I don’t want pain – give me happiness!

On Easter Sunday we celebrate the completion of the cycle: the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are echoes of that cycle today. The longer we live, the more likely we are to discover that life comes through the cross. We cannot avoid pain and struggle. These last two years have emphasised that point. Then, as always, there have been opportunities for significant personal growth, new outlook or new capacity, through that pain.

Part of the fullness of life toward which we are all called at Easter (John 10:10) is to see others as God sees them – beloved children, our sisters and brothers. Our community – our family or otherwise – where we feel we belong.

What our faith teaches us is that we are saved in community, by community: ‘may the body of Christ bring us to everlasting life’. What does this look like? Whether it is those enduring a type of crucifixion due to illness, addiction, abuse or mental health issues, their resurrection comes through the prayer and concerted action of a community. Such a community works with and for all – since all are sisters and brothers. Such a community asks: what’s in it for we? The more whole and happy each member of the community is, the better it is for the community. Such is the work of the Holy Spirit which guides us into the truth (John 16:13) – about ourselves, our world and God – and calls us forward into the light, together.

Readings: Luke 19:28-40; Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-24; Phil 2:6-11; Luke 22:14 – 23:56

There is a double edge to Palm Sunday. Jesus is worshipped as he enters Jerusalem. Yet we know a similar crowd will be baying for his blood in a few short days. 

What should we take from the account of the events of Jesus’ passion and death? Here we go again? Rather, let us ponder these events, contemplating the intersections with our lives.

Ultimately, Jesus came to bring the reign of God. The scriptures tell us the reign of God is brought about through justice and right relationships. In following that path, that is why so many people, both here and overseas, march for peace and justice on Palm Sunday. 

Both the first reading from Isaiah, one of the songs of the suffering servant and the second reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians emphasise that Jesus died willingly: ‘obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross’.

We can learn dignity in our trials, such as the death of a loved one, the pain of bullying or the many and varied ways that people have had to endure the pandemic. Like people of faith before us, we might utter the response from today’s psalm as we feel abandoned by God at times. Hopefully in the end we will echo the final verse from today’s first reading:

The Lord GOD is my help,
            therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
            knowing that I shall not be put to shame. (Is 50:7)

Jesus preached peace and justice – but not in a subservient way. Rather his words of justice for the downtrodden annoyed the authorities so much, he was killed. Thus we can learn integrity. Ultimately, may we be people of justice like Jesus and so echo these adapted words from the prophet Micah:

Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly now. Love mercy now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.

Readings: Is 43:16-21; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 3:8-14; John 8:1-11 

God speaks to us through the prophet Isaiah: ‘see, I am doing something new!’ Humans watch the new out of curiosity, alert for danger. The new thing that God is doing is calling us together, as Paul said in the second reading, so that we might be one ‘in Christ’.

Another facet of this newness is seen in today’s Gospel. Rather than more judgment, Jesus shows us a way of wisdom and compassion. Elsewhere it has been said, ‘if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got’. You may prefer the quote attributed to Albert Einstein as a definition of insanity: ‘doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result’. Despite our almost burning need, we will not judge our way to a better world. The new way is old but easily forgotten: compassion and wisdom.

The Gospel shows the woman caught in adultery brought before Jesus. We may well ask, ‘what about the man?’ Jewish law states that the man and woman caught in adultery should be stoned to death (Lev 20:10). Sadly, patriarchy is not new. Patriarchy also undercuts God’s plan from Genesis 1 – men and women are created in God’s image. What Jesus does here is cast new light on this situation.

Jesus confronts the need for judgment by saying ‘let he who is without sin cast the first stone’. The older people are the first to realise the import of Jesus’ words. Jesus does not ‘let her off’. He names the woman’s behaviour as sinful but he does not condemn her.

This powerful passage goes to the heart of what it means to be human. Through this reminder of wisdom and compassion we can echo the response from today’s psalm: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. 

Readings: Joshua 5:9-12; Ps 34:2-7; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Luke 15:11-32

An important part of our Lenten journey is acknowledging that God’s love and mercy will always be there to carry us through. We do not deserve it. It is gift and grace. 

This is borne out in each of today’s readings. The Israelites have been brought out of slavery in Egypt by God and in our first reading come to the promised land. In the second reading Paul reminds us how when we are in Christ we are a ‘new creation’ and the ‘old things have passed away’. Importantly being in Christ is not just about my faith but about the community of faith to which we belong. How might we be God’s love by helping others feel more included in our communities?

The piece de résistance is in the Gospel. The parable of the Loving Father. While we know the parable by another name, the unconditional love of the father is the rightful focus of the story. The problem is that we have read into the text all of our judgmental attitudes, puzzling over the sons. Instead we should read out of the text the father’s love and forgiveness, the contrition of the younger son and the judgment of the older son.

We have heard it said ‘God’s ways are not human ways’. So let us emulate God’s ways, focusing on love and forgiveness. In that way we will live out the response from today’s psalm: ‘taste and see the goodness of the Lord’.

Late summer twilight,

Balmy,

Sun’s glow fading.

The cacophony of crickets,

more than a sound

has a physical effect.

I am held

in a moment

of gratitude

for life.

