Lenten Reflections
LENTEN REFLECTIONS FOR 2025
Each year, Campus Ministry collects Lenten reflections from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the University and shares them with the campus community.
Lenten Reflections: March 5 – March 8
Wednesday, March 5 (Ash Wednesday)
Reflection on Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20 & Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
The time is here for the Lenten Season, and I can’t help but think to myself, “What will I give up for the next 40 days, only to resume next Tuesday?” I am the first one to say that making goals for myself can be the most difficult thing to do. Looking forward and seeing the harsh road ahead of discipline for an outcome that I am not sure I would even want at the finish line doesn’t sound as appealing to me as I think. Oftentimes, I can’t even begin to think of goals because I am paralyzed by the thought of the time it will take to accomplish them. Therefore, I look to others to affirm me in my actions. As the scripture says, I will perform righteous deeds so that people may see them; when I give alms, I will blow a trumpet before myself to win the praise of others, and when I pray, I will stand and pray so others may see me.
The mere thought of doing these for others crowds my mind, lying to me that it is the answer. I squint my eyes tightly to remove that from my thought process and just hope I can envision what a clear mindset can be. A Brother mentor of mine recently told me “If all literature related to the Bible were lost and only one verse could remain, it would be the following, “Rend your hearts, not your garments”….. Let’s say that together: Rend your hearts, not your garments.
What does it mean to Rend your heart? It means accepting our faults and God’s forgiveness and restoration of our souls. It means that it is okay if you accidentally scroll on Instagram after you said you were going to fast from it; close the app and start over. Wanted to go for a walk each day of Lent but didn’t go because you were tired? Rest up and lace up your shoes for the next day. Only read 15 pages as opposed to your daily 20 pages that you required for yourself? Close your book and your eyes and return tomorrow. That is what this scripture is asking of us: Accept the struggle that you experience during the next 40 days for “your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” Maybe upon reading this reflection, you felt a calling to go forth and spend time with Jesus. As the Gospel of Matthew states, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray in secret, for when your Father sees you, you shall be repaid.
Wishing you all a blessed Lent, and May God guide you on this journey. What commitments have you made for this sacred time? Let us reflect on them together.
Brother Christian Jesus Camacho
Campus Ministry Aide & Coordinator McLaughlin Social Justice Institute
Thursday, March 6
Reflection on Deuteronomy 30:15-20 & Luke 9:22-25
Jesus lays out quite the paradox in today’s Gospel from Luke: if you wish to save your life, you must lose it; if you lose your life for Jesus’s sake, it will be saved. I don’t know about you, but I like my life – I like my family, I like my health, I like my skills and talents, I like my vocation to campus ministry, I like working at CBU (go Bucs!), and I like a whole bunch of other things besides. And yet, Jesus is saying that in order to save my life, I have to lose all of that. Isn’t that a bit extreme?
Yes and no. Jesus isn’t asking me to leave my family or quit my job; that would be pretty drastic. He isn’t calling me to surrender anything in and of itself. However, he is asking me to surrender everything that takes his rightful place in my life. If I care more about health, work, recreation, or even family… something needs to change.
Jesus wants my whole heart, and he wants yours, too. Is Jesus really at the center of your life? If someone looked at your weekly calendar or your bank account, or if someone could read your mind, would they find that you are really the Christian that you say that you are? Do you spend your energy striving to live always as a disciple?
Let me be the first to say that I fail at this. Even though I do ministry professionally, there are times when commitments, responsibilities, and personal pursuits take priority, even though I know that Jesus should be my first thought. Does that mean that I should just continue straying further and further from God and continue letting these obstacles get in the way? No! We have a God who longs to be in a relationship with us, so much so that he took on human flesh, lived a human life, died our death, and miraculously rose to restore and reconcile our relationship with God the loving Father. I am called to metanoia – to conversion – to reemphasize Jesus’s role in my life. You are called to this conversion, too. So, how do we do that practically?
Jesus offers us the antidote to our (sometimes well-intentioned) self-centeredness. “Take up your cross daily and follow me,” he invites us. On this side of heaven, we will never live perfectly. But with God’s grace, we can more and more place Jesus at the center of our lives. We can sacrifice activities and identities – even when they’re good! – to make the proper space for the one who is the Supreme Good. That’s what Lent is all about. Making small changes, picking up our cross each day, to follow Jesus. And with him as the focus, we might be surprised that all of those other priorities fall into place, ready to be used by God, not only for our salvation but for that of those around us.
Joel Kelley
Director, Campus Ministry & Mission
Friday, March 7
Reflection on Isaiah 58:1-9a & Matthew 9:14-15
“This, rather, is the fasting I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke, setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke. Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless, clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own” (Isaiah 58).
These days, some would call this a political statement. But it is only the prophet Isaiah exhorting us to do what is best for others and doing what is best for ourselves. That is why Isaiah goes on to say “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed.”
Lent gives us the opportunity to serve others and to find our joy in doing so. Altruism does not come naturally, but, once we make it part of our life, we find healing and peace because ultimately we are all in this together.
Brother Alan Parham, FSC (‘94)
Director of Vocation Promotion at Christian Brothers of the Midwest
Saturday, March 8
Reflection on Isaiah 58:9b-14 & Luke 5:27-32
In Jesus’ day, the Roman Empire had seized control of the nation of Israel. Among other policies they imposed, one particularly unjust practice was the collection of taxes. The money collected did not go to underwrite services for the people who paid the taxes – the Jewish people. Instead, the money went to support further conquests of the Roman Empire. Unfair and oppressive, this system forced the Jewish people to foot the bill for their own oppression and military occupiers.
What was uniquely egregious about the fellows who collected the taxes was that they were Jewish. Accepting a Roman tax collector position was an easy income, and these fellows went for it. There may have been numerous reasons, perhaps even somewhat justified (they lost their homes in a bad storm or their crops in a terrible draught), but still – this amounted to treason against their own people.
And on top of all that, the process for collecting the taxes was itself horribly unjust – amounting to a kind of profiteering. It was awful! In light of all that, it is no surprise that tax collectors were despised by their own people.
But here Jesus is sitting down at the table with these culprits. Why? What was he thinking? Exactly the question the Pharisees and scribes were asking.
The answer, of course, is stunning: Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, not exclude them or punish them, but forgive them, reconcile with them, and offer them a pathway to redemption and wholeness. “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do,” says Jesus, “I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” Here, Jesus reveals just who God is: infinite and unbounded love itself, infinite and unbounded mercy!
This is great hope for us as we begin Lent – a season of repentance and growth in gospel living. We all have aspects of our lives that we might need to reconsider, behaviors that may need to be changed, relationships that may need healing, habits that may need to be broken and new, healthier ones adopted.
This is all possible precisely because of what Jesus reveals in his relationship with these tax collectors: God’s mercy knows no limit. Change is always possible because of the great mercy of God whose grace is always there moving us forward, giving us strength, making us whole again. All we need to do is ask.
Reverend Dr. R. Bruce Cinquegrani
Assistant Professor, Chaplain, Department of Religion & Philosophy
Lenten Reflections: March 9-15
Sunday, March 9
First Sunday of Lent
Reflection on Deuteronomy 26:4-10, Romans 10:8-13 & Luke 4:1-13
As you journey through your college career, the readings from Deuteronomy, Romans, and Luke offer wisdom on faith, identity, and perseverance. In Deuteronomy 26:4-10, the Israelites are called to remember their history and give thanks for God’s guidance. This passage reminds us that no matter where we come from, gratitude and reflection on our past can ground us as we step into new experiences. College is a time of transition, and just as the Israelites acknowledged God’s presence in their journey, we, too, can find strength in remembering the people, values, and traditions that have shaped us.
