Work in the World

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today implore us to work in the world, where God is rejected, with the strength of Love, Faith, and Hope.

Witness to the World

In the Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul in Lycaonia invites Timothy to Europe with him.

* [16:3] Paul had him circumcised: he did this in order that Timothy might be able to associate with the Jews and so perform a ministry among them. Paul did not object to the Jewish Christians’ adherence to the law. But he insisted that the law could not be imposed on the Gentiles. Paul himself lived in accordance with the law, or as exempt from the law, according to particular circumstances (see 1 Cor 9:19–23).

* [16:7] The Spirit of Jesus: this is an unusual formulation in Luke’s writings. The parallelism with Acts 16:6 indicates its meaning, the holy Spirit. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 100 is a hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts.

* [Psalm 100] A hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings for the God who created them.

* [100:3] Although the people call on all the nations of the world to join in their hymn, they are conscious of being the chosen people of God. (Psalms, CHAPTER 100| USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John, prepares the disciples for the “World’s” Hatred.

* [15:18–16:4] The hostile reaction of the world. There are synoptic parallels, predicting persecution, especially at Mt 10:17–25; 24:9–10.

* [15:20] The word I spoke to you: a reference to Jn 13:16.

* [15:21] On account of my name: the idea of persecution for Jesus’ name is frequent in the New Testament (Mt 10:22; 24:9; Acts 9:14). For John, association with Jesus’ name implies union with Jesus. (John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Vivian Amu comments that in today’s Gospel, John 15:18-21, Jesus reveals another layer of the challenge of discipleship. He said that those who walk in His ways and live by His teachings naturally stand out—they love differently, act differently, and prioritize differently. With that difference comes rejection, being misunderstood, or even disliked.

When doors close, God opens new ones. When others push us away, God stays with us, reminding us of who and whose we are. Jesus did not sugarcoat anything—living out our faith authentically may not always bring applause or a loving and positive response, but it is always worth it.

Can we place our trust in God’s way, even when it feels inconvenient or uncomfortable, believing God has designed our path for a greater good and our best interest in mind? How might it look to boldly bring God’s love into places and among people who may not accept it? What would it be like to find genuine peace, simply knowing we are following in Christ’s footsteps? How would it feel to live and speak as Christ did, without letting the fear of rejection hold us back?

Merciful God, help us lean on your strength and trust in your love for us when the way feels difficult.

Amen. (Amu, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Those who suffer with Christ reign with Christ,” by Cyril of Alexandria, 375-444 A.D.

"It is just as if Jesus said, 'I, the creator of the universe, who have everything under my hand, both in heaven and on earth, did not bridle their rage or restrain ... their inclinations. Rather, I let each one choose their own course and permitted all to do what they wanted. Therefore, when I was persecuted, I endured it even though I had the power of preventing it. When you too follow in my wake and pursue the same course I did, you also will be persecuted. You're going to have to momentarily endure the aversion of those who hate you without being overly troubled by the ingratitude of those whom you benefit. This is how you attain my glory, for those who suffer with me shall also reign with me.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 15:18-21 comments that by choosing us “out of the world,” Jesus has given us real hope—the hope of a life spent in a living relationship with him and of eternal life in heaven. At his resurrection, he broke down the barrier between heaven and earth so that life in this world could be infused with the grace of his kingdom.

So if you feel yourself getting tired or discouraged, remember that you don’t belong to this fallen world. Ask the Spirit to raise your heart to the promise of heaven. Let that promise fill you with hope again. You are a fellow citizen with all the saints!

“Lord, thank you for filling me with the hope of heaven!” (Meditation on John 15:18-21, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Acts we hear a disciple Timothy who begins to follow Paul is circumcised because his mom is Jewish and descent from a Jewish woman is his identity marker for his heritage. Paul’s plan to go to the coast of Turkey is prohibited by the Spirit as he is not to go to a community where the Good News is already preached. He is invited in a dream by the Spirit to Macedonia. The Gospel of John raises the question of how we are invited into the Life of the Father? The “world” that rejects the Love of God, lives in concupiscence. We try to live a life of love, and often, we are hated for our efforts. Friar Jude reminds us we will pay a price accused of being naive, experiencing rejection, having a sense of being better. We too have to be willing to suffer and die for Him as He does for us.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces James Finley who describes how the dance of union and separation experienced by lovers can be a reflection of how we experience our relationship with God. There isn’t a distinction that says, “Over here is oneness, and over there is twoness.” It’s the alchemy of the endless interplay of the oneness of the two who are one. 

I think love’s nature is like that.

