March 30, 2024
Holy Saturday Holy Saturday – I find myself with Mary, trying to identify how she felt gazing upon the Cross to the tomb. The Eucharist never died for Our Lady. Jesus raised the sorrow in hope even amidst the Crucifixion. “With our Lord in the tomb, keep the Blessed Virgin company. Alone and grieving, she […]
March 29, 2024
Good Friday He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom people hide their faces. How often do we avoid the suffering of the poor, the marginalized, and those who are different from us? We turn away to avoid seeing and being challenged to do […]
March 28, 2024
Holy Thursday I always feel overwhelmed when we reach this beautiful day at the close of the Lenten season – it has always been special for me and perhaps for you. Should I turn my thoughts to the discourse of Jesus at the Last Supper as recorded in the Gospel of John (Chapters 13-17), or […]
March 27, 2024
Wednesday of Holy Week We have come to the final full day of the Lenten season, known traditionally as “Spy Wednesday.” Isaiah is a faithful prophet in the face of much adversity. There is no disgrace or shame when he is attacked and beaten since the Lord is on his side and will uphold his […]
March 26, 2024
Tuesday of Holy Week IT WAS NIGHT… As we journey through this holiest time of the year, we slowly reflect on some key moments that lead to the passion of Christ. Jesus announces the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. All this was at night. Nighttime is a time of darkness. Darkness is […]
March 25, 2024
