Friday, March 6, 2026

 

Friday of the Second Week of Lent

(Genesis 37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28a; Matthew 21:33-43;45-46)

Today’s gospel signals a change in direction for the season of Lent.  Its “parable” is very much an allegory, a one-for-one representation of the players in a historical event.  Rather than promote Lenten discipline, the allegory looks forward to Christ’s coming passion, resurrection, and ascension. 

In the allegory the landowner is God the Father, who established the Kingdom of Israel, represented by the vineyard.  The tenants are Jewish leaders, who exploit their positions by not leading the people to holiness.  When the owner sends his servants, who are the prophets in salvation history, the tenants mistreat and even kill them.  Finally, the vineyard owner sends his only son, that is Jesus, Son of God.  The vicious tenants kill him also in attempt to acquire the owner’s legacy.  Finally, the owner takes the land from the original tenants and gives it to others.  These are the members of the Church, the New Israel.

As members of the Church, we must not think that the rules God establishes for the Jewish leaders do not apply to us.  We too are expected to help one another (of course, this goes double for bishops and priests) to attain holiness.  We do this by encouraging prayer and upright living among one another.  We also seek to improve the lives of those living at the margins so that they too may prosper.  Finally, we reach out to the people of other faith traditions to tell them of our Father’s love in Jesus Christ.

Thursday, March 5, 2026

 

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

(Jeremiah 17:5-10; Luke 16:19-31)

Ludwig Beethoven along with many others felt that Napoleon Bonaparte would bring the values of democracy to all of Europe.  Beethoven wrote his third symphony in honor of the French general, entitling it “Bonaparte.”  But when Napoleon crowned himself emperor, Beethoven tore up the title page and renamed the work “The Eroica” after the ideals which Napoleon abandoned.  Jeremiah in today’s first reading feels a similar disillusionment.

The prophet, who experienced much hope and disappointment with Judah’s leaders, writes that placing one’s hope in human beings is fruitless.  Indeed, he likens such hope to a shrub in a desert that cannot produce fruit.  Jeremiah finds salvation in following the ways of God, which are truthful and, in the end, productive of human flourishing. 

Jesus’ parable of the “Rich Man and Lazarus” provides testimony to Jeremiah’s conclusion.  The rich man ignores God’s Law which extols almsgiving.  He also violates the wisdom of the prophets who railed against neglect of the poor.  In our prosperity we better take heed of the rich man’s fate and help protect the vulnerable.

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

(Jeremiah 18:18-20; Matthew 20:17-28)

As we approach the middle of Lent, we may find our initial Lenten resolutions losing traction.  It is a parallel process to the capitulations found in today’s readings.  In the first, the people are unwilling to accept Jeremiah’s teaching that allegiance is to God alone.  They want to dally with other gods as a way of hedging their bets on divine assistance.  In the gospel no one seems to grasp what Jesus is saying about self-sacrifice for the good of others.  James and John allow their mother to promote their advancement.  Meanwhile, the other disciples resent the brothers for reducing their chances for places of honor. 

During Lent the Lord seeks our conversion from the ways of the world to the virtues of the Kingdom.  Where the world says “look out for number one,” Jesus tells us to “lose our lives for his sake and for the gospel.”  We have to renew our efforts continually so that we will always serve others joyfully.

The saints model Jesus’ self-abnegation for good of others.  Stanley Rother was an American priest defending the rights of the indigenous in Guatemala during the 1970’s and early 1980’s.  He was threatened with death if he did not leave his parish.  In fact, he tried going away but made the realization that, as he said, “A shepherd cannot run from his flock.”  He returned to Guatemala where, shortly afterwards, gunmen entered his rectory and killed him.  As a martyr, he did not need a miracle to be declared “Blessed Stanley.”

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

(Isaiah 1:10.16-20; Matthew 23:1-12)

After scoring the winning goal at the Olympics last week, hockey star Jack Hughes said that he was proud to be an American.  He meant that he was grateful to be part of a nation that values sportsmanship and excellence.  There is nothing sinful about this kind of pride.  It is a love of self and of one’s loyalties based on truth.

Pride at the same time can be a vice.  In fact, it has been called the mother of all evil.  Sinful pride ignores the truth by an exaggerated assessment of one’s own virtue.  Its love of self goes beyond all warrants as it seeks to garner everyone’s admiration.  Jesus accuses the Pharisees of this inordinate love in today’s gospel.  He says that they love to wear pretentious clothing, to use misleading titles, and to seek undeserving places of honor.

As our human legacy, all of us are touched by sinful pride.  From the president of the republic to a Mississippi sharecropper, we tend to think of ourselves as greater than what we are. In today’s first reading the prophet Isaiah tells us that we might overcome this vice even if we have exploited it a thousand times.  His antidote is to ingest the word of God.  Isaiah says that if we obey God’s commands, we might enjoy all the goodness that life offers.  Jesus tells us the goodness includes eternal happiness.  But if we do not obey, however, Isaiah warns our pride will lead us to everlasting conflict.

Monday, March 2, 2026

 

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

(Daniel 9:4b-10; Luke 6:36-38)

Facing a rule that interferes with their designs, workers with a kind-hearted supervisor are tempted to violate the rule.  They may rationalize their transgression saying, “It is easier to get forgiveness that permission.”  Perhaps it is true, but still it is dishonorable to presume a supervisor’s mercy.

In today’s gospel Jesus extols the virtue of mercy.  He calls it God-like and then describes it as non- judging, forgiving, generous and productive.  However, he never says that mercy should be presumed.  To the contrary, he indicates that it should be initiated.

Lent should render us more merciful.  It gives us occasion to recall our sins like Daniel does in the first reading.  Conscious of how easy falling into sin is, we should be more willing to forgive those who offend us.