2022 Lenten Devotional | Academy of Saint Elizabeth

A Lenten Devotional for 2022 A collection of reflections on the Lectionary readings by members of The Academy of Saint Elizabeth

Dear Academy Family, There is a recurring theme in the Old-Testament historical books known as the “cycle of apostasy”—we run from God, God punishes us, we are drawn to repent, God forgives us and saves us, we praise God, eventually we grow complacent and fall back into sin again. It is a simplistic model, and wrong; I don’t have an answer—and farbeit for me to attempt one—for the problem of evil, but it does exist. We must not think that because good things are happening to us we are therefore more virtuous, or because bad things are happening that we are more sinful. Still, I think the notion of the cycle of apostasy does capture one truth of human nature: that we turn toward God in our lack, in times of trouble, and are more wont to neglect God when we think we no longer need God. We pray harder when our prayer is one of petition rather than one of praise. Don’t. One day—maybe, hopefully soon—the pandemic will begin to retreat, but when that happens the world will still endure the enormity of injustice; we must fight for good, both writ large and small (and how to do this is something grappled with in the next forty-seven pages), but I would proffer that before we can work for others, we must work on ourselves. That is one of the points of Lent: to abandon ourselves to God in order to find God in ourselves. Only then can we—for as St. James tells us (2:17*), “Faith of itself if it does not have works is dead”—promote the Gospel through action, start a proliferation of goodwill, meet others with a gospel of love (our school motto, of course, from 1 John 4:16, is that God is Love).

It is wrong to wish you a happy Lent, but I wish you a valuable and enriching one.

Curate ut valeatis (take care in order that you may be well),

Noah J. Stanzione, Editor *All translations are taken from the Lectionary for Mass, based on the New American Bible (NAB).

Cover Art: Ludovico Carracci, Christ in the Wilderness, Served by Angels, 1608.

March 2: Ash Wednesday Jl 2:12-18; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. . . . Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Our Lenten journey begins with Ash Wednesday, a very special and meaningful day to initiate forty days of prayer, fasting, and penance so we can prepare to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection on Easter. The above passage from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians has a very simple, yet profound, message. It reminds us that as children of God we are all His “ambassadors” spreading His love and teachings through our own actions. It reminds us of the importance of being reconciled to God. Take a moment to remember and reflect on the Great Commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” When we reconcile with God we restore our relationship with Him, which in turn can restore and strengthen our relationships with others. It is easy to focus on the fasting part of Lent, determining what you are going to give up for the next forty days and then possibly forgetting about the rest of your Lenten journey. It is not just about giving up but also about giving back. How can we better ourselves over the next forty days and better our relationship with God? Spending time in self-reflection to reconcile and strengthen this relationship will allow us to be God’s ambassadors and continue to spread His love.

Reconciliation has been a daily topic of discussion in my house over the past few weeks as my daughter is preparing to make her First Reconciliation. In reading the chapters in her Reconciliation book, we have discussed the importance of our relationship with God, being sorry for our actions and sins, asking for and giving forgiveness, and being God’s peacemaker. Helping my daughter navigate and begin to understand her own relationship with God, and seeing how these topics resonate through the innocent eyes of a seven-year-old has been an enlightening experience. I have been reminded of the importance of my own reconciliation with God and to be a better ambassador through my own daily actions. This is what I will be focusing my Lenten journey on, and I encourage you to do the same.

Do you remember the anticipation of making your First Reconciliation (followed by your First Communion) and the excitement and wonder of truly establishing your relationship with God? I know there are many days when I am not being the best ambassador I can be, but now is the time to reconcile and restore my relationship with God and with my family, friends, coworkers, and community. That is what I will be working toward during these next forty days; what path will your Lenten journey take?

Lauren Corvo Assistant Principal

March 3 Dt 30:15-20; Lk 9:22-25 I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live.

It’s time to make a choice. In today’s first reading, Moses talks about how we are given two options: life and death. This is not just talking about mere existence but rather how we choose to go about our lives. God gives us the choices of land, a covenant, and commandments that help us go in the right direction: “If you obey the commandments of the LORD . . . loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments . . . you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.” But if we choose to go against life, Moses tells us that we will face a curse and “you will certainly perish; you will not have a long life on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy.” These decisions are so clearly put forth yet can be so difficult to follow. How can we help ourselves stay on the right path? Especially during times like these, how can we find hope in the shadow of failure? Take time today to keep in mind the importance of making the right decision, whether it is in school, at home, with friends, or even in spirituality. It is okay to not know the answers now, but the only way to solve the problem is by taking it one step at a time. Your life is yours to live as you choose. By choosing to do the right thing, the morally correct act, the decision that your heart tells you to, you choose life.

Caroline Clarke Grade 11

March 4 Is 58:1-9a; Mt 9:14-15 Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Often throughout the Lenten season, we tend to forget the real reason behind why we are fasting. After all, we are not just giving up our favorite candy or TikTok for the fun of it; we are using this time to reflect on the things that we may take for granted. During Lent, we are reminded of God’s love and all that He has given up for us. Today’s Gospel reading focuses on the struggles that people may have understanding the act of fasting. When I was younger, I struggled with the idea of fasting and thought that I might not get those cookies for dessert I had looked forward to every night. As I have matured, I have still struggled with the idea of fasting and wondering if I am doing enough. A similar idea comes up in the Gospel reading when the disciples of John ask why they and the Pharisees fast but Jesus’ disciples do not. Jesus responds as above. But today we do not fast to receive Jesus’ holiness or His love (He always loves us); instead, we fast in order to celebrate and honor Him. As we are giving up something during this time, we should remember why we may be doing so and remember that nothing that we give up is close to what Jesus gave up—His life. We should use this time to grow closer to God and recognize that we have “greatly sinned in [our] thoughts and in [our] words, in what [we] have done and in what [we] have failed to do.” During this Lenten season, let us think about everything God has placed into our lives and show kindness to our loved ones.

Emer Vesey Grade 11

March 5 Is 58:9b-14; Lk 5:27-32 Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.

Lent is a time of remembrance for all God has done for His people. It is a time where we should remember how Jesus died on the cross and suffered greatly to save each of us from sin. We as Catholics use these forty days to read about and honor the weeks leading up to Jesus dying on the cross. During the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, people all over the world make a special commitment to God. This could be in the form of sacrificing something, reading the Bible, going to confession, or even adding a prayer to commemorate God’s own sacrifice. However, it is also important to continue to strengthen one’s relationship with God during Lent. Therefore by showcasing a new way to show devotion to God, people are able to grow closer to Him. It is essential now more than ever that people talk to God through prayer and confession of sins.

Today the Gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus and a tax collector, Levi. Levi along with other tax collectors puts together a banquet to honor Jesus. However, the Pharisees wonder why Jesus chooses to spend time with them since they are sinners. Jesus replies, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

Although everyone needs the love and guidance of Jesus in their lives, at this moment Jesus felt these tax collectors needed Him the most. Despite the text distinctly stating that healthy people do not need help, I believe God means this in a different way. Some may not necessarily need Him for physical healing, but everyone could use His guidance to make important decisions. We all need God for emotional and spiritual healing. The reading from Isaiah states, “Then the LORD will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails.” No matter how hopeless or lost someone feels, God is always going to be there; God will find some way to make things better.

It is because we are all sinners that God’s love for us is so strong. Our mistakes are what allow us to grow closer to God. When we sin, it is essential to talk to God and ask for His forgiveness. We can ask for His forgiveness using penance and reconciliation. By confessing our mistakes, God gives us the chance to make it up to Him. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son to earth to die to save us from sin. Making some sort of sacrifice or addendum to a prayer routine does not show Jesus and God that we love Them; They already know this. We do these things to prove to ourselves that we love Them and that we are capable of living the way that Jesus did.

Katie Dusko Grade 11

March 6: First Sunday of Lent Dt 26:4-10; Rom 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13 “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”

On the First Sunday of Lent, we reflect on a passage that describes the temptations of Satan.

Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit, and that spirit leads Him to the wilderness where He is tempted by the devil for forty days. The devil continues tempting Jesus, but Jesus continues to reject and push away Satan’s temptations, claiming that the devil should not put God to the test. This is what the devil does to us: sometimes we try to make excuses for our sins, but that only leads us away from God. As we know, with life come many difficulties and challenging situations. Sometimes when we are in a dire situation, our mind races forward and convinces us that God will have all the answers, so we depend on Him as we sit back and watch. We hand the situation over to God entirely and command Him to take us out of it, thereby putting God to the test. To test God is a dangerous practice. Do not test God’s loyalty or trustworthiness into granting your request. Testing God is to say, “If God were real, God would let me win this million dollar lottery,” or for someone to not wear their seatbelt because they assume God will protect them from any harm. What does God have to prove to you, a mortal being? He has already given you grace and mercy, letting you enter paradise for eternity. In putting God to the test, you are intentionally putting yourself into harm’s way or trouble expecting God to save you, testing His faithfulness. Think of it this way: if you were friends with someone, but you did not spend time with them or talk to them, do you think they would do you a favor? The same concept goes for God. If you are only seeking God when you are in need of something, then why would God go out of His way to help you with something you desire? As we enter this season of Lent, it is important to remember that our relationship with God is important and must be nourished in order to grow stronger. This sums up our daily mission as Christians: we are called to serve God in all His glory and proclaim the Gospel.

Allie Shannon Grade 11

March 7 Lv 19:1-2, 11-18; Mt 25:31-46 I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.

There are different passages from the Bible that have had a profound impact on me from an early age, and this is one of them. I was raised in a family blessed with many things, as I’m sure many of us were and are. Along with that came the expectation that we were to treat all people equally and with respect and to “give back” to others who might not be as fortunate. This “giving back” can take many forms: donating to the food pantry, volunteering at a soup kitchen, participating in a clothing drive, or visiting the elderly—and all are worthwhile. The idea of giving of our time, treasure, and talents is the definition of stewardship. Don’t you feel a rush after doing any of these things? If we reflect on today’s Gospel reading, I would say this rush stems from the fact that Jesus tells us, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for [M]e.” We are promised that we will be rewarded for our good deeds in heaven, and I think this is the reward of our good deeds here on earth.

Since I began at the Academy years ago, I have always been impressed with the way our students embrace this idea of stewardship. They have so many ideas about collecting for this organization or having a bake sale for that one, and the results are always substantial. Students have started numerous clubs whose premise is to serve others, and this is admirable. However, as we continue our Lenten journey, I challenge every one of us to look at how we can do this within our own school community and examine how we treat each other. Do our everyday behaviors mirror this desire to help the homeless or impoverished? So many people are fighting battles each day, and though they may not be evident, we should always treat each other with kindness and compassion. Do you really need to share that piece of gossip about another person? Should you “like” that mean girl post? Can you invite that lonely person to sit with you at lunch? It is important to remember that Jesus’ words need not be taken literally. I take them to mean that we should treat everyone with that kindness and respect I spoke of earlier, because that could be the face of Jesus that we see in them. The smallest actions and briefest words can make such a positive impact on another person. One of my favorite prayers and songs is the Prayer of Saint Francis—a role model whom the Holy Father emulates each day—which begins, “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.” During this season of Lent and as we prepare for the sacrifice Jesus made to save all of us, let us all work to be these instruments of Peace.

Beth-Ellen Walsh Director of School and College Counseling

March 8 Is 55:10-11; Mt 6:7-15 Thus says the LORD: “Just as from the heaven the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful . . . so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth.”

This passage offers a beautiful and simple message of God’s enduring presence and His unconditional love. The rain and snow fall to the earth to nourish the ground and make it fertile for the abundant harvest. So too God’s will descends upon the land and envelops all that it encounters.

This passage can only be seen as a great comfort to God’s people who too often struggle with everything from the mundane tasks of the day-to-day to the longer-term burdens and worries of an uncertain and ever-changing world. In a time of great adversity, when our struggles can seem insurmountable, how reassuring it truly is to know that God is with us in all that we do!

To take this reflection to another level, God’s creatures can complete their own virtuous circle by ensuring that everything that emanates from them serves as noble a purpose. In this Lenten season, let us reorient our words and our actions to have the purposeful intent of the rain and the snow. Let us too shower our fellow human with kind words and good deeds. For like the rain and the snow in the passage, our kindness can lead to green shoots all their own.

Maggie Macchiarola Grade 12

March 9 Jon 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32 At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.

It is not uncommon for Christians to search for some sort of sign from God that would show His approval before they make a decision. We may look for Bible verses or prayers that validate our choices, or we may look into our everyday experiences to try and discover an indication that God is sending us a message. In today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke, the crowd wanted God to intervene somehow to show He approved of Jesus’ preaching. Jesus responded that Jonah was a sign to the people of Nineveh. Jonah was a sign of both God’s care for all of humanity, as He had Jonah spread the word of God in a foreign land, and God’s care for us as individuals, as He watched out for Jonah’s safety. The prophet’s trust in God was one of his greatest strengths, demonstrating how having faith is what enables us to receive signs from God. We can find these in a variety of different ways, including through nature, family and friends, and random acts of kindness. We can also take comfort in Jonah because he began his story in the Bible by refusing his mission from God. After being called to go to Nineveh, Jonah didn’t listen to God. But instead of turning on him, God stayed by Jonah’s side. He saved Jonah from drowning by sending a whale to swallow him. While inside the fish’s belly, the prophet prayed to and praised God. The story of the whale reminds us that we can never run away from God; He will always be by our side. He offers second chances to us and extends His love to all, even outsiders and those who turn their backs to Him. Jonah serves as a perfect sign from God that He is real and that He loves us all eternally. No matter how many times we sin, the Lord will always stay by our sides. We never have to ask for a sign to show that Christ is with us, because we know He always is regardless of how imperfect we are. We can take comfort in knowing that whenever we are struggling or feel lost in the world, we are never truly alone. We will always have God to love us, proving that having faith in Him is the greatest sign of all.

Sophia Vail Grade 11

March 10 Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Mt 7:7-12 [E]veryone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

The Gospel for this day of Lent reads, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find,” and the responsorial psalm thanks God for answering our prayers. Father Tom spoke in our Catholic Schools Week Mass about the need to meet God face to face and ask Him for help—to be brave and seek out the healing power of Jesus. For many including myself this is a difficult proposition. Seeking help seems to imply weakness, not strength; asking for assistance means you are incapable. These ideas are wrong.

Seeking help instead implies bravery and understanding; asking for assistance demonstrates that you recognize the power others hold as well as their abilities, and acknowledging these supports can help you grow. Help is not a weakness but a strength. Teachers, friends, coaches, parents, and siblings have skills that you may lack as well as abilities that you may not possess. Asking for help from the people in your life means that you are acknowledging their skills and are seeking advice from people who can help you; they are able to support you, guide you, and provide for you as long as you gather the strength to ask for help.

In many ways, asking God for help is even harder. To do that, we first need to acknowledge our own lack of power, which is something that requires introspection and reflection. Acknowledging our weaknesses can only make us stronger in the end, and seeking answers can only make us smarter than we were yesterday. So ask the questions you are scared to ask. Seek the responses you did not know you needed. And be open to providing help and answers when others seek your guidance.

Asking for help takes courage—reward that bravery when you see it.

Carlin Heinle English

March 11 Ez 18:21-28; Mt 5:20-26 [I]f you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

This excerpt dives into the concepts of reconciliation and forgiveness, even when they are difficult. Jesus has announced that whoever is angry with their brother will face judgment themselves from God, and resolution should take priority in one’s life. He urges us to prioritize forgiveness, as anger only leads to further problems. Although Jesus advises us to always forgive, anger is a normal and common emotion in everyday life. Whether it is something small like your sibling taking too long in the shower or a complicated fight with a best friend, sometimes it is hard to see the bigger picture in the fog of all the anger.

The bigger picture involves the importance of companionship and

appreciation for the role everyone has in our lives. When things are tense, it is hard for us to realize how much we really do care about someone and how appreciative we are of them. Jesus wants us to understand that even when we are angry, upset, or can’t imagine forgiving someone for what they have done, we must not resent them or hold grudges. Holding grudges or anger within ourselves only brings us down as individuals and can affect our relationships with other people as well. I believe that these concepts hold great importance, and embodying them leads us to be closer to God and appreciate all that we have.

Emma Dietz Grade 11

March 12 Dt 26:16-19; Mt 5:43-48 [I]f you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? . . .

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Jesus really does have impossible standards, doesn’t He? It’s hard enough to love our friends and family after Thanksgiving weekend, let alone the man who grabbed the last flatscreen TV at the Black Friday sale that you had been aching to replace for weeks. And Jesus insists we love not only our irksome uncle who wouldn’t cease talking politics at the dinner table but the Black-Friday-TV-Nabber as well? It seems so, for we are to “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

It is comforting to know I am not alone in this struggle to love my enemies, even the Subaru driver in front of me who insists on going fifteen miles an hour under the speed limit on a two-lane road, but I digress. Jesus had to remind His closest followers to remember this command. He tells Peter to put away his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane. If even the Rock struggles to love his enemies, I know I am in good company. Yet I know that Christians have lived up to this command.

The story of Corrie ten Boom comes to mind. Corrie ten Boom was a Christian member of the Dutch Resistance against the Nazis who was arrested by the Gestapo for her efforts to hide Jews during the Holocaust. She was sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp where she was a constant physical and spiritual support to those around her. Reflecting on her experience with the Nazis in the camp, she wrote in The Hiding Place: Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him. . . . Jesus, I prayed, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness. . . . And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command the love itself.

If Corrie ten Boom can forgive the Nazi guards of Ravensbrück, I can forgive the petty annoyances that I allow to so alter my day, and so, so much more. If I practice loving the small enemies of impatience and inconvenience, I can practice loving the real enemies of fear, hate, want, sickness, and despair when I encounter them too. The first step, though, is surrendering to Jesus and letting Him live and love through me, for with God all things are possible.

David Gillespie Social Studies

March 13: The Transfiguration of the Lord Gn 15:5-12, 17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28b-36 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

In today’s Gospel, we read about the Transfiguration of Jesus. He went up to the mountain to pray and brought Peter, James, and John with Him. While Jesus was praying, His face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white. The disciples, starting to doze off, became fully awake at this, noticing Jesus’ glory and observing Him conversing with two men, Moses and Elijah. They were then overcome by a cloud, and a voice from above said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to [H]im.” When they left this place they told no one what they had seen at the request of Jesus.

This is significant as it is one of the miracles in the Gospels and the first time a miracle happened to Jesus Himself. God designated Jesus as His messenger and mouthpiece on earth.

Observing Him conversing with the prophets Moses and Elijah and then hearing the voice of God further solidified to the apostles what they had been told. I believe it gave them hope that what they had believed to be true actually was. This is the significance of this reading during the season of Lent.

