The Lord makes it clear that true knowledge of his identity will lead us to the Cross.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 25th Week of the Year
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Tag Archives: Paschal Mystery
Daily Mass: Knowledge of Jesus means knowledge of the Cross. Catholic Inspiration
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Catholic Inspiration
This feast concentrates our attention on the instrument of our salvation, as we thank the Lord who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice that restores us to right relationship with God. May we gaze upon the Cross of Christ with grateful hearts each and every day!
Mass Readings – The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
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We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you…because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world!
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Study, Pray, Serve: 25th Sunday of the Year
Here are some of the main themes that surface in the readings for the 25th Sunday of the Year.
1st Reading – Wisdom 2:12,17-20
- The wicked seek to beset the just one, who reproaches them for their transgressions.
- The wicked will put the just one to the test with revilement and torture.
Psalm – 54:3-8
- “The Lord upholds my life.”
- The Psalmist calls upon God for help in times of great distress.
2nd Reading – James 3:16-4:3
- Wisdom and righteousness come from what is pure and peaceful.
- Wars and conflicts come from the passions within us.
Gospel Mark 9:30-37
- Jesus relates his upcoming death and resurrection to the disciples, and they do not understand it.
- The disciples were arguing on the journey who was the greatest; Jesus teaches that the greatest are those who humbly serve others.
Mass Readings – 25th Sunday of the Year
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Daily Mass: The consolation of our faith in Jesus Christ. Catholic Inspiration
The first reading – commonly read at funerals – offers a profound sense of hope as it connects our lives to the great mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Mass Readings – Monday of the 22nd Week of the Year
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Good Friday: For God so loved the world… Catholic Inspiration
The Passion of the Lord reveals God’s love for the world. May this day drive us to our knees as we accept the gift of Christ and share His love with one another.
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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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Palm Sunday: The sacrificial offering of Christ’s Passion. Catholic Inspiration
We read the Passion of the Lord every year to remember the Lord’s sacrificial offering for the salvation of the world. May our reflection inspire us to live the gift of our lives, bought by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.
Mass Readings – Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
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Walking with Mary on the Way of the Cross: in six parts. Catholic Inspiration
This six part retreat was given during Lent in 2021 at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Each session stands alone and can be heard in any order. However, they are listed below in the order they were given. May these reflections help us draw closer to Christ and one another.
Part 1 – Confronting Injustice – February 18, 2021
Part 2 – Jesus falls three times – February 25, 2021
Part 3 – Simon and Veronica – March 4, 2021
Part 4 – Jesus is stripped – March 11, 2021
Part 5 – Jesus is crucified – March 18, 2021
Part 6 – Jesus dies – March 25, 2021
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Palm Sunday: The Passion of our Lord
Study: What sacrifices do I currently face in my life? Do I recognize the presence of Christ as I carry my Cross?
Pray: Reflect on the Passion of the Lord. Recall the sacrifice of Jesus and take a moment to express gratitude for his love.
Serve: How might you help others face their sacrifices? Are there people you can comfort or assist as they carry their crosses?
Mass Readings – Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
On the road to Jerusalem the Lord was dropping hints to his disciples:
“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.” Matthew 20:18-19
He knew it was coming…and he went through with it.
For us.
And just so we’re clear: not because we’ve been good and deserve it. Because we’ve sinned and cannot continue without his saving grace. The sacrifice of Christ on the Cross reveals God’s love for humanity: the fundamental value which the Lord places on ALL human life and demonstrates how love is the greatest of all commandments – for sacrifices reveal quickly and bluntly what we value, respect, cherish, and love.
And Christ sacrificed his pure and sinless life…for our sins. The more we reflect on the Passion of the Lord, the more we understand the depth of God’s love that knows no limit or boundary – a priceless gift that flows from the heart of Heaven.
Which means that as his disciples the example of Christ becomes our model. Where do we see our sacrifices today? How do we – through a sincere and genuine desire to love others – participate in the great sacrifice of Jesus? What are the Crosses in our lives, and how might we carry them with the help of one who understands the weight of the Cross?
His Cross becomes a gateway that leads to abundant life; may the crosses we carry today be received as our path that the Lord sets before us:
- To grow in Grace
- To face our Fears
- To live in Love
Have a blessed Holy Week.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Note: This post was originally published on March 22, 2015.
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5th Sunday of the Year: A grain of wheat teaches us about life and death. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus reveals the mystery of his saving death through an example of a grain of wheat. As we die to sin and rise with Christ, may we call upon the Lord to create a clean heart within us.
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of Lent
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