2020 Lenten Devotional April 4, 2020 - Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Gospel Reading:  Ez 37:21-28; Jer 31:10-13; John 11:45-56

In today’s responsorial psalm, we are reminded that, “the Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.” The notion of God as a shepherd, standing guard and providing guidance, is a tremendous comfort, especially in times of sorrow or distress. Although my faith sometimes wavers, it is strongest at difficult times, when I am reminded that turning to God for guidance is a great relief.

As a scientist and a Catholic, I have found that my faith in God is occasionally called into question. Science and faith can seem to be at odds, as science requires reason, logic and the gathering of evidence to support or refute hypotheses (i.e., testable ideas), while faith in God requires what, to some, may seem like a suspension of reason and lack of hard evidence. Evidence of God surrounds us, however; we simply need to open our hearts to observe it. The evidence might be in a kind gesture, an act of charity, the forgiveness of a wrong, the beauty of nature, or the sense of comfort found in prayer.

This Lenten season, let us strive to open our hearts and attentively observe the evidence of God in and through the people and world around us.