"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me."In his need, Jesus turns to the psalms which he has learned and prayed regularly since a child. As he began his painful crucifixion by...
Homily Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C Reading 1: Through the prophet Isaiah God recalls how he delivered the people from bondage in Egypt by parting the waters for them to cross....
Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflections CJesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him,...
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"St. John Chrysostom writes that Jesus cried with a loud voice to teach us that he did not die of necessity, but of his own...
Thought of the Day March 28, 2022 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
By spiritaflame 10:09 AM" My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46
The darkness of the hour matched the darkness of Jesus spirit. Not only did darkness come over the whole land, Jesus himself experienced a sense of inner darkness. This inner darkness may have begun when Jesus agonized the Garden. The prophet Amos prophesied centuries before: "Day of doom, says the Lord God, when there shall be sunset at noon, and earth shall be overshadowed under the full light." Now, He felt alone with the weight of sin upon him. Lifting up his blood filled eyes, Jesus looked to the heavens. From the depth of his bowels and with a quivering body, laced with pain, he cried: My God, My God.
This is the height of his agony. He is feeling the full weight of the sins of the world that he has come to take away. He senses the effect of sin, not his, but of everyone who had or will sin. It is a deep, interior sense of abandonment, as when a person is separated from God because of sin. We can never fully understand this moment nor why Jesus had to experienced this moment. But we can make the decision never to separate ourselves from God. And if we do, never to remain in alienation, but to be reconciled through Jesus' suffering and death. Jesus, I am sorry for causing you so much pain.
Thought of the Day March 25, 2022 At the cross Mary's yes to God's plan is fulfilled
By spiritaflame 11:06 AM"Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother."What must have gone through Mary’s mind during those hours of Jesus’ crucifixion? When she brought forth the Messiah and held him in her arms, did...
"Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother."Another deeper meaning is embedded in these words of Jesus. Mary was given to be the spiritual mother of all those saved by Jesus. Thus, she...
Homily Fourth Sunday of Lent Year C Reading 1: What was the reproach of Egypt? It was the rebellious heart of the people of God. For 40 years many of them grumbled and...
"Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother."There is another insight into this moment in Jesus’ life in relation to his earthly mother. SEQ CHAPTER \h \r...
Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Basilica of Saint Peter 25 March 2022 O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to...
Reflection on the Scriptures Fourth Sunday of Lent Gospel C The Father's mercy
By spiritaflame 11:51 AMFourth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflections CTax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats...
"Woman, behold your son. Son behold your mother."Jesus, the only son of Mary, knows that when he dies, Mary, as a widow, will have no immediate family member to care and to provide...
The third word of Jesus from the cross: "Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother."
What
tortured thoughts and feeling passed through Mary’s mind as she saw her son in
such agony. After his last word to the repentant thief, sometime has past. Now
Mary sees him struggling to take his next breath, suffering to do so in order
to speak his next words. Little did she know they would be for her.
Mary’s emotional anguish mirrored Jesus’ physical anguish, and his
compassion moved him outside his pain to do something for her. Even while he
hangs dying, Jesus concerns himself not with his own needs but those of his
mother.
Father Cantalamessa has said: “When Jesus said, ‘Behold, your mother’ and ‘Behold, your son’, Jesus made Mary John’s mother and John Mary’s son. He didn’t just proclaim Mary’s new maternity, he instituted it. It doesn’t, therefore come from Mary but from God’s Word; it is not founded on merit but on grace.” Take some time today to stand with Mary and John at the cross and reflect on these words.
"This day you shall be with me in paradise." When Mary heard these words, what did she feel? Was it a sense of gratitude that her son’s suffering had already born fruit in one...
One of the thieves on the cross believed there was something more than this life, even for one who had done wrong most of his life. Rather than die with anger and hate...
Homily Third Sunday of Lent Year C Reading 1: The background to our reading. Moses had killed an Egyptian and has fled the wrath of Pharaoh. Now, God appears to him to...
"Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom."Listen to the words of Pope Francis as he reflects on this scene. "Whereas all the others treat Jesus with disdain – 'If you are...
One thief asked to be taken off the cross. The other humbly asked to be taken up with Jesus. One thief continued to be obstinate, while the other is converted by Jesus’ prayer...
Third Sunday of Lent Gospel CSome people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that...
"One the criminals said to Jesus: 'Remember me when you come into your kingdom.' This day you shall be with me in Paradise". Jesus replied: 'This day you will be with me in...
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1A valiant knight was once...
"Father, forgive them." Pope Francis shares these words: “If we listen attentively we can imagine him saying further: ‘Father, I give you the pain of my sacrifice for their forgiveness. I choose to give...
"Father, forgive them." At that moment, what those who judged and condemned him needed was not judgment and condemnation, but love and mercy, so that they could repent and return to the Lord. Jesus,...
Homily Second Sunday of Lent Year C Reading 1: This is the second of several covenants God makes with individuals and peoples. The first was with Noah after the flood and the...
Second Sunday of Lent Gospel CJesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. · Jesus, in his humanity, saw the need to go aside and pray even when people...
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."Jesus’ first word from the cross is a word of mercy and love. These first words which Jesus prayed from the cross...
During this season of Lent I will reflect on the Seven Last Words of Jesus from the cross.
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
Jesus’
first words from this pulpit of the cross were to his Father. The crowd before
Pilate cried crucify him; Jesus cries forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the most important
teachings Jesus gave both by words and actions to his disciples. How often did
he preach on the need for forgiveness! Now, he chose to preach through personal,
active testimony. In His humanity, Christ teaches the most
powerful lesson on forgiveness – by forgiving. In asking the Father to forgive
them, Jesus himself has already extended His forgiveness to His executioners
and detractors. The beauty of Jesus’ forgiveness is that he does so without
waiting for their repentance. At the same time, his forgiveness is limited by
their repentance or non-repentance. It is a grace prior to the response. He
prays in confidence because he knows that he and the Father are one. His prayer
underscores the truth that God is rich in mercy.
In the readings for Mass today, the theme is fasting. Jesus in the Gospel said there would be time for his followers to fast, when he is gone. St. Paul said: "Now is...
As we enter into this season of Lent, prayer is an important factor in our journey to the Pascal Mysteries. How often we are told in the Gospels that Jesus went aside to...
Homily First Sunday of Lent Year C Reading 1: Why were the people required to bring a tithe of their crops as a gift of sacrifice to God each year? God did...
