Palm Sunday and Holy Week Reflection

Mt. Irenaeus Reflections for Palm Sunday and Holy Week 2010:

Voices from the Mountain and from the Valley

This year, Palm Sunday arrives at a time when many friends of Mt. Irenaeus feel the acute stab of grief at the passing of our beloved brother and friend, Dan Hurley, ofm. Perhaps it is a special blessing that we have the opportunity to grieve our loss during these prayerful days of Holy Week.

We invite you to join us in our remembering and in our contemplation. Let us pray together and teach one another as we walk the journey that leads to the cross and to the exquisite sweetness of Easter morning. Father Lou begins with a reflection rooted in the readings from the Palm Sunday liturgy. Having listened to Father Lou’s gentle teaching, several members of mountain Sojourners offer responses.

Reflections for Palm Sunday, 2010

Lou McCormack, ofm

The readings for Palm Sunday this year are from Isaiah (50:4-7), Paul’s letter to the Phillipians (2: 6-11), and from Luke’s account of the Passion of Jesus (22: 14 – 23: 56).

Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday since the Gospel is the reading of the passion of Jesus) brings us to the end of our Lenten journey. It is also the threshold of the holiest week in the year for Christians.

Part of our share in the passion of Jesus this year is the absence of our brother Dan Hurley,ofm who died on March 13^th. Dan loved the meaning and memory of Holy Week; he will be with us in a powerful way this Holy Week.

Paul in the letter to the Phillipians encourages us to have the same mind in us that was in Jesus. That mind of Jesus is total self-giving as He became one of us for our salvation. Jesus is the love of God the Father poured out on the earth for all time.

In an attempt to help us enter into the mind of Christ, the evangelists - Luke this year - have told His story. It was their hope that believers could move beyond logic to understand the love that moved Jesus. It was the desire of the evangelists that readers put aside their objections and allow themselves to be taught by this great mystery.

In narrating Jesus’ passion, Luke brings his own insight by repeatedly affirming the Lord’s innocence. Only in Luke does the centurion declare that Jesus was an innocent man, does Pilate issue a triple verdict of “innocent” upon the falsely accused Jesus, and does the trial before Herod get mentioned when Jesus is again declared innocent. Luke shows us through these declarations of innocence that Jesus is the suffering servant of Isaiah who willingly suffered and died, but in the end was vindicated by God in the resurrection.

The passion of Jesus continues today in so many ways and people. We do not open ourselves again to hear the word to mainly engage in some form of sympathetic catharsis. We open ourselves to this living message of love and sacrifice and pain and dying and sin and unjustice so as to be changed by it, graced by it and moved by it to ease the ongoing suffering of the Body of Christ.

Let’s not just weep for Jesus on the way, but give ourselves over to those whose lives continue to be painful. We are called, like Simon of Cyrene, to help alleviate suffering by shouldering some of another person’s cross. Following Jesus means seeking solidarity with the suffering of others and working for their liberation.

Peace and Joy!

Sojourner Reflection for Palm Sunday, 2010

Mike Fenn offers the following memory of Father Dan Hurley:

“I had the great blessing of spending a good amount of time with Father Dan over the past twenty years and I carry many vivid memories in my heart. The one I recall most powerfully now, during our time of grieving, is from this past January when I was sharing evening prayer with him and the rest of the Friar community. Fr. Dan's eyesight had become very poor, yet his desire to open himself to God's word never diminished. There he sat with his glasses on, using a large magnifying glass and holding a psalm book as close to his face as he could. It was as if he was reading for the first time, not wanting to miss a word. Fr. Dan lived his life, as Fr Lou speaks above, listening to Gods message, constantly being changed by it, graced by it, and moved by it.”