Romans 10:8-13 emphasizes the power of faith and inclusivity, stating that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” This message extends beyond a single faith tradition, encouraging all of us to seek deeper meaning and connection. In a diverse college environment, we are invited to explore our beliefs, engage in conversations with those of different faiths, and recognize the shared human desire for truth, love, and belonging. This passage reassures us that we are not alone—whether through faith, friendships, or community, we are supported as we navigate this new chapter.
Luke 4:1-13 recounts Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness, where he resists temptation and remains faithful to his purpose. Similarly, college presents challenges that test our values, discipline, and sense of self. There may be moments of doubt, pressure, or struggle, but this passage encourages us to stay true to what we believe and who we are becoming. As you face academic, social, and personal trials, remember that challenges are opportunities for growth. Lean on your faith, your support system, and the lessons you’ve carried with you. In doing so, you will emerge stronger, more resilient, and ready to embrace the journey ahead.
Brother Patrick Conway, FSC, Ed.D.
Director, Lasallian Institute for the Formation of Teachers (LIFT)
Director, McLaughlin Social Justice Institute (MSJI)
Monday, March 10
Reflection on Leviticus 19:1-21 & 1-18 & Matthew 25:31-46
Life takes its toll on us at the times when we least expect it to. When we are in the flow of things, we get pushed off of our track and set into this weird mindset of eagerness and uncomfortability. We look for someone to blame and we look for something to blame. The moment someone did something wrong to us in the past 24-hours bears the brunt of all of our current problems. Does this sound like I am talking to you because I kind of am! Believe me, I am also speaking to myself because I am guilty of this as I imagine we all are as well.
The book of Leviticus has a special verse that sticks out to us for how we treat our community members. Although we may not be tied together through union or any other form of companionship, we are tied together in this wonderful world. Leviticus 19:17-18 says “You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. . . take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. Pointing to us and reminding us that whatever we may say to our neighbor, we are saying to ourselves.
As we move towards the Gospel reading for the day, we take our emotions that we hold towards our community members and we care for them, we love them; We give them drinks, we give them clothes, we care for them and we visit them (by the way, have you checked in on your elder community members?) all out of the kindness of our hearts; Not because we wish to be acknowledged; but because it is the right thing to do. We are rewarded by the words of Jesus for our actions, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me”. Doesn’t it bring your own emotions into tears of gladness, knowing that the Lord has placed these burdens on you just to care for your community member, only to realize that it is Jesus you are caring for?
It is okay to say Sorry when it feels uncomfortable to do so; Jesus is listening.
Brother Christian Jesus Camacho
Campus Ministry Aide & Coordinator McLaughlin Social Justice Institute
Tuesday, March 11
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Reflection on Isaiah 55:10-11 & Matthew 6:7-15
In Isaiah 55:10-11, we are reminded that the word of the Lord is never empty. Just as rain and snow nourish the earth, God’s word sustains and strengthens us. It fills us with what we need to endure each day, providing guidance, comfort, and renewal. His words are not just spoken—they are reliable, transformative, and purposeful, accomplishing exactly what He intends. This passage challenged me, “am I truly relying on the Lord to sustain and strengthen me, or am I trying to figure it all out myself?”
Psalm 34 reassures us that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” Even in moments when we feel unworthy, overwhelmed, or inadequate, God is nearby. He does not wait for us to have everything figured out—He meets us where we are, in our weakness and suffering. His presence is constant, even when we struggle to feel it. This passage makes me wonder, “Is God, the ultimate comforter, the thing I run to when I am feeling hurt?”
The Gospel from Matthew 6:7-15 brings us to Jesus’ teaching on prayer—the words we now know as the Lord’s Prayer. But this prayer is not simply a script to recite; it is a model for how we are called to approach God. Jesus teaches us to pray with sincerity, trusting fully in God’s provision and approaching Him with reverence, dependence, and an open heart. This passage challenges me to be more authentic in my prayer life, laying it all on the table before God in surrender.
As a sophomore in college, I often feel overwhelmed. The pressure to maintain my GPA, uphold leadership responsibilities, work enough hours, plan for internships, and research graduate programs can feel like too much to carry. During these worldly pressures, I often forget about the peace that the Lord freely offers. I get so caught up in trying to figure everything out on my own that I neglect the very things that ground me—reading Scripture, journaling, and spending time in prayer. When stress builds, it’s easy to feel isolated, believing no one truly understands. But Psalm 34 reminds me that the Lord hears me, fights my battles for me, and remains close to me. His word is always enough.
Lent is an invitation to return to that truth—to rest in the certainty of God’s presence, to trust in the provision of His word, and to lean into the power of prayer. May we all take this season to open our hearts, knowing that He is always nearby. Today as we reflect on these scriptures, I challenge you to consider times where you have felt overwhelmed or brokenhearted and reflect on how you felt God’s presence.
Rachel Johnson (‘27)
Psychology Major
Wednesday, March 12
Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
Reflection on Jonah 3:1-10 & 1-18 & Luke 11:29-32
Wednesdays are always a powerful day for me. We’ve completed 2 days and we have 2 days ahead of us. When we sit back and reflect, we do not have to be burdened with what could’ve been; we can appreciate how we can make the final 2 days of the work week free and fulfilling. However, what’s the use of counting down to the weekend? Is it because we are not working our daily routine? When Saturday comes around, aren’t you itching to get back to your routine of class at 9:00am, Mass at 12:00pm, lunch at 12:45 pm, and dinner at 5:00 pm?
When we say we are in the Holy Presence of God, how exactly are we going forth and respecting our environment that he is present in? Watching Netflix and eating snacks may not be the most feasible way that we honor His presence among us; what are some ways you can do so?
Meditation brings us to the full front of our faith; We become face-to-face with God in silence and in darkness. When we close our eyes, we see nothing, and we increase the usage of our senses, such as hearing, smelling, and touching. We let our minds run and run for the first 2-minutes and then we are in touch with God’s presence. As the Gospel of Luke states, “and there is something greater than Solomon here . . . and there is something greater than Jonah here,” reminding us that the Lord’s presence, His gifts that he comes bearing is great amongst us; We close our eyes so that we may imagine what can be greater amongst us.
“When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out”. One of my favorite young poets, Miles Carter, said, “ If there’s a heaven, give them a show. Let them find themselves enamored by the path you’ve chosen to follow; show them what it means to be alive”. Turn away from the evil way and show those that you love/loved what it means to be alive; have them become enamored by the path you’ve chosen and continue to struggle with during this Lenten season.
Brother Christian Jesus Camacho
Campus Ministry Aide & Coordinator McLaughlin Social Justice Institute
Thursday, March 13
Thursday of the First Week in Lent
Reflection on Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25 & Matthew 7:7-12
This passage from the Gospel of Matthew always reminds me of a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Giorgio Vasari. As an undergraduate, I studied abroad one summer in Florence, Italy. Inside one of the city’s most famous buildings, the Palazzo Vecchio (or “Old Palace”), is a painting by Vasari that mysteriously contains the Latin phrase Cerca trova—which translates to “Seek and ye shall find”—subtly hidden within the artwork. The inclusion of this phrase has puzzled art critics for centuries, much like it bewildered undergraduate Colby, who would often visit the painting in the afternoons after class.
“Seek and ye shall find” is central to today’s Gospel reading. I’m always amused (and, honestly, a bit disgusted) by the contemporary phenomenon of “manifesting”—the idea that we can think something into existence. Even some of my fellow psychologists espouse manifesting, but I believe many people mistakenly conflate it with seek and ye shall find. We cannot simply think or wish something into reality.
