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Immersed in Christ: March 30, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 30, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 30, 2020

Monday, Week Five of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 23) declares all fears false except separation from God: “Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil; for you are at my side.” Daniel 13: 1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 is a painful story to read today, and it raises painful issues. The villains are “elders,” which in Greek is presbyteros, the word which became “priest” in English. In the context of our world, the men who tried to rape Susanna were priests. Worse than t

Immersed in Christ: March 29, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 29, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 29, 2020

Sunday, Fifth Week of of Lent Conversion to Being Divine Inventory The Entrance Antiphon is a prayer of trust: “Give me justice, O God… Rescue me from the deceitful and the unjust” (Psalm 43). Do I see this happening? Judging by what I see going on in the world, does it seem that Jesus is winning or losing? Christians believe Jesus triumphed over those who crucified him by rising from the dead. Do I see any visible evidence of his resurrection around me today that encourages

Immersed in Christ: March 28, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 28, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 28, 2020

Father David's Reflection for the Fourth Saturday of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 7) gives us the ruling principle of discipleship: “O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.” The starting point of discipleship is an act of trust in God. Our security is rooted, not in acceptance by others, not in conformity to whatever group in the Church seems most solid and reliable, not even in the approval of popes and bishops, who frequently in history have turned a blind eye to abuses and

Immersed in Christ: March 27, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 27, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 27, 2020

Friday, Week Four of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 34) tells us that, contrary to appearances, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” Wisdom 2: 1-22 lists six reasons— as common today as then — why some nonbelievers find those who are authentically religious “obnoxious.” Believers “reproach” others for going against God’s law. We do. We can’t judge others’ consciences, but when something is wrong we should say so. Believers “profess to have knowledge of God.” Of course. Rel

Immersed in Christ: March 26, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 26, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 26, 2020

The Responsorial (Psalm 106) presumes the value of prayer: “Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people”. In Exodus 32: 7-14 Moses gives God good advice, reminds him of what God seems to have forgotten, and gets God to change his mind about what he had planned to do. Yeah, right. This is a good example of the way God inspires the Scripture writers. He inspires them with truth, but truth expressed in the kind of words and images the writers understood, and that the people fo

Immersed in Christ: March 24, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 24, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 24, 2020

Tuesday, Week Four of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 46) tells us to trust: “The mighty Lord is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” Ezekiel 47: 1-12 is about water, a symbol of the life God gives in Baptism. All who have this life within them should be sources of life for others: “Wherever the river flows, every living creature that can multiply shall live.” Picture it: a clean, flowing river. On both banks, green plants, flowers, crops and trees. This is the way the worl

Immersed in Christ: March 23, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 23, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 23, 2020

Monday, Fourth Week of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 30) is an acknowledgement each one of us needs to make. Frequently. “I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.” What kind of God comes through in Isaiah 65: 17-21? Lo, I am about to create a new heavens and a new earth.... There shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create. For I create Jerusalem [read “the Church”] to be a joy, and its people to be a delight. Larry, a Baptist minister, told at a dinner

Immersed in Christ: March 22, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 22, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 22, 2020

Sunday, Week Four of Lent Conversion to a New Guidance System Inventory How do I make most of my decisions? Is it by common sense? By applying rules and doctrines to situations? By reflecting on things in the light of Scripture? By trying to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit in my heart? Input The Entrance Antiphon calls us to rejoice in the Church (the new Jerusalem): “Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentm

Father David M. Knight

Mar 21, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 21, 2020

Saturday, Week Three of Lent The Responsorial (Hosea 6:6 and Psalm 51) says God wants us to know him: “It is steadfast love, not sacrifice, that God desires.” The verse continues: “…the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” God wants disciples. Hosea 6: 1-6 shows us the predictable path of discipleship. The starting point, as often as not, is seeking an escape from pain. “In their affliction they shall look for me.” When we are “in the pits,” all we want is a return

Immersed in Christ: March 20, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 20, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 20, 2020

Friday, Week Three of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 81) is incomprehensible: “I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.” It is impossible to summarize these readings — just as it is impossible to begin to grasp what “I am the Lord your God” means. We could sit silent in front of that mystery for the rest of our lives. So read Hosea 14: 2-10. Then re-read it. Then read the Responsorial Psalm — all of it. Then start over. Read Mark 12: 28-34. It is saying the same thing. Keep readi

Immersed in Christ: March 19, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 19, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 19, 2020

