Thursday of the Second Week of Lent (Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23) Many have asked how Hitler became so popular.  His ideas were always radical, yet the populace of Germany supported him long before World War II began.  The people seem to have lost their right judgment.  Something similar takes place in both readings today. In the first Jeremiah tells how Jerusalem failed to listen to the Lord’s prophets.  These messengers of God admonished the city to offer right praise to God.  More than that, they exhorted fair treatment and special care for the poor.  ..read more

  Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (2 Samuel 7:4-5a.12-14a.16; Romans 4:13.16-18.22; Matthew 1:16.18-21.24a) One innovation of Pope Francis has been to include St. Joseph in the very often used Second and Third Eucharistic Prayers.  For awhile waning in the popular eye, Joseph’s role in the economy of salvation has been reemphasized.  After all, he not only gave Jesus royal lineage; he most likely taught his divine son godly justice. In today’s gospel Joseph manifests how justice is a virtue that requires more than a literal enactment of law but also ..read more

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent (Isaiah 1:10.16-20; Matthew 23:1-12)   In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus wages a war on hypocrisy.  He emphasized it in the Sermon on the Mount where he warned his disciples not to fast, pray, or give alms for show.  In today’s passage he critiques the Pharisees for not practicing what they preach, a sign of hypocrisy.  Then Jesus tells his disciples that they are brothers and sisters to one another.  As such, no is to assume greater respect or honor than anyone else.  He becomes specific when he says that they are not to call one a ..read more

Monday of the Second Week of Lent (Daniel 9:4b-10; Luke 6:36-38) Preparing for the Jubilee Year 2000 Pope Saint John Paul II called upon the Church to make a “purification of memory.” This term sounds strange.  Memories may not be accurate and in need of correction.  But how is this a “purification”?  It turns out that the saintly pope had in mind first a communal acknowledgement of past sins of the Church.  He wanted Catholics to own the sins of racism, intolerance of credal difference, marginalization of women, and other such social abuses that have compromised the Church ..read more

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:28b-36) As on every Second Sunday of Lent, the gospel today focuses on Jesus being mysteriously transfigured. The story astounds the reader. The narrative from the beginning recounts Jesus’ formation as a prophet with some strange experiences, but nothing unimaginable. Then, we come to this passage. Jesus is on the mountain with three disciples. They get a glimpse of him in glory. What does it all mean? Rather than try to explain the story’s development and apply its meaning to our lives, we are going to employ another ..read more

Friday of the First Week of Lent (Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26) Children in parochial schools often had problems with today’s first reading.  They reasoned that it is wrong to condemn someone who has lived his whole life doing good and then makes a small error.  Perhaps they did not understand what is at the basis of the good and bad behavior. God calls all people to a relationship with himself.  With each good deed and with each prayer the relationship deepens if the prayer or deed is done to please God and not just to look good.  After years of such activity, the per ..read more

Thursday of the First Week of Lent (Esther C:12.14-16.23-25; Matthew 7:7-12) Esther was literally a beauty queen.  King Ahasuerus (Xerxes in Greek history) called for a contest to find the most beautiful woman to replace his wife who refused to heed his command.  Like young women today, it seems that Esther cared more about a sweet life than a righteous one.  In today’s reading she admits that as a child she heard of the power of prayer as if she hasn’t prayed recently. Yet Esther gives herself completely to prayer when it becomes her only hope.  She prostrated herself an e ..read more

Wednesday of the First Week in Lent (Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11:29-32) There is an intriguing development in the Passion narrative of St. Luke’s Gospel.  The crowd following Jesus from the Roman praetorium to Calvary changes its attitude.  In front of Pilate it was insistent that Jesus should be crucified.  However, the crowd leaves the scene of crucifixion beating their breasts in remorse.  The crowd’s repentance is like that of the Ninevites in today’s first reading. In Ninevah the prophet’s moral preaching turned the hearts of the people.  On Calvary it was the nobility ..read more

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent (Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 6:7-15) Today’s famous passage from Second Isaiah assures that God’s word is efficacious.  It always achieves its purpose.  As God is altogether good, His word only brings about benefits. In the gospel, Jesus tells his disciples to pray for forgiveness of their sins.  Being God with power to effect what he wills, Jesus is assuring them that their guilt will be abolished.  However, he makes one proviso.  Sins will be forgiven on request as long as the sinners involved willingly forgive their offenders. We long ..read more

Monday of the First Week in Lent (Leviticus 19:1-2.11-18; Matthew 25:31-46) The Scripture readings today strike a balance between negative and positive actions.  Leviticus emphasizes the former with a list of “You shall not(s).”  The gospel, on the other hand, accentuates the positive.  It predicts Jesus reminding the nations at the end of time that they are being judged on what they did for the little people of the world.  If they fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and visited the imprisoned, they will be judged worthy of salvation. We might ask which is more important, to ..read more