However, there is something to be said for meeting God halfway. The Wise Men would never have experienced Epiphany had they not journeyed to Bethlehem. We are not called to passively wait for God to find us—true epiphany involves effort.
Sometimes, though, we don’t have a roadmap—or, in the case of the Wise Men, a star to guide our way. The other day, I saw a car with a bumper sticker that read, “Not all who wander are lost.” This quote from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring has taken on a free-spirited, almost hippy-ish connotation, but I think its message applies to this Gospel passage and our Lenten journeys. Like the Wise Men, we are wandering through the desert for the next 40 days—but we are not lost. We wander with purpose.
Cerca trova.
Dr. Colby D. Taylor
Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences
Friday, March 14
Friday of the First Week of Lent
Reflection on Ezekiel 18:21-28 & Matthew 5:20-26
“Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?”
What does it mean to live? God says that he rejoices in the life one receives from acting virtuously, but no one dies in the conventional sense from sin.
Life is complex. It feels long – unbearably so, sometimes. Most can agree that living in the world we do now brings a lot of heartbreak. Pursuing virtue can seem like a lost cause among so much greed, fear, and confusion.
Lao Tzu says, “The things of this world exist, they are; you can’t refuse them. To bear and not to own; to act and not lay claim; to do the work and let it go: for just letting it go is what makes it stay.” (Tao Te Ching #2)
We can’t change the world that we live in. We cannot refuse it, either. What we can do is create a world in ourselves that generates goodness. Perhaps the Life God rejoices in here is not the state of being alive, but rather living in a way that creates life, that creates a state of flourishing that does not seek to own or to keep, but simply to Be – that helps others Be.
Michal Kennell
Undergraduate Admissions Counselor
Saturday, March 15
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Reflection on Deuteronomy 26:16-19 & Matthew 5:43-48
When I teach squirmy three-to-five-year-olds in church, I help them focus their attention by giving three commands. With a big smile, I lean toward them and pantomime as I speak, “Faces forward! Hands folded! Mouths zipped!”
Moses said something similar in today’s lesson, “Hearken to the Lord’s voice” (Deuteronomy 26:16).
Since my audience clamors to participate, my teaching includes singing. The youngsters already know this favorite, “Jesus Loves Me.” Its lyrics give foundational truths like “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
My squirmers square their shoulders with this phrase, “Little ones to him belong,” and listening adults identify with this proven statement, “he is strong.”
I have found this beloved song brings smiles and fosters self-confidence. It reinforces a biblical truth from today’s lesson, “Happy/Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord” (Psalm 119:1).
Jesus likewise knew he was loved by his Father. After his baptism, a voice from heaven affirmed him by saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Because he knew he was loved, Jesus, therefore, could teach his disciples how to be children of their heavenly Father (Matthew 5:45). His life, lived among his disciples over the next three years, exemplified how he fulfilled the commands he gave them that are recounted in today’s lesson (Matthew 5:43-48).
Gospel stories document how he loved his enemies even when calling them hypocrites (Matthew 23:13, 15, 23, 27); prayed for his persecutors from the cross (Luke 23:34); and associated with tax collectors (Matthew 9:10-13).
Subsequent verses of “Jesus Loves Me” continue teaching. In verse 2, children learn that Jesus died so “heaven’s gate could open wide” and that his death “will wash away my sin” and “let his little child come in.”
While singing verse 3, my loud warblers easily imagine Jesus “taking children on his knee” and hear his welcoming words, “Let them come to me.” I hope my young charges will remember “Jesus Loves Me” and know the deep love of Jesus throughout their lives. That love, I can attest, only gets sweeter and sweeter.
Dr. Robin Gallaher Branch
Adjunct Professor, Department of Religion and Philosophy
Sunday, March 16
Second Sunday of Lent
Reflection on Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17—4:1 & Luke 9:28b-36
The sky is quite beautiful; A spiritual connection to us, wouldn’t you say? We dictate our actions off of its behavior. If it rains, we do not plan to have a picnic outside. If the sun is beaming in the sky, maybe we won’t close our curtains, get comfortable under the covers, and expect to get our 8 hours of sleep (although some of us have blackout curtains and there is no shame here!). Are you a night owl or a morning person? I tend to find I’ve become both; I have no idea how. The book of Genesis and the Gospel of Luke includes 2 instances where the sky above Abram, Peter, John, and James had impacted the effects of their interaction with the divine.
Abram hears the good news of his descendants receiving the land upon which he brings five animals, but he experiences the deep and terrifying darkness that swallows his environment. Peter, John, and James went up to the mountain to Pray with Jesus and were encountered by Moses and Elijah conversing with Jesus. Not knowing what was to come next, they trusted their faith and went forth and entered the cloud that cast a shadow over them. Thus, a voice came forth and told them that Jesus was the Chosen Son.
Abram, Peter, John, and James were filled with a terrifying presence they fought against with their faith; Psalm 27:1, 7-8 states, “ The Lord is my light and my salvation. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?” When you find yourself in the midst of anxiety and uncertainty, look to the sky above, our spiritual clocks, and believe that the Lord is your light and your salvation. What is there to be afraid of? What is there to lose? The Lord will cast his shadow amongst you and protect you from any dangers that may come across your body. Being one with your environment and embracing the Lord’s holy presence is imperative.
Brother Christian Jesus Camacho
Campus Ministry Aide & Coordinator McLaughlin Social Justice Institute
Lenten Reflections: March 17 – March 22
Monday, March 17
Monday of the Second Week of Lent
Reflection on Daniel 9:4b-10 & Luke 6:36-38
In a culture overcrowded with lawyers, today’s Gospel message is challenging yet refreshing. Every mistake does not have to be handled in a punitive way. Of course, some errors have dire consequences, but in our day-to-day interactions, much can be resolved with a simple apology and forgiveness. Having reached the final quarter of my life, acquired wisdom and experience have taught me that kindness is more powerful than anger, composure is more productive than impatience, and embracing our differences does more to enlighten than it does to divide.
A fellow Christian Brother eulogizing his father said, “My dad could never understand why everyone didn’t think like he and God did.”
While we can’t “corner” God, God is in our corner.
Lent affords us the opportunity to raise our awareness as to how we deal with others. In our lifelong journey with fellow sinners and a few saints, God reaches out to each of us in a unique, but loving way.
Brother Chris Englert, FSC (’77)
Interim President
Tuesday, March 18
Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
Reflection on Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 & Matthew 23:1-12
Jesus seems to love paradoxes, doesn’t he? “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Throughout the Lenten season, Jesus challenges the world’s way of proceeding. The world says that to be known is to be important, and to be recognized is to be valuable; to be hidden would be insignificant. If you don’t believe me, check out social media. It screams, Look at my dog! Look at my lunch! Check out my vacation! I got a promotion! Don’t you wish you had my life?! These posts reinforce the idea that the post-er is an Important Person.
In flaunting ourselves on social media (or in other places), we can fall into the temptation of believing that those attributes or achievements luxuries make us worth more than others. This fascination with social import is nothing new; in today’s Gospel from Matthew, we find the first-century equivalent: widened phylacteries and titles connoting power used as a way to enforce one’s superiority. This isn’t much different than our name-brand outfits and name-dropping connections. These dramatic, external signs remind others they are dealing with an Important Person (i.e. us).
Contrastingly, Jesus – in his counter-cultural way – invites us to instead become unimportant, unassuming persons. He encourages us not to seek out accolades, expensive clothing, or titles that exercise power over others. Rather, he calls us to humility, to live life exactly as who we are before God. And who is that exactly? We are nothing more, and nothing less, than God’s beloved daughter, God’s beloved son. We do not need to be an Important Person in the eyes of the world because we are already important enough that God might send Jesus to walk our walk, talk our talk, die our death, and restore us to relationship with our loving Father.