It doesn’t really matter if we’re married, single, or celibate. We can all experience this. My sense is that God says to us, “It may be true that the thread of your constancy, your ability to be aware of my oneness with you, often breaks. But know that no matter how often it breaks from your end, it never breaks from my end. Furthermore, when it breaks from your end and you can’t find me, I’m infinitely present as love in your inability to find me. Your inability to find me is me, because the fact that you long for me, even though you can’t find me, bears witness to your longing for me. Therefore, every time the thread breaks from your end, know that it will reawaken your desire to lean into and renew the thread that never breaks from mine.” The rhythms of oneness and separation are reflected in death, married love, or people in love. The love and the oneness permeate both endlessly and unexplainably. I think that’s love’s rhythm. (Rohr, n.d.)

We invite the Holy Spirit to accompany our mission to live out our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader as our source of Wisdom and consolation when we need a Plan B after setbacks and rejections.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16?1 

Amu, V. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-9-2026 

John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15? 

Meditation on John 15:18-21. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/09/1560874/ 

Psalms, CHAPTER 100| USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Lover and Beloved in the Song of Songs: Weekly Summary. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/lover-and-beloved-in-the-song-of-songs-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Are Not of the World. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Broken and Belonging

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today declare the commitment of Christ to love those suffering from brokenness in society.

Welcome the Broken

In the Reading from the Book of Wisdom, the wicked deny survival after death.

* [2:1–20] In this speech the wicked deny survival after death and indeed invite death by their evil deeds.

* [2:12–5:23] From 2:12 to 5:23 the author draws heavily on Is 52–62, setting forth his teaching in a series of characters or types taken from Isaiah and embellished with additional details from other texts. The description of the “righteous one” in 2:12–20 seems to undergird the New Testament passion narrative.

* [2:12] Law: the law of Moses; “training” has the same meaning.

* [2:22] This verse announces the subject of the next section. (Wisdom, CHAPTER 2 |, n.d.)

Psalm 34 declares God gives protection to the poor.

* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus attends The Feast of Tabernacles.

* [7:26] The authorities: the members of the Sanhedrin (same term as Jn 3:1). (John, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Amy Turbes comments that having a broken heart is a very real part of the human condition. We have all experienced heartbrokenness at some time... When we feel helpless to fix things or guilty when we have so much.

“Lord, I am brokenhearted.”

“Amy, I watch over you, take refuge in me.”

Sharing these feelings with God is not to ask for them to be taken away, but to accept them as a true part of my humanity and God’s presence in my life. Even with my own brokenness, I accept this pain and share it with God.

From one human (aka child of God) to another, I invite you, at this midpoint in Lent, to be open to a new way of encountering God. Perhaps use your favorite psalm as a conversation starter. Or spend time with a psalm or passage you find difficult and tell God how those words really make you feel. God wants to be a part of your life—all of it—and is simply waiting for the invitation.

In this Lenten season, may you discover new ways to communicate with God and savor the graces it gives. (Turbes, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Christ our physician,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"As Christians, our task is to make daily progress toward God. Our pilgrimage on earth is a school in which God is the only teacher, and it demands good students, not ones who play truant. In this school we learn something every day. We learn something from commandments, something from examples, and something from sacraments. These things are remedies for our wounds and materials for study." (excerpt from Sermon 218c,1) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in the passage from the Book of Wisdom the wicked will array themselves against the good people They will plot to defeat the good people. In the Gospel Jesus comes to Jerusalem where the leaders are trying to kill Him as He proclaims to be from God not Nazareth. They respond by trying Him for blasphemy but Friar Jude declares that it is where Jesus really is from.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 comments that without the help of a loving God, we risk coming to the conclusion that “nothing really matters, anyone can see,” as Freddie Mercury lamented in the song “Bohemian Rhapsody.” We may wonder, “Why bother pursuing goodness? What is to be gained by suffering or sacrifice?”

Jesus, the innocent victim, has revealed to the world “the hidden counsels of God” (Wisdom 2:22). He has shown that our highest calling is to imitate him by setting aside glory, by washing each other’s feet, and by enduring even betrayal and death for the sake of the gospel. Jesus has revealed the true answer to the question “Why bother?” And that answer is as simple as it is profound, as comforting as it is challenging: because Jesus has loved us, even to the point of his own death, and all who want to live in him must love as he did.

“Jesus, thank you for revealing to us the wisdom of God!” (Meditation on Wisdom 2:1, 12-22, n.d.)

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces psychotherapist James Finley who found himself retraumatized by an abusive priest as a young man, after living with a violent father. Finley shares how Jesus met him in his deep shame and suffering.

Then suddenly, looking this way and that, I saw Jesus sitting alone in the moonlight at the edge of a clearing. I walked across the clearing and knelt at his feet. I could feel his hand on my shoulder as I leaned in close to whisper in his ear, revealing the burdens of my shame-based weakness and fear. 

Having poured out all that my wounded and hurting heart was moved and able to say, Jesus drew me in close and whispered in my ear three words that set me free, words that still echo inside me to this day. I heard him whisper: “I love you!” 

Dazed and amazed in being so unexplainably loved, the spirit within me let me know what both Jesus and I were waiting to hear me say. So I leaned in close and whispered my secret “I love you” to Jesus. And there in that instant there was the realization between us that the matter was settled once and for all. The matter being that the good news of God’s love for us is never measured by our ability to be true to who we know in our heart God is calling us to be. For the sole measure of God’s love for us is the measureless expanse of God’s merciful love, permeating us and taking us to itself in the midst of our faltering and wayward ways. (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate the promise of Jesus to meet us in our brokenness and rejection by the forces that seek to control our world by coercion and corruption with an invitation to replace hate with love and aggression with cooperation.

References

John, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/7? 

Meditation on Wisdom 2:1, 12-22. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/03/20/1521806/ 

Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?17 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Jesus Heals Our Shame. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/jesus-stills-heals-our-shame/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). His Hour Had Not yet Come. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Turbes, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-march-20-2026 

Wisdom, CHAPTER 2 |. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/2?1 

Rich in Love and Ritual

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort us to live in obedience to the commandments in our spiritual tradition as we reflect on the challenges for Mary as the Mother of God.

St Mary's Basilica 

The Reading from the First Letter of John proclaims The New Commandment.*

* [2:3–6] The way we may be sure: to those who claim, “I have known Christ and therefore I know him,” our author insists on not mere intellectual knowledge but obedience to God’s commandments in a life conformed to the example of Christ; this confirms our knowledge of him and is the love of God…perfected. Disparity between moral life and the commandments proves improper belief.

* [2:7–11] The author expresses the continuity and freshness of mutual charity in Christian experience. Through Christ the commandment of love has become the light defeating the darkness of evil in a new age. All hatred as darkness is incompatible with the light and Christian life. Note also the characteristic Johannine polemic in which a positive assertion is emphasized by the negative statement of its opposite.

* [2:8] Which holds true in him and among you: literally, “a thing that holds true in him and in you.” (1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 96 invites all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke proclaims The Presentation in the Temple.

* [2:22–40] The presentation of Jesus in the temple depicts the parents of Jesus as devout Jews, faithful observers of the law of the Lord (Lk 2:23–24, 39), i.e., the law of Moses. In this respect, they are described in a fashion similar to the parents of John (Lk 1:6) and Simeon (Lk 2:25) and Anna (Lk 2:36–37).

* [2:22] Their purification: syntactically, their must refer to Mary and Joseph, even though the Mosaic law never mentions the purification of the husband. Recognizing the problem, some Western scribes have altered the text to read “his purification,” understanding the presentation of Jesus in the temple as a form of purification; the Vulgate version has a Latin form that could be either “his” or “her.” According to the Mosaic law (Lv 12:2–8), the woman who gives birth to a boy is unable for forty days to touch anything sacred or to enter the temple area by reason of her legal impurity. At the end of this period she is required to offer a year-old lamb as a burnt offering and a turtledove or young pigeon as an expiation of sin. The woman who could not afford a lamb offered instead two turtledoves or two young pigeons, as Mary does here. They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord: as the firstborn son (Lk 2:7) Jesus was consecrated to the Lord as the law required (Ex 13:2, 12), but there was no requirement that this be done at the temple. The concept of a presentation at the temple is probably derived from 1 Sm 1:24–28, where Hannah offers the child Samuel for sanctuary services. The law further stipulated (Nm 3:47–48) that the firstborn son should be redeemed by the parents through their payment of five shekels to a member of a priestly family. About this legal requirement Luke is silent.

* [2:25] Awaiting the consolation of Israel: Simeon here and later Anna who speak about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem represent the hopes and expectations of faithful and devout Jews who at this time were looking forward to the restoration of God’s rule in Israel. The birth of Jesus brings these hopes to fulfillment.

* [2:35] (And you yourself a sword will pierce): Mary herself will not be untouched by the various reactions to the role of Jesus (Lk 2:34). Her blessedness as mother of the Lord will be challenged by her son who describes true blessedness as “hearing the word of God and observing it” (Lk 11:27–28 and Lk 8:20–21). (Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. Jim Caime, SJ, comments that these Christmas season readings move us from the Christmas of our childhood to the Christmas of adulthood. They place Bethlehem in honest relationship with the cross. Christmas is intimately connected to the passion, death, and resurrection—the Paschal Mystery. Each sheds light on the other. Each reveals the utter, unconditional love of God: a Love that sets us free, breaks our chains, and costs Jesus everything. And all of it is a gift.

For Prayer and Reflection:

How is Christ inviting me to grow from the Christmas of childhood wonder into a deeper, more courageous adult faith?

Where do I sense Love bringing something in my life into the light—not to judge me, but to set me free?

