Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord


Today's Readings

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. Joel 2:12 - 13

Recently, I was drawn to start listening to podcasts by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Looking at the readings for today reminded me of one I had just listened to given by Fr. Columba entitled “How to Use Lent to Prepare for Easter.” He started out talking about preparing for Lent and then he recanted stating that “we are really preparing for Easter by means of Lent.” That really stuck with me. Preparing for Easter through Lent. We often get caught up in just the Lent piece, the giving up, and thinking of the “great sacrifice” we’re going to make without considering the end result - Easter Sunday. Oh, we know it’s there but I feel like it becomes more of a means to an end rather than the great Amen and moment of grace it should be. 

The origins of Lent are very interesting. According to Pope Benedict XVI, Lent was originally meant for only those who were to be baptized. It started as something small or short and was extended over time. It was a time of preparation and a journey to becoming a Christian. People recognized that becoming a Christian was (and is!) an ongoing journey, at least 40 days long. Eventually, it was opened up for others, especially the penitents who had seriously sinned. Finally, it was opened up to the whole church as preparation for Easter. People began to understand, you can't just become a Christian, you always have to be becoming a Christian. We should always be in the process of becoming more like Jesus!
 

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
Psalm 51:3 - 4

Pope John Paul II stated the greatest moment of his life was his Baptism. He knew that salvation came to his soul that day. The day we were (or are) baptized is the day we were welcomed into the church and cleansed from all sin. Imagine the graces bestowed in that moment! All because of Jesus. How often do we recall that moment and remember the gift that was given to us on that day? The day we became a Christian. The good news is, we should never stop becoming a Christian and we don’t have to. Lent helps us to do precisely that: remember what it means to become more than we could have ever thought possible because of the one who made the ultimate sacrifice for us. 

Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. 
2 Corinthians 6:1 - 2

This Lent, may we choose sacrifices that will help us to continue to become Christians. St. Ignatius said we can return to a moment of Grace so that we may be strengthened and renewed again. May we find the grace to remember that special moment that we felt God near and use it to help us to prepare for Easter by means of Lent. The more we enter into Lent. the more grace we will receive, not just on Easter, but every day.

Lord, help me during this season of Lent to remember your great love for me and the graces you have generously given throughout my journey. 
May the ashes placed on my forehead serve as a reminder of the times I’ve neglected to recall those moments when you lifted me up and helped me through every trial and difficulty. Help me to reconnect to your ultimate Grace. Amen.

Kim Dixon and her husband, Dan have been parishioners at St. Stephen’s for over 20 years with their 2 children: Steven and Cassandra. She is the Kindergarten teacher at Saint John’s School in Goshen and a member of St Stephen’s adult choir. She is a joyful convert to the Catholic faith. 

Today's Readings

We are an Easter people! 
The exuberance that overflows from our assurance that Christ has won the battle and has made heaven a reality for all of us is a part of our very nature! Although we know this outcome, we scale back our joy during this season of prayer and reflection. That’s why the Church has the Lenten practices of removing flowers from the altar, covering statues, silencing the bells at the consecration, omitting the Gloria, and refraining from uttering the forbidden word during Lent [Alleluia]. To a degree, these practices are ‘fasts’ from the elements of church and Mass that we often take for granted. Their absence should match our inward spirit of penitence and create a space for prayer and reflection in the Liturgy. And as the saying goes, “absence makes the heart grow fonder” — so this should make us yearn for that Easter morning when those elements return in great abundance. 

Until that day, though, we are to be like the disciples after the Bridegroom was taken away. We must enter into a period of fasting. We must fast from the things that bring us pleasure so that we can redirect our energies towards the needs of our brothers and sisters. By praying for them and by giving them alms, we in turn are continuing God’s acts of mercy in the world. We are showing others the love and mercy of God. This Lent, if our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving touch many while the Bridegroom is away, we can only hope these deeds will have drawn a great number to the Wedding Feast when the Bridegroom returns. Then, together we can join with the hosts of angels and saints as we sing a great chorus of alleluias! 

Lord Jesus Christ,
We ask that you enlighten our minds,
inflame our hearts,
and make us aware of your great love for us.
Increase in us the faith that you are truly here
in the Eucharist and in every member of our Church.

You have defeated death itself
and called us to you by our Baptism.
Thank you for the ways you have
blessed our parish community.
Help us to communicate to others
the joy we have received and to be grateful
always for the gifts you have given us.
We ask this in your Holy Name.

Amen.

St. Stephen, pray for us.

Anthony Marcella is blessed to be a part of St. Stephen's for the past 3 years. 

Today's Readings

One common theme that today's readings share is hypocrisy in religious practice. The selection from Isaiah 58 is an exhortation to true fasting. It was worthwhile to look back further and consider the chapter as a whole, here at the beginning of Lent. Where is my heart as I fast on the 2 days prescribed for us this season?  How about during abstinence from meat on Fridays?

Might not those who notice me practicing this, or voluntarily taking on additional discipline (giving something up for Lent), also notice my immoderation at other times of the year?  What message does that send to my children?

Thanks be to God that we have the example of Jesus Christ, who came to call sinners, as our model. His heart, words, and actions always align. Let us pray this Lent that our hearts may be sincerely invested in our lenten practices, and all religious practices throughout the year.

Andrew Olesh is the husband of Cristina and father of Benedetto and Aurelio, who is in the first Communion class at St. Stephen's.

Today's Readings

My heart reaches out to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. I pray these words from Psalm 91 for their comfort: 

“Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
            who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress,
            my God in whom I trust.”

The families who are running from their homeland to an unknown destination to flee from the terror that reigns on their country remind me of Jesus, out in the desert. Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness, starving and being tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread. How often are we tempted to reach for one more bite, another slice, or more than we need? Every bit more than what we need is taken from the mouths of others who are starving. Jesus’ example to us shows that if we trust in the Lord, He will continue to provide all we need. It is our responsibility as Christians to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ as Jesus has taught us. He has provided plenty for all.

This Lent our parish community will have special opportunities to support those, who like Jesus, are starving. During Lent we will pray, fast, and give alms. The focus of our parish almsgiving will be Mary’s Meals, an organization that we have supported since 2014. Mary’s Meals provides a healthy meal to children in their place of education. There are different ways to support them. Make a giving box or jar for your prayer table (or grab one from the table at church), skip the coffee out, fast food or snack food for a day or a week and place the money you would have spent in the jar. Collect it through Lent. Collect deposit bottles and cans and share the money. Give a donation to honor a friend or in memory of a loved one who has passed. Please make a check out to Mary’s Meals and drop off to the parish office. It will be totaled and sent as our parish donation at the end of 40 days to Mary’s Meals.

Another giving opportunity will support our local families who are hungry and in need of help. St. Stephen’s is collecting in a special box in the atrium the following items:
boxes of crackers
pasta sauce
family size bottles of shelf stable juice
Cereal
Coffee
Cake or brownie mixes
Canned tuna or salmon or chicken
Toothbrushes
Feminine hygiene products 
Toiletries
Dish detergent 

These items will be delivered by a parish family who has taken on this project for the 2^nd year in a row to our local pantries who will distribute to those who hunger.

We are blessed in so many ways, may we share those blessings in whatever way we are able. Allow yourself to grow closer to God through a meaningful fast, as Jesus did when he prepared for the work His Father had for him. If Jesus suffered hunger, why not me? Jesus will walk with us as we walk with others, and we will be safe…for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10)


Lydia vanDuynhoven is the DRE for St. Stephens. She and her husband Casey and their four adult children have been members of the parish since childhood.
 

