For this week’s homily, please play the video below.
Jonah doesn’t see himself up to what God asks of him, the scripture story says. Frightened, he doesn’t want to preach to the great city of Nineveh. When the sailors threw him from the boat because they thought he cursed their ship, he doesn’t stop them. If the whale didn’t swallow him and vomit him up on the shore at Nineveh he would have ended it all.
But God would not have it. Jonah’s arrival caught the attention of the Ninevites. Who wouldn’t listen to a man come from the belly of a whale? They begged God for forgiveness when he spoke. Someone snatched from the jaws of sure death had to be a sign of life.
Luke’s gospel emphasizes Jonah’s preaching at Nineveh, a big city at earth’s end. Jesus has to be proclaimed to all peoples, everywhere, a theme Luke repeats again and again. But is that possible in a world like ours that’s putting up walls rather than bridges? I don’t know what Jonah said, but God used what poor words came to him, and Nineveh heard his message.
Have we lost confidence in the power of Jesus Christ and his message of death and resurrection to bring hope to the world and bring it together? Are we like Jonah, afraid? Could it be that we are being swallowed up into the belly of the whale for another mission we hardly envision?
Lent is the time to think about the sign of Jonah. The early church thought about him, as this picture from the catacombs attests. He makes you think.
Prayer gives us eyes to see and strength to keep going on the journey of life. On this Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent, Jesus teaches us to pray. On the Mount of the Beatitudes, in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples– and us– to pray. “Our Father….” (Matthew 5, 7-15) Readings here
We pray as Jesus prays. We approach the One whom Jesus knows intimately as his Father. We pray God’s kingdom come, God’s will be done, on earth, in us, as it is in heaven. We ask for our daily bread, for forgiveness and for strength to live without falling away.
The Lord’s Prayer is our basic Christian prayer. We learn it by heart. It appears everywhere in the church’s life. We treasure it.
Like so many things we treasure, we can take the Lord’s Prayer for granted,. Lent is a time to make it a treasure again.
When Moses approached God on Mount Sinai, a voice said: “Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” Jesus invites us to approach as children the One who gives us everything. Let us pray reverently as we come into God’s presence.
Can we look for graces to pray this Lent? Listen to Isaiah, our 1st reading.
Thus says the Lord: just as from the heavens the rain and son come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
by Orlando Hernandez
In the Gospel (Lk 9:22-25) for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday, our Lord warns His disciples about His coming Passion, death, and resurrection. This passage in Luke comes after Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah. Jesus seems to be telling them that this Messiah must suffer greatly before saving us, and this salvation involves much more than just freedom from Roman oppression. Our Lord is preparing them (and us) for their own Lenten observance on the road to the Passion that is coming:
“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?” (Lk 9:23-25)
This passage is a tremendous challenge for us, a powerful set of instructions for the season of Lent and, actually, for our entire lives if we want to go all the way with Him. Can we deny ourselves of so many pleasures, opinions, angers, resentments, luxuries, and caprices? Can we lose this life of comfort in “the world” for the mysterious promise that He gives us of the bliss to be experienced when we find our true life, our true selves in Him? That’s the goal I seek! But, oh boy, the sacrifices to be made along the way sure seem like the carrying of a heavy, painful cross. I don’t know if I can make it!
Now, here I am sort of changing the subject in order not to face this inner cross that Jesus asks me to carry. And yet it is related to it. For years now I have had this urge to make a large wooden cross that I can carry during Lent, take it perhaps in front of church buildings after Mass(with the Pastor’s permission!), or through Central Park or Times Square (probably need a police permit!) and just seeing what happens. This year I somehow forced myself to make this cross. It is 10 feet tall but just heavy enough for me, I hope(I attached small wheels to the bottom so it will not drag painfully on the concrete!).
But then I asked God, “Why am I doing this? Is it an empty act? Is it just stubbornness, or the desire to show off ? How can I do some good in Your name?” Finally an idea “came” to me. Why not have Sharpie markers to lend to people so they can write something on the cross? A prayer of love perhaps, since the Cross is the place where God’s great love for us is so powerfully expressed; or just a prayer of gratitude for this incredible Love that gives us life daily. The Cross is also the place of forgiveness. If they want, they can write a prayer of personal contrition, or just write the name of a person they need to forgive! The Cross is the place of healing, where “It was our infirmities that He bore, our sufferings that He endured….. by His stripes we were healed.” (Is 53:4a,5b) Perhaps folks can write the name of a person in need of healing, even themselves. God can inspire them in different, unexpected ways. Maybe young people will be attracted to help me carry it around. Who knows? I will let you readers know how it went.
I am looking forward to this. When I pick up this cross, after I get used to the weight and pain, and realize that my back and knees can take it, I feel a strange peace, a heightened awareness, a sense of God’s presence. I wonder if Simon the Cyrenian (in the Gospel of Luke) felt this way in spite of the horrendous situation that he was forced into as he followed the wounded Jesus to Calvary. I hope this “mission” of mine will touch people’s hearts and that this home-made cross will remind them of God’s unfathomable mercy and love for all of us.
Part of me realizes how unworthy I am to even dare to try this. What keeps me going is the thought of that daily cross that Jesus offers me in the Gospel. This personal, invisible cross is a different sign, which shows me that this Lent is the perfect time to lose a little more of my old, selfish life, to deny myself of things that keep me from the intimacy that God wants to share with me. Jesus offers me this spiritual cross, the place where I die into the loving arms of my God in order to resurrect in His joy.
This cross can be found in every person that we meet, even in my wooden cross. But most of all it can be found in the very center of prayer, where the Lord repeatedly gives us His gentle heart, His easy yoke, and the soothing burden of carrying His Love to the world. Lord, give us the strength and perseverance to seek You in our very hearts, every moment of the day.
Orlando Hernández
Jesus begins to set out for Jerusalem in today’s reading at Mass from the 10th chapter of Mark’s gospel. Matthew offers a similar account in the 19th and 20th chapters of his gospel.
Jesus doesn’t go to Jerusalem alone, he invites others to go with him. It’s a journey to resurrection and life and more than a couple of days, but as they hear Jesus describe the way to Jerusalem, people react like people do,
You can’t miss human weakness in the journey stories of Mark’s and Matthew’s gospel, beginning with the Pharisees. I suppose they represent human doubt and questioning that’s always there. The disciples rebuked the women bringing their children forJesus’ blessing, and Jesus rebukes them. Be like children to make the journey, Jesus tells them.
The rich young man wants to hold on to what he has, so he goes away sad. Peter says proudly he’ s given up everything to follow Jesus, but we know how inconstant he is. The story of the brothers, James and John, is obviously a story of human ambition.
Matthew offers Mark’s stories in chapter 19 and 20 of his gospel. The artist Rembrandt drew a remarkable picture of the 19th and 20th chapter of Matthew called the Hundred Guilder Print.
Jesus stands at the center of Rembrandt’s work, bathed in light, his hands outstretched to the crowds before him.
Peter stands at Jesus right, close by. Other disciples, probably James and John, are next to him. Women and their children, whom the disciples told to go away, are next to them. The rich young man is also there in the crowd. Is he reconsidering?
Some of the enemies of Jesus who plotted against him and argued with him are also there, talking among themselves, but they’re still in the picture. Rembrandt even pictures the camel, back by the city gates.
Jesus sheds his light on them all. His arms are open to them all. Rembrandt has it right. Grace is more powerful than human weakness. It’s everywhere.
For this week’s homily please play the video below.
We’ll be reading from the Book of Sirach at Mass from this Monday till Ash Wednesday, March 6. Sirach is a grandfather’s advice to his grandchildren, filled with encouraging words of faith.
February 27th the Passionists celebrate the Feast of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, a young Italian saint who’s a good example for young people.
March 1st the Passionists get ready for Lent by celebrating the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion of Jesus Christ. Like the rainbow God chose to promise life and mercy to Noah, the Passion of Jesus is a sign of God’s love for the world. May it be always in our hearts.
FEBRUARY 25 Mon Weekday
Sir 1:1-10/Mk 9:14-29 (341)
26 Tue Weekday
Sir 2:1-11/Mk 9:30-37 (342)
27 Wed St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin
Gen 12, 1-2,4/Mk 10,17-21
28 Thu Weekday
Sir 5:1-8/Mk 9:41-50 (344)
MARCH 1 Fri Solemn Commemoration of the Passion of Jesus Christ
Gen 22,1-18/Rom 5,12.17-19/Mt 16, 21-27
2 Sat Weekday
Sir 17:1-15/Mk 10:13-16 (346)
MARCH
3 SUN EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Sir 27:4-7/1 Cor 15:54-58/Lk 6:39-45 (84)
For this week’s homily, please play the video file below.
The readings from the Book of Genesis this week take us out of the Garden of Eden to the world where Adam and Eve begin life anew with their two children, Cain and Abel. A tough world that gets worse as time goes by. Finally, only Noah is left as rain comes down, but God’s promise remains. A rainbow spreads across the sky.
The readings from chapter 8 in Mark’s gospel center on the identity of Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes dispute his claims. His disciples believe he is the Messiah, but Peter in Mark 8, 33 calls him to turn away from his mission to Jerusalem.
The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle is celebrated on February 22nd. The same apostle Jesus calls “Satan” teaches about his mission.
St. Polycarp, the 2nd century bishop of Smyrna, is one of the great martyrs of the early church. An old man who wouldn’t give up his faith and died for it.
FEBRUARY 18 Mon Weekday
Gn 4:1-15, 25/Mk 8:11-13 (335)
19 Tue Weekday
Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10/Mk 8:14-21 (336)
20 Wed Weekday
Gn 8:6-13, 20-22/Mk 8:22-26 (337)
21 Thu Weekday
[Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church]
Gn 9:1-13/Mk 8:27-33 (338)
22 Fri The Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle
Feast
1 Pt 5:1-4/Mt 16:13-19 (535) Pss Prop
23 Sat Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr
Memorial
Heb 11:1-7/Mk 9:2-13 (340)
24 SUN SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23/1 Cor 15:45-49/Lk 6:27-38 (81)
This week, the first week of Lent, Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem from the Mount of the Beatitudes to the Mount of Calvary. In Matthew’s Gospel he teaches his disciples to pray ( Tuesday and Thursday, 1st week) and to love their neighbor, the “least”, who are easily overlooked, and even their enemies. (Friday and Saturday, 1st week) He is a teacher and friend to listen to, a companion on the journey of life.
The Gospel of Matthew is the most frequently read of the four gospels in the first three weeks of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday. From earliest times it was read as the most important gospel for preparing catechumens for baptism and for renewing belief in those already baptized.
Luke’s Gospel (Wednesday), along with the reading from Jonah, focuses on the end of Jesus’ journey, the mystery of his death and resurrection, which must be preached to all the world.
Monday the Feast of the Chair of Peter is celebrated.
For the readings and notes on the readings, see www.usccb.org
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FEBRUARY 22 Mon Chair of St.Peter 1 Pet 5:1-4/Mt 16:13-19
23 Tue Lenten Weekday Is 55:10-11/Mt 6:7-15
24 Wed Lenten Weekday Jon 3:1-10/Lk 11:29-32
25 Thu Lenten Weekday. Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25/Mt 7:7-12
26 Fri Lenten Weekday Ez 18:21-28/Mt 5:20-26
27 Sat Lenten Weekday Dt 26:16-19/Mt 5:43-48
28 SUN SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18/Rom 8:31b-34/Mk 9:2-10
The Victor's Place 