Welcome! We encourage you to consider making a retreat or doing a service trip during the 2008-9 school year. It is our hope and prayer that these reflections will help you in your decision making process.
Also, please visit our Archived Reflections page (link at left) for reflections from last year. It is our hope that these writings, shared by students, faculty, staff, and alumni, will be helpful to you in your own Spiritual Development. May you seek and find God's blessings in your life!
Lent Reflections are now here. Please check back frequently as they are added daily.
April 2009
Reflections from Kairos XXVIII
Lenten Reflections
Your Thoughts?
Reflections from Kairos XXVIII
Kairos is a retreat offered by Campus Ministry to students that focuses on the questions we face in our life and where to go from here. "Finding God in all things" is the basis for this Ignatian-based weekend retreat. The retreat is lead by a team of students and adults and is comprised of talks, small group sharing, prayer and fun!
Reflections from Kairos XXVIII
“I loved the love and bonds that were made.”
– Jennifer Queeno
“The openness of the small group talks was so comforting, that I knew I wouldn’t be judged and could speak freely. The community that was created is so strong that I know these people are not people I will forget.”
– Leah Paladino
“I liked the sense of community that was built.”
– Brooke Reynolds
“The small group talks were very intimate and allowed everyone to open up and have genuine discussions.”
– Mike Brignone
“Kairos helped me realize graduating is just opening new doors to a new beginning”
– Jenn Malue
“The retreat helped me to find myself and get relaxed.”
– Eshwar Shankerim
“I loved everything. The large group talks were helpful; the small group talks were reflective. The rest is indescribable.”
– Rebecca Tarnowski
“With the right formulation of people the experience can be amazing to share. It is amazing the insight you get from other people.”
– Ashley Williams
“Kairos was amazing. I loved getting to meet new people and get to share such a life-changing experience with them. I loved getting time to dedicate to getting to know myself and strengthening all relationships with myself, friends, and God.”
– Nina Scalzo
“Kairos came at the perfect time in my life. I was stressed and overwhelmed and Kairos helped me to see the importance of God and others in my life”
– Chris Mekelburg
Lenten Reflections
During the liturgical season of Lent, Campus Ministry is posting reflections from students, professors, faculty and alums of the Canisius community. It is our hope that these reflections will serve as a resource to enrich our understanding of the life of Christ, the life of following Christ, through the lives of the Canisius community.
Reflection for April 5th:
Mk 11:1-11
On Palm Sunday we commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the beginning of Holy Week. It is an exciting moment, shaking our palms to remind us of the crowds who shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” Of course this celebration is tinged with sadness because we know the outcome of the story – in a few short days Jesus will be rejected by the crowds who welcomed him, betrayed by one of his followers, arrested, deserted by his friends, and put to death. Even though the Bible tells us that all of this was part of God’s plan, the terror of the story doesn’t go away. If this were a movie, many of us would be shouting at Jesus to turn around and run away before it’s too late. And yet he goes ahead with his mission.
Throughout history, the Passion story has generated a lot of animosity between Christians and Jews. For centuries, Christians in Europe would leave Good Friday services and rampage through Jewish neighborhoods in retaliation for Jesus’ death. Modern Christians have decried such violence, but even then we miss the point. We can’t let ourselves off the hook by claiming that “those people” rejected Jesus, but we wouldn’t have. In fact, according to the Gospels, the same exact people who welcomed Jesus as a conquering king, waving palms and shouting “Hosanna,” loosely “Save Us!” had turned against him by the end of the week. Even worse, his own followers failed him – one turned him over to the soldiers and the others ran away and denied even knowing him. As Christians we must remember that Christ was crucified for our sins too – not just everyone else’s, but ours too. When we continue to sin, we crucify him again.
This point was brought home to me the year I lived in Jerusalem. On Palm Sunday, I joined thousands of Pilgrims as we wound our way down the Mount of Olives, through the narrow streets of Jerusalem, and into one of the ancient churches. I could almost imagine myself cheering with the joyful throngs on the first Palm Sunday. But now I couldn’t easily separate myself from “those people” who would later reject Jesus. Many of these pilgrims come to Jerusalem especially for Holy Week – to cheer on Palm Sunday, celebrate Eucharist on Thursday, and to mournfully walk the Via Dolorosa to the Cross on Friday. So if these modern pilgrims and I represent the Palm Sunday crowds, we also represent the Good Friday crowds who rejected Jesus.
