“A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.” Psalm 51:12

Yes, it’s been a long five weeks.  But be hopeful.  Very soon we will arrive at the moment in our spiritual journey sure to fill us with a lasting joy.  Easter is almost here.

Everything we have done since Ash Wednesday—the prayer, the sacrifices, and acts of charity—have had a single goal:  to invite God into our lives to create a clean heart.  I think today’s wisdom from the psalmist is this:  A heart focused on God—love and the sanctity of life—doesn’t get caught up in petty things or self-satisfying pursuits but lives for others instead.  To me a clean heart is just another way of saying “the ability to love without holding back”!

Being human, we can easily forget our original intentions to stay focused and steadfast.  After all, forty days of focus is a long time and distractions are going to test our will.   But even when they do, we can work through them by calling on God’s grace.  We do that through Mass and the sacraments especially the Eucharist.  We also bring God into our hearts through scripture, personal prayer, and the Rosary.  All the things we have been doing.

Friend, as you prepare for Holy Week, lay claim to the comfort of a clean heart—and recognize that God’s presence during Lent has guided you every step of the way.  Lent is almost over, but the richness we are about to inherit will last forever.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for Fifth Sunday of Lent

Take from me, most merciful Lord,

my heart of stone and in its place

give me a human heart like Yours:

loving, forgiving, compassionate,

and caring, thus vulnerable and

open to being hurt and wounded.

You remain with us, Lord Jesus,

not only in the Blessed Sacrament

but also in hearts made pure again

by Your grace and good will.

You dwell within us, Lord Jesus,

just as You dwelt in the Temple of old

and in the ark of the new covenant:

the Blessed Virgin Mary,

Your Holy Mother and ours.

With hearts and souls cleansed

and renewed by Your blood on the cross

and empowered by that same Holy Spirit

that changes bread and wine into

the Sacrament of Your presence,

empower me always to do Your Will

and share Your life and Good News

with everyone I meet this day.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” Ephesians 2:10

As far as Paul is concerned, we all have an important role to play.  And our calling comes into sharper relief as we continue through the days and weeks of Lent.

Of course, we all have choices to make about how we witness our faith.  That’s why Lent is so helpful—and hopeful.  It’s the gift we give ourselves.  We pray for guidance to be better family members and neighbors, better co-workers and more engaged members of our parishes and communities.  And we pray that by giving ourselves selflessly—in time, words, prayers and deeds—we will encourage others to become the children of God that they were called to be.

If the days of Lent have started to feel long, don’t be discouraged.  God is still at work, infusing us with new life.  Each act of charity, and every moment you dedicate to prayer takes you closer to your personal transformation. 

I understand:  Sometimes we are called to do things that aren’t always easy, and that includes me.  The past year and its lingering impact have asked us all to be selfless and heroic in ways we couldn’t have imagined.  But our examples of collective good will and determination continue to inspire the faithful—and society itself.  Working through suffering is the story of Easter—the birth of new life that follows and the promise of redemption in Christ.

Friend, you are God’s fullest expression of life destined for greatness by doing good.  Your gifts are unique to you.  Share them and you are doing the work of salvation, drawing closer to eternal life—the promise of Easter.  Life is always new, always becoming.  And you are the reason why.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for Fourth Sunday of Lent

As I continue to cross the wilderness of Lent,

without the comforts and habits of everyday life

I depend on for fleeting happiness and fulfillment,

strip me of all vanities and imaginings

that neither come from You nor lead to You,

my Lord and my God.

Remove all envy, jealousy, and greed

from my heart so wounded by life.

Drive from me all anger and resentment

that keep me from others and thus from You.

Above all, Lord Jesus, give me the power

to overcome false pride and ego

that Your divine image might once more

shine forth in and through my life.

By the grace of these 40 holy days

teach me to walk in Your ways and

live by the truth of Your gospel

to overcome not only sin but also

selfishness through the power of

Your Cross and Resurrection.

In Your most holy Name we pray.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:21

If you are confused by Paul’s reading today, don’t be.  The mystery inside of a mystery is where we start our meditation today.

What St. Paul is describing, in an especially vivid and memorable manner, is what the unbelievers and naysayers of our world saw as the foolishness of the Gospel. Remember, many of Paul’s contemporaries rejected the idea of salvation in the crucified Christ.  According to them, any God who would die on a cross in an act of redemption for the sins of humanity is a weak and foolish God.  Paul is assuring us of exactly the opposite.  The message of the Gospel is that God has gifted us salvation in Christ, our source of comfort, strength, and yes, wisdom.

