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The Lectionary provides a kind of spiritual script for the universal church that keeps us, literally, all on the same page as we journey through the liturgical seasons. These short reflections, written by four authors who meet weekly to share the readings, are intended to help daily preachers and others who pray from the assigned scriptures each day to orient themselves to the Living Word addressed to the church in the world. Authors are identified by their initials, with short bios provided. Daily Bread Authors
Paige Byrne Shortal Mary E. Waldron Elizabeth C. Williams
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Daily Bread – February 2008
Third Week of Ordinary Time (continued)
Fri., Feb. 1: 2 Sam 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17; Mark 4:26-34
Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. Whether we plant good seed or bad, one thing leads to another. David chooses to stay at his palace, where he siestas and strolls at his leisure. It’s a bit of laziness or apathy that barely qualifies as serious sin. But through this poor choice, David soon falls further — first to lust and adultery, then to fear and treachery, and, finally, to murder. What sort of seeds have we been sowing? Are our bad habits growing, perhaps into something truly pernicious and ugly? And where did we pick up bad seed in the first place? For gratitude for all that is good … for prudence and fortitude to discern and weed out the bad, we pray. ecw
Sat., Feb. 2: Mal 3:1-4; Heb 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40
Presentation of the Lord
He came in the Spirit into the temple; and … he took him into his arms and blessed God. It probably looked like any other day in the Temple, Mary and Joseph looked like any other Jewish couple, Jesus like any other Jewish child. But to Simeon, led there by the Spirit, this was a day of promise fulfilled, a day to glorify God. We often fail to sense fully the nearness, constancy and care of God who comes to us right where we are, in our humanity. Let us be grateful for holy men and women like Simeon and Anna who radiate hope and joy through their piety. Let us always cherish and emulate the saints among us. For joy and holiness, we pray. ecw
Fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Mon., Feb. 4: 2 Sam 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13; Mark 5:1-20
And all were amazed. It takes a lot to impress us. We’ve heard it all. Yet one cannot read the story of how Jesus casts out the demons without a sense of astonishment — not only at the power of God over evil but also at the compassion for this horribly tormented outcast. Some may not see sympathy in curing the man and then rejecting his request to travel with Jesus, but regardless of his cure, the simple fact remains that the man had been shackled and was dwelling among the dead, alienated from his society. Jesus offers him the gift of reconciliation with his community and the charge to proclaim the Gospel message, which he immediately takes up. In remaining among and witnessing to the unbelievers, he truly follows Jesus. For the gifts of healing and reconciliation, we pray. PR
Tues., Feb. 5: 2 Sam 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30 – 19:3; Mark 5:21-43
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction. Only when we have a right relationship with God will we be at peace. Whatever ills trouble us, we need to call on the Lord, who takes on the aches and torment of all the world, and trust in his mercy. St. Agatha endured beatings, torture and imprisonment in order to live a life consecrated to God. She suffered patiently. Though little is known of her story, one version has St. Peter healing her after she is mutilated. We cannot be assured a life free from pain and suffering, but we can rely on the love, protection and compassion of the Lord who desires to abide it all himself. May we look to Jesus for healing of both body and soul, we pray. PR
Wed., Feb. 6: Joel 2:12-18; 2 Cor 5:20 – 6:2; Matt 6:1-6, 16-18
Ash Wednesday
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. The incongruity of today’s celebration with Jesus’ words in the Gospel is obvious. Yes, the ashes that mark our foreheads remind us of our humanity. But on a day when we clothe ourselves with such a public symbol of penitence, we’re warned against outward shows of righteousness. Yet there is comfort and encouragement in this communal show of our desire to change our hearts and our lives. And there is nothing more obvious than the fact that we’re all sinners. There is little hypocrisy in our desire to support one another on this Lenten journey if we truly yearn for atonement. We cannot do this alone. We need God, and we need each other. Together let us make this a time of grace. Merciful Lord, thank you for looking past our sins and into our hearts. Amen. PR
Thurs., Feb. 7: Deut 30:15-20; Luke 9:22-25
If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Lent offers us a stark reminder of our baptismal call. We use these 40 days to examine our hearts and right our lives, but Jesus reminds us that our call is daily. We accomplish little lasting change if our goal is simply to make it to Easter. What about the day after that? Or the week? Or the month? God’s love for us is not based on a season or a set number of days, nor should our devotion be. If we only work toward a right relationship with God during Lent, then our bond is simply one of fighting off the darkness. We will never celebrate the light. Let us walk with Christ every day. For the strength and grace to bear our daily crosses, we pray. PR
Fri., Feb. 8: Isa 58:1-9a; Matt 9:14-15
Jerome Emiliani, priest
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. Jesus’ disciples do not fast when he is with them. It is a time of celebration. In the presence of the Lord, mourning is out of the question. During Lent, therefore, it’s appropriate to examine the areas of our lives that result in estrangement in our relationship with God. While the disciples look to the time when Jesus is no longer visibly with them, we must look at how we push the Lord to a secondary, or lower, position in our priorities. We don’t have the Lord physically at our side like the disciples, but we can keep him close in our hearts and in our thoughts. Let’s use this solemn and holy time to seek the happiness that being in the presence of the Lord brings. That we may never feel separated from the Lord, we pray. PR
Sat., Feb. 9: Isa 58:9b-14; Luke 5:27-32
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners. Lent offers us yet another chance to recognize our weakness and our failings. Few people like to dwell on their flaws, but we know we are sinners, and we should be grateful for yet another chance to make things right with the Lord. We may not embrace Lent and the mourning and deprivation that accompany it, but we need it. We need to know that the Lord specifically calls us, not in spite of our flawed humanity but because of it. That we may truly turn away from sin, we pray. PR
First Week of Lent
Mon., Feb. 11: Lev 19:1-2, 11-18; Matt 25:31-46
What you have done for the least, you have done for me. I once had the opportunity to hear John Carr speak. He directs the U.S. Bishops’ Department of Social Development and World Peace. (That’s some department!) As part of his talk he read today’s Gospel and then pointed out that it is the only place where Jesus tells us exactly what we need to do to get into heaven. Many of us tend to hear “that sheep and goats thing” and turn our minds to other matters — like what we’re going to do fix for supper. Preachers, encourage your congregations to listen to this Gospel as if their lives depended on it. Then read it slowly and carefully. The life you save may be your own. Lord Jesus, may we recognize you in each person we meet today. pbs
Tues., Feb. 12: Isa 55:10-11; Matt 6:7-15
Do not babble like the pagans. Now that’s good advice! Jesus taught so simply. His lessons aren’t always easy to put into practice, but they’re pretty easy to understand. We who make our living talking or writing about Jesus sometimes feel compelled to come up with new ways to say the same thing, and too often the result is babble. Let’s not be afraid to speak the truth in simple words and live that truth as transparently as we can. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. pbs
Wed., Feb. 13: Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11:29-32
The people of Nineveh believed God. As serious as the message is, there is humor in both of today’s readings. Jonah, that most unenthusiastic of prophets, who hoped the Ninevites would ignore him, trudges through town, reluctantly delivering God’s message — and doggone it, those darned Ninevites heed his word. And then there are those who are standing face to face with Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, the One they’ve been waiting for all their lives, and what do they ask? “Could you give us a sign?” Aren’t we the same? We want a new truth, the latest fad, a more exciting or exotic path to eternal life and happiness. Lord Jesus, speak to us today and help us to hear your voice. pbs
Thurs., Feb. 14: Esth C: 12, 14-16, 23-25; Matt 7:7-12
Seek and you will find. Not to question those in charge unduly, but I do wish today was the Feast of St. Valentine. It would be such an opportunity to talk about our kind of love. (There is one friend with whom I exchange Cyril and Methodius cards, but it’s been our private joke — until now. Happy Feast, MEW.) Esther cries out for help, fearing for her life and the life of her nation. Jesus promises us that what we seek, we shall find. Lent is the time to dig deeper, to discover the deepest longings of our heart, and then quietly, gently let the rest go. That, by the way, is the essence of “our kind of love,” well-illustrated by the dedicated lives of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. For the courage to love, we pray. pbs
Fri., Feb. 15: Ezek 18:21-28; Matt 5:20-26
Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees ... It’s not difficult to imagine the scene: Some of Jesus’ listeners are pleased that he seems to be sticking it to the religious leaders who have so long oppressed them. Jesus is impatient with those who bind up heavy burdens for others to carry and show off their widened phylacteries while sitting in their places of honor. But … Jesus does not let the rest off the hook. We are to be more righteous than those we criticize; when necessary, even more righteous than our religious and political leaders. This is a hard teaching. Lord Jesus, help me to be what I want others to be for me. pbs
