Preaching the Truth in Darkness: Caldwell Campus Ministry

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

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032821.cfm  “Your life requires your mindful presence in order to live it. Be here now.”  ― Akiroq Brost A favorite parable of mine is titled The Precious Present by Spencer Johnson. This short story reminds me of the power of being in the moment, the here and the now. It’s a meaningful concept as we prepare for the journey of Holy Week where Jesus, in great love, suffers and gives himself over for all of us. Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem is a much needed moment following the week of preparing his disciples for what lies ahead. We find celebration, joy, and hope. This is a true metaphor for the victory of Easter. The experience of Palm Sunday is a moment of celebration that provides a source of hope and belief that the victory of life over death prevails. Let us look back on Palm Sunday when the heaviness of suffering, pain, or disbelief may consume and joyously welcome Jesus with the belief that life and love pr

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032721.cfm In today's gospel we learn of the plot to kill Jesus. Caiaphas, the high priest, notes that "it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish." While the Pharisees and high priests saw Jesus' death as a way to stop the Romans from taking their lands and nation, it does foretell the sacrifice that Jesus will make not just for all Jews at the time to keep their lands and nation but the sacrifice Jesus will make for all people, for us to be saved.  Where can we look to in our lives that allow us to make sacrifices to assist others? How often do we ask God for something in our prayers, but do we need to continue to know that God knows what is best for us and provide for us? Each of these questions are true in our lives today, have we been able to make sacrifices in our daily lives to help slow the spread of the pandemic, have we been able to

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032621.cfm John 10:31-42: “If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am the Father.” In today’s Reading, Jesus is being stoned by the Jews for blasphemy, even though he has “shown you many good works from my Father.” This Gospel Reading teaches us that actions speak louder than words, a reminder more critical now than ever. As our country fights the COVID-19 pandemic, issues related to social justice, and the urgent climate crisis, we must remember that it is within our power to make a difference. We must do more than decry injustices and turmoils; we must act on them. Our good deeds toward positive change and our works of love are examples of the good of God.  Let us remember that each of us has the power to make a difference in the world because God is within all of

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032521.cfm What follows is a powerful poem written by my sister, Rea Nolan Martin and published in Preaching the Poetry of the Gospels: A Lyric Companion to the Lectionary by our own Sister Elizabeth Michael Boyle, OP in September 2003.    The Annunciation These beads we finger like distant stars— why are they still called mysteries? Is her story any harder to grasp than fractals, fields of consciousness, or intelligent energy? Who among us has not known chaos— neutrinos, undetected, blowing through us like wings flapping; the rearrangement of protons and electrons; or the ecstatic surrender to anyone’s mercy?   This is not a parlor game—nature acting out a charade. The clues are assembled in equations that add up to intuition. Do the deaf not hear a deeper voice? And what is faith but the science of infinite possibility— new birth and the atomic force of redemption? Copyright 2002 Rea Nolan Martin   - Sheila O'Rourke,

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032421.cfm To me, both of today’s readings tell us to look at ourselves and decide who we are, what we really believe in our core, and then live our lives following that belief. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the first reading believe so strongly in their God that they will not denounce him even to save their lives. In the second reading, Jesus tells his followers that it is not enough to just follow him, they must live by his words. In other words, they cannot just say they are followers, they truly must follow the old saying, “what would Jesus do?”. I’ve been thinking about these readings and the current state of our country and the world. I’ve been trying to formulate how to say what I’m thinking. After all, I’m not even totally sure what I believe anymore when it comes to religion or spirituality. I do believe there is a connection or spark that unites all of us here on planet earth. I think that we are being asked t

 Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032321.cfm A Letter to the Weary: Look towards God for strength; not only in this Lenten season, but always. Let him renew you. When the children of Israel were decrepit from their journey, God chastised them for their gripe. Alternatively, He taught them to pray. We, as I am weary too, must do the same. In our own moments of distress, we must cry to Him. We must let Him hear our prayers. He wants us to lean on Him. No person has to endure sorrow alone. God asks us to let Him into our hearts. When we do, he instills us with courage. However, in return, we must remember to also speak to Him in times of fortitude. God wants us to call out to Him in times of contentment and serenity, as well.  Together, my Brothers and Sisters, we will make it through. Amen. - Danielle Schiavone, Class of 2019