Today's Readings

I have a friend named Paula. She’s with Jesus now, but when I read or hear this gospel or the one about the Good Samaritan, I always think of her.

Paula’s family and ours belonged to Teams of Our Lady, a group of 4 – 7 married couples and a chaplain who meet monthly without children to share a meal, prayer, and discussions. There are also activities throughout the year that involve children.

On one occasion, a bunch of Teams, with our families, got together in our Parish’s school gym. Among other activities, we got into random groups, each of which chose a piece of paper with a parable on it. There was time for each group to organize a skit which was then performed for the rest of the participants.

Paula’s group chose “The Good Samaritan.” She and a man in her group were a couple who walked past the poor person on the street in need of help. I will never forget the look of disgust on her face as the two of them strolled smugly past the man. She snarled saying, “Get a job!”

The reason this scene has stayed with me for so long is because Paula was the complete opposite of the character she portrayed. We had visited New York City several times during our friendship of nearly 30 years, and she always made sure she had a bagel or other food with her before we left home, in case we came upon a hungry person. She stood many, many times outside Planned Parenthood praying for the unborn and women considering abortion. These are just two examples of the giving person that Paula was.

In this gospel, Jesus said “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Paula still inspires me to minister to others in need. May she do the same for you, too. I miss you, dear friend!

Let the words of my mouth, the thought of my heart,
and the actions of my hands
            find favor before you,
            O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Anne Prial, and her husband, Greg, have been parishioners for more than 20 years. 

Today's Readings

Lent is a time of sacrifice and everybody thinks they must give something up in order to improve themselves during this season.  Some people may do this in such a manner where they profess out loud how they will improve, and what they will give up.  In today’s Gospel Reading Matthew 6:7-15, it reads, “When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do, for they hold that the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard.  Do not be like them.”  

My Uncle Jack took me on a ten week trip across the United States in the summer when I was 13 years old.  In our many car rides he would profess adages with us.  One of them was, “You prove the way you love me behind my back.”  I comprehended this as respecting all of the wishes of my Uncle during this venture, even when he was not around.  I also took it as if we truly do love him and respect him as our leader during this summer venture, we should show it at all times, not just in his presence.  Do we act as God wants us to?  Do we do this when we are in the presence of others?  Do we do this when we are in the presence of ourselves?  Even when he is not in our presence?  He is always in our presence.  

Another adage he would say is, “Those who talk the most know the least, and those who talk the least, know the most.”  Can you think of people in your lives who fit the bill for this adage?  This one brings me back to the Gospel reading.  Who is climbing to the mountain top to shout out all of the awesome things they will do this Lenten Season?  Maybe we should just go about our business, and just do the awesome things.  And don’t worry, if we don’t post it to our Social Media account, somebody will notice.  That somebody is God.  

A few years back I gave up going on Facebook for Lent.  I have not logged into my account ever since.  I don’t miss it because God, and the people who love me always have me on their radar.  

I hope I did not just shout from the mountain top.  

In today’s reading: Matthew 6:7-15 it concludes with how we should pray:

Our Father in heaven 
Holy be your name,
Your kingdom come
And your will be done
On earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our debts
Just as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us
Do not bring us to the test
But deliver us from the evil one.

Ryan Candia (Warwick Valley High School Social Studies Teacher), wife Kristin, son (Jack) 8, daughter (Madison) 10 are St. Stephen parishioners. 

Today's Readings
JONAH

In a biblical call narrative, God commissions a particular person for a special task. Some of these people respond to God’s request immediately, without any excuses. For example, in last Saturday’s Gospel reading, [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 (Luke 5:27-28).

However, this was not the case with the prophet/missionary named Jonah. Today’s reading begins with chapter 3 of the Book of Jonah. The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. 

Previous to this second call, the Lord had said to Jonah, Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it (Jonah 1:2). Instead of obeying, Jonah attempts to flee from God by sailing in the opposite direction. However, he finds himself overboard in a raging sea. 

In chapter 2, he is swallowed by a large fish and remains there for three days and three nights.  The Lord commands the fish to spew Jonah upon the shore of Nineveh where God wants him to make this announcement: Forty days more [a Lenten journey] and Nineveh shall be destroyed.

Why was Jonah so reluctant to obey God in the first place? Nineveh had been the ancient capital of the fearsome Assyrian empire that had destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel in the 8^th century B.C. The Jews hated the Ninevites.

Jonah finally obeys God and Nineveh repents.  Instead of destroying the Ninevites, God shows them mercy.  At this, Jonah becomes angry and complains.  He would rather have had God destroy Nineveh. 

What are we to learn from the Book of Jonah? This book presents the universal love and mercy of God. He offers the gift of salvation to anyone who would receive it.  Recall Jesus’ commission to his apostles before his ascension into Heaven:  Go and make disciples of all nations…Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20).

Jesus teaches us:  You have heard the commandment, “You shall love your countryman but hate your enemy.”  My command to you is: love your enemies, pray for your persecutors (Matthew 5:43-44).

Have mercy on me O God, in your goodness; 
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense (Psalm 51:1).

JoAnn MacDougall has been a parishioner of St. Stephen’s Parish for 27 years. She is a lector, and has taught Scripture at various levels throughout the years.

Today's Readings

Today’s readings remind us to call upon the Lord in our time of need and to ask for his loving guidance. In the first reading we find Queen Ester prostrated on the ground pleading for God’s help. We too can cry out to the Lord to ask for help in difficult situations. It may be healing after a diagnosis, seeking help with a troubled
family member, asking guidance to overcome addiction, or asking for relief from fear of our current finances or peace for the constant disrest in the world. We too can plead as Queen Ester did, and ask that, “God save us from the hand of our enemies, turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness.”

In today's psalm, David reminds us to approach God with our needs; knowing that God is listening. He is a loving and kind father. With thanksgiving and praise know that he will give you the strength, knowledge and peace through his word to help you during your most difficult times. God will help us find the solutions to your most difficult problems. Know that he will answer us in times of hardship. Remember David’s words, “Lord, on the day I called you for help, you answered me.” This will be our reminder to bring our problems and sorrows to our heavenly Father. Too often we look for answers or comfort in the wrong people and places or with the wrong food and drinks. These may numb our feelings, but true healing and lasting solutions come from the word of God. With faith and the grace of God these words provide not only comfort, but solutions to our problems.

In the gospel, Matthew outlines the steps Jesus gives us to help us in our time of need. First, ask God to listen to your problem. Bring it to him. Then search the bible for the teachings of Christ on what concerns you. Next, ask the Holy Spirit to help you as you allow the word of God and the love of Jesus Christ to guide you towards peace and conflict resolution. Jesus tells us that our heavenly Father gives good things to those who ask him. 

Dear Lord,
May we always remember that you are a constant source of comfort in our lives.
We are grateful that you are a kind and caring God who is always there for us.
Thank you for providing us with an exceptional role model in Jesus Christ
and the Holy Spirit to guide us in our lives.
May we always remember to seek you first for the answer to all of our life’s questions and problems.
You are the only way for us to find true peace and happiness.
Amen.
St. Stephen, pray for us.

Maureen Degnan has been a member of St. Stephen’s Church for 25 years. She taught CCD at St. Stephen’s
when her children were young and is now a member of the Thursday morning bible study group.

Today's Readings

Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says the Lord GOD.
Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way
that he may live?

Such an interesting verse to read these days, right?  So many prayers being said for the people of the Ukraine, of Russia, for all the people of the world, as it seems someone with so much hate in his heart doesn’t care (or care to see) the pain inflicted on so many.  The human side of me prays that he, in whatever way necessary, just “goes away.” But I know that I am called to more, I am called to pray.  To pray for his conversion, to pray for his heart to turn to Jesus.  Just as I am called to pray for those who hurt me, my family, my friends.  Just as I am called to pray for myself to turn to Jesus, for my own conversion of heart. 

These years have been hard on all of us.  We have felt the pressure, the loss, the heartache, and sometimes not responded in the most faithful of ways.  Let these days of world pain help to us realize we are all – ALL – in this together.  And pray for that miracle.  For the world and for ourselves. 

“I No Longer Pray For Peace”
By Ann Weems

On the edge of war, one foot already in, I no longer pray for peace:
I pray for miracles.
I pray that stone hearts will turn to tenderheartedness,
and evil intentions will turn to mercifulness,
and all the soldiers already deployed will be snatched out of harm's way,
and the whole world will be astounded onto its knees.
I pray that all the "God talk" will take bones, and stand up and shed
its cloak of faithlessness, and walk again in its powerful truth.
I pray that the whole world might sit down together and share its bread and its wine.
Some say there is no hope, but then I've always applauded the holy fools
who never seem to give up on the scandalousness of our faith:
that we are loved by God … that we can truly love one another.
I no longer pray for peace:
I pray for miracles.

Mary-Ellen Kerr and her husband Bob, along with their three children, have been parishioners of St. Stephens since 1996.  

Today's Readings

From today’s Gospel according to Saint Matthew:  Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.    For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?….So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

As a child squabbling with my siblings, it was common for me to say, “But, Mom!  He started it!”  or “You didn’t see what he did to me first!”  Always thinking if the action was justified, I would be blameless.  This attitude can carry into adulthood, too.  If I have “a good reason,” then how can I be at fault?

However, as followers of Jesus, He is asking us to hold ourselves to a higher standard.  Can we see in another what God sees in him?  Can we change our minds about someone who has wronged us in the past?  Can we adopt an attitude of mercy and just let a transgression go?  Can we be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect? 

This seems too difficult to put into practice.  Maybe a good place to start is to “pray for those who persecute you.”  In our prayers we can ask God not to change others, but to change ourselves, to help us give up our selfish ways, to turn our focus and attention on His will, to take steps in a positive direction and to trust that His mercy will sustain us.  In prayer, ask for strength to overcome weaknesses and begin to heal from the suffering caused by others.  

PSALM 119: Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
I will give you thanks with an upright heart,
when I have learned your just ordinances.
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.

Donna McCarey lives in Middletown and attends St Stephen’s Parish with her mom, Louise Cully.

I’ve heard it’s been called “the mountaintop experience”. It’s that encounter with the Lord that one has on a retreat or in worship that leaves us feeling like we never want to leave this moment or this period of time. When you’re on that mountaintop oftentimes we don’t realize how beautiful it is until it is time to come down from it. It’s at that moment that we realize, like Peter in today’s Gospel, that we don’t want to leave, that we want to build a tent and stay on this mountaintop forever. 

And then we hear the Lord tell us it’s time to do the work. It’s time for us to take this mountaintop experience and go tell the world, like Paul says in the second reading, that our citizenship is in heaven and in order to get there we need to stay firm in the Lord.

I often wonder why God allows these mountaintop experiences, don’t you? I’d venture to say it is in these moments that God pulls back the veil for a sweet blessed moment in time and allows us to see with our spiritual eyes, Him as He is. 

I remember a time when we were stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and it was Holy Thursday. I was kneeling in the adoration chapel late at night praying when I was consumed with emotion. I could feel myself as a tiny grain of sand in my Father’s hand. I was teeny tiny and I was absolutely secure and at peace resting in the palm of His hand. As I knelt in that chapel the world started to melt away and, before I knew it, my eyes opened and so much time had passed. It was time for me to leave the chapel and go back to our house on base. As I went home, I felt a tremendous peace and all I yearned for was to go back but I knew I couldn’t. I knew I had to go back to my family and live the life God had given me. 

We are not meant for this world and in these mountaintop experiences I believe this is where God lets us know how we are meant to be with Him, but we have to do the work He has assigned for us here first. This Lenten season, let us come together, hand in hand, as we walk off our mountaintops. Let us support each other as we live Jesus’ example to this world. Let us be assured that by simply doing that, living as Christ, we will surely gain that citizenship in heaven and never have to leave that mountaintop again!

Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us to the mountaintop.
Thank you for allowing us to see your Glory. 
Be with us, Lord, as we yearn for our citizenship in heaven 
and therefore, bestow upon us the gift of your Holy Spirit 
so that we can live out our lives for You here on earth.

Kerry Roberson has been a parishioner of St. Stephen’s her entire life. She is blessed to have a phenomenal husband and three beautiful children with whom she can share the gift of this parish. 

Today's Readings

The readings today all speak to God's mercy and our sinfulness. Daniel tells us "we have sinned, been wicked and done evil .... but yours, O Lord our God are compassion and forgiveness." The Psalmist prays: "Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins .... may your compassion quickly come to us for we are brought very low." In the Gospel we hear Jesus tell us "Be merciful just as your Father is merciful" as He advises us to "stop judging and you will not be judged."

These messages are ones we need to move from our mind and into our heart- to have a true Metanoia. Lent is a time for us to attempt to draw closer to Jesus on His way to  Jerusalem and the cross. Let us recognize our personal sinfulness - to be brutally honest with ourselves regarding our own faults - the "wooden beam" in our own eye - before we try to remove the "splinter" from the eye of our brother or sister. Perhaps Lent is an opportunity to identify what we can develop to counter the major fault we identify. Is it pride? Do we, like the Pharisee, judge others harshly and consider ourselves more righteous? Do we tell God our many virtues as we "pray" not to Him but to ourselves? Then let us work on humility - become the tax collector who prays for His mercy. Let us pray that His strength will infuse our hearts  with both a profound sense of our unworthiness yet a confident trust in His constant loving mercy.

Father in the words of your beloved Son "forgive us for we know not what we do." Lord, Jesus, our loving Savior, you gave all of yourself to redeem us. May we stand in awe  and grow in love for you as we ponder your overwhelming love that caused you to become man, to suffer rejection, abandonment, unfathomable brutality and die for our sake. Spirit of the living God, inflame our hearts with true love of our neighbor, not judgment or condemnation. Give us wisdom to grasp the hard truth of the words "the measure with which you measure will in turn be measured out to  you."
AMEN.   

 
Marie Tito is a long time parishioner of St. Stephen's with deep gratitude for the very treasured friendships that have developed as a result.  She is blessed and humbled to be an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist to the homebound.
 

Today's Readings

As a mother of 5 now adult “kids” there were days where I felt as if I should have spared my vocal cords, and just made a general recording of the constant reminders I felt compelled to bestow upon my family for their health, safety, wellbeing and Christian character. Sometimes I was met with “mom, I know” but deep down I think they appreciated the underlying love and concern that motivated my motherly advice. Like a patient father, God provides endless reminders to help guide us on our earthly journey, and like a good and loving parent, He repeats them---often! 

Clearly humility, or a lack thereof, is something God knows that His human family will struggle with, even when we are trying to live in accordance with His teachings. My sweet Irish mother cautioned us that you can memorize the bible backwards and forwards, but God sees your actions; God sees what is in your heart.  Today’s readings remind us again that the  humble righteous people trying their best to “make justice their aim” and lighten the burdens of others will be the exalted ones.  Jesus reminds his followers time and time again of the Father’s disdain for those who preach- but do not practice, and gently urges us always towards sacrificing ourselves for the love of our neighbor,  but to do so without the expectation of reward or praise. To help someone that can never thank or repay us is such a beautiful way to shine the light of God in our world that can so often seem dark.  

