Visitation Lenten Reflections 2025

Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1—19:42 Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart. (Gather hymnal) The Good Friday readings have it all: Isaiah’s dramatic prophecy of the Suffering Servant, the proclamation of Paul, and, of course, the heartbreak of the Passion. During Good Friday service, we have special blessings, we carry the cross, and we adore the cross. At the end of the readings and the service, we strip the altar to bareness, we sit in silence, and then we leave in silence. We wait on the Lord; his time is near. This is usually an Advent theme, and it fits Good Friday as well. Our church is paused; there is no Saturday service. We wait, hope, and pray until we enter into the glory of the Resurrection in the Easter Vigil. Good Friday teaches us, forces us even, to wait and pray, in quiet, in joyful hope. To wait for the revelation of God’s plan; to wait for the resurrection which we, unlike the Disciples, know is coming. Wai...

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15 “What does Grace mean to you?” Teresa Albright sat across from me in the parish library, smiling softly and waiting patiently as I considered her question. It was August 2019, and I’d come to her inquiring about the RCIA process, which would begin in a few weeks. I had just mentioned that it was important to me to be in a faith community that erred on the side of Grace. And though I’d like to say that my response to Teresa’s question was perhaps spiritually deep, or philosophically sound, or even mildly interesting, unfortunately I think I panic-mumbled something uninspired about being open and accepting and loving to everyone. In that moment, I realized I’d never really asked myself this question. I’d never truly pondered the idea of Grace. Reflecting on today’s readings and the rituals we observe on Holy Thursday each year, I see in clear, sharp detail overwhelming evidence of Grace in these words and acts. In this moment today...

Isaiah 50:4-9a Matthew 26:14-25 Today the suspense and emotion continue to build in the most pivotal drama of human history. This passage from Isaiah presents a vivid portrayal of suffering, obedience, and vindication that foreshadows Jesus in Matthew’s preface to the Passion narrative. Isaiah speaks of the Servant of the Lord who is given "a well-trained tongue," able to speak words of comfort to the weary, even in the face of his own oppression and ridicule. This mirrors Christ’s ability to communicate profound truths to his disciples and followers, even as betrayal and abandonment encroach ever closer. Isaiah's Servant faces physical abuse and verbal mockery, which foreshadows the cruel treatment Jesus will endure in his Passion—his scourging, the spitting, and the insults hurled at him. The Servant shows unwavering trust in God's vindication. Christ also models this steadfastness, showing ultimate obedience to God’s will, even as he anticipates his suffering when ...

Isaiah 49:1-6 John 13:21-33, 36-38 After converting to Catholicism in my 20s, I long wondered what people meant when they mentioned direct encounters with God. My path to the Church was not about the mystical aspect of faith, so I left these questions unanswered. Where is the supernatural in my own day-to-day life? Would I recognize God were I to encounter him? What does evil look like? Today, Jesus directly encounters Satan. “After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’" I find this passage both terrifying but also a powerful message that Good and Evil work in this world palpably. It has taken me time to understand what that can mean. Several years ago, I began singing lessons, because I was tired of mumbling hymns under my breath, self-conscious over my inability to sing on pitch. Singing can be taught and, in time, I gained confidence and began to sing hymns loudly. One Sunday, just as we finished the closing hymn...

Isaiah 42:1-7 John 12:1-11 These readings are a great reminder to us all during Lent and Holy Week that we are called by God to spread His word. We are called to listen to Jesus in our daily lives, follow his example, and spread his teachings in our daily lives. The readings and Gospel first help us remember gratitude for all the beauty around us. As a parish, we are so blessed with the wonderful leadership of our parish, the beautiful church in which we celebrate Mass and the Sacraments, the amazing choir that shares its angelic voices, and a wonderful Catholic community. God has provided the very breath in our bodies, allowing us to share Jesus’s teachings by acting Christlike in our daily lives, living out Jesus’s example for our community and beyond. And when we are called to more overtly spread Jesus’s teachings – we are given instruction on HOW to share the Good News - humbly and quietly. The Gospel gives us a reminder of what is to come during Holy Week. While Mary anoints Jesus...

Luke 19:28-40 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 On this day, we pack into the narthex bearing our palms and listen to a Gospel reading recounting Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with his disciples before processing into the sanctuary. In recent years, these exclamations have troubled me; after all, not long after this moment of praise, we hear (or say) the words, “Crucify him!” It can feel vaguely uneasy to join in triumphal exclamations knowing that we’ll soon be meditating on the disciples who betrayed Jesus - betrayals mirrored in our own lives. Does that sense of unease miss the point of Palm Sunday’s opening rite? Turning to Luke, we learn that those who cry out are a “multitude” of his “disciples” - that is, a veritable crowd of outsiders who gradually joined Jesus as pilgrims on his journey from Galilee up to Jerusalem. They exclaim, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” The first sentence is shar...

