As we progress through the Vigil Mass to the Gospel of Gospels, we see that God has created us to be very special. That is why He went to such great lengths to save us from sins so that we could be brought back into a full relationship with Him.
We are now in the newness of Life brought to us by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Friday, March 30, 2018
March 30, 2018: Friday of the Cross
We adore Christ and honor Him for His death upon the Cross: He was obedient to the Father, not turning back from the purpose for which He came, that He would testify to the Truth, and die because of Love for us. Through His obedience unto suffering, He became the source of salvation for all who believe in Him.
Thursday, March 29, 2018
March 29, 2018: Maundy Thursday
God established a covenant with His people as He freed them from slavery in Egypt.
In Jesus Christ, God establishes a New Covenant to free us from sin through the offering of the Son, Who gives of Himself to us as an expression of the Love of God, which He now commands us to show to one another.
We constantly remember His love as we partake of the Eucharist, doing it in memory of Him, and going forth to share that love always with others, as we give of ourselves like Christ did.
In Jesus Christ, God establishes a New Covenant to free us from sin through the offering of the Son, Who gives of Himself to us as an expression of the Love of God, which He now commands us to show to one another.
We constantly remember His love as we partake of the Eucharist, doing it in memory of Him, and going forth to share that love always with others, as we give of ourselves like Christ did.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
March 25, 2018: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
The crowds lining the way into Jerusalem acclaim Jesus.
And St. Paul writes that Jesus has been exalted by God, because He offered Himself, suffering and dying in the most awful way, that we would be saved from sin.
So while Christ agonized over His coming suffering and death in the Garden of Gethsemane, He entrusted Himself to God, in the spirit of the suffering servant in Isaiah 50.
And so we join with Christ in entrusting ourselves to God in the face of all suffering, because we recognize how God can bring redemption out of it. And we move beyond the acclamations that the crowd offered to expressing true faith like the centurion at the crucifixion, noting that before us on the Cross is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who, by suffering and dying, has brought us back into relationship with God. We obediently open ourselves to God, like Mary did on the day of the Annunciation by Gabriel, and let God work marvelously.
And St. Paul writes that Jesus has been exalted by God, because He offered Himself, suffering and dying in the most awful way, that we would be saved from sin.
So while Christ agonized over His coming suffering and death in the Garden of Gethsemane, He entrusted Himself to God, in the spirit of the suffering servant in Isaiah 50.
And so we join with Christ in entrusting ourselves to God in the face of all suffering, because we recognize how God can bring redemption out of it. And we move beyond the acclamations that the crowd offered to expressing true faith like the centurion at the crucifixion, noting that before us on the Cross is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who, by suffering and dying, has brought us back into relationship with God. We obediently open ourselves to God, like Mary did on the day of the Annunciation by Gabriel, and let God work marvelously.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
March 18, 2018: Fifth Sunday of Lent
The Gospel passage from St. John this Sunday is a scene in the days leading up to Jesus's Crucifixion. Although Jesus is troubled, He knows that His Crucifixion is the purpose for which God sent Him, and by which God will be glorified. He suffered greatly, as Hebrews writes, and became the source of salvation who also submit themselves to the will of God for them.
We submit ourselves to God, know that in this New Covenant, established by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God cleanses our hearts from sin, and puts His law within us, on our hearts, as we truly hear Him speak. Indeed, we experience such closeness with Him, and with purified hearts, follow in His way, paying whatever price we must, so that we may accomplish His purposes for us, and glorify Him.
We submit ourselves to God, know that in this New Covenant, established by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God cleanses our hearts from sin, and puts His law within us, on our hearts, as we truly hear Him speak. Indeed, we experience such closeness with Him, and with purified hearts, follow in His way, paying whatever price we must, so that we may accomplish His purposes for us, and glorify Him.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
March 11, 2018: Fourth Sunday of Lent/Laetare Sunday
Though we have sinned and turned away from God, the Good News is that He still, full of compassion, seeks after us, just as He did for His people Israel in ancient days, that they would be restored. He is not out to condemn us.
God so loves us, that He sent Jesus Christ to save us. We are not saved by what we do, but by entrusting ourselves to His grace, and so we are poised to do great works in Him.
So, now by this grace, the Light is here. Let's not face condemnation by continuing in ways of darkness. Let's head into the light, embracing the ways of God, and be so transformed in that Light, that we carry that light and grace to a world so in need of it.
God so loves us, that He sent Jesus Christ to save us. We are not saved by what we do, but by entrusting ourselves to His grace, and so we are poised to do great works in Him.
So, now by this grace, the Light is here. Let's not face condemnation by continuing in ways of darkness. Let's head into the light, embracing the ways of God, and be so transformed in that Light, that we carry that light and grace to a world so in need of it.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
March 4, 2018: Third Sunday of Lent
In presenting the Ten Commandments, God showed His people how to be in right relationship with Him and others. In fact, He offers so much commentary in the first three commandments that describe Who God is.
In our new covenant now, we strive for right relationship with God because of Christ, Who by His Paschal Mystery, in dying and rising, provided us the sign of God's presence among us. He is the One to Whom we should turn, because His death by crucifixion is the power of God to cleanse us of unrighteousness and save us, above all human efforts to do so.
We turn from simply following rules to be inwardly righteous in our hearts before God as He purifies us to be temples of His presence in our world.
We turn from simply following rules to be inwardly righteous in our hearts before God as He purifies us to be temples of His presence in our world.
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