Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Saturday – 1 st Week of Lent Gospel – Matthew 5:43-48 Enemy Mine! Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem Who’s your biggest enemy?   That co-worker who is always trying to undercut your efforts?   That family member who always treats you like you were 9 years old?   That former best friend who betrayed your deepest secrets?   That parent who just doesn’t understand you?   Enemies, we all have them or so we think.   They vex us, torment us, and make us think of sad and hurtful times.   They refuse to forgive and move on; they harp on the past and treat us like we will never grow up. And so we decide to treat them in just the same way – with anger and hatred! And yet, in the end, I have to admit that my greatest enemy is myself.   My greatest enemy is my refusal to move on, to let go.   It’s that attitude of seeing others as how I choose to see them and not as they really are.   We spend our lives focusing on what makes us dif...

  Friday – 1 st Week of Lent Gospel – Matthew 5:20-26 Ch Ch Ch Changes! Caiaphas’ House Remember all the fights we all got into as kids?   Arguing, yelling, pouting, walking away in a huff, and even physically fighting?   And remember all the times our parents would drag you all back together, make you face each other, shake hands and say you were sorry?   How did that work out for you?   In today’s Gospel Jesus challenges us to go way beyond a simple handshake and a couple of words that carried no real repentance.   Jesus is calling for real, heartfelt, soul-shaking change!   Not just in our words or actions but change down to our very soul. The Greek word is “metanoia”.   And it speaks of a life-altering, soul-searching turning away from anger and resentment to an attitude of forgiveness and repentance.   Change is hard; none of us like it.   It is more comfortable to stay the way we are.   But change is also necessary! ...

  Thursday – 1 st Week of Lent Gospel – Matthew 7:7-12 Knock Knock! Entrance to Church of Holy Sepulchre I admit it!   I am not the sort of person who comfortably asks for help, much less directions!   I just try to push through on my own; I can do this!   But I guess, with age also comes a bit of wisdom, grudgingly.   Staying off ladders when windows need cleaning!   Having a ‘spotter’ when I change smoke alarm batteries!   Asking Josh to drive when I have an eye doc appointment!   Aah, wisdom can be a tough pill to swallow!   But it’s necessary.   There are times when we all need to take a slice of humble pie and ask for help!   Most of the time when we read today’s Gospel, we place ourselves in the role of the homeowner awakened in the middle of the night by a knock on the door.   The idea was that God was calling – do we answer?   But today let’s stand on the other side of the door.   We are that friend i...