We are still more than 1 month away from Easter, and this season of Lent invites us to answer God’s call to love our neighbor as ourselves. Inflation and skyrocketing energy prices are straining everyone’s budgets and people are struggling financially in significant ways. Food insecurity is a reality for many families, and food pantries and soup kitchens are being strained.  The war in Ukraine is causing massive suffering, and the need for supplies is significant.  These 2 examples of our neighbors in need offer opportunities for us to be a servant for God- but we can also find countless small ways to be charitable to those in emotional need in our own home, extended family or circle of friends.  God invites us to make justice our aim, and calls us to seek out ways to humbly share what we may have to give- whether that is time, money, a listening ear- an encouraging word- or prayer- we are all called to offer what we can give in Jesus’ Holy name.  May our parish community continue to grow in faith and service of God. 

        Dear Lord, 
         May your Holy Spirit guide our hearts and minds to answer your call to help lift the burdens of those in our midst.  
May we be charitable in our words and actions, and humbly do our best to be who you call us to be, and to serve you in the ways we serve others. 

Jane Kunzweiler, her husband, Steve, and family have been parishioners of St. Stephens for 23 years. 

Today's Readings

Dear St. Patrick,
In your humility you called yourself a sinner, but you became a most successful missionary and prompted countless pagans to follow the Savior.
Many of their descendants in turn spread the Good News in numerous foreign lands through your powerful intercession with God.
Obtain the missionaries we need to continue the work you began. 
Amen

Lent should be seen as a spiritual journey of faith that leads and prepares us to celebrate the paschal mystery of Easter.

In the first reading for today, Jeremiah speaks about how we stretch our roots to the Lord when we feel dry and thirsty.

Being of Irish descent, I feel that all the immigrants that came to America, whether they were Irish or otherwise, helped us to stretch our roots and stop the drought, in both religion and culture, and also by their belief in the living God. 

Jeremiah and Patrick both remind us that we are blessed and should trust in God and place our hopes in Him. 

Lord, water our 'roots' with the life-giving water of your spirit 
so that we might draw closer to you.

Kathleen Bredberg, and her husband, Roger, have been parishioners of St. Stephen Church for more than 59 years. In the early years, she was St. Stephen-St. Edward School Secretary. In later years, she was Parish Secretary. Most recently, she is Faith Formation Volunteer Extraordinaire. 
 

Today's Readings

“…The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables,
they knew that he was speaking about them…

Jesus challenges the Pharisees and chief priests at the end of this Gospel parable in the temple courts to remind them of what has already been written in their studied Scripture and how hard-headed and blind they have become to the gifts of repentance and salvation…that God so loved the world…

Here’s a reminder of the radical message of Love (that Jesus attempted to parse out through parables) that ended on the Cross - not only to the hard-headed and hearted, but those who were following this metanoia through John the Baptist’s fiery exhortations…then hearing the Christ summoning those who have yet repented in heart and mind to listen and learn what the new Law of Love for God neighbor and authentic self really looks like through actions of forgiveness, repentance and service…

Heady for all eras and peoples, but throughout the Scriptures a New Love is foreshadowed (think Isaiah) and sung with petition, praise, and thanksgiving in the Psalms and realized in the Gospel. Sinners and saints have all been given this timeless message repeatedly and some have changed the world because of their persistence in Love’s ways. Repetition perhaps is mastery in God’s eyes!

Jesus wants us to embrace this New Love every day and know how much we have been loved first.  Though always saddened by the Passion leading up to the Resurrection, let us be joyful The Cornerstone has supported the New Love for all our lives and will never be moved in the house of our hearts…

Lord, in your Love, 
grant that we may always be messengers of peace and bearers of mercy and justice...

 
Jeannie Snyder lives in Warwick and is grateful to be part of the St. Stephen’s fellowship.

There is no reflection for today.

Today's Readings

Here is the CNS translation of the prayer for peace Pope Francis recited at his weekly general audience March 16. The prayer was composed by Archbishop Domenico Battaglia of Naples.

Forgive us for the war, Lord.

Lord Jesus, son of God, have mercy on us sinners.

Lord Jesus, born under the bombs of Kyiv, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus, dead in the arms of a mother in Kharkiv, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus, in the 20-year-olds sent to the frontline, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus, who continues to see hands armed with weapons under the shadow of the cross, forgive us, Lord.

Forgive us if, not content with the nails with which we pierced your hand, we continue to drink from the blood of the dead torn apart by weapons.

Forgive us if these hands that you had created to protect have been turned into instruments of death.

Forgive us, Lord, if we continue to kill our brother. Forgive us, Lord, if we continue to kill our brother, if we continue like Cain to take the stones from our field to kill Abel.

Forgive us if we go out of our way to justify cruelty, if, in our pain, we legitimize the cruelty of our actions. Forgive us the war, Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, we implore you to stop the hand of Cain, enlighten our conscience, let not our will be done, do not abandon us to our own doing. Stop us, Lord, stop us, and when you have stopped the hand of Cain, take care of him also. He is our brother.

O Lord, stop the violence. Stop us, Lord. Amen.

Bishop Barron's Daily Gospel Reflection

Today's Readings

Friends, our Gospel today focuses on the gift of forgiveness. This is such an anchor of the New Testament and so central to Jesus’ ministry and preaching. When it comes to the offenses that we have received from others, we are, all of us, great avatars of justice. We will remember every insult, every snub, and every shortcoming when it comes to our being hurt by others. That’s why forgiving even once or twice is so difficult.

Forgiving seven times, as Peter suggests, is beyond the pale. Yet Jesus says to him, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” In other words, forgive constantly, relentlessly, and without calculation. Your whole life must become an act of forgiveness.

And this is why Jesus tells the parable in today’s Gospel. The man who had been forgiven so much should, at the very least, show forgiveness to the one who owed him so much less.

Here is the spiritual heart of the matter: whatever anyone owes you (in strict justice) is infinitely less than what God has graciously given to you; the divine forgiveness of you is infinitely greater than any forgiveness you might be called upon to offer.

Becoming an instrument of God’s life, grace, forgiveness, and peace is what it is all about. Allow to flow through you what has been poured into you—that is the whole story.

 

Today's Readings
 

Today’s readings focus on the law.  God’s law.  But what is God’s law.  What are God’s directives for our daily existence? In short, what does God want us to do?

There is Old Testament Jewish Law – the Law of Moses- as set forth in the first five books of the Old Testament.  This is very complicated law with a lot of specific directives and instructions.  The Law of Moses was very specific about how to live.  But, perhaps because it was so complicated, people were unable to follow it.  They could not stay on the path of righteousness.  Jesus came to show the people how to live religiously, with power and spirit.  When Jesus says he came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, he does not mean following the long list of rules set forth by the Pharisees and teachers.  He is rather showing a way to give meaning to the law, to fulfill it.  The old way has failed.  He has come to show a new way. 

When Jesus states that his goal is not to abolish the law of the prophets, but to fulfill it, he must have astonished the established religious leaders of the time.  They considered him a blasphemer, who frequently disobeyed the commands of Jewish law.  And they certainly had a point.  The Gospels clearly demonstrate Jesus frequently breaking the laws of the Torah. 

But those who saw Jesus as a blasphemer and heretic missed the larger point.  Jesus did not live by a ritualistic legalistic interpretation of religious law.  Nor does he want us to do so.  Rather, he boiled God’s laws down to their essence.  

