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In today’s Gospel, Jesus is in Jerusalem and His opponents try to stone Him. They question, challenge, and accuse Him. Although there is an abundance of evidence that Jesus is the Son of God, they resist. No amount of evidence will open their minds and hearts to the Truth. 

Emile Zola was like that. He was an avowed atheist who lived at the time of Mary’s appearance at Lourdes. He traveled there with a woman who was sick and disfigured, expecting to prove that it was a hoax, but the woman was completely healed before his eyes. Like the opponents of Jesus, Zola, in the hardness of his heart, refused to believe. 

Sometimes, in the hardness of our hearts, we refuse to believe what we read and hear in the Bible and what we see with our own eyes. We believe in God, but what about His teachings? Are there truths that we resist? Perhaps one of the following misbeliefs hits home:

Do I believe that God loves me, even when I am a hot mess? I can accept that he loves all of humanity, but I resist the idea of his particular love for me. 

Do I believe in miracles? I can accept the miracles described in the Gospels, but I am skeptical about miracles happening today, in my life. I think miracles ended with the death of the apostles. 

Do I believe in the gravity of sin? I can accept that historically evil people will go to Hell, but I think if I’m a good person as I define it, I’m going to Heaven. My sins don’t have much impact on my eternal soul. 

Do I believe that Hell is real? I can accept that Jesus spoke about Hell, but that was only to scare us into being good. Hell is empty. 

In each of these areas, we resist truth by believing the lies of Satan. There is abundant evidence supporting the truth, yet we believe the lie. 

Where is the evidence? 1) In Scripture: Jesus tells us the truth. 2) In our personal experiences: God is active in our lives and the lives of those we love. 3) In the witness of others we know: people share their testimony about God’s miracles in their lives. 

If the evidence is there, why do we resist? It could be because we’ve been conditioned that way: If I have not known love, I might believe I am unloveable. It could be because we don’t want to change: I like my life as it is and to believe in more would require me to change. It might be wishful thinking: everyone goes to Heaven so I’ll live my life as I like. 

The Psalmist tells us, “ I called upon the Lord and…he heard my voice”. Spend time in prayer today calling upon the Lord. Ask Him to show you where your heart is hardened and give Him permission to heal you. End the resistance and embrace the abundant life Jesus promised. 

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The Word Among Us

Regnum Christi

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C.S. Lewis famously asserted in Mere Christianity that Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. These are the three options that, for Lewis, we have available to us when we stand before the claims Jesus made about Himself. In today’s Gospel, we can see the Pharisees struggle with the same three options. 

First, Jesus tells them that whoever believes in Him will never see death. The Pharisees scoff at this, telling Jesus He is acting like someone who’s possessed, or we could say, acting like a lunatic. This is crazy, everyone dies after all. Jesus must be claiming that He is much more than the human man they can see before them. 

Jesus presses his point further. He explains His relationship with the Father, and tells the Pharisees he would indeed be a liar if He didn’t highlight the truth of who He is. Still, they cannot understand what He is saying. They are hearing his words with human ears and try to make logical sense of them. How can He know Abraham, he’s not even 50 years old and Abraham died generations ago! He’s got to be lying about the things he claims to know. Jesus tries one more time, and that is what sends the Pharisees over the edge. 

In my imagination, Jesus looks them each in the eye and boldly proclaims his identity: “Before Abraham came to be, I AM.” This is a huge statement, because Jesus is using the same name for himself that God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. Jesus is God, the Lord. And this is the moment when we have to choose, just like the Pharisees did. When they heard these words, they couldn’t accept them. They picked up stones to kill Jesus. They could keep talking, debating, even trying to understand a lunatic or a liar. But, they couldn’t accept the possibility that He could be the Lord. 

What will we choose? Will we continue to dialogue with Jesus even when we don’t understand? When we doubt? When we are fearful, angry, or hurt? Will we stay close to Him because we know that He is the Lord, or will we recoil like the Pharisees who were unable to be open to the mysterious ways of the Lord? 

Jesus shows us today that He can’t be fully defined by human understanding. We can study, learn, discuss, and pray about the mystery of the Incarnation and we absolutely should. But at the end of the day it is a mystery of our faith that we cannot fully define with our human intellect and language. Nonetheless, we can still join our voice in faith with C.S. Lewis and with those who have come before us and boldly proclaim, “Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!”

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Regnum Christi

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In today’s Gospel Jesus is very blunt with the crowd He is addressing. He believes that “Abraham’s children” are following the teachings of Abraham instead of God. He chastised them  saying: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”

Jesus came as the new covenant; the new promise from God, so that we would have a path back into unity with him in heaven. Even though sin is still an everyday struggle, we have hope.

I find it hard to believe that the people Jesus was speaking to weren’t convinced that He was the Son of God. It’s crazy to think that two thousand years later we aren’t able to walk alongside Jesus physically but we still believe that He is the Son of God. 

When I was in Vatican City looking around St. Peter’s Basilica I saw so many people from different cultures and different ways of life and what brought them all together was the Catholic faith. As God’s children we can reflect on how we’ve gotten to this point by recalling all the disciples, saints, martyrs and missionaries throughout Church history who joyfully spread the Word of God. 

The Catholic faith is alive, and we should be joyful. As we get ready for Holy Week and the Easter season, let us remember that not only was Jesus sent from the Father as His Beloved Son but that we are also His beloved children, and because of His sacrifice we have a place with Him in heaven as well.

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Regnum Christi

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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.” What a powerful lesson Jesus bestows on us within this signal phrase. If Jesus, one of the three Persons of the Trinity, says that He does only what the Father teaches and asks, then who are we to do anything less but also submit ourselves, joyfully, to the Father’s will? Essentially, to do the will of God was Jesus’ paramount task. It seems only logical, therefore, that the same is true for all of us. 

The Blessed Mother also lived a life perfectly conformed to the will of God; for that, she is deemed “full of grace”. Grace is bestowed upon us at our baptism when we are united with the Father and adopted into His holy family as beloved children. Grace is the undeserved yet freely given gift of God’s own Spirit within us, and without it, we can truly do nothing good.

The courage to not only seek, but more importantly accept, what the Father desires for us  (especially when it isn’t aligned with our desires), can only be accomplished through God’s Spirit, gifted and working within us. The Father, who loves us so unconditionally and completely, would never ask the impossible of us. He gives us this grace, which strengthens us to fulfill, follow through, and continue moving forward, often in darkness and uncertainty. God owes us no explanation for what our lives will hold; His promises for our good and our trust in Him are never misplaced. Having the Surrender Prayer from Don Dolindo on our hearts throughout the day can help us stay the course of trust: “Jesus, I surrender myself to you; take care of everything!”

In the next line of John’s Gospel, which will be covered in tomorrow’s reading, Jesus teaches, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Ironically, many of us are afraid to surrender our wills to the almighty, perfect will of God out of fear of losing our freedom and giving up “getting our way.” On the contrary, it is that mindset that instead enslaves us! Doing what pleases God brings a peace this world seriously cannot give and a sense of purpose no earthly goal can match.

If we already believe God created us and our existence is not some random accident, then it’s time we stop fighting so vehemently against God’s plan of sheer goodness for us. Today, let’s consider how we can accept, with joy and hope, whatever God has in store for us, knowing that this world is just a breath, a fleeting passage on our way to eternal life with Him. The master plan that God truly wants us to embrace is simply to be united to Him, doing nothing on our own, imitating Christ here so that we can be with Him in heaven forever.

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The Word Among Us

Regnum Christi

One Bread, One Body

Evangeli

Living Faith

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There are so many stories in the Bible where elders are called in to decide whether or not someone is innocent or guilty. The first reading today gives us the story of Susanna who is unjustly accused of something she didn’t do and thankfully justice prevailed. Then, in the Gospel, we hear Jesus saying He does not judge, but if He were to judge, His judgement would be valid. 