We all need to have hope, for to have hope is to want an outcome that makes your life better in some way. Isn’t this what our Lenten journey is all about? We make changes in our lives during the season of Lent to prepare for the Resurrection of Jesus and emulate His sacrifice in some small way. We do this because we hope that by the end of Lent these small sacrifices will make us better disciples of Jesus and bring us closer to Him. During this season of Lent, may we work toward strengthening our faith and be hopeful for the reward that will be ours as we grow closer in our relationship with Him. Beth-Ellen Walsh Director of School and College Counseling

March 14 Dn 9:4b-10; Lk 6:36-38 Today’s readings describe the prayer of the faithful and what we receive from our Lord. As Daniel confesses his sins to the Lord, he also recognizes the Lord’s mercy to the sinner and that God keeps His covenant to love and forgive us even when we have rebelled and turned away from what we are taught and what is right.

God’s mercy to us is a demonstration of God’s unconditional love. So we are instructed in today’s Gospel from Luke to follow the Lord’s teachings: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging, and you will not be judged. Stop condemning, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

This writing doesn’t just instruct us to behave in a certain manner to be rewarded or to not receive condemnation but to forgive and show mercy, because we are set apart for the service of Christ and are commanded to walk in the way that God desires us to walk. We should never act or respond because we are expecting a reward or recognition; our actions should instead be based on what is right and the path we are following in our faith journey. One of the many attributes that we are instructed to imitate is mercy. It is the aspect of God’s unconditional love that we are to mirror in our daily lives, but being merciful with our own strength or effort is difficult or can feel unattainable. We should not offer mercy looking for a reward or reciprocation—being truly merciful can go beyond our human efforts—yet with our recognition of the power of the Holy Spirit and as we walk in spirit and truth as God's children, we can reflect this beautiful characteristic.

When God dwells in our hearts and guides our path, true mercy is attainable because we look outside of our selfishness and strive to offer something beyond ourselves. To judge or condemn can often become a habitual attitude toward others, but we can also create a habit or lifestyle of forgiveness, offering mercy, by seeking God’s strength and guidance especially in difficult situations. We are all sinners and can be critical and unforgiving. Wouldn’t it be great to be the child of a God Who can offer unconditional love and mercy, which is something we all need? A prayer to consider: Heavenly Father, thank You for the mercy You have shown me for the forgiveness of sins.

May the mercy that You have so graciously shown me Flow through me to others so that I may be merciful Just as You are so merciful to me.

This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN. Gail deFreitas Administrative Assistant for Student Services

March 15 Is 1:10, 16-20; Mt 23:1-12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

It is a human inclination to want to display our achievements. Whether we are sharing them with people we know and love or to new people, we inevitably crave validation. Yet there lies a fine line between humility and pride. With humility lies our success and failure, and embracing both creates a clear barrier from pride, while pride allows us to acknowledge our self-worth through these accomplishments.

In the verse highlighted above, pride and humility are perfectly contrasted.

They are

contradictory to each other—yet with one always comes the other. Exalting oneself and begging for praise ultimately leads to being humbled. Pride is thus only safe to an extent, until humility is needed to subdue it. On the other hand, humility is a virtue that can lead to gratification. Whether one starts off with immense pride or humility, if they are able to channel it into a true version of themselves, their goal is accomplished.

Rather than flaunting oneself with achievements, let your actions and behaviors illustrate your personality. We can still be acknowledged and noticed by others without projecting all of our astonishing moments. During Lent, we should continue to recognize the importance of humility and allow it to lead us through the time when Jesus resembled his truest and most humble state.

Kathleen Byrne Grade 11

March 16 Jer 18:18-20; Mt 20:17-28 My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.

In this part of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is traveling to Jerusalem with his twelve disciples.

On their travels, Jesus says to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

While today it may seem clear that Jesus is explaining his death to his disciples, many of them fail to realize that. In fact, as he is travelling, he meets the mother of James and John, who asks Jesus if her sons would be able to sit at his right and left in his Kingdom. However, Jesus explains that it is not he who can decide who sits beside him; only God the Father can. When the ten other disciples hear that the sons of Zebedee’s mother had asked this of Jesus, they grow hostile. Nonetheless, Jesus turns this situation into a moment to teach his disciples and everyone a valuable lesson. Jesus says to them that his disciples are to be servants, which is hard for them to hear. Today, many people struggle with the idea of having to serve or work under others, only ever wanting to be the greatest, to be recognized for what they do. Yet Jesus says to be great is to serve.

Jesus’ acknowledgment that we must serve others is a lesson that we today can learn from. For many today, there is an unspoken competition to always be the most prominent or influential person in the world. However, to be great, you do not have to found a successful company or solve an important problem in society; to be great, you can serve others.

Colleen Devenny Grade 12

March 17 Jer 17:5-10; Lk 16:19-31 My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad, but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.

In a time like today when millions of people have lost their jobs and continue to struggle to get food on their tables, the parable of Lazarus and the rich man has never been so important. The famous parable serves as a reminder that there is no currency in heaven, no “buy-your-way-to-salvation” card.

In a world that promotes the idea that success in life means having the most expensive car or distinguished company, it can be difficult to shake the notion of hoarding your money. However, just as the fate of the rich man reiterates, greed is a sin. Sure, it may be more appealing to spend your money on that new pair of shoes you have been wanting, but do you really need them? Those shoes may take you many places and maybe get you a few compliments, but will they ever mean as much to you as a sandwich does to the hungry? Will they ever mean as much as a blanket does to those who are cold? Will they ever mean as much as giving a hug to those who are lonely? We must remember that Jesus was the Son of God, the King of the Earth, yet Jesus was a poor man. He did not wear a gold crown nor fancy robes. He was a poor man who gave everything He had both physically and spiritually to those who were in need. Of course, we do not need to give every dollar we have to the poor and needy to be accepted into heaven; instead, give your spare money to those who truly need it. There are plenty of Lazaruses out there looking for whatever table scraps they can find, so let us feed them.

Unlike the Lazarus in Jesus’ parable who had to die in order to find comfort, let us spread our current comfort to the poor among the living.

Now for those who perhaps do not have any spare money to give, there is still another way to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Although the parable of Lazarus and the rich man focuses on the message of donating your food and money, it does not exclusively apply to these. The Lazarus in this parable can apply to anyone who is lacking something, just as the rich man can apply to anyone with a bountiful supply. Lazarus can be that girl who sits alone at lunch while the “rich man,” or popular girl, sits with her many friends. It is our duty not only as Jesus’ disciples but also as compassionate human beings to express benevolence and empathy to those in need. Whether we come across the poor in material or the poor in spirit, we should give what we can. In the end, we have only one life and, just as the rich man taught us, God does not accept bribes at the door.

Isabella Bergamini Grade 11

March 18 Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Mt 21:33-43, 45-46 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’? Therefore, I say to you the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

Misinformation. Fake news. Clickbait. Catfishing. These distractions and noise are just a few ways people today have come to question their trust in others. Our world today is full of those willing to deceive others while few are willing to speak the truth, as painful as it may be.

That is why it was easy for the Pharisees to reject Jesus as the Messiah. Numerous men had come before Jesus claiming they were the “true” messiah who would set the Jewish people free from Roman power. With each of these “messiahs” came subsequent failure.

The Pharisees rejected these messiahs over and over, and when people claimed Jesus was the true Messiah, the Pharisees treated Him the same way as all the others—another “fake-news” messiah.

The stone which God was building a new world on, a world of love, truth, and peace, was rejected by those in power. For us then, we must ask ourselves, whom do we want to be like today?

Do we want to be like the Pharisees, distrusting of all others and only believing in themselves?

Or do we want to be like the lone Pharisee Nicodemus, who secretly met with Jesus, spoke to Him, and moved from distrust to hope and from isolation to love. It is part of our human nature to question and doubt, especially with all else that surrounds us each day. But all we have to do is turn to Jesus and find that our distrust melts away in the light of His life.

When we come to this realization, it is then that we as His followers can build our lives on His cornerstone; it is then that we can withstand all assaults of misinformation and fake news that may try to pull us away from Him who is the way, the truth, and the life.

The Lenten season has always been a blessing as I continue my spiritual journey and relationship with God, closing off all distractions and noise. Prayer is the spiritual food that strengthens my whole being and enables me to maintain a personal relationship with my loving God through that intimate “soul-to-Spirit” dialogue—my loving God who sent His “only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to redeem the world through His Cross, His burial, and His Resurrection” (Greek Orthodox Prayer of the Blessing of the Palms).

Helen Kotoulas Chief Financial and Operations Officer

March 19: Solemnity of Saint Joseph 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22; Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

In finding out that Mary was pregnant before Mary and Joseph were to get married, Joseph wanted to call off the wedding. Joseph, despite Mary’s efforts to convince him the Child was God, chose not to believe Mary and thought she was making up excuses. One night while Joseph was sleeping, he was visited by an angel in his dream. That angel told him not to be afraid, that Mary was telling the truth, and to trust God and what They had planned for the future. Although not believing at first, Joseph received a sign from God and from then on chose to listen to the signs, though some may not have been as obvious. Joseph took care of Mary and Jesus and did just as God instructed him to do. What we can take from this is to trust God and take notice of the signs They give to us. When God reaches out to us it is for a good reason, and we should listen to Them no matter what, even if it takes the most obvious signs to get our attention. God will not always make things easy for us when leading us on the right path, so our one job is to find those signs and follow them, because we know something good is going to come from them. As time passes on more people are losing faith in God, because they do not see the signs God is giving us. When people do not see the signs it is either because they are not looking in the right places or because they choose to not see. Just like Joseph we can overcome our disbelief and follow God and take notice of the signs that will lead us to be with Them in the end.

Rebekah Marsh Grade 10

March 20: Third Sunday of Lent Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15; 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13:1-9 or Ex 17:3-7; Rom 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn 4:5-42 [H]e said to the gardener, “For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?” He said to him in reply, “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future.

