CLICK HEREfor the Audio recording of the Readings of March 8th, 2020. Second Sunday of Lent.
CLICK HEREfor the Readings of March 8th, 2020. Second Sunday of Lent.
Mass Times
Saturday:4:00 PMEnglishEnglishEN
Sunday:8:00 AMEnglishEnglishENSeptember - May only9:00 AMEnglishEnglishENMemorial Day Weekend - Labor Day Weekend10:30 AMEnglishEnglishENSeptember - May only
Wednesday:6:30 PMEnglishEnglishENNo weekday mass 8/21/24 - 9/24/24
Thursday:8:00 AMEnglishEnglishENNo weekday mass 8/21/24 - 9/24/24
Friday:8:00 AMEnglishEnglishENNo weekday mass 8/21/24 - 9/24/24
Easter: Sunday, April 12th, 2020, 8:00AM | 10:30AM
March 8th, 2020. Second Sunday of Lent.
“Go forth from your land, from your relatives,and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you." Genesis 12: 1
Called to ‘journey’ for others
Who of us in their right mind, would at this very moment, right here and now, be asked by a stranger or even someone you know and trust, to abandon everything you ever had, knew, owned, liked, worked for, your kin (family), your father’s house, to abandon everything now to go to a land that person will show you? A place unknown? Am sure each of us would say no! for what? What plan? Is there a price to family? And promises? How often have people’s promises let us down? Yet, this is what God asks of Abram, and he unquestioningly and un-hesitantly obeys. Abram is therefore for us a model of faith. He puts his total trust and faith in God, knowing that the initiative that comes from God never leads to a dead-end. It is never a waste of time. There is however something more to Abram’s call. He is called to ‘journey for others’: to get out of his own world, safe haven, setting, likes and self, to take on an arduous journey that God promises will bring him blessings and a great name, but also benefit many others. The secret of blessings here is taking a difficult path for the other’s benefit. Abram’s journey is not an ego trip. It will involve and be for others. Others will be beneficiaries.
Why did Jesus take three of his most trusted disciples up the mountain? The back story to this, as Jesus was coming to the end of his mission on earth, the disciples are getting disappointed. He keeps speaking of his suffering and dying, ‘three day in the tomb and rising’. This all does not make sense. They thought they were into this for other reasons. They thought of political positions. (the mother of James and John asks Jesus that he put his sons, one on his right and left; the disciples are always arguing about who is the greatest??) What then is all this suffering all about? They want miracles! Great deeds! Jesus transfigures before the leading disciples to show them what He is truly about, 'listen to God and do his will. They in turn must go back to 'encourage the others'. Jesus is about saving others. He will suffer and die for others and yes this will involve pain and frustration. But only in this way can others ‘receive’ who ‘ask’, others' doors will be open who knock’.
To be a Christian is more than just a name. It is a responsibility, to live for others. Saint Paul says ‘to bear hardships for others'. It is not about scores or points or totals. It is to be ready to sorrow and hurt for others. A lot of our contemporary world is ruined by ego; everybody thirsts and fends more for self and is ready to even isolate another to stay a step ahead. We live in a world of takers, not givers. We live in a world where to climb the ladder means stepping on others, ruining their name and reputation. We get rid of any obstacles to be ‘greater’, no matter what.
The readings challenge us to do the opposite. We will find blessing and even a great name only in living and journeying for others. The healing of the world begins with the responsibility for others.
A blessed Week in the Lord! Fr. Anthony
View the below video for another Sunday Reflection on the readings.
