Once we recognize and affirm the resurrection of the Lord, everything changes: Faith, Hope and Love ignite as our hearts are transformed with God’s saving power. May the joy of this day inspire us to live our lives for Risen Savior!
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Category Archives: Easter
Easter Vigil
The Light of Christ shines in the darkness and dispels the power of sin and death. This holy night celebrates our redemption with the power of God’s boundless love. Rejoice! The Lord is risen! He is risen, indeed!
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Holy Week
Pastoral Note: This post was originally given on April 12, 2014. I share it once again in the hope that all of us will enter more fully into the gift of this sacred time. Fr. Andrew
Study: Recall a time in your life when you experienced death and new life. Where did you find the strength? Who helped you through this time?
Pray: Spend some time reflecting on the death and resurrection of Jesus this week. Read Mark 14-16; Matthew 26-28; Luke 22-24; and John 18-21. Take in as many prayer opportunities as possible in your parish.
Serve: Who in your life is dealing with life and death issues right now? How might you be present to them to offer help, comfort, or strength?
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We enter into the heart of the Christian mystery: Holy Week offers us a time to pause, reflect, and pray as the Church ponders on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This mystery, often called the Paschal Mystery, recalls us to the saving work of the Lord. His death frees of from the burdens of sin and death, and his resurrection opens for us the path to eternal life. This mystery is profoundly experienced over the Triduum – the 3 Great Days:
- Holy Thursday – the Mass of the Lord’s Supper
- Good Friday – the Passion of the Christ
- Easter (Vigil/Day) – the Resurrection of the Lord
On Holy Thursday we find ourselves in Jerusalem, eating with the disciples at the Lord’s Supper and feeling awkward as he washes their feet – wondering how we would react if he did that for us. We might identify with Peter or Judas – especially when we consider the times we have willingly betrayed or turned our back on the Lord.
On Good Friday we experience the physical pain, emotional abandonment, and personal humiliation on the path to Calvary (also called Golgotha or Skull Place) and look on with horror at the cruel death of Jesus. We might also consider the times we have helped others – as Simon did when he was forced to carry the Cross of Christ. And then we stand in profound sorrow with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, helpless as the innocent suffer injustice.
On Easter we wait in vigil and rise early in the morning with Mary Magdalen, only to find to our wonder and joy that the tomb is empty: Christ is alive! Our world, like that of the apostles, is changed forever as we experience new hope and life.
A word to the wise – we get out of Holy Week what we put into it. Here are some simple ways for an incredible experience.
- Make church services a top priority – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter (Vigil or Day).
- Take time to read and reflect on the scriptures (see at the top under “Pray”).
- Make Holy Thursday an opportunity to offer a special act of service or kindness to another.
- Make Good Friday fasting extra special with a gift to a particular charity that helps the poor.
- Make Easter a time of gratitude – take a quiet moment to count our blessings and thank the Lord.
- Find some time throughout this week to tell the people in our lives how much we love them.
May this be a time for all of us to grow closer to the Lord and one another.
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Walking with the Lord in Holy Week (March 9-12, 2015 – Our Lady of the Valley – Green Valley, AZ) This parish mission takes the listener on a journey with Christ – from his entry into Jerusalem, through the Last Supper, his Passion, and his Resurrection.
- #1 Palm Sunday (32 Minutes)
- #2 Holy Thursday (33 Minutes)
- #3 Good Friday (33 Minutes)
- #4 Easter (33 Minutes)
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Pentecost: Call upon the Holy Spirit! Catholic Inspiration
The Holy Spirit comes to unite us to God and one another, breaking down the walls of isolation and division, and leading us to cooperation as Sons an Daughters of God. Where do you see dissent and disunity in your life? Call upon the Spirit!
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Daily Mass: In the footsteps of Peter and Paul. Catholic Inspiration
The first reading and the Gospel feature elements about Peter and Paul. Both of these men are giants in the early Church, and through their example we recognize that God continues to call new disciples in every generation.
Mass Reading – Saturday of the 7th Week of Easter
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Daily Mass: Follow the Lord. Catholic Inspiration
We can place ourselves in the Gospel of John as Jesus invites Peter to follow him. Out of love for the Lord we, too, will be called to make our sacrifices as we put our faith into practice.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 7th Week of Easter
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Daily Mass: The Lord prays for our unity. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus prays for his current and future disciples that they will be one – united to God and one another – as they journey through life. May our unity flourish in the love of Christ as we draw nearer each day to the Lord.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter
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Daily Mass: Protection from the wolves. Catholic Inspiration
Both St. Paul and Jesus speak of the challenges all disciples face from the wolves that seek to tear us out of God’s hand. Knowing that we will face our own spiritual battles, may we fearlessly call upon the Lord for the grace we need to respond with the gift of faith.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 7th Week of Easter
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Catholic Inspiration Archives
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Daily Mass: The Lord prays for us. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus offers a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the Father, praying for us who believe and follow him as we make our way through the world.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 7th Week of Easter
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Pentecost
Study: Reflect on a time when you encountered a difficult experience. Where did you find your strength?
Pray: Ask for the Holy Spirit to help you, especially to unite with others in challenging situations.
Serve: How can you help foster unity in your life? What can you do to bring people together?
Mass Readings – Pentecost Vigil
It can be somewhat confusing to know what readings to follow – depending on the day and the options available a person can hear a number of different Scripture readings this weekend. Stepping back for a moment, however, we can tease out some major themes that surface on this important feast of the Church:
- Power – to face what comes before us with God’s strength
- Unity – to join together beyond boundaries and divisions
In many respects this feast marks the birthday of the Church. The disciples, having watched the Lord ascend to Heaven, are now “on their own” to carry out the Good News of Christ. The point, of course, is that they are not alone! Filled with the Holy Spirit their hearts are transformed and their lives forever changed. They have become willing instruments empowered by the Spirit to speak and act for the glory of God. They don’t look anything like their former selves – timid, fearful, and self-serving; they now fearlessly engage the world with the conviction that Jesus is Lord.
And as they are strengthened by the Spirit one sign increasingly becomes apparent – the unity of believers as a self evident sign that God’s grace is at work. Several approaches underscore this sense of unity:
- Understanding one another beyond the challenge of language
- Working together as a body does with its many parts
- Becoming spiritually fruitful
- Forgiveness with one another
Language, cooperation, fruitfulness, and forgiveness are all hallmarks of the Spirit’s presence in our lives. All are crucial and take an enormous amount of effort – supported by the POWER of the Holy Spirit!
Is there a place in our lives today that would benefit from unity? Are there relationships and situations that require healing and strength to grow? Do we recognize circumstances (perhaps beyond our control) that cry out for the Lord’s intervention? If so, then we can confidently turn to the Spirit for the grace we need to face what lies before us.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful , grant that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise, and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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Note: This post was first published on May 19, 2015.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: The Church thrives in the face of persecution
- Daily Mass: The martyrdom of St. Stephen
- Daily Mass: God gives us strength and peace
- Study, Pray, Serve: 4th Sunday of Easter
- 3rd Sunday of Easter: Christ meets us where we are and leads us
- Daily Mass: Our service of others reveals our love for Jesus
- Daily Mass: We are on the right path when we stay close to the Lord
- Daily Mass: We must obey God
- Daily Mass: God so loved the world!
- Daily Mass: Our faith in Christ unites us in heart and mind
Three Great Things 