If not, you can cut it down.”

As a young woman in the twenty-first century, there are so many opportunities available to pursue. At this period of my life, I need to consolidate my interests and see what I enjoy most and what would be most beneficial to my future. Some interests may “bear more fruit” than others. It is at this point that I need to figure out what is worth pursuing and what is something that should be “cut down.” God is a significant factor in guiding me to find my gifts and calling in life. As a freshman, I still have time if what I choose to cultivate does not in fact “bear fruit.” If this is the case, I am left with developing other interests throughout high school and into college, and I know that God will be beside me, directing and helping me all the while.

When God came to Moses in the form of fire, He told Moses exactly what He wanted to be done. With that being said, would I have been faithful enough to recognize God if I had been in Moses’ place? God may communicate to me sometimes in different forms that I simply don’t recognize. Sometimes my parents can tell me one thing, and then I may come into school, only to have a teacher say the same thing to me. That may be one way that God is trying to communicate to me, but I do not always see it.

Moses may have been fortunate enough to have direct information from God, but that does not mean that God does not help us in our lives. Like how God can be present through others, sometimes we simply do not see what He is trying to tell us. We need to be grateful for all that God has given and helped us with and develop our faith so that we can continue to recognize His help in our lives.

Kayle Brody Grade 9

March 21 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab; Lk 4:24-30 So Namaan went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

On this Monday in Lent, we are reminded of the difficulties of keeping in touch with our faith and trusting in God during times of fear or difficulty. In the Second Book of Kings, a leper, Naaman, approaches Elisha in search of healing. When he reaches Elisha, he is told, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean.” However, Naaman leaves in anger as he assumes that Elisha would call upon God and that he would be instantly cured. Eventually, servants convince Naaman to do as Elisha instructed, and he is healed. Naaman’s initial reaction can teach us a lot about being patient and placing trust in God during trying times. It may be difficult for us to trust that God has a plan and will protect us with all his might. However, we have to be confident that God is guiding us every step of the way, for he is the light of the world. The leper was frustrated that Elisha did not automatically help him. Sometimes we can demand too much of God or even others in our life. It is important to also put in the effort to be a child of God and live as he would want us to. It is our responsibility to put our trust in him and convey kindness and appreciation toward others.

Claire Daly Grade 12

March 22 Dn 3:25, 34-43; Mt 18:21-35 “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

Clearly, this passage is about forgiveness and mercy. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the servant begs for forgiveness, and he is forgiven by the merciful master. Yet later in the parable, one of his fellow servants actually begs him for forgiveness, and the servant blatantly and violently refuses.

For this he is punished and ordered to repay the debt that was once forgiven. This illustration shows that forgiveness is what God asks of us. It further clarifies that forgiveness must be “from the heart.”

As you continue your Lenten journey, think about forgiveness and consider how you might enhance your understanding of this concept and apply the meaning of the parable of the unforgiving servant in your own life. In Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody, Allen R. Hunt writes, “Forgiveness will unleash a power in your life that is underrated and often ignored. Frankly, that power is life-changing.”

Lent is a time for us to reflect on God’s many lessons. Through this Gospel we learn that God asks us to forgive, and He reminds us that we, too, often seek to be forgiven; forgiveness is reciprocal.

Forgiveness is a gift—one of God’s graces that allows us to deepen our faith in Him. Remember, He asks us to forgive in the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Today, let us all do as our gracious God asks and be merciful: with a full, sincere heart, forgive someone who may have wronged or hurt you in the past. Embrace forgiveness and experience the warmth, the peace, and freedom that comes with a pure and forgiving heart.

“Stop judging, and you will not be judged. Stop condemning, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).

Lynn Burek Principal

March 23 Dt 4:1, 5-9; Mt 5:17-19 [W]hoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

In today’s passage from Matthew, we are taught the importance of the Ten Commandments and their relevance to our daily lives. This biblical passage begins with Jesus, Who appears to be defending the Commandments and also Himself. Jesus was criticized for how He seemed to view the Jewish Law. During His time, people claimed that Jesus was trying to abolish the ancient Mosaic Laws known from the Pentateuch—although that most certainly was not the case; the same God Who created Jesus also created Moses and all of the Mosaic Laws. According to Christian interpretation, in no way would God want to discard these laws, but rather He intended that Jesus would be the One to fulfill their promises through a new covenant. Jesus was not in any way discarding the messages of the prophets or the ancient laws; instead, Jesus strove to embody the Ten Commandments and reaffirm their teachings, thus leaving Christians with a perfect understanding of how to follow and live by the Ten Commandments.

Toward the end of the passage, we are left with this quote: “[W]hoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Especially during this time of Lent, Christians must not forget to abide by all of the commandments.

We often overlook the small details, or in this case, the “less important” commandments—ones that we seem to disregard every day. We must take this time of Lent as an opportunity to truly challenge ourselves; we must strive to evangelize and become models of the Christian faith. The time of Lent truly allows us to grow from our indiscretions and closer to God. Just like Jesus, we must fulfill God’s Word through our daily actions, preparing ourselves for salvation and eternal life after death.

Emma Kelly Grade 11

March 24 Jer 7:23-28; Lk 11:14-23 If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? . . . But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

The message of today’s readings is to follow the Lord in order to have a good life. God tells us to follow Him so that we will succeed and be protected. Through God all things are possible, and this is made known through today’s Gospel. Jesus tells His followers that by God’s hand any person can drive out demons and reach heaven. The people listening don’t believe Jesus even though God calls them to be strong in faith. Jesus gives the lesson that we need to blindly have consistent faith in God or our faith will not be strong enough to get us to heaven. Furthermore, if this faith isn’t strong enough, then our world will collapse because each person has to be fully committed faithfully in God to live a safe life full of God’s grace, goodness, and protection.

While we are like Jesus’ original followers, full of doubt and questioning of God’s existence, we need to take this Gospel reading as proof that these doubts will only push us further from God. We tend to think that we need to be fully in control of everything going on in our lives, and we don’t leave room for God because of our constant doubts that cloud our sightline. While it is in our human nature to question the meaning and truth behind everything, God calls each one of us by name to have faith and allow God to make Himself present to us. These readings are meant to open our eyes to the doubts we have had in the past and answer the “what if” questions that cloud our minds so that we can focus fully on our faith. We are called to have blind faith in God and trust in God’s plan for us. We are taught to do all things with God at our side, because He will help us to succeed in everything that we do, which is impossible without having faith in God’s existence. Jesus taught that with God by our side we cannot fail, because all we need is faith to get us to everlasting life with Him. Before getting to heaven, we need to live a faithful life, and we can accomplish this by accepting and inviting God into our lives so that we can connect with Him, grow in our faith, and diminish the amount of doubts that try to cloud our minds from God. Isabella Cerciello Grade 10

March 25: The Annunciation of the Lord Is 7:10-14, 8:10; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38 Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.

Within this birth narrative, we see Mary as a young woman, a disciple, and, most importantly, a co-creator with God. She is willing to give over her life to give birth to a son and to give birth to a promise from and with God. In addition, Mary is also willing to give birth to wholeness for herself and for others. Here she not only hears God’s request but has the courage to act with God. The story about the announcement of Jesus in addition to being a birth narrative is also a story written as a call narrative, one that is reserved for prophets. These birth announcements and call narratives usually contain five movements. These are a sign from God, an impossible request for the recipient of the sign, a message about God’s intention, a shocked response and objection by the recipient, and lastly a reassurance from God that the impossible can indeed happen.

The writer of Luke has written this story with these five traditional elements. However, it is rare that a woman is part of a call narrative; these are usually reserved for men. In addition, the writer has added a sixth element, one of consent with God: in this story, Mary makes a covenant with God, revealing herself as a courageous co-creator with God. She responds, “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Here this structure is used to show that Mary in addition to giving birth to the Son of God is being asked to take on a prophetic task for the saving of the world.

When we look at these steps of the story, we may see them happening in our own lives. Perhaps we feel we have received some sort of “sign,” a gut feeling or intuitive sense, of what we must do.

Perhaps we too say that what we are called to do feels impossible; we may even object to going forward.

But we may receive reassurance in prayer or from those around us; like Mary we may find ourselves saying “yes” to the impossible task we are called to do. In this way we too are courageous co-creators with God who can bring new life and God’s love into the world. This is what we are called to do, not just for today but for the future and the saving of the world as well.

Dr. Kimberly Borin Religion

March 26 Hos 6:1-6; Lk 18:9-14 [T]he tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector can teach all of us a very important message of having the right attitude while praying. Parables are simple, short stories that teach us moral or spiritual lessons. This parable teaches us how important it is to be humble. In the story the Pharisee and the tax collector both go to the Temple to pray, but the Pharisee prays about how extraordinary he is and all he does for others while the tax collector prays for how sorry he is. In this parable, God is trying to teach us that we do not need to pray so everyone else can hear us; the only one who needs to hear us is him. It is very important to pray with the right attitude. In today’s society, it is very easy to pretend you are something you are not. You can easily make people believe that you are living a perfect life by displaying only what you want people to see of your life on social media and not displaying the bad aspects of your life.

Praying is supposed to be a time of reflection and a time to talk to God. While the tax collector was using his time of prayer to acknowledge his wrongdoings and ask God for forgiveness, the Pharisee was not even praying at all, just praising himself. This parable is aimed at people who tend to boast about themselves while also putting other people down. The parable says that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is a message that we should all live by and remember throughout our lives.

Victoria Calle Grade 10

March 27: Fourth Sunday of Lent Jos 5:9a, 10-12; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 or 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41 My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.

