Vatican II said that this world is to be renewed through the Paschal Mystery. What role are we willing to take up in the "passion play" taking place every day in our midst?

Pat Anglin - Amityville
Mary Ann Collins - Blauvelt
Alice McCoy - Caldwell
Nancy Garson - Elkins Park
Maureen Sullivan - Hope
Kathy Logan - Sparkill

In the book of Daniel we see how the Elders are appointed as judges. Yet the Babylonians had stated that wickedness had come out of Babylon. Later, Daniel refers to Susanna who, on a warm evening, wanted to bathe in the garden of her husband. After the two maids had given her what she needed to bathe, the judges came out of their hiding place to have "their way" with her. Susanna resisted and, after hearing about this, Daniel asked to speak with the judges. Part of the Scripture states: "For the angel of our God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you."

Does this have any application for us today? The Internet is available to all and most use it for good purposes…to study, research, stay in touch with family and friends. But there are also those who use it to lust and to lure young men and women to meet them. How would Daniel react to this? Would he call for an execution?

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is teaching in the temple area. He hears a crowd calling for the stoning of a woman who was judged guilty of adultery. They believed the Law of Moses supported this punishment. Jesus' response…"Let those among you without sin cast the first stone." One by one, the crowd departed and Jesus said to the woman: "Has no one condemned you?" Her reply: "No my Lord." Filled with compassion for the woman, Jesus says: "Neither do I condemn you. Go and from now on do not sin anymore." How often do we want to cast the first stone? Our God has forgiven our sins, should we not do the same?

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We can only imagine the all too stressful exodus of the Israelites. Not knowing any of the particulars; where they were going, would there be enough food and water or would there be shelter, played over and over in their minds. The jubilation and excitement that accompanied them on their journey began to wane. The people were overcome by their weariness, ingratitude and not only their distrust of each other, but their distrust in Moses, their leader and in God.

They requested a sign. The sign they received they were not ready for. Realizing their need to transform, their voices rang out, "Lord, we have sinned against you, have mercy on us."

We are not unlike the Israelites who were humbled to transform. How often do we find ourselves "complaining" of what is and what is not. How often do we find ourselves not trusting in a situation or in our Guide?

Reflect on your Lenten journey thus far and rejoice in the transformation that has taken place in you. Continue to look to the Crucified Savior with earnestness and simplicity. Put your hope in the Lord. Take courage and be strong.

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"If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 7:31-32

Truth is a most difficult concept. It takes effort to tell the truth and to live a truth. Truth is not always a popular trend in today's world of advertising, media and political endeavors. If we are interested in the truth we must work to uncover it and then live with it. This is not an easy task. But in today's reading, John, in his wisdom, states that it is part of being a disciple, a follower of the Christ.

We Dominican women have chosen to have this word "truth" as our motto. And, sometimes in the struggle to tell the truth, to witness to the truth there is a price to be paid. Sad to say it is easy to say, "We Dominicans have truth as our motto, our symbol". We truly believe that truth will set us free. And, we are comfortable with this thought and belief. However, while truth makes us free there is a price to pay for witnessing, telling and championing truth. For if and when we witness to truth we might not be too popular, we might make others feel uncomfortable and, worse than all that, we might not be believed. This is the time to remember that the disciples of Jesus were not always very "accepted" or "popular".

Let us think for a moment. When was the last time we witnessed to a truth? When was the last time we were unafraid to be a witness to "Veritas"? And, if we did witness, were we a better person, a person who felt more "free", a true Dominican? Because it is in telling the truth we learn what truth really is, a testimony to the God we believe in. Witnessing to the truth simply means we have accepted the role of discipleship and all the responsibility of being a true follower of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Sometimes that means suffering and not being accepted.

Let us strive to tell, to live, to witness to the truth, for surely it will make us free!

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In Genesis 17: 3-9 God promises Abraham many descendents and prosperity if Abraham keeps his covenant. The message in this reading is if you live the word of God and believe in Him you will be welcomed into heaven and promised eternal happiness.

