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Sister Rea McDonnell, SSND, offers daily reflections on the Liturgical Readings for each day. If you wish to share your own reflections or have comments or questions, please feel free to email Sister Rea. For information about Sister Rea's publications, visit our online gift shop.
Jun 18-24
Jun 11-17
Jun 04-10
May 28-Jun03
May 21-27
May 14-20
May 07-13
Apr 30-May 06
Apr 23-29
Apr 16-22
Apr 09-15
Apr 02-08
Mar 26-Apr 01
Mar 19-25
Mar 12-18
Mar 05-11
Feb 26-Mar 04
Feb 19-25
Feb 12-18
Feb 05-11
Jan 29-Feb 04
Jan 22-28
Jan 15-21
Jan 08-14
Jan 01-07
Dec 25-31
Dec 18-24
Dec 11-17
Dec 04-10
Nov 27-Dec 03
Nov 20-26
Nov 13-19
Nov 06-12
Oct 30-Nov 05
Oct 23-29
Oct 16-22
Oct 09-15
Oct 02-08
Sep 25-Oct 01
Sep 18-24
Sep 11-17
Sep 04-10
Aug 28-Sep 03
Aug 21-27
Aug 14-20
Aug 07-13
Jul 31-Aug 06
Jul 24-30
Jul 17-23
Jul 10-16
Jul 03-09
Jun 26-Jul 02
Jun 19-25
Jun 12-18
Jun 05-11
May 29-Jun 04
May 22-28
May 15-21
May 08-14
May 01-07
Apr 24-30
Apr 17-23
Apr 10-16
Apr 03-09
Lent 2005
Feb 02-08
Jan 25-Feb 01
Jan 16-20
In our government right now there is disagreement about power and authority. How much power does Congress have, and by what authority can a president spy? Today we hear of another authority, one that stems from the Spirit moving in the heart of Moses, and the prophet whom God will send who will be like Moses. In Jesus' day, there was political and religious turmoil much like our own time, a questioning of Roman and Herodian power, a problem with religious authority. The people were on the lookout for a "prophet-like-Moses" to lead them. Paul used his authority clearly, much like prophets who were/are so close to the mind and heart of God that they dare to speak in God's name. And like Jesus, Paul did not want us to be anxious. Jesus came preaching peace, and casting out demons of anxiety which literally convulsed people. Those who looked on "were amazed and kept asking one another, 'What is this? A new teaching, one with authority?'"
Are there demons of anxiety in you (or even perhaps hatred) that you want Jesus to expel today? Hear Jesus say to you: "Be still" and to whatever binds you: " Come out of _____!" If the Spirit has not raised up any unfreedom for you to present to Jesus for healing, then consider the meaning and the value of power and authority in your own life. Whom do you follow? Why? When and how do you use power and authority?
Thank you, Jesus, for continuing day by day in ordinary time to set us free from demons, whether interior or familial or societal demons which bind us. Preach peace to our hearts, please, right now. We need your authority.
Yesterday we focused on the demons which Jesus continues to cast out. In David's case, a man curses him. David, pursued by his own son Absalom in a grab for power, is weeping as he flees, and yet sees the "enemy" who curses and throws stones at him as a possible messenger of God. In Mark, Jesus meets another wild man who curses and takes stones to gash his own body, so possessed by demons is he. Jesus is not afraid "although no one had strength to subdue him."
Ponder in your heart any times in your life when you felt cursed and stoned by others. If the perpetrators are still alive, pray for them, and ask the Spirit if there is any message from God in their persecution of you. Listen. If they have died, speak to them directly. Perhaps more often we have gashed our own selves. When have you despised your self, cursed your self? Focus now on your self, flawed though it may be, as a temple of the Spirit, and the embody-ment of Christ.
Christ Jesus, give us the grace and graciousness to pray for our enemies. They are yours, and often, you speak to us through their harshness. Free us from harshness toward our selves.
What a wonder is the love of a parent for a child! Parents more easily than others surely know how unconditional is God's love. It might not have cost Jairus, president of the synagogue a lot to come to Jesus, begging for the life of his little girl. But how powerfully and unconditionally David loved his son Absalom, even when the young man raised an army against his father. News comes to David that Absalom has been killed. There is no relief in David, only grief. "Would that I would have died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" In the gospel another character seizes center stage, a woman who must have been cut off from her children by a bleeding illness that would have isolated her from even her family. For twelve years she had been consulting physicians, but is healed by contact with Jesus.