What might it look like for me to say “yes” to a love that costs something and transforms me in the process? (Caime, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Simeon and Anna represent both sexes awaiting their Redeemer,” by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.

"Simeon and Anna, a man and a woman of advanced age, greeted the Lord with the devoted services of their professions of faith. As they saw him, he was small in body, but they understood him to be great in his divinity. Figuratively speaking, this denotes the synagogue, the Jewish people, who, wearied by the long awaiting of his incarnation, were ready with both their arms (their pious actions) and their voices (their unfeigned faith) to exalt and magnify him as soon as he came. They were ready to acclaim him and say, 'Direct me in your truth and teach me, for you are my saving God, and for you I have waited all the day' (Psalm 25:5). What needs to be mentioned, too, is that deservedly both sexes hurried to meet him, offering congratulations, since he appeared as the Redeemer of both." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.18) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 2:22-35 comments that this isn’t the first time we see the Spirit at work in the story of Christmas. Something similar took place at the Annunciation, when the Spirit overshadowed Mary (Luke 1:35), and again at the Visitation, when the Spirit caused John the Baptist to leap in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth cried out, “Most blessed are you among women” (Luke 1:41, 42).

It’s one thing to recall and cherish the stories surrounding the birth of the Lord. Of course, we should do that—they’re a vital part of salvation history! But it’s another thing to find our own stories in the midst of this vast and glorious history. It’s another thing to discover the ways that this history has transformed your life—and can continue to do so.

It’s true: you are a coheir with Jesus of all the promises of God (Romans 8:17). So ask the Spirit to help you take hold of your heavenly inheritance!

“Come, Holy Spirit, and fill my heart just as you did for Simeon!” (Meditation on Luke 2:22-35, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments  that 1 John is a very dualistic writing contrasting light and dark goodness and sin with emphasis on keeping the commandments. The author of Gospel and Letters of John are perhaps different since, in the Gospel of John, there is only one command to believe in the only Son of God. This community is dealing with Docetism, an ancient heresy that says Jesus was not fully human and was never Incarnate. The author of 1 John asserts that if you belong to God you live God’s commandments. In the Gospel of Luke, the family goes to the Temple for two rituals of purification; for Mary because of blood shed in childbirth; for Jesus is for redemption, the first born belonged to God and was bought back with a sacrifice, for poor couples of turtledoves. In the old Ritual of Baptism, the baby was held by the Godmother who was not ritually impure. The ritual for Jesus is redemption because the first born belonged to God and was bought back with a sacrifice. The Canticle of Simeon, likely a pre-existing hymn borrowed by Luke, perhaps from a funeral liturgy, speaks to Mary about contradiction and the sword piercing her heart. The heart, in ancient times, was associated with thinking and the Word of God would pierce her thoughts. Her struggle with birthing the Son of God is in conflict with Jewish understanding of One God, Yahweh. Friar Jude comments that she believes and shows up in the Upper Room, according to Luke. Mary is therefore understanding of confusion in faith when we turn to her.

Fr. Mike Schmitz draws a parallel between the symbols in the book of Revelation and the persecution by the Roman empire of the first Christians and encourages us to hold firm in our faith. Additionally, Fr. Mike reveals the beauty of the new covenant priesthood established by Jesus and explained in Hebrews. Today’s readings are Revelation 15-17, Hebrews 5-8, and Proverbs 31:23-25.

CAC faculty member James Finley poetically envisions how Jesus is the light of the world. Sometimes we can get disheartened about ourselves, like Paul’s thorn in the flesh. While we need to do our best to get past the things that are hurtful to myself and others, can I place my faith in the love that’s infinitely in love with me and my inability to get past the stumbling place? As a matter of fact, the thorn in the flesh, the stumbling place, may be my teacher where I depend on the mercy of God that is oceanic and endless in all directions.

This then is our walk: How can I learn to be healed from what hinders me from being ever more habitually established in the divine light that shines, transcends, and utterly permeates the broken edges of my life? The very ragged edges of my heart are the configurations of the light that shines through the broken places as mercy, as amazement, and as gratitude.

Although I can’t experience it all the time, I know the importance of the daily rendezvous with God, the quiet space in which I become ever more receptively vulnerable to being instilled by this light that permeates and guides me through my days. Hopefully, this poetic expression then will be a way of helping us to sit with and be present to this light, shining into our own lives in the midst of the unresolved matters of our hearts. (Finley, n.d.)

We rely on the Wisdom of the Spirit to guide our journey that requires faith in God’s plan, hope for peace and all good, and love for all of Creation.

References

Caime, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-29-2025 

Finley, J. (n.d.). Living in the Light of God’s Love. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/living-in-the-light-of-gods-love/ 

Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2?22 

Meditation on Luke 2:22-35. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/29/1461581/ 

1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2?3 

Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Favor of God Was upon Him. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/