Catholic Cardinal Reflections

April 2, 2017 - The story of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life has great meaning, both because it presages Christ's Ressurection to come, but it also signifies us coming back to life after casting off the many forms of death that our sins create for us. We often ask, "Where were you, Lord, when I needed you?' But these hard moments can bring us closer to God if we let God in.

Preacher: Fr. Xavier.

March 26, 2017 - Reverend Kerrigan: "We need a Radical Vision Correction", in line with today's gospel reading, in which Jesus cures the man born blind from birth. Like the high officials of the time, we have many blind spots in our local and world vision, including our lack of proper respect for others. Let us turn our eyes to the Lord.

March 19, 2017 - In the Gospel today, Jesus meets the Samaritan women at the well and promises her living water. We can obtain living water too by coming back to Jesus this Lenten season while we re-examine our prayer. Look within yourself and lose your innate desire for wealth and power and importance in the world.

Fr. Emmanuel Taylor, OP, Parochial Vicar/Associate Director, CC@S.

March 12,2017 - Jesus went up the mountain to pray. Mountains are religiously significant because many important events occured there, and in today's gospel, God declares He is well pleased in Jesus his Son, to Moses, Elijah and the three disciples who accomanied Jesus. Fr. Emmanuel wants us to go up the mountain too, to pray for blessings for ourselves and others. He reminds us of the great importance of prayer, and to pray when we are healthy, because we may be unable when we are sick.

March 5, 2017 - Jesus fasted for 40 days, and then was tempted 3 times by the devil. Fr. Xavier invites us to reflect how differently we are tempted than Christ was, and to think about one time today that we were tempted, and how we responded to that temptation. We hope that by doing so, we will respond more as Christ would when faced with similar temptations tomorrow.

Preacher: Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP.

February 26, 2017 - Christ tells us to be happy and not to worry about basic necessities; God will provide as he does for the birds of the air and lillies of the field. Our job is to build community and love each other. In lent we practice prayer and shared wonderment at our God. Preacher: Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Paster/Director, Catholic Commnity @ Stanford.

February 19, 2017 - The reading from Leviticus reminds us that we as humans are unable to attain the holiness of God. It is through community that we can attempt to achieve that holiness. We have the opportunity to come together as members of small groups to help each other to walk above the line in Christ.

February 12, 2017 - The slogan for today's readings might be summarized as "Choose life in Christ". We envision a horizontal line, for which our actions are either above the line or below it. Christ raised the bar over the laws of Moses in today's gospel, teaching radical respect for others, with wisdom, courage, understanding and awe for God's creations, including all His creatures.

February 5, 2017 - Fr, Xavier reminds us that God wants us to shine with Christ's love and extend our light to others, not to hide it. Teresa Pleins expresses that theme in terms of supporting our students, some of whose studies and education are in jeopardy from recent travel/visa restrictions by the federal government. We need to help each other, when times are bad- Be salt, be light for others.

February 5, 2017 - Connie Solari describes an initiative begun last fall to meet in small "Encounter Christ" groups to explore and deepen our faith through the Lenten gospel readings and prayer. For more information, contact Nancy Greenfield, [email protected].