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Passion Sunday [A]

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  PASSION SUNDAY, CYCLE A On Palm Sunday we will be hearing Matthew’s version of the Passion. Last year we heard from Luke’s version, and next year we will hear from Mark’s version. If you’re wondering about John’s version, we hear from his narrative every time we gather for the Good Friday liturgy. With each evangelist you will notice some unique element; something particular to that individual Gospel. In terms of Matthew, we can say that he’s the only one who follows through on the story of Judas. The others mention his betrayal, but they don’t say anything about his ultimate fate. Matthew is the only one who describes the regret and the subsequent suicide (see 27:3-10).  Exactly how much sympathy should we be extending to Judas? Some novelists and some screenplays portray him as having good intentions—or at least intentions that stop short of being completely evil. It’s a strain , reconciling these sentiments with passages that reflect a tone of condemnation . For example, ...
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Fifth Sunday of Lent [A]

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  FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT [A] In Ezekiel, it’s a promise (37:12-14). In Romans, it is a theological principle (8:11). Meanwhile, in John, it becomes something tangible, something concrete (11:38-44). The “it” has to do with the notion of being raised up. At first, it seems as if the Lord has let Martha down. She sends word, but he arrives too late. In other words, the illness has taken her brother’s life. Jesus reminds her: We are a resurrection people (11:23). And yet, she remains downcast. The resurrection will happen when the time comes for it to happen (11:24).  Jesus, at this point, takes exception. The Lord makes a declaration of sovereignty: I AM the resurrection and the life (11:25). You’re acting as if time is sovereign, as if time and time alone will dictate when the resurrection can take place. Well, I am about to do some dictating of my own. And with that, a man who was thoroughly dead comes back to life. It can be understood as a demonstration of authority on the ...
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Fourth Sunday of Lent [A]

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  FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT [A] We’ll begin by referencing a passage from John chapter eight: Jesus identifying himself as “the Light of the World” (8:12). Next, we’ll focus upon an event recorded in John chapter nine: a man who is blind from birth gains the ability to see (9:1-7). It’s a miracle that can be attributed to the person of Jesus. Therefore, we explain what happens in John chapter nine by recalling what has been established in John chapter eight . Light facilitates your ability to see. Jesus has been revealed as the Light of the World. When he ministers to the blind man, suddenly the darkness becomes dramatically dispelled.  Suppose it’s late in the evening and you notice your neighbor outside, crawling around in his driveway. As you make your inquiry, he explains to you that he is searching for his keys. So you subsequently decide to join him in the search. After a while, you feel the need to ask: Are you sure that you lost them here in the driveway?   Much to y...
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Third Sunday of Lent [A]

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THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT [A] God loves you, even if you are not practicing virtue. That’s part of what you will find if you spend time in Romans chapter five. God proves his love by sending Jesus into our world. Jesus takes his place among us, even dies for us, despite the fact we have given ourselves over to sin (5:8). It would have been understandable if God had chosen to hold off. He could have taken a “wait and see” approach: I’ll send my Son to them, once they show some interest in reforming their lives . But Paul’s point is that Jesus performs his act of redemption, while we are still deeply embedded within the quagmire of sin. With God, it’s all about love. What will we hear later on in the New Testament? Does it say that God is “understandable?”  Or rather, does it say that God “is love?”   Are we easy to love? No, we make it enormously difficult. This was true during the Old Testament period, and it’s been true ever since. For example, listen to the Israelites in Exo...
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Second Sunday of Lent [A]

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  SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT [A] This weekend, it’s all about being called. It’s an abstract call that appears within our second reading: specifically, the call to holiness (2nd Tim. 1:9). Meanwhile, the other two readings portray something of a more literal nature. As a result of his call, Abraham migrates from the far east, settling initially in Egypt, and then proceeding on into the land of Canaan (see Gen. 12:1-4; 15:18-21; 16:3). Thus, there is a geographical dimension to the call that Abraham receives. As for Peter, James, and John, their call will lead them to the top of a peak, known as Mt. Tabor (Matt. 17:1-8). It’s not an east-to-west journey, but rather a journey that takes them to a higher altitude.  With regard to Abraham, his call could be described as the most dramatic. Here he is, a man of advanced age (Gen. 12:4), being essentially uprooted, leaving behind all that is familiar to him, so that he can venture into the unknown. Imagine the apprehension! How would you...
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First Sunday of Lent [A]

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  FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT [A] While the devil has success in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:4-7), he goes on to fail in Matthew chapter four. How do we explain this? It needs to be understood that in Genesis chapter three the devil is operating on the original Adam; in Matthew chapter four he is contending with a new and improved Adam . That’s how Jesus gets portrayed in Romans chapter five: as a kind of New Adam. The Old Adam sends us into a type of deficit situation; meanwhile, through the New Adam, we actually come out ahead. Or, to put it another way: it’s a disadvantage being affiliated with the Old; and it’s an advantage when we choose to be affiliated with the New. St. Paul’s point is that the advantage seriously outweighs the disadvantage (Rom. 5:15-17).  By way of analogy, consider the case of Tony Stark. He is a damaged individual who eventually becomes a superhero. He starts off as a wounded prisoner being held behind enemy lines. An explosion leaves him with pieces of ...
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Ash Wednesday

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  ASH WEDNESDAY  They call her Cinderella , a name that derives from the Old French. It translates as “girl of the ashes.”  How does she become coated with ashes? It all happens in the line of duty. Among her many tasks, Cinderella has to monitor the fireplace. Prolonged exposure to the fireplace means one layer of ash followed by another layer of ash. It seems as if it will never end.  But of course it does come to an end. Misery will give way to joy. She will eventually find herself being treated to a new beginning. It’s not necessarily something that she brings about all on her own. Rather, she receives external support through the intervention of a Fairy Godmother. The Fairy Godmother does the “heavy lifting.” What does Cinderella do? For starters, she does her part by being  industrious. Furthermore, she does her part by being open: being open to the miraculous and being open to outside assistance. And finally, she also does her part by remaining hopeful....
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