In this Lenten season, let’s worry about ourselves less. Let’s be okay not being an Important Person for a day. Instead, let’s concern ourselves with doing good as the First Reading reminds us: redressing the wronged, hearing the orphan’s plea, defending the widow, and other such endeavors. While those pursuits might not be as post-worthy (or resume-worthy) as other activities, they are offered to us by God as ways to “learn to do good.” Jesus says, “the greatest among you must be your servant,” and he served in the most notable way of all. And he is an Important Person.
Joel Kelley
Director, Campus Ministry & Mission
Wednesday, March 19
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Reflection on 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22; Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Trust, Service, and Community
During Lent, we reflect on God’s call in our lives. In Matthew’s Gospel, Joseph faces uncertainty but chooses faith, embracing God’s plan with courage. His response mirrors key Lasallian values of faith, service, and community.
Faith in God’s Providence
Joseph trusted God even when the future seemed unclear. As Lasallians, we are called to see God in all things and trust in His guidance, especially in difficult times. This Lent, we ask: Do we believe God is working through our challenges?
Service Through Compassion
Joseph’s choice to stand by Mary was a selfless act of love. In our Lasallian mission, we serve the poor and marginalized. Lent invites us to reflect: Are we responding to God’s call to serve others, even when it requires sacrifice?
Building Community
Joseph’s acceptance of Mary and Jesus created a family of love. Lasallians are called to foster inclusive communities where all are valued. This Lent, let’s ask: Are we building trust, respect, and care in our workplaces and relationships?
Living the Call
Joseph didn’t just listen—he acted. Faith demands action. As Lasallians, we are called to live out God’s invitations daily.
Prayer
Loving God,
Help us trust You, serve with love, and build communities of faith.
May this Lent transform us into true disciples,
committed to faith, service, and community.
Amen.
Ron Brandon
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Thursday, March 20
Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Reflection on Jeremiah 17:5-10 & Luke 16:19-31
As we continue our Lenten journey, today’s reading reminds us of the deep contrast between placing our trust in the fleeting strength of the world and anchoring our hope in the Lord. The prophet Jeremiah paints a vivid image: those who rely solely on human power are like barren bushes in the desert, struggling to survive. But those who trust in God are like trees planted by water, resilient and fruitful even in times of drought.
At a university rooted in faith and the Lasallian tradition, we are called to nurture the kind of trust that does not waver with circumstances. As students, faculty, and staff, we all experience moments of challenge—times of uncertainty, stress, or disappointment. It is in these moments that we must ask ourselves: Where do we place our trust? Are we relying only on our own strength, or do we turn to God as our source of hope?
Lent is an invitation to realign our hearts, to stretch our roots toward the living waters of God’s presence. When we do, we will not only endure difficulties but continue to bear fruit—offering love, wisdom, and encouragement to those around us.
May we take this season to deepen our trust in the Lord, knowing that He alone sustains us.
N. Ryan Flickinger
Vice President of Advancement & Alumni
Friday, March 21
Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Reflection on Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a & Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
Both the Old Testament Reading and the Gospel reading for the day speak to envy and greed. In the Old Testament, we see the story of Joseph and his relationship with his brothers, simply because he is considered the “favorite child” by his father, Israel. The brothers are so jealous of his perceived favoritism that they sell him to Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver.
In the Gospel, we read of the parable of the vineyard owner. After giving the workers the land to produce a crop, the workers are filled with greed and envy, seeking ways to protect property and wealth. In an effort to protect such material things, death becomes the solution.
In everyday life, our world becomes distorted by wealth, jealousy, and greed. We want the best homes and cars; we want the recognition and praise that is showered on others; and we are motivated by a desire to “get ahead,” no matter the cost. It may not always be intentional; however, as humans, we fall into the trap of comparison.
As a handicapped individual, I am guilty of falling into the “comparison” game. I look around and see so many people who seemingly have it easier than I do. They stand without struggle, tie shoes without difficulty, drive without needing assistance, or get ready each day without the helpful hand of another person – and if I’m honest, I am envious. I want days without struggle as a fight for independence.
Have you ever been jealous of a friend, family member, or complete stranger? Maybe they were recognized for an award, earned a higher grade on an assignment, or received a promotion at work. You want to be happy for them, but your immediate reaction is to wonder why they were recognized and not you.
When I find myself falling into the trap of comparison, I try to recall this simple reminder:
CONTINUING
ON
MY
PATH
ALWAYS
RECALLING EMPATHY
During this Lenten season, I commit to follow GOD’s path for me and be thankful for the path he has designed for ME. I seek daily not to compare myself to others or to assume that my path will look like that of anyone else. Too, as I travel God’s path for me, I seek to be empathic to my neighbor – seeking to understand and uplift others. May it be so for you as well.
May we remember that as we are walking God’s path for our lives this Lent, we are to be the cornerstone on which others can build; rather than the voice of comparison, which tears things apart.
Wilson Phillips (‘08)
Administrative Coordinator for Student Affairs
Saturday, March 22
Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
Reflection on Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 & Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
I recently helped with a First Communion Retreat. We also reviewed the Sacrament of Reconciliation (sometimes called Confession) with the children. One of the more effective ways to do this is to read the Gospel story of the Prodigal Son (which I prefer to call the Waiting Father). So important to notice how the young man repented and returned to his father, who was only waiting and hoping for him to return. But then what happens? The father throws a party because “My son was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost but now has been found.” Later, when the children are coached and invited to act out the story, it becomes a joyful teaching activity.
We, too, are called to be like children during Lent. The story is not just about Confession, but very much about the joy of recognizing our need for repentance and renewal; in other words, it is very much about why we celebrate Lent in the first place. And perhaps we can have a party to recognize that. Why wait till Easter?
Brother Alan Parham, FSC (‘94)
Director of Vocation Promotion at Christian Brothers of the Midwest
Lenten Reflections: March 23 – March 28
Sunday, March 23
Third Sunday of Lent
Reflection on Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12 & Luke 13:1-9
Being open to God’s call, even when we don’t fully understand it, is especially important in the time of Lent. In Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15, Moses was not out looking for a divine mission—he was just tending his sheep when God spoke to him through the burning bush. That reminds me that sometimes, the moments that shape our lives are the ones we least expect. God calls us, even when we feel unprepared or unwilling. All He asks of us is to trust Him. The Psalm emphasizes not hardening our hearts when we hear His voice. The reading resonates with me because it is easy to ignore or push away God. It makes me wonder—how often do I fail to recognize His voice? Am I too caught up in my own plans to recognize His guidance? In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, it reminded me how easy it is to take my blessings for granted and lose sight of my faith in God. Paul’s words serve as a wake-up call, urging me to examine how I’m living and where I may have strayed. However, Lent is a chance for me to reflect within myself and take meaningful actions to grow closer to God.”
José L. Hernandez (’25)
Engineering Major
Monday, March 24
Third Monday of Lent
Reflection on 2 Kings 5:1-15ab & Luke 4:24-30
In 2 Kings 5:1-15, Naaman, a powerful general, initially struggles with the simplicity of the solution offered by the prophet Elisha. Elisha instructs him to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman’s initial reaction was disbelief. He expected something more dramatic, more fitting to his status. His pride and expectations stand in the way of accepting a simple act that would bring him healing. Just like Naaman, we often imagine that the path to healing or resolution must be complicated or grand. We expect dramatic answers, but sometimes, the humblest acts are what lead us to the transformation we seek.
Naaman’s story challenges us to examine our own approach to healing and growth. We live in a world that often values grandeur and spectacle, but Naaman’s healing teaches us that God’s ways are often humble and simple. Healing doesn’t always require grand gestures or monumental actions; sometimes, it’s in the small, seemingly insignificant moments where transformation takes place. God’s invitation often calls us to humility and trust, not to our own expectations or sense of pride.
Naaman had to let go of his preconceptions about how healing should happen, and in doing so, he experienced not just physical restoration but also a change in his heart. His healing was not just in his body but also in his spirit, as he learned to trust in something greater than himself. This reminds us that real transformation comes when we humble ourselves, surrender our control, and trust in the simple yet powerful ways God chooses to work in our lives.
So, like Naaman, we, too, are invited to let go of our pride and expectations. We are reminded that the path to healing, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, may not be what we envision. But when we follow God’s invitation, however simple it may seem, we open ourselves up to true transformation.
Joselyn Alvarez (‘25)
Business Major
Tuesday, March 25
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Reflection on Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10 & Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
This scripture talks about the foretelling of the birth of Jesus. In these verses, angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will give birth to the Son of the Most High. At first, Mary is a bit skeptical and asks the angel how that will be possible since she is a virgin. The angel replies by telling her the Holy Spirit will come onto her and that even her relative, Elizabeth will give birth at her old age. He then tells her that no word from God will ever fail. This scripture can help many understand the love God has for us as it demonstrates the personal blessings God gives us even through challenges and by giving us Jesus and his teachings.
Antonio Aleman (’25)
Biology Major
Wednesday, March 26
Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Reflection on Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 & Matthew 5:17-19
This reading reminds me of a very important element of our relationship as humanity with God, that is the ultimate free will he has placed upon us. In the reading, we are told of people God has called upon, but they reject him. God does not force us to love him because that is not the true form of love. He instead calls to us and provides us with his unconditional love. He invites us to obey him and prosper, but some choose to disobey him and oppose him by stiffening their hearts instead of opening them up to invite him in. This reading has a special place in Lent because it is during this time that we are reminded to repent. We are able to do this because of God’s unconditional Love, no matter what we have done or failed to do we are called to repent and rejoin God in his eternal Mercy. By having this universal free will and experiencing the bad, we can enjoy the goodness in life so much more. Sometimes we too turn our backs to God without knowing it, we might neglect our religious life or sin against our brothers and sisters. But it is important to remember that despite all our mistakes, God will always receive us with open arms as long as we repent and genuinely feel bad for what we have done.
Erik Daniel Velazquez Velazquez (‘26)
Business Major
Thursday, March 27
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Reflection on: Jeremiah 7:23-28 & Luke 11:14-23
We live in a world of instant gratification, instant solutions, and instant results. We have created preferences for ourselves regarding how we would like things done. In short, we want them done now, and we want them done the way we want. This way of life, this culture, has made us love control. We get to control almost anything in our lives nowadays, and that control can tend to bleed into our relationship with God. I know it can be with me. I don’t know about you, but I can demand things from God without even realizing it. Though these are not the words I am using, if I am not careful, my desire for control can make my prayers sound like this.
“God, I want your help, but I want it done my way.” “God, I want something from you, and I need you to fit this box I have created for you in my head.” “I am asking something,g but I will only listen to what I want to hear.”
We see this same sentiment lived out in our scripture passages today.
In our first reading, the Prophet Jeremiah and how God’s people ignored His commands and turned their faces away from God. Their hardness of heart took over, and they were not open to what God was speaking to them.
In our Gospel, Jesus was performing miracles and driving out demons, yet he was questioned and accused of being something he was not. Jesus was doing something that the people of his time did not expect him to. Jesus did not fit in the box they had created for him.
We can’t turn away from God, demand things, or have our relationship with God the same way we want our relationship with our Uber Eats order. We have to go to God with our prayers but also a willingness. A willingness to hand over control and trust. When we turn to God, let us harden not our hearts; let us listen to God.
For God has a purpose for each one of us, a call. As we come to Him in prayer, we begin to hear His voice and trust in Him. May we be ever faithful to God as He is ever faithful to us. Let us live our Lent in a way that makes us go to God with open hearts, not just open arms. That we receive whatever God has in store for us so that we may grow in every way God has called us to grow.
Joseph “Joey” Preston
Major Gifts Officer, Advancement & Alumni
Friday, March 28
Friday of the Third Week of Lent
Reflection on Hosea 14:2-10 & Mark 12:28-34
Mark 12:28-34 starts with a teacher “of the law” asking Jesus which commandment is the most important of all. By pointing out that the teacher taught law made me realize that viewing the commandments as just laws one must follow to make it into heaven will not suffice, for the bigger goal is missing, which is building a relationship with God. It is important to remember that faith is not just about external practices but our devotion to God and how we treat our neighbor. Here is what Jesus answered to the teacher of law: “ ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Reading these words reminded me of the importance of love and commitment to God, for they are the core of accepting and implementing all the other commitments.
During this time of lent it is important to reflect on ourselves and our spiritual health. Just like the reading said, loving God with all your soul, mind, and strength is the most important thing of all. For he doesn’t want halfway love, nobody does, he wants us to give ourselves to him for he is our creator. We are given these 40 days to repent and reflect, with the ultimate goal of building our relationship with God and having our actions back up our faith. This reading was a great reminder of the importance of loving God, for that’s the start of following his teachings and loving his creations.
Lucia Montes (’25)
Student, Business
Lenten Reflections: March 29 – April 3
Saturday, March 29
Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
Reflection on Hosea 6:1-6 & Luke 18:9-14
Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This is what our world needed then and needs today – more HUMILITY! Why is it that everyone wants to be right – to say the right thing, to do the right thing, to think the right way? And if someone disagrees with me, they are WRONG because I am RIGHT! Why do we judge people so harshly if they think or act differently than we do? We live today in a society that has a lot of trouble with being humble, like the Pharisee, doing all the proper things but not for the right reasons, and looking down and judging others as inferior.
We live in such a polarized society today, especially along political lines. We are deeply divided as a people and as a nation. I was visiting my sister this past weekend and before we knew it, we were into some political discussion. Finally, we decided, no more political talk! We all agreed. But four times in the next ten minutes, we had to cry out “STOP” because our conversations had become political again and we were back judging and debating and trying to prove we were RIGHT and they were wrong. There was no HUMILITY or stopping to think that the other person has a point – and that we might be wrong.
Help us, Lord, to be conscious of the times we may be WRONG and practice some humility in the midst of our discussion by truly listening to the other person rather than judging them wrong. Help us, Lord, to become more HUMBLE people!
Brother Thomas Sullivan, FSC
Director of the Brothers Community, Adjunct Instructor, Department of Biology
Sunday, March 30
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Reflection on Joshua 5:9a, 10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 & Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
We are delivered! Our readings today focus on the idea of returning to where we had started and not the same person we were when we had left. The Hebrews returned to the Promised Land with the abolishment of the harsh realities that came upon them. They trusted in something greater to be able to grow from the afflictions that affect their own being. In the idea of returning to our roots but in a stronger nature of faith, we must then call back to our act of reconciliation to the Lord; As Christ gave us the message of reconciliation, so shall we take it to our friends and family to bring them into the Promised Land with us.
Yes, that is correct, our friends and family; Whether we are on speaking terms with them or not, when we enter those pearly gates, we are 1. We are challenged by the scripture to forgive; A reminder of how this whole Lenten Season is about. As Jesus stands in the desert for 40 days, can we imagine his thoughts? Not a cellphone in sight, not a book to calm the noise in our minds, or a TV Show to live vicariously through. Going through these 40 days, we may have sacrificed something we wish to hold off; will we return to it after Lent has concluded? That is a question I ask you to take into consideration today!
As we journey to the final 18 days of our Lenten Journey, let’s focus on what the season is all about: Forgiveness. It is difficult to hold our phones to our ears and forgive those loved ones who have done us wrong, but as the scripture states, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. Offer this moment to Jesus, and he will provide comfort and growth to deliver us from our discomfort.
Brother Christian Jesus Camacho
Campus Ministry Aide & Coordinator, McLaughlin Social Justice Institute
Monday, March 31
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Reflection on Isaiah 65:17-21 & John 4:43-54
In today’s Gospel reading at Mass, a royal official from Capernaum heard that Jesus had returned to Cana (where He turned water into wine). The official’s son was near death, and the official asked Jesus to come and cure his son. Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The father had faith in Jesus, and as he returned home, His servants met him on the way. They told the official that his son lived at the very hour Jesus had told the father.
At times our faith may falter, but as we pray during the season of Lent, let us think of the faith of the official and pray to Jesus for an increase in faith as we work to bring ourselves closer to God.
Brother Joel B. Baumeyer
Professor Emeritus, Mathematics
Tuesday, April 1
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Reflection on Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 & John 5:1-16
In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks a very important question: “Do you want to be well?” This is more than just a story of healing. Jesus asks the same of us: “Do you want to be well?” The question for us goes beyond our physical limitations, though that too is important. It is a good question for Lent. Do we want to be better people after Lent? Do we want to be well in every sense of the word? That means we must trust Him and take action in our lives: “Rise. Take up your mat and walk.”
I was once living alone in a new city and having a difficult time adjusting. I slipped into serious self-pity. One night after work, I was having a rough time. I was in a perverse mood! I decided to go for a walk even though it was cold and foggy that October night. I stepped into a small, minute market and bought something to read. I made a terrible choice, choosing a book on the occult (an indication of how low I had sunk). As I walked back to my place, I saw a sign in the fog: “Aunt Chalupa’s.” I realized I had not eaten supper. So, I went in and had a nice Mexican dinner. After eating, I felt a little better.
I headed back to my place and decided to read the book I had bought. After a few pages, I was appalled! It was junk and certainly not what I needed to lift me out of my negative state. Out of frustration, I threw the book at my bed, where my Bible was sitting, having been unread for days. The book hit the Bible and fell open to the book of Psalms. I picked up the Bible and began to read one Psalm after another. I was amazed at how well each Psalm addressed my mood.
Yes, I did want to be well and not stuck in self-pity. And, in picking up the Bible, I picked up my mat and walked.
Brother Alan Parham, FSC (‘94)
Director of Vocation Promotion at Christian Brothers of the Midwest
Wednesday, April 2
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Reflection on Isaiah 49: 8-15 & John 5: 17-30
Jesus says: I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not see my own will but the will of the Father who sent me. As I reflect on this passage, the thought that comes to me is the profound relationship that Jesus has with His Father, not my will but the Father’s will be done. AWESOME! Can I say, NOT MY WILL, BUT GOD’S WILL BE DONE? (Fruit for thought). In everyday life, let us say, YES TO GOD’S WILL!
Amen!
P.S. Take time with your Campus Minister or Spiritual Director to come to an understanding of God’s Will in your life.
Br. Rob Veselsky, FSC
Former CBU Campus Minister (2004-2011) & Vocation Minister for the Midwest District
Thursday, April 3
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Reflection on Exodus 32:7-14 & John 5:31-47
One way to describe eternal life is to exist in the presence of God…the presence of love…for all time. Our greatest experience in this life and eternal life is love. And to be in love for all eternity is the greatest experience. To believe in God, to believe in Christ, to believe in the Holy Spirit, is to believe in love and to live a life of love. When I get joy and fulfillment from knowing you, serving you, being with you, giving to you, receiving from you, having faith in you, suffering with you, hoping the best for you…I am in love with you. Nothing can surpass the joy of that experience. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are that love and offer it to us. We have the freedom to accept or to reject that love, that eternal life. Lent is a good time to consider accepting that gift of love, of eternal life.
Prayer: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, may I accept Your offer of love this holy Lent and live each day of Lent accepting that love and then sharing it with others all my days.
Amen.
Brother Joel McGraw, FSC (’68)
Retired, Director of CBHS Community
Friday, April 4
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Reflection on Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22 & John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Sometimes God answers our prayers in obvious or expected ways. In these moments, we undoubtedly wish to praise the Lord in thanksgiving for his provision. Other times, when our prayers aren’t answered in the way we may have hoped, it becomes tempting to question if God hears our prayers at all. Regardless of the outcome, God is inviting us to have an attitude of trust.
In today’s gospel, Jesus shows us an example of perfect trust in the Lord. Jesus understandably did not wish to travel to Judea as he knew the authorities were already searching for him. Because it was the Feast of the Tabernacles, he believed he should be there with his disciples. Jesus not only demonstrates what it is to have trust, he also shows us what it means to surrender to the will of the Father, fully trusting in his timing and plan.
Jesus moved forward in confidence because he knew his Father’s will. As he spoke openly, people began to wonder if he was the Messiah, but also questioned his origins. Jesus boldly proclaims the Father has sent him as he says, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”
Despite the fact that the authorities tried to arrest him, no one laid a hand on him because his time had not yet come. In addition to the purpose, we are also invited to wait patiently for the timing of God’s plan to be revealed in our own lives. God’s timing is not always in line with our timing, and it is precisely in these moments when we are called to surrender and learn to trust that his plan is more perfect than our own.
As we continue along in this season of Lent, let’s try to follow the example Jesus continues to provide for us on how to surrender to God’s will. Let us also pray for the grace to trust in his perfect timing, especially when our prayers aren’t answered in the way we might have hoped. The truth will eventually be revealed, and through the hope of the resurrection, we will someday share in the joy of the promises of Christ.
John T. Novarese Jr. (’89, MBA ’97)
Alumni
Lenten Reflections: April 5 – April 12
Saturday, April 5
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Reflection on Jeremiah 11:18-20 & John 7:40-53
“Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.”
In this section of today’s scripture, we reflect on the virtues of trust, fortitude, and perseverance. Fortitude is something all of us are called for, regardless of what faith or belief system we belong to. Fortitude is courage, bravery, valor, patience in adversity, and the willingness to withstand hardship to achieve some sort of goal. Lent is a good time to sit in meditation and reflect on the state of our lives. What causes you trouble? What is standing in the way of your calling? In what ways can we all practice fortitude and perseverance?
I have always noticed that challenges seem much more daunting before I even try to accomplish them. I sometimes talk myself out of the things I want to strive for, even the things I feel called for, because I feel I’m not equipped to accomplish them. It is even described that Jesus felt anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to his crucifixion. His heavenly task seemed daunting, but his actions and his willingness to endure suffering for the sake of humanity displayed trust in God’s plan for him. This is the ultimate symbol of perseverance and fortitude – doing something hard, something you feel ill equipped for, with courage and trust.
We are all called to have trust in God’s plans for us, and sometimes that means doing hard things. It is always said that God gives his hardest battles to his toughest soldiers, but I don’t necessarily think that is true. You do not have to be tough to accomplish hard things. You do, however, need to have fortitude to withstand obstacles and hardship, perseverance to keep going in your goals, and trust that the process will all be worth it.
During this Lent, sit and reflect on how you can practice fortitude in everyday life. What are some ways that you can practice fortitude? Through everything we do, we are not called to be the best, but we are called to give our best with trust, fortitude, and perseverance.
Dr. Pamela Watson, PhD
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
Sunday, April 6
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Reflection on Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:8-14 & John 8:1-11
Isaiah 43:16-21 contains a seeming paradox. The prophet speaks to a devastated, despairing people. The Israelites had probably been in exile in Babylon for almost fifty years when these words were spoken or, I would prefer to think, sung. Perhaps cynicism and depression had settled in. Well do I know that sadness can become like a comfortable blanket, like an invisible shield that keeps other people and even God at bay. Then along comes the prophet, who insists that their God YHWH “makes a way in the sea, a path in mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; … they are extinguished” (43:16-17 NRSV). This is nothing new. In fact, this is exactly what YHWH had done before, in the very foundational story of Israel: YHWH had led His people out of slavery in Egypt, through the Red Sea, and He had drowned the army of the Pharaoh. This is God’s defining action—to lead the people He created out of bondage and into something new. And yet, the prophet goes on to say, now speaking for YHWH Himself, “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (43:18-19). YHWH is also doing something entirely new, though the people, trapped in their misery and cynicism in Babylon, struggle to see it. Indeed, if we look at Isaiah 43:16-21 in its larger contexts, the prophet over and over insists, “Do not fear” (43:1, 5; 44:2, 8). Why should they not fear? Because they are God’s people, God’s very creation, and He loves them (43:4).
And so it is for us, too. We often find ourselves trapped, whether by circumstances or our own cynicism and sin. I once heard a priest say in a sermon, “There is nothing new in the sin department.” Sin is always the same story, over and over: our petty grievances, our lusts and greed, the exploitation and oppression of the vulnerable. And God’s work is always the same thing over and over—to break into our lives, to crack open our hearts and deliver us from bondage to sin, and to set free those oppressed by the powerful and merciless. But once set free, where we go will be new; it will be unexpected. We do not know what creative, new thing God might do with us if we can shake off our fear, put the past behind us, and become the people God formed us to be. The same old story always leads to something new—a distinctive creation of God set free to do what only that one person can do. And lest we only internalize the stories of the exodus and the return from Babylon, we should not forget that these were oppressed people whom God set free from the powerful. What if we worked to liberate others, so we can see the new things God wishes to do through them? What if we sought to foster the liberation and well-being of all people? Is it fear that holds us back? Fear that the new thing God is doing might infringe on the same old thing we’ve grown accustomed to?
Lent is a time to set fear aside. It is a time to let go of a few of our crutches and habits that prevent us from perceiving God’s presence and hearing the call to something new. We need to leave the past behind and become new, but in doing so, we should also put away the distractions that keep us from seeing our fellow human beings, who may be oppressed by poverty or circumstances beyond their control. How can we let God free us to do something new? How can we help others be free, so God can bring the world something new through them?
Dr. James Buchanan Wallace
Chair and Professor, Department of Religion & Philosophy
Monday, April 7
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Reflection on Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 & John 8:12-20
I have a friend who recently started a new job. He is now raising money for an organization that defends those who have been falsely imprisoned. I imagine this feels very personal to him, as a few years ago, his good name was smeared all over the press by a false accusation. He didn’t go to prison, but I bet that the horrible and untrue things that were said about him made him feel like he was in a jail of sorts.
In both of today’s readings we see people facing similar circumstances. One almost lost her life; the other ultimately did. In the book of Daniel, Susanna is a godly woman who is falsely accused by men she refused to sleep with. In John, we see the religious leaders accusing Jesus of making unvalidated claims about himself. Given that in a few weeks we will celebrate Good Friday, we know that eventually Jesus was unjustly put to death.
As I have meditated on these scriptures and prayed about what to write, I have heard God speaking to me in three ways. First, He has convicted me of the times I have believed gossip. One of the things that struck me about Susanna’s story was how quickly everyone turned on her. She was known to be a godly woman; she had never done anything that would validate the horrible things that were said about her. And yet, everyone believed them immediately and were prepared to stone her. When I have also jumped to conclusions upon hearing a rumor? Have I always given folks the benefit of the doubt? Nope. Especially when I have been hurt by someone. I am just as quick to believe a juicy piece of gossip about them as Susanna’s contemporaries were.
Second, I was reminded that once words are spoken, there is no opportunity to reclaim them. Even though Susanna was ultimately proven by Daniel to be innocent, don’t you know that the accusation followed her the rest of her days. There were those who would always wonder if she was truly innocent. The rumors will forever follow my friend. He is a good man, but there will always be those who whisper behind his back and choose to believe he got away with something.
Lastly, I was struck by the faith Susanna showed. Jesus talked of this many times, and then ultimately demonstrated it himself. When we are unjustly accused or just gossiped about, we can depend on God to be our shield and defender. We are called to be like Jesus of whom Isaiah said, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth, for he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
When others are critical, when they gossip about us, when they spread lies and false accusations, do we trust God to be enough or do we sling mud back? We may feel justified to do the latter, but the only result of that is that everyone gets dirty.
Choosing the Jesus way is hard. Just ask my friend, or Susanna, or Jesus himself. In the case of my friend and Susanna, the false accusations were disproved on this side of heaven. Jesus, however, went to the cross. When we trust God to defend us, there is no assurance that the truth will come to light during our lifetime. But as Jesus followers we do have the promise that God works all things together for our good. And that, my friends, is defense enough for all of us.
This Sunday, we sang a song at church called “You’ve Already Won.” I will leave you with these lyrics – the words that remind us that we have already won because Jesus has.
We will be with You again.
You’re my Savior, my defense.
No more fear in life or death.
I know how the story ends.
Dr. Lydia Rosencrants
Liaison to External Partners; Director of the MBA Program; Professor of Accounting
Tuesday, April 8
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Reflection on Numbers 21:4-9 & John 8:21-30
If I had to put a title to this passage of scripture, it would be “Believing in God.” Throughout this book of the Bible, John describes Jesus as so many wonderful things: the word of God, the son of God who became the flesh, the bread of life, and many more. This scripture reminds us that believing in him offers us eternal life with God. Jesus was sent for us so that our sins may be forgiven, and when you believe in him, you are a true follower of Christ.
There were instances in my life where I felt like I was stranded and alone due to all that was happening around me. Bills were due that I didn’t know how I would pay them, or I had little to no money for gas, but when I stayed lit in God, all the pain and worry went away. John 8:12 says, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” So I encourage you to continue to follow God, and he’ll change your darkness to light and never lead you astray
Dai’Jah Z. Milan
Graduate Student, Master of Arts in Teaching
Wednesday, April 9
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Reflection on Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22 & John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? Now, if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, to stand down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing tires, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace heated up seven times more than was customary, and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” He replied, “But I see four men unbound walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not signed, their tunics were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them.
Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his
angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and
yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.
(I really do not know what is worse – Being one of the three in “that” Fiery Furnace, or trying to finish this reflection on the morning of the day it is due!)
I remember my first encounter with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from my elementary school days which were split between Immanuel Lutheran School and East Elementary. I vaguely remember person number four, probably not God, but an angel sent by Him to look after that threesome. This is not the only heroic act in the Book of Daniel; we need to remember that Daniel himself spent some time in the Lions’ Den and got to live to tell about it.
At any rate, what would you do? And what are the Fiery Furnaces and Lions’ Dens of now, the 21st Century? AND, one step beyond, how do we pray or whatever for relief from our Fiery Furnaces, or how do we ask for forgiveness when we sip up, and fall in?
With all the time between “then” and now, we are now being tempted by people, places, and things just as sophisticated, if not more so, than “Fiery Furnaces” and “Lion’s Dens.” I have found in my many, many years that the Devil has a lot more in the way of “Temptation Tools” than we have become aware of.
We need to keep our guard up against these Tools, as well as pray for forgiveness when we go astray. I believe that there is help available from the best source – – God. All we have to do is ask.
Andrew J. Morgret, M.B.A., CPA, CGMA
Associate Professor Emeritus of Accounting, School of Business
Thursday, April 10
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Reflection on Genesis 17:3-9 & John 8:51-59
On Palm Sunday, Catholic parishioners take part in a dramatic reading of the Passion narrative. We play the role of the crowd during Roman Governor Pontius Pilate’s trial of Jesus, and one of our most jarring lines is, “Crucify him!” The person reading Pilate’s part displays shock at our hatred and asks us what harm Jesus has done. Our response is an even louder and more insistent demand: “Crucify him!”
It is often said that if Jesus walked the streets of this country today, while He may not be subjected to capital punishment, His ideas and actions would often be met with derision, disdain, violence, or even arrest. And much of this rejection would come from those of us who call ourselves Christians.
In John 8:51-59, we encounter one of these deeply unsettling reactions to Jesus’s teaching. When speaking to religious authorities, He boldly claims, “Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” This sparks outrage, and their exchange becomes so heated that the religious leaders pick up stones to throw at Jesus.
This confrontation mirrors the violent crowd response at Jesus’s trial, as well as the tensions we experience today. Just as the crowd demanded the crucifixion of Jesus, despite His teachings and miracles, Christians today often reject the realization of the same biblical readings we study and quote. Feeding and housing those who are hungry, protecting people fleeing violence and poverty, and tearing down structures that harm vulnerable people are staples of Jesus’s teaching. So, when we ignore these calls for justice and love or allow systems of power to stand in the way of His message of mercy, are we figuratively throwing rocks at Jesus? This rejection of Jesus’s revolutionary message is not just a biblical event—it is a continuing reality.
This Lenten season, we are summoned to examine how we reject Him in our own lives. It’s not an easy or pleasant endeavor, but it defines this period of sacrifice and reflection. We should not expect to answer this call perfectly – we are human. In these times, however, it is imperative to tamp down our constant desire for comfort and avoidance of conflict. Lent is when we grapple with the radical message of Jesus’s love. It is the time for us to see Him in the present – in the people and organizations who care for those experiencing hunger and poverty, who welcome and defend immigrants wanting better lives for themselves and their children, and those who fight structures that further harm those already living precarious lives.
Once we see His word in these people and their efforts, let us do what we can to love, join, protect, and support their work. If we put down our rocks, we can recognize and accept Jesus in these countless acts of compassion and love—the moments that shine His light in our world.
Dr. Lurene Kelley
Director of Academic Support and Online Academic Operations, Academics
Friday, April 11
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Reflection on Jeremiah 20:10-13 & John 10:31-42
I don’t know about you, but whenever I find myself reading a scripture passage where people are quick to pick up stones and want to condemn Jesus, it’s easy to get a little judgmental. “Man, they just don’t get it.” Or “How could they not see that THE Son of God is right in front of them?!” It’s easy to understand and judge another’s actions in hindsight, but without fail, if I let myself truly sit with the scripture and open myself up to the Holy Spirit, I eventually find myself questioning or trying to condemn Jesus. It’s easy to try to put God in a box, and that’s exactly what the Jews in today’s Gospel were trying to do with Jesus. They ignored His good works and only focused on their interpretation of His words, even going as far as to ignore scripture. Jesus was adamant in His response, “The Father is in me and I am in the Father”. How many times do we ignore God’s good works in our lives or fail to give Him credit because we don’t agree with what He’s saying to us or what He’s calling us to? How many times do we question His authority because we don’t understand what He’s doing? Scripture gives us no room to doubt : Jesus is who He says He is – THE Son of God, and He is one with the Father. More than wanting us to know and believe in this, Jesus is inviting us to live this, and in doing so live an interpersonal life with God where we too can be one with the Father, and have everlasting life within Him. Next time you find yourself, like me, quick to judge someone else’s lack of faith, take a look inside and ask God to show you the places in your own heart where you need faith to believe Jesus really is who He says He is – THE Son of God.
Rebecca Preston
Friend of the University
Saturday, April 12
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Reflection on: Ezekiel 37:21-28 & John 11:45-56
Fear is one heck of a motivator. Fear can make us freeze and feel paralyzed, but fear can also push us to do things that we otherwise wouldn’t. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. We even read many times in the Bible to fear the Lord or to have a healthy fear of God. This fear is more of a reverence than a state of being frightened. But fear can also make us react out of hate and make misguided decisions. We see this form of fear played out in today’s Gospel by the Pharisees.
The Pharisees not only acted out of a fear of the unknown but out of the fear of their status quo being disturbed. Jesus was not only challenging the Pharisees by his actions and his words, but also just by his existence. He was challenging everything that the Pharisees clung to. Their status, their importance, their stronghold on the faith of the people. This all came to a boiling point as Jesus continued to minister and heal. And this specific tension came out of the raising of Lazarus. Jesus did something amazing that could only have come from God, and yet, the Pharisees wanted to condemn him.
Let this Gospel be an invitation for us in our own lives. Where in my life do I let fear rule me? When are there times when I act out of fear instead of love? Also, reflecting on my earlier words, how often do I fear the Lord (in a healthy way)?
Take just a minute on one of the questions above. If you can, jot down some thoughts that come to you.
Thankfully, we are given the opportunity daily to grow in our relationship with God and work on areas in our life we feel need improvement.
Joseph “Joey” Preston
Major Gifts Officer, Advancement & Alumni
Lenten Reflections: April 13 Palm Sunday – April 17
Sunday, April 13
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Reflection on: Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11 & Luke 22:14—23:56
Palm Sunday really drives home the whole theme of Lent, which is preparation. In our Gospel today, we see that preparation takes on a whole new meaning. Christ prepares for His Passion. Judas prepares to betray Jesus. Peter is prepared to die but is challenged in a way he does not expect.
How have I prepared for Christ’s resurrection? We are a week away. Now is the time to do a check in.
The image that Palm Sunday brings in my head is that of a finish line.
But the few times I have run (not toward food or away from someone) I have always taken solace in seeing the finish line. Something phycological happens. All of a sudden, I can go a little faster, I can dig a little deeper. For me in my spiritual race that is Lent, Palm Sunday is that first glimpse of the finish line.
As we approach Easter, I will make sure to dig a little deeper, to push myself a little more to turn toward God and not my own desires. I want to make sure I continue to go to God in prayer, be a little kinder and more generous. I want to fully enter into the Easter Triduum eagerly awaiting the Resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Joseph “Joey” Preston
Major Gifts Officer, Advancement & Alumni
Monday, April 14
Monday after Palm Sunday
Reflection on Isaiah 42:1-7 & John 12:1-11
The gospel story offered in the lectionary for today opens with Jesus and His disciples at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. He regularly spent time at their home; they were among his closest friends, almost like family. It was not long before this that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. During this visit, Mary anointed Jesus with “a liter of costly perfumed oil.” Since he had saved her brother from death, we are not at all surprised that she offered Him this profound act of gratitude, love, and devotion.
As we enter this holiest of weeks, we are given this image of Mary caring for Jesus as a way of inviting us to do the same. And how do we do that? Exactly as Jesus taught us to do: first and foremost, by fidelity to our vocation, whatever that might be. Then by caring for his least ones, the poor, the outcast, the abandoned, and all those in need. And then by acts of sacred worship, both in the liturgy and in personal devotion and prayer. And last but not least, by our love and fellowship with one another.
The costly perfumed oil symbolizes the centuries of Christian fidelity and devotion to this gospel way of life in all of these arenas – service, fellowship, and public worship. Let us continue to seek out ways to fulfill our baptismal call and anoint Jesus by our lives lived in love and service in the many ways that lay before us.
Reverend Dr. R. Bruce Cinquegrani
Professor, Chaplain, Department of Religion & Philosophy