As a history teacher I always remind my students to keep the intended audience of a primary source in mind. I urge them to question: whom was this letter written to? What was the context?

How would the intended audience hear what is being spoken? If we forget to ask these questions of sources, we miss so much. When we turn to the Gospels we often ask ourselves: whom was this Gospel written for? The Gentiles? The Jews? It is easy to lose the immediacy of the Gospels when we think about the context in which each Gospel was written (Luke was written with a Gentile audience in mind, by the way). The beginning of today’s Gospel reading, though, reminds us that Jesus’ parables were told in a specific place, in a specific time, with a specific audience at hand.

Today’s Gospel account informs us that Jesus is addressing a crowd of tax collectors and sinners. Tax collectors would have been among the most universally hated men of first-century Palestine, for they were seen as collaborators with Rome who got rich off the backs of their fellow Jews.

Sinners were, of course, everyone present, but these men and women were known to publicly break the many laws of Judaism. The Pharisees and scribes who butt in were seen to be clean of sin and stain, but that did not hold John the Baptist back from calling them a “brood of vipers.” These vipers demand to know why Jesus “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus, as was so often His wont, responds with a story.

We are all familiar with the story of the prodigal son, but it is easy to miss the key, most important moment in the story: “While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” It was not the grand begging of forgiveness that turned the father’s heart; it was the sight of his son coming home that caused the father to run to him and embrace him. It was this shift in heart that sent a broken man seeking his (F)ather that brought him home. The tax collectors and sinners in the crowd knew exactly who they were in this story: Jesus was already rejoicing that they had come home. May we emulate the tax collectors and sinners in today’s Gospel so that when we are broken and in need we may “draw[] near to listen to Jesus.”

David Gillespie Social Studies

March 28 Is 65:17-21; Jn 4:43-54 In today’s Gospel from John, we learn more about Jesus, returning to Cana in Galilee. There was a royal official whose son was ill, and when he heard that Jesus was nearby, he went and asked Jesus to come down and heal his son, who was near death. The royal official said to Jesus, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.

While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that this was just at the moment Jesus had said to him, “[Y]our son will live”—so he and his whole household came to believe.

As a father, even the very thought that harm, danger, or death would be a possibility for any of my children is devastating. I’m sure parents worry about their children all the time because we love them so much and want only the best for them and for them to be happy and healthy. I can only imagine how this royal official felt—desperate, anxious, defeated, sad, helpless. However, without even questioning Jesus, the man believed!

This Gospel reading reminds us of two very important and challenging attributes: faith and trust.

We are all on a faith journey in this temporary life on earth, and it can be full of ups and downs, highs and lows. We only need to remind ourselves about the past couple of years and how our lives have been dramatically affected by the pandemic to truly have a real-life example of this. No matter how much the pandemic has altered our daily living at home with our families, in school with our friends and colleagues—or in all corners of our existence—we need to remember that “this too shall pass,” and it is our faith that we need to hold onto in order to focus on our journey. I believe that having faith is such an important daily ingredient in our lives to help us through tough times. Knowing that we have God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Mary, Saint Joseph, all the saints, and all those we love and who have gone before us as our hope to strengthen our faith is not only comforting but essential in our interpersonal relationships with all of them through prayer. Has something occurred in your life where you might recognize a strange coincidence or hear someone say, “What’s meant to be is meant to be” or “God works in mysterious ways”? Well, just like the royal official who found out that his son was cured at the exact time Jesus spoke to him, that’s our faith coming through loud and clear!

Trusting in others makes us very vulnerable and sometimes we are disappointed that our family, friends, classmates, and neighbors don’t always support us, leading to an unfortunate sense of distrust. As we get older, we certainly know who is in our trust circle, and we mutually rely on each other. Yet we are only human.

Sometimes we falter, and our relationship with those we trust—or who trust us—becomes challenged. Not so with God! No matter how low one of those “downs” seems, just like the royal official, we should be comforted in knowing that we can always trust God our Father and Jesus our Lord to help us through.

As we move closer to our Lenten journey’s end and await the Resurrection of the Lord, let us always remember that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have provided us—and always will—with much needed trust in our lives; we must return that trust by being faithful followers and believing that they always have our back.

Dr. Thomas J. Altonjy Mathematics

March 29 Ez 47:1-9, 12; Jn 5:1-16 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this passage over the past eight years. Readers of the Fall 2020 Legacy magazine issue (“Just Keep Going,” pp. 10ff.) or alumnae of the bioethics class where I guest-lecture every year know the story of my improbable stage-IV cancer survival (I hit that magical milestone of five years’ remission, knock on wood, April 26th). I don’t believe in the notion that good things happen to those who want them enough (never gift a cancer patient a copy of The Secret, please!). I am grateful I lived, but was it because I wanted to more than the child who didn’t “beat” cancer, or the young parent? I can’t accept that. Anyway, isn’t suffering common to humanity?

Achilles in the Iliad famously posits that there are two urns at the gate of Zeus from which he distributes lots to humankind: all get bad fortune whereas some get a mixture of good and bad. It is in the universality of struggle that we connect with others. I was saved from my lot maybe in part by the intervention of God, but as a firm believer in science, I know I also was saved because I had a high PD-L1 expression on my tumor cells, which made me more responsive to treatment.

But reading today’s Gospel passage more deeply, maybe there’s another point here. After all, miracle workers (or charlatans claiming to be miracle workers) were common in the ancient world; Jesus’ purchase on miracles is not what made him special; his uniqueness inheres rather in his power to forgive us our sins. When Christ finds the man he had cured, he curiously says to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” I know that when I got sick I went on an apology tour for all the perceived ways in which I’d hurt others (some slights probably greater cringes in my memory than in theirs), and I think I’m trying to be a better person still as I’ve become physically well. As Catholics, we do not necessarily believe in a literal Bible but a Bible infused with moral and theological truths by the Holy Spirit. What if the physical healing is a mere distraction, and it is in believing and acting upon that belief that we are healed in our soul?

Noah Stanzione World Language/Religion

March 30 Is 49:8-15; Jn 5:17-30 Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

In Book II of Vergil’s Aeneid, the ghost of the great warrior Hector appears to our protagonist Aeneas to urge him to get out of Troy with his family. And while many notable Christians, from Dante to C.S. Lewis, have been moved by Vergil’s epic poem, this scene is but one example of why Vergil’s worldview is deficient—why Augustine in Book I of his Confessions dubbed the Aeneid “the sweetest image of vanity” (dulcissimum spectaculum vanitatis)—exciting but ultimately empty. For Hector, though presented as a “good guy” (he was killed and his body desecrated by the Greek Achilles, whom Vergil calls by contrast saevu[s] ambobus—“savage to both sides”), is not healed of his pain in death. He appears to Aeneas “very sad” (maestissimus), his face and hair matted with blood, with all the wounds borne by his body remaining. It is a reflection of a particularly un-Christian-like worldview.

In today’s readings, we are given a promise of a better resurrection. In the first reading, from the Book of Isaiah, we are reminded of God’s promise that he “will never forget” us, will “comfort[] his people,” will “show[] mercy to his afflicted.” When restored, his people “shall not hunger or thirst, nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them.” Then in the Gospel, we see that it was Christ whom Isaiah predicted, and “whoever hears [his] word and believes in the one who sent [him] has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,” and we will be reunited with the rest of Christ’s followers as well: “[A]ll who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out.” Paul talks elsewhere of our mortal, sinful flesh (σάρξ) and the pure body in which we shall be in the shared resurrection with Christ and our loved ones (σῶμα). It is comforting to think that there is a more perfect version of us waiting to be inhabited, with all our departed loved ones and with Christ. I long for the day when I can talk with my brother again, whose passion for Greek and Latin determined my path in life, or with my grandmother, who in the last letter she wrote me wished me only “love, peace, and contentment,” things I’d like to tell her I’ve found. I don’t by any stretch mean to imply that it’s easy to be good and follow Christ, but the promise of what we get if we do should energize us. Eternity with Christ is, of course, a gift not of our own merit, no matter how good a life we lead, but as the refrain of today’s responsorial psalm reminds us, “The LORD is gracious and merciful.”

Noah Stanzione World Language/Religion

March 31 Ex 32:7-14; Jn 5:31-47 How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?

Jesus asks how we can believe when we accept praise from one another and yet do not seek praise from God. How many times have we checked to see how many likes a post got on Instagram?

When have we excelled at something only to seek the praise of a parent? How often have we looked to our friends for laughs when we made a joke? By contrast, how often do we look to God for approval?

Or how often do we think about whether or not God would “double-tap” our posts on social media?

Today’s first reading and psalm tell of the idolatry of the Israelites when they forgot God and adored a golden calf, as well as Moses imploring God to have mercy on his people. The golden calf may have “gone viral” in Moses’ time, but God certainly did not click the heart icon! We may not be worshipping golden calves, but we fall short in our own ways. We may think about the TikTok that we regret, hurtful words that we wish we could take back, the Tweet that was never appropriate in the first place, the test that we didn’t prepare for, the Sunday that we chose to meet friends for Starbucks over going to church with family.

But our sins are not the end of the story. In the first reading, Moses pleaded with God, “[s]o the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.” We’ve been there, too. There might be a time when we have taken down a post from social media, asked a teacher for a chance to make test corrections, or begged for forgiveness from a friend. This part of today’s readings reminds us that Lent is a wonderful time to seek forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation. We don’t even need to plead with God; his forgiveness is ready to be given to us. We only need to seek it.

Kelly Donnelly Religion

April 1 Wis 2:1a, 12-22; Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.

Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.

