Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

"to sit at my right and at my left,

this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom

it has been prepared by my Father.”

Matthew 20:17-28

             Service, to serve, to be a servant…these words are not strangers to us. We hear them time and time again, not only in scripture, but also in our day-to-day lives. We are told to do service or to serve others is “a good thing to do.” Why then, is it forced upon us as punishment, as a requirement for class, or looked at as simply a resume builder? Would you say that someone who conducts service under one of these three conditions is a servant? I wouldn’t. In fact, that word would not even come to mind.

            “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:17-28

            “Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” Many times we become trapped in the fad of serving. We do things because they will benefit us; they will make us look “good”, or help to develop this image that we are true, self-less people. This Lent we are not only challenged to fast and repent quietly, but to serve quietly. What then is service under this context?

            To serve, to be a servant, is to willingly act out of love and offer your gifts to         join and engage in communion with others.

            This is no easy task. We are human; therefore, we eagerly seek external affirmation. We want people to know the good works we do; we feel we need a witness. Let’s try and disengage this idea, and reengage in the service which Christ showed us. To do this, we must empty ourselves of the preconceived notion that our goodness is only validated through its recognition in another human being. This Lent, instead of fishing for these worldly “kudos,” let us relish in “kudos” from the Divine as we actively participate in service to one another.

S.B.  ‘14

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Hey, is anyone else losing steam with this Lent thing? Who is tempted to start doing everything they gave up and skip right to Easter? Me a little bit, at least until I take a step back and look at what Lent is meant to do for us.

            Lent is a preparation; a preparation to get our our hearts and minds ready for when Jesus dies and rises. While it happens every year, each time we can enter in a deeper understanding of Jesus and ourselves and how those two fit together. Easter just wouldn’t mean as much without these preparations. It would just seem to come and go without us gaining all we could because we simply weren’t ready.

            I have seen these types of situations occur in my life. Sometimes I’m impatient and want things to just get here already. How often have we missed out on enjoying the week before break because we are all so focused on getting home? But the journey there makes the end result worthwhile and it great in its own right.

            So on this day of Lent, I will take a step back and try to remember that this Lenten path is just as fruitful as Easter, and will make the holiday even better. I challenge you to look at your Lent in this way as well.

-Lauren G. - Class of 2013

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

I hope your first full week of Lent went smoothly as you kept in mind your Lenten promises! Today’s readings present us with another great lesson to keep close to our hearts this Lenten season. The first reading from Daniel sounds quite intimidating. “We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws…we are shamefaced even to this day” (Daniel 9:5; 9:7). The responsorial psalm continues this message to say, “Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins” (Psalm 79:8). The general message presented by the reading and psalm is that we are sinners and there’s no way to avoid it! And we have sinned not only against God, but against each other…Don’t worry though! We are far from lost and can always find forgiveness!

So how do we gain forgiveness not only from our all-loving God, but from others too, you ask? The Gospel once again has an answer for us (it’s funny how it works that way!). “’Be merciful, just as your father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged…Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:36-37). Forgive, and you will be forgiven (often times that involves us forgiving ourselves as well!). These are powerful words, especially in an age where we often place our pride first. We’d much rather prefer it if the other person said sorry first, rather than forgiving them. So with this lesson of forgiving to be forgiven comes a lesson of humility. A relationship, with either man or God, cannot progress if our pride comes first.

For the rest of this Lenten season, please keep in mind the picture that goes with today’s reflection. Remember always that God forgives us for our mistakes, that we are simply children of God learning the responsibilities of being full members of his family on earth. Pax Amicis in Christos!

-Eric, Class of 2016

Second Sunday of Lent

I’ve been doing the Lent thing since I was a kid, being raised in a Catholic family and going to Catholic schools my entire life. I gave up chocolate, promised to clean my room, offered to help with the dishes, or stopped eating potato chips. When I matured in my faith, I began to see Lent more for what it was, a time to grow with God. So, each Lent I go into it with a goal. What do I want to change over the next forty days? Sometimes it is a desire for a smaller pant size, because God is more of a motivator than a New Year’s resolution for me. More frequently, it has been wanting to get rid of the unnecessary things in my life which take away from friends, family, faith, or even school (though I always loved the joke as a kid of giving up homework for Lent).

My point here today is that we’ve been in the season of Lent for about a week and a half now, long enough to start to settle into these promises we’ve made. So, take sometime today and check in with yourself and God and see if these promises have been fruitful. I know I’ve given up one thing only to replace it with something else, which, at the end of the day gets me nowhere in fighting a slight caffeine addiction or an unnecessary attachment to social media. In order for Lent to be fruitful, sometimes we have to do some extra work and clear out whatever crops up to prevent this growth.

Katie, Class of 2013

Saturday of First Week of Lent

In the Friday’s Gospel, we heard Jesus ask His followers who He is. Peter gets the right answer when he says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Although we do not see Jesus in the flesh in a typical day, and He does not specifically ask us who He is, our actions tell the world who Jesus is. Many people are wondering about God, so it’s important to consider what we’re saying.

As Christian college students, I think we are in a unique position to answer the question “Who is God?” by our actions. Today, rumors swirl about who God is and what he expects of us. Various organizations and denominations claim that they have the right answer, and these “answers” are the only excuse some people need to stop believing altogether. For this reason, it is vital for us to live for the God that we know and love and show the world who He is. God welcomes everyone, accepts everyone, forgives everyone, and loves everyone. In our daily lives, we can best show the world who God is by doing these same things. Do I welcome people into my life? Do I accept everyone despite their differences? Do I forgive people? Do I love?

Saint Francis of Assisi is attributed with the following advice, which I find to be especially helpful when I don’t know how to serve God in my daily interactions:

“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when, necessary use words.”

 

Finally, a quick song from Carrie Underwood about who God is… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM5f6ym7D5k

Laura '15

Another Lenten Reflection for Friday of the First Week of Lent

We have two writers today!  God is good.  Keep on sending in your reflections.  People all over the world can share your thoughts and spiritual energy.
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Lent is a time for personal reflection, a time to take a closer look at our lives, repent for our sins and look to see what we can do differently, in order to be men and women for others.  Most people, myself included, typically give up something for Lent, whether it be a favorite food, a favorite electronic device or a favorite hobby.  It seems that every year I hear people speak about what they are giving up for Lent; however it is also important to realize that we can choose to do something for Lent as well. 

We can choose to perform acts of kindness during Lent, or simply search for a way to show our appreciation to God for everything we have.  It often happens that we pray to God when we want a specific blessing in our lives and while it is important to pray for those things that are important to us, it is also important to thank God for everything He has already blessed us with in our lives.  We often tend to overlook the power of a simple “thank you,” which is a sign of respect and shows our gratitude to those who have helped us.

God is more than deserving of a “thank you” because He gave His only son, Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins.  This is truly the ultimate gift for which we should always be grateful.  It is important to realize that by thanking God every day, if only for a minute, we are allowing ourselves to move past our needs and wants, in order to put Him above all else.  If we step back and take a moment to appreciate the things that God has given us, we will be able to reach a certain level of happiness.  It is when we are truly content with our blessings that we can be happy. This Lenten season, try to reflect on your own life and thank God for the gifts He has given you. 

-          Kim E, Class of 2013

Friday of the First Week of Lent

I can´t get this past Sunday´s Gospel out of my head. Do you remember what it was? =) After going to Mass on Ash Wednesday, complete with getting ashes on my forehead and making my plans as to what I was going to give up during Lent, this past Sunday when I was in mass the Gospel hit me over the head like a sledge hammer because it really helped me see Lent through different lenses. Hearing the story about Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit into the desert for forty days to be tempted by the devil, without food, should really put our Lenten journey into perspective.

First of all, we have the example of Jesus who follows the Holy Spirit into the barren desert to fast and pray for forty days. Now that I live in Mexico for the school semester I understand what the desert is like physically. It is very cold through the night and through the morning, and of course, very hot during the day. Also, the barren desert is nothing but dirt, dust, and cacti. But why does Jesus go into the desert without food to be tempted by the devil?

1. Jesus goes to PRAY, which strengthens his relationship with the Father, and Jesus denies the devil in the process saying, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.” 

2. Jesus goes to fast in the desert in order to accomplish the same goal, which is to strengthen his relationship with the Father by showing him that the following statement is true: “It is written, Man does not live on bread alone but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.”

