Preaching the Truth in Darkness: Caldwell Campus Ministry

  The Hermit’s Holy Saturday Silence hangs on the earth. The moon has risen Above the ridge and shoved the clouds aside. Yesterday’s rain has gone. Tonight’s turned frigid Again, as if the winter were a prison, Spring a failed escape. Send me a vision, The hermit prays. Send something. I’m afraid Of all this nothing. He sits and tries to read:  Something strange is happening . His windows glisten With frost and firelight—this, he thinks, is strange, Given the time, when life and death contend. The outcome isn’t clear, at such close range. He knows, but un-remembers. Here at the end Of penance, he stirs the embers. Can he change His life? The fire wanes and will not mend.                                       by Sally Thomas                                     Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry (2020)   So often when those who live in northern or even moderate climates prepare spiritually for Christ’s rising from the dead, nature fails to provide

  Readings for the Day:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040221.cfm Good Friday is a day of repentance and of reflection, but most importantly, it is a day of hope. It was the pain of Jesus’ crucifixion which later led to the joy of his resurrection. In times of darkness, our hope and faith guide us forward, and we are reassured by the promise of eternal life with God. Ben Fernandez, '24 Caldwell University

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040121-Evening.cfm In choosing a day to share a reflection, I chose April 1st because it is my daughter’s birthday. A truly special date for me. When I chose the date, I didn’t realize it fell on Holy Thursday / The Last Supper / Washing of the feet. I would say a truly special date for Jesus and all of us! Of course, as a lifelong Catholic I knew the readings, but I took this opportunity to discuss them with my sister and my daughter. The themes that came up were SERVICE TO OTHERS and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.   The Gospel says: “You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master’, and rightly so, for indeed I am.  If I, therefore, the master and the teacher, have washed your feet,  you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”  SERVICE TO OTHERS and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE Washing another’s feet was a very undesirable job and was usually delegated to servants. Even thoug

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033021.cfm Sometimes, I wake up and go about my day wondering "what I am even doing? Is this worth it? Am I wasting my time? How am I helping anyone? Am I even helping myself?" Nowadays, the days seemed to be blurred together, I keep telling myself it will get better even though it's not right now. Some days are dark and other days I see the brightest light. I was blessed with the opportunity to reflect on a few readings from the Bible. Seeing the command, "Lord, in your great love, answer me," put me in a slight state of shock. This past year, I've been praying and asking for an answer to "why?" and "how?". The reading from Isaiah gave me an answer to those questions: "The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue; That I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them." I was brought into the world for a reason and I am working hard for my educati

 Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033021.cfm In today's first reading, we read about God sending a servant to rescue the Israelites. He states “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” As we know this light or servant God is sending, is Jesus. For God is not just sending Jesus to rescue the Israelites but God is sending Him to reach the ends of the earth, which is referring to all humanity.  During Holy Week, we acknowledge Jesus sending His light to the nations as we see Him offer Himself up for us. We watch Jesus forgive all those who have forsaken Him and we watch Him conquer all sin and death. For it is Jesus, the light of the world, who saves the nations. Jesus not only saved those during His time, but he saves us during our time as well.  May we pray, Jesus I have forsaken you, allow Your light to shine over my darkness. In the Gospel reading we hear the story of Jesus stating that one of the a

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032921.cfm As we enter into Holy Week, we are reminded that the Lord chose us and is well pleased with us. We are meant to be a light for the nations and to be a good example to all who observe us and come in contact with us. In the first reading, we hear, that we are meant to “ To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement,   and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness” (Is 42:1-7). Look around you. There is darkness all around- in the hate, the sickness, the poverty. As Catholics, we are called to share our time and talent to serve others. Our lives should be examples of love and compassion, just as God loves us and sacrificed so much for us, in sending His one and only Son to save us. So at the start of our Holy Week, let us pray, “Lord, let them see You in me. Let them hear You when I speak. Let them feel you through my acts of love. And let them come to know you through my unshaken faith in