Rev. James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R.

Dec 13 2024

Reflection-Our Thirsty God

There are a number of thirsty people in our readings today: the Israelites out in the desert, grumbling about the lack of water and wondering why they ever left Egypt; the woman of Samaria, who has gone to the well to draw water for herself and her companion at home; and Jesus, traveling through Samaritan territory with his disciples.

The thirst of the Israelites was physical. Once again disheartened, they were grumbling that Moses had taken them out in the desert to die. It must have gotten serious because we are told that Moses himself feared for his life. God’s response is dramatic: “Take your staff, go over to that rock and strike it.” And the water flowed.

The nameless woman is shown to be thirsty on several levels. Physically, yes, but her thirst is on far deeper levels—for companionship (five husbands and now living with yet another person!) and for communion with God. Jesus promises her that people will worship God in Spirit and in truth. Indeed, the Father seeks such people.

Is it possible the one most thirsty is God? The Father thirsts for all of us to draw closer, to live fully the life that only God can give, that life celebrated on Easter, made possible by the dying and rising of Jesus. Those to be baptized enter into divine life at baptism, but all believers continue to be satisfied by the life-giving water that is Jesus.

Consider/Discuss

What are you thirsting for?
Do you approach God as one who can satisfy your deepest thirst?

Responding to the Word

Risen Lord, you came to bring us life-giving water. Such water poured over us at our baptism. We pray for those who will soon enter into this water and become sons and daughters of the Father, co-heirs with you. Strengthen them, enlighten them, guide them, encourage them, in these final days of preparation.

Dec 13 2024

Reflection-Seize the Day—Now

Carpe diem was one of the phrases you’d learn if you studied Latin in high school. It means “Seize the day.” For a high school student it seemed to offer a permit to act impulsively. Speaking as someone more than fifty years away from that time, it offers an inducement to act wisely—now.

Moses is told by a voice from a burning bush that the God of his ancestors wanted him to go back down to Egypt, from which he had fled after murdering an Egyptian. All Moses was given at this encounter was an obscure name for God, and a proposed plan to rescue the Israelite slaves and lead them to a new land. Not a very attractive offer for one peacefully tending sheep, but Moses seized the day, hearing the call to act—now.

Jesus calls on his fellow Jews to seize the day by repenting. Life is short. People die tragically without deserving it. Look to your own life, he tells them. God has given you these days, so bear fruit—now.

Paul calls on the Corinthian to seize the day. Not just our actions but even our desires can mislead us. So don’t be complacent, a word that means sedating your spirit by being overly pleased with yourself. Turn to God—now.

Baptism lays a foundation, giving us the Spirit and the virtues of faith, hope, and love. In a month we are going to renew our baptismal promises on Easter, confirming our desire to seize the day, every day, as an opportunity to grow closer to God—now.

Consider/Discuss

Have you “settled in” to being a Catholic? Have you become a “couch Catholic,” not overly exerting yourself in living out of your faith?
This coming week brings us to Lent’s mid-point. Is anything happening on the conversion/turn-to-the-Lord front?

Responding to the Word

Lord, teach us to number our days and realize how quickly life passes, days into weeks into months into years. Rouse our spirits and teach us how to work with your Spirit to make fruitful the gifts you have given to us for the good of others. Move us to act wisely.

Dec 13 2024

Reflection-The Glory Yet to Come

God’s promises are not empty words carried off by the wind soon after they are uttered. From the beginning, God has backed up divine promises with action. We see this today in the story of God sealing the promise to Abraham of many descendants and the gift of the land with the mystifying occurrence of a floating fire pot and flaming torch passing through Abraham’s sacrifice. God’s words lead to a ratifying action.

In the Gospel, God comes to Jesus. At first, this is made evident in the change of Jesus’ face and clothing. Then the great prophets Moses and Elijah appear, mediators of God’s word to the people through both the Torah and prophetic deeds, who speak with Jesus about his coming death in Jerusalem. Finally, as with Israel in the desert, God manifests the divine presence, coming in a cloud and proclaiming Jesus as “chosen Son.” “Listen to him,” the voice says. Divine word is backed up by divine deed.

