatory. All these images of what might happen after we leave this world. And when in truth Jesus didn't focus on that. He didn't teach that. He told us we are working toward a kingdom that is now, that is here a place of truth and beauty. Care and service. Help us keep our eyes fixed on this place and this work and this will of God, our father. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  Mark 8:14-21 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them, "Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?" They answered him, "Twelve." "When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?" They answered him, "Seven." He said to them, "Do you still not understand?” Reflection In many ways the disciples are revealed in the Scriptures as people who don't really get it. You know, who don't have a clue. But you have to understand that what Jesus is saying is really so radically new. They knew religion, they knew the temple, they knew its corruption. They didn't expect it to do much for them. And now Jesus is creating a new kingdom, the kingdom of Heaven, on earth. And it's all about something that nurtures and develops and feeds. And so he's longing for his disciples to understand this. So he uses signs and symbols and stories and parables. And he just simply gets frustrated because they don't understand. They don't yet know how to listen to the way he teaches, to ponder the images, to wonder, and to imagine something radically different than what they've known when it comes to religion. Closing Prayer Father, everything that you have created in the world is for us. Even the negative things or those things that remind us of what we don't want to be a part of. So open our eyes and our hearts and our ears. So we can feed on the nurturing love and the nurturing wisdom you share with us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Mark 8:11-13 The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore. Reflection It is seldom we are shown in the Scriptures the emotions of Jesus. But here he is frustrated, a deep sigh. And what he's really saying is interesting. He's saying, Look, I have given you sign after sign after sign and you're asking for signs. It just underscores their blindness, their close mindedness, their close hearts. And that's what Jesus is worried about. They simply cannot open themselves to the message of life and joy that he's come to bring. Closing Prayer Father, you are speaking to us constantly. You show us things. You invite us into situations where we learn and we grow. Help us to give thanks for those signs that you've given us that you are with us. Help us to be attentive to them. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Airdate: February 16, 2020 Sirach 15:15-20 | 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 | Matthew 5:17-37 Oh God, who teaches that you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling place pleasing to you.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Mark 8:1-10 In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha. Reflection This is the only miracle that is found in all four of the Gospels. It what it is, is God caring for the physical needs of those who longed to follow him. When we think of it, we think maybe we are not supposed to pray for things like, you know, food or money or a better house or whatever. But there's nothing wrong with asking God to give us the things that enable us to live the life that we long to live for him. And it's all right to pray for things that are material. That's the world we live in. That's the world Jesus recognizes as something that He wants to be a source of caring for our needs. Expect him to do that. Trust in him to answer your prayers. Closing Prayer Father, we are spiritual beings, but we are also physical beings that live in this world. Help us to know that you're interested in caring for us in both areas. You want us to grow as a spiritual being capable of doing your work and you want us to be comfortable and to live in a place that honors our dignity and our worth. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Mark 7:31-37 Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!") And immediately the man's ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Reflection It's rare that we see the emotional side of Jesus in the Scriptures, but in this miracle, he does something interesting. He groans. And to groan is something that is like a longing, a desire, a so deep a desire that it makes us sound. And the interesting thing about that is that even the way he heals the man by spitting and touching his tongue, there's a reference to the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is breath and spittle is a concrete image of the Spirit. So we see in this story is a beautiful way in which God infuses us with spirit. That's his longing. And we know that in the teaching of the church, the Holy Spirit is the aspect of God in the world today, in your heart that also groans always to move in the direction of life, transformation, salvation, freedom to live as were called, to live. Closing Prayer Father, we have you as a father, as a brother, your son, and as this mystery, the Holy Spirit. We are told throughout the Scriptures that the Holy Spirit groans for our evolution, for our transformation, for our becoming who you call us to be. Help us to feel that energy of you longing in this presence of the spirit, to bring us to a place of wholeness and health. That it's not up to us to do this work. It's up to us to believe you can do this work and to enter into your desires, your will. Knowing and trusting everything going on around us is exactly as it should be. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Mark 7:24-30 Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. Reflection The gospel begins with an image of his wanting to be alone, wanting to have some down time. And still, when he was trying to do that, along comes someone who doesn't deserve, but according to the tradition of the temple, doesn't deserve anything from him.  And so he falls back to that. It's interesting. He said, I have no reason to even think about taking care of you because you don't belong to the house of Israel. And then she has this incredibly wonderful way of not responding with a negative answer, but simply saying, I know you can do this, I know you can do this, and that just melts Jesus resistance. I love the humanity of Jesus. He struggled to be as he knew he should be because he had a human nature. And we need to know that same human nature is within us and we don't have to expect ourselves to be in any way, shape or form perfect in what we do. And it's all right to try to find a restful place and say no to the needs around us. Closing Prayer Father, we know that you had a weakness, and the weakness was a person who genuinely believed that you could do exactly what you know you want to do for them. Give us that same conviction, knowing that whenever we doubt that you are there for us, please let us know that you are actually doing exactly what we need. Whether it seems like the answer or seems like a delay, it matters not, You, if we believe in you, have the capacity to heal us and we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Mark 7:14-23 Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” Reflection As Jesus continues to describe how He wants to save us, how this whole process of our being touched by him impacts us in a way that changes everything. And I love his reference here to the heart. He's saying what enters your heart is what's really essential. And God has promised to enter into our hearts. And if we think about healing and transformation of grace, we need to understand that the heart, if it is the cause of those things that are destructive, the heart is what needs to be healed. In the heart is the presence of God within you. Once you allow him into your heart, believe he dwells there, no evil can possibly flow from your heart to others. But that's the place where we connect. Heart to heart. Intention to intention. And it needs to be pure. It needs to be life giving. Closing Prayer Father, your grace by it's very presence is healing. Just as you, as you walk this earth had your healing presence known. Bless us with knowing that that same presence dwells in our hearts and through us. You can do this mysterious work of driving out that which destroys us and freeing us from all that robs us of life. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices