Spiritual

March 23, 2022 ‘What nation has such great laws and is so close to their God?’ is a paraphrase of the first reading from Deuteronomy. ‘They must be a wise and intelligent nation’ is what others will say of the Israelites, Moses promises them, if they follow the statutes given to them. Even Jesus in […]

March 22, 2022 When I have nothing to offer to God except for my humble prayers for mercy, then I think I am getting closer to what God wants from me. God wants me. God longs for me. God longs for you, too. Kind of catches one up short, doesn’t it? Azariah, in the excerpt

Monday March 22, 2022 We had the image of sentinels waiting for the dawn earlier this Lent. Today the Psalmist longs for God the way a deer longs for running streams. We cannot live without water anymore that we can live without God. Some translations say the hart pants for water. Think of how after

Sunday March 20, 2022 I had an interesting thought while looking at the reading for today. In the excerpt from Exodus, Moses is called by God to deliver the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt. God identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and pronounces that his name is I AM. If we

Saturday March 19, 2022  St. Joseph Spouse of Mary The Church sets aside today to celebrate and venerate a special man, St. Joseph. Our readings speak of fulfilling prophecies: the promise to Abraham that he would father many nations and to David that his kingdom would be made firm—always ruled by an heir. We Christians recognize

Friday March 18, 2022. St. Cyril of Jerusalem We are back to being careful with whom we keep company. Today we are introduced to Joseph in our reading from Genesis. Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob (Israel), and his brothers resented it. They considered killing him, but instead sold him as a slave for

Thursday March 17, 2022.  St. Patrick Folks will be drinking green beer today, full of bonhomie. Strange juxtaposition with the scriptures for today. Our friend, Jeremiah, warns us not to put our faith in people, for we will be disappointed. Psalm 1 says that only seeking the Lord will result in our prosperity, that the counsel

Wednesday March 16, 2022 We get a first taste of what is to come. Today’s scriptures foreshadow Holy Week. The prophet Jeremiah knows that those in power are out to get him. They want to be rid of him because he prophesies of an uncomfortable truth—their destruction if they don’t change. Our Psalmist is aware

Tuesday March 15, 2022 The corollary to yesterday’s readings is in today’s readings. Isaiah tells us that God wants action, and then blessings will follow! Isaiah calls us to redress wrong, care for the needy, and ask forgiveness. Today the psalmist says that praise is the only type of sacrifice God desires. Walking in the

Monday March 14, 2022 “We stand shamefaced before you, O Lord”, is a paraphrase of the reading from Daniel. Daniel is admitting that the Israelites have not been faithful, and that they recognize their evildoing. He also reminds God, that God is compassionate and forgiving. The first step is recognition. Jesus warns, in the Gospel