In John 8: 51-59 Jesus tries to explain that if you keep the word of God you will have everlasting life. The Jews did not believe his words of truth and continued to question his beliefs and persecuted him for his statements. They thought he was saying he was better than the prophets. Jesus explained he had already seen Abraham and before he (Abraham) existed, He was. Assuming Jesus was glorifying himself, and misunderstanding his message, the Jews picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus went out of the temple area. In this Gospel reading Jesus is trying to say that if you believe in the word of God you will have everlasting life in Heaven. Jesus saying, "Before Abraham came to be, I AM", is his way of saying that he is one with God. This was not something the Jews were willing to accept.

In both instances God is not only asking for the people to follow his word, but also to believe and live his words. God will always be near when we need him. Remember that he does exist. God's message may not always be the easiest thing to understand but that is where faith takes its role.

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"I love you, O Lord, my strength, O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer…" Psalm 18

Where do we find our strength? The prophet Jeremiah realized that God is his strength. God is the only one he needs; because God is in his life, he can overcome any obstacle, even the enemies he thought were his friends. The psalmist repeats Jeremiah's feelings. God keeps us safe from our enemies. He alone is our source of power. In times of distress, God is the one who listens and comes to our assistance. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us the source of His strength when He says, "the Father is in me and I am in the Father." Jesus then traveled back to the place where He was baptized. Maybe He thought about the voice that had come out of the clouds, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."

In the next few days Jesus will be betrayed and deserted by his friends. Like Jeremiah, he will be denounced and persecuted. Also like Jeremiah, He will overcome His oppressors and triumph because He knows and trusts God, the center of His life.

For Reflection:

• Who is the source of my strength?
  
• Do I rely on God or on people?
  
• Do I hear God's voice say to me "you are my beloved, in whom I am well pleased?"

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Today's gospel of Matthew is the same Gospel we read on Christmas Eve, the account of the birth of Christ that reveals Joseph as a "just" man. St. Joseph's journey to accept the message of the angel was a faith journey nourished by prayer.

Timothy Radciffe calls "St. Joseph a just man who is said to be 'a man of honor' because he accepts to imperil his own honor and take into his care Mary and her divine son."

Pope John Paul II wrote: "The extreme discretion with which Joseph carried out the role entrusted to him by God highlights his faith even more, which consisted in always listening to the Lord, seeking to understand his will and to obey it with his whole heart and strength."

The just person is one who prays, lives by faith, and seeks to do good in every concrete circumstance of life. Faith nourished by prayer is the most precious treasure that Saint Joseph transmits to us.

During this Lenten Season, I find myself reflecting on the challenges that Joseph encountered because of my own journey. To have faith in the journey, we as a Congregation, have taken to end the retreat ministry at Elkins Park, to sell the property and relocate, to continue the charism of St. Catherine de'Ricci.

Holy Week is a time to journey with Christ believing "new life" will be revealed through Christ's passion, death and resurrection.

May our faith be nourished by the treasure that Saint Joseph transmits to us.

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How many Palm Sundays have we celebrated? If we were born before the Vatican Council II and the liturgical reform that ensued we might remember that the Passion according to Matthew was read every year on Palm Sunday so there are certain aspects that only Matthew included in his account. One of which may have stayed with us: Pilate's wife sending him the message not to have anything to do with this righteous man as she had suffered many things about him in a dream. Pilate seemed to have done nothing about this warning except perhaps replying to the crowd's demand to crucify Jesus: "Why? What evil has he done?" (We can't help wondering if husbands listened to their wives more often, how different the world might be.)

There is so much richness and challenge in Matthew's Passion account. He identifies three groups who insulted the crucified Jesus: the passers-by; the chief priests, elders and scribes; and the robbers crucified along with Jesus. Can we identify ourselves in any of these groups? Or can we look at the relationship of these persons, to the suffering Jesus: Judas, Peter, Pilate, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, Joseph of Arimathea, and see both weakness and strength. Finally, have we the courage to put ourselves at the foot of the cross and look into the face of Jesus with love?

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