Looking ahead: The week’s readings for March 31-April 5

Looking ahead. The readings for this upcoming week focus a lot on the identity of Jesus. Who is he? What is his mission? What has he come to earth to do? What does he desire for us?

Looking ahead

In so many ways, the fundamental question of the gospels is the one Jesus asks of his disciples. “Who do you say that I am?” In so many ways, the power of the Incarnation of Jesus is one where we humans are given the invitation to learn who Jesus is and to have a relationship with him.

Monday. A new heavens and a new earth. The healing of the royal official’s son.

In some ways the gospel reading for Monday is one where we learn that Jesus is not about just having one place where he waits for us to come to him. No, Jesus is the one who always takes the initiative. He comes to us. His home town will not welcome him? No problem. he will go out to the world to find faith.

And he goes to the Galileans. Galilee is where Jesus performed his first miracle, where he made the water wine. And it was not just a little water made into a little wine. Just as Jesus is excessive in his love for us, so too does his life giving power prove excessive in the changing of the water into wine.

As he performs the second of his signs in Galilee, we are reminded that he can heal us too. He can forgive our sins. He can walk with us. Most of all, he can rescue us and save us.

Tuesday. The power of water.

Do you ever think about how your faith developed? For some it is a burst of faith growth. For others, and maybe even for most of us, it is gradual and over time. In today’s first reading, Ezekiel gradually experiences God’s healing water. It begins with a trickle and ends in a major flowing river.

The gospel is also about the power of water. But this power is one that has eternal consequences. Whenever we encounter water in the Bible, we should immediately become aware of baptism. Just as the growth along the mighty river gives life, and Jesus’ healing provides life, so too, and most of all, does our baptism provide life.

Wednesday. Is this a good time?

Sometime when we need to talk to someone we do not make a specific appointment. Rather, we might pop into the office of our boss and ask, “Is this a good time?” We want to be considerate and respectful of our boss’s time.

We might feel that we have to do the same with God. We might think that we have to ask God if this is a good time. But today’s first reading from Isaiah provides us with great assurance about God’s eagerness to save us. This is a good time.

Thursday. You need to speak to your son.

When I was little, and I was in trouble, there were times when I knew it was not going to be good because I heard my mother say to my father, “You need to talk to your son.” And I knew it was not good because I was not referred to as “our son” but “your son.”

In the first reading, Moses has to go down to the people who have already gone astray. They have abandoned the faith in God, and quickly gone their own way. And they had seen so much glory from God! The prayer, fasting and almsgiving we do this Lent should lead us to see more clearly the salvation of God.

Friday. You’re not the boss of me.

There are many kids who probably have said this phrase to a sibling or even to a friend. It usually gets said when we don’t like what we are being told to do. Often added to the fact is that the person who is telling us to do what we do not want to do is one who is not really any more special than we are.

In the first reading we encounter something similar. The righteous servant of God is obnoxious to the people who do not want to follow God. They do not like the way he lives life because they see in it something that seems to witness against their selfishness.

As we see in the gospel, we see that Jesus has the authority to show us the way to live a good life, one that is fulfilling. And if we are truly wise, we will submit to Jesus and his will in all we do.

Saturday. I didn’t see that coming.

Life is something that can throw us surprises. Some are good, like a surprise birthday party, or winning the lottery. Others, not so much. We can be blindsided by a bad doctor’s visit. We can learn we have lost a job. We can find one of our important relationships is broken.

Jeremiah in today’s readings is surprised. He is as trusting as a lamb led to slaughter. He does not see the persecution, and the plot against him. The image of a lamb should draw our minds to Jesus, the Lamb of God. And we should trustingly allow ourselves to be led by him.

On the friar, you can listen to our homilies (based on the readings of the day) and reflections. You can also ask us to pray for you or to pray for others. You can subscribe to our website to be informed whenever we publish an update.

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