Palm Sunday of Lent (C), April 1,2007

Processional Reading:  Luke 19:28-40
Reading I:  Isaiah 50:4-7
Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Reading II:  Philippians 2:6-11
The Passion According to the Gospel of Luke:  Luke 22:14—23:56

Every year when Palm Sunday arrives, I always feel so inadequate with a sense of what did I really accomplish during Lent?  Have I gotten closer to Christ this Lent?  Or has it been just another “run of the mill” Lent where I let the days go by without a care in the world as I watch winter turn to spring and let the semester’s activities swallow me up without an inkling of thought of what it all means?  As I watch the priest bless the palms yet again, I know only four days of Lent remain, and this slightly lifts these feelings.

For this is precisely why I enjoy the tradition of Palm Sunday.  Palm Sunday and the ensuing Holy Week celebrations culminating with the Easter Triduum and the Resurrection is what Christians live for every year.  It’s why we give up chocolate or popcorn or pop for forty days.  It’s why we try to pray and read the scriptures more during these holy preparatory days of Lent.  With all that said, its Palm Sunday that brings us back, it focuses us back on what Christ did over 2,000 years ago.  No matter how bad we stumbled through Lent—and I would tend to believe that most of us treat our Lenten observances like our New Year’s resolutions—strong at first, but as the time goes by, the bad habits creep in—no matter how bad we struggle through Lent, Palm Sunday brings on the final stretch run, the final call, so to speak, of Lent. 

The Church every year rotates the first three gospels, the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke, on Palm Sunday and allows these Gospels to account the Passion of Jesus.  Good Friday always has John’s account of the Passion, but Palm Sunday rotates every year.  This year, the liturgical year being “C”, we get a chance to read the beautiful account out of Luke.  Everyone remembers this account because this is the only Gospel where the criminals hung with Jesus speak.  Even as Jesus is dying on the cross, He finds the ability to forgive a sinner.  Think about that for a second.  An innocent man, Jesus, has just been put to death in the most brutal way imaginable, and yet, he still finds the strength to show us how to love our enemies.  Jesus was the polar opposite in terms of guilt to the other crucified men, yet still he forgives. 

My mother always dislikes when they read the Passion on Palm Sunday because she says that “It’s not Good Friday, he didn’t die on Palm Sunday, so why should we read it?”  I always try to remind her that the Church has a specific reasoning behind it.  It reminds us first and foremost of the death Christ had to suffer to redeem us from our sins.  Today’s reading to the Philippians says, “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”  Jesus, although He was God, went through that horrible scourging and death to set us free from sin, free from the reigns of this world.  Palm Sunday sets the tone for Holy Week.  A Palm Sunday without the Passion would be inadequate, it would be unjust.  We need a wakeup call, a call that states we better pay attention now to the events at hand.  Good Friday is too late for that call, its first on Palm Sunday that the Church breaks out the Passion account.  We need on the waning days of Lent to be reminded of the immense sacrifice of Christ.

Finally, Palm Sunday reminds me of the whole entire liturgical year.  First, Jesus rolls into Jerusalem on a donkey with all the pomp and circumstance—people laying palm branches out, yelling, screaming, etc.  All this joy turns melancholy as this whole thing progresses until obviously, Jesus is put to death—a horrendous loss.  This to me, mirrors the liturgical year because most of the major events of the liturgical year lie between Christmas and the Easter Season.  At the beginning we prepare for Christmas and all the buildup, the joy, the energy of the coming of the Messiah.  The triumph arrival into Jerusalem reminds me of that same kind of energy.  And well we all know that the point of Lent is to prepare for Easter, and we can’t have Easter without the death—a death fully described this year in Luke’s Passion narrative.  Minus the resurrection, Palm Sunday has it all...all the emotions of the liturgical year wrapped into one, from joy to sorrow, and along the way, the Lord leads by example how to live this life.  This is precisely why I say Palm Sunday mirrors the liturgical year.  Not only that, Palm Sunday has a fancy way of waking up those of us “sleeping” through Lent and really focusing us to what lies ahead—a horrific death followed by...well you know what happens next...All in all, Palm Sunday prepares us for Holy Week like nothing else can—by reminding us of how Jesus would like us to live this life—through a loving example.

Prayer                

Dear Heavenly Father,
Guide us today to touch the face of your Son.
Although we are inadequate and undeserving of
the wonderful love Jesus showed us on the cross,
it never stopped Him from fulfilling Your will.
Help us to grow closer to You, Lord, through your Son’s
Holy Cross.  Help us to understand more fully what exactly it
means in our lives.  Teach us to love like Jesus loved.  Let
us live out the love Jesus showed us on the cross—because only
through that love will we attain our eternal happiness with You.  Amen.

Joe Dolence
Senior Biochemistry/Biology Major

Fifth Sunday of Lent (C), March 25, 2007

Readings:  Ezekiel 37: 12-14;  Romans 8: 8-11; John 11: 1-45

“Then I shall put my spirit into you and you shall live and I will settle you on your own soil. . . .” 

 The prophet Ezekiel sets the tone for this Sunday’s readings; he assures the people of Israel that God will put his spirit (literally his breath, his life) in them; he will open their graves and “bring them up from them.”  God is not only life-supporting but also life-giving; sinews will appear again on the dry bones and flesh will cover them.  God made a covenant with us and will honor that covenant.  We the people have the responsibility of honoring that covenant by choosing to be faithful, by opening ourselves to God’s breath, a wind which gives impetus and direction when we choose to give ourselves over to its vitalizing influence.  “I will put breath in you and you shall live” – promise and challenge - live, believe and trust in Me.

Paul seems to have Ezekiel in mind when he says God will “also give new life to your mortal bodies through his indwelling Spirit,” - even if “the body is a dead thing because you have sinned.”  This is not some kind of conditional commitment on God’s part; if we possess the Spirit of Christ; Christ is dwelling in us  We cannot help but be affected by this spirit any more than we resist the force of the northeast wind blowing off Lake Superior in March. It demands attention because is it chilly, even irritating but is at the same time a bold harbinger of spring, of renewed life, the wind is just as self-assured as Paul who declares to faithful that the Spirit does not make empty gestures.

Jesus is even more blunt: “If a man has faith in me, even though he die, he shall come to life; and no one who I alive and has faith shall ever die.”  Like Ezekiel, challenge and promise, but in this passage not just a theoretical possibility.  The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is a dramatic affirmation of that foundational Christian belief Paul asserts: the Spirit brings life and not just on some metaphorical level.  Martha and Mary make bold assertions of faith and trust in Jesus; Jesus raises their brother from the dead.  But this is not just a cause-effect consequence; Jesus is there in the first place because he loves Lazarus and he can use Lazarus’ death as an opportunity to demonstrate both to his disciples and us how powerful that love is.  Like the wind off the lake in the spring, like the powerful green push of a daffodil shoot through the damp ground and leaves, like the turning of our planet from day through night and into morning again, like the Spirit that sweeps into our lives when we open ourselves to its sweet breath, Jesus will bring us to life, to ourselves, to one another.  Because he loves us.

John Schifsky
Professor of English

Fourth Week of Lent (C), March 18,2007

Lenten Reflection- Luke 15:1-3, 11-32    Joshua 5: 9a, 10-12   2 Corinthians 5:17-21

As I read and then pondered the scripture given to me for Lenten reflection, a number of words came across very clearly.  I began to wonder if God’s favorite letter in the English Alphabet is “R”., because 6 of the 7 concepts that I found so clearly relayed in this scripture are best described with words that start with that letter.

The story of the “prodigal son” found in Luke 15, begins by outlining two of these concepts.  First is “rebellion”.  I know rebellion.  I spent at least 1/3 of my years in a spiritually rebellious state, knowing of God, but refusing to accept Christ as my savior, lord and redeemer.  As we ponder Christ’s gift to us on the cross, we must also search our hearts for that ongoing spiritual rebellion. 

Second in this story comes “repentance”.  Fortunately I know repentance as well.  I found out that “I wasn’t all that” through some experiences in my former role as a teacher and head H.S. hockey coach.  That led to reflection.  The reflection wasn’t all that pretty and I chose to “repent”.  I have learned that “repentance” not only means to “turn away” as we are often told, but to walk in the opposite direction.  The prodigal son did this figuratively and literally.  What must we turn and walk away from our rebellion of sin, beyond symbolically, as we give up things during Lent.  True repentance is expressed as we truly purge things from our lives that separate us from God

Our third “r” is “reconciliation”.  This is shared both in the story of the prodigal, but also in the passage from Joshua, as the rebellious nation of Israel finally repents, and are “reconciled” with God and given the full gifts of the promised land.

This reconciliation corresponds directly to my forth “r” word, “reverence”.  Israel is “reconciled” as they show “reverence” to God.  Can we express this reverence of Christ more fully this Lenten season?  “Reconciliation” is through Christ, as our Passage from 2 Corinthians, boldly expresses.  We are made completely new when we accept Christ’s work on the cross and in our lives, as true believers.  

 This passage goes on to suggest (command) an even deeper commitment.  We are to be “ambassadors” of Christ’s ministry of reconciliation.  As I veer a bit from “r” words for a bit, I was led to consider this word “ambassador”  My Encarta Dictionary on my computer defines it as, “a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by one country as its long-term representative to another”.  Wow!  Not an easy job, nor a short-term one.  The phrase “diplomatic official of the highest rank” leads to the last “r” word clearly expressed in 2 Cor. 5, “righteousness”.  Christ determines us, and calls us to be a reflection of his “righteousness”.  That’s a hard one for me and many other Christians to swallow, “Me, righteous?”  It is even harder for many non-Christians to swallow, “They think they are so righteous”.  The key comes both in the first part of the phrase and more importantly in the person we are to reflect, Christ.  Diplomatic officials cannot be judgmental, self-righteous people.  They are to form relationships that can foster understanding, in an effort to align others with our values. 

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be ambassadors of His reconciling work on the cross, in love, not judgment.  We too bear a reflection of that first “r” word, “rebellion”.  Although it is behind us as true believers, we cannot forget to consider our own rebellion as we lead others to Christ.  As we move forward as ambassadors of Christ (disciples), this Lenten season and “long-term”, let us bear a resemblance to Him as we embrace and share His grace!

Mike Odberg
Outdoor PURSUIT! Coordinator

by Molly K. Hans

mollykhans@comcast.net
from the forthcoming::
from the forthcoming::

Ashes and Easter:
Meditations and prayers day by day for Lent and the Easter Season
by William C. Graham and Molly Keating Hans

Reading I
Gen 17:3-9

Responsorial Psalm
Ps. 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Gospel
John 8:51-59

Reflection

Remember the "God bless" bedtime prayers of your youth?

In the early days, the "God blesses" were manageable: Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa and a few aunts and uncles. As the family grew, the prayer list expanded to include new sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. Eventually you may have added neighbors, friends and team mates to be blessed every night before going sleep. It matters not whether these myriad kith and kin were named out of concern for their spiritual welfare, or merely as a strategy to forestall bedtime. The precious ritual reminded us of our enduring connection with God who knows us and loves us in our sleeping and waking, as well as those who help us do his work on earth.

God blesses each of Abraham's innumerable descendants with the gift of faith, as well as membership in an impressive lineage. "I will make you exceedingly fertile," God promises. "I will make nations of you; kings shall stem of you."

On top of the promise of numerous descendents, God enters into a covenant with Abraham. God promises that he will remain faithful, not only to Abraham but also to all of his descendants. Who could resist such a covenant? I will be your God and the God of all your children and grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren into perpetuity. In the gospel we read that the name of Abraham remains in the collective memory of the chosen people and is invoked thousands of years, hundreds of generations later when the Jews question Jesus: "Are you greater than our father Abraham?"

The psalm reminds us that God remembers his covenant forever. This Easter, as we renew our baptismal promises and confirm our belief in "God the Father almighty" and in "Jesus Christ his only son, Our Lord," we are called to remember that God first pledged his faithfulness to us as his part of a covenant that exacts a promise from us to remain faithful to him. We are indeed blessed to be named as brothers and sisters in faith with Jesus, the risen Lord and Redeemer who, with his Father, keeps the covenant of faith in his us, even when we don't, or don't deserve it, even to death.

We ask God to bless us with enduring faith as we approach and adore the wood of the cross on these days of our journey to Easter.

A Prayer:

Father, God of Abraham,
you remember your covenant forever.
Help us remember
that you are the source of all goodness
and wellspring of all blessings.
Grant us the humility to surrender our doubts
and accept the gift of faith
that endows the children of Abraham and Sarah
with the promise of eternal salvation.
As we draw near to the remembrance
of the passion and death of our brother Jesus,
bless every step of our way with your never-ending faith,
steadfast hope
and unconditional love
both now and forever
through the same Christ, our Lord.

Second Sunday of Lent (C), March 4, 2007

Do we believe?
Do we really believe?
Do we trust?
Do we really trust?
What does God want for us?
Has God indeed revealed this to us?
Have we listened?
Can it be true that God's love for us might include a freedom not to choose him?
Not to believe?
If we do believe, is the depth of that belief such that it becomes easier to choose him, than not to?
Does our earthly life affirm our belief in our Creator, or deny it?
Will it be our faith in him or his faith in us that will bring us to our ultimate desire?
If we truly believe in this divine existence, will we be able to reconcile our earthly choices in his presence?
Will we have seen it enough here, that we will know it by name when we are there?
Will we be able to say I believed, therefore I lived?
Do we really allow ourselves to see our relationship with this everlasting fulfillment?

Betsy Kneepkens
Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Life

First Sunday of Lent (C), February 24, 2007Lent has traditionally been called the "spring time of the soul." And, indeed, as we walk through the days of Lent in the coming weeks, there will be more and more signs of spring in the air. Spring is a time of new life, new beginnings, and so is Lent. And the soul…what is the "soul?" It is that deepest center, where we connect with ourselves and are in communion with Holy Mystery, Spirit, God, new life.

In the gospel reading for the first Sunday of Lent, we are reminded once again of Jesus' time in the desert. If you were to look at the events that precede and follow Jesus' sojourn in the desert, here's what you would find. Right before Jesus went out into the desert, he went down to the Jordan river and was baptized there by John. After he returned from the desert, he went up to Nazareth and preached his first sermon, inaugurating a new, challenging, creative, courageous, compassionate ministry that would continue until his death. So, for Jesus, these events-his baptism, his desert experience and his inaugural sermon-were the beginning of something new in his life, something that would influence history for many years to come. Something new happened to Jesus at that time in his life. In that beautiful but stark desert, he struggled with his own sense of identity. The voice of temptation said to him, "If you are the son of God…." and then offered him some spectacular suggestion that would illustrate his power as son of God. And that temptation seems to be connected with Jesus' awakened recognition of his connection with God; at his baptism, a "voice from heaven" said: "You are my Son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased."

There are certain times-at the beginning of college, toward the end of college, at moments when a new relationship is born, an old relationship dies, a child is born, someone we love becomes ill, a friend or relative dies, some action we do makes a difference in someone's life-when we come to a new place, experience a new beginning, are awakened to a new sense of ourselves and others. Lent reminds us of this newness and offers us a season to reflect on it. So does spring.

So this spring listen for bubbling water when the ice breaks on the creek. Watch for tiny new buds on the trees. Notice when the temperatures rise consistently above freezing and you feel a warm spring breeze. Get up early one morning and watch the sun rise. Wander back into the woods and smell the smell of spring. Notice the greening of the earth. Look for your first spring blossom.

And let all these gifts of the planet remind you of our "spring time of the soul." Jesus began something new with his baptism. We can begin something new, too. Lent is the time, and spring is the sign. Let us wake up to new life wherever we find it: all over the earth, in ourselves and in one another. And with the strength that comes from that new life, let us live, as Jesus did, in ways that bring hope and healing to the world.

Kathie McLaughlin, CSJ, PhD
Theology and Religious Studies

Ash Wednesday

Reading 1
Joel 2:12-18

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.

Reading II
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

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 …

We who intend to present ourselves to be signed with ashes might first pray:

God of tender mercy,

you fashion us from the dust of the earth

and bid us follow your gospel call

in the company of the Church.

Look on us with kindness as we prepare to be signed with the ashes

which will mark the beginning of our Lenten journey.

Grant that we who make the desert pilgrimage

might come to the font of rebirth

with a renewed passion for justice.

May our alms serve your people and bring us peace;

may our prayer sanctify all our deeds;

and, may we come at last to the table you set

in the place where you reign

with Christ and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.

Fr. William Graham
Director, Braegelman Catholic Studies Program