Today's Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032221.cfm In today’s reading, we learn about a God-fearing woman named Susanna, who was falsely accused of committing adultery. Two old men took advantage of her and gave her two choices that completely trapped her with whichever decision she decided to make. Nevertheless, she decided to sacrifice her life for her belief in God and she was punished with death. “If I yield, it will be my death; if I refuse, I cannot escape your power. Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord.” By the grace of God, her life was spared by a man named Daniel who caught the two old men right in the middle of their lie.  In our current society, we are witnesses to many different injustices within our local communities, country, and all over the world. For us witnesses, it is up to us to bring awareness to these injustices and be the voice for those who cannot defend themselves. Shall we speak up fo

Today's Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032121-YearB.cfm As you think about this Gospel I invite you to close your hand in a tight grip. Think about some of the things you have had to let go of and loosen your grip on over the last year. Yes, many people have had devastating losses. But all of us have also had daily “dyings”—our freedom to go here and there when we wanted, 24/7 sports, hopes for your kids’ endeavors, family celebrations, vacations, perhaps even trips to our favorite coffee shop, barbershop or nail salon. “I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” Loosen your grip a little more and think about some of those things you have had to let “die,” things you thought you could never live without and yet learned you could. As tough as it is to admit, I know this loss has been good for me in areas of my life. It produces much fruit. Yes, there are fruits if I

 Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032021.cfm "O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge." These words really hit home today, especially given the state that our world is in. We are yearning for refuge. A place where we can feel safe and protected from any illness, hate, or violence. And that place is God. God is our refuge and He will always look out for us and protect us from any evil or wrong-doing. Today, let us pray that we turn to God as our refuge and seek peace and comfort in his caring hands. Amen. - Brittany Gaule, Class of 2021

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031921.cfm St. Joseph is one of the hidden heroes of the New Testament. Sure, we know a few things about him:   that he was a carpenter; that he was engaged to Mary; that he was a “righteous” man who did not want to expose her to shame when she became pregnant; that he believed in dreams; and that he was obedient to God. Other than that, there’s not much more we know! We picture him as an old man and assume he died before Jesus began his public ministry. Poor St. Joseph! His feast day falls two days after the huge bash thrown annually for St. Patrick, so he is overshadowed here too – unless, of course, you are Italian and associate him with the famous pastries we for some reason honor him with on his special day… Yet, despite all this, St. Joseph is very much needed in today’s America. We live in a nation overshadowed by glitz and obsessed with celebrity, a world where “ordinary” things and “ordinary” people are minimized

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031821.cfm   The reading of the day could not be more relative to the world today.   While the last year has made us reflect on what is really important and essential we have come to recognize that it is not the “things” that we truly need but the who and what of our lives.   I do not believe it is wrong to like nice things and to work hard and reward yourself with a treat now and again but realizing that it is a want not a need.   I wonder and hope that the “reset” we have experienced will allow us to truly appreciate the simpleness of the world and shed the weight of having to accumulate.   Many of us have purged during our confinement and I for one have felt lighter and less encumbered because of it.   The reading goes on to show that our disappointments with others should not be immediately acted up in a negative way.    Often giving others the benefit of the doubt and time is the best option when not agreeing with the

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031721.cfm Today’s readings serve as a reminder to rely on our faith that the Lord is always present and to trust in the belief that he will never abandon us. Jesus is with us to provide support, to forgive us, to respond to our requests and to act as a model for us. He invites us to follow His example when living our lives and to rely on Him if we lose sight of His presence.   In the Gospel reading we are told to follow Jesus’ example. Just as He emulates his father, God the Father, He serves as a model for us to follow. “….the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does the Son will also do. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does.” (Jn 5:17-30). If we are open, available to listen and willing to support those around us we will be following Jesus’ example, and in turn that of God the Father. Forgiveness, sharing and love will be easier to ac

