third sunday of lent

Posted on by Cassie

In today’s gospel, water is one of the main themes.  Tired and thirsty Jesus asks the Samaritan woman for a drink of water.  This becomes an occasion for Jesus to talk about another kind of water, namely,  living water that becomes a fountain within us, springing up to provide eternal life.

In literature living water became a symbol of divine wisdom and teaching.  The Samaritan woman understands only natural water, but Jesus is referring to His divine revelation and to the Holy Spirit.

Like the Samaritan woman, we thirst for meaning in life.  Too often, though, we try to quench our thirst with stagnant water.  We go to the cisterns of excess to drink, drugs, sex, work or material possessions.  We think that five husbands, or five cars, or five stereos, or five of whatever will satisfy our thirst for human fulfillment.

None of these things satisfy us completely. They always leave us thirsting for better things—like the peace that comes from experiencing Jesus personally; or the freedom that comes from following Him; or the joy that comes from serving His people.

When we drink of the water that Jesus gives—the water of His word in the Scriptures; His Spirit in the sacraments;  His presence in prayer;  His grace in ministry– we will never be thirsty .

His life giving waters will become a fountain within us, springing up to refresh people around us, to relieve the arid lives of the poor, and nourish the hearts of the lonely.  These life- giving waters will flow from us to supply the needs of others.

We can go out and bring others to Jesus: “Come, see the Messiah, drink His water, and never be thirsty again.”

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell

 

second sunday of lent

Posted on by Cassie

Today’s gospel takes us to the Mount of the Transfiguration.  Jesus has been speaking to His apostles about His coming crucifixion and death.

Within this context Jesus takes His closest apostles to Mount Tabor.  The thought of His death caused His followers to be “overwhelmed with grief.”  To counterbalance their grief, the Transfiguration of Jesus gave them a foretaste of His risen glory.  They were shown what would be the outcome of Jesus’ laying down His life:  He would be raised to eternal glory.  A share in that glory awaited those who were joined with Him and remained faithful to Him.

Matthew tells us that when God spoke the apostles fell to the ground and were afraid.  As they lie on the ground overcome with fear, he touches them and tells them not to be afraid.  By this addition the risen Lord assures His Church that He is with them.  The next verse adds a new dimension in the disciples’ relationship to the risen Lord.  They look up to see “no one except Jesus alone.”

Matthew has shaped this story in order to tell us that when the crises and shocks of life paralyze us, there is only one option for a believer.  We must feel Jesus’ touch, look up from our doubt and fear and move forward with the risen Lord.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell

 

first sunday of lent

Posted on by Cassie

Lent is a time of spiritual rebirth for all of us.  The Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent always presents Jesus as our model.  It speaks to us of temptation, the threat to faithful completion of our spiritual journey.

Matthew presents a great drama of three temptations hurled at Jesus by the devil and rejected by the Lord. The temptation story contrasts the suggestions that Jesus use His power for His own self-interest with His actual decision to obey the will of His Father.

The devil tries to tempt Jesus into opting for instant miracles, spectacular rescue from God, and political domination of the Kingdoms of the World.    This is not the kind of Messiah Jesus wants to be.  His option is obedience and humility, trust in God and total faithfulness to God.

At root, the temptations posed to Jesus by the devil were to use His status as the Son of God for His own comfort and glory rather than for His Father’s service.  At root, our own temptations are much the same.  Will we serve ourselves, or will we serve others.  Will we do our will or God’s will?

Knowing that God is His Father, Jesus can trust that God will provide for His needs.  Jesus is victorious over Satan because He is secure in His relationship with His Father.

Lent gives us the opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and become more secure in our eternal destiny.  Let us spend our Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving,  making progress as we deepen our relationship with Jesus on our spiritual Journey.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell