Awareness

Hearts at the well; Jesus

When Hearts Are Best…

The response to the Psalm for the Third Sunday of Lent is, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Psalm 95:8). In last Sunday’s second reading (Philippian’s 3:17-4:1), St. Paul encourages discipleship with a focus on the Lord and the goal of citizenship in heaven, and instructs us to “Stand firm in the Lord.” (Phil 4:1). What happens when you reflect on the Lord’s nature as being both firm and kindhearted at the same time?

Continuing to think about the Lord’s characteristics, Let’s turn to the Gospel passage, the Samaritan Woman (John 4:5-42 – included below). Through the ebb and flow of their conversation, what touches your heart most about Jesus, the Samaritan woman, and their interaction? In what places do you sense firmness? And kindness? How do the two characteristics work together, and what do they bring about?

Next, take some time to consider a situation(s) you are currently facing. In what ways are your faith experience and your beliefs working? Do they expand your heart, or constrict it? How do they fit with “stand firm in the Lord” and “harden not your heart,” coming together for what is best. Invite Jesus to join you in prayer and to share His insights and guidance as you ponder this further.

Hearts at the well; Jesus

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,
near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Jacob’s well was there.
Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.
It was about noon.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
Jesus said to her,
“Give me a drink.”
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
The Samaritan woman said to him,
“How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”
—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—
Jesus answered and said to her,
“If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;
where then can you get this living water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob,
who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself
with his children and his flocks?”
Jesus answered and said to her,
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty
or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

Jesus said to her,
“Go call your husband and come back.”
The woman answered and said to him,
“I do not have a husband.”
Jesus answered her,
“You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’
For you have had five husbands,
and the one you have now is not your husband.
What you have said is true.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, I can see that you are a prophet.
Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain;
but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus said to her,
“Believe me, woman, the hour is coming
when you will worship the Father
neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You people worship what you do not understand;
we worship what we understand,
because salvation is from the Jews.
But the hour is coming, and is now here,
when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth;
and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.
God is Spirit, and those who worship him
must worship in Spirit and truth.”
The woman said to him,
“I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ;
when he comes, he will tell us everything.”
Jesus said to her,
“I am he, the one speaking with you.”

At that moment his disciples returned,
and were amazed that he was talking with a woman,
but still no one said, “What are you looking for?”
or “Why are you talking with her?”
The woman left her water jar
and went into the town and said to the people,
“Come see a man who told me everything I have done.
Could he possibly be the Christ?”
They went out of the town and came to him.
Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.”
But he said to them,
“I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
So the disciples said to one another,
“Could someone have brought him something to eat?”
Jesus said to them,
“My food is to do the will of the one who sent me
and to finish his work.
Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here’?
I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest.
The reaper is already receiving payment
and gathering crops for eternal life,
so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together.
For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.’
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for;
others have done the work,
and you are sharing the fruits of their work.”
Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him
because of the word of the woman who testified,
“He told me everything I have done.”
When the Samaritans came to him,
they invited him to stay with them;
and he stayed there two days.
Many more began to believe in him because of his word,
and they said to the woman,
“We no longer believe because of your word;
for we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.” – John 4:5-42

The moon shining bright and full through the trees

The Light of One…

The second reading for the Second Sunday of Lent (Philippians 3:17-4:1) closes with the phrase, “stand firm in the Lord” (Phil 4:1). These words follow verses in which St. Paul encourages the Philippians, and us, “be imitators of me,” and reminds all, “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.” (Phil 3:20-21).

Take a few moments to contemplate the characteristics of the Lord based on Scripture and your experience through prayer and faith. Visualize yourself standing firm in the Lord. What comes to mind or stirs in your heart?

This Sunday’s Gospel passage (Luke 9:28b-36) is about the Transfiguration of Jesus. Just prior to its verses, as part of his teaching on what it means to be a disciple, Jesus says, “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” (Luke 9:25).