Sat., Feb. 16: Deut 26:16-19; Matt 5:43-48
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. On the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, we offered a Mass, announced only on the radio yet attended by a crowd that over-flowed the church. It was a frightening time. My pastor chose this Gospel to read at that Mass. There were gasps when he began to read. There were letters criticizing him. And yet, this is Jesus’ message for these very times. We imagine there are exceptions: the enemies of our nation; a business partner who cheated us; an estranged sibling who no longer speaks to us; a former spouse who betrayed us. Jesus doesn’t mention these exceptions. How can we call ourselves disciples and not heed this very direct teaching? For the courage to forgive, we pray. pbs
Second Week in Lent
Mon., Feb. 18: Dan 9:4b-10; Luke 6:36-38
For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you. We must not think that God’s forgiveness is “quid pro quo” (e.g., As you forgive your enemy, thus I will forgive you”). We might easily despair if we had to forgive as God does before we could experience forgiveness. Instead, we should understand that God’s mercy and love are infinite, inexhaustible and unearned. When we forgive those who harm us, Jesus wants us to imitate divine forgiveness in its lavish and unstinting generosity, because the more deeply and unconditionally we forgive, the more we will be hollowed out to receive, experience and understand the forgiveness and love God always has for us. Lord, enable me to love and forgive as you do, so that I may know the depth of your love and mercy. mew
Tues., Feb. 19: Isa 1:10, 16-20; Matt 23:1-12
Come now, let us set things right. Today we are urged to repent and ask God to cleanse us of our sins. The Gospel adds a special emphasis on those in positions of leadership and authority. How easy it is to judge “them” — church leaders, elected officials, CEOs, the rich. “Why should I do what they say, when they have done thus-and-so?” Jesus tells us to obey lawful authority, even if the one exercising it is apparently flawed. Each of us will answer for his or her sins. Why do we assume that irresponsible stewardship and scandalous behavior are the actions only of the mighty? Does no one look to me for an example? Do I not exercise stewardship or authority over someone or something? Lord, teach me to look to my own sin and be slow to judge others. mew
Wed., Feb 20: Jer 18:18-20; Matt 20:17-28
Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life? The true prophet of God seldom tells us what we want to hear, but instead what God wants us to hear. Small wonder that the contemporaries of both Jeremiah and Jesus plotted to kill them, and that even today there are those who would silence any who speak the Gospel message and its mandates boldly. Each of us is called to share in the prophetic ministry of Christ, and responding to that call often costs us something. It might be only inconvenience or embarrassment, or it might entail physical danger. Whatever happens, if we walk in the will of God we will be upheld and ultimately rewarded by God. Lord, purify and strengthen me that I may serve your people and speak your Word. mew
Thurs., Feb. 21: Jer 17:5-10; Luke 16:19-31
Cursed is the one who seeks strength in flesh, whose heart turns from the Lord. We live in a world where many starve to death, deprived, like Lazarus, even of scraps. Yet in some countries, including the United States, obesity has become an epidemic. The image of the ragged Lazarus covered with sores, lying outside Dives’ banquet hall, may seem quaint and remote, but to those whose vision is global, it could be a photograph in the daily newspaper or a film on the 6:00 news. Let us learn that this is not someone else’s problem, and that each of us is responsible for breaking out of our comfortable isolationism and working toward an equitable distribution of the earth’s abundance. Lord, teach me to recognize you in every person who suffers from the lack of life’s basic necessities. mew
Fri., Feb. 22: 1 Pet 5:1-4; Matt 16:13-19
Chair of St. Peter, apostle
Tend the flock of God in your midst … be examples to the flock. Peter had the same human frailties we all possess. He was tempted and he sinned (Matt 26:69-75). He needed guidance from fellow apostles like Paul (Gal 2:11ff). Yet Peter and his successors, the popes, have been chosen by God to teach, guide and serve Christ’s church. Some may have abused their position and even behaved in ways unfitting to their calling. Yet the office of the “Chair of Peter” remains, greater by far than any who occupy it. Let us pray for today for the pope and for the church he guides under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Lord, we pray for the church and its leaders, especially the pope and bishops, that they may serve your people and lead them to you. mew
Sat., Feb. 23: Mic 7:14-15, 18-20; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Polycarp, bishop, martyr
Who is there like you, the God who … pardons sin … [and] delights in clemency?
We identify a bit with each character in today’s Gospel. I am the sinful, wayward younger son, with no place to go but home, however humbling the circumstances. I am the obedient and hurt older son, angry that no one is taking notice of all I do day by day, seeking my father’s love and appreciation. Sometimes I am even the father, prodigal in my love, forgiveness and generosity, wanting only to embrace those I love and see them happy together, loving each other. We are meant to imitate the best of all three — humble and contrite, patient and steadfast, merciful and loving. Lord, you have called us into your family; teach us how to grow in the family likeness. mew
Mon., Feb. 25: 2 Kgs 5:1-15b; Luke 4:24-30
‘My father,’ they said, ‘if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it?’ Sometimes we need to be wary of our own expectations. Naaman nearly walked away from the cure for his leprosy because it wasn’t what he expected. He was looking for a flashy exhibit of divine power, not a simple ritual washing (seven immersions that symbolized his complete cleansing). We, too, may expect God to heal us according to a particular vision of how we think God should act. We may despair of ever lowering our cholesterol, blood pressure or weight as we beg God for the wonder drug. But could those voices telling us to move more and eat less be God’s prophets? For the grace to recognize a healthy lifestyle as God’s will for us, we pray. ecw
Tues., Feb. 26: Dan 3:25, 34-43; Matt 18:21-35
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you? We know the transformative effect of gratitude. We’ve all experienced the joy and relief of a burden lifted, the lightened spirit when fears suddenly vanish. And yet we also know that sometimes gratitude doesn’t come spontaneously. Sometimes we are too busy to notice God’s mercy or too preoccupied with worries to appreciate even extraordinary blessings. The unforgiving servant was guilty, first of all, of not being grateful for the mercy shown him by his master. Had he been truly grateful, gratitude’s partners — humility, compassion, kindness — would have impelled him to bestow mercy on the one who was in debt to him. For the grace to practice gratitude daily … for a kind and merciful disposition, we pray. ecw
Wed., Feb. 27: Deut 4:1, 5-9; Matt 5:17-19
This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people. The chosen people stood out from their barbarous neighbors in the ancient world. They followed God’s Law, albeit imperfectly — but at least they had a law to follow. Today’s world fairly clamors for peace and justice as the need for a new international order increases. On the World Day of Peace in 2004, Pope John Paul II spoke of such an order where problems would be solved “based on the dignity of human beings, an integrated development of society, solidarity between rich and poor nations” and on the “sharing of resources and the extraordinary results of scientific and technological progress.” Let us pray for Spirit-led leaders who will strive for a new day of peace and unity among the nations. For the welfare of all people, we pray. ecw
Thurs., Feb. 28: Jer 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Jesus’ detractors accuse him of the absurd: being in league with Satan. After dismissing their ludicrous assertion, Jesus deftly shifts the focus to himself, his mission, and the theme of discipleship. The real question — in light of the mighty works he performs and the goodness he engenders — concerns not him but those who encounter him and how they choose to respond to him. Those who continually straddle the fence and keep asking for signs (even when signs abound) only detract from Jesus’ mission. Those who stand on the sidelines and do not actively participate in doing the works of the kingdom likewise only inhibit its progress. For zeal, steadfast faith and unflagging commitment to Jesus, we pray. ecw
Fri., Feb. 29: Hos 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. Guilt has its function. It helps us recognize when we have done wrong. But too often we get bogged down in it. It becomes a “stopping place,” as Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki explains (The Fall to Violence: Original Sin in Relational Theology, p.152), where we turn the violence of sin in on ourselves. Rather, a “proper approach to guilt is to understand it as a transitional space that awaits the release of forgiveness and transformation.” This holy season calls us to grapple with our guilt, but we need not wallow in it. As God forgave and called Israel to return to faithfulness, so are we called. As we admit to our sins, let us do so with confidence in God’s mercy. For forgiveness, we pray. ecw
Daily Bread Authors
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Patricia Russell
Paige Byrne Shortal
Mary E. Waldron
Elizabeth C. Williams
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