For some the Gospel will always represent foolishness.  But we know that the most humble have been the strongest witnesses of salvation in Christ.  Think of the saints—even Paul himself who was once a persecutor of Christians but was transformed to preach the Gospel at great personal cost.  Think of the faithful in your own life, the role models who grew in strength and grace, deepening your own faith.

The Cross is our paschal mystery.  Like Christ we must go through death in order to arrive at the resurrection.  This is the ultimate message of our faith.  Life does not end at death.  This may be a step too far for the unbelievers.  But for Paul—and for us—it’s the rock and foundation of our faith.  We trust in life over death, in strength over weakness, in belief over skepticism.  The wisdom of God is simple:  By giving ourselves up for others—a reflection of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross—we are fulfilling our calling to be God-like ourselves.  To be missioners.

Friend, one last thought:  The temple in today’s Gospel is a metaphor for Christ’s resurrection… the removal of sin that is worthy of redemption and new life.  Whatever society may do—and whenever our egos may lead us away from God— we still have the promise of life over death, eternity over impermanence, wisdom over foolishness.  A lot to think about on the Third Sunday of Lent.  Our journey continues.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for Third Sunday of Lent

Lord God of power and weakness

help me discover You in the poor

no less than in the powerful.

You strengthen the weak and

empower the poor to cast off

chains of oppression and hardship.

You cast down the mighty from their thrones.

Grant I never follow anyone more than You

and listen to Your word before all others.

Jesus, You gave up the safety and security

of heaven to dwell here on earth to be with us,

live with us, teach us and show us the way that

leads to You and the fullness of life.

Be the light that reveals Your will

and guide us along the right path

of justice, peace, and mercy.

May my Lenten sacrifices and offerings

be for the glory of Your Name and

the sanctification of my brothers and sisters.

Help me recognize Your suffering in the

those I meet for whom life has become

a burden and not a blessing.

May You be revealed this day

in human weakness and diminishment.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”  Matthew 17:5

Today’s Gospel reading is a comfort to contemplate… The Son of God transfigured in all His glory, His divinity revealed as a sign of the eternal glory each of us is destined to enjoy.

Here we are in the second week of Lent, anxious to show God that our good works and our sacrifices are all offered with the intention of drawing closer in worthiness to the gift of salvation. We see that the transfiguration of the Lord is a glimpse into our future, too. Matthew’s recounting assures us that we can be transformed in God’s image as well and become worthy of eternal life.

Transformation may sound like a tall order right now. Everyday life still poses its challenges—for all of us. But let’s remember that God loves and accepts us as we are, especially because our goal during Lent is to always offer up a little more and find new ways to give praise.

While we still have the spiritual energy, let’s promise ourselves that we will keep the momentum going. One way to do that is by trying to discern the gifts that God is trying to reveal in us. Is it a special kinship with children or the elderly? Do you have a unique talent that you could share—or share more of? Is there a prayer group that could enrich your Lenten practice—and convince someone else to do the same? 

Friend, it’s only the second full week of Lent, I know. But with the example of today’s Gospel, it’s a perfect time to look inward and see how you might be transformed in God’s image. The one promise I can make is that when you welcome God with the intention of being renewed, you’re not the only one who will experience a change. Your example will have the power to transform someone else’s life, too. Maybe more than one life. Maybe many lives. Lent is a time when we can set new goals and find out. May your journey this week transform you in God’s love. 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

February 28, 2021

Second Sunday of Lent

Lord Jesus Christ, on Tabor’s height

You were transformed in majesty

that Your disciples might not only

experience Your glory but also find

the strength and grace to be

transformed anew into the divine

image and likeness in which

we were all created by God.

Help us climb the holy mountain

where we too might offer our prayers

and sacrifices, our pain and broken promises

that these too might be transformed into

fountains of faith, hope, healing and love

for ourselves and all the people

through whom you have blessed us.

Be with us, Lord Jesus, as we, like you

descend from our holy mountaintop

to face our own, personal way of the cross.

May each step bring us ever closer to you

by drawing us closer to all who suffer

poverty, hunger, injustice or illness

that the power of your Cross and Resurrection

might continue to transform our broken world.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.”  Psalm 25:4-5

The Psalmist is reading our minds today. On the first Sunday of Lent—and the days that follow—we ask God to make the paths of truth and righteousness known to us so that we might become worthy of salvation. That is our Lenten prayer.

