The fourth week of Lent

By Sister Sheila Stevenson, Rochester, New York, United States

Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:
    “Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

Ephesians 5:8-14

At Baptism each of us received a lighted candle with the words, “Receive the light of Christ. This light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly so that, enlightened by Christ, you may walk always as a child of the light and persevering in the faith…”  Today, St. Paul, writing to the Church in Ephesus, encourages the believers to walk in the light doing what is good, right and true; no good can come from darkness. In the light we see and know more clearly what Jesus asks of us and what is pleasing to God. From his jail cell, Paul passionately encourages the believers to examine their actions and choose to walk in the light, showing others a way out of darkness and into Christ’s light.

We all have times of darkness in our lives, but that is not where we need to stay to fully live the life we are called to live. With encouragement and hope we can move beyond our darkness, for we know by faith that we cannot be productive Christians if we stay in the darkness. 

• Have I had times of living in darkness? How have I overcame that darkness and moved into the light? Who or what has helped me?
• Do I take time to discern whether my activities are in harmony with the light of Christ?
• Are my conversations reflective of Christ’s light living within me? Or do they reflect the darkness I see/feel around me?

 Strengthened by faith, we move toward Easter when God shows us, through his Son Jesus, how goodness and light can overcome evil and darkness.

By Sister Rayleen Giannotti, Cumberland, Rhode Island, United States

See, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; 
The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. 
Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; 
For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; 
I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people.

Isaiah 65:17-19

After the two days, he left there for Galilee.
For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place.
When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast.

John 4:43-45

Today, we are invited to reflect on the words of the prophet Isaiah and on the actions of Jesus, the prophet who has no honor in his native place. The prophet Isaiah proclaims that God is “about to create new heavens and a new earth” – an assurance that God will indeed be true to the covenant and the world will be transformed in the new age God brings. Isaiah assures the people that God is (and will be) loyal to the chosen! Finally, in Jesus, the incarnation of God’s loyalty and power, God’s new age is upon the chosen ones. Yet, they, his own people, do not experience joy and delight in his presence. Rather, it is an “outsider” who trusts and believes. Jesus recognizes his faith and sends him away with Hope, “Your son will live.” This Hope takes him home where he finds healing and life. Do we trust and believe the Christ and the new age is in our midst?

By Elsa Cromarty, Associate, East Coast Demerara, Guyana

God is our refuge and our strength, 
an ever-present help in distress. 
Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken 
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea. 

There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, 
the holy dwelling of the Most High. 
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; 
God will help it at the break of dawn. 

Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6

A few weeks ago, a friend sent me a meme that showed two birds. One was at the edge of a branch looking down; the other was just behind. The first bird said, “What if I fall?”  The second bird responded, “But what if you fly?” Fear always has a debilitating effect on our being and on our ability to do many things because it disrupts our equilibrium.

However, the psalm today reminds me that God’s presence in my life transcends all challenges, all obstacles, leaving no room for fear. In God, there is solace, tranquility and safe space in which I can unhesitantly retire. This knowledge gives me joy. I can fly!

In times of personal and collective struggle, we are assured that God’s presence is our source of unshakable strength. Amidst the disruption of the familiar, God’s presence is our anchor that holds us steady. We can take comfort in knowing that God is with us, offering peace, stability and help in our darkest moments.

By Jennifer Lesenger, Associate, Gastonia, North Carolina, United States

Thus says the LORD: 
In a time of favor I answer you, 
on the day of salvation I help you; 
and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, 
To restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, 
Saying to the prisoners: Come out! 
To those in darkness: Show yourselves! 
Along the ways they shall find pasture, 
on every bare height shall their pastures be. 
They shall not hunger or thirst, 
nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them; 
For he who pities them leads them 
and guides them beside springs of water. 

Isaiah 49:8-10

Oftentimes our prayers are not answered immediately, we are asked to remain strong in our faith and to wait for God’s divine timing. However, the waiting can feel like an eternity – leaving us wondering if God has abandoned us. Isaiah shows us that there’s no need to fret; our covenant with God is eternal: ‘In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you,” (49:8). We are reminded to remain hopeful and to know that an answer to our prayers and an end to our suffering is coming. Even those who have deviated from the path of the Lord will be called home again, “Saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves!” (49:9) God calls us all home. So do not worry about prayers that have not been answered yet; God will provide. Where you might see desolation and scraps, God will nurture and grow a bounty. In times of waiting, remember God’s promise to you: “I will never forget you.” (49:15). During this Lenten season, let us hold onto the knowledge that God will provide for us.

By Sister Beatrice Garcia, Norwalk, California, United States

Let your blazing wrath die down;
relent in punishing your people.
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'”
So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.

Exodus 32:12-14

Living in Los Angeles County, an area that gave a view of ‘blazing wrath’ recently, one can understand the plea of Moses. The God of the Old Testament is one of retribution and vengeance. It is amusing to see Moses reminding God of His promises to them so that they are not destroyed in His anger at their infidelity. God did relent. Why?

The New Testament shows us a God so loving that God sent Jesus to us out of love. God puts up with our infidelities, forgiving us over and over because of love. How unfathomable is that kind of love? The grace of Lent allows us to practice this kind of love, to soften our hearts, if we just ask. Our world needs our loving as we have been loved.

By Sister Orlean Pereda, Tamuning, Guam

The LORD confronts the evildoers, 
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. 
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, 
and from all their distress, rescues them. 

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; 
and those who are crushed in spirit God saves. 
Many are the troubles of the just, 
but out of them all the LORD delivers them. 

Psalm 34:17-20

This part of the Psalm speaks of the love and mercy of our giving and forgiving Father God.

God delivered Jesus, His beloved Son, through all the trials leading to Jesus’ death on the cross so that we might be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life. Jesus, the Son of God taught us to pray and trust in God no matter what trials come our way.

God answers all prayers with either yes, no or wait a while. 

This message speaks to me in my everyday life and has led me to believe that God works in our lives if we only trust that we are never abandoned by Him.

My sister, Julie, had a brain aneurysm three years ago and suffered a stroke causing her to lose the use of her left arm and leg. She didn’t lose her speech, and her mind was still sharp. A stomach tube was installed so that she could receive nourishment in liquid form. Every day I prayed for God’s will for her. After Christmas of 2024, Julie fed herself pureed food and shared how she longed for the food she missed. At my visit a few weeks ago, she had great news: the feeding tube was removed because she no longer needed it.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, a Hope that does not disappoint, may we be strengthened in our faith, recognize the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, and let Him transform us into Pilgrims of Christian Hope.

By Sister Rose Weidenbenner, Alamo, Texas, United States

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.

Luke 8:15

Two weeks from tonight we will hear “Light of Christ” and respond, “Thanks be to God.”  For some, it will be long in coming, and for others it seems we just got the ashes washed off our foreheads.

We do not hear much reflection on the verse before the Gospel, yet today’s says, “Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.”  Have we persevered to this point in preparation for Holy Week and beyond?

How generous have our hearts been these last four weeks?  Where have we seen or where have we shown the Light of Christ in our ministry? Are we willing to be anti-racist, non-violent? Are we willing to stand with immigrants and people who are poor? What is the harvest we will yield? Together, at the Easter Vigil, will we be truly grateful for Jesus showing us the way—through Lent, to Holy Week and on to and through Easter?