Today’s passages are focused on recognizing Jesus. The first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, features an attack of the wicked upon the righteous and foretells that Jesus would not be acknowledged and treated with the respect and care he deserves. The reading paints a picture of people being “blinded” by “wickedness” to the righteousness of God and being motivated by selfishness to attack a most holy person. The idea of being blinded and not recognizing the power and righteousness of Christ is reflected in today’s Gospel from John. In this passage, Jesus arrived in Judea “not openly but as it were in secret” for the Feast of Tabernacles. At this time, Jewish leaders were attempting to capture him, and thus a controversy arose over whether or not Jesus was actually the Messiah. A man disagreed that he was, saying, “But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”

In both passages, the righteousness of the Messiah is not recognized because the people’s expectations of his appearance are not fulfilled. They serve as examples of how our preconceived notions of who Jesus is and how he will act in our lives can block us from appreciating and acknowledging his presence among us. The instances shown in these passages urge us to ask ourselves: what are our assumptions about Christ? How do we expect him to appear in our lives? In order to avoid the traps that the wicked in Wisdom and the crowd in John fell into, we must examine our expectations of Jesus in terms of how we might miss him when he appears in our midst. Abandoning our preconceived notions about who Jesus is and how he interacts with us opens our eyes and hearts to recognizing God in the people and places we least expect. These passages are a call for us to go in new directions to encounter Jesus somewhere different from where we previously thought.

Practically speaking, how do we do that? During Lent, we can pray for open eyes and hearts to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit telling us that Christ is with us. The laughter of a friend, the advice of a parent, the encouragement of a teacher could all be the presence of Jesus in our midst. When we are open to receiving this, we will begin to see beautiful things in the smallest parts of our lives.

Grace Roethlin Grade 12

April 2 Jer 11:18-20; Jn 7:40-53 So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”

In today’s Gospel, the crowds are questioning whether or not someone from Galilee could be a prophet, specifically the Messiah. Some people state that the Scriptures say the Messiah will be descended from David’s family and come from Bethlehem instead, not realizing Jesus was actually born there. The theme of prejudice against Jesus is exhibited by this discussion among the crowd. The Pharisees want to arrest Jesus, but the guards decide not to, moved by Jesus’ words. One of the Pharisees, Nicodemus, who had spoken to Jesus earlier in secret, even exhibits courage when he stands up for Jesus.

At times it can be hard to stand up for what you believe in, especially when others do not agree with you. However, this Gospel passage teaches us the importance of being courageous, even when it seems impossible. When we are faced with situations where it may seem easier to sit back rather than stand up for what is right or what we believe in, it is important to step outside of what may be your comfort zone. We should always be proud of our faith.

Izzy Clark Grade 9

April 3: Fifth Sunday of Lent Is 43:16-21; Phil 3:8-14; Jn 8:1-11 or Ez 37:12-14; Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45 One of the aspects of religion that I have struggled with the most in my life is the concept of sin. If we go by the Cambridge Dictionary, we think of it as “breaking . . . a religious or moral law.” But I never remember learning such a concrete definition for the word; I always thought of sin as some kind of stain on my soul, something that, once done, could never be undone. As a kid, I can remember thinking that if I committed any kind of sin, it meant that I would be condemned forever; as an adult, it’s still hard to shake that initial, childlike definition. There is still this weight, this stigma I associate with it, and teaching in a Catholic school serves to remind me every day of my own questions and struggles with the nuances of religion and its terms.

All of this prefaces today’s Gospel because its central idea is that we are all sinners. Ultimately, we all make mistakes and need to seek atonement. Therefore, when Jesus says to those gathered, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” he stops their anger and judgment in its tracks. The scribes and Pharisees are hoping to catch Jesus, to trap him in a misstep so they can bring evidence against him, yet Jesus seems completely unphased. He remains calm and collected, almost detached from the atmosphere around him, just continuing to write in the dust on the ground while they watch, puzzled and impatient.

The person these people are hoping Jesus will judge is a woman, and the accusation is that they caught her in the act of committing adultery. According to the Ten Commandments, this is a grave sin and a transgression against God. They deliberately bring up the traditional punishment for such a sin: public stoning.

Whenever I read or hear this passage, I always find myself wondering how this woman must have felt. What drove her to commit adultery? Was it her choice? Was she unhappy? Did she feel unsafe? And how humiliating and terrifying would it be to be dragged away and brought before someone who is asked to pass judgment on her? The woman is unnamed and doesn’t even speak until Jesus addresses her directly after everyone else leaves.

And why does everyone else leave? Because Jesus rather than passing judgment simply tells them that anyone present who is not a sinner may throw stones. He is met not with a violent mob but with complete silence, followed by the slow departure of everyone there, starting with the elders, the leaders. Slowly the crowd disperses until the only ones left are Jesus and the woman.

As humans, we are often so quick to judge others for actions we disagree with or see as sinful, but this frequently comes at the expense of our own introspection. To be human is to be imperfect. There is no way to live a truly blameless life. We sin. But Jesus counsels us to remember that we are in no position to judge others when we ourselves are also imperfect. At no point does he condemn the woman brought before him; he simply bids her go and sin no more.

So where does that leave us? For me, I now feel hopeful. All of Jesus’ teachings center around radical love and acceptance. Every lesson, every parable he shares challenges us to truly love our neighbors as ourselves and to lift up the lowest among us all. It is not for us to pass judgment on others, lest they judge us and find us lacking. It is far better to empathize and help others seek forgiveness for their mistakes rather than looking over stones to see which would be the best one to throw.

Caitlyn Roper English

April 4 Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62; Jn 8:12-20 Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me.

In today’s reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus was approached with doubt and judgment.

As Jesus proclaimed that he was the light and would never lead us through darkness, all he got in response was questioning from the Pharisees. When reading this passage, we see how easily we can judge others by their testimonies and call them invalid. Not just testimonies; everyday we judge others based on who they are and how they look. As we face each new day, we should remind ourselves that God is the only one who can truly judge. Even so, God accepts us for who we are, no matter what we are. We should not be burdened by the judgment of others as we are the only ones who know where we come from and where we are going.

As the Pharisees questioned Jesus, all Jesus could tell them was that his testimony was true.

The only two people we need to validate ourselves and our testimonies are ourselves and God the Father. Although the Pharisees didn’t know who Jesus’ father was, Jesus didn’t look at them with judgment and only said that if they knew him and his truth, then they would know his father. When we judge others, we are truly only judging ourselves. We are all uniquely made in the image of God and, since he made us, he is the only one to judge.

Even though we may still receive these judgments, we should not let them deter us from the only opinions that matter, God’s and our own. So as we read this reading, we should remember to have empathy and not judge others for who they are but work on ourselves with God. Ava Breault Grade 10

April 5 Nm 21:4-9; Jn 8:21-30 [T]hey said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.”

Today’s passage is a reminder of the human condition of individualism. Individualism is extremely prevalent in our modern world, but it is not a new school of thought or way of being.

Individualism has the ability to dictate almost every decision that humans make. The lack of consideration of others on all accounts has proven to be a symptom of individualism, leading to a great human problem. While the concepts and experiences of independence and individualism are not problematic within themselves, they do have some problematic implications for humanity.

Imagine if during His time on earth Jesus constantly put Himself first; imagine if He went outside of the will of God to satisfy some other human needs or desires. This is probably very difficult for us to imagine because we have only known Jesus to be selfless, obedient, considerate, compassionate, loving, kind, and so much more. It is difficult for us to imagine Jesus separate from fulfilling the will of God; is it difficult for you to imagine yourself outside of the will of God? I have had my share of struggle when it comes to the tug-of-war between my will and God’s.

As an individual, I have my thoughts, fears, beliefs, hopes, dreams, failures, and successes; I have big dreams for my life and a vision for the future, but what good are all of these outside of the will of God? Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.” Today I implore you to consider: what is it that you do on your own? What is it that you say on your own? And finally I ask, what has the Father taught you?

Victoria O. Utoh Director of Admissions

April 6 Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Jn 8:31-42 Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?”

“Assuredly, O king,” they answered. “But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.” Today’s readings begin with a passage from the Book of Daniel. In this passage, King Nebuchadnezzar questions three Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He asks them why they will not serve his god and worship his golden statues. They assert their faith in God, claiming that they will not praise another. Nebuchadnezzar, furious, condemns them to perish in a white-hot furnace. However, the three men survive, having been saved by God for showing their devotion to and love for him. The strength that these three men showed can be accurately portrayed in today’s second reading from the Gospel of John. Here, Jesus tells his disciples, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The last two years have been difficult for many. While some have thrived during the pandemic, using the time to better themselves, others have had a more difficult time overcoming the daily struggles quarantine and isolation have posed. However, today’s readings tell us that even in the most challenging times, if we remain true to our faith and God, we will be set free from the suffering and pain we presently feel. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could have renounced their faith in God and worshipped the golden statue, but they refused. They knew the truth of their religion and that God would favor them and set them free no matter the consequences of their actions. Subsequently, God saved the three men from perishing in the fire. In our lives, we need to remain steadfast in our faith in God even when things may seem difficult. All around us are idols and statues that people tell us to worship; however, these objects will mean nothing at the end of our lives. It is only God that will remain. We will find the truth through him in a world full of lies and deception.

Colleen Dooley Grade 11

April 7 Gn 17:3-9; Jn 8:51-59 Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, “Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.” Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?

In today’s reading from Genesis, God proclaims Abraham’s new identity. As we begin this Lenten season, we too can choose to transform ourselves. It is up to us to discover what this means for each of us. Will we continue mundane habits or will we choose to make this Lent a Lent of opportunity, gratitude, and self-growth? The season of spring is one of renewal and cleansing, so let us join together as a community and transition into an abundance of new faith.