But how can we become worthy in the eyes of God? That seems like such a tall order, doesn’t it?

We know the traditions: fasting, Stations of the Cross, daily Mass, and acts of charity that go beyond the usual. Of course, giving up something that we love—a tradition for many of us since childhood—is a form of penance. But Lent is more than that. Beyond the sacrifice, Lent is an opportunity to open up our hearts to God and give witness to the love we have received in baptism.

Actively witnessing God’s love is as rewarding—if not more so—than, say, forgoing tonight’s dessert. Something I experienced during my mission days in the Altiplano of Peru taught me how deeply we can practice our faith when we welcome Christ home. A man in our parish said he was giving up some food from his daily meal that Lent in order to give it to someone he knew who needed it more. The man was poor himself. But in order to prepare for Easter, he was ready to give away the little he had. That’s a sacrifice that showed me how deeply one person can love another.

Friend, before he began his public ministry Jesus fasted for 40 days. He was tempted by the devil but never gave in. Our 40-days of Lent will have its challenges, too, and we will need each other for support and encouragement. That’s what prayer partners are for. So please know I am praying with and for you. May this Lent deepen your faith and mine—and make known the paths of the Lord so that one day we will all be worthy in God’s eyes.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

February 21, 2021

First Sunday of Lent

Lord Jesus, we begin Lent every year

with the somber reminder that

dust we are, and to dust we shall return.

Having given up so much last year

due to the Covid pandemic

what more can I give to express

my sincere repentance and love

for You, my Savior?

In place of greed, grant generosity;

in place of jealousy, honest admiration;

in place of resentment, humility

and in place of insensitivity, compassion.

Help me, Jesus, to enter the desert of Lent

without the distractions and disillusionments

of everyday life, that I might concentrate

my thoughts, hopes and dreams totally

on doing Your will to the glory of God

and out of love for my brothers and sisters.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31

“L-o-v-e” is a simple word, but rich and layered in meaning. These four magical letters, written in this precise order, define God’s relationship to us and our relationship to one another. Could anything be more uncomplicated? In the end, it all comes down to love.

My thoughts on Valentine’s Day are probably a lot like yours. Today we celebrate all expressions of God’s love: in our friendships and marriages… through the caring partnerships forged in brotherhood and sisterhood… in religious life… and through the teachings of the Gospel itself.

Thanks to Christ’s example, we understand that the richest experiences of human fulfillment come from loving one another. We saw this lesson expressed time and again over the past year—expressions of caring and love from our frontline healthcare workers that knew no bounds. Maybe you are one of those workers, or perhaps a caregiver who was called to serve in a new or unexpected way.

Friend, when we give ourselves over to someone else—freely and without expectation of any return—those are moments when we grow as disciples of Our Lord. So happy Valentine’s Day. Honor the gift of love with every special remembrance—traditional or otherwise. Then celebrate all year long by being an imitator of Christ.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

February 14, 2021

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Love incarnate, son of the Most High,

word made flesh and splendor of the Father,

You came to us through the Immaculate

Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary and

revealed God’s love for the world and

to the world by becoming human like us.

Help us to walk in your footsteps

along the way of love

for all our brothers and sisters

for all creatures, large and small

and for the whole Earth,

but above all, for you my God,

who made all things out of love

for us.

Lord, accept the tears and sighs

of those hearts wounded or broken,

hearts hardened or hurt

for love forsaken or betrayed.

You Who loved Your friends till the end

and know the pain of betrayal and abandonment,

fill us anew with Your grace that forgiveness,

mercy, and compassion might flow like a mighty stream

from Your most sacred heart to all of ours.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.”
Psalm 147:1

Life, as we know, is full of paradoxes. Where there is joy, there will also be pain. Where there is order, there will always be things that need fixing. Our lives are like that—contrasts and opposites. But they are also opportunities along the way to find God and the healing we long for.

The first reading today is from the Book of Job, a blameless man who knew setbacks and flat-out misery. Can you relate? Most of us can. Yet even in moments of despair Job never lost sight of God’s presence. We can take comfort from a man who gave himself over to God with the wisdom of faith and the knowledge that his Creator would never abandon him. Here’s what Job said:

“Yet he knows my way:

if he tested me, I should come forth like gold.

