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Opening Prayer:
Enlighten, O God of compassion,
The Readings: (alternate) In His Steps - A Lenten Series
Today:
Daily Meditation:
Enlighten our minds and sanctify our hearts.
We grow in a sense of repentance and deep sorrow.
Rid yourself of all your sins
Today's Daily Reflection
by Mary Haynes Kuhlman
A sinkhole beneath a house in Florida opens, and the sleeping homeowner
disappears underground forever. The seemingly solid earth was an illusion. In a
rather difficult teaching in today's Gospel, Jesus rejects "those Jews who
believed in him." He tells them, "The truth will set you free." They ask, "How
can you say 'You will become free'"? An expert teacher, Jesus knows from their
questioning that their apparent faith is an illusion. Complacently sure that as
descendents of Abraham they don't really commit sins, are certainly not
"enslaved" by sin, they haven't really heard Jesus. In fact, he knows that at
least some of them, afraid that his teaching will upset their comfortable
positions in society, will actually conspire to have the Roman authorities put
him to death. And for you and me, on this Lenten Wednesday, Good Friday draws
near.
But there's hope for us in this Gospel excerpt too. Our 21st century
understandings of human psychology explain further how "everyone who commits sin
is a slave of sin." Today we know a lot about alcoholism and other physical
addictions, and about psychological addictions to behaviors like gambling or
shopping or risk-taking that can become compulsive and destructive. They can
enslave us. Christian teachings about contrition for sin tell us that we're all
slaves to certain bad habits, tendencies and attitudes. Lent is a good time to
consider how addicted (enslaved) we may be to our public image and honors, to
hatred and fears, to needless anxieties, angers and resentments, to greed, sloth
and selfish desires. Today's Gospel gives us the promise of freedom. We believe
in Jesus's word: "I came from God and am here." We believe in that Truth that
sets us free.
Meanwhile, today's liturgical readings start with joy in the first reading and
responsorial psalm. Both are from the third chapter of the book of Daniel,
although some of us use Bible versions in which Daniel is much shorter than in
the standard "Catholic" version. Thus some may not see in mid-chapter the long
"Song of the Three Jews" as the section is headed in the edition I've been
using. But I think all versions of the Old Testament in use today include the
marvelous story of these three young men known as Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, those wonderful names given to them in the court of Babylonian King
Nebuchadnezzar.
The young men sing their long hymn of praise to the one God of the Israelites,
and refuse to worship Nebuchadnezzar's god. Pushed into a fantastically hot
furnace, they live to demonstrate the saving power of God. Where three men fell
into the furnace, four are seen walking around within the flames. And that
"fourth looks like a son of God." I know commentators and artists through the
ages have interpreted the fourth as an angel, sometimes as Michael the
Archangel, but I like to think that this is an image of Jesus Christ walking
with these three men, faithful descendents of Abraham. Yes, the miraculous story
takes place centuries before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth in history, but it
also represents, to me, Christ with us in the middle of our trials and dangers,
present because these people believe in the Father who sends the Son.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego don't know if they will be saved from death in
the furnace, although they know God could save them if He so wished. They only
know their faith in God, the Truth that sets them free. My own faith tells me
that Truth may free us from the fire of hatred and violence, the ice of
selfishness, resentment, loneliness and despair. Thus the psalm's refrain on
this Wednesday in Lent: "Glory and praise for ever!"
the hearts of your children, sanctified by penance,
and in your kindness
grant those you stir to a sense of devotion
a gracious hearing when they cry out to you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Daniel 3:52-56; John 8:31-42
In our reflection, Jesus is about to face a fiery furnace,
which represents the full rejection of all our sins,
and the crushing defeat of death itself.
Praying the Stations again,
might help us grow in a sense that this is all "for me," for my freedom.
We grow in a desire to celebrate
the glorious Light in the midst of all darkness.
and make a new heart and a new spirit.
