Catholic Cardinal Reflections

April 17, 2014 - On this most holy night, Jesus became servant to his disciples and showed the way for them to behave, by washingtheir feet. Instead of the great and powerful leader the people were looking for in their Messiah, Jesus became thelowest of the lowly. Can it really be that God loves us infinitely?

Preacher: Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Parochial Vicar/Associate Director of the Catholic Community at Stanford

April 6, 2014 - This Sunday's Gospel is John's story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, about which Fr. Nathan annotates several aspects of the readings. One annotation is Jesus telling his disciples that they must go to awaken Lazarus, but the disciples baulk for fear of being stoned. Jesus says one may stumble whiletravelingat night without light, but if Christ is in you the light is in you and you will not fall.

March 16, 2014 - Mountains are midway between heaven and earth and play a special role in Jesus' life. Jesus was transfigured on a high mountain, and a voice from heaven announced, "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleasdd." As Jesus said Yes to the Father,we too must transform in this eason of lent, leaving our old ways of sinning and following Christ, showing mercy to our enemies and loving all.

Preacher: Reverend John Kerrigan, Deacon of the Catholic Community

March 11, 2014 - How do we live Gospel values, especially when they are counter-cultural? Does our prevailing economic model leave people behind? How, exactly do we care for God’s poor and marginalized?

For our final Newman Nights session of the year,Larry Purcell, Director of Catholic Worker House in Redwood City, CA discusses the Catholic Worker movement to help us find ways to live the gospel’s preferential option for those affected by poverty.

March 9, 2014 - After being baptised, Jesus spends 40 days in the desert, and is tempted three ways by the devil- to make bread from stones, to throw himself from the pinacle without fear, and to worship the devil in return for ultimate power. Like Jesus, we should strive to be hungry, to be fearful and to be meek. By doing good works this Lent we will rebuke the devil and invite Jesus to be our partner on the journey.

Preacher: Fr. Nathan Castle, OP, Pastor and Director of the Catholic Community at Stanford

March 5, 2014 - God sees us as fresh and new. Don't wallow in guilt this Lent, for Lent is a journey towads Easter. Rather, we should try to become better people. On Ash Wednesday, we mark our heads with ashes to show our mortality. And when we wash them off the next day, we are all fresh and new, as God sees us. "Without courage, compassion fails. Without compassion, courage has no direction." This Lent, we should strive to live like Jesus with compassion, guided by courage.

Preacher:Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Parochial Vicar Associate Director of CCAS

March 4, 2014 - Where do we meet the real Jesus? In the paes of scholarly books that provide a historical reconstruction? If we believe in the resurrection, then we also believe we encounter the Living Jesus in many ways, not least within the life of the chuch. This presentation shows how rich and complex coming to know Jesus can be.

Speaker: Dr. Luke Timothy Johnson, Commonweal Lecturer

March 2, 2014 - We are broken and we are sinners, but we are two things more. We are forgiven and we are loved. Our shared flesh is Jesus' body; our shared life, His blood. Altogether we are the Church. Our holiness is of God's doing. The forgiveness we receive is only as great as the forgiveness we give. This Lent, we are called to let the Spirit teach us how to see people, deeply, for who they really are.

Preacher:Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Parochial Vicar Associate Director of CCAS

February 23, 2014 - Holiness isn't a private affair, rather it is a communal responsibility. You cannot be holy by yourself. Paul says we are all God's temples, and God's spirit dwells in us. Jesus challenges us to always love. How many ways are there to build up temples? To build up the Kingdom?

Preacher: Teresa Pleins, Chaplain of the Catholic Community

February 18, 2014 - Exams! Stresses! Pressures! Demands! How can I keep sane when everyone around me is acting like loons? What happens when I am one of the loons? Presented by Fr. Tom Weston, SJ, on how the 12 steps of recovery help us grow, develop and evolve.