Ezekiel 37:21-28 John 11:45-56 I was raised in a very religious home with devout parents that displayed patience and grace toward me. They used the trials and tribulations of Jesus to put life into perspective. They taught me that no matter what was happening to me, it paled in comparison to what Jesus faced in his life on Earth. And they never ceased to remind me that God’s patience and love was an opportunity to learn from every experience. Years later, with numerous life lessons learned, God blessed me with an opportunity to travel the world. I saw this as the chance to see all of God’s creation firsthand. I had no clue how big the world was, but I wanted to find out. My family was less than thrilled, as my career would take me to austere and dangerous places; but I reassured them that I have God to protect me. All gave me this guidance, “keep God in your heart, pray often and never let your belief falter. And always know there is no place like home.” I visited some of the most beau...

Jeremiah 20:10-13 John 10:31-42  The readings from Jeremiah and John share threads of perseverance, faith under pressure, and unwavering trust in God. Jeremiah struggles with betrayal, yet finds strength in God, declaring Him to be with him “like a mighty champion.” This lesson is always hard for me to remember, but when I do I have found immense comfort in trusting Him.  Jesus faces hostility and accusations from those who misunderstand and oppose Him. Both Jeremiah and Jesus exhibit steadfast faith, drawing their strength and purpose from God.  I have been married to my wife, Allie, for five years and we have been blessed by God with two wonderful boys. Growing up in a small family, I had limited experience with small children and babies. I was used to order and having control over my life. Having children was a huge adjustment. Becoming a father has been one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of my life.  Throughout my life I’ve used control as a coping...

Genesis 17:3-9 John 8:51-59  As I read today’s scriptures, there seems to be many mentions of death and God’s enduring covenant of faith passed on from generation to generation. I asked myself, “Where have I experienced this covenant in my life?” It brought to mind my faith experience after the death of my dad.  After the unexpected death of my dad, I found myself very broken by the grief and loss. I was searching for a way to recover when I signed up for the Christ Renews His Parish retreat. The retreat and formation that followed not only helped heal my broken heart but also deepened my faith. My faith changed from the faith I had been given through my Cradle Catholic upbringing and education to one of my own. It became a relationship with God. My prayers became daily two-way conversations. I came to know God as close, not far away. I realized the scriptures were God’s love letters written just for me. I recognized that I could not do it all on my own, I needed God and my co...

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 John 8:31-42  The nature of the soul is its inclination to form an attachment to another soul. Each of us is born with a soul that forms attachments to someone else, to the world, and to himself in his course of life. Everyone lives in relation to another.  Life is centered around attachment. Without attachment, a choice would be aimless, lost, and, above all, empty. We make life choices and decisions based on attachment, whether the end is security and satisfaction or not. In this process, each of us also forms an identity; one that glorifies God or does not. This seems inevitable to me.  The Jews in the reading have their attachments too. Born as Abraham’s descendants, they form an attachment to their religious community and nation. Having Abraham as their father, they make life choices and decisions based on this attachment and conscientiously follow the Law of Moses. In this process, they confidently identity as “the selected, distinguished, ...

Numbers 21:4-9 John 8:21-30  “O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.” -Psalm 102  This Responsorial Psalm reminds me of Psalm 40, verse 1, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry,” which I would hear and see my father use in speeches or writings growing up. The Old Testament reading reminds us to seek God first, above all things. It is reminiscent of one of the two greatest commandments, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” As Christ reached the utmost humility, he teaches us to do the same.  As the people were bitten by the serpents, it reminds me that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. God is always there for us, but our sin can blind us to this. Sometimes the sin is us wanting an immediate answer from God. Though God is always there for us, are we ready for him? Is something holding us back?  In C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce, when the ghost...

Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62 John 8:12-20  Repeatedly throughout today's scripture passages I kept hearing a message from God to be courageous; to be a light even in the darkness of today's world. Psalm 23 has always been one that sticks with me. Not because of its popular message, but because I read it as a child at my grandmother’s funeral. While trying to ignore my racing heart, I stood at the front of a crowded room and read “the Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” It is a set of verses I've had memorized for over twenty years. I’ve always been comforted by this Psalm because it serves as a reminder that once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are never alone. However, the thing that really stuck out to me this time was with God’s “rod and staff” we gain courage in the darkness.  Similarly, in the first reading Susanna showed immense faith and courage when she told the two evil elders that “it is better for me to fall into your power with guilt than to sin...