How do you contact Jesus? When? Where? How? Although Jairus asks for help humbly directly, this woman sneaks up behind Jesus. So sneak a peek every so often during the day; reach out and touch him. Often. Pray for parents and their children, especially those who rebel and those who are ill.
Jesus, however we come to you, thank you for your unconditional acceptance of us and our methods of praying, asking, begging, contemplating, worshiping. How well you love us. Deepen our love for others, and teach us to love well.
Joab, the very man who killed Absalom, now is sent by David to take a count of the people, which angered God. "Put not your trust in numbers!" So David was "stricken to the heart," and was given three choices through the word of the prophet Gad. David chose a punishment of disease upon the people, rather than taking a punishment for himself alone. As with Bathsheba, David compounds his sin, once by sinning against Uriah, now against the 70,000 people who died of pestilence. Too late, David realizes how he has sinned, but he knows to whom to turn. The psalm acknowledges: "I confessed my sin to you; I did not hide my iniquity...and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Meanwhile, in Nazareth, Jesus is amazed at his own people's unbelief.
How long does it take you to get in touch with the sin in your life? Then what do you do? What unbelief in your own heart amazes you? Confess your sin, your weakness, your shame, your guilt to Jesus.
Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief! Forgive us. Free us from unnecessary shame and guilt, and help us to forgive those who trespass against us. Help us to trust your forgiveness.
The psalmist cries: The king of glory enters. The gospel paints the picture of baby Jesus presented in the temple. It is the Hebrews reading which teaches us a powerful theology. First, God is the one "for whom and through whom all things exist." God is not a supreme being; God IS being. God is bringing many children to glory; that means us. Jesus is the source of our salvation, which we always knew, but what may surprise us is that "he was made perfect." Jesus is in a life long process of becoming fully human and fully divine. Children share flesh and blood, and Jesus shares the same. Why is he flesh and blood? "So that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death...and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death...Therefore he [Jesus] had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest...."
What in the above focus on Hebrews affirms your own belief? What stretches and challenges your faith? Now let's get personal: what holds you in slavery? Has that freedom from the fear of death touched you yet? Flooded you? Ask for that grace.
By the mystery of water and wine, of flesh and blood, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity. Thank you for our faithful and merciful high priest!
The gospel details the death of John the Baptizer through the machinations of Herodias and the weakness of Herod. Two kings are contrasted, for in Sirach we have a summary statement of the life and achievements of David, sinner though he was. First we hear of his military exploits, but more importantly, his prayer life and liturgical improvements in community worship. "David gave thanks...proclaimed God's glory... sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker. He placed singers at the altar to make music...and gave beauty to the festivals."
Today you be the one to give thanks, proclaim God's glory, sing praise with all your heart, make an act of love, sing a bit, and later, do something beautiful for God. Pray for our president, that he be more like David, less like Herod. Pray for all those in our country and around the world who lead and govern, that their military exploits may mean less than their justice and mercy in ruling.
With all our hearts, our Maker, Creator, beloved Being living and loving through every piece of your creation, we praise you, give you thanks, worship and adore you! In Jesus' name.
We hear of David's son Solomon, who is asked by God: "What should I give you?" Solomon asks for an understanding mind, wisdom, the gift of discerning good from evil. God is pleased that he asks nothing for himself, and God does grant him "a wise and discerning mind." Jesus tries to offer us a method, a first step in discernment. Once again he and his disciples are so pressured they have no time to eat (cf Mk 3: 21). With that kind of stress a wise and discerning mind are difficult, so Jesus invites his friends: "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." But the crowds capture his heart, and Mark comments: "he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd..."
Today's could be a three part prayer. First, what do you want from God? Secondly, what pressures in your life keep you from healthy rest, food, recreation, and what will you do about it? Finally, what are your feelings when your day, your desk, your calendar, your highway is too crowded? Discuss your feelings with Jesus as today the two of you do go apart to rest.
Today we hear questions from St. Augustine: What do I want? What do I desire? What do I burn for? Why do I live? And his answer: That together we might live with Christ. We offer you all our deepest desires, Jesus, and beg you to deepen our compassion, unity and peace.
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