Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

Province of Saint Ann

St Ann Crown red

Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

Province of Saint Ann

St Ann Crown red
Eymard stained glass window

Daily Eucharistic Reflections

May 24, 2024

Today’s scripture readings are an interesting mix of themes and possible interpretations. We can talk about not judging people, persevering like Job, a person’s word, divorce, marriage, and other examples of religious leaders trying to trick Jesus. Or Jesus’ radical attitude toward women.

When one lines up the many examples of Jesus interacting with women, one finds impressive stories of respect, thoughtfulness, kindness, brotherly love, compassion, non-judgment, and equality. (Fresh in my mind as I write this reflection is the Easter story that includes the role of Saint Mary of Magdala, the “apostle to the apostles.”)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls for an equal attitude about divorce and a relationship of equality in marriage (the two shall become one flesh.). I submit today’s collection of readings, which is about more than marriage and really applies to our attitudes toward one another, especially women: kindness, mercy, compassion, graciousness, and being God-like, if you will. In the ordinary give and take of daily life, the Lord is compassionate and merciful to the extent that we are empathetic and merciful with each other.

Yet, given the history of what we men have done to women through the centuries, I submit that we men have a lot of work to do to make up for how we have treated women – in secular and ecclesial politics, in too many marriages, and even more tragically in war. (I highly recommend the movie Cabrini as an example of stark contrasts in how the men in this story treat Mother Cabrini.)

Let us go forward today from our celebration of the Mass and/or our prayer to extend peace to all we meet along the road.

Let Us Pray:

Lord, your psalmist tells us you are merciful and gracious, slow to anger, compassionate, and abounding in kindness. Help us to model what you are with us to each person we encounter today.

 

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We are a Catholic religious congregation of priests, deacons and brothers whose mission is to share the riches of God’s love manifested in the Eucharist.

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