So wouldn’t it be easier if Juliet forced Romeo to love him? Then, none of that heartbreak would’ve happened. So what if Jim from “The Office” forced Pam to love him in the first season? Then, none of that drama or heartbreak would’ve happened. The answer is no. Because forced love is not love. In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus is tempted by Satan to throw himself down, to reveal his glory, to reveal his divinity to the world. It would be so much easier for people to love him if they knew he was God. Again, forced love is not love. It is so easy for us to be like that, to say, “Jesus, please just heal all illnesses. Get rid of all suffering from the world, and then everything will be good.” Jesus’ love is never forced. It’s never imposed. And so we are the ones who say yes to him. Choose Jesus this Lent. This is Spirit Juice, peace.
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Yes To God
So, very often in the Old Testament, this is what happens. A prophet speaks to a group of people, calling them to turn back to the Lord. And what does the group of people do? They say no! They reject God, and bad things happen. They dig a hole that they cannot get out of. But the fantastic thing about the first reading for this Sunday is that Jonah, a prophet, speaks to the people of Nineveh, calling them to repent and…
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Face to Face with Jesus
What happens when you come face to face with the God of the universe? You don’t want to leave.
At a recent retreat, students encountered Jesus in a powerful way and many of them said the same thing: “I don’t want to go. I just want to stay.” In His presence, everything else fades.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Peter, James, and John experience that same reality at the Transfiguration. Overwhelmed by glory, they want to pitch tents and remain there with Him.
This Lent, keep it simple: make space to sit in the presence of Jesus. Stay. Listen. Let Him meet you there.
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The Best Institution
St. John Paul II once said that the greatest institution that has ever existed and ever will exist is the family. Greater than any corporation, league, or system we can imagine. On the Feast of the Holy Family, we’re reminded that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph placed their family life entirely in God’s hands and that trust led them into the greatest adventure of all. Their home wasn’t perfect or easy, but it was rooted in surrender. No matter how messy, broken, or complicated our own families may feel, we’re called to do the same. If we want to change the world, it has to begin with healing and holiness, in our families.
