Tag: lectio divina

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

USCCB Readings

One of the lines that strikes me in today’s readings has been made famous by wherever large crowds appear, John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” Also in today’s reading, what stands out for me is “so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.”

Today’s reading is a continuation of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, who said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” At the end of today’s Gospel passage, John follows Nicodemus’s statement to its conclusion: “But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.”

I love the imagery of light and darkness. But what’s hard to acknowledge is my participation in the latter: “And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.” Evil is abominable, wickedness has been personified throughout history by names instilled in all of us by sixth grade. “That’s not me; I’m not them,” I might reassure myself. But evil is impartial, and every reasoning person of age succumbs at times to evil. No question, no exceptions. It is to will the harm of the other just as love (as Saint Thomas Aquinas describes) is to will the good of the other. God, help me understand always the way to avoid evil and live in the light.

Father in heaven, I have a full agenda today. Some of it is good and necessary; some, pie in the sky. Help me be remain in your light today and be responsive to the Holy Spirit. As Jesus says to Nicodemus, “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” God, help me stay in the light.

Today, among the many junctions I will come to, I have a moral choice set before me: avoid the light so that my actions might not be exposed; that is, live in darkness; or, live the truth and come toward the light to receive and act in God’s grace.

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

USCCB Readings

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Jesus refers to the Old Testament account that foreshadows his crucifixion and resurrection. Because the people complained against God and Moses, God sent seraph serpents among the people that bit them and caused them to die. Moses prayed to the Lord to take the serpents from them, so God told him to make a seraph serpent and mount it on a pole. Everyone who had been bitten would look upon it and recover.

“The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” God, help me understand that you had to be lifted up so that you could bring eternal life to everyone who believes in you and who is born of the Spirit. You have heard the cry of your people and have given us eternal life through your crucifixion.

Jesus made clear the purpose of Moses lifting up the serpent and himself being lifted up: eternal life for all who believe in him. I ask God to make clear to me how I am to be a witness to the resurrection and to my faith.

I want to remember today that when Jesus says, “. . . so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life,” it means being a witness to my faith. From today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Luke says that among the community of believers there was no needy person among them because what they did have they distributed to each according to need. “With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.” Today, let me see the needs of others around me, bearing witness to God in my works, joys, and sufferings, in communion with them through the risen Christ.

April 25, 2022—Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist

USCCB Readings

“Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.”

As I listen to the Gospel reading, I’m struck by the phrase “while the Lord worked with them.” Although Jesus had ascended into heaven, he continued to work with the disciples, confirming the word through signs that instilled faith in the lives of those the disciples touched. From there, recognizing that this is the risen Jesus working with them, it’s one short step to say that he works still with all of us today.

Thank you, God, for sending your Son, who remains with us and is at the same time seated at your right hand. Just as Jesus worked with the disciples, he works with us today to proclaim the Gospel to every creature. God, help me understand what it means to proclaim the Good News; what news there is today is not good, and the Gospel seems to have little effect in dispelling the darkness.

Jesus Christ, light of the world, be my light today as you work with me to proclaim you today to those you give me the Good News. From today’s psalm: “Blessed the people who know the joyful shout; in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.”

At the end of today, I’d like to think back and be certain that whatever I do, the Lord worked with me to proclaim the Gospel even in humble ways. In today’s first reading, Saint Peter says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.” I’m sure today’s worries will abound; when today’s work is done, what certainty of faith will I claim that the Lord worked with me to share the Good News of his life, death, and resurrection?

April 24, 2022—Divine Mercy Sunday—2nd Sunday of Easter

USCCB Readings

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.’ ”

This reminds me of the expression “Put my finger on it.” It is proof Thomas seeks (“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”) By saying “Put your finger here and see my hands, . . .” Jesus establishes facts to bring Thomas’s unbelieving into belief.

God, help me understand how the isolation of the disciples behind locked doors did not prevent Jesus from standing in their midst. Help me understand how to overcome the times that I doubt Jesus, when no amount of proof is enough. Thomas, though, does come to believe. He was not with the disciples when Jesus first appeared but sees Jesus when he appears a second time behind locked doors. Having seen the proof, Thomas comes to believe in the Risen Christ, exclaiming, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?” Jesus give Thomas proof; it is proof Thomas wants. The Gospel reading says that Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples. Why? The evangelist Saint John says, “But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.” Jesus, together with the first who believed in him want, for those who come to follow him, what Jesus had to die to produce: forgiveness of sins, the Resurrection of the Body, and life everlasting.

Today, Divine Mercy Sunday, I want to bring my unbelief to Jesus through my actions throughout the day, through prayer, and in receiving the Eucharist. I will forget myself and fall into unbelief, I will fall short, and I will fail to show mercy. No matter. When I return, Jesus is there, and his grace is enough to transform my unbelief: “Blessed are those who have not seen and believed.”