Kate Nolan Clemens reflects on the power of service:

Lou's reflections help to focus my thinking and perspective around keeping others in mind and under our care. Jesus sacrificed His life for us... what can we do for others in our daily lives that might lessen the suffering of others? What can we do on a human level that might make even the smallest impact, possibly multiplied by doing it every day? Yesterday was Bona Responds Day. I spent a few hours with one of our sons at a soup kitchen/shelter. We had the humbling experience of witnessing - first-hand - the suffering of our fellow neighbors, the innocent -- so close, yet so very far away from what we know in our own lives. I'm thankful today for so much and glad for the inspiration of the Gospel and Lou's words that help to re-focus us.

Paul Kline responds:

Kate’s story teaches me that service, rooted in humility, can open my eyes and heart to God’s presence in those we are privileged to feed, clothe, and comfort. We are reminded by Father Lou that, as we approach the Gospel with an open heart, we experience a deeper awareness of Jesus’ love for us. Mike’s simple and beautiful story helps us to remember Father Dan Hurley as a man whose hunger to hear God’s voice could not be restrained by the limitations of age or infirmity. We see the humility of our friar-friend at evening prayer and, encouraged by his example and by Father Lou’s teaching, we open ourselves to the simple beauty and power of the stories of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. We see Jesus entering Jerusalem riding a colt - an itinerant preacher with no home, no wealth, and no earthly power. We see Jesus bending low in love for his friends, tenderly washing their feet. We hear the voice of Jesus on the cross offering forgiveness to the criminal who dies next to him. Perhaps we, too, ache with hunger to hear God speak tender words of love and mercy to us? I pray that I am open to hear God’s voice in the words and actions of those I meet this week – and in those moments of silence and contemplation that Holy Week offers to me.

We welcome your voice!

(To share your thoughts, post a comment below on the Mountain's blog or on the Mountain's Facebook Page.)

(Mt. Irenaeus Web Site)

Ash Wednesday Reflection

Br. Kevin Kriso, OFM, and Joe Aini offer their thoughts about Ash Wednesday. You're invited to share your thoughts and reflections.

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READINGS

Reading I: Joel 12: 12-18

Even now, says the LORD, 
return to me with your whole heart, 
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; 
Rend your hearts, not your garments, 
and return to the LORD, your God. 
For gracious and merciful is he, 
slow to anger, rich in kindness, 
and relenting in punishment. 
Perhaps he will again relent 
and leave behind him a blessing, 
Offerings and libations 
for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion! 
proclaim a fast, 
call an assembly; 
Gather the people, 
notify the congregation; 
Assemble the elders, 
gather the children 
and the infants at the breast; 
Let the bridegroom quit his room 
and the bride her chamber. 
Between the porch and the altar 
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep, 
And say, “Spare, O LORD, your people, 
and make not your heritage a reproach, 
with the nations ruling over them! 
Why should they say among the peoples, 
‘Where is their God?’”

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land 
and took pity on his people.

Reading II: 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2 
 


Brothers and sisters: 
We are ambassadors for Christ, 
as if God were appealing through us. 
We implore you on behalf of Christ, 
be reconciled to God. 
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, 
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Working together, then, 
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you, 
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; 
behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 


Jesus said to his disciples: 
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds 
in order that people may see them; 
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 
When you give alms, 
do not blow a trumpet before you, 
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets 
to win the praise of others. 
Amen, I say to you, 
they have received their reward. 
But when you give alms, 
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 
so that your almsgiving may be secret. 
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, 
do not be like the hypocrites, 
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners 
so that others may see them. 
Amen, I say to you, 
they have received their reward. 
But when you pray, go to your inner room, 
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. 
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, 
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. 
They neglect their appearance, 
so that they may appear to others to be fasting. 
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 
But when you fast, 
anoint your head and wash your face, 
so that you may not appear to be fasting, 
except to your Father who is hidden. 
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

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REFLECTIONS

By Brother Kevin Kriso, OFM

At a former ministry of mine, Ash Wednesday was our busiest day of the year. Being in a city, people would line up around the block to get ashes. It was an exciting day. The sheer number and variety of people touched my heart, little babies in strollers, tottering elderly, teenagers with acne, sophisticated office people, police officers, salespeople from department stores, homeless. It was a real cross section of humanity.

