Laetare Sunday - Rejoice!

Midway through this year’s Lenten journey we are invited to REJOICE and for good reason. The New Testament readings (Ephesians 2:4-10, John 3:14-21) remind us of the gifts we have received freely from our generous God; the love of God, the grace of faith, Jesus, a call to good works and eternal life. 

Mind-blowing! Humbling! Eliciting gratitude!

How do we respond to free gifts? In the movie “Pay it Forward” a junior high school class were invited to think of an idea that would change the world for the better. One young lad thought of paying forward good deeds. A simple example I experienced recently was going through the “Tim’s” line and finding out the person ahead of me had paid for my order! I couldn’t thank them because they were already gone but I was able to pass on their generosity by doing something good for someone else.

Simple Ways to Pay It Forward

  • Letting someone go in front of you in line

  • Paying for a stranger's coffee or meal

  • Sharing your green thumb

  • Donating blankets, pajamas, socks, and toiletries to shelters

  • Leaving a big tip for a server or waiter

  • Returning another person's shopping cart

  • Sending an email or card of gratitude.

I don’t think God needs my gratitude, but I need to show it. Our call to good works is one way of acknowledging our acceptance and gratitude for the blessings we have received; pressed down and overflowing (Luke 6:38).

-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

Header Image: Isaac Hernandez/Unsplash

3rd Sunday of Lent

Some of the readings for this Sunday are disturbing, reminiscent of the hellfire and brimstone of my youth; children punished for the iniquity of their parents, overturned tables in the temple, misunderstood meaning of Jesus’ words. Thankfully there are other writings highlighted that help me to balance the seeming threat in Exodus 20: 1-17 and the righteous anger in John 2: 13-25.

“Zeal for your house will consume me” spoken by Jesus predicting his upcoming crucifixion also invites me to consider whether I have zeal for the house of God. Could that zeal draw me out of myself to act for peace wherever I see violence ?

I also found comfort in Psalm 84:3 “The sparrow finds a home and a swallow a nest for her young by your altars oh Lord”.

We are living in an all too violent world. Sadly, that’s nothing new, but that violence doesn’t need to consume us. If you have coffee in a cup & someone bumps into you what’s in the cup will spill out. On this difficult week of my Lenten journey I choose to cultivate a spirit of peace so that when violence bumps into me I will offer love.  Won’t you join me?

Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

World Day of Prayer

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER - MARCH 1, 2024

In 2017, a group of ecumenical Palestinian Christian women were chosen by the World Day of Prayer International Committee to write the 2024 service based on the theme “I Beg You … Bear With One Another In Love” inspired by Ephesians 4:1-3.

During COVID the committee of Palestinian women continued to work, pray, reflect, and write the Prayer Service for our World Day of Prayer this year.  These women are convinced that standing together as one global community and transcending our differences can result in a brighter future for the troubled area of Israel and Palestine.  The Committee of Palestinian Christian Women wants us to join them in praying together with hope that one day, the people of their land will enjoy peace and prosperity.

The prayer service will include testimonies of women who dare to speak the truth in love of their personal journeys living under occupation; it will include a brief devotional message as well as, music, hymns, and prayers.

Women attending the prayer service will be asked to join in the following commitment of the heart:

  • “May we commit to working for peace as we stand with all women, particularly those experiencing oppression, violence, or discrimination.

  • May we be faithful advocates for decision makers working on all levels of society, including religious institutions.

  • May we bear with one another in love until God’s justice and peace reign throughout the whole world.”

-Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ

Video: واطلب اليكم (Wa atlubu) - I Urge You, by Najwa Hashweh Azazian (Palestine) | This song was especially composed for the 2024 World Day of Prayer.