In seeking to respond to the call to conversion and deepening one’s faith, envision yourself with Jesus, Peter, John, and James, going up the mountain to pray. As you walk, consider an area in which you desire to increase trust in the Lord. Bring the things you notice to prayer. Ask Jesus for the grace to receive his insights, and the wisdom to parse the various facets that are involved.

Reaching the top of the mountain, there is a pause for greater solitude—a change or shift in appearance, dazzling white, Moses and Elijah joining Jesus. It is as if time has stopped. You watch and notice, becoming more fully aware of everything around you.

Then, as Moses and Elijah depart and Peter is saying something to Jesus, you hear, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35). You turn to Jesus, your light and salvation, and he tells you what you need to know. You receive his wisdom as the loving guidance that it is.

Preparing to rejoin Peter, James, and John for your journey back down the mountain, you express a sentiment to Jesus, and he to you, as this intimate moment winds down.

Walking down the mountain, you continue to hold onto and savor what has transpired. When you arrive at the base of the mountain, you look back up to the top, remembering this Scripture verse:

The Lord God took Abram outside and said,
“Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.
Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.”
Abram put his faith in the Lord,
who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.– Genesis 15:5-6

The moon shining bright and full through the trees

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? – Psalm 27:1

Pink Carnation

Revisit…

For a time, many things are only for a time.
Some things forever gone, others, on hiatus.
Sometimes returning, welcome on arrival,
Sometimes returning, unwanted and in dread,
Sometimes slithering, seeping in, seeping out,
Creating a stir, unease or great unrest.
But Light, the Great Protector, shines thru,
Revealing all, shedding lies in time,
And casting out, what Time ordains as passed.

The Gospel passage for the First Sunday of Lent (Luke 4:1-13) is referred to as the Temptation of Jesus. After his baptism, Jesus is led into the desert by the Holy Spirit for forty days. And after these days of fasting, he is tempted by the devil in three ways:

First, to use his status as the Son of God to relieve himself of his situation of hunger.

“If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” (verse 3)

Second, to exalt himself by paying homage, or worshipping, the devil to receive earthly power and glory.

“I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” (verses 6-7)

And third, to show doubt in God, by throwing himself from the parapet of the temple, and thereby testing Scripture:

“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.’” (verses 9-11)

Jesus responds to these temptations as follows:

“It is written, ‘One does not live on bread alone.’” (verse 4)

“It is written ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’” (verse 8)

And lastly, when the devil tries to zero in on and twist Scripture verses to tempt Jesus away from the truth of who God is calling him to be, Jesus, again focuses on God—a higher purpose—responding:

“It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” (verse 12)

The “Temptation of Jesus” Gospel passage ends with, “When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.” (verse 13)

Oftentimes, after going through a challenging situation or event, it is common to be grateful for that time to be over. It can also be tempting to walk away with a notion of achievement or learning from it in a way that we see as being complete. Yet, whether good or bad, there are times when the same, or a similar challenge returns, offering an opportunity to draw even closer to God, and to see or learn even more.

Take some time to consider how open you are to remembering what you’ve learned as well as to learning something new when repeat or similar situations of challenge occur?

Reflecting on Jesus’s words in response to each of the temptations he faced in the desert, what invitation(s) are there for you and Jesus to explore? Allow your prayer to extend into these areas. Express your wants, needs, fears, etc. to Jesus, and allow Jesus to express His thoughts and wisdom to you.

Pink Carnation

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.” – Psalm 91:1-2

Gold circle representing the world filled with sky blue color and a white heart with a white cross in the center.

United…

The eyes through which you see,
The ears through which you hear,
The mind through which you pull it altogether,
Can lead you here and there,
Sometimes, everywhere but straight.
But the heart through which you care,
Cries out, drawing you close,
To the Heart that lies within.

In the Gospel passage for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, it is written:

Jesus told his disciples a parable,
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” – Luke 6:39-45

Contemplate the qualities you look for and tend to gravitate toward as you go about each day. Pray with what you notice. Express your desire to be united with Jesus throughout each day.

