Reflection for the Week

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus held a dinner for Jesus and the Disciples. Judas objected when Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly oil, but the Lord realized that holding on to her loving act would help when she grieved for Him. As a servant would do, Jesus washed the Disciples’ feet. Peter objected but would come to understand. On the Cross, Jesus entrusted His Mother and a beloved Disciple (probably John) to one another as mother and son. Although we look up to Jesus, we sometimes let Him down. Do we give thanks that the Lord always looks upo

Mary and Joseph could not understand why 12-year-old Jesus stayed in Jerusalem after the Passover festival without asking. Years later, when asked for His opinion, the Lord saved a condemned woman by inviting anyone without sin to hurl the first stone at her. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the chief priests and Pharisees feared loss of their authority. We sometimes forge ahead without praying about our plans, even though the Lord knows what we have to gain or lose. When we hardly know what to say, how often do we marvel that Jesus re

Frustrated with people refusing to believe without seeing a miracle, Jesus cured an official’s son from a distance. At the pool of Bethesda, Jesus healed a man and then slipped away to avoid accusations that He had violated the Sabbath. Outrage against Him grew when Jesus openly said that He did the work for which His Father sent Him. Convinced or still confused, no one brought Jesus to the chief priests and Pharisees when the opportunity arose. When, as far as we can see, nothing short of a miracle will help in our lives, do we close our eye

Jesus angered people in his hometown by pointing out miracles worked in Gentile territory through prophets that the Israelites regarded as their own. When Peter asked if he had to forgive someone as many as seven times, Jesus said seventy-seven. Only goodness could accomplish what Jesus did. No one can go wrong by loving God and neighbor. The Lord told a parable of an uppity Pharisee who regarded himself as better than other people and thanked God, whereas a sinner with downcast eyes asked for mercy. Counting our blessings, do we give thanks fo

Religious leaders held themselves in high regard. As Jesus and the Disciples made their way to Jerusalem, the Lord said that He would rise, but only after suffering the anguish and pain of crucifixion. In a parable, Jesus described the fate of murderous tenant farmers who refused to turn over a landowner’s share of the produce. Another story depicted a prodigal son who wasted what the father had given him but undeservedly received a favored son’s welcome home. While living in hope of eternal life, do we regard holiness as the highest standa

After 40 days in the desert, Jesus preached about fulfillment, the Kingdom of heaven, and the need to repent and believe. He taught that anyone who turns away from the poor, ignores the sick, dehumanizes prisoners, or excludes newcomers likewise rejects the Lord. Even if it takes a while, people can change. Like everyone, Peter had his faults as he faced Jesus’ challenge to become perfect, like the heavenly Father. When we say, “I’m only human,” does it sound like making excuses or the making of a perfectly humble disciple?

Rejecting the challenge of religious leaders to give them a sign, Jesus left by boat for another shore. The Lord warned the Disciples about “the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod”—people focused on raising their own esteem. Jesus tried to prepare the Disciples for the impending suffering and death that He would willingly endure for sinners. Ash Wednesday begins a time of focus on repentance—the desire to change for the better. In the Old Testament, Isaiah broadly described fasting as removing burdens, sharing food and shelter with the h