Of course, this is not the end of the story. A few of his followers held onto their crumbling faith and returned to the tomb on Sunday morning to discover the miracle of resurrection! Centuries later, this is the real reason all these pilgrims come to Jerusalem – to celebrate the joy that returns after the suffering. So the year I was there, I attended Easter Vigil at Crusader-era church where we were invited to wash our hands as a symbol of the cleansing and forgiveness offered by Jesus. I walked home in the dark and stayed awake so that I could be ready for the sunrise service on the Mount of Olives. It was still pitch-black when we walked there, but suddenly the sun peeked over the hills and in what seemed like just a few minutes everything was bright and alive again.
When we remember and reenact the events of Holy Week, we’re not just remembering some ancient nearly forgotten story. Instead, we are joining in an ongoing story of faith bringing new life even in the face of utter devastation.
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Submitted by: Rev. Jonathan Lawrence
Reflection for April 4th:
Jn 11:45-56
In today’s gospel you can see how the crowds are dividing already either for or against Jesus. When he was the miracle worker, they were quick to follow and believe. Yet some such as the religious and political leaders saw Jesus as a potential danger. Others were disappointed and rejected him for not being the Messiah that they expected. As we journey through lent and face challenges in our lives, which group are we with?
Jesus of course is fully aware of all of this unfolding according to his Father’s plan, yet it must have been so difficult especially with Passover beginning. Over the years of joining my Jewish friends for the Passover meal, I can hear them recite “Baruch atta Adonai” which means “Praised are you Lord our God” or “Blessed are you Lord” as they gather around their table. Jesus himself would be praying those prayers celebrating his faith yet knowing this Passover would be different. As we walk to the cross with our Lord may we be conscious of where he was each step of the way. May we know the depth of his sorrow and the holiness of his sacrifice before we rejoice at his resurrection.
Submitted by: Patty Grasso
Reflection for April 3rd:
Jn 10:31-42
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for April 2nd:
Jn 8:51-59
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for April 1st:
Jn 8:31-42
As I reflect on today’s gospel, I hear frustration in Jesus’ voice as he tries to tell his would-be disciples who He is and why God sent Him. Twice Jesus tells them that instead of listening to Him, they’re trying to kill Him. This gives the saying “don’t kill the messenger” a whole new meaning! They just don’t get it.
This could be a moment of divine grace for those whom He’s addressing. God sent Jesus to tell them the Truth and that if they live out that truth, they will be free. They are stuck in the “same-old, same-old”, not being open to a new way of thinking and believing…not hearing the “Good News”.
The Truth, the Word, can be revealed to us through God in many ways. Those present in this story were lucky enough to have the Real Deal reveal His word to them and still they didn’t hear Him. With all the distractions and “same-old” in our day, how can we break loose from all that keeps us from God and to Truth? Let us hear Jesus as He tells us: “remain in my word…and you will know the truth, and the truth will us free.”
Submitted by: Sue Fischer
Reflection for March 31st:
Jn 10:31-42
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for March 30th:
Jn 8:1-11
This is the Gospel were the Elders brought a woman to Jesus who was caught in the act of committing adultery. Under the law, Moses commanded that she should be stoned to death. They brought her to Jesus as a test; looking to bring charges against him. Jesus simply bent down and began writing in the sand. When they pressed him-he simply looked up and said “If there is any of you without sin, throw the first stone.” They responded by leaving one by one beginning with the elders until Jesus was standing alone with the women. He then asked “Woman has no one condemned you? “No one” she replied. Neither do I condemn you; go away and sin no more!”
The story is very powerful. It is a model of how Jesus responded and how we are called to responded. When we point a finger at someone remember three fingers are pointing back at us. It reminds us to take our own inventory. This parable addresses sin, reconciliation and growth. Life is not always easy. As Christians and for those of us that are Catholics, much of our growth comes from times when we are suffering or from when we hurt others or ourselves. It’s how we respond to the lessons and challenges in life that makes the difference. The parable is a good one to remember in our daily life for personal growth. Can you imagine if the whole wide world reflected on this parable? There would be a lot less conflicts to be sure.
