Dear Friend,

Monday, February 19, 2024

Reflection by Rev. Msgr. Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D.

One of the things I used to look most forward to during the summertime was when we took our family vacation down at the Jersey shore. We always had at least one opportunity as a family to play miniature golf. I wasn’t really that good (sadly, my golf game has not improved much even in my adult life!). But it was always fun keeping score, worrying about which of my brothers beat the other one - and the ensuing disagreements that would follow. Sibling rivalry at its best.

Some of us can carry the same mentality into the Lenten season, and even in life in general: the practice of keeping score. How many things are you giving up? Do we get a reprieve on Sundays? Is chicken really meat? The questions can go on and on. But the disposition, down deep, doesn’t really lead us any closer to Christ. It’s like keeping score. If all we are interested in is numbers, we don’t really get to enjoy the game. The fun that we’re supposed to have is lost in competition. And the joy of being with those we love never rises to the surface.

The Gospel for today’s Mass is from Matthew chapter 25. It’s the final public teaching of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel. It concerns the final judgment. The passage reminds us that every charitable encounter is actually an encounter with the Lord himself. When we’re reaching out to others, we’re doing a lot more than just an act of kindness. We’re actually entering the beautiful and life-giving realm of an encounter with Jesus Himself.

It can be very difficult for some of us, me included, to see the face of God in a situation where we don’t feel competent or find ourselves uncomfortable. The tendency can be just to watch carefully and keep score. But following Christ and growing in his love necessitates that we’re in the game.

As we enter this first full week of Lent, may we use this sacred time to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s love - and see His face in all those we meet, especially those most in need.

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Rev. Msgr. Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D., Vice Provost for Academics and Catholic Identity Seton Hall University and Rector/Dean Emeritus, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology . He holds a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, a licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) from Pontificio Istituto Teresianum, Rome, and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Fordham University. He has served as a member of the Archdiocesan Priest Personnel Board, the Advisory Committee on Continuing Education and Ongoing Formation of Priests, the Archdiocesan Vocations Board, and the Board of Trustees of Seton Hall University. Pope John Paul II named him a Chaplain to His Holiness in 2005, with the title of Reverend Monsignor. In 2016 during the Holy Year of Mercy, the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization sought priests who were living signs "of the Father's welcome to all those in search of His forgiveness." He was the only priest from the Archdiocese of Newark formally commissioned as a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis.