April 2023: Seeing Your Life Through The Lens of The Gospel
Seeing Your Life Through The Lens of The Gospel
John Byrne OSA
Email jpbyrneosa@gmail.com
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
2 April 2023
The account of the Passion is a vivid story with a variety of characters and much action. To enter into the passage we can read the story slowly and see if we can identify with different characters in the story. Also any one scene within the story can provide us with much food for reflection and prayer. Keep in mind that one of the aims in reflecting on the passage is to discover the GOOD NEWS the story has for us. Here are just a few general pointers for prayer.
-
The identity of Jesus is revealed as the Messiah and the Son of God, not with a display of human power, but as one who was prepared to suffer unto death to show us how our God loves us. How does the Passion story speak to you as a revelation of how God loves you? When has the willingness of another person to go to great lengths on your behalf been and eyeopener of his/her love for you?
-
Jesus gives us an example of patient endurance and faithfulness in suffering. Suffering is something we all encounter. It is not something that anyone likes but sometimes we cope with it better than others. What have you found helps you to cope better with suffering?
-
As you read through the narrative of the Passion where do you find yourself resonating with a character in the action? Is there any message there for you that is life-giving?
* * *
Easter Day of the Lord’s Resurrection
9 April 2023
In some ways this gospel is a difficult one for prayer. It only presents a part of the story and the full unfolding of the good news the story contains lies in the next part of the text. However, even with this section there is plenty of material for reflection and for prayer.
-
The disciples are in a state of shock and suffering from a traumatic loss. Jesus, the one in whom they had placed so much hope, has been murdered and buried. Then, before they have time to recover comes another shock – the body of Jesus is missing. Have you had experiences in which one tragedy or crisis follows quickly after another? What was that like for you? How did you cope? What, or who, sustained you then?
-
Mary and Peter, and possibly others, came and discovered that the tomb was empty. The part of the story we have in this text gives no explanations of what has happened. They are left in a state of bewilderment ‘for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.’ Have you been in that kind of situation, faced with events you cannot explain, possibly events which have dashed your hopes in another person, or in God? What has that been like for you?
-
Yet in spite of the lack of explanation, the beloved disciple ‘saw and believed’.
-
Have there been times when others have done something that you could not understand, and which they could not explain at the time and yet you believed that all was not as it seemed? …. times when you decided to trust in spite of the evidence?
-
Have there been times when others have shown this kind of faith in you when you were not able to offer satisfactory explanations, and all you could say was ‘trust me’?
-
Have there been times in your relationship with God when you have felt that you were faced with an empty tomb and still you believed?
-
Where have you found life in such experiences?
-
* * *
Second Sunday of Easter
16 April 2023 • Divine Mercy Sunday
-
‘Peace be with you’ was the greeting of Jesus on meeting his frightened apostles. Who has come to you bringing peace at times when you were frightened? For whom have you been an agent of peace?
-
Thomas, doubting and questioning, is possibly a person with whom we can identify. What part have doubts and questions played on your faith journey? How has your faith been strengthened by such moments?
-
Note the way Jesus dealt with Thomas. He did not give out because he doubted. He took him where he was and led him along to see the truth of his resurrection. Who has been that kind of a teacher for you, gently taking you where you were and leading you on to a deeper knowledge of some truth about life? For whom have you been that kind of teacher?
-
‘Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believed’. That requires great trust. Perhaps you have had the experience of being trusted without having had to prove every step along the way. What was it like to be trusted in that way? Who have you been able to trust in a similar manner?
* * *
Third Sunday of Easter
23 April 2023
-
Jesus joined the despondent disciples and listened to them. ‘We had hoped…’…. When you have been upset or disappointed, who has joined you along the road? To whom have you been able to pour out your heart? Who was a ‘Jesus person’ to you, listening to you in respectful silence? To whom have you been a Jesus person?
-
Jesus then helps them to see things in another light by opening the scriptures to them. When did you have the experience of finding your heart ‘burning within you’ with new hope for the future? Who/what helped you to change after a setback?
-
The disciples invite Jesus to join them at table – there follows a recognition of who he is. We meet many people on the road of life. Usually we meet and pass on. Occasionally we meet someone whom we invite into our homes, into our hearts, in a deeper way. In what way in such relationships have you experienced the presence of God or of Jesus?
-
After Jesus had gone the disciples went to bring the good news to others. When have you met others who told you what happened to them along their road? What effect did this sharing have on you? When have you done this with others? When was such a conversation ‘good news’ for you or others?
* * *
Fourth Sunday of Easter
30 April 2023 • Day of Prayer for Vocations
-
In the Middle East, it was the task of the shepherd to find water and pasture and to ensure safety. In your life who have been the people who nourished you and gave you security? For whom have you done this?
-
Important to the shepherd’s ability to give security to the sheep is the fact that he was known and familiar to them. They recognised his voice. Does this resonate in any way with your experience?
-
We are familiar with the image of Jesus as the shepherd. The image of Jesus as the door (or gate) is not so familiar but is one that merits attention. Jesus presents himself as the door through which we pass and find life. What are the doors through which you have passed and found life: a situation, a place, a book, an experience, a person? For whom have you been a door to a richer life?
* * *