In addition to embracing change this Lent, let us also embrace humility. When Jesus is asked, “Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” he answers, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing, but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’” We can all learn something from Jesus’ modesty here. Even as great as Jesus was, he was still humble and set an example for all those around him. If someone as gifted as Jesus can behave selflessly and with gratitude, so can every Christian. While we attempt to grow our faith this spring, may God grant us the strength to learn from Jesus’ example and apply it to our lives.

Ava Romer Grade 12

April 8 Jer 20:10-13; Jn 10:31-42 If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me, but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.

In today’s reading from John, a crowd of Jewish people is threatening to stone Jesus. They claim the Son of God is not who he says he is. Jesus says to the group of men, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” to which the Jews reply, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” In an attempt to convince the Jewish people that he is the Son of God, Jesus answers: Is it not written in your law, “I said, ‘You are gods’”? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, “I am the Son of God”? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me, but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.

Jesus is saying that if he is not performing the works of God, the Jewish people have no reason to believe him. However, if Jesus does perform the works of God, believe in the works that Jesus is performing through God. One can argue with words, but deeds cannot be contradicted; they speak for themselves. The Jews try to arrest Jesus again, but he escapes. He runs away across the Jordan to the place where John had baptized him earlier, and he remains there. Many people come to him, saying, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” Many believe in Jesus there. Jesus faced rejection time and time again by the Jewish community and those who did not believe he was the Messiah. However, he kept preaching the word of God to all who would listen. He did not cower in the face of opposition; rather his unwavering love for God allowed him to keep going.

Sam Insler Grade 12

April 9 Ez 37:21-28; Jn 11:45-56 [H]e prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. Lent is a time dedicated to reflect on the love Jesus has for us and His sacrifice to save us. It is a time to recognize and cherish the faith we have in the Church. Not only is it significant to realize Jesus’ unconditional love for us and how we can reciprocate our devotion to Him; it is important to do so as a community. God brought us Jesus as a sign of His love, but also so that He would unify His children and the Word of God would be spread. God has graced us with the plentiful earth, full of His creations. All that He asks of us, His children, is to come together as one to worship Him. However, when a community of people comes together to worship a certain someone, others can become threatened, much like the case with Jesus. To form this community of faith, God had a plan; Jesus was His plan. As God in human form, Jesus united the children of God; through His death the children of God were brought together. Jesus’ impact and sacrifice on behalf of the children of God is what the Lenten season is all about. While those who crucified Jesus did so in order to diminish His praise and following, they only strengthened it. We come together in worship of God and His only begotten Son each and every day. Therefore, as Jesus sacrificed His life for us, God asks of us in return to meet His expectations for us as children of God. He asks that we only praise our one true God before us, much like in the First Commandment. We give the sacrifice of Jesus Christ more and more meaning every day as we continue to praise and worship as a community.

Colleen & Lauren Santoriello Grades 9 & 11

April 10: Palm Sunday Lk 19:28-40; Is 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23:56 He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it, and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’”

I believe that this passage reinforces that preparation is a key attribute that we need to be well-informed Catholics. Having the ability to lean on our past experiences will allow us to become prepared for the future. When Jesus asked His followers to prepare, they were not exactly sure what they needed to prepare for but placed their faith in Jesus. Our world nowadays is constantly changing, and we always need to be prepared for the unexpected. We aren’t able to predict the future and must rely on our faith to get us through these tough times.

Others may challenge your beliefs, but this is your chance to demonstrate your strong faith to God and His commandments. Jesus’ followers are challenged to demonstrate their faith to Him over and over again. We should continue to strengthen our faith especially when we feel that it is at its weakest.

I believe that God does not give a task to anyone that He knows can’t handle it. We may look at what is in front of us and worry about how to get through it, but if we trust in God and are prepared, we can get through challenging times. We should also focus on living in the moment instead of harping on the past. We can use what we have learned and lived through to shape our future.

This passage can help us begin to answer some bigger questions that we may encounter. How can we be prepared for the future if we haven’t lived it? How can we strengthen our faith in tough times? What will you do to use God’s teachings to prepare you for the future?

Sara Vukas Science

April 11 Is 42:1-7; Jn 12:1-11 So often we tend to overlook the women who are mentioned in the Bible. Feminist biblical scholars have researched the roles and activities of women in the Greco-Roman and early Christian periods, examining the biblical texts for women “hiding in plain sight.” These women demand notice first and foremost because we know something of their actions and thoughts, and because they are deeply involved with other major characters in a way that evokes emotional and moral issues.

In the Gospel of John, we meet Mary, who lives in the town of Bethany. She is the sister of Lazarus, and she is noted in chapter 11 as being “loved” by Jesus. Mary is also described as the one who “anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair,” an intimate act substantiated by the mutual love between Jesus and this family. The Gospel author provides further details of the anointing of Jesus by Mary with only Judas—the male apostle who ultimately betrays Jesus—as the critic. Jesus defends Mary, saying, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.”

Mary of Bethany is also introduced to us in the Gospel of Luke, described as choosing to sit at the feet of Jesus to absorb his teachings—similar to the actions of the male apostles. Jesus recognizes her as the one who “has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary’s actions in these Gospel accounts highlight a few important themes: ● Mary knows that Jesus is the Messiah, she understands his teachings, and she is preparing him for his future sufferings. ● Mary has a close, intimate relationship with Jesus; the anointing scene is a display of great love and devotion. ● Mary does not fear repercussions from the male apostles, particularly Judas, who is affronted by her “wasting” the perfumed oil.

Women were there. Women are specifically named in all four canonical Gospels, acknowledged in the undisputed Pauline epistles, glimpsed in the Acts of the Apostles, commented on in sermons and literary correspondence, and highlighted in several apocryphal texts. Women went to the tomb to anoint the body of their friend and teacher; women spoke to the risen Christ and were the first to understand the Resurrection’s significance, proclaiming the Christological message. Women were the first witnesses, they were the backbone of the early Christian movement, and they saw themselves as shapers of the Church. We need to acknowledge that the tradition of our faith included the actions and work of countless women. We need to encourage feminine wisdom, faith, and authority within our Church by identifying, exploring, and remembering our biblical foremothers.

Janet O. Antico Religion

April 12 Is 49:1-6; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

In today’s reading from John, we see the evils of Satan at work. As it becomes revealed that Judas will be the one to betray and reject Jesus, Satan enters Judas. Growing up, my piano teacher always reminded me that bad habits are easily formed. While she intended to perfect my form as I played “Für Elise” on her ivory-keyed piano, she taught me the valuable lesson of fearing evils. I knew that if I continued to bend my fingers and slouch, I would never be able to become a successful piano player, and the fear of becoming a lousy piano player fueled my attempts to sit up straight and keep my wrist up. There are many evils and temptations in our everyday lives. Especially in today’s society, we often face decisions that threaten to compromise the moral compass instilled in us, and many of us have fallen victim to temptations that violate our Catholic teachings. The first reading from Isaiah reminds us of the importance of not crossing our morals. We are reminded that when we stay close to God, we reap the benefits of his prevailing strength and grace. As we navigate our everyday lives, we must be reminded to remain guarded, as, if we become vulnerable through not being followers of Christ, we will fall into the temptations of Satan.

Isha Ghude Grade 12

April 13 Is 50:4-9a; Mt 26:14-25 And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.”

In the final installment of his so-called “Catholic” tetralogy, The End of the Affair, Graham Greene asks a provocative question: “If we had not been taught how to interpret the story of the Passion, would we have been able to say from their actions alone whether it was the jealous Judas or the cowardly Peter who loved Christ?” But maybe sometimes it’s good to be provoked. I sometimes feel jealous (one of the seven deadly sins, I know!) toward people whose faith is so secure as to brook no doubt. One thing that has drawn me to Greene is that he meets people such as I where we are—in the midst of productive doubt, productive because it makes us gnaw at the issue in order to resolve it and build a better faith. But is he right here? Maybe he’s at least fairer than we want to admit.

Modern artistic works have sometimes gone to rehabilitate Judas as someone who felt betrayed himself that Jesus wasn’t the messiah he was expecting and thought his people needed (“Too much heaven on their minds,” Andrew Lloyd Webber has him grumble), whereas the Bible itself has rather more narrative focus on the failings of Peter’s faith. It is not just Peter’s three denials on Holy Thursday that merit comment by the Gospelists; he is the one who loses faith when Jesus asks him to come to him on the water; he is the Satan who is told to “get behind” Jesus (for having the compassionate audacity to suggest that Jesus can avoid dying for us). Judas’ one betrayal was the worst, but Peter’s mini-betrayals seem as if they should add up. The difference cannot be God’s mercy—God cannot have run out of it for Judas, especially knowing that Judas would betray Christ and had to in order to complete Jesus’ mission of sacrifice (predestination versus free will is a whole other theological conversation unto itself, one very much above my pay grade).

So what is the difference between Judas and Peter? Peter weeps recalling the prediction of his betrayal, whereas Judas cannot forgive himself. Maybe that is it: how many of us, and how often, continue to beat ourselves up over past wrongs committed? It is right to seek forgiveness; it is right to make amends—but the Church (through sacred tradition instituted by virtue of our line back to, yes, Peter) has given us the special tools of confession and penance for that. Especially in our online world of 24/7 airbrushed perfection, it is easy to feel inadequate and unforgivable. But God’s mercy is bigger than our sin—if only we can open ourselves to receiving it. Please be a little kind to yourself.