My foot has always walked in his steps;

I have kept his way and not turned aside.

From the commands of his lips I have not departed;

the words of his mouth I have treasured in my heart.”

– Job 23:10-12

I believe Job is telling us an important lesson: When we are willing to see beyond the moment, God will lead us through the challenges toward new life. That’s the Paschal Mystery, a theme we will explore very soon during Lent. The passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the very work that God the Father sent his Son to accomplish on earth. And it’s a sign of our own passage to new life from disappointments and setbacks each time we put ourselves in God’s hands.

Yes, there will be challenges, and even broken hearts. God never says life will be easy. Just that the presence of the Lord in our lives is eternal, no matter the hardship. Our challenge is to accept that we can’t always lift ourselves out of difficulties on our own. But with God’s help we can. We only need to be like Job: praise God, affirm God’s presence, and allow the Paschal Mystery to transform us as inheritors of the kingdom.

Friend, can I give you a homework assignment? Think about a time when God helped you heal at a difficult moment. If you can remember the steps you took, you know that you didn’t heal alone. Your faith was the necessary healing agent. God was there to offer comfort and encouragement: in the words of the Gospel, in Christ’s promise of salvation, at Mass and in the Sacraments. And let’s not forget the kindness of family and friends. They know us almost as well as God does. For the times you may be passing through a difficult moment, remember that God is with you. That’s when the healing begins. 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus, healer and divine physician

stretch forth Your healing hands

and touch my wounded heart.

May the power of Your presence

lift my spirit, strengthen my soul

and, if it be Your will, drive far from me

any illness, disease or affliction

that keeps me from living life

to the full, as You promised.

Jesus, Son of God, and son of Mary,

visit me in my darkness and doubt.

Let Your light dispel the shadows

of sadness and depression

to help me find anew

the joy and peace I long for.

Lord, I am not worthy

that You should enter under my roof.

Say but the word and my soul,

my mind, and my body will be healed.

Stay with me, Jesus, when night falls

and fears grow, and my faith falters.

Fill me with sweet assurance

that you who died to set us free

will never abandon me to face

life’s trials alone.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:  “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.”

Psalm 95: 7-9

Do I really want to be tested?  Does anyone?  The answer to my Sunday morning rumination is obvious.  “God, please don’t test me too much!  Just enough to know I’m worthy of your love.”

When the Israelites left Egypt, their journey became more difficult than what they bargained for.  Some wanted to turn back.  And isn’t that us at times?  When life takes an unwanted turn, we immediately want to know where God is and ask, “Why is this happening to me?  How do I get out of this mess?”

I don’t pretend to know God’s will.  None of us does.  But we know that God is the source of all goodness and the foundation of our faith.  We have the promise of Our Lord who, in teaching the apostles to observe all that he has commanded, added words   that never fail to comfort me:  “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:20).  The evangelist is reminding us of God’s eternal and ever reliable presence, no matter the challenge at hand.

Two practices can help you find the road “back home” when you feel that God is distant:  I recommend prayer and meditation.  Talk to God as you would to a close friend or confidante.  Share your deepest thoughts.  Then be still and listen.  Think of prayer and meditation as important to your life as breathing.  Take moments during the day to be in God’s presence so that you can accept the grace that is yours for the asking.  Remember that God is with us always, ready to lift us above whatever challenge we face.     

Friend, God has given us a great gift—the promise of eternal life.  We are destined for glory one day with our Creator and all the saints of heaven.  So the challenge is, how do we get there safely given all the ups and downs of life?  St. Teresa of Avila says that prayer and meditation are not so much about thinking a lot, but loving a lot.  So be a reflection of God’s love in all you do and know that God isn’t testing you or me or anyone.  God is always near, ready to help welcome us home.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 5^th Sunday

Lost, confused, frightened, and anxious

I wandered through the desert

of my own imaginings, O Lord,

feeling You had abandoned me

in my hour of need, uncaring or worse,

indifferent to my loneliness.

How I longed to return to the safe

security of selfishness and sin

from which You In Your mercy,

delivered me by Your love

life and death on the cross.

Fearful of this newfound freedom,

bought at so great a price,

I chose, instead, to wallow

in my unworthiness.

But You, infinite source of patience,

kindness and understanding,

came to be with me, despite my stubborn

foolishness and pride

to remind me of Your covenant

to remain always by my side

and with gentle prodding and humor

lead me home at last to You.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.”  Psalm 25:4-5

Last week we talked about the first intuition we had of God’s presence in our lives—and how that insight matches perfectly with our own very human desire for fulfillment.  Today, I’d like to dwell on the scripture from the Book of Psalms that gives us a path forward.