As excited and grateful as I was for this day, I was bothered by the question, “Where are they the next day or the next Sunday?” Maybe ten percent of the people who came for ashes also came for the Eucharist later in the week. I wondered why ashes which are described as a “sacramental” (with a small “s”) had a greater pull than the Eucharist which is a Sacrament (with a capital “S”? The Eucharist is, after all, the source and summit of our faith, they very Body and Blood of Christ. Ashes are, quite frankly, just dirt. Yet ashes had the greater power to pull people into Church, even if it was for just one day.

Some easy answers were given. One is to blame the people, “Well their priorities are all messed up.” Another was to blame “liberal” priests and sisters, “The reason for the lack of respect for the Sacrament is that is that these people are not stressing the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the importance of obligation.” There is probably some truth in these answers but not the entire truth.

Then someone else made the suggestion that maybe it is because everyone feels they are worthy to receive ashes, but not everyone feels worthy to receive the Eucharist. I think that was a bigger part of the answer. Maybe the way many perceive the message of the Church is that the spiritual life is mainly equated in following rules and laws. When many people measure their own lives against these rules and laws, they find they come up short. Instead of feeling encouraged to try harder, they feel their only option is to “opt out” of Church because they do not “want to be a hypocrite.” Church feels like it is for “holy rollers,” not a “real” flesh and blood person like me. So ashes seem to be an OK thing for real people to receive while the Eucharist is for that theoretical group of people who are “worthy.”

Interestingly enough, Jesus tried very hard to teach that the spiritual walk has more to do with love than rules. But somehow his message does not always come across. Even in the Guidelines for the Reception of the Eucharist it says that reception of the Eucharist is for people who are “properly disposed” to receive the Sacrament and “not conscious of grave sin.” Somehow that is interpreted as “you must be perfect” and the Eucharist is reserved for those who are perfect. Since this feels impossible, people “opt out” of Church. So as it is now, more people receive ashes than the Body and Blood of Christ. That is sad.

Hopefully, ashes can not only be seen as a sign of penance but also as a sign of hope. We can help pull each other up, to rise. We can remind each other that the love of God, not our conduct is what “makes us worthy.” God knows all about us and loves us anyway. Church is not for holy rollers but for people who know they are not perfect and are doing their best. Even after you confess your sins, you will probably end up sinning again. That’s just the way it is. Don’t worry about being a hypocrite. None of us are perfect and as Jesus said, “It is the sick who need the doctor.”

As a friend of mine who is in Alcoholics Anonymous likes to say, “God loves me just as I am. But God also loves me too much to let me stay that way.”

By Joe Aini

"Lord, as I walk through Lent I pray to love you in a more genuine way and to open my heart to what you want from me in this life you have given me. Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said, "Unless we die to a lower life, we'll never rise to a higher life." Lord, although I know you love me for who I am, I pray for the light of your grace to help me move to where you want me to be.

Take my faults and transform them and turn them around to be ways that will lead to my salvation. I feel like I've burrowed myself into a hole of hostility where I brood over the hurts others have inflicted on me. I brood over my own shortcomings, my imperfections and ways I've failed to practice the Christian faith that I love. Change my brooding into forgiveness---toward others as well as toward myself, and transform my hostility to charity. Transform the daily frustrations I experience both at home and at work into patience. And help me to see others in the light of your love. Help me to love you in a new way.

Bless whoever reads these words and, as they read these reflections, renew their love for you so together we can rebuild the Body of Christ in this world. . . . "

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(Mt. Irenaeus Web Site)

Lenten Reflection

Fr. Dan Riley, OFM, and Mike Fenn share their thoughts about today's Gospel, the economy and Lent. Please share your reflections below.

Gospel
John 2:13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
many began to believe in his name
when they saw the signs he was doing.
But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all,
and did not need anyone to testify about human nature.
He himself understood it well.

