Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Readings of the Day

These are complicated readings for me, but so full of wisdom which I need to hear.  First, I am struck by the reminder that Jesus absolutely and unreservedly relies on God; he never acts alone, but moves from an unconditional trust in the One who is the Source of all good.  How often do I engage in service as if everything depends on me alone, without pausing to entrust myself (and my work) to the God who is ever-present?

Second, I recognize that I respond to these passages – the story of the serpent being raised up on a pole by Moses and Jesus’ remark about being lifted up – from my foreknowledge of what we see each Good Friday: the image of Jesus’ tortured body, pierced through and transfixed to a cross, hung there to die, for all to see.  

How fully do I look into the eyes of the crucified Christ and reverence our common humanity and vulnerability?  Am I similarly willing to look deeply into the eyes of those we serve and acknowledge the blessing of our shared struggles and suffering?  So often those we assist through Parish Social Ministry hang upon crosses of indifference, rejection or complacency.  It is only when we raise our eyes and look – really look – into their eyes that we can avoid the social norm to blame them for the adverse circumstances in which they find themselves and acknowledge who they truly are – Beloved children of our good God, brothers and sisters in Christ.

Indeed, as Pope Francis continually teaches us, those who are poor have much to give us:  “To love God and neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete: it means seeing in every person the face of the Lord to be served, to serve him concretely.  And you are, dear brothers and sisters, the face of Jesus.” Let us then, during these final days of Lent, look through the eyes of Love upon those who call on our help, and be graced to see the face of Christ.

Sister Lisa Bergeron, o.s.u., an Ursuline Sister of Tildonk, is Director of Parish Social Ministry at St. John Nepomucene Church in Bohemia, NY.

Sign up to receive the Daily Lent Reflection emails and other CCUSA messages here.