“Teach me your ways…”   We say this in prayer all the time.  We ask the Lord to show us how to better reflect his love and compassion.  And we pray for the strength to witness that love even when it’s hard.

This is what we pray for—an understanding of what God is calling us to be, and the courage to accept the invitation.  We pray about it because witnessing God’s love isn’t always easy, right?  Jonah is a good example of how our lives can go off track.  Today’s reading needs a little context but it’s still a teaching moment.  Jonah had disobeyed God and found himself in a tight spot.  But God being God, Jonah got a second chance.  When he obeyed God’s will by going to Nineveh to preach repentance, two things happened:  that act not only saved the lives of the Ninevites, it was going to save Jonah’s life, too.  But Jonah had trouble being magnanimous.  He was mad because God spared the Ninevites, too.

What does this story say about forgiveness—one of the central practices of our faith?  Is it only good “for me” but “not for you”?  The lesson is that God cares for all of us, even the sinner, and maybe especially the sinner.  God’s grace and offer of salvation are infinite.  Our calling is nothing more than to receive these gifts with gratitude and then pass them on.

Any of us, including Jonah and the Ninevites, can enter the Kingdom of God.  That’s because God practices mercy.  And that’s why we should, too

Friend, when you pray, asking God to show you the way toward salvation, accept that finding your unique path is linked to three healing graces:  mercy, forgiveness, and kindness.  Embrace all three.  Then yes, pass them on.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 4^th Sunday

Lord Jesus, your daughter Dorothy Day,

Servant of God, admonished us

saying, “We only love God as much

as the person we love the least.”

Help us, like her, to see you

even in the least likable people

for whom, like us, you also came

to live and die and rise again.

You gave us the sign of Jonah

not just by lying in the tomb

for three days but also in having

the Gentiles, the Ninevites,

respond to Your powerful

words of prophecy calling all to repentance.

May we never withhold Your mercy

from others especially those who seem to us most lost.

Help us to break down the barriers

that divide Your children between “us” and “them”

and to cross borders of race, religion, and politics

that from the diversity of cultures and peoples

we might help You establish Your kingdom

where all are welcome and equal In Your sight.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Come, and you will see. “So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day.  It was about four in the afternoon.”’  John 1:39

John’s Gospel is so precise about the exact time the apostles stayed with Jesus and came to understand that he was the Messiah.  How did John know that?

I have always been amused by this scripture.  And it makes me think:  What time was it when I first saw God?  When I first understood that I was being called to glory?  Here’s one I can think of:  When I was just a kid in grammar school, my hero was a priest that I knew.  The way he loved and cared for people was amazing to me and I wanted to be just like him.  Another moment came later in life.  As a young adult in formation to become a Maryknoll priest, I was assigned to Peru for overseas training.  The first time I got off the boat, after crossing Lake Titicaca, I knew immediately that I had come home.  And eventually that’s where I would spend 20 years of my life, serving the Aymaran community and experiencing the power of

God’s presence.

In the end, the exact moment each of us comes to know God may not be as important as the journey we’re on… the lifetime we devote to living the Gospel.  We are the apostles of today, longing for the completion that only God can provide.  When we are fulfilled, two all-consuming realities give us comfort:  We not only rest well in God’s hands, but by sharing our joy we are building God’s kingdom on earth. 

However we choose to share God’s love—with acts of kindness, with the ability to forgive, with understanding—we know that our relationships will only deepen.  And so will our faith.  We just need to be open to God’s many invitations to grow in love and compassion.  In my experience, they happen all the time.

Friend, St. Augustine says we are restless until we rest in God.  You might not remember the exact day or hour that you came home to God.  But what you do remember will be the joy of knowing that God’s grace lives within you, now and always.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 3^rd Sunday

O Lord, my God, who am I

that You should care for me

or call me by name to follow you?

I am not worthy to draw near to You

and so You, in Your wisdom,

draw nearer to me.

Help me cast of sins of pride

selfishness and greed

to cleanse my soul and

make it a temple worthy of You

and a tabernacle of Your glory.

May I share Your Good News

with everyone I meet

that they too might find

forgiveness, peace, and joy

in Your presence.

Forever and ever.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso