Tag: Holy Week

Easter Sunday | The Resurrection of the Lord

From the sequence before the Gospel: “Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 20:1-9)

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

As the disciples race to the tomb, John sprints ahead and looks inside, seeing the burial cloths but hesitates to enter. Peter arrives, enters the tomb, and sees immediately that the cloths are arranged carefully, unlike how they would appear if the body were stolen. As John follows Peter in, they both see and believe. And John tells us, “For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” What they find in the empty tomb is part of an answer to Mary’s troubled declaration, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” Their minds still reeling, Mary and the other disciples don’t know what to make of what they have witnessed. It isn’t until later, as Jesus appears to them, that they come to know the unbounded joy of Christ’s paschal mystery that we celebrate at the Easter Mass: “Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!”

God, help me make sense of the unfolding moments of that first Easter morning. I feel between spiritual worlds—more in spirit with Mary and her puzzlement than with the Spirit-confirmed faith of the apostles at Pentecost. “And we don’t know where they put him.” Something in that makes me want to linger, contemplating the mystery of Christ’s presence even in his absence. It’s the same mystery of the bread and wine made into his body and blood. Absent in appearance but truly, actually present. Lord, give me the grace to receive the Eucharist with reverential awe. The risen Christ, victor over sin and death, is freed from the tomb and shows us the path to eternal life. Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil

From the responsorial psalm: “The right hand of the LORD has struck with power; the right hand of the LORD is exalted. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 16:1-7)

On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’”

After the sabbath, early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome go to the tomb of Jesus to anoint him. As they approach the tomb, they question among themselves how they will remove the stone. When they look up, they see that it has been rolled away. A young man sits at the right side of the tomb who tells them Jesus has been raised, and he sends them with a message, mentioning Peter by name and the disciples. Jesus would meet them in Galilee, as he told them. In the resurrection, saving us from sin and death, Jesus goes ahead of us. And God always keeps his promises. In the Easter vigil Mass, the triumph of light over darkness appears in the risen Christ, the Light of the World.

God, help me fully embrace the passion, death, and resurrection of your Son in understanding it as much as your grace allows so that I can partake in the full Easter joy of receiving the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. By taking him in, I take in his victory over sin and death and am strengthened through him in the hope of the resurrection, which he made possible for all who believe in him. Grant me the grace, Lord, to participate in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection and know the joy it offers for me and for the whole world. Have mercy on us, Lord, and on the whole world. “By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

From the responsorial psalm: “Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness. Take courage and be stouthearted, all you who hope in the LORD. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 18:1—19:42)

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Until the moment of his death, Jesus was aware that he was accomplishing his Father’s will. Throughout the days leading up to his passion and through all its brutality, he never lost sight of it and in the last moment knew when he had fulfilled all he was sent to fulfill. What was it Jesus thirsted for? To be sure, as a man, he thirsted as a man thirsts; as Immanuel, he thirsted not for any created thing but for the salvation of all. In saying “It is finished,” the Son announces to the Father in that moment the finality of life but also the beginning of the end of sin and death in his glorious resurrection to come. Jesus’ death on the cross is not an end but for all who believe in him the full flowering of the hope of the resurrection.

God, in contemplating the death of your Only Begotten Son on the cross, I strive to see the profound depth and breadth of its effects, for the sake of the whole world and for my own sake. Help me weigh the small sacrifices I make today against the weight of your crucifixion. There is no comparison, and it could be that all I can do today is stand in wonder of that. Give me the grace to know more deeply the meaning of the crucifixion; teach me through obedience to your will the meaning of suffering as a means of sanctification. A sinner, I am inclined to want to look away from the crucifixion and what it draws me to—Christ your Son—but I can’t look away. Help me understand who it is I behold and what it means.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Holy Thursday

From the responsorial psalm: “How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 13:1-15)

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. 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.”

Before the feast of Passover in the Upper Room, Jesus begins to wash his disciples’ feet. As he comes to Simon Peter, he asks what Jesus is doing and says to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus then replies, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Peter says, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” At first failing to understand why Jesus would want to wash his feet, Peter accepts wholeheartedly what Jesus offers to do. The lowly, menial task of washing feet is an example to the disciples of humility and selflessness. In this example of sacrificial love and service, Peter accepts what Jesus does for the sake of his own salvation. “What I am doing,” Jesus tells Peter, “you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter, the first servant of the servants, would come to understand service and sacrificial love as our first pope.

God, help me understand what greatness is—not conventional greatness, not greatness as the world sees it, but greatness in going all out to be the least important person in the room. “Human greatness has always had sadness for a companion,” said exorcist Fr. Gabriele Amorth. Jesus assured Peter that only his feet need be cleaned to receive the self-gift of Jesus’ humility. In seeking human greatness, I’ve demonstrated time after time that I stumble and fall. Raise me up to true greatness, Lord, in learning the virtue of humility and loving service to others. “I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Wednesday of Holy Week

From the responsorial psalm: “I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving: “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” Lord, in your great love, answer me.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 26:14-25)

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

Jesus tells the disciples “My appointed time draws near,” and he celebrates the Passover with them. While they were eating, Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him. One by one the disciples deny that they will betray Jesus. “Surely it is not I, Lord?” When Jesus makes clear the consequences of failing to seek his mercy, as Peter did following his denial of Jesus, Judas also questions Jesus—”Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”—and later betrays him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas is not alone in his betrayal. In their weakness, each of the disciples also betrayed Jesus; only John remained with him at the foot of the cross. After the resurrection, all but Judas returned to Jesus to receive his mercy.

