February 2023

Reflection for Sunday February 26th, 2023 by Abby

Gospel Reading: Mt 4:1-11

In the Gospel of Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus has been fasting in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, when the devil approaches him with temptation. He challenges Jesus to prove God’s power by turning the stones into bread to eat. Jesus responds by saying that he does not need to bread to survive but instead he will survive off the word of God. The devil tempts Jesus twice more. In response to the devils attempt to take Jesus off the path of God, Jesus replies that all he needs is God and that with God he will have everything. Similarly to Jesus, we face temptations daily. Especially during lent we repent our sins and try to turn away from temptation. It is easy to get swept away by the distractions in our lives but if we look to God and listen to his plan for us,
we will be able to say no to sin, like Jesus. What temptations do you need to avoid this lent to in order to strengthen your relationship with God?

This week's reflection is by Abby, MSJA class of 2025.

Reflection for Sunday February 5, 2023 By Charlotte

Sunday Gospel: Lk 6:39-45

Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount this week with the similes of salt and light. The value and power of salt was much greater in the Classical Era. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt instead of money. The Ancient Greeks used salt in religious ceremonies. To this day, salt provides exquisite flavor to food. However, when Jesus says “you are the salt of the earth,” he’s probably referring to salt’s use of preservation. We, as Christians, are meant to repel the sin and injustice that plagues our world, like salt, we are to preserve the earth. But if we get corrupted by wrongdoings, we will lose our way—lose our saltiness—and have to repent to God in order to have our purpose restored.
Jesus then tells us that we are the light of the world, and that we must shine before others for all to see. As children of God, we should reflect his light through our actions and words. We are like a beacon or a lighthouse; we direct those who are lost or have no hope by reflecting the light of God. How can you be like salt and preserve the world? How can you be a light and a beacon to others?

This week's reflection is by Olivia. Olivia is a senior at MSJA and has been a member of a OMC high school small group for two years.

Reflection for Sunday February 12, 2023

Sunday Gospel: Mt 5:17-37

This week’s Gospel is a continuation of the sermon on the mount, which includes a lot of moral teaching of Jesus. This week, Jesus expands upon the ten commandments and challenges us to internalize them. It makes me think of moving from an ethics mindset to an ethos. Ethics refers to rules and standards outside of us that affect the way we act. Ethos refers to an internal characteristic or mindset. The difference is essentially doing or not doing something because of outside influences or internal beliefs. Jesus wants us to align our desires and beliefs with God’s will. The cool thing is when our will is aligned with God’s then we start to forget about the demands on us. If I do not have the desire to steal then the law against stealing is unnecessary. However if you want to steal then you are probably going to be more aware of the command not to steal. Jesus desires conversion and transformation for all of us. What commands and teachings of Jesus do you find most difficult? How can you continue to move from an ethics mindset to ethos?

Reflection for Sunday February 19, 2023 by Nina

Gospel Reading: Mt 5:38-48

This gospel from Matthew instructs us to treat others with kindness and respect. If someone treats you poorly do not seek revenge but humble yourself by surrendering your pride and ego. God treats everyone with love, those who walk through the world like Jesus and those who don’t, illustrating how God encourages us to show empathy to all, whether we consider them enemies or friends. Ultimately, this passage reminds us that we must reach out in our lives with compassion toward all as we never know what someone else is going through or what may have led them to act in an apathetic manner. Because if everyone takes “an eye for an eye” how could we all see the beauty of the world and life that God has given us?

This week's reflection is by Nina, The Baldwin School class of 2026.