Archive for month: March, 2023
In Romans (8:5-11) Paul contrasts flesh and spirit in that a life lived “according to the flesh” brings death, and a life lived “according to the Spirit” brings life and peace. Bear in mind that when Paul talks about fleshly actions, he is not degrading human biological functions such as food and sex in their proper bounds. Rather, he means fleshly actions rooted in bitterness, hatred, competition, and jealousy (Romans 8:5-11). We can set our mind upon a “fleshly life” that takes no consideration of others into account, or we can live a “spiritual life” that recognizes our connection to God and one another and honors those connections.
We all have felt the heartache and despair that “fleshly”, destructive actions bring to human life. We know this from the actions of others and we ourselves can get caught up in bitterness, hatred, completion, and jealousy. Nevertheless, the Good News is that being guided by the Holy Spirit in the way of Christ brings about life and peace, and not just for us, but for the world around us.
Let us pray for the courage to embrace the world in the name of Christ: Father in heaven, the love of your Son led him to accept the suffering of the cross so that we might find life in divine forgiveness. Change our selfishness into self-giving. May we embrace the world you have given us and transform the darkness of its pain into the life and joy of Easter. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sunday Missal, alt.
Our Scripture Reading from John’s Gospel (9:1-41) was about a blind man and Jesus. In the days of Jesus, it was easy to find a reason not to help the blind because it was a punishment from God because of some sin the blind or his/her parents had committed. For Jesus said it was an opportunity to do good. He healed the man of blindness, and gradually the man, formerly blind, received spiritual insight, yet the religious leaders found fault.
Have you ever found fault with a good deed done with good intentions? The opportunities to do good are always before us, but what opportunities to do good have you neglected to do because you were not open to the possibility of making a difference for the good? What opportunities to do good have you passed because you exploited the faults and failures of someone needing help? When opportunities to make a difference for the good come before us may we seize the opportunity that God has given us.
Let us pray for the light of faith: Father of light, you close the eyes of those who think they see because they rely on their own insights. Yet, through the Holy Spirit may your Son open the eyes of those eager for your light. May Jesus, the light of the world, heal us, give us faith and understanding, and restore our sight so that we see the way that leads to you and to other people.
Amen.
Claretian Communications
Let us pray to God our Father that Jesus be the source of our life: Creative and forgiving Father you let people experience your mercy when they encounter your Son, Jesus Christ.
Attune us to his voice speaking your Word of forgiveness and love. Dispose us to follow his example as the Holy Spirit forms Christ within us and among us. Amen.
Claretian Publications, alt.
The question of the proper place to worship is still with us: Is it this Church? that Church? this faith? that faith? this location? that location? Perhaps a more relevant question for us might be this: What is the correct musical form to worship God? Traditional? Contemporary? Bluegrass? Old timey Gospel hymns?
In a debate/dialogue with a Samaritan woman, Jesus notes that the correct place/temple to worship is not important (John 4:5-26). What is important is that we worship “in spirit and in truth. According to John’s Gospel (1:17) “grace and truth” came to us in Jesus Christ. May we live lives of truth in that we refuse to allow the prejudices and hatreds of our culture, families, community, and nation to determine how we see and treat others. Jesus and the Samaritan woman reveal that truth. May our words and actions be shaped by the spirit of grace and truth in our words and actions.