This Lent we have the opportunity to follow the example of Jesus with our OWN Lenten observance, following Jesus who goes to spend time in the barren desert to 1. To pray 2. To fast 3. Be tempted by the devil himself, all in order to become closer to God and experience his saving graces. We should do this not because the Pope and the Catholic Church as an Institution tells us to do it, but because we want to follow the our role model, friend, and our brother, Jesus.

Ciro  ‘14

First Thusday of Lent

Saint Augustine famously wrote, in his Confessions, that our hearts are restless until they rest in the Lord. As college students, I believe this restlessness is something we feel constantly and acutely, if not consciously; After all, our restlessness drives us to get an education and to pursue our callings, whether we associate it with Christ or not. This restlessness is a gift from God, it leads us to His love. Nevertheless, it can be frustrating to feel as though we are wandering towards an ambiguous goal, an unclear goodness that seems to disappear just as we approach it. This week, as the semester becomes more difficult, I have been struggling with this frustration, and wondering the point of the work and, more importantly, what to do next. How do I get to the shimmering something at the end of the tunnel? I cried out to God about this, and basically begged Him to tell me my mission. Over the rest of the week, through several conversations and events, He made it abundantly clear to me that panicking is not how one finds his or her way. Rather, one makes his or her way to the Lord through love.

                In the book Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, a boy begins a journey to find the truth, and, when he reaches old age, he discovers it. He comes across an old friend, Govinda, who is still searching. Siddhartha tells him, “It seems to me…that love is the most important thing in the world. It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to love the world, not to despise it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the world and ourselves and all beings with love, admiration, and respect”. Coincidentally, this relates directly to today’s gospel, Matthew 7:7-12. Here, Christ shares the “Golden rule”—“Do unto others what you would have them do unto you”.  So perhaps this is the only true mission, to love the world and ourselves unfailingly, and act with love at all times.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiiQcyoKWjQ – “Restless” by Switchfoot

Cailin Class of '16

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

          

  We have been given the gift of free will, the ability to choose our life’s actions. From the moment we rise in the morning to the moment we lay our head back down on the pillow in the evening, we choose. We choose to brush our teeth before combing our hair; we choose to say hello or good morning; we choose to walk to class down the Commons or down Mulberry. Our choices create our habits.

            In today’s scripture, John tells the story of Nineveh. This great city was living in sin, so God sent Jonah to warn them of their future if they continued their unholy ways. Upon hearing Jonah’s announcement, the people changed their ways. They began to fast, put on sackcloth, and repent. Nineveh was saved because God saw that the people believed.

            This Lent we are called to repent and sacrifice, as we do every year, but as we reach adulthood we must challenge ourselves to sacrifice our lazy, childish ways and actively choose God. The Ninevites had become so enraptured in their own lives that God was lost and faith destroyed. It was not until they were told to repent, that they awoke and began to live. In choosing to live without God, we choose darkness. We live an unlived life.

            So, how do we choose God? How do we really know we are choosing Him? Simple. We choose to believe.  Our faith alone can save us. It saved the Ninevites and, so too, it can save you. This Lent be open to that faith. Let it encompass you and be obedient to your innermost wants. What your heart longs for is God, so be still and listen.

           

- S.B.

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

“And I remember feeling sad, that miracles don't happen still,

But now I can't keep track, 'Cause everything's a miracle”

-Holy Now by Peter Mayer

            Hearing this song this weekend really impacted me and this line in particular stuck out.. Countless times I have heard people ask why there aren’t big miracles or why God doesn’t speak anymore. I used to wonder the same thing. Is God still present or is he the God of all these dead biblical guys?

            My time at Scranton has shown me that such an outlook could not be more wrong. Using our good old Jesuit ideals of seeing God in all things, we can see where God is in our lives and in the world. Perhaps we see Him on a personal level, like in our hearts or with friends, or a community, like our fantastic one. Small everyday things, like a smile or kind word, to something bigger, like a retreat or major change. By seeing God in this way, everything changes. I can appreciate all that happens in my life so much more, knowing that they are a gift from God rather than some cool occurrence.

But how this relates to miracles for me can best be summed up in this quote from Bruce Almighty: “Parting your soup is not a miracle, it’s a magic trick. A single mom who's working two jobs, and still finds time to take her son to soccer practice, that's a miracle.” When we start to see miracles as God’s love present in our lives, instead of big fancy tricks of power we’re really onto something.

This Lent I challenge you to look at your day, week, live and look for love, look for God. There you will find miracles.