Submitted by Joe Van Volkenburg
Reflection for March 29th:
Jn 12:20-33
We are all called to die to something in life - sometimes many little things, sometimes a few major things. This is the hard cost of discipleship. But God has created each one of us with the inner potential to yield a rich harvest if the conditions are ripe. And to think about the metaphor of the harvest, it is true that often the plants that bear much fruit need to be both nurtured but also pruned down, trimmed back and picked bare. Sometimes it takes a discerning eye to distinguish between what is allowing us to flourish and what is choking us back.
In this season of Lent, it is important to consider what could potentially be choking us from bearing the most fruit. This is a time to look closely at our days, thinking about what we are putting our time and energy into and how our perspective is influencing our attitude. It is a good habit to reflect each evening on the day we just lived, making sure that we are watering where we need to and also weeding where we need to. A poet once said that "how we spend our days is how we spend our lives."
Submitted by: Lu Firestone
Reflection for March 28th:
Jn 7:40-53
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for March 27th:
Jn 7:1-2,10, 25-30
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for March 26th:
Jn 5:31-57
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for March 25th:
Lk 1:26-48
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for March 24th:
Jn 5:1-16
No Reflections Submitted
Reflection for March 23rd:
Jn 4:43-54
In today's Gospel passage, Jesus performs his second miracle when he arrived in Galilee after traveling from Judea. The context of this miracle is that Jesus is traveling from Samaria to Galilee, and after being welcomed and feasting with the Galileans with his disciples, and continues onward towards Cana. This is where he attends the wedding feast and performs his first miracle, transforming water into wine. This miracle has such a widespread effect that a royal official (a member of the upper class that would previously never associate with a member of the lower class such as Jesus) travels all the way to Cana from Capernaum in order to beg Jesus to heal his son. Jesus answers the man by telling him his son shall live, and the man believed what Jesus had said. While traveling back to Capernaum, the man is met by his slaves who notify him of his boy's recovery. They also reveal that the boy's recovery happened around the same time that Jesus had told him the boy would live.
This Gospel passage reveals that belief is crucial in order for the miracle to occur. Since the man loved his son so much, he sought out Jesus (a man that the official had heard by word of mouth had performed a miracle) and traveled all the way from Capernaum to Cana in order to seek his help. Once he had believed in what Jesus had said to him, his son was healed.
During this time of Lent, where we are called to fast, we can become like this official who seeks Christ out of desperation.Like the official, we are called to affirm our beliefs to Christ, and Christ is ever present and responds to us regardless of our own social class. Christ went beyond social boundaries and gave up adhering to social restrictions that would hinder God's love from spreading to other people, and because He is able to do that, we are able to facilitate the spread Christ's love towards other people by serving as mediums (such as when the officials entire household came to believe in Christ after the officials son recovered). In this season of Lent, we are called to remind ourselves to "abstain" from these false restrictions that can prevent us from reaching out to all people as Christ had done, and instead to believe that our sincere and genuine faith in God as well as our love for one another will overcome any illness or obstacle that may attempt to prevent us being with God.
Submitted by: Patrick McMahon
Spring Break: March 16th - 22nd:
No Reflections Submitted
Reflection for March 15th:
Lk 16:19-31
Today's Gospel reading depicts Jesus going "theological" on the moneychangers in the Temple. The gospel writer describes Jesus as showing zeal for "my Father's house" and uses this as one of many signs of Jesus' special nature. As Christians, when we read Gospel passages like this, it can be very easy to think to think that we're better than those moneychangers and to make comparisons to the Pharisees and others who were the targets of Jesus' criticisms. At the same time, we need to remember that none of us is perfect and thus are not in a position to judge.
Some of the other readings, Psalm 19 and Exodus 20:1-17 speak posit of God's law in very positive terms, something surprising to Christians used to hearing of God's laws as an impossible burden or even curse. Yet Jesus himself seems to have followed the law and encouraged others to do so as well. A lot depends on how we view it - is the law just a bunch of rules that we need to be afraid of breaking because God will zap us if we disobey? Or, is the law a system of guidelines and boundaries that teaches us the way to live the way God wants us to. A friend of mine used to explain that even with all of the seemingly minute rules about keeping the Sabbath, the Sabbath is less about rules than about spending one day a week without phones, wallets, watches, keys, tv's, even iPods - all the things that we think we need - so that we can relax in God's presence and be reminded that God is caring for us. This view of the law can actually be liberating, not an impossible curse!