In the light of the Lenten season, consider how you have experienced the Scripture verse, “See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the wilderness I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers.” (Isaiah 43:19). Then take some time to reflect on the ways you are open to seeing God in what is new or different. As you pray, ask Jesus to help in discerning what your heart desires and how to distinguish between good fruit and rotten fruit.

Flowers

Rooted in Love…

As the days passed by,
the flowers, still bright,
holding onto life,
begin to show the
length of days and nights,
separate, away
from the source of life.

Leaves dropping from stems,
petals shriveling,
on the outside first.
Time ticks, closing in.
Hold on as they may,
away from their roots,
they limp as they linger.

In the First Reading for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23), David and Abishai find themselves in a position of advantage, having the opportunity to kill Saul, who, along with his soldiers are in a deep sleep. However, despite Saul having grown distant from who he was at the beginning of his rule, and having become David’s enemy, David restrains himself and shows mercy. He says to Abishai, “Do not harm him, for who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and remain innocent?” (v. 9).

Spend some time with the first reading and consider that as beings created in God’s image, in a sense, we are all anointed.

The response for the Psalm is, “The Lord is kind and merciful.” (Psalm 103:8). Reflect on the ways that the Lord has been kind and merciful to you. How does your experience inspire you in terms of the way you view situations and people? In what ways do you feel compelled to be kind and merciful to others? Are there areas where the Lord might want to work with you on expanding upon or reassessing this?

Turning to the Second Reading (1 Corinthians 15:45-49), St. Paul writes of Adam and Jesus, but he is also writing about the call to conversion and discipleship.

As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly,
and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly.
Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one. – verses 48-49

Envisioning your life as one line and the events/happenings during your life as another line on a continuum, think about the major events/happenings that have had a direct impact on you. What’s the difference between the times when you have maintained a sense of inner strength (or know-how) and peace, and the times you haven’t?

In the Gospel Reading (Luke 6:27-38), Jesus reminds us that Love is what sustains us. Not embracing cynicism, seeking or plotting revenge, settling or keeping scores. Rather, those are the things that tear us away from Love and the root of goodness and life—God.

How might you draw closer to Love in the challenges you face today? And how might the Lord desire to join you in an area of challenge?

The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in mercy. – Psalm 103:8

Heart with Love is patient, Love is Kind scripture verse.

On the Plain…

Blessed are we, created in the image of the Lord,
Who comes down from the mountain,
To stand with us on level ground.
Bestower of grace on all,
Willing spirits will receive Him.
Words of Wisdom and Hope He speaks,
Bringing Light and Life to the soul.

Care for the poor,
Feed the hungry,
Comfort those in need.
Way of ways, it is not easy.

Hold fast to only One—the Lord.
Falling not for hollow banter,
Careful of the ruse; it’s not True.
Look not to glorify others,
Rather, seek Wisdom from the Source.
Big and bold isn’t always best, and
Stay awake is what the Lord commanded.

Heart with Love is patient, Love is Kind scripture verse.
Winter sun shining down on lake

Go in Faith…

After ministering to many people in Capernaum, Jesus sets out for a deserted place, yet the crowds search for, and find him. They don’t want him to leave. However, he explains that he must go because his ministry and proclamation of the Kingdom of God must extend to other villages and towns. After witnessing and hearing his preaching, and all the healings, how do you imagine the people of Capernaum took this news? Do you think they were skeptical or upset at the idea of other people, from a different village or town, and who perhaps they considered as outsiders, being the recipients of Jesus’s preaching and healing, too?

What’s it like when you consider Jesus’s mission as one that extends to all people, regardless of who they are or from where they come?

The Gospel for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 5:1-11), begins with Jesus having moved on to Judea and then Lake Gennesaret. It is written:

“While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.” – Luke 5:1.

Take some time to put yourself in the crowd. As you draw in toward Jesus and listen to the word of God, what comes into your mind, and how is your heart stirred? What prayer arises within you?

As the Gospel passage continues, Jesus gets into Simon’s boat and asks him to push away from the shore. This is not so that he can leave the crowd that has been closing in on him. Rather, it is so that he can continue to minister, teaching them from the boat.