Now, of course, God does judge us, similar to the way the elders did in the Old Testament. But the point that Jesus is making here is that His judgements are always just. Human beings can fail and make an improper judgement, but God sees our hearts and furthermore wants to welcome us into His family with His love and mercy. 

One of the names that we have for Satan is the accuser. He is always trying to put us down and make us feel worthless. He is never just in what he does but always has ulterior motives. He wants us to feel miserable and keep us there. 

In direct contrast to that we have Christ who wants to meet us where we’re at and lovingly walk with us so we don’t stay in despair. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Church lined up these two readings for today. In the first reading, we see the mercy of men who thankfully were inspired by the Holy Spirit to make the correct judgement. In the Gospel, we see Jesus talking about His perfect justice that can never be questioned. 

I don’t know about you but I do not want to be without hope because I have believed the lies of the accuser. I also don’t want to be put into a situation where someone judges me who is fallible and could get it wrong. I want to place my hope in the King of Kings, Who promises that His justice is perfect and that He is also perfect in mercy. Let’s take some time during this season of Lent to focus on the sins we have committed, ask for forgiveness, and intentionally put ourselves in the arms of Jesus who will judge us justly by the way we love.

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

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Regnum Christi

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Jesus is infinitely merciful. We cannot out-sin God’s mercy. He longs for us to return to Him with our whole heart, for He is gracious and merciful. But this does not mean it doesn’t matter what we do. Because Jesus is also perfectly just, everything we do matters. In God, justice reigns, and we are confident that we will receive from Him what is just. In today’s Gospel, we see this balance of justice and mercy.

Why does Jesus refuse to condemn the woman who is caught in the very act of adultery (a sin so serious that the punishment is being stoned to death)? Isn’t her activity condemnable? Isn’t there a commandment against adultery? Yes, there is. So is Jesus saying the commandment doesn’t matter? Certainly not.

While Jesus does not condemn her, He does not condone her actions; he does not say that her sin does not matter and she can just go on as she has been. He deals a “one-two” punch to the enemies of her soul: sin and the unforgiving judgment of others. And then He calls her in freedom to walk a new way.

First, He pauses to point out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who seem to revel in their self-righteous accusation and eagerness to inflict punishment for offenses. No one has the right to condemn the woman for her sin, because none of them are without sin themselves – and yet, they publicly accuse others and seem to delight in discovering and pointing out the woman’s obvious sin because it makes them feel superior. Without love, they have no right to point out the transgressions of others. There is no compassion or desire for the other’s good in their response to the woman. Under Jesus’ penetrating gaze, their own guilt sends them away from her.

Next, Jesus turns his attention fully to the woman, whose life was hanging in the balance and at the whim of the judgmental crowd publicly accusing her. He does not ignore her sin, but with great love and desire for her good, He forgives her, saying, “Neither do I condemn you.” And then, as Love always does, Jesus invites her to a fuller life beyond sin. He has set her free to walk in newness of life, and with great compassion He calls her to use this freedom to choose good: “Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

God’s forgiveness is spectacularly freeing and life-changing. But in order to receive it, we must acknowledge our sin and be filled with desire to walk away from it, and all that leads us into it. We must freely choose to reject sin and walk with HIM.

This is what we have been called to learn anew during Lent: that God’s mercy is infinite, that we must open ourselves fully to His forgiveness and love, and be determined to walk in the newness of life Jesus made possible through His Passion and Death on the Cross.

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Today’s Gospel reminds me of the last words Simeon spoke to Mary at Jesus’ presentation, that through His words and presence, “the thoughts of many hearts [will] be revealed” (Luke 2:35). In our reading, some say Jesus is the Messiah; others (namely the chief priests and Pharisees) say that He is an imposter and condemn those who believe in Him. Each person’s reaction to Jesus’ words and actions has the ability to reveal what is in his or her heart.

It often seems that the chief priests and Pharisees carried a great deal of resentment toward Jesus. They resisted any indication that He could be the Messiah and refused to allow their hearts to be touched because of what it would mean for them and how it would challenge them. 

If they were to accept Jesus as the Messiah, they would have to obey Him and change their ways, and essentially their entire lives. They may lose their status, authority, and the respect they had enjoyed. They would need to reinterpret all of Scripture and rethink how they explained and shared it – believing in Jesus would mean a restructuring of Jewish society and of their place in it.

The guards, who had been sent to arrest Jesus but returned empty-handed, appear to have had hearts that were divided between loyalty to the Pharisees and openness to Jesus’ message. “Never before has anyone spoken like this man,” they exclaimed, revealing some willingness to question their old assumptions.

Those proclaiming, “This is the Christ,” appeared to be the most open, potentially ready to receive Jesus’ revolutionary teachings and ready to conform their lives to what He said. Listening to Jesus’ words and gauging our reaction to it and the place it holds in our lives can reveal what is in our hearts as it did for those mentioned in our reading.

It is difficult when our faith challenges us and we come face to face with the need to confront misperceptions, unforgiveness, struggles, and sin. Like the Pharisees, it is easy for us to resist the challenge and remain comfortable rather than examining and amending our lives.

Do we let Christ in and let Him challenge and change us, or do we hold onto our places of comfort and cling to the status quo? Do we allow Jesus to take His rightful place in our hearts, or do we protect ourselves from the deep inner work that it takes to follow Him and to allow Him to transform us? The answers to these questions can reveal much about the state of our hearts.

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In today’s Gospel, the Jewish people are questioning Jesus’ identity. They are also questioning their faith leaders, wondering if they know something they aren’t admitting? They conclude that everyone knows where Jesus is from, so He can’t be the Messiah. 

Then Jesus addresses their thoughts, their questions. Even though it is dangerous for Him to be seen in public, He raises his voice, He wants to be heard. And they must have been shocked because he starts out by agreeing with them. “You know me and also know where I am from.” Jesus doesn’t argue their point, but then He redirects them from this world to the next. “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.”

Isn’t this exactly what we need to hear today? Our society has been called post-Christian. A post-Christian society is one where Christianity is no longer the dominant religion. There is a collective focus on doing what makes you happy. There is a recognition of Christian ideas but a rejection of Christian ethics or worldview. Everyone says they have already heard of Jesus and think they know Him so they don’t need the Church. 

Jesus tosses all of that thinking aside. “You say you know me, but I do not come on my own.” In this statement, Jesus sets himself apart from any other leader or prophet. He is not the latest in a line of prophets, he is not a new political or military king, he is not simply a new leader for the Jewish faith. Jesus’ life is so profound that all of human time is divided into what happened prior to or after His birth.

This is the radical faith the world needs today. A faith so definitive it is marked in time. We can’t be Sunday followers who leave our faith at the door (or the parking lot) as we leave Church on Sunday. Jesus calls for us to do more than just know Him. Don’t those around us need to see a vibrant living faith? One which embraces sacrifice and putting others first? 

Lent is difficult. It’s supposed to be. This is our annual faith boot camp where we hone our discipline and sharpen our ability to say no to this world in order to make room for the things of the next world. There is no doubt that keeping Lent is made more difficult by a post-Christian culture that doesn’t value sacrifice or the idea of fasting or abstinence as a means of curbing our physical appetites for a greater good. Even in this time with rising secularism, nationalism or other worldviews, living like Jesus makes an impact. We can acknowledge the questions, but we truly answer when our lives point, like Jesus, to a greater good, the Goodness of God.