Gospel antiphon, based upon Ezekiel 18:31
Theology Department, Creighton University
Preface for Meditation:
The Old Testament prepared us for the coming of the Christ, the Messiah, who
will save us from eternal death. "And I will give you shepherds after my own
heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding," (Jeremiah 3:15).
Along this same line of preparing us for the Messiah, we read about John the
Baptist, who is commonly referred to as the forerunner of Jesus. "He (John) came
for the testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through
him," (John 1:7). John was baptizing to cleanse those who had sinned. "The next
day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sins of the world’," (John 1:29). After this, Jesus wanted to be
baptized but "John would have prevented him saying, ‘I need to be baptized by
you, and do you come to me’? But Jesus answered him, saying ‘Let it be so now;
for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness," (Matthew 3:14-5).
Thus, Jesus, the only sinless one, is baptized, identifying Himself with
sinners, whom John had baptized.
Besides being referred to as the lamb, Jesus is also described as a shepherd,
who watches over his flock (mankind). Jesus is the "good shepherd. The good
shepherd lays down his life for the sheep," (John 10:11). We also know that even
when we feel abandoned and alone, Jesus, the shepherd, will not flee or leave us
desolate. This is so because "he who is hireling and not a shepherd whose own
sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf
snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares
nothing for the sheep. I (Jesus) am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own
know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life
for the sheep," (John 10:11-5). This quote is extremely important and beautiful,
in the sense that it gives a real life depiction of the love that the shepherd
has for his sheep, or a parent to his children. It also relates to us the
passionate love God has for us. If we follow the shepherd and listen to him, he
will "give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall
snatch them out of my hand," (John 10:28).
Jesus is always faithful to us and gives us a chance for eternal life with Him,
His Father, and Spirit in their Kingdom, but like Judas we have betrayed Jesus
and like Peter we have denied Him. Because of these acts, Jesus was arrested and
turned over to the Romans. They "stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him
and platting a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and put a reed in his
right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, and took the reed and
struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the
robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him," (Matthew
27:28-31).
Jesus, Son of God the Father, suffered this humiliation for us. By His death we
live, by His descent into Hades we ascend into Heaven. Jesus is our paschal
lamb, our sacrifice, the true sacrifice.
"And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty
and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the
glory of God is its light and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light shall the
nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it, and
its gates shall never be shut," (Revelation 21:22-5).
Fifty-Day Gospel Planner
Evening
Morning
Gospel Readings: Matthew 8:23-9:1 (KJV)
And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship
was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we
perish.
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he
arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the
winds and the sea obey him!
And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes,
there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding
fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus,
thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go
away into the herd of swine.
And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the
herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a
steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told
every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him,
they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
Matthew 9
And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass
over unto the other side.
And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in
the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so
that it was now full.
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they
awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no
faith?
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is
this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Bible Verse of the Day:
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the
waves obey him!"
Intercessions:
Blessed be God, the giver of salvation, who decreed that mankind should become a
new creation in himself,
Lord, you promised a new heaven and a new earth; renew us daily through your
Spirit,
Closing Prayer:
Loving Creator,
Be with me in both mind and heart
May the Lord bless us,
Source: Portions from: Creighton University Praying Lent
by Prince Mathew
Wednesday before Hosanna
(Read all Gospels during the Great Lent)
Mark 4:35-41 (KJV)
St. Matthew 8:27
when all would be made new. With great confidence let us ask him:
Lord, renew us in your Spirit.
- that we may enjoy your presence for ever in the heavenly Jerusalem.
Help us to work with you to make this world alive with your Spirit,
- and to build on earth a city of justice, love and peace.
Free us from all negligence and sloth,
- and give us joy in your gifts of grace.
Deliver us from evil,
- and from slavery to the senses, which blinds us to goodness.
I know in your great love for me,
you see the deep sorrow in my heart.
Hear my prayers which are offered with such trust in you.
as I renew my life in your spirit.
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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