Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel: Matthew 9: 14-15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Any couple that’s been married for a number of years can look back and tell you about the joy that marriage brings. 

There’s the proposal; the wedding day; the birth of children; anniversaries; and the promise that someone will always be with you.

Marriage is meant to be a joyful thing.

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But, at times, it can also be quite stressful. 

Simply planning your life around another person is hard. Then there’s the possibility of financial stress, emotional distance, careers taking center stage, raising children, and unexpected grief.

Most marriages are a mixed bag; there are highs and lows.

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The same is true in the spiritual life. We will experience highs and lows, times of penance and times of celebration.

In the Gospel, Jesus refers to himself as the “bridegroom.” Being around him brings the same type of joy that comes from being at a wedding. So, the disciples must celebrate while the Lord is with them.

However, in the very next verse, he warns them that the “bridegroom” will be taken away from them; his death will usher in a period of sorrow and penance. The disciples will be challenged to persevere in spite of their grief.

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What have been some of my own highs and lows on my journey of faith?

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As we begin this season of Lent, remember the words of Saint Paul, who encouraged some of the first Christians: “Rejoice in hope, be patient under trial, persevere in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

Never give up.

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Image credits: (1) A New Covenant Perspective on Fasting, Via Emmaus (2) Times of India (3) Reflections and Ruminations

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Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to all,
 “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?”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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These are some of the most famous – and difficult – words spoken by Jesus: “Take up your cross and follow me.”

What’s that mysterious cross he’s referring to? 

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The clumsy, awkward, often hard to carry cross called life.

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We might re-interpret Jesus’ words, “Take up your life and follow me.”

Many of us carry the weight of children, marriage, or a difficult job. Others suffer from an illness, care for an aging spouse, or have bills piling up.

Meanwhile, it’s the second day of Lent, so we’ve added the daily practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. 

We don’t have to add any extra weight to our shoulders in order to please Jesus. We simply can’t shrug it off.

That’s the cross.

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Whatever God has given us to do today, may we do it all – without either complaint or need for praise. 

Just take up your life – and all the responsibilities associated with it – and follow him.

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Image credits: (1) Kingdom Virtues (2) Redeemed! (3) LIFE, American TV series, Wikipedia

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Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate both chocolate and ashes… romance and sacrifice… Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday.

On the surface, the two may seem like a contradiction in terms. But if we dig deeper, then we should discover that both Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday are rooted in the same theme:

Love.

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In Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet, a young Juliet gazes down upon Romeo and says: “Romeo, the more I give to you the more I seem to have.”

His happiness led to hers.

That’s what Valentine’s Day is all about – reminding ourselves that the happier our loved one is, the happier we become.

Our hearts naturally seem fuller after cooking a special dinner for a friend or spouse; writing a gushy card; or sending a bouquet of flowers. That smile coming from our beloved’s face makes us happy in return.  

The more we give, the more we have.

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Ash Wednesday – and by extension, Lent – takes the logic of Valentine’s Day and stretches it.

In today’s Gospel, the Lord instructs us to pray, fast, and give alms. The more we do these things – not just for a friend or spouse – but for strangers, the less fortunate, even our enemies, the happier we will become.

“For if you love those who love you,” Jesus says, “what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.”

“Rather, love your enemies and do good to them. Lend and expect nothing back. Then your reward will be great in heaven.”

Trust Jesus: the more we give to others this Lent, the more we will seem to have.

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Image credits: (1) ABC 13 (2) Simcha Fisher (3) Christianity.com