Welcoming & Embracing the Stranger: Lenten Reflections with the Artwork of James Tissot

February 24, 2026 - Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

As I read today’s Gospel, an incident with Johnny, one of our neighbor children from a while ago, came to mind. When Johnny was about two years old, he would run up to his mom and cling to her and say, “MY mommy!” as if daring his five older siblings to challenge his claim to possess their mom as if she was only his.

In the Gospel passage of today, Jesus does the opposite with His Father in relation to us. He calls His Father “Our Father.” Jesus’s generosity and hospitality go as far as inviting us to a mutual belonging within His family. For Jesus, there are no strangers, because everyone belongs to His Father, and His Father belongs to everyone. For Jesus, there is not a ‘them’ and an ‘us,’ but only ‘us.’  

The art piece chosen to help us meditate this week is that of Jesus being tempted. At the heart of most temptation is a doubt in God’s goodness and His paternal solicitude that desires to provide for our needs. As a result of this, we grasp for what we believe will lead to our fulfillment. We try to attain what we think we need by our own power, often leading to hurting ourselves and others. Jesus is showing us how to combat this temptation by reminding us that we have a Father who knows what we need and wants to provide. He teaches us how to speak to God about what we need instead of anxiously grasping for it by ourselves.

Knowing that we have a Father who knows what we need and wants to give us “our daily bread” will give us a sense of peace and security. We can have confidence that He will provide, not because we say the right words or do the right things, but because we belong to Him and He to us. The sense of security in His love can cause us to run and cling to God and say, “MY Father!” Yet, unlike Johnny, not with an attitude of possessiveness that excludes others, but with a loving confidence that my Father, who is also our Father, knows what I need and will provide for me as well as for each of His children who dare to call Him “Father.” 

Look upon your family, Lord, that, through the chastening effects of bodily discipline, our minds may be radiant in your presence with the strength of our yearning for you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. (Roman Missal)

Sr. Anne Dukart, CSJ, Campus Minister

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