By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB
“Dying daily” with the Lord has been in our lexicon and spiritual life always, and is an important theme of Lent. But, how about the corollary of “rising daily” with the Lord?
Daily rising up takes practice and a living faith. This is what we have been doing from Ash Wednesday up to now!
It means transforming our daily death-bearing situations into life-giving situations. Continue Reading
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB
Today’s Gospel (John 9:1-41) holds treasures, jewels, so it is well to read, study, memorize it until it becomes part of you.
In the first seven lines, we hear the story: a man born blind, is cured by Jesus who smears saliva and clay on his eyes, then tells him to go wash. Continue Reading
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB
On this third Sunday of Lent, we are back in the desert.
The desert which lacks water is perhaps a symbol of the woman at the well.
She not only does not have any water but she also has no friends who apparently shun her because of her lifestyle. Continue Reading
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB
Having been to the desert with Jesus last Sunday, this Sunday, we are taken to Mount Tabor for the Transfiguration of the Lord.
This appearance provides us with not just external features of Jesus – “his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light” – but Peter, James and John hear God say, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” (Mt 17:1-19) Continue Reading
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB
Spiritual writers use various terrains of nature to depict our spiritual life.
That is, if we are at the height of knowing and loving God in our prayer, they tell us we are on a mountaintop. If we are struggling with who and where God is, they tell us we are going through a desert. Continue Reading
By Sister Mary Core, OSB
Every year during Lent we hear the story of Jesus being lead into the desert where he is tempted by the devil. But this year, as I reflected on the story I discovered something new (at least to me).
That is, I had always thought of the temptations as occurring while Jesus was praying and fasting in the desert. But this year, I noticed the Gospel doesn’t say that. Both Matthew and Luke say that “After the 40 days and nights of fasting, Jesus was hungry.”
Jesus is tempted after his desert experience, not during it! Continue Reading
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB
In the second reading for Ash Wednesday, St. Paul’s words to the Corinthians motivate us to the immediacy of God’s call: Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation. Do not receive the grace of God in vain.
In other words, Listen. Now! Continue Reading
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB
Ash Wednesday creates excitement for many of us as we anticipate Lent.
We remember the black cross on our foreheads: a sign of our devotion that brought questions and recognition from our non-Catholic friends. We remember mulling over what to give up. We remember the dietary restrictions, and the Easter candy payoff. Continue Reading
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB
lst reading Is 43:P16-21; 2nd reading Phil 3:8-14; Gospel John 8:1-11
All 3 readings for today’s Eucharist are filled with reminders of God’s goodness and love for us. In the first reading we hear, “See, I am doing something new … Now it springs forth, do you not perceive? I put water in the desert, rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink; people whom I formed for myself.” Continue Reading
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB
Josh 5:9a, 10-12; 2 Cor 517-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
Rejoicing, joy, gratitude, forgiveness and new life are the themes for the 4th Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday. In the entrance antiphon we are greeted with, “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful all who were in mourning.”
Throughout today’s readings we hear good news: the people of God have entered into the promised land, no longer eat manna but “the yield of the fields of Canaan.”
Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians, “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation, the old things have passed away. Behold, new things have come.” How will we recognize the new things? Continue Reading
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