Feast of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, Foster Father of Jesus The readings for the feast of St. Joseph are all about faith, hope and promise. In Matthew 1:16-24 the angel tells Joseph “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” What was he afraid of? We usually assume that Joseph thought Mary, to whom he was engaged, was pregnant by another man, and for that reason was going to break off the engagement and “dismiss her quietly.” Another interpretation is that Mary told Josep

Immersed in Christ: March 18, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 18, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 18, 2020

Wednesday, Week Three of Lent Why does the Responsorial (Psalm 147) invite us: “Praise the Lord, Jerusalem”? Deuteronomy 4: 1, 5-9 says God’s laws are so good and just that if we live by them people will say, “This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.” We would be, if we had written them. But since they were given to us by God, we can only claim credit for being smart enough to recognize how good they are. And the jury is still out on whether we are that smart

Immersed in Christ: March 17, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 17, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 17, 2020

Tuesday, Week Three of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 25) is: “Remember your mercies, O Lord.” During Lent the first reading and the Gospel are chosen to match. The Responsorial gives us the theme of both. The Gospel is going to talk about a man in an impossible situation. To match it, Daniel 3: 25, 35-43 describes a situation the whole People are in that doesn’t offer any ray of hope — except God: For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low in the world th

Immersed in Christ: March 16, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 16, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 16, 2020

Monday, Week Three of Lent The Responsorial (Psalms 42 and 43) is: “My soul is thirsting for the living God. When shall I see him face to face?” In 2 Kings 5:1-15 the mistake Naaman made was that he had some prior expectations about how a “prophet” would act. When Elisha did not “come out, invoke the Lord and move his hand over the spot” where his leprosy was, he lost whatever faith he had in his ability to help him. He wouldn’t even follow the simple direction, “Go and wash

Immersed in Christ: March 15, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 15, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 15, 2020

Sunday, Week Three of Lent The Pace of Conversion Inventory Do I ever get discouraged about growing into intimate friendship with God? Am I tempted, because of my sins or shortcomings, to stop reading Scripture and praying? When I feel like this, how does God feel? Input The Entrance Antiphon encourages us to believe God is always working to set us free from whatever holds us back from him: “My eyes are ever fixed on the Lord, for he releases my feet from the snare.” God says

Immersed in Christ: March 14, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 14, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 14, 2020

Father David's Reflection for the Second Saturday of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 103) gives a hope in God’s love that encourages conversion “The Lord is kind and merciful.” Micah 7: 14-15, 18-20 tells us that if we feel blocked from Mass or from participation in the sacraments, the block is not because of God’s attitude. We may think it is. We may think that God — or the Church — does not accept us. That God’s acceptance is conditional on our “living up” to some law or idea

Immersed in Christ: March 13, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 13, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 13, 2020

Friday, Week Two of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 105) gives a simple remedy to many troubles: “Remember the marvels the Lord has done.” If we pay attention to the Liturgy of the Word” we will hear enough of those marvels to be able to remember some when we need to. Genesis 37: 3-4, 12-13A, 17B-28A shows us what envy can do. And what God can do in spite of it. Envy is more than jealousy. Jealousy is to want something another has. Envy is to hate so much the fact the other has

Immersed in Christ: March 12, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 12, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 12, 2020

Thursday of Lent, Week Two The Responsorial (Psalm 1) takes note: “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.” If we keep assembling with the community for Mass, the Liturgy of the Word assures us that the truth will catch up with us, whether or not we want to hear it. All truth is lifegiving, but sometimes it takes faith to accept that. And all truth offers hope, even if at first it discourages us. Yesterday’s reading could have been hard for some priests to hear, especially if

Immersed in Christ: March 11, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 11, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 11, 2020

Wednesday, Week Two of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 31) prays with confidence: “Save me, O Lord, in your steadfast love!” Jeremiah 18: 18-20 affirms a truth of human life as shocking as it is sad. Truth arouses criticism. Good incites to evil. “Must good be repaid with evil, that they would dig a pit for my life?” You can’t love people enough to stop them from hating you. Jeremiah couldn’t. “Remember that I stood before you to speak in their behalf.” Jesus couldn’t. And no on

Immersed in Christ: March 10, 2020

Father David M. Knight

Mar 10, 2020

Immersed in Christ: March 10, 2020

Tuesday, Second Week of Lent The Responsorial (Psalm 50) promises: “To the upright I will show the saving power of God.” Isaiah encourages us to add: “And also to those not upright.” Isaiah 1: 10, 16-20 offers forgiveness and purification to the “princes of Sodom.” When we read in Genesis 19 the sin that brought destruction on Sodom, we wonder that Isaiah can promise what he does. In the eyes of Lot, in whose culture protecting guests was sacrosanct, to have allowed the rape

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