Daily Scripture

Good Friday

Scripture:

Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12
Hebrews 4:14 -16; 5:7-9
John 18:1-19:42

Reflection:

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice. -John 18:37

When I was a child, Good Friday was a very special and important day in our house. From
noon until three o’clock in the afternoon, there was no television, radio or record player playing.
It was still and quiet. My mother said it was to remember and respect the Passion and Death of
Jesus. We did not attend the communal worship in our parish, instead we read a book or colored.

Around two-thirty in the afternoon, our mother would retrieve her Life of Christ book from the
Catholic Library collection and read the Passion and Death of Jesus to us. As I listened, I
understood some of the story and other parts were not as clear. I remember how the sun shone in the living room as she read, and I felt the sacredness of the moment.

Today I still prefer to have a quiet house from noon until three o’clock and read the Passion of
Jesus from the Gospel. I do have my mother’s Life of Christ book and will read from it this year.

While communal celebration of the liturgy is an essential part of the Catholic faith and worship, on Good Friday I prefer to reflect in solitude and sit in the sacredness of the moment. I will also view Antonio Ciseri’s painting, Ecce Homo and spend time meditating on the moment that Pilate had the opportunity to change the injustice that was occurring but refused the grace of God and buckled under the political pressure of his time. In the painting Ecce Homo, Pilate’s own wife turns her back on the scene where Christ is presented to the people, Ecce Homo, refusing to take part in or give approval to the travesty.

In our busy and noisy world, it is good to take time to be quiet and reflect on those things which have meaning in our lives. May your Triduum embrace the elements of reflection, silence, and celebration, Providing a deeper experience of the love and peace of Christ.

Linda Schork is a theology teacher at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky.

Holy Thursday

Scripture:

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15

Reflection:

LENT IS OVER!  For the past six weeks we have prayed, fasted and performed acts of kindness and service for God’s people.  We begin the Sacred Triduum tonight with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper!  Holy Thursday celebrates the institution of the Eucharist as Jesus’ body and blood.  The Sacred oils of Catechumens, Sick, and Holy Chrism, blessed by the Bishop at the Chrism Mass will be brought forth in procession ready to be used for anointing of the sick, and anointing in the celebration of Baptism and Confirmation for the coming year.

One of the most important rituals of this liturgy will take place with the washing of one another’s feet.  During the Last Supper, Jesus demonstrated his love for his apostles and for us as he washed the feet of his disciples.  It is important to remember that this action of washing feet during Jesus’ time was a task that was typically reserved for slaves.  In performing this intimate and self-humbling act, Jesus showed just how and so deeply he loved his followers and us. 

Jesus’ unconditional love for us calls us to respond in like manner with our sisters and brothers.  He issued this clarion call to service with these words we hear in the Gospel of John.

“If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.  I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

For me, the Holy Thursday ritual of washing one another’s feet and having someone wash mine in return is profound and humbling. I feel I am on holy ground and feel that undeserved, unconditional and unifying love God has for each one of us.

In preparing this reflection, I came across a reflection by Sr. Joyce Roach, OP relating her experience of working with orphan children in Mexico City many years ago.  Her reflection is entitled; Orphan Feet:  The Story of Carlos.  During her two-week stay, six-year-old Carlos with a ready smile and infectious demeanor, wrapped himself around her heart!  Sr Joyce related how she and Carlos would take daily walks around this very poor area.  One day she noticed Carlos’ feet, covered with sand and dust as were most of the inhabitants of his village.  His feet spoke to her of peoples’ struggles with hardships and brokenness of life, especially the poor, the lonely and the forgotten!  Sr. Joyce took time that day to photograph Carlos’ feet and that picture was shared over the years in her ministry as teacher, counselor, nurse, spiritual director.  She shared with us that just as we have no clear icon of Jesus’ face, but only his words, so it is with Carlos.  His feet, not his face, live on!

I am reminded as I reflect on the story of Carlos and Sr. Joyce of how Pope Francis consistently heeds the call of Jesus as he washes the feet of the ‘Carlos’ in our world, the prisoner, the refugee, the sick and the forgotten on Holy Thursday each year.

Tonight, as we participate in the ritual of feet washing, may we do so with love for all members of the Body of Christ.  May we continue to seek out and serve the Carlos’ who come to our door, walk with dusty and sandy feet on our streets and who humbly remind us of the one who suffered and died so that we may have new life.  Amen.

Have a Blessed and Holy Triduum and Easter!