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Regnum Christi

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I have one of the rarest talents I have come across thus far. Namely, I almost always miss the wastebasket. I could have my hand directly over the top of it and a gust of wind comes out of nowhere inside my house (yeah, right) and the object floats onto the floor. Or, I pushed the flap to the covered trashcan to deposit something inside and the flap swings back and knocks it back out. Other times I practice my rusty basketball shot and miss as well. It seems that no matter how I attempt to dispose of something, I am doomed to fail. 

Now this may sound absolutely ridiculous, but it has actually become something that the Lord and I joke about with each other (when I’m done fuming, of course). “Very funny, Lord,” I tell Him. “Ha ha ha ha, I’m not laughing.” I can just imagine him guffawing up there in heaven and slapping His knee. “HA! You missed again! Did you like that wind I conjured up for ya?” And in the end, I usually do end up at least smiling to myself along with Him. 

Lately I have been struggling with bedtime prayers with my children and have been talking to them about the importance of having a personal relationship with God. They are always so squirrely, grabbing a toy, starting up side conversations, or simply not paying attention. I tell them that this is the most important time of the day, the time they get to talk to God. At ages 11 and under, I doubt they fully grasp it, but at least I am trying to plant the seeds. 

As you are reading this reflection during a time of prayer, I will mention the same to you as well. This is the most important time of your day, the moment you get to talk to God. And that is what Lent is all about, really. A time set apart to foster that personal relationship with God. With only 10 days left until Holy Week, now is a great time to take that effort off the back burner and slide it onto the front burner, allowing God to light your relationship with Him on fire. 

Let us not be like the Jews that Jesus is condemning in today’s Gospel. “But you do not want to come to me to have life.” What a tragic day that would be, if we stopped walking toward Jesus! He who “came in the name of [His] Father” is waiting for us with open arms. We simply have to open our own arms and hearts as well in order to receive Him. 

So whether it be joking with Jesus about something as silly as missing a trashcan, or crying with Him over the loss of a loved one, I invite you to take your personal relationship with Him one step further. May the remainder of this Lent find you rejoicing in the deepening friendship you encounter with the Savior of the world.  

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In our first reading, God speaks soothing words to His people. He promises to restore Israel, free the prisoners, and lead them to a temperate pasture. He calls for rejoicing. Zion’s response is tone-deaf: “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me” (Isaiah 49:14). They don’t seem to notice Him, even though He has been calling out with good news.

The listeners in the Gospel have a similar issue. They have heard Jesus say that He is the Son of God and have seen Him exercise His authority over the Sabbath, but they don’t accept Him as God. They try to kill Him, while He explains to them that He will do still greater works and will judge the world, giving those who believe in Him eternal life.

This response of Israel and of Jesus’ listeners is typical of those who listen more to their own negative self-talk than to the encouraging words of others. When we are of the mindset to constantly shut down the ideas of ourselves and others, having an internal monologue of “I can’t,” “I don’t know,” or “It’s so difficult,” nothing that anyone else says will convince us. 

This is a crippling attitude. It keeps us from taking healthy risks and from trusting others when they tell us things that are both true and encouraging. We think that certain situations are just too difficult, and that no one can truly understand the pointlessness of our struggles like we do. The work of conquering limiting beliefs and trusting ourselves and others has to be done first. We have to accept that things can be different. But sometimes it’s easier to say, “I don’t know how,” or “Things are so hard” than to say, “I know what to do, but there are some things that I don’t understand yet,” or “I know the way, but I feel nervous about taking the first step.”

The reality, in the ordinary world as in the spiritual life, is that we both know the way and we know the Way. Our intuition and conscience, properly cultivated and with the right formation, are gifts from God that steer us straight. God gave us human nature, and He made us to act in tune with our unique design without second-guessing whether or not He did a good job creating us. He gave us very clear teaching and encouragement in both the Old Testament and in His own words as the Son on earth. He came as the Way, and He told us that if we follow Him we will have eternal life.

I encourage you to stop letting your own limiting beliefs about God keep Him from doing the work He has already promised to do and instead trust Him when He says that He is at work. Allow Him to work in you.

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The Word Among Us

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