This yearly glimpse of glory in the story of the Transfiguration tells us yet again that God recognizes our need for signs and support in our journey of faith. Walking in faith is not all shadows and darkness. Light comes into our lives, sometimes in such unexpected ways that we only become aware of it in retrospect. These moments whisper of God’s ongoing presence with us, of promises yet to be fulfilled. Paul speaks of our citizenship even now being in heaven, calling us to “stand firm in the Lord.”

Consider/Discuss

Can you remember a moment when the promise of our faith was affirmed by a gracious event, enabling you to recognize God’s presence?
Do you believe that our citizenship is in heaven and that our bodies are destined to being conformed to Christ’s glorified body?

Responding to the Word

Lord, enlighten the eyes of our hearts, providing a glimpse of the glory promised us because of your saving death and resurrection. As we move toward renewing the promises made at baptism, make our hearts ever more confident in the Father’s fidelity and the ongoing strength that comes from the Spirit.

Dec 13 2024

Reflection-Pledging Allegiance

Lent’s journey will take us to the celebration of the paschal mystery of Easter. During these forty days we are invited into a space of sensory deprivation when we gather for worship: no flowers on the altar, no music for its own sake but only to accompany our singing, and no colorful banners that might distract us from the task at hand: to prepare our minds and hearts to renew our baptismal promises during the celebration.

We will be asked both to renounce Satan and all his perks and promises and to place our wholehearted trust in God who created us, in the Son who redeemed us, and in the Spirit who dwells within us and enlightens us. Lent is a serious season but not necessarily a somber one; it is the waiting room for Easter joy. One Lenten Preface (the priest’s prayer before the Holy, Holy, Holy) even speaks of it as a season that is a gracious gift from God, making us joyful because we are purified to celebrate the Easter mysteries.

Just as Jesus was tempted throughout his ministry to turn aside from his mission, his followers will be, too. The three temptations speak to our own experience when we seek self-gratification rather than the glory of God.

God’s word today calls us to make God our true nourishment, our true wealth, our faithful source of strength, and the solid foundation of our trust. Paul’s bold proclamation to the Romans extends to us: the Lord enriches all who call upon him. All who call on him will be saved.

Consider/Discuss

Where do you want to find yourself at the end of this Lenten journey?
What temptation lures you to turn aside from having God and Christ at the center of your life?

Responding to the Word

Lord Jesus, as you had the help of the Spirit to turn aside from the temptations that came to you during the time in the desert and the years of your ministry, help us to turn to this same Spirit to help us in our efforts to grow in faith, hope, and charity this Lent.

Dec 13 2024

Reflection-In the Presence of the Holy One

Today we witness three encounters with the Holy One in three different settings, but with three similar responses, both immediate and long-term. Isaiah’s vision of God in the temple included angels surrounding God and praising God’s glory. His immediate response was fear and unworthiness at seeing the living God. But God’s compassionate action of purifying his lips leads Isaiah to offer his service.

For Simon Peter, the experience of the holy came when a stranger walked by as Simon was finishing an unsuccessful night of fishing. Jesus got into his boat, taught the crowds first, then turned to Simon. Something in Jesus’ manner must have persuaded Simon to follow his directions. The result was so many fish that the boats almost sank. Simon suddenly knew he was in the presence of the Holy One. Unworthiness and fear flooded his heart, but, as God did with Isaiah, Jesus removed Simon’s fear and Simon followed him.

Paul briefly alludes to his own unworthiness to be an apostle, rooted in his experience of the Holy One on the road to Damascus. He witnesses to God’s grace at work by preaching what has been handed on to him: that Christ died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and appeared to Paul, the least of all the apostles.

An experience of the holy can come to us in church, in the midst of our work, or even when we are heading in a very different direction than the one God has planned for us. Pray God we will respond to it.

Consider/Discuss

Are you are open to the presence of the Holy One in worship and in daily life?
What does it mean to say, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed”?

Responding to the Word

O Holy God, we pray that we may be open to recognizing your holy presence wherever and however you show yourself to us. Do not let fear of our unworthiness prevent us from responding to your invitation to serve you in whatever way you ask.