Today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031621.cfm Imagine you are the man at the pool of Bethesda in today’s Gospel. You’ve been ill for 38 years, hoping for a cure, and suddenly you’ve got it! When Jesus says, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk,” he changes your whole life! He saw you, he knew your suffering, and now he’s healed you. But that’s not enough for Jesus! Even after giving you physical healing, he comes to find you in the Temple area. He isn’t congratulating himself, saying, “I’ve done well! I’ve helped this man. My work here is finished!” No, that one encounter was not enough for Jesus. Even though he’s done so much for you, he wants to find you again.  Now, step out of the story. Think about your own life. When was the last time Jesus found you? Maybe it was in the help of an essential worker who cared about you, even though it meant risk for them. Maybe it was in the colors of a sunset or the giggles of a child. Maybe it was in a text that came at just

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031521.cfm Today’s Gospel of John instructs us on what is known as authentic faith.  “Signs and wonders” are not faith itself, but ultimately lead us to the Lord.  The royal official understood Jesus’ message, and because of his faith, the official’s son was healed. This reminds me of a beautiful hymn of my youth.  Marty Haugen wrote a beautiful song which expresses this sentiment.  Here are the lyrics to “We Walk by Faith”: We walk by faith and not by sight No gracious words we hear Of Him who as none e'er spoke Yet we believe Him near We may not touch His hands and side Or follow where He trod Yet in His promise we rejoice And cry "My Lord and God" Help then, oh Lord, our unbelief And our faith abound To call on you when you are near And seek where you are found That when our life of faith is done In realms of clearer light We may behold you as you are In full and endless sight We walk and not by sight No gra

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031421-YearB.cfm Our God may be called “A Divine Surpriser!” -- one who acts in ways none of us could ever imagine! Cyrus, a pagan – a king of their enemies’ people saves the Israelites from slavery and exile and sends them home.  He even gives them the resources they need to rebuild the Temple.  YIKES!!!!  Who could believe that? St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that equality, reciprocity, and mutual self-revelations form the hearts of those who would be friends.  God wants us to be friends, but that could NEVER be since we are far from God’s equals! That we creatures could be friends of God? IMPOSSIBLE!   But, SURPRISE!! Our creative God sent the Word made flesh into our world.  Jesus, the Divine One, but also fully human, is like us in everything except sin. So he can be our friend and we his!  St. Thomas says God’s Fierce Love motivated this incredible gift!  Paul understood this.  Do we?  Do I? John 3:16 may be the most po

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031321.cfm To me, this collection of readings helps us to remember to be authentic in our spirituality. We are asked to participate in acts of grace with the best of intentions rather than with the goal of impressing others with outward displays. This seems especially important during Lent when it can be easy to make a public show of piety.  In the First Reading, God tells Ephraim and Judah that their acts of piety are like morning clouds and dew that pass quickly but have no lasting sustenance, because it is Love that He desires, not public sacrifice or ostentatious acts. We are encouraged to return to the Lord for His healing love by turning to Him with love in our own hearts.  Following this same theme, Jesus tells us in the Second Reading which of the two worshippers at the temple is the truly holy person - and it is the one who quietly acknowledges his own sins and prays for forgiveness, not the one loudly proclaiming h

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031221.cfm As I read today’s Gospel, I could certainly identify with the scribe. With all the different teachings that Jesus shares, the scribe hopes to simplify things and discover the main guideline from which he should base his life. It’s like he is saying, “Jesus, I know that all your teachings are important. But to which one should I give the most attention?” Similarly, we often want to identify the main idea of a message given to us, in a classroom lecture or project at work. We seek to discover the main message that shouldn’t be missed and the scribe’s question applies this same process to our faith journey. Jesus proclaimed: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”  Instead of saying that all of His commandments are equally i

 Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031121.cfm How do we discern between God's voice and Satan's voice? I remember in my 20's I came across a list of feelings and emotions that broke down these "voices" into two columns to help the believer distinguish between what God's voice might sound like and how we can list for it and know when and how to respond. What has God's voice sounded like in your life? Are you able to hear God when God speaks to you?  Our readings today, especially the Psalm, says to not harden your heart when you hear the voice of God. Allow the voice of God to draw you closer to God, rest in this knowledge that God hears you, even when you might not hear God's voice.  Find 5 minutes of quiet time today to just sit in silence and listen for the voice of God, when and if you're able to hear it today.....try not to let your heart harden, instead rest in God's voice of love, mercy, and gentleness.

 Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031021.cfm In today's Gospel reading Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill..." and it has me thinking a lot about the difference of God's law vs. the law of the land. Which law is easier to follow? Which law are we called to follow? In an age where everything in our country and even our world seems "up for debate" I have been wondering a lot about what does it mean to seek truth when it comes to the law. Followers of Christ might have hoped that He would abolish the law and the prophets of the past but in fact he came to fulfill the law and calls Christians to follow and fulfill the law. As a Dominican university we are anchored in the charism of St. Dominic and one of those aspects of the Dominican charism is to preach the truth. Whether we are preaching truth or seeking truth, it is important to discern what the

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030921.cfm In our Gospel reading today Jesus shares the parable about the master who forgives the debt of his servant who then in turn does not in turn forgive someone else's debt. The parable ends with Jesus tells us that God will show punishment against us if we don't "forgive our brother from our heart." Forgiveness, it is more difficult than it seems! I bet we can all think of a handful of time where we were forgiven and we can think of other times where we offered forgiveness.....but maybe there are still those times where we have withheld forgiveness from someone?  As we approach the one year mark of the coronavirus being declared a global pandemic and we mourn the loss of over half a million lives, I have been thinking about how my view of what is important has changed. In assessing where things are in my life, is it necessary to hold on to hurts when life seems so fragile? Is it necessary to hold on

 Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030821.cfm Being in exile is a core theme from scripture that Christians know all too well. Throughout the Bible, and especially our Gospel for today, time after time followers of God and Jesus find themselves in exile. When Jesus says, "no prophet is accepted in his own native place" He is saying that people of faith will always long for a homeland that is a place of belonging and one where they do feel welcomed. The Christian journey is about always longing for home here on earth. We are called to be prophets not just in exile but to bring the message of Christ to "our native lands". As Christians our hearts are anchored in God and it is easy to not quite feel at home during our life here on earth. Have you ever felt like a stranger in your homeland, neighborhood, or even your family? Have you ever felt you don't fully belong somewhere? Did you turn to God during these times? During this third week

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030721-YearB.cfm I’ve always found today’s Gospel passage to be particularly striking. The imagery of an angry Jesus flipping over tables while quite literally chasing the moneychangers out of Temple contrasts so starkly against the gentle, lamb-cradling Shepherd we tend to depict Him as. As a child, I found this angry, raging Christ figure to be quite frightening, especially when paired with the angry, punishing Lord we see in the first reading of the day. I can even remember being a nervous six year old at Bible Camp, genuinely concerned about incurring the Wrath of God for whispering with a friend as a man with puppets tried to teach us the Our Father. So yeah, this passage has stuck with me for some time now.  But as I’ve gotten older and hopefully grown a bit wiser, I find myself increasingly at home with an angry Christ, especially as I try, with great difficulty, to make sense of the world around us. You see, Jesus wa

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030621.cfm “The Lord is kind and merciful” Many times in our lives we have encountered an event or action that may not seem to fit the standards of our Lord. Whether it be turning away from someone who needs help or performing an action that harms another’s wellbeing, we have all made mistakes that can be considered “unholy” or disrespectful to God. Even reading this parable of the lost son, the younger son boldly demands about his inheritance while his father is still living and leaves the family. These two actions were and are still considered to be highly disrespectful to the family. However, in the end, the father welcomes the younger son back by having a celebration while the older son is upset that he was forgiven so easily after his actions. There is a lot of symbolism in this passage in terms of who the father, the younger son, and the older son represent. The father is presented as God who openly welcomes the son af

  Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030521.cfm One of the most striking things about Scripture is how realistic it is about human nature and family life.  Cain and Abel, Mary and Joseph's anxiety over the lost child Jesus, the siblings rivalry against another Joseph in our first reading; all of these stories rejects an idealization of family life and gives us stories about family life we can relate to. Joseph is sold by his brothers into slavery because they are jealous of their earthly father's love for him.  But then we have the chilling line that comes before the Gospel: "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life."  The Gospel tells us what will happen to such a gift of a Son.  The parable shows the evil tenants killing the son which symbolizes Jesus' death on the cross. God continues to love us knowing our fallen nature's bent towards evil.  Let us con

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030421.cfm For so many, faith is questioned, or even denied, on the premise that we cannot see God. This idea that seeing is believing, is a concept far from true. Our eyes deceive us constantly. People that we can see, touch, feel, can fail us miserably. Yet, what we fail to understand is that at times, the unknown, the unseen, is the most powerful of all. We need oxygen to breathe, energy to move, thoughts to know. You see, God is omniscient. For he knows all. God is omnipresent. For he sees all. God is omnipotent. For he is the almighty and the all-powerful. To trust in the Lord is to trust in yourself. God created you in his image and likeness. The ability to grow, and to flourish, comes from nurturing thyself. Do not look outside to heal what is broken within. Rather, look within. God is love.  You are created by and for love.  - Christine Millien, '18, EOF Office Assistant, Caldwell University

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030321.cfm The greatest must serve the rest. There is no getting around it – Jesus wants the disciples to serve through good works, not through being the center of attention.  There can be no “me” generation with Jesus.  It is not about us, it is about the other.  It is not about succeeding or being in high places, it is about care, justice, and compassion for the other.   In the last year we have witnessed extreme hostilities against other people. Much of this is totally unreasonable, judgmental, unjust and just plain cruel. We don’t have to list examples, we’ve seen it all. And it happens in our country, our neighborhood and even in families. It happens all over the world and lots of times, we don’t pay enough attention. On the opposite side, there are wonderful examples of humble service. People in churches right around us quietly stock food pantries, cook and serve in food kitchens, find housing for immigrants, work agai

Today's Readings:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030221.cfm  When considering today's reading from Isaiah 1:10, 16-20, the line, “wash yourselves clean!” stood out the most to me. Like most of you, over the last year I have washed my hands more often than I can count. This action, that thirteen months ago was commonplace and routine, has risen to the forefront of our minds as a way of keeping our community safe and healthy.  When we get stuck in routines it is easy to forget why the routine exists or to forget its importance, and while some of us spend the majority of our time in the same spaces with the same people the risk of getting stuck in these routines only increases. When we pray are we doing so as part of a routine? Do you pray the words of the Hail Mary every night without considering the meaning of the words? Do we take the time to consider the importance of prayer? The reading of the day goes on to say, “Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doi

  Trust in the Lord Readings for the Day:   https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030121.cfm Highlights of Readings God is a merciful God even with all our failings. He will not judge us on our failings but will judge with compassion. We need to be mindful of this that we too have compassion with others in these troubling times and avoid judging. In times of anxiety, we are encouraged by God to Trust in the Lord. He has given us Hope through his grace and we need to be encouraged to practice believing and hoping. You will maintain your peace with trust in the Lord. This trust will bring blessings – especially Peace to the extent of your Trust. Reflection Dear God, keep me mindful of your compassion for us as we fail you. Help us to remember your unconditional love and empathy that you that you have for us. Please remind me to share this empathy and compassion when we are dealing in troubling times, that we too do not judge others. Dear God, help me to let go and trust you