Building upon salvation history, Paul speaks about the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 4th Week of Easter
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Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
Tag Archives: Paschal Mystery
Study, Pray, Serve: Easter Day
Let’s examine some of the main themes in the readings for Easter Day.
1st Reading – Acts of the Apostles 10:34a,37-43
- Peter proclaims the life, death and resurrection of Jesus to the crowd.
- The disciples are witnesses of Christ and testify on his behalf for the forgiveness of sins.
Psalm 118: 1-2,16-17,22-23
- “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”
- We give thanks for the might and glory of God who is merciful to us.
2nd Reading – Colossians 3:1-4
- You have died with Christ, and your life is hidden with God.
- When Christ your life appears, you will appear with him in glory.
2nd Reading – 1st Corinthians 5:6b-8
- We clear out the old yeast of malice and wickedness.
- We make a new batch of dough with the new yeast of sincerity and truth.
Gospel – John 20:1-9
- Mary Magdalen finds the tomb empty and runs to tell Peter and the other disciple.
- Peter and the other disciple run back to the tomb.
- They had not yet understood that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
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Daily Mass: The prophecy of Caiaphas. Catholic Inspiration
The prophecy of Caiaphas sets the stage for our greatest love story: how God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to die for our sins that we might have eternal life.
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The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed…All Souls. Catholic Inspiration
Today we remember all our beloved dead and we entrust them to the tender care of Christ’s divine mercy. Living and deceased, we are all held in the hands of God, and we pray for the repose of the souls of those who have passed from this life…that they will be united in love with the Lord in Heaven.
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Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord. Let Perpetual Light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. May their souls and the souls of all the Faithful Departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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Daily Mass: Knowledge of Jesus means knowledge of the Cross. Catholic Inspiration
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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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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Three Great Things 