Envision yourself on the shore with Jesus and then in the boat a short distance from the shore. What’s different when you’re in the crowd versus when you’re in the boat? What might Jesus want you to learn from his actions in this situation? What words does Jesus have for you and the crowd?

When Jesus’s preaching to the crowd ends, it is written:

“…he said to Simon,
‘Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.’
Simon said in reply,
‘Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.’
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
‘Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.’
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.’
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.” – Luke 5:4-11

After working hard all night to no avail, Peter does as Jesus asks. He goes back out into the deep part of the sea, and with Jesus by his side, where there was nothing, now there is an abundance, so much so that his nets and the boats can hardly hold it. However, for this to be possible, Peter had to first leave behind and let go of what he had already come to know—he was out all night and there were no fish to be caught—and rather than holding onto defeat or being discouraged, he had to put his hope, faith, and trust in Jesus.

Recall a time when you experienced a challenge, difficulty, or drought of some kind and how faith and Jesus’s presence helped you? What were your prayers like during that time? In what ways did you avail yourself, or help yourself, to be open to listening to and being present to Jesus? Thinking of that time, how can you relate to Peter in this Gospel passage?

Turning to today, think about a situation you’re currently facing. How are you inspired as you continue to seek and draw nearer to Jesus?

Winter sun shining down on lake

“On the day I cried out, you answered; you strengthened my spirit.” – Psalm 138:3

Reverence…

In the second reading for this Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord, Peter says to those gathered before him, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34-35).

Fear (or reverence) of the Lord can be a challenging concept. In fact, it can be tempting to mistake reverence as only being evidenced in what one can see. It can also be tempting to shrink it down to a fixed notion of what reverence looks like.

However, our faith calls us to remember, that we do not have the mind, or the insight of God. It is important to keep in mind that in our humanity, we can get hung up in appearances or distracted in what we think ought to be, and in the process, lose sight of the heart of any matter. It is only God who can truly judge, and help us to know, when and what to say or do in response to a situation(s).

And God, as we learn in the Scripture verses leading up to this Sunday’s second reading (Acts 10:9-33), does exactly this for Peter. God helps Peter to see that the faith that he holds so dear, is not just for those like him, but also for the gentiles. His experience on a rooftop during his midday prayer reveals the following:

He was hungry and wished to eat, and while they were making preparations he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all the earth’s four-legged animals and reptiles and the birds of the sky. A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.” But Peter said, “Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean.” The voice spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.” This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into the sky. – verses 10-16

As Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said [to him], “There are three men here looking for you. So get up, go downstairs, and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.” – verses 19-20

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.” While he conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered together and said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with, or visit, a Gentile, but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean. – verses 25-28

However, there’s more than that. God also helps Cornelius. Who like Peter, is not tethered to his own notions, and therefore is able to be open to being guided by the Spirit of God. It is written that Cornelius responds to Peter’s inquiry as to why he called him:

“Four days ago at this hour, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was at prayer in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling robes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to listen to all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” – verses 30-33

During the midday and afternoon hours of prayer, Peter and Cornelius had experiences of God that were different, but the same in Spirit. God gave them both direction, and despite it being an unusual or unexpected ask (for a Jew and a gentile, given practices, tradition, and cultural norms), both men in their fear or reverence of God, allowed themselves to cling to God and this new or different way, rather than a choice rooted in their worldly understanding—one that would have kept them separated… continuing with a wedge in place.

What wedges do you desire God to help humankind overcome today? Knowing that God’s grace flows in many directions on both small and large scales at the same time, what personal wedges would you like to overcome?

Take some time to reflect on this Scripture and how it relates to your experiences, both personal and more community or world-wide.

What happens when you think about God as placing emphasis on internal disposition or drive and how it motivates, informs, and influences one’s actions?

Envision the peace of God embracing you, calling your name, and saying, “You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22). Rest in the Lord and listen to what God desires for you.

