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Father David's Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent

Father David M. Knight

Mar 17, 2019

Father David's Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent

Having Eyes That See Inventory What do I look to for guidance in my life? To what seems to be the norm in my profession or circle of friends? To what has been taught to me as the law of God? Or to the mind and heart of God as revealed in Scripture and in the life of Jesus? Input The Entrance Antiphon points us to God as a person: "My heart has prompted me to seek your face. I seek it, Lord, do not hide from me." It is only by studying the "face," the mind and heart of God as

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Father David's Reflection for First Saturday in Lent

Father David M. Knight

Mar 16, 2019

Father David's Reflection for First Saturday in Lent

The Responsorial Psalm assures us "Happy are they who follow the law of the Lord" (Psalm 119). Deuteronomy 26: 16-19 makes this a promise: "Provided you keep all his commandments, God will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory above all other nations. and you will be a people sacred to the Lord, your God, as he promised." Is this a motive for learning and living by God's directions? We may not need "praise and glory" as a nation, but we do want the Church to stan

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Father David's Reflection for First Friday in Lent

Father David M. Knight

Mar 15, 2019

Father David's Reflection for First Friday in Lent

The Responsorial Psalm opens us to a deeper dimension of right and wrong: "If you, O Lord, laid bare our guilt, who could endure it?" (Psalm 130). If we really knew the level of life to which God calls us - really saw in detail what we ought to be doing - would it just overwhelm us? Ezekiel 18: 21-28 tells us that the choice we have is life or death. This doesn't mean God will literally kill the sinner. It is just a Scriptural way of saying that all sins - recognized or not,

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Father David's Reflection for First Thursday in Lent

Father David M. Knight

Mar 14, 2019

Father David's Reflection for First Thursday in Lent

The Responsorial Psalm gives us confidence in dealing with God: "O Lord, on the day I called for help you answered me!" (Psalm 138). Esther C (after chapter 4): 12, 14-16, 23-25 shows us Esther risking her life on the basis of what she "used to hear from the people of the land and our ancestors. that you fulfilled all your promises to them." Because she listened, believed and acted on what she heard she became a hero. She saved her people. In Matthew 7: 7-12 Jesus encourages

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Father David's Reflection for First Wednesday in Lent

Father David M. Knight

Mar 13, 2019

Father David's Reflection for First Wednesday in Lent

The Responsorial Psalm tells us the kind of conversion that gives us confidence: "A broken, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn" (Ps. 51). If we convert to being authentic disciples of Jesus, will things really get better in this world? Will it make a real difference? Jonah 3: 1-10 gives us reason to trust that it will. Nineveh (in modern-day Iraq) was a city so bad that Jonah actually wanted it destroyed. When God told him to call its citizens to conversion, he took shi

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Father David's Reflection for First Tuesday of Lent

Father David M. Knight

Mar 12, 2019

Father David's Reflection for First Tuesday of Lent

The Responsorial Psalm promises: "God will deliver the just from all their afflictions" (Psalm 34). But the verses make clear that God requires action on our part. Notice the words: "I sought," "look to him," "called out." It is when the just "cry out" actively that "the Lord hears them." Isaiah 55: 10-11 tells us three things: 1. The initiative comes from God. 2. God gives us life through his word. 3. God's word bears fruit. If we really respond to God's initiative by readin

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Father David's Reflection for First Monday of Lent

Father David M. Knight

Mar 11, 2019

Father David's Reflection for First Monday of Lent

The Responsorial Psalm is a key to the readings: "Your words, Lord, are spirit and life" (John 6:63 and Psalm 19). Leviticus 19: 1-18 gives the guiding principle of all morality and the goal of discipleship: "Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy." This is the law of all laws, and these words are truly "spirit and life." They give us a goal to aim at that is inspiring. And it is warm and personal, because the goal is to be like a person (three Persons, actually!) whom w

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Father David's Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent

Father David M. Knight

Mar 10, 2019

Father David's Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent

Discipleship is Remembering and Reflecting Inventory How have the celebrations in our society formed you? Has celebrating Thanksgiving Day every year implanted any attitude in you? Does the Christmas Season affect the way you think and feel about life? About other people? About God? Does celebrating birthdays help you to appreciate people more? Why do Americans celebrate the Fourth of July? Memorial Day? Do these celebrations form us as a society? Have they shaped any attitud

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Father David's Reflection for Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Father David M. Knight

Mar 9, 2019

Father David's Reflection for Saturday after Ash Wednesday

In the Responsorial Psalm we acknowledge that we are "afflicted and poor." We pray, "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may be faithful in your sight" (Psalm 86). Isaiah 58: 9-14 promises that if we will call our lives into question and try to conform them more authentically to what God calls us to be, then "the light shall rise for you in the darkness.. Then the Lord shall guide you always." God will not fail to guide us. But we need a little humility. We need to admit that

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Father David's Reflection for Friday after Ash Wednesday

Father David M. Knight

Mar 8, 2019

Father David's Reflection for Friday after Ash Wednesday

The Responsorial Psalm tells us we have to call our own ways into question if we want God to lead us into life: "A broken, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn." (Psalm 51). Isaiah 58: 1-9 tells us to quit playing games with God. We ask God why he is not coming through for us: "Why do we fast, and you do not see it?" We think we are leading good Christian lives because we do all the "religious" things we have been taught to do. Why doesn't our religion pay off for us? Man

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Father David's Reflection for Thursday After Ash Wednesday

Father David M. Knight

Mar 7, 2019

Father David's Reflection for Thursday After Ash Wednesday

The Responsorial Psalm assures us that loyalty to God will give us joy and happiness on earth - if we have enough trust to believe what God says: "Happy are they who hope in the Lord!" (Psalm 1). Deuteronomy 30: 15-20 assures us that the fullness of life and joy are ours to choose. No one has to lose out on life's opportunities, because fulfillment and happiness do not depend on circumstances, or on anything others do, but on our own free choice. "Today I have set before you

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a complete, systematic plan for growing into the fullness of Christian Life

a complete, systematic plan for growing into
the fullness of Christian Life