If one looks at the Ten Commandments, the first three concern love of God.  The remaining seven concern love of neighbor.  Indeed, Jesus is not abolishing law of Moses, but instead fulfilling it when he distills it down to two primary principals:

            1.         Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul; and

            2.         Love your neighbor as you love yourself. 

            The Law of Jesus is the Law of Love; the Law of Compassion; the Law of forgiveness.  This is his lesson to us and this is how he fulfilled the promise of the Law of Moses.  God’s directive for us is to love; to be compassionate; to forgive.  God’s direction is that we not be legalistic as the Pharisees were, but that we live the spirit of His law. 

Today's reflection is written by George Smith.            

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Today's Readings
Yes. Such a simple word. We use it every day…or not. Oftentimes its simple counterpart – no – rolls out instead. When my kids were younger, pretty sure they heard ‘no’ way more than ‘yes’ and the oldest heard it way more than the youngest (just ask her, she’ll tell you). 

Today’s Gospel recounts the most important “yes” of all…that of Mary, an unwed girl from a small village who was told she would conceive a child through the Holy Spirit who would be the Son of God (wait…what?). The Angel Gabriel then offered some proof that all things are possible by telling her that her relative, Elizabeth, who was beyond child-bearing years and considered barren, had also conceived a child (whoa, seriously?). Mary, in all humility, ponders this information – did it take a couple minutes? An hour? An afternoon? She then replies to all this astounding information and incredible request by saying, according to Luke’s Gospel: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” 

It was to be the most important “yes” of all. 

How many of us would have done the same? 

By all accounts, Mary and Jesus had a normal mother-son relationship after that. I’m pretty sure she would not have said “yes” to Jesus had he asked if it was okay to go back to Jerusalem alone to sit in the temple for a few days. But she did say “yes” when it mattered most, and that’s the part that we should all consider.  How many times have you declined to do something, to be a part of something, and then regretted it after? On the other hand, how many times have you said ‘yes’ to something outside of your comfort zone, to taking a chance (that proverbial leap of faith) and it turned out fine? Or great? Or the best thing ever? Or maybe it didn’t, but you learned from it anyway. 
Of course, there are times when ‘no’ is the right answer. And with the enormity of what was being asked of Mary, it truly seems a miracle that she was able to discern that ‘yes’ was the answer, that it was her destiny to bring the Son of God into this world and consequently face the ultimate sacrifice of that ‘yes’…watching her son die on a cross for all mankind. His rising three days later was the validation of that simple ‘yes’.
Mary couldn’t possibly have known how it was all going to turn out, yet she said ‘yes’ anyway. May we all be blessed with such faith.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
Blessed art thou among women, 
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen

Katie Bisaro is a long-time parishioner of St. Stephen’s.

Today's Readings

We’re halfway there, 3 weeks of Lent behind us and 3 more to go. This might be a good time to look inward and ask ourselves if this Lent is what we expected and hoped it would be. Are we digging deeper for a closer relationship with Jesus? Have we truly “entered the desert” ourselves or are we skirting around it? Have we been able to resist the temptations that break our resolutions of sacrifice and fasting? 

In today’s Gospel, we hear the parable about the Pharisee whose prayer was to thank God that he “wasn’t like the rest of humanity” or “even like the tax collector” who was also in the synagogue praying. The Pharisee’s prayer was a prayer of pride instead of humble contrition. He omitted his sins and showed no sorrow for them.

The tax collector, on the other hand, didn’t even raise his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Knowing he sinned, he humbled himself before God and asked for mercy.  Jesus said, “he went home justified.”

Lent can be difficult and if we’re honest, most of us probably don’t look forward to it. But we need to remember the sacrificing and fasting we do is to help ourselves let go of our vices and turn them into virtues. The almsgiving we do lets us reject our desire for material things and money.  A deeper prayer life, including time spent with Jesus in Adoration, helps us to rid ourselves of pride as we begin to understand how much we need God. 

Lent can and should be a time of growth in our faith with prayer and reflection. It should be a time spent with Jesus, growing more in love with Him while getting to know Him and ourselves better. It’s a time to show our love for one another with giving and caring for those in need.

And of course, Lent is a time of repentance. It’s the perfect time for that confession we may have been putting off and need to make. Are we willing to humble ourselves before God like the tax collector? Will our prayer be one of pride or contrition?

“Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
 

Donna Washio lives in Warwick with Steve, Kira and Jake, her family whom she is so blessed and grateful for. She is also blessed to be part of the community family here at St. Stephen Parish.

Today's Readings

In preparing my Children’s Liturgy session for my winter parish in Fort Myers, I was given the opportunity to reflect upon a Gospel about which my feelings have always been ambiguous.  Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 tells the story about the Prodigal Son.  In providing a way to make sense of this parable for children, I was able to make sense of it for me.  

There is always more than one way to interpret a story or perceive an incident witnessed by many people.  Episodes of Lawn and Order have shown a group of eye-witnesses recounting an incident differently from one another.  This parable is no different.  If you relate as a parent, you see this as a story of unconditional love for your child.  The prodigal son sees mercy and forgiveness.  The “good” son sees a situation which seems totally unfair.  

Unfortunately identifying with the “good” son, I had missed the whole point of our faith.  Throughout our Church’s history we’ve seen how the greatest sinners became the greatest saints.  Saint Augustine had quite the past and Saint Francis had his moments.  I also failed to see that the “good” son was actually committing the sin of pride.  None of us is perfect and Jesus in his infinite wisdom affords us the opportunity for change.  We need to embrace those who have changed rather than condemn them for their past indiscretions.  

Dear Lord, Grant me with a natural inclination 
to never view myself greater than anyone.
Banish all lingering sparks of self-importance that could elevate me greater than You. 
 Let my heart always imitate Your humility.

Judi Chiodo-Kennedy and husband Dave Kennedy have been parishioners since 1984.   Each winter they worship and enjoy parish life at Pope John XXIII in Fort Myers, FL. 

Today's Readings

I’ve been spending a good amount of “reflection time” with Fr. Richard Rohr through the pages  of The Naked Now, the title of one of his many books. Fr. Rohr is a Franciscan priest and the  founder and director of The Center for Action and Contemplation as well as a prolific writer and well-known speaker and presenter. 

Though still very much a novice to his work, I’ve gleaned that Father‘s spiritual energy and calling to engage with others is rooted in serving to create awareness of God’s Indwelling Presence in the life of every human soul. Furthermore, Father states that, as Catholics, we have a divinely rich yet, unfortunately, somewhat overlooked tradition within the faith known as contemplation or “possessing the contemplative gaze”. 

The contemplative gaze seeks encounter with true presence or deeper, non-dualistic 
(either/or) seeing as a way of spiritual knowing. “The contemplative mind…withholds from labeling things or categorizing them too quickly, so it can come to see them in themselves, apart from the words or concepts that become their substitutes”.

Drawing from our Christian contemplative tradition, Father also talks about three ways of seeing or the three sets of eyes that humanity was (is) given: the first eye or the eye of the senses (seeing, touching, hearing, tasting, touching, moving), the second eye: the eye of reason (making sense of what is viewed and being able to explain it rationally), and the third eye: the eye of true understanding (contemplation, presence).

In today’s Gospel, we encounter Jesus in His wisdom speaking directly to the first eye seeing of the Galileans. “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe (you refuse to truly know). 

We can possibly allow for the royal official, most probably Roman and therefore not a purported believer in Jesus, and his “first eye seeing”. “First eye hearing” actually, since he was most likely not at the wedding feast of Cana to observe the water into wine miracle Jesus performed. He was acting on the first eye seeing testimony of the Galileans in asking Jesus, as his only hope, to cure his son, close to death. 

A remarkable assertion occurs next, however. Even without “seeing” his son cured, John writes, “The man believed what Jesus said to him, ‘You may go; your son will live’, and left”. In the space of this very brief encounter, is it possible that a pagan Roman official was able to stand in the grace of even partial “third eye seeing” to spiritually know that he had encountered God’s Son only to be fully convinced when, even before reaching his home, he finds that his son had been cured at the very hour Jesus had affirmed he would be. “And he and his whole household came to believe.”

Behold God beholding you…and smiling
Anthony De Mello, SJ

For our sisters and brothers in Ukraine, we journey in solidarity and service to your peace.

Katherine Petrillo-Klein and family share a long history in the parish from teaching and learning in the Religious Education program, to the Lector and Spanish music ministry.  

Today's Readings

Our family has fallen in love with the show The Chosen. In one episode the gospel scene from today’s reading is depicted. Jesus approaches the man at the pool and says to him, “You don’t need this pool, you only need me.” That scene and those powerful words will forever stay with me. John doesn’t write these words in this version of the gospel, however I can imagine Jesus speaking them to all of us. You only need me.

I know for certain I’m not the only one who has experienced heartache or difficulties these past few years. And I’m sure there have been times that we’ve all felt like the man at the pool in today’s gospel. Just waiting to be healed. Waiting to take a deep breath and say, “all is well.”

While these past few years have been difficult for so many, and even now as we see the state of the world, we can take comfort in knowing Jesus knows our pain, he sees our struggles and he reminds us that we only need him. Our worldly attachments and successes may give us temporary peace, but they don't sustain. Only the peace and healing Jesus brings can do that. 

The man in today’s gospel was the most vulnerable he could be. Unable to move, he was stripped of everything. But this is what it takes for us to be healed. This is what makes the sacrament of confession so beautiful. We have an opportunity to become vulnerable, expose our sinfulness and then allow God to heal us. Sometimes we need to be stripped of everything so God can rebuild us. So we can be healed. 

My mom taught me a simple and beautiful prayer years ago, one that brings the peace and comfort of Jesus to any situation. Tuck this in your back pocket and pull it out when you are in need of healing.

(inhale these words) Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God
(exhale these words) have mercy on me, a sinner.
 

Amanda Lopez and her husband Marc have been parishoners at St. Stephens for eight years. They have been blessed with four beautiful children, Evelyn (11), Nora (9), Penelope (6) and Joshua (7 months).

Today's Readings

It’s 3:30 a.m. and I cannot sleep. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives, right? Your mind is racing with worry and doubt, or sometimes it’s the excitement and anticipation of something wonderful in your life. Though, it seems nowadays, we have a lot to be worried about: COVID, global wars, climate change, job insecurity, civil unrest, etc. That’s many worries, insecurities and feeling of vulnerability for us to consider, right? Hence, 3:30 a.m. and not being able to sleep. I say my rosary, waiting for prayer to calm my worries, and my mom’s words echo in my mind: 
“God has a plan for all of us.” 
Growing up, my mom always told us:
 “Don’t worry. God has a plan for all of us. He loves and protects everyone.”

In today’s gospel, the Jews accused Jesus of “making himself equal to God” and Jesus explains: “For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.” Reflecting on today’s gospel, it is a reminder of God’s love for all of us and His guidance of how we can continue to be an example of God’s work.
During COVID, healthcare workers proved to be invaluable by saving many lives, risking their own well-being, holding cellphones next to dying patients’ ears so loved ones can say their final goodbyes, and sacrificing their time to be with their families to administer God’s work of helping those in need. Global leaders banning together to help refugees from various countries traversing thousands of miles escaping the tyrants ruling their countries. Police officers kissing their loved ones before starting their day, not knowing if they will see them again. Firefighters/EMTs always on call, serving their community during their most dire time of need. Farmers waking up before dawn to milk the cows, collect eggs, grow crops to feed the world.
“God shows [us] everything that he himself does.” Are not these “unsung heroes’ ” actions a way of God showing us “everything He himself does”? Everyone is doing the work of God to the best of their ability and under God’s guidance. While we all are not healthcare workers, politicians, police, fireman, etc., consider your daily interactions with loved ones and strangers as acts of God. Kissing your child/ren goodnight, knowing that you are doing the best you can to provide them with love, care and protection. Spending time with your parents, knowing that every minute you have with them is a memory that lasts a lifetime. Small acts of kindness to strangers: consoling people, working at food pantries, donations to charities serving others, even the simple act of holding the door for others to pass through – all of these moments are daily examples of God’s work. The Lord is “gracious and merciful ... of great kindness ... lifts up all who are falling ... and holy is all of His works.” [Psalm I45] In your daily life, be gracious, be merciful and be kind.
So, the next time you lie awake at night, reflect on all of God’s love, holiness and kindness and remember:

 “Don’t worry. God has a plan for all of us. He loves and protects everyone.”
 

Today's reflection is written by Ann Molen.

Today's Reflection is shared from Bishop Barron's Daily Gospel Reflections



Today's Readings

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus declares the source of his authoritative behavior. Notably, the first hearers of Jesus were astonished by the authority of his speech. This wasn’t simply because he spoke with conviction and enthusiasm; it was because he refused to play the game that every other rabbi played, tracing his authority finally back to Moses. He went, as it were, over the head of Moses.

His listeners knew they were dealing with something qualitatively different than anything else in their religious tradition or experience. They were dealing with the prophet greater than Moses, whom Israel had long expected.

And Jesus had to be more than a mere prophet. Why? Because we all have been wounded, indeed our entire world compromised, by a battle that took place at a more fundamental level of existence. The result is the devastation of sin, which we all know too well. Who alone could possibly take it on? A merely human figure?

Hardly. What is required is the power and authority of the Creator himself, intent on remaking and saving his world, binding up its wounds and setting it right.

Today's Readings

 

The Lord is close to the Brokenhearted.

I take great comfort in the assurance that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Its an encouragement I’ve often uttered to myself , and to many others I’ve tried to comfort in unfathomable circumstances.  Indeed spirits can be crushed from the weight of suffering, but God promises to rescue us, and free us from our distress, even when pain and grief blind us from this realization. 

Life reminds us time and time again, that in spite of the joy and utter beauty that characterizes so much of it, there is no escape from the reality of suffering,  In truth, the longer one lives, the greater the amount of suffering  one will witness and or experience: “Many are the troubles of the just man.” 

I’ve lived in the Warwick area for 20 years, and for all 20 of those years, the St. Stephen’s Community has been a rich and meaningful part of our family life.  Countless friendships and endless encounters with wonderful people have filled our hearts and lives with happiness. Yet within these same 20 years I’ve witnessed a tremendous amount of tragedy and sadness within the community and have had to offer comfort to many that were crushed by the choking weight of grief and suffering.  
I’ve clung to the hope and realization that the Lord is surely with us, and I make it my constant prayer that those suffering will be given the strength to carry on and one day feel the presence of the Lord that walks with us through all of our darkest hours.

The suffering soul can sometimes cling to nothing but God, and God is patient enough to hold on for us, even if the suffering wears us down, the Lord seeks to surround us with His love and heal us . 

The Lord is close to the broken hearted.   
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.

While suffering can sometimes blind us to the reality that the Lord is truly with us, it is more often an opportunity to experience the true power and glory of God, because it can be a time where we learn and experience a true dependence on Him.  When we begin to know that we cannot face our suffering without the help of the Lord, we open ourselves to the true peace and healing that the Lord offers us.  

One needn’t look far to encounter people that suffer from hardships, from the daily stress and challenges of life to the significant challenges of sickness, death and grief. . How do we respond to others in difficult circumstances?  We can open our hearts to allow the Lord to work through us. We can find words to let people know we are not blind to them or their suffering. We can share simple acts of kindness that might just serve as a reminder that they do not suffer alone, and that indeed the God that loves us all, is walking with us in our darkest moments as He is in the happiest of times.  

Today's Reflection was written by Jane Kunzweiler.

Today's Readings

Excerpt from one of today’s Lenten Gospels- The Death of Lazarus, John 11:1-45
Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

I knew that you always hear me-this is the line of this holy Gospel that really resonated with me as I read it.

How often do we have a picture of who we want God to be and how we expect God to show us that He hears us and is present? How often do we find ourselves down on our knees crying out to God, “Where are you God, why don’t You hear me?” We might feel alone and forgotten when we don’t get the miracles we pray for or when the storm rages on.

-Please God, cure my child of cancer
-I pray God for an end to this pandemic
-Please God, save my marriage 
-God, please end this war that is so devastating and causing so many innocent people to suffer
-Please God, we pray for a baby…..
-Please God, take away this loneliness
And the prayers of His People are many

God is the one whose presence remains, but whose absence is always before us in this broken world. With God’s love and grace, help us to know how much God loves us and that He always hears us. Help us to always know that God is by our side, through the storms of life and when we don’t get the miracle or answer we are looking for.

A Blessing from Good Enough by Kate Bowler and Jessica Ritchie:
A Prayer for When God Seems Absent
Oh God, comfortable would we be if You gave us formulas and answered prayers and realized hope. But You call us beyond comfort.
But God, life upends us. We face divorce or miscarriages, financial struggles or job insecurity, and the people we love are tossed about by disease or loneliness or homelessness or addiction.
We are afraid. We don’t have adequate answers. And sometimes we can’t find You.
Or,we can’t find who we hoped You would be.
May we learn to trust that You aren’t asleep on the job. That You haven’t forgotten us. That You are as near to us as our very breath. Give us the courage to press on. To suffer with hope that You have overcome the world.
May again and again we be awed  by Your presence. That even when we feel like we have hit rock bottom, may we recognize we have fallen into Your arms because there is no place so deep or so dark or so scary that Your presence cannot reach.
In the name of the One who can still the seas with mere words, Amen.

Karen Walker is parishioner of St. Stephens and has lived in Warwick for over 23 years with her husband Erik, their 5 children and 2 dogs.

Today's Readings

“That’s a weird place to meet! Our moms met at the homeless shelter. That’s how we became best friends.”

Two of the young girls I work with asked me where I met my best friends, and I replied “at college!” When I said this, they scrunched up their faces like that answer was not very plausible, and told me how they met.

This interaction was just one of many I have encountered this year that have jolted me from my own privileged experience. To these girls, living in a homeless shelter was just a part of their story, and one they remember as how they met each other. I was reminded by their comment of the burden they have carried, and how unexplainable this burden is. Not to mention, homelessness is not an isolated issue. These girls, and everyone I work with have experienced chronic homelessness which is often accompanied by addiction, abuse, racism, or mental illness. Hearing them refer to their time in the shelter disturbed me, and later caused me to think “why, God?”

If there is ever a time to reflect upon this question - of “why, God?” - I think Lent is one of the best. Afterall, Jesus asks this very question, and reminds us further of his humanity, asking God to take away his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. Suffering is often accompanied by this question, as we look for some answers for whatever is deeply plaguing us. Whether we are witnessing the suffering of others - like hearing two young girls casually refer to their years in a homeless shelter, watching refugees flock to borders to escape war, or reading the staggering losses from a global pandemic - or experiencing the suffering ourselves - grieving the loss of a loved one, fighting chronic illness, or navigating difficult relationships - we turn to this question of
“why, God?” with some hope for an answer.

Spoiler alert: I don’t have that answer. But what I can offer is a perspective on God and suffering for this Lent that has guided me through my work and grief this year. A few months ago, I read Ken Overberg SJ’s book, The Mystery of God and Suffering, which suggests a radically different method of thinking about this question.

Initially, I wondered if a theologian could write on suffering and not - just a little bit - glorify it. If there’s one thing that particularly stings as we navigate suffering, it is others' attempts at glorifying it, citing God’s “plan” or that everything happens for a reason. I expected the rejection in Overberg’s book to be of our anger, or lack of understanding of our suffering. Instead, he rejects this theological perspective: that “God has a plan,” or “everything happens for a reason.”
Would a God so loving and tender actually plan for these things to happen? It is certainly a comforting idea - and does lead us to a sense of trust for God. But it also leads us to dangerous conclusions, that God somehow intended, or at least, allowed these things to happen. Or, instead, is God’s heart simply breaking with ours, yearning to accompany us through our pain? Overberg helps us lean toward this God, and proposes that actually (to use Greg Boyle SJ inspired language), we have a God that is greater than the one we think we have.

Before proposing his four stages of how theology can assist us through suffering, Overberg dismantles some notions about the God we think we have. He writes that the root of this theological perspective, or the God we think we have, when it comes to suffering, stems from how we view Jesus’ death. The “atonement” view, that most of us learned, in which God required Jesus’ death, lays the foundation for the thinking that God demanded Jesus’ death - so why wouldn’t God also secretly require (insert cause of our suffering here). We are constantly preached to that Jesus died for our sins, and Overberg does not deny that. But he contends the role we imagine God played in this death. A God demanding Jesus’ death represents, as
Overberg quotes, “a sadistic mysticism of suffering [that] is certainly alien to the most authentic tendencies of the great Christian tradition, to say the least” (Overberg, 71-72). This rejection of the God we think we have is difficult to integrate, especially when we have been taught so differently for so long. With each point Overberg presented, I had to ask why we have accepted this theology, and continue to perpetuate it in times of suffering. Perhaps we do so because it is just easier. It is easier to understand Jesus’ death as a task that was required of him, rather than something he freely entered into, for us. It is also easier to chalk up our lack of understanding of our own suffering to God’s “plan,” as it protects us from facing the real pain of whatever event has occurred. When we can’t understand our suffering, it is easier to think thatsomeone (God, in this case) understands, rather than accept that no one does.

After guiding his readers to suspend their long-held atonement view both for Jesus’ death and suffering in general, Overberg presents four steps to holding suffering in a theological light. I found the first and last step particularly insightful. First, he writes that we must lament. This lament “allows us to stay in conversation with God, deepening the relationship and gradually moving to a new trust” (78). The first step is not to let go of our sadness or anger, but instead it is the opposite, it is to “articulate the agony” (75). Bring this anger and sadness to God, just as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane! Instead of molding ourselves and our feelings into something we think is more presentable in prayer, something that is not genuine, we should instead use our true feelings to be in conversation with God. Just yesterday, we heard in the Gospel - Jesus wept. It is probably more comfortable in the immediate moment to resign our
feelings to the belief that God had a plan, positioning God above, as the One who understands, and us as far from that. But lamenting to God? Now we have a companion in our suffering, not one who created it.

I expected the final step in responding to suffering to be understanding, or acceptance of it. But instead, it is to stand in awe. Overberg writes that “suffering remains a mystery, not a problem to be solved” (85). Admitting that something that is so big and so painful will remain a mystery is in direct opposition to our inclination to ward off suffering with the answers that “God has a plan.” But, as Overberg compels us, the acceptance of this mystery is exactly what our gentle God, the God who is always better than the one we think we have, would have in mind. It takes a lot of humility to pivot to this view of suffering, but I can only imagine how much closer we can grow to God if we can view God as suffering alongside us, not above us. Accepting suffering to
be a mystery, and God to be always greater than the one we think we have, allows us to be in solidarity with God. 