When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. – Titus 3:4-7

There’s Always Room for Grace…

Upon reaching the Fourth Sunday of Advent, tempted to jump ahead or enticed toward being caught up in the final material touches that accompany Christmas and holiday celebrations is not an uncommon place to find oneself. Between day-in-day-day-out responsibilities and all that comes with the holidays, it can be hard to juggle all the things that call or try to call one’s attention at this time of year. However, taking some time to consider and pray with your desire for experiencing the peace and joy of this holy season as well as God’s desire for you, and then taking even just a few moments here and there throughout the coming week(s) can make a big difference.

At this time of year, it may seem like things, whether gifts, gestures, or responses, need to big, or bigger, or not at all. Yet, looking the readings for today (Micah 5:1-4a; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Hebrews 10:5-10; and Luke 1:39-45), they are a reminder of the most important part of all—the Source of peace and joy. And perhaps they can also be seen as an invitation to take notice of the source of one’s motivation and the state of one’s heart.

From the Book of Micah, we read:

“But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.” – Micah 5:1

When thinking of a ruler or a king, it’s natural to think in terms of grandeur. And in general, it seems human nature to be attracted to that which is, in some way, big, bright, or shiny. It’s easier to notice or pay attention to things that are “in your face” so to speak. Yet, the Prince of Peace is to come from the least among Judah’s clans.

In what ways are you open to the unexpected throughout the holidays? How do you desire to receive them as well as to recognize beauty and grandeur in both the big and the smaller moments?

The response for the Psalm is:

“Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.” – Psalm 80:4

Take some time to reflect on, and pray with, the ways that the Lord restores, renews, and refreshes you. As you think about the coming week and the continuing holiday season, what are the places or situations where you might feel hesitant, anxious, or less inclined toward? Invite Jesus into these spaces and allow your heart and mind to be open to the direction toward which the Lord wishes to inspire you.

In the Letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul writes:

When Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’” – Hebrews 10:5-7

And in the Gospel according to Luke, Elizabeth is described as being “filled with the Holy Spirit” as she cries out:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” – Luke 1:42-45

What are some of the ways that the Holy Spirit has guided or enlightened you along the way this year?

Remembering that Mary has come to see Elizabeth after being visited by the Angel, Gabriel, and having responded yes to God’s will, what’s it like when you contemplate how the way that Mary responds—her will embracing God’s will and the two becoming One—extends beyond her and impacts others?

How are you affected or inspired by the notion that God’s will for Mary, is also God’s will for humanity?

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. – Luke 1:38

The Thing To Do…

The Gospel passage for the Third Sunday of Advent (Luke 3:10-18) begins with the question, “What then should we do?” What to do is a question that is asked of John the Baptist three times in this passage. And through his replies, John essentially instructs those who have what we might call an upper hand or an edge over others—a crowd, the tax collectors, and the soldiers who are seemingly among the first to make their way to the desert to be baptized—to share with those who are without, to refrain from over taxing others, and to stop abusing their position by using it to take advantage of others.

How do John’s instructions strike you?

It’s interesting that just prior to this passage, John had said to the first group of people mentioned (the crowd),

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” – Luke 3:8-9.

What do you think caused the crowd to respond with, “What then should we do?”

Envisioning yourself in this crowd, and labeled by John the Baptist as “a brood of vipers,” are you surprised or shocked? What would you do at these words? What response or question would you have?

When presented with a situation that is unexpected, how do you decide what to do? What does your prayer process look like in terms of manner, taking time and a step back, desire and/or openness to new or different ways forward? How about when it comes to situations that are expected? How does your prayer process stay the same or fluctuate?

Spend some time in prayer, sharing with Jesus that which arises into your awareness, and seeking wisdom, guidance, and whatever else you feel you need at this moment. As your prayer comes to a close, express your desire as you go forward, and ask for the grace to receive, whole-heartedly, God’s love for you, and the desire Jesus has for you at this moment.

Then, on this Gaudete Sunday, rejoice in the Lord!

You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope. – Thomas Merton