By Fr. Dan Riley, OFM, and Mike Fenn
One of many elements I enjoy about preparing for these shared scriptures is that I typically learn a key insight about the reading we reflected upon. In preparation for this message, Fr. Dan and I discussed the gospel 3000 miles away from each other – I in my Buffalo study, and he driving in California to his retreat. He helped me understand the background behind the money changers in the temple. Perhaps this will be enlightening to many of you as well.

People came to the temple from all over, both rich and poor, to practice and proclaim their faith. When they came they were required to purchase an animal for sacrifice. They were not allowed to bring their own animal, but had to buy one specifically from the priests. The prices charged were typically higher than they would pay in an open market. The moneychangers came into play because they had to pay with a Hebrew coin, where most of the poor only held Roman currency. This was another opportunity for the clergy to profit from those that looked to them as their trusted leaders. Knowing this, it’s not at all surprising that Jesus would react in the way that he did.

The “marketplace” is certainly a hot button term these days. With many 401k’s in shambles, and confidence in our business leaders shaken to the core, the theme of this gospel couldn’t be more relevant to our lives. We all feel the outrage toward those we believe put us all collectively in the mess we are in. Yet this outrage is different from what was driving Christ through the temple in the Gospel. He was angered that the least among us were being exploited by those posing as spiritual leaders in His Father’s own house. It’s easy for us to feel we need to batten down the hatches during these times, becoming insular to the seemingly frightening world around us. Yet to call ourselves Christians, it is imperative that we realize we can make a difference in the world by how we treat and care for others, and the way we live our own lives. By living this way, or own bodies become a temple, in practicing the rule Francis taught us, to “Create within ourselves a place where God might dwell.”

(Post a comment below to share your thoughts.)

(Mt. Irenaeus Web Site)

Lenten Reflection

By Lou McCormick, OFM

Lent has been an intense spiritual experience for followers of Christ throughout the centuries. Our forty days of Lent are modeled after the forty days Jesus spent in the desert immediately after His baptism in the Jordan River. At the end of that time, Jesus was tempted by the devil. Those temptations which Jesus experienced and rejected had to do with POWER, PRESTIGE, AND POSSESSIONS. Anyone the least bit in touch with themselves and events in our world know that these temptations to power, prestige, and possessions are still very operative. I would say that all the problems and pain in our world are because of the desire for power, prestige or possessions.

Following the example of Jesus' words, the traditional practices of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Notice how all three of these activities focus on God and others. Prayer brings us into God consciousness; fasting brings us into a sense of God's many gifts to us and expresses a desire to give up some of these gifts temporarily for the good of others; and almsgiving is a sharing of some of these gifts with others.

The fundamental Franciscan charism (spirit) has to do with relationship. Francis of Assisi had a profound understanding of God the Father as creator of everyone and everything. If all that exists is created by God, then we are all “brothers” and “sisters” to all that is created.

Relationship is the core of the Christian life because Jesus tells us that love of God and love of neighbor are the core of religion. Jesus came to show us that relationship and how it is to be lived.

The spiritual journey for any of us is the lifelong movement from ego-centered to God-centered living. As we move along this journey, our lives become more and more influenced by the life and teaching of Jesus. Power, prestige, and possessions become less important because others become more important. How I relate to the world becomes more informed by the needs of others, as do my patterns of consumption. We are gradually able to differentiate between “needs” and “wants.” In most cases our needs can be taken care of fairly simply, and in that simplicity, we are better able to share with others.

Through the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we are able to reflect on our ways of relating to people and things. We may even be moved by God's grace to change some of the ways we do relate so that the needs of another may be met and Jesus' message made more clear.

The Franciscan “thing” is to love the best way we can today, live as simply as possible, and always give thanks and praise to God who loves us and desires us beyond our imagining. The Lenten journey can help us along this path when we enter it with some intentionality.

God loves me so much that He can't take His eyes off me. As I come to understand and believe this, my way of relating to the world changes. My life becomes one of relating in love to the presence of Jesus among us.

Peace and love to all of you.

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(Mt. Irenaeus Web Site)