Today's readings are the midway point in our Lenten journey, focusing on the relationship between God's laws and the state of man's heart. The First Reading begins with words many of us have heard frequently throughout our lives—the Ten Commandments. Before giving all of the Commandments, God proclaims to Moses, "I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery" (Exodus 20:2). The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament: loving, merciful, steadfast, and forgiving, who seeks the happiness of man. The Father provides the Chosen People with the Ten Commandments to show them how to love God and neighbor properly, and cultivate a pure and holy heart. Above all, the Ten Commandments help guide us to our ultimate end: life with the Divine.
Have you ever walked from a dark room out into the sunlight? It hurts. You end up squinting and wiping away tears from watery eyes. It takes time to adjust, and you may wish to return to the darkness where it's a bit more comfortable. Think of the reverse scenario: when you go from the sunlight i...
Many of us fear death. It brings sadness and an unknown. We may have experienced the grief of losing a loved one, and we may be angry that God allows death. But today's Gospel lends itself to hope. Jesus tells us that we must die in order to have new life. What a strange command. Let's pause a mi...
This Sunday we find ourselves at a crossroads. As we approach the great mystery of Christ's Death and Resurrection, we are coming to the end of our Lenten journey. It is a time to both look back and reflect, and to look forward and prepare.
Holy Week is a unique time in the Church calendar where...
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