* Holy Now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiypaURysz4

-Lauren G. – Class of 2013

Monday of the First Week of Lent

In today's reading, God presents us with what seems to be an impossible task: "Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). Taking a step back here, I'm guessing that many of you are thinking the same thing I am, "What?! Isn't God supreme Holiness? How can we be holy like Him?". I think first, we must recognize that there is a difference between piety and holiness. What most people think of as holiness is truly piety. Piety is related to being reverent, falling deep into prayer, or attending mass every day. While being pious is a truly God-like virtue and one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, many of us find it difficult to be pious on a daily basis. Piety, however, simply falls under the realm of holiness. Holiness is much more. Holiness is living not of the standards of our world, but of the standards of God; it is service to God through our acts. Holiness sets us apart in the world as God's chosen people.

So what acts of service can we do for God? What standards of God should we live by? Our questions here are answered in today's Gospel! "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me...Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me'" (Matthew 25:35-36; 40). Through our acts of service and love towards one another, we convey acts of service and love for God. Through our love and service of one another, we advance our holiness.

This Lenten season, focus on advancing your holiness through acts devoted to God and one another. Whether you say an extra prayer during the day, perform a random act of kindness for someone, or simply sit in silence with God for a few minutes, you advance your holiness towards a stronger relationship with God. Pax amicis in Christos (Peace friends in Christ).

-Eric C.  Class of 2016

First Sunday of Lent

Lent is kind of a scary time, and even though I know there’s a light at the end of these forty days, it doesn’t make starting the journey any less intimidating. Choosing a Lenten sacrifice, trying to follow through with that Lenten sacrifice, and inevitably, at least in my case, screwing up somewhere along the line. Lent tends to shine a light on all of our flaws and sometimes I really hate that aspect of Lent, it is something I still struggle with because Lent is not intended to make me feel bad about myself.

Yet, facing this sinfulness inside us is an important part of Lent. We live in an imperfect world, one filled with sin and we are imperfect people. Turn on the news or read a paper and it is all too easy to find stories which highlight all the problems we face today. Spending time in prayer or reflecting on our day can also bring these problems into focus.

What this does though, or what I think it is supposed to do, is remind us how much we need God and how wonderful God’s love for us is. I overheard someone at Ash Wednesday Mass describe Lent as the start of a New Year or New Year’s resolutions gone religious. I know that only with God’s help can I keep my Lenten promises. Only with God can I do anything. I think Lent brings us back to God through this darkness.

So, I’ll leave you with two things. One, don’t be afraid of the dark part of Lent, this darkness is what brings us to the light, what shows us the light. Two, a song by Jon Foreman, of Switchfoot fame, entitled “Equally Skilled,” it is one of my favorites by him and I think it truly captures this aspect of Lent. 

(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toVB_WevG_A )

Katie, Class of 2013

Saturday After Ash Wednesday

Can we just stop and admire how adorable this child is and how beautiful her prayer is?

This image seems appropriate for the beginning of Lent because of the child’s innocence and faith. She is humble enough to ask God for help and she has the faith to know that God can hear the silent words of her heart. We don’t have to be innocent and adorable for God to see into our hearts, though; we just have to open the doors and let Him in. Once we let him in, He will flood our hearts with understanding, comfort and love.

Lent is about Jesus’ suffering, which was the ultimate sign of his love for us, and so Lent becomes a time to open our hearts to God in more ways and in new ways. The hard part is figuring out how to let Him in. Maybe the best way is through joining in His suffering and giving something up, or in feeling His love by doing a random act of kindness every day, or in attending Mass and Stations of the Cross. The only way to truly know God’s love is to look for Him everywhere and let Him in every time we find Him. With a little bit of faith, we can find God in our day-to-day lives and welcome Him to share these simple moments with us. With some humility, we can ask Him for help with anything, whether we have the words to say it or not. God knows that there are four classes, two meetings, practice, work, homework and a call to a sick grandmother scheduled for tomorrow, and he can give us the strength to face it all with a smile if we give Him the chance. So, call on God today and let him listen through your heart. He can’t wait to hear what’s there.

Laura, Class of 2015

Friday After Ash Wednesday

Lenten Reflection for Friday 2-15-13

                It’s Lent again! I used to dread Lent because who honestly really looks forward to going to Reconciliation and fasting? However, as I got older and my faith life developed, I saw Lent for what it really is, an opportunity to draw closer to God again. It’s normal that we drift from God and that’s why the Church gives us this season to draw back to Him. For the next few weeks we can rebuild our relationship with Jesus Christ and experience His Amazing Grace.

                        To tie in the Gospel for tomorrow (Lk 5:27-32):

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house        .

                Today and for the rest of Lent, let’s be like Levi the tax collector, who sees Jesus, follows him, and throws Jesus a great banquet in his house. Our great banquet doesn’t need other invitees. It can be just us and Jesus, a time to draw closer to Jesus again with our present of PRESENCE and our prayer. As we heard in the Ash Wednesday mass, when we pray, we should go into our rooms, close the door, and pray to our Father in secret. 

                As a person who loves music, my favorite way to pray, especially during Lent, is to listen to great Christian music (with Lenten themes), with my eyes closed, relaxed, while praying the words, being present to God. It’s a beautiful experience, especially when you start to feel tear drops falling down your face.

                For those reading this blog, I share with you Josh Wilson. His rendition of Amazing Grace is truly amazing! Feel free to listen to these songs (see below) and pray today, in your room, with the door shut, with Jesus. Pray the words. Let the tears flow. Let the wounds heal. For however long you like. If you feel so inclined, look for other music to pray with.

 “I Refuse” by Josh Wilson (lyrics)

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh I refuse

Oh I refuse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu2E2FUcIiE (Give me Jesus)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib4IK88vNo4   (Amazing Grace-Josh Wilson)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUFDGKDjiXI  (It is Well-Josh Wilson)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B1Lv8k5pEc   (I Refuse-Josh Wilson)

Till next week. Your friend and brother from the University of Scranton in Puebla, México,

Ciro, Class of 2014

Thursday After Ash Wednesday

Today, Feb 14th, the campus is a sea of red and pink hearts, sweet stuffed animals, long stemmed roses, and, of course, lots of candy—it must be Valentine’s day.  Love is on the minds and in the hearts of many students.  Classmates and friends all over campus are exchanging hugs and “I love you”s; The University is bursting with the joy brought about by love that is true and real, regardless of the superficial and commercial nature of the holiday. That overwhelming love and joy should be constant, especially during lent—God’s love is, after all, the reason for the season, as the constantly quoted John 3:16 points out “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God’s love is truly unconditional, and He shows it in every moment and every facet of being. It is, then, our responsibility to reflect that love like the sea reflects the sky.

            Certainly, to love as God does, unconditionally, is no easy feat, but really, that’s a good thing. We do not take for granted that which challenges us. Therefore, I challenge the University as a whole, including myself, to look towards everyone with love this Lenten season, the same way we look with love towards each other on Valentine’s day; the same way God looks towards us with love. If everyone does this, by the end of Lent, no one in a five-mile radius of the school will have any doubt that he or she is loved, no matter what.

Cailin, Class of '16

Ash Wednesday 2013

ASH WEDNESDAY: Feb 13 2013.  In his Introduction to Christianity, Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) writes, “one could very well describe Christianity as a philosophy of freedom” and “The Christian message is basically nothing else than the transmission of the testimony that love has managed to break through death here and thus has transformed fundamentally the situation of us all” (1968, p. 158; p. 307).  

As we begin Lent, once again let's claim our freedom (cf. Gal 5:1) as sons and daughters of a loving God who gently and gradually transforms us into persons who can live in love forever. Lent is a time to prepare ourselves and participate more fully in the great transformation worked in us by Baptism and our participation in the sacramental life of the church.  We need to know and live our faith.  Why?

Without faith, all falls apart. All burns down.  There's an old story about the clown who ran into town from the fields outside where they were setting up the Big Top.  He yelled the Circus was on fire.  Everyone thought he was drumming up business for the show and laughed while ignoring his cries for help.  He continued to yell, "NO, the Tent really is on fire.  Come and help me put it out."  No one believed him.  They thought it was just part of the show.  Soon, the fire spread to the outskirts of town and quickly erupted, burning everything to the ground.  No one had paid any real attention to the cries of the clown.

Let's proclaim Christ these days.  Let's show by the ashes on our foreheads that we want to live in true freedom, knowing that love has broken through death and destruction.  Our situation is fundamentally transformed.  Deo Gratias.