Readings: Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 103:1-11; 1 Cor 10:1-12; Luke 13:1-9

Moses has fled Egypt in fear of his life and is tending his father-in-law’s flock when he has his first profound experience of God. God sends Moses to the Israelites and Moses’ calling card: ‘I AM sent me to you’. I am who am – God of the eternal present. God who is with us in every now.

As we continue our Lenten journey, it is possible that the realisation of our faults can become a little overwhelming. This is where the response in today’s psalm bears remembering: The Lord is kind and merciful. For the God that is always with us, we are always loved. That love doesn’t want us to beat ourselves up over our mistakes, real or perceived. Rather that love should liberate us to be and act as our best selves.

This notion is borne out in the Gospel. Rather than judging ourselves or others for human failings in some kind of final way, better to pay heed to the parable – hold off on a final judgment on ourselves and others. Better to feed ourselves spiritually and see if we bear fruit.

This begs the question: am I feeding myself spiritually and if so, how? There are all of the ways that easily come to mind in a religious context, such as prayer. But pursuing this idea of God being with us in every now – may we be truly present to ourselves and others in our relationships. Also, may we allow God’s grace to move us while in nature. It is a wonder and a miracle! But because it is always there, we may not allow ourselves to be touched by it.

When we feed ourselves spiritually, we will be closer to our best selves and more likely to hear God speaking to us.

As the Lenten journey continues which is done in a context of faith, it makes sense to pause and reflect upon my relationship with God. Honesty and openness in my relationship with God through prayer and contemplation is a grounding that allows me to be honest and open with myself and others.

This week’s readings give us several examples of faith. In the first reading Abram had already left his home in Ur to follow God and in the reading Abram is rewarded when the Lord makes a covenant with Abram and his descendants (who will be as many as the stars in a sky not affected by light pollution!). The responsorial psalm reminds us that ‘the Lord is my light and my salvation’ – rather than my obsessions, my addictions, the latest clothes or the latest gadget. Do I focus on giving and receiving love? The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ shines a light on life’s path for us each to follow. 

Our Gospel passage is that of the Transfiguration. In his typically gung-ho fashion, Peter wants to mark this important occasion. A cloud then envelopes Jesus, Peter, James and John and a voice says: ‘this is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him’. The disciples then fell silent as the enormity of what has just happened hit them – they have had an experience of God, both through the voice from the cloud and in the person of Jesus. In our time we need also to listen to Jesus: in prayer, in scripture, through the sacraments and through the people and events of our daily lives. Can you think of a moment of grace that stopped you in your tracks? God wants us to listen.

Part of being human means that one can feel beset by difficulties, not knowing what to do, to whom to turn. This is why the response in today’s psalm strikes a chord: ‘Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble’.

On this first Sunday we are near the start of our Lenten journey that ends in God’s triumph at Easter. So we know the end point – fullness of life – toward which we are all called. But how do I get there? This is what Lent is for. Firstly I need to become aware of my faults and failings. Then, rather than shrugging my shoulders and saying, in a somewhat resigned tone, ‘that’s me’, work on improving myself. As humans there can be a gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Which is why it’s great to have Lent, another opportunity to get closer to being my best self. Whether it’s being less controlling, more giving, more forgiving, less judgmental or whatever, it’s good for me to be better so that I don’t spread my unhelpful behaviours amongst others. My self-improvement is better for me and we. 

Our Gospel today shows this process of self-improvement is part of God’s plan since ‘Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert’. God’s revelation at Easter doesn’t wipe away all human problems rather it shows us there is only one way – through the cross. This does not mean that God causes suffering. Humans frequently have a hand in causing suffering to others. Rather such suffering which is part of life is an opportunity to work through the pain and grow – to more closely resemble the best version of ourselves.

Faith leadership is privileged,

journeying with a community

or an individual.

Highs and lows,

joy and grief,

the stuff of life.

So as we marked

Ash Wednesday

I distributed ashes

reminding people to

‘be faithful to the Gospel’.

The silent and solemn column

of face after face

providing a window into faith

that left me

humbled

and happy.

And given a glimpse of

‘it is in giving that we receive’.

Politics seems comprised of the ‘photo opportunity’, concern over the ‘optics’ of a situation. As much as how things look is significant, what of the substance?

Such a situation seems to have been the case for a long time in human history which is why both the first reading and the Gospel encourage us to ‘look at the fruit’: ‘every tree is known by its own fruit’. Or as the first reading put it ‘our faults appear when we speak’. This should make us pause and reflect.

A greater awareness of my flaws is healthy – for me and everyone with whom I deal. When I am aware of my flaws I am in a better position to build community. And this is our salvation. The expression at the fraction rite of the Eucharist ‘may the body of Christ bring us to eternal life’ has multiple meanings. Yes, it refers to the Eucharistic species but it also refers to the community that gathers: we are saved in community, by community.

Salvation is not a prize for the ‘best person’. This is why Jesus disabuses those ideas by telling us in the Gospel to be aware of the plank in our own eye before we worry about the speck in anyone else’s eye i.e. we each need to get our own act together. Awareness of my failings saves me from myself, my limited view of the world and encourages me to lean on others and so build community.

A healthy community goes beyond how things look to providing for the needs of each in the community as well as sharing the community’s gifted news with others. That is substance.