Isaiah 43:16-21 Philippians 3:8-14 John 8:1-11 These verses from Isaiah echo the song of Moses and Miriam in Exodus 15 – a song we sing at Easter here at Visitation. The Lord called Israel out of Egypt & promised to lead them to a new life – a new start – The Promised Land. He called and He provided the way – despite all obstacles. I have a deep connection to this story. My faith history didn’t begin at Vis or with the Catholic Church, but God led me over years through many denominations and seasons of faith. When I first attended Easter Vigil at Vis, I had attended the Vigil at other churches; I expected a long evening of listening to scripture readings before the Easter celebration. When singing began at the beginning it was a surprise, but when Exodus was sung – I felt the presence of God deep in my soul. This scripture song had followed me with different melodies throughout my journey – somehow one more version was part of His confirmation that I was on the correct path. I had ...

Jeremiah 11:18-20 John 7:40-53 We are now four weeks or 24 days into lent, and you may ask yourself, how am I doing? Have I been successful thus far? Do I still have some work to do? If you have gone above and beyond in your Lenten resolution or promise, congratulations to you! You have "kept the word with a generous heart and yielded a harvest through perseverance." That is the message of today's gospel. If you have fallen short, you still have 16 days to turn it around. You're in the 3rd quarter and the clock is ticking! Today's responsorial psalm is: "O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge." You know the clock is ticking, but don't fear, as God will be with you until you reach the finish line. Some days are harder than others and God fully understands that we are human and will make mistakes and get distracted along the way. 40 days and 40 nights is a large mountain to climb with lots of water breaks and rests along the way. Hopefully your days have...

Wisdom 2:1a,12-22 John 7:1-2,10,25-30 For those who have been blessed with the opportunity to visit the beautiful and historic cathedrals in Italy, one can attest to not only the sheer magnitude of the structures, but also the very binary nature of good and evil that lives within the architecture itself. Sleek marble gives way to grotesques, while beautiful stained glass is held rigid by iron. But nothing captures the struggle for the soul more than the frescos that adorn the basilica domes. In particular, Giorgio Vasari’s The Last Judgement that is housed within the Cathedral of Florence, captures the very visceral nature of temptation and rightness as we strive toward eternal redemption. The reds and oranges of fire and brimstone pull the edges of the dome downward, as many of the characters kick away the temptations of Hell and reach towards the Risen Christ who is framed by natural sunlight. If Vasari’s fresco had a soundtrack, this passage could be it. But we do not live in a pain...

Exodus 32:7-14 John 5:31-47 Idolatry is a recurring theme in Scripture and the story of the golden calf in Exodus 32:7-14 serves as a cautionary tale about its perils. In this passage, the Israelites create and worship a golden calf while Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. This act of idolatry angers God, who threatens to destroy the Israelites for their unfaithfulness. However, Moses intercedes on their behalf, and God ultimately spares them. In current times, false idols can be seen in the way certain figures and their ideologies are elevated to a near-religious status, often at the expense of spiritual and ethical values and societal well-being. Supporters often view these individuals as savior-like figures, capable of solving all problems and as the sole bastion against perceived enemies. This near-deification can be seen as a form of idolatry, where loyalty to an individual supersedes critical thinking and spiritual and ethical considerations, leading to a dis...

Isaiah 49:8-15 John 5:17-30 The old testament reading focuses on “For the Lord comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted,” Isaiah, and is reinforced by the Psalm. “The Lord is gracious and merciful.” In John’s gospel we are promised “Whoever hears my word and believes shall have everlasting life.” And Isaiah writes “On the day of salvation I help you.” Yet “the hour is coming...Those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life. Those who have done bad deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.” (But where is mercy?) Then how are we judged? Matthew 25 describes what the Catholic church calls the Corporal Works of Mercy. One Catholic journalist puts them in modern terms: “When I was hungry you cut off my access to food stamps...thirsty and you left the lead in my drinking water...naked and you made sleeping outside illegal...sick and you defunded my health insurance...in prison and you sped up the schedule for federal executions...a stranger and you separated me from ...

Ezekiel 47:1-9,12 John 5:1-16 In today’s first reading, we join Ezekiel as he follows the angel from a trickle of water to a river that nourishes a land. We’re invited to reflect on the end point of this journey, but I couldn’t help but think of the beginning. Before that trickle, there was a single drop. And that drop meant...nothing. Alone, it was simply a drop. It could have easily remained apart and evaporated. But it didn’t. It joined with other drops to form first a rivulet, then that trickle, which then grew as more drops joined. And as Ezekiel followed the water, I felt the collective presence and power of millions of drops; the river of life as not a single body but as a community. Our gift from God is not just the love and grace that fills us each from within; it’s our calling to connect it with that of others.  Today’s Gospel showed me that this connection and expression of love isn’t only for those that give it back. The lame man waited all those years for someone else ...