Theresa Secord is a retired Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Matthew 26:14-25

Reflection:

Triduum begins tomorrow evening.  Today is the culmination of our Lenten journey as we stand at the threshold between what has been this Lenten experience and what is about to come in the next four days.  I look back at the liturgical readings for this season and am reminded of the gospel texts informing us, the reader, of numerous people who were against Jesus.   It is one thing to have someone on the outside against you.  Today, the net surrounding Jesus tightens even more.  Things get tough, for now someone in Jesus’ inner circle plots to betray him.

Have you ever been betrayed?  Think of the pain of that betrayal and prayerfully share it with the Lord as you read today’s Gospel and the actions and attitude of Judas.  As you pray through it, is the wound still tender?  Where are you in the process of forgiveness?   Betrayal paralyzes you.  It feels like a knife has pierced you through the heart and most painful it is from someone you confided, cared about, entrusted part of who you are.  When your enemy is outside your circle, its common to keep your defenses up.    However, when it comes from inside your circle, your defenses are down and the knife cuts deeper.  And what does Jesus do?  He doesn’t condemn him, nor does he exclude him from the celebration at the table.

In some ways Judas’ actions make sense.  In Judas’ eyes, Jesus hasn’t restored Israel to it’s glory days. He hasn’t fulfilled any of his responsibilities as Messiah.  He hasn’t reclaimed the temple. What has Jesus done?  To Judas, Jesus’ actions fall short.  Judas hears Jesus talking a good talk but there is not the action that Judas would like to see.  Remember, Judas was a Zealot.    Zealots were men of action.  They had no problem murdering Roman Centurions or anyone who kept them from living the way they believed God was asking them to live.   They saw their purpose to cleanse Israel of this blight.   In Judas’ eyes, Jesus wasn’t doing that.  He hears Jesus talking about his kingdom and his new world order but it is not transpiring his way.    Where is the action Jesus?  Judas wasn’t against the good things Jesus did.  But in Judas’ eyes, Jesus didn’t fulfill the task of Messiah.  He fell short.  Therefore Judas decided he isn’t really the Anointed One whom Israel had been awaiting, and Judas sells him out.   

It is not much different than our world today.  As divided as we are, so much of our division is about differences in expectations.  What we expect our leaders to be, politicians to be, our family to be and even our church to be….. And when it doesn’t fill our expectations what do we do?   Are we really that much different than Judas?  It is easy stay on board when everything is going well and it is easy to sell out when things begin to seem like they are falling apart.  This week is most challenging.  Holy Week asks us, how do you stay the course when things are falling apart and you think Jesus is the answer?  And in the midst of this call to be disciples of integrity, we watch him succumb to the forces in the universe who seemingly gang up against him. Here is the hero of the Gospels being led to the cross.   If anything, this week is a story about expectations and how do we respond when it seems like something has come unwired in the cosmic universe? 

Judas saw the gift that was before him in the person of Jesus.  Sadly he chose to monetize the gift, an act he later deeply regretted.  

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the Provincial Superior of Holy Cross Province. He resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:1-6
John 13:21-33, 36-38

Reflection:

You gotta love Peter! What you see is what you get with this man.

We are in the throes of Holy Week. We begin the week with “Hosana,” move to “Crucify him,” and finally end with “Alleluia.” We rightfully follow the journey of Jesus through this week, but let’s not forget those who accompanied him through these confounding events. So, back to Simon Peter.

The scene is the Last Supper in the upper room, the cenacle. It is an intense scene with the Beloved Disciple resting his head on Jesus, Judas’ betrayal, and then this exchange in today’s gospel.

My children, I will be with you only a little while longer…

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?”

Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.”

Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

Simon Peter is so brave to declare his unwavering commitment to God, as we all hope we would. But I cannot help but look around and see time and again the ways in which we waffle, just as Peter will do. We choose to lay down our lives for our job, our political party, our country, our friends. There is nothing wrong with making a commitment to any of these. The problem begins when they displace our commitment to live the gospel by caring for the poor, welcoming the stranger, forgiving our enemies, judging not, and loving one another. We’re likely to get that stare from Jesus that says, “Really? You’ll lay down your life for me and the message of love I preach?”

Robert Hotz is a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and was the Director of The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Isaiah 42:1-7
John 12:1-11

Reflection:

Mary Found Favor with God

Every Sunday when we proclaim the Creed, we remind ourselves that we believe in the “Communion of the Saints.”  But what does that mean?

Often when I feel down or caught in discouragement, I like to read the lives of those canonized icons from our rich history, like Teresa of Avila or John of the Cross, or Paul of the Cross, or sometimes I’ll have dinner with saints of today — like my good friend, Gabriel, a Benedictine monk and pastor in a nearby diocese. Like his eponym, the archangel, my generous and kind friend, Gabriel, is a remarkable bearer of Good News or Gospel. That’s what angels do — because they are “God’s messengers.”

