The First Sunday of Lent - Year BReading I: Genesis 9:8-15
Psalm: 25
Reading II: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Gospel: Mark 1: 12-15
Before Jesus set out on his public ministry, he went into the desert to fast and pray. While there, He experienced many temptations. The evil one tempted Him in the same ways that he tempts us: by the desires of the flesh, the cravings for possessions and power, and the pride of life. In spite of the intensity of the temptations, Jesus never gave in to them.
What sustained the Lord? It was doing the will of His Father that managed to keep Jesus, keeping on. Jesus looked to the Father for motivation and support. He was sent by the Father to redeem the human race, and Jesus dedicated Himself completely to that mission. What awesome love of the Father and the Son!!
This reflection brought back to memory a beautiful song by Corey Asbury: “The Reckless Love of God.” The refrain replays itself over and over in my soul. “Oh the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.” I was introduced to the song by a friend who suggested that I listen to it on YouTube.
Not only do we see the reckless love of God in the life and Passion of Jesus, but also in His choice to stay with us under the appearances of bread and wine. He is so crazy about us that He gives Himself to us in the Eucharist so that we may become one with Him. How overwhelmingly tender is our Lord’s love for us.
Many years ago, I learned the following prayer which can be said when
entering a chapel or church:
O Lord Jesus Christ, I firmly believe that you are here
present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. I adore
you with the most profound respect. I unite my adoration
with that of the angels and saints and all who worship you
throughout the world. Amen.
Reflection Question: How can I show my gratitude to the Lord for His reckless love?
Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...
The Father’s Will
Antes de que Jesús emprendiera su ministerio público, se fue al desierto a ayunar y orar. Mientras estuvo allí, experimentó muchas tentaciones. El maligno lo tentó de la misma manera que él nos tienta: por los deseos de la carne, los anhelos de posesiones y poder, y el orgullo de la vida. A pesar de la intensidad de las tentaciones, Jesús nunca se rindió ante ellos.
¿Qué sostuvo al Señor? Estaba haciendo la voluntad de Su Padre que logró mantener a Jesús, siguiendo. Jesús miró al Padre en busca de motivación y apoyo. Fue enviado por el Padre para redimir a la raza humana, y Jesús se dedicó por completo a esa misión. Que asombroso amor de la Padre y el Hijo!!
Esta reflexión trajo a la memoria una hermosa canción de Corey Asbury: “The Reckless Love of God”. El estribillo se repite una y otra vez en mi alma. “Oh, el amor abrumador, interminable e imprudente de Dios”. Un amigo me presentó la canción y me sugirió que la escuchara en YouTube.
No solo vemos el amor imprudente de Dios en la vida y la Pasión de Jesús, sino también en su elección de permanecer con nosotros bajo las apariencias de pan y vino. Está tan loco por nosotros que se nos da en la Eucaristía para que podamos ser uno con Él. Cuán abrumadoramente tierno es el amor de nuestro Señor por nosotros.
Hace muchos años, aprendí la siguiente oración que se puede decir al ingresar a una capilla o iglesia:
Oh Señor Jesucristo, creo firmemente que estás aquí
presente en el Santísimo Sacramento del Altar. Yo adoro
usted con el más profundo respeto Yo uní mi adoración
con la de los ángeles y los santos y todos los que te adoran
alrededor del mundo. Amén.
Pregunta de reflexión: ¿Cómo puedo mostrar mi gratitud al Señor por su amor imprudente?
The moving reference to the "Reckless Love of God" and the loving
ReplyDeletethoughtfulness of the prayer certainly are inspiring. Thank you, Sister!
The following excerpts are from a homily by Father Tom De Simone:
"Can it be Lent already? What happened to Christmas?" Yes, indeed. Lent is already upon us and our old friend, St. John the Baptist is back in the readings, this time telling us to repent. We expected to be told during Lent to repent, but why? What is so bad about sin if it makes me feel better? The readings that precede the Gospel give us a clue."
"The first reading from Genesis 9:8-15 is about God establishing His covenant with His faithful son, Noah. Let us remember that God wiped out the entire planet due to the lack of faithfulness on the part of His own children. The people went back on their covenant with the Lord."
"The covenant made with Noah is not just with him, but with all his descendants, which means every living creature (and us). He promised never again to destroy all bodily creatures."
"We are linked with all of creation. God has graciously made His covenant with us, his adopted sons and daughters and we should be good custodians of creation and not exploiters."
"Jesus is the Kingdom of Heaven. He will always send His angels to minister to us as we battle the wild beasts of this age; but fear not. He came to bring tidings of great joy. The Kingdom of God is at hand and His name is Jesus Christ."
Father Tom de Simone
Theology of the Body Institute
In her book, “The Eucharist and Social Justice,” Margaret Scott writes that the Eucharist “makes present God’s own memory of his Son, Jesus, the Beloved in whom he delights. His memory is of a human heart beating to the rhythm of divine compassion, of the invisible becoming visible – the paradox of God beyond time, clothed in our days and years; God beyond space, measured in feet and inches. The ‘Jesus event’ recalls his becoming tiny, as small as an embryo, then a baby, a child, and later, becoming small again, the size of a wafer.” Eucharist is “a memory of humanity and the school of life, of eventful everyday things and happenings-lost coins and found lambs, yeast rising in dough and the growth of mustard seeds-that is both the subject and the language of parables that are icons of God’s kingdom. The Eucharistic text recalls Jesus’ ministry: To the poor he preached the good news of salvation, to prisoners, freedom, and to those in sorrow joy.” Eucharist “makes present the memory of the Jesus of the Gospel and offers an encounter with him, as he goes up to Jerusalem to conflict, death, and resurrection. There Jesus ‘opened his arms on the cross’ and was ‘given up to death, a death he freely accepted’ and then ‘in rising, restored our life,’ pouring out on us his Spirit.” The unfolding of Jesus’ life-through-death-to Resurrection and beyond is the greatest love story ever!
ReplyDeleteNot only is God’s love “reckless,” it is steadfast. Richard Rohr reminds us that “God has made a covenant with creation and will never break the divine side of the covenant. The covenant is only broken from our side.” St. Katharine Drexel called Creation “A moment by moment expression of Love.”
In his homily of June 18, 2017, Pope Francis said, “In the Bread of Life, the Lord comes to us, making himself a humble meal that lovingly heals our memory, wounded by life’s frantic pace. The Eucharist is the memorial of God’s love. It allows us to dwell in love, to be mindful; never forgetting who it is who loves us and whom we are called to love in return.” Living such busy lives, our memories are weakened. As a result we live on the surface of life without ever going deeper. “This is why the Eucharist commemoration does us so much good: it is not an abstract…superficial memory, but a living remembrance that comforts us with God’s love.” We have been created to love and to be loved. “Love gives momentum and fruitfulness to life and to the journey of faith: without love, both life and faith remain sterile.”
In order for us to express gratitude to the Lord for His love, we really need to get to know him better. This is best done by taking time away from our demands and commitments and entering into a quiet space where we can adore, pray and reflect.
Time spent in the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament stills our body and mind and opens our heart to make room for the Lord. Heartfelt thanksgiving produces a grateful love in our relationship with Jesus. He is so generous with us and we are invited to express gratitude for all His gifts.
Reception of the Eucharist gives our hearts the opportunity to feel Christ’s love for us in a most intimate way. Pope Francis said that the Eucharist encourages us, “even on the roughest road, we are not alone; the Lord does not forget us and whenever we turn to him, he restores us with his love.”
Lastly, we can show our gratefulness through service to others. Jesus demonstrated his reckless love in his ministry to the poor and the outcasts of society. Perhaps we can give a buck and a blessing to the homeless person standing on the corner, or visit an elderly person who may feel forgotten, or volunteer at a soup kitchen. The Lord delights in our love, thanksgiving, and service and in the process we receive his extravagant love and blessings.
Pat C., ASBS