Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 3/01/09 by Dawn

You can find the full Scripture Readings for this Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/030109.shtml

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.
Mark 1:12-13

I think the only desert climate I've been to is Arizona. I visited a small part of Arizona about 10 years ago. I never thought I would like the desert (not that what I experienced was a true desert), but I found unexpected beauty there. I've seen pictures of what the Judean desert, the desert Jesus went into, looks like. It's much more rocky than I had imagined. In other Gospels we hear the details of Satan tempting Jesus - saying "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread" (Matt 4:3). Can you imagine being in the midst of a 40 day fast and everywhere you look you see stones - stones that could be turned into bread. What a temptation!

It's in the desert where we face our demons. A few years ago our Lenten Teen Retreat used the theme "Into the Desert". I would have to say that that retreat was one of the deepest, most moving retreats I've been a part of. The kids (and us adults along for the journey) were asked to go into the desert and look at what we struggle with. It was different for every person, some were dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts; some with abusive relationships, some with substance abuse; some with doubt in God. We spent three days in deep conversation, meditation, and prayer. One of the things I walked away with was a new understanding of the importance of going into the desert every so often to truly examine what it is that pulls me away from God. Satan comes at us under many disguises. It is in the desert, when everything that normally distracts us is pulled away, that we are able to see more clearly.

One of the things I most like about this passage is that it says "The Spirit drove Jesus into the desert..." Jesus didn't just wander in there, He was pushed there. And He wasn't in the desert alone, the Gospel tells us that "angels ministered to him". How, we don't know, but we do know they were there. Is the Holy Spirit driving you into the desert this Lent? If so, know you're not there alone, the Spirit accompanies you. What in your life do you need ministering to?





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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 2/22/09

You can find the full Scripture Readings for this Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/022209.shtml

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Child, your sins are forgiven."
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus immediately knew in his mind
what they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Mark 2:5-8

This week's reflection comes from a homily given by St John Chrysostom (c. 347-407). John was born at Antioch and lived as a hermit until he was ordained deacon in 381 and priest in 386. He became well known for his homilies which earned him the title “Chrysostomos” or “the golden-mouthed”.

The scribes asserted that only God could forgive sins, yet Jesus not only forgave sins, but showed that he had also another power that belongs to God alone: the power to disclose the secrets of the heart. They, of course, did not reveal what they were thinking.

Scripture says that some of the scribes said within themselves: “This man is talking blasphemy.” And Jesus, aware of their thoughts, said: “Why do you think evil in your hearts?”

Now only God knows the secrets of the heart.

As the prophet says: You alone know the heart, and: God searches the mind and the heart. And so, to prove his divinity and his equality with the Father, Jesus brought their secret thoughts into the open, which they had not dared to do for fear of the crowds.

...Jesus did not give a clear manifestation of his power when he first spoke to the paralytic. He did not say: “I forgive you your sins,” but: Your sins are forgiven. When the scribes forced him, however, he showed his power more clearly, that you may know, he said, that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins.

Before doing this Jesus asked the scribes: Which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Pick up your mat and go home?” This was the same as asking: “Which seems easier to you, to heal the body, or to forgive the soul its sins?"

Obviously, it is easier to heal the body.

Indeed, as far as the soul is above the body, so far does the forgiveness of sins surpass physical healing. However, since the one is invisible, but the other visible, I grant you as well this lesser, visible miracle as proof of the one which is greater but invisible.

Thus he showed by his deeds the truth of what John had said of him: that he takes away the sins of the world.



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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 2/15/09 by Dawn

You can find the full Scripture Readings for this Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/021509.shtml

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
"If you wish, you can make me clean."
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
"I do will it. Be made clean."
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Mark 1:40-42

Can you imagine what it must have been like for the leper to be able to rejoin his community? Not only did Jesus heal him from his physical ailment – from his pain and suffering, but he restored him to society. Once again he’d be able to walk the streets of town without shouting “UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN” as he went. He could stop and chat with the men of the town, perhaps hold his children on his lap. Obviously we don’t know the circumstances, but we can guess.

Living in community is oftentimes difficult for me. I have a constant fear that people are going to hurt me, so it’s safer to fade into the background, and stay to myself. I am also lazy and selfish – living in community takes effort. To do so you need to value the people around you instead of focusing on yourself. It’s a lot of work!

In my case I have the option to live outside the community – in the leper’s case, it was the law. In today’s world we force people to fringe of society for reasons other than leprosy – usually because they cause us fear of some sort. They may be looking for jobs, or maybe they think differently than we do, or maybe it’s just because they look and act differently than we do. We push them away instead of, like Jesus, bringing them into the community. Who are you pushing to the edges?



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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 2/8/09

You can find the full Scripture Readings for this Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/020809.shtml

On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
Mark 1:29-31

In an attempt to hear another voice, this week we have a reflection from Peter Chrysologus, who lived c. 400-450 CE. Peter Chrysologus was born in Imola, Italy and became the bishop of Ravenna. He was well known for his sermons.

Those who have listened attentively to today’s Gospel will have learnt why the Lord of heaven, by whom all creation was renewed, entered the houses of his servants on earth. Nor should it surprise us that he so courteously adapted himself to every situation, since his motive in coming among us was to bring mercy and help to all.

You can easily see what drew Christ to Peter’s house on this particular occasion; it was no desire to sit down and rest himself, but compassion for a woman stricken down by sickness. He was prompted not by the need to eat but by the opportunity to heal, his immediate preoccupation being the performance of a work which only his divine power could carry out, rather than the enjoyment of human company at table.

In Peter’s house that day it was not wine that flowed, but tears. Consequently Christ did not enter to obtain sustenance for himself, but to restore vitality to another. God wants human beings, not human goods. He desires to bestow what is heavenly, not to acquire anything earthly. Christ came to seek not our possessions but us.

As soon as Jesus crossed the threshold he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying ill in bed with a fever. On entering the house he immediately saw what he had come for. He was not interested in the comfort the house itself could offer, nor the crowds awaiting his arrival, nor the formal welcome prepared for him, or the assembled household. Still less did he look for any outward signs of preparation for his reception. All he had eyes for was the spectacle of a sick woman, lying there consumed with a raging fever.

At a glance he saw her desperate plight, and at once stretched out his hands to perform their divine work of healing; nor would he sit down to satisfy his human needs before he had made it possible for the stricken woman to rise up and serve her God.

So he took her by the hand, and the fever left her.

Here you see how fever loosens its grip on a person whose hand is held by Christ’s; no sickness can stand its ground in the face of the very source of health. Where the Lord of life has entered, there is no room for death.

(Sermon 18: PL 52, 246-49)

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