So the next time we enter our Father's House, may we remember to put away all the distractions of life and spend some time in God's presence. We may not need to worry about money-changers, but we all risk demeaning God's House if we treat it as ordinary instead of a place where we go to meet God.
Submitted by: Rev. Jonathan Lawrence
Reflection for March 14th:
Lk 15:1-3,11-32
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for March 13th:
Mt 21:33-43, 45-46
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for March 12th:
Lk 16:19-31
In today’s Lenten reading, Jesus is addressing the establishment of his day as he is addressing us. They have so much but their senses are dulled. In the parable, the rich man is totally unaware of poor sick Lazarus who lies at his door. The rich man’s eyes and ears have become desensitized. His dogs are much more compassionate and responsive to the plight of Lazarus.
How often do we hear the psalm response, “The Lord hears the cry of the poor”. Let us pray for eyes and ears that are alert and compassionate this Lenten season. Isolation is a terrible thing, whether we choose it or it is chosen for us. Often the poor and suffering are isolated, unseen and unheard. Clear vision and real listening can lead us to wonderful connections to those in need, whether the materially needy or those in need very close to us, even a roommate, a parent, a sibling, a friend. Lord, grant us clear vision and a listening heart that we may hear and respond to the cry of the poor.
Submitted by: Dick Galligan
Reflection for March 11th:
Mt 20:17-28
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for March 10th:
Mt 23:1-12
Certainly we value individuals who “walk the talk” and “practice what they preach.” Part of the reason that Jesus drew great crowds was because he did “walk the talk.” While challenging us to love God, Jesus lived it often withdrawing from the crowds to pray and making it his custom to go to the synagogue for services. In challenging us to love neighbor as we love ourselves, he lived it in his great compassion, especially to those most outcast. He gives a great model at the Last Supper, washing the feet of his disciples as an example of service to them. His challenge to be people of forgiveness was perhaps the most difficult challenge, yet he lived that even to his death on the cross.
Having participated in a World Youth Day a number of years ago, it struck me that the appeal of John Paul II among young people was similar. He “practiced what he preached,” and his message did not vary from place to place. His call for the dignity of the human person and his challenge to live by a rigorous moral standard never wavered. He preached it over and over and lived it throughout his life. Like Jesus, there was a profound authenticity to his life and message. In our world where we often put on a false face and experience leaders who say one thing and do another, as the scribes and Pharisees are accused of in today’s Gospel, authenticity in valued; because it is a rare commodity.
There’s the story of a monastery whose numbers were dwindling. The abbot pondered what to do in his discussion with the wise rabbi from town. The rabbi said he had heard that one of the monks was actually Jesus. The abbot returned to his brother monks and told them that according to the rabbi, one of them was Jesus. Wondering who it might be, the monks each began to speak and act with tremendous love.“Perhaps it is brother so and so…or perhaps it is me!” Eventually word got out that this monastery had the most wonderful spirit of love and compassion within it and more and more kept coming to join this community of goodness. May we rise to the occasion this Lent to live the message we speak in calling ourselves Christian. May we, too, model Christ in all we say and do.
Submitted by: Mary Lou Wyrobeck
Reflection for March 9th:
Lk 6:36-38
In today's gospel reading, Jesus provides us a few simple instructions. He asks us to not judge or condemn. He also instructs us to give and forgive. We are reminded that we cannot receive without first giving of ourselves. St. Ignatius reminds us this in his prayer for generosity:
Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.
Let us be challenged this Lenten season to truly try giving without counting the costs or expecting something in return. To be the first to forgive. Jesus tells us that only the measure we give will be what we receive.
Submitted by: Sarah Signorino
Reflection for March 8th:
Mk 9:2-10
No Reflection Submitted
Reflection for March 7th:
Mt 5:43-48
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Most people will do good and serve the Lord when it’s convenient or easy for them. But what Jesus is calling us to do is challenge ourselves, to step outside of our comfort zones, and to do the good things that we really don’t want to do. Loving your enemies is definitely not simple. Not something that can happen overnight. But the first step toward loving your enemies is forgiving them for whatever evil they have done to you. Let go of the hatred, the grudges, and the anger that are tinting your view of people and just try to see them the way that God does. You might find that someone you previously hated becomes one of your best friends. Jesus instructs his followers to pray for their enemies, that they may know the loving presence of God. Pray also for yourself, that you will be able to live the spirit of love, forgiveness, and welcoming that Jesus taught to his followers.