Noah Stanzione World Language/Religion

April 14: Holy Thursday Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9; Rv 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21 or Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15 What do you think it would feel like to knowingly face profound suffering followed by death? Not just physical, excruciating pain but the heartache of being betrayed by a best friend and the humility experienced by being unjustly arrested in front of the most near and dear to you in the world? Could you imagine yourself in Jesus’ shoes or would you skip over the bad parts of the story to make it bearable?

There are four terms that come to mind when reflecting on Holy Thursday. First, the idea of Humility—not in the way of shame or embarrassment but literally to be humble—the Son of God serving His disciples knowing this would be His last gathering as a free man, giving Himself in service to others as a foreshadowing, symbolically cleansing the dirt and filth—the sin—from their bodies while washing their feet.

Grace is the second word that comes to mind. Everyone has different connotations about what that word means. It can be a first name; with -ful it can be a word to describe someone or something; it can be a movement or a disposition. In this story, Grace describes the Holy Spirit’s generosity given to the human soul, namely Jesus. It’s almost like possessing something that requires an unknowing or undoing of typical, selfish human behavior. It’s an awareness and commitment to something outside of ourselves, the movement to create action and energy around an intentional purpose. I see Grace during the Last Supper—by breaking the bread (body) and sharing the wine (blood), Jesus creates a ritual around the social necessity of sharing meals together for bonding and camaraderie within His chosen family. Most importantly, however, it is the spiritual food with which all those who believe will be fed for not only generations but for all time.

Thirdly, Jesus displays the all-important virtue of Servant Leadership. He feeds His followers before Himself, He accepts His death in front of His mortal friends and family, He cleans their feet before His own, He serves the meal before nourishing Himself. Servant Leadership is the purest form of effective management, whether you are symbolically leading a flock of disciples toward God or leading a business or team of employees.

I believe the last, most profound demonstration of Holy Thursday is Jesus’ strength, trust, and faith in the Acceptance of His fate in the coming days. He knows what His immediate future holds and possesses the strength to still live in the present moment—without anger, without doubt, and from all accounts without fear.

That brings us back to our original pondering: could you imagine yourself in Jesus’ shoes? Asking ourselves this question and seeking wisdom by imagining walking in Jesus’ shoes during Holy Week leads us to acknowledge our lack of control and our attachment to the outcomes we experience in everyday life. We can be brought back to the present moments of our lives when we remember we are not alone in suffering, we are not alone in our faith, and we are not alone in our ability to transcend all obstacles that are thrown our way. We too carry with us the ability to offer Humility, Grace, Servant Leadership, and Acceptance in the face of adversity.

Megan Knight Director of Development and Alumnae Relations

April 15: Good Friday Is 52:13-53:12; Heb 4:14-16, 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42 “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

A Catholic priest went to visit his sister as she was preparing to move to a new home. As she was packing items throughout the house, her brother mentioned that if she did not want it, he would gladly take the cross hanging in the home. “What cross?” the sister replied, “I don’t have a cross.” The brother, taken aback, pointed to the cross hanging next to the front door. “Oh,” stuttered the sister, “I must have walked past it so many times that I don’t even notice it anymore.”

Good Friday, purposefully labeled “good,” bears the weight of humanity’s most pivotal act of selfless love ever committed. The “good” Savior has come to save His sinful people. Yet instead of casting us down for our transgressions, He is lifted up upon a cross for His faithfulness to God. One may question how such a narrative can be considered good, even if it is for the benefit of all humanity.

The answer can be found in the reality of God; God created us out of an outpouring of love that cannot be fully fathomed or understood. The Creator gives His creation—us—free will to do as we please, even if it is to turn away from Him. This is so humanity does not merely act as puppets controlled by God but rather loving beings who gravitate toward one another. That is why the Savior hung on the cross on Good Friday; the love which led to our creation is the same love which seeks to save creation. And in the most ironic of twists, the created—humanity—is given power over the Creator by placing Him on a cross. How much deeper of a love can there be than the one God has then for His creation?

That is why Good Friday bears the weight of that term “good.” While Jesus struggles with the weight of the cross upon His scourged shoulders, while He carries the heaviness of all humanity’s sins, this Friday will forever still be considered “good” since it is through His death that we are lifted up, not on a cross, but into the heights of the heavenly hosts. His lifting up high on the cross is our being lifted up into the love of God. On this Good Friday, let us not allow ourselves to walk past the cross of Christ and not seriously contemplate the goodness which flows from His pierced hands, feet, and side. Let us not walk past the cross and be desensitized to the true love which allowed Him to die for our salvation. Let us look up at the cross, wherever we may encounter it, and see that while Christ is in excruciating pain, it is truly “good” to have a Savior that loves us and never goes without noticing our deepest needs.

Behold the wood of the cross, on which is hung our salvation. O come, let us adore.

Joe Ziaya Director of Communications

April 16: Holy Saturday Gn 1:1-2:2 or Gn 1:1, 26-31a; Gn 22:1-18 or Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Ex 14:15-15:1; Is 54:5-14; Is 55:1-11; Bar 3:9-15, 32-4:4; Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28; Rom 6:3-11; Lk 24:1-12 Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.

After reading tonight’s Gospel I began to think about how Jesus lives on through the effort and kindness of people and how influential the gifts of conscience and free will can be in our lives.

God the Father may have first given us the chance to choose between right and wrong and develop our conscience in the Garden of Eden, but without Jesus’ death our good deeds could still not get us to heaven. There would be no hope of an afterlife, no chance for redemption. If our ultimate goal is to get to heaven and be reunited with God, imagine living a life without hope of that final destination! It would be like reading a book that never ends; at some point it would become tedious and begin to lose its meaning. What God gave us is a promise of security forever with him that can only be lost by us.

Our choices lead our lives; it doesn’t matter if we are rich, pretty, or smart—they can’t buy our way into heaven. What matters is how we use our talents to benefit those around us, though ultimately God’s grace alone can get us home with him and Jesus.

Jesus gave up the most precious thing to him, his life, taking control out of his own hands and submitting his will to his Father’s. If the Son of God can give up something so incredibly important, then we can, and must, try to create a world that he would be proud of to show him that we are worthy of his sacrifice. Every action is an attempt to get closer to God and the heaven that waits for us, but what if we try to build heaven on Earth? We are all born with unique traits and abilities, and by using them and listening to our conscience, we can all make Jesus’ sacrifice mean something. Jesus died to save us from sin, and by imitation of his sacrifice in even small acts of denying ourselves we can find a brighter path and make a world full of love and laughter. Ultimately we are the ones who get to make the choice of whether or not we pay forward Jesus’ sacrifice. Unlike Jesus, we are not—and cannot be—perfect, but we should still strive to be good and imitate the model Jesus gave us. It’s okay if we make mistakes along the way as long as we are learning and appreciating that Jesus’ sacrifice is what saved us all and gave us the world we live in today, a world with hope for kindness, justice, and beauty if only we are brave enough to create it.

Madalena Benegas Grade 9

April 17: Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9 When I was a child, during the first Sunday of Lent, the priest would invite us all up for the children’s sermon. He would have this beautiful banner with the word “Alleluia” on it, and he would then explain to us that because Alleluia is a word of rejoicing and Lent is a time for somber reflection, we don’t say the word again until Easter. We would watch with curious respect as he would lock the banner in a big, wooden chest. Then, during the children’s sermon on Easter Sunday, he would unlock the chest and take the banner back out again.

This was as exciting as church got for me when I was younger, mostly because I didn’t really understand the purpose of worship. I was in the choir, and I sang every Sunday, but I didn’t really comprehend the significance of the Resurrection; I was just bored hearing the same story every single year.

As I’ve wrestled with my faith, I’ve come to understand that Lent is a time for all of us to reflect because, as I mentioned in my April 3rd reflection, we all make mistakes. Lent serves as a chance to recognize our errors and seek forgiveness so that we can be forgiven and, like Christ, reborn through the Resurrection.

And what a rebirth it is! This is the day in the Church year where we see God’s promise to us that we will be welcomed into eternal life after death. It’s a day of joy and hope and life.

No one sees the moment of Resurrection; no one really knows something has happened until that morning when Mary of Magdala approaches the tomb. This would have been part of her duty as a woman at the time, to wash and prepare and anoint a body for burial. Mary is the first to see the stone has been moved, and she then goes to tell the others what has happened. In John’s version, Mary goes first to Simon Peter, who at this point already denied Jesus three times in public—Simon Peter, who would go on to found the Catholic Church. Yes, that Simon Peter. She also seeks out another disciple whom Jesus “loved,” likely John the Apostle.

When they reach the tomb together, Peter rushes in, trying to determine what has happened. Mary and the other disciple hang back until the other disciple joins Peter in his examination of the evidence: the burial cloths and the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head. Peter, of the three, is likely the more kinetic learner. He needs to go in and start interacting with the evidence. The apostle who hangs back could be the more visual of the trio. He needs a moment to take everything in before he can start to process the miracle. If we continue breaking this down along learning types, perhaps Mary is an auditory learner. She listened to Jesus preach; she listens to the evidence presented to her senses; she listens now as she gets the hint of the Resurrection.

We know that Jesus then goes on to reveal himself, fully human and fully divine in one being. He even goes on to ascend to heaven. But in this particular moment, when he is missing and the stone in front of the tomb has been moved, it doesn’t matter so much what has happened or how or why; in this moment, it is far more important to see how human beings react to the physical evidence of the greatest miracle in the Christian faith. Three completely different people approach this moment in three completely different ways, and yet they are all welcome in the Kingdom of God. So on this third Easter Sunday of the COVID-19 pandemic, take a moment to reflect on how we are all, as children of God, welcome in his Kingdom. Easter is the day of Resurrection, the day “the LORD has made. Let us rejoice in it and be glad.”

Caitlyn Roper English