In today’s Gospel, the Archangel Gabriel announces to Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”  (Luke 1:30)

But have you ever pondered?

Abel found favor with God, and his brother killed him (Genesis 4:9)
Abraham found favor with God, and was told by God to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22:2)
Hebrew children found favor with God, and wandered for 40 years in loneliness, thirst (Numbers 21:5)
Moses found favor with God, listened to the daily complaints of his people, and never saw the promised land  (Numbers 20:12)
David found favor with God,and suffered bitterly the death of his son (2 Samuel 19:1)
Job found favor with God, and lost fortune, family, wealth & health  (Job 1:13ff)
Elijah found favor with God, and waited under a juniper tree, pondering suicide
(1 Kings 19)
Joseph found favor with God, and he was sold by his bothers into slavery  (Genesis 37:36)
Daniel found favor with God, and ended up in a lion’s den  (Daniel 6:10)
Jeremiah found favor with God, and felt the quiver of God’s arrows in his flesh
Hosea found favor with God, and his wife became a prostitute
John the Baptist found favor with God, and he was violently decapitated  (Matthew 14:10)
Stephen found favor with God, and he was stoned (Acts 7:59)
Paul found favor with God, and was shipwrecked, starved and in prison
Jesus found favor with God, and was beaten, spat upon, crucified

Maybe today is a good time to reflect also on that provocative passage (Isaiah 55:9), “Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” Confident of God’s unconditional love, we, too, remember St. Teresa of Avila as she was bucked off her horse into a river on the way to visit one of her monasteries: “Dear Lord, if this is how You treat Your friends, it is no wonder You have so few!”

Fr. Jack Conley, CP, is the local superior of St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Scripture:

Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16
Isaiah 50:4-7
Philippians 2:6-11
Mark 14:1-15:47

Reflection:

Todays’ liturgy begins with Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.  After 3 years of incredible healings, miracles and raising people from the dead Jesus finally receives well deserved public acknowledgement.  “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”Mt 21  The word hosana is of Hebrew origin having roots in the word saves Yahshah (Save) appearing some 206 times in OT.  

Jesus comes into Jerusalem riding on a donkey!   One would think He would chose to ride a white stallion!  I take great consolation after 59 years of being a priest that Jesus chose to use a donkey to ride into the hearts of His people.  This is not the last time by any means He used a lowly being to carry Him into the souls of His chosen ones. God does have a wonderful sense of humor!     

Jesus some 83 times in NT called Himself “son on man”.  The most wonderful thing in the history of the universe is that God in Jesus took on our human nature!  Not just a temporary surface appearance but the “Word become flesh”.   For all eternity we can experience the warm loving human face of God!  At the same experience we in awe contact the Divinity.  “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” Heb 1:3

The rest of the Palm Sunday liturgy is treats of the sufferings of Christ.   “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Phil 2:8   God could not suffer till His incarnation in Jesus.  His ultimate act of love for us is the Passion of Christ.  Now to touch our hard hearts God experienced our excruciating pain in the sufferings of His Son Jesus.   “Greater love than this no man can have,”   

One of the most remarkable lines in the NT is: “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9   In the Palm Sunday Eucharist this whole mystery of God’s love is contained and experienced in an extraordinary way! Jesus said: “This is My Body, the one being given for you” Lk 22:19    “The Eucharist is indelibly marked by the event of the Lord’s passion and death, of which it is not only a reminder but the sacramental re-presentation. It is the sacrifice of the Cross perpetuated down the ages”.  Sacrosanctum Concilium, 47

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Ezekiel 37:21-28
John 11:45-56

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading, some people go to the Pharisees to tell them what Jesus had done, notably raising Lazarus from the dead. So, the Sanhedrin is convened, and the Pharisees say to one another, “If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” Caiaphas, the high priest, says to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” Unknowingly, Caiaphas prophesies about what Jesus’ Passion and death means for the whole world. And then we are told, “from that day on they planned to kill him.”

Those who planned to kill Jesus were acting out of fear of what the Romans would do, and what they might lose. When we look at what is going on in our country and in our world, we see that fear can very readily lead to violence and division. We can fear the “other,” or fear the loss that change may bring, and be tempted to lash out.

What can help us calm our fears? What can help us move forward in spite of our fears? We know the answer. It is the love of God in Jesus Christ. The One who is able to transform evil into good, can, if we let God in, heal our hearts and quell our fears. The world needs us to follow Jesus and move beyond our fears. The world needs healing, and the rise of justice and peace.

May we trust in God and be healed of the fear that divides us. May the love of Jesus from the Cross lead us to work for justice and make peace.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.