Submitted by Mike Slish
Reflection for March 6th:
Mt 7:7-12
As biological/adoptive parents to our own children and surrogate parents to our students, adults are often faced with the task of telling young people things they may not want to hear. When they are young, we caution them not to touch the hot stove or to play with matches. At first, they do not understand why we are being so mean and telling them “no!”. As they grow and become wiser, they come to understand and appreciate the guidance we gave to them when they were young, before they were able to reason and make decisions for themselves.
As our children grow, our guidance turns to matters with deep consequences: watch who your friends are, don’t get involved with drugs, make good choices with your life decisions. Again, they may not always appreciate what we are telling them at the time. We are accused of being ogres; “times are different”; “you don’t understand!”. We pray that eventually they will see the wisdom of our words.
In this Gospel reading we hear Jesus advising us to become reconciled to those with whom we come in contact each day before we try to “bring our gifts to the altar”. As the listeners we may not want to hear those words, just as our children don’t want to hear our advice. “God doesn’t understand! This person was really mean to me! How can I make up with someone who hurt me so badly?!” Let us pray for the grace to be willing to listen to Jesus as He helps us to make good decisions and understand that we are being given great advice, and that we come to appreciate the wisdom of His words. After all, “how can we love the God we can’t see when we don’t show love to the person that we do see”?
Submitted by: Rose Marie Castner
Reflection for March 5th:
Mt 7:7-12
Being such a busy person here at Canisius, there have been some things I have lost sight of. Lately my faith life has been a little down in the dumps. I haven't been conversing with God so I have been trying to recreate that relationship I used to have. I have begun searching for God. I have been looking in every cranny and corner, trying to find ways to bring God back into my life on a more personal level. And yet, its been harder and harder to find him. I get so frustrated that sometimes I wonder what I'm doing wrong. Why don't I feel the way I used to about God? Where is the fulfillment that I found so easily a few years ago? WHERE IS HE WHEN I NEED HIM!!!
Then I read this Gospel and find myself a litttle embarrassed. I have been looking for him in all the wrong places - I have yet to search my own heart. What has been forcing me to close the door on my faith life? What is holding me back? So I ask you, what is it during this Lenten season that is holoding YOU back. All you have to do is take the first step and everything else will fall into place. Take a moment and a deep breath. Close your eyes and let your mind wander. Push away all those things that can get in your way: the paper due this Friday, or the meeting that you need to prep for. Push away that morning commute and out down your planner! Take a breath and let go of all those things. They are important, but what you need now is peace. Ask yourself a few questions: What does God want from me this Lenten Season? Who is God asking me to help im my own small way? What is causing my lack of focus on the important things in life like my family, my health, and my happiness? Reach your hand out and knock on that door: open your heart to the fulfillment of a healthy prayer life. So remember even though Matthew is telling us "Seek and ye shall find..." remember to seach close to home - in your own heart.
Submitted by: Megan Brenner
Reflection for March 4th:
Lk 11:29-32
We are given no sign of what is true but Jesus. As we go deeper into this Lenten season we are called to remember the suffering and death of Jesus on Good Friday. This is the ultimate sign to us and it is the sign of our entire Christian Faith; The Cross of Jesus Christ. God does not place our cross, our suffering before us, yet He walks with us asking us to pick up our own cross and follow Him daily. Even though we may fall and become frustrated while carrying our cross and the weight may seem too heavy to bear, Jesus is there with us every step of the way. Walking with us and helping us whenever we ask. All of us experience pain and suffering just as Jesus did. Maybe not in the same form or manner. Yet this season reminds us that we are not alone in our suffering. Jesus does not call us to pick up our cross and leave us; he calls us to pick up our cross so that he can walk with us, transforming our suffering, our pain, into new life. It is only through the cross and the celebration of Good Friday that we can arrive at the joy of Easter Sunday. Not just to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead but to enjoy and participate in the promise of new life given to all those who believe.
Submitted by: Peter Tassini
Reflection for March 3rd:
Mt 6:7-15
I think that this Gospel really hits home for me. Many times, I feel like I have to have long prayers or else I am in some what offending God. This Gospel helps to point out that this is not so. God knows what we need, he will take care of us. We dont need to go on an on talking asking for this and that, God knows before we say one word. To me, praying is merely keeping a good relationship with God. The our Father is a perfect demonstration of that. It reminds us of how we can be at peace with ourselves, others and ultimately reach Heaven. When we forgive others, God will forgive us because we are acting in a way that God would want us to. It is your classic example of the golden rule, treat others the way you want to be treated. If you want God to give you fogiveness, then forgive others. If you were to take one thing away from this Gospel, I feel it is most important that you understand that God knows our needs and will take care of us, so long as we take care of our neighbors here on earth.
Submitted by: Chris Falzarano
Reflection for March 2nd
Mt 25:31-46
According to the Gospel, God is saying that if we truly love him, then we should try to show our love to him through good deeds and such to prove our love to him. If we do not want to repent for our sins, then we will not receive God's love in return. God also says that if we truly obey the Ten Commandments, then we will receive God's love and God's grace. The Gospel shows that Lent is a time to forgive and to start a new life free from sin. Also, the Gospel shows that God created this time of Lent designed to test all Christians and how strong their Christianity is, as to judge if one is (in God's eyes) allowed to feel God's love, and God's grace. Lent is a time to also learn to forgive oneself, and to always ask God for forgiveness.
Submitted by: Cory Eckstrum.
Reflection for March 1st:
Mt 1:12-15
This reading from the Gospel of Mark portrays a scene of Jesus wandering through the desert for forty days. Often when Christians explain Lent, we say something like “Lent is when we remember that Jesus wandered the desert for forty days to be tempted.” Jesus did not go out in the wilderness looking for sin, but God. He was seeking time away from everyone and everything else so that there was just him and God. The Bible says the “angels ministered to him” teaching him the will of the Father for his life. This is the very foundation of the Lenten season for us to be reminded of Jesus’s forty days in the desert seeking God while suffering temptation. As Christians we spend forty days seeking to know God more in our lives just as our example, Christ, did. We could view this almost as a forty day sabbatical by Jesus to go out and spend quality time seeking the Father’s will.
Both fully human and fully divine Jesus suffered temptations just as we do each day. He knows our struggle. He’s lived it. Each day he walks with us by our side through our struggles and when we sin, he is merciful, forgiving our trespasses with love. His love for the Father allowed him to overcome the temptation to sin and remain pure, free from sin. God’s sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary covered the price of humanity’s failure to live perfectly within God’s commandments. As Christians we are called to follow Jesus in desiring God each more each day constantly moving toward perfection. In his letter to the Colossians St. Paul explains that as Christians we are called to build each other up so “that we may present every man [and woman] perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col 1:28). Christ perfects all of our sins, our faults, and our wrongs. It is through Christ we learn how to seek the face of God and through his love for us we are able to enter into fellowship with the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. By seeking God through Christ we are perfected into sons of God sharing as heirs of the kingdom in which one day his people shall all be gathered.
Submitted by: John Ewell
Reflection for February 28th:
Lk 5:27-32
How many times do we fall into the same trap as the Pharisees? They see Jesus eating and talking with sinners – people who earned their living by exploiting others. Why would Jesus eat with them and not the people who earn a living honestly? The Pharisees were indignant. They were proud and wore their religious zeal on their sleeve. Yet, Jesus cuts them down and stoops to the level of the lowly. This is part of the mystery of Jesus’ life and mission. He was radical in every sense! He broke down all the conventions of the day and stood strong against incredible criticism and resistance. Jesus was essentially breaking the Jewish Law by conversing and eating with people who were often dubbed “unclean.” Still, perhaps even more incredible than Jesus’ unconditional acceptance of all – even the sinner – is the openness of the sinners themselves.
Upon first reading this Gospel, I was more so struck by the total trust on the part of Levi, the tax collector. For someone who society labeled as filthy and untrustworthy, Levi has a pure trust in Jesus. He leaves his life behind in pursuit of something he sees in Jesus. There is clearly something attractive about Jesus. It must be the same quality that enables him to intimately connect with the sinners of society. As someone who has a privileged life, I find it exceedingly challenging to put this unrestricted trust in Jesus – to literally say, “I am putting my life in your hands and I believe in you.” I hold on to that which I have no control over. In May, I am graduating from Canisius. But I am not just graduating from an institution of higher learning. I am leaving my home. The people here have become an integral part of my life. And it is painful to think about leaving. So, to say the least, I am struggling with this trust in Jesus. I do not know where he is taking me next. The future can be relatively overwhelming. Yet, Jesus is present, beckoning me – and all of us – to surrender such fear. He is saying “Follow Me” to all of us. He wants us to traverse our life-long paths with him. In the Gospel, it seems that the lowliest members of society have a better handle on this than the high and mighty Pharisees. Perhaps this is simply because Jesus was the only one around who was willing to be with them, and there is something truly sacred about that. During Lent, I hope that we can collectively try to share in the mindset of Levi and the tax collectors – to recognize Jesus’ continued presence and give him our full, undivided trust.
Submitted by: Josie Diebold.
Reflection for February 27th:
Mt 9:14-15
In Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew nine Jesus leaves us with a very important message concerning time and opportunity. As usual Jesus and his disciples are under scrutiny by everyone around them, this time over their lack of fasting. Jesus speaks in parable explaining that the day will come when he will not be there with them, and there will be plenty of time for fasting then. John’s disciples were more concerned with fasting rather than taking the opportunity of being in the presence of the Son of God for all its worth.
God often gives us opportunities, with only a limited time frame to act upon or they pass by us. The opportunity to receive knowledge, advice, love and healing from the Son of God in the flesh was quickly passing and Jesus knew it too. Jesus knew what was to come; he knew what the Father’s plan was for him: to be presented as a holy and acceptable sacrifice for the sins of all who believe.
In 1 John 4:10, the Scriptures testify that “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” This verse is so powerful, not only did God send his Son to redeem us from sins, but He did it because HE LOVES US! How often have we dragged our feet before agreeing to follow God’s plan and not the desires of our human heart? Yet God would not hold back his most precious in order that we may share in eternity with Him; and God did it out of love: a love so unimaginably great that we cannot even begin to comprehend it, but we can feel it.
During the rest of Lent, let’s make our first priority seeking to experience God’s abounding love even more each day in our lives. So let’s allow God to reveal his love for us, maybe even dare to ask God to reveal how much love he has for us. And just as Jesus knew, only the Father knows how much time we have, the day will come when our faith will be made complete, but let’s use our time here and now wisely by arduously focusing on furthering our relationship with God, taking in all of His love for us, and not get caught up on the wrong priorities.
Submitted by: John Ewell.
Reflection for February 26th:
Lk 9:22-25
How many of us have chosen something to give up this Lent? Perhaps this Lent, you can choose to give up something a little different.Jesus tells us in this passage from Luke, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” During this season of repentance and reflection, try listening to Jesus’ words. Maybe Jesus is asking us to deny ourselves of the pleasures and privileges that we are so accustomed to. This Lent, instead of just giving up a sinful treat, make a promise to yourself to put a quarter in your Rice Bowl every time you give into the temptation. Take up your cross daily. Don’t always take the easy way out. This Lent, try to make the harder decision and live like a Christian through your words and your deeds.
Submitted by: Mary Mietlicki.
Reflection for February 25th:
Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
"In Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew six Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, who live out their faith in the spotlight of the public to ensure everyone sees how holy they are for their many “righteous” deeds. The Pharisees choose to go to the streets to yell their prayers to God, not because God is hard of hearing, but rather so that every person around them will see them as “righteousness.” In this passage of Scripture, Jesus reveals God’s desire for us to practice our faith as Christians for the right reasons: out of our love for Him, not for the attention and admiration of others. Our worship and practice of our faith needs to come from our heart directed to God alone, not from our ego or agenda.
So let this lesson from Christ set the tone for this liturgical season of Lent. Let’s pour ourselves into God for the right reasons, seeking Him first, and see where He takes us. God’s only limitation is our own free will. God cannot force us to follow Him; we have to let God in. Only then can He transform our lives revealing his glory, power and love to us. So during these next forty days, let’s make this our first priority: to seek God with pure intentions and allow God t love us more, guide us further, and reveal his will and Himself to us."
Submitted by: John Ewell.
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