God, help me call to mind your presence today, that you are eternally present to me whether I am conscious of it at any given moment. In the decisions I face today, give me the grace to remain faithful to you and not weaken by turning away from your will and choosing to do wrong. “Surely it is not I, Lord?” Let that question be top of mind today as I face its opportunities and trials. “The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Tuesday of Holy Week

From the responsorial psalm: “In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me. I will sing of your salvation.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 13:21-33, 36-38)

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.”

Jesus tells the disciples that one of them will betray him. Peter asks Jesus which of them is the betrayer. In dipping the morsel, Judas gives the sign that he will betray Jesus. He tells him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” And Judas departs. But Judas is not the only one who betrays Jesus. Peter, the one who says he would lay down his life for Jesus, later denies him three times in the courtyard. Peter’s overconfident devotion to Jesus reveals human weakness. When Jesus questions Peter—”Will you lay down your life for me?”—it is not to shame him but to direct his total dependence on God to strengthen and sustain him. In later repenting, Peter affirms this dependence.

God, help me realize the extent of your mercy, not to presume it but to recognize sin for what it is and know the grace of reconciliation with you. Judas moves off stage in the Gospel, passing from light to darkness. Peter leans against Jesus’ chest in devotion to him. Yet, both fail through human weakness to remain loyal to Jesus. Help me see in Peter a model of contrition and dependence on you for the forgiveness of sins. I am in a helpless place, Lord, if I trust only my good will to see me through the day. Let me know your mercy and be merciful to others. “In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Monday of the Second Week of Easter

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.”

In today’s Gospel, Nicodemus acknowledges that Jesus is a teacher who has come from God, and he asks him how a person can be born again. Jesus explains that no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, he tells him, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. Nicodemus is confused and asks how this can be, but Jesus compares it to the wind, which blows where it pleases and is not seen. Not through our own power do we enter the kingdom of God but by being born again of the Holy Spirit, which transforms us from the inside out, making us new creatures in Christ. Nicodemus’s response to Jesus is almost comical—that it isn’t possible for a man once grown old to be born again. Yet, Nicodemus merely reflects on the natural order, following common sense. But the divine order—the Holy Spirit—is outside of the natural order and blows where it wills.

God, help me break free from the confines of the natural order. Most of the time things happen according to it, but if I come to believe that is always true, I miss taking part in the boldness that faith in your Son allows. As Peter and John prayed in the first reading, let me be confident in the wonders you can work that defy logic: “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord. Lord, give me the grace to turn to you to take refuge.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W-KSOPWWBY

Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples who are gathered together in a locked room out of fear of some of the Jewish leaders. Jesus suddenly appears and says, “Peace be with you.” He then shows them his hands and side, which bear the marks of the crucifixion, and they see and believe that he has truly risen from the dead. Jesus then breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” He also gives them the authority to forgive sins. Thomas is not present when Jesus appears, and he refuses to believe that Jesus has risen unless he sees the wounds for himself. A week later, Jesus appears to the disciples again, and this time Thomas is there. Jesus invites Thomas to touch his wounds and to believe, and Thomas confesses, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus’ response to Thomas is spoken not only to Thomas but to all who would believe without seeing. Peter describes this beautifully in the second reading: “Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him.”

Lord, help me understand that the words you spoke to Thomas you speak to me in your mercy to meet me in my unbelief. “Do not be unbelieving, but believe.” The eleven disciples had the benefit of your appearance to them; Thomas at first did not, and neither do I. Although I cannot see you in the same way, you invite me to believe without seeing. You are alive, body and soul, at the right hand of the Father, and you are present in the sacraments. Give me the grace to trust in what I cannot see, mercy itself, that through this belief I may have life in your name.

Thank you, Lord, for the quiet moments in your presence. Make yourself known to me today so that I’m aware of you in ways I wouldn’t ordinarily recognize. Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W-KSOPWWBY

Saturday in the Octave of Easter

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Jesus said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus appears to the Eleven and rebukes them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, for not believing those who saw him after the resurrection. I can only imagine what it was like as the risen Jesus called out those closest to him for their lack of faith.

God, help me understand how this event from long ago applies to me. If the Eleven lacked faith, surely my lack of faith is something Jesus would address on meeting me. Yet, what he says next to the disciples is not out of step with his rebuke; it is, instead, a means Jesus gives them to increase their faith. In telling them to go out and proclaim the Gospel to every creature, Jesus the Divine Physician diagnoses them and provides a cure: in order to confront unbelief, go out in faith to the whole world and boldly proclaim the Good News. To do this, Lord, is to do your will in the same way Peter and John proclaimed the Good News and performed miracles. When told not to speak the name of Jesus, Peter told the people who opposed him: “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” God, give me courage to speak the name of your Son, and help me recognize when you place the opportunity before me.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. Alleluia, alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W-KSOPWWBY

Friday in the Octave of Easter

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

Jesus appears again to the disciples. They have been out fishing but catch nothing all night. At dawn, Jesus stands on the shore, although they do not recognize him. He asks if they caught anything, and they reply no. Jesus then instructs them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, and they catch so many fish they are unable to pull the net ashore. John recognizes that it is Jesus who has performed this miracle. When they arrive on the shore, they find that Jesus had made a fire; fish and bread already on it, Jesus invites them to eat. This is the third time Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection. Like yesterday’s reading, the disciples recognize Jesus as he gives them something to eat.

God, help me see how Jesus provides for every small need and also in superabundance—as in the catch of 153 large fish—for those he comes to. It is in Jesus’ overflowing care of the most basic needs that Jesus provides and is recognized by his disciples as the Son of God. In his earthly life, Jesus once asked the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?” Here, John tells us how the disciples have come to recognize your Son: “And none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they realized it was the Lord.”

Thank you, Lord, for all that you give me. As the psalmist says, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let those who fear the LORD say, ‘His mercy endures forever.'”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W-KSOPWWBY