5th Sunday of Lent, April 3

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year C

The first reading is addressed to people who are just about to emerge from a huge catastrophe, a crushing defeat, after a long battle trying to survive. God reminds them that he is going to change the bleak past and do something new. This is the people of Israel, in exile in Babylon, on the eve of their liberation. 
In today’s gospel, a truly unfortunate woman will be saved by Jesus’ intervention. He will come to her defense, to rescue her from the common enemy that she and Jesus face together.
This is what God does in the Old Testament—He saves his people. And this is what Jesus does in his ministry in the gospels. And this is the experience that St. Paul describes so movingly in his own life in the second reading. In fact, in Paul’s estimation, knowing Jesus in this way outweighs any other possible advantage we could ever enjoy in life. So Paul, like Israel in our first reading and the woman in the gospel, needs to forget what lies behind and to strain forward to what lies ahead. 
That’s a good strategy for us, too, at the conclusion of Lent, as we look forward to our celebration of Easter.
—Walter Modrys SJ

This Sunday’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.

3rd Sunday of Lent, March 20

Third Sunday of Lent, Year C

Among the most striking passages in the Bible are those that describe God calling his special messengers or servants. Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah in the Old Testament; and Mary of Nazareth and Peter and Paul in the New Testament, are all called to a special vocation in dramatic stories. But Moses speaking to God before the burning bush is one of the greatest of all such stories. And that’s what we have in today’s first reading.
These stories all fit into a relatively fixed pattern. The message comes through a voice from heaven, or a mystical vision, or an angel. The mission is described in general and exalted terms. The one who is called only reluctantly accepts the invitation to serve because of his or her own fear and inadequacies.
But here, in the call of Moses, there is an added feature, in that God discloses his special name to Moses. Doing so is a symbolic way for God, while remaining shrouded in mystery, to reveal his true self to Moses. Moses will go on to accomplish great deeds, but always Moses will come back to this initial moment, the moment when he first encountered God and learned to carry out God’s commands.
In our second reading, St Paul harks back to those days when Israel was in the desert, journeying to the promised land. Those were hard times. Paul compares the trials that his audience is experiencing in their own day with that time of testing long ago that Israel was subjected to in the desert.
Today’s gospel comes in two parts. First, Jesus recalls to mind how some people recently perished in a cruel persecution and others in a tragic mishap. These victims were not being punished for anything they had done, Jesus says. But it should bring to mind the uncertainty of life and how the end is beyond our control. When the end comes, then we will have to face the final judgment of God.
But how are we judged? How does God judge us? At this point—in the second part of today’s gospel—Jesus teaches a parable about how God’s judgment goes beyond our understanding because our heavenly Father is so prone to patience and mercy.
—Walter Modrys SJ

This Sunday’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.

1st Sunday of Lent, March 6

First Sunday of Lent, Year C

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus quotes the Book of Deuteronomy from the Old Testament three times. In fact, the whole setting of the gospel story about Jesus being tempted in the desert harks back to the Old Testament story of Israel being tested in their exodus from Egypt.
So in today’s first reading from Deuteronomy, we hear Moses talking to the people, reminding them of their origin and identity as children of Abraham. Note especially the very last verse of the reading in which Moses calls upon the people to bow down to reverence the Lord’s presence in their midst. This is the disposition with which Jesus confronts Satan in the temptation scene.
In our middle reading, St. Paul wants us to confess with our lips and believe in our hearts in the Lordship of Jesus. This faith brings us together and transcends all the differences that falsely divide us.
—Walter Modrys SJ 

This Sunday’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 20

Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

In recent months, we Americans have become sadly aware of what a problem it is to transfer power from one presidential administration to another. This is nothing inew in the world. Throughout history, conflicts and wars have plagued nation-states as they maneuver a change in leadership. The history of ancient Israel is no exception. The Bible is full of tragic stories of deposed kings and rulers imposed by foreign powers vying for power. The story of King Saul and David is perhaps the most classic conflict of politcal succession in the Bible.
By the end of his rule, Saul had become a totally corrupt leader, bent on doing anything he could to retain power. His goal was to kill David, his main competitor for the throne. In today’s first reading, David finally gains the upper hand and has Saul completely at this mercy. Finally, David can exact his vengeance for all the harm Saul has inflicted upon him. What does David do to retaliate against Saul?
This first reading is a good backdrop to the gospel reading. We are continuing the “Sermon on the Plain” in Luke’s gospel, the part where Jesus teaches how we should treat our enemies. David very much abided by the lesson that the gospel teaches us.
Our second reading is vintage St. Paul as he reflects upon the contrast and connection between our human nature and the gift of divine grace that so exalts us.
—Walter Modrys SJ

This Sunday’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.