When I hear about and witness the experience of the children and adults I work with, all fighting to break the cycles of homelessness and trauma that accompanies it, or listen to the news of pandemic and war, or am pained by the reality of loss in my life, my heart cannot help but ask, “why, God?” And as I read Overberg’s work, I was in total awe of how the theological framework we have accepted was so inadequate for a God so loving, gentle, tender. 

But how do I translate this new perspective - of God’s solidarity, not intentionality - into my actual spiritual practice, as I (we) cope with the suffering that surrounds us? Of course, this change will not come with reading a few chapters in a book, or even a few lines in a Lenten reflection. It takes some painful deconstruction of the God we think we have, and beautiful reconstruction of the God who is always greater. I want to start by articulating my agony to God, not skip a prayer during the day because I am too tired from crying. Instead I want to cry to God – or even better, cry with God. Afterall, Jesus wept.

God, help me turn to you and lament my suffering, 
and know that your heart is breaking with mine.

Jennie Prial is a graduate of St. Stephen’s School and is currently serving as a Jesuit Volunteer in Sacramento, CA.

Today's Readings

The reading from Jeremiah points us to the approach of Passion Week - "I hear whispering of many: ""Terror on every side! Renounce let us renounce him.""

The Psalm tells us "In my distress I called upon the Lord and he answered me. I love you O Lord, my strength, O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer."

The growing antagonism toward Jesus is obvious from the very first sentence of the Gospel as rocks are picked up to stone Him and as they "..tried again to arrest Him but he escaped from their power." Soon however their full fury will be unleashed and His earthly life will come to a violent end.

As we begin this Holy Week it might be good to spend some quiet time with Jesus - to let Him into our lives in a deeper way and to accompany Him on the Way to Calvary. Let us be ready to be seen by the one who knows us better than we know ourselves - let this vulnerability allow us to sense some of the human emotions He might have been feeling. The frustration and disappointment of having His words go unheard by proud, arrogant and self righteous people; the sadness at the disappearance of those with whom He had shared close companionship. 

Let us be the "sinful woman" with the alabaster jar - let us weep over our sins and let us comfort Him generously with the ointment of our loving gratitude. Let us be Simon and bear some share of the weight of the cross He carries to save us. Let us be the women who weep as He slowly and painfully walks to His crucifixion and let us hear Him tell us "Weep not for me but for your children and your children's children" and let us ponder these words in light of this current world situation. Let us be Veronica and out of love give Him our veil to soothe His bruised and bloody face. Let us be Mary Magdalene, having been forgiven much let us stand firm at the foot of His cross returning the loving compassion we have received.

My dearest Jesus, may this Holy Week awaken in me the magnitude of your gift. May I walk closely with you and may my love for you deepen as I experience your Passion in a much more profound way. May I come to a greater realization of your overwhelming love so that I open my heart to accept, treasure and trust the perfect love that only you can give and may this journey with you in your passion allow me to surrender everything to your tender mercy. Amen.      

Written by a grateful parishioner

Instead of thinking of places so far away I’d like to focus on Jesus’road to Calvary as told by our very own Stations of the Cross here in St. Stephen’s. The tangible stations are 3 dimensional and I decided to remove the invisible curtain and really look at what was going on. Then I wondered about the 3 dimensions of the intangible:  1) The events happened 2) The artists who chose these events to depict had their own reasons 3) There is an intangible message for all of us as we contemplate and meditate on the Stations. 

#1 Jesus is condemned: Jesus is in a grand palace standing on dark flooring, probably nicely varnished. He seems somber and submissive…to God’s Will
#2 Jesus is given His Cross: Just outside the palace, standing on dirt with bare feet, the heavy wood is placed upon His shoulder. It is here that you start to see some ofthe soldiers with clenched or semi-clenched fists, kind ofmilitary style preparedness orpurpose driven.
#3 Jesus falls the first time: From the ground Jesus gazes toward heaven with his left hand raised looking like He was asking the Father for help or comfort. 
#4 Jesus meets His Mother: Both in pain, their eyes lock.Prayer answered. Who of us wouldn’t want our mother’s comfort when we are burdened? Whether our earthly mother is still with us or not we have our Heavenly Mother who is always here. 
#5 Simon helps carry the Cross: This is an example of someone doing something for Jesus v to Jesus. Though Simon was forced to help, I’m sure it still felt like an act of Kindness to Jesus.
#6 Veronica wipes Jesus’ face: Humanly speaking, how good that must have felt. To have sweat and blood removed from Jesus’ face, especially His eyes.  Another example of Kindness in someone doing forJesus v toJesuss.Dear Jesus, please leave yourimprint on our hearts and souls.
#7 Jesus falls a 2^nd time: Thank you Jesus for your example in getting up again after falling.
#8 Jesus comforts the women: No surprise that Jesus is handing out Kindness,even if through a warning to weep for themselves. Jesus is concerned for their souls. It’s hard to come out of our own world when in pain to reach out to others. 
#9 Jesus falls a 3^rd time:Jesus’ human fatigue is clearly seen.
#10 Jesus is stripped of His garments: Looking submissive and ready, but how humiliated He must have felt. Who is that person sitting on the ground wanting to hand Jesus a cup of Kindness? Is that YOU?
#11 Jesus is nailed to the Cross: Jesus has His left arm and hand raised toward heaven. Was He again speaking to His Father?  The eyes of the one nailing Jesus’ feet to the cross seem driven, purposeful and even evil.
#12 Jesus dies on the Cross: The sky appears colorless and dull. There are no more clenched fists. God gave His only Son for you, for me, for everyone. Jesus laid down His life for all.  “It is finished”
#13 Jesus is taken down from the Cross: Sadness consumes the scene as Mary holds the lifeless body of Her only Son on Her lap. (The Pieta statue)
#14 Jesus is laid in the sepulcher: There are trees with buds. Very soon the buds will open up to full life. Very soon Jesus will rise from the dead bringing new life for us. Such a great analogy; human life and life in nature. Sadly, like trees, only some humans bear fruit. Some want to be the fruit of kindness but have no time.

On this journey the sky is cloudy but the clouds are faint. Reminds me of sin. Not all sins are obvious. Sometimes we have to ask the Holy Spirit to clearly define our actions.

Stand anywhere in the church and notice how striking #12- Jesus dies on the Cross and#13-Jesus is taken from the Crossare.  The Crucifix and empty Cross loom high over all other things and people. These 2 portrayals weren’t done by chance.  CRUCIFIED!!!!   GONE!!!! (John 3:16 in action.)

So, at the start of this most sad and joyful week in the church year, leave your palace (place of comfort). Spend time with Jesus walking His journey or go perform an act of Kindness, a very beautiful Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Take note of what each Station might mean to you or take note how really good Kindness feels. As seen in stations 5,6,14, when someone is doing for Jesus there is life seen in the form of nature…blades of grass, a lone flower, tress with buds. Kindness truly is life-giving to others and ourselves. Notice also how the font of the words has a sharpness to it that enhances the subject matter of the 14 stations. We truly have very beautiful Stations here at St. Stephen’s.

“My God, My God why have you forsaken me”? 

Although it seems that way sometimes, Jesus never has and never will forsake us. May you be richly blessed and feel deeply loved during this special week orchestrated by God Himself, carried out by our Savior and given to each of us to leave lifeless at the foot of the Cross or go forth and bring Light to the world from where you are.. This just might be your holiest Passion Week ever. God Bless each and every one of you. 

Peggy and her husband, Bill, have been members of St. Stephen’s parish for almost 50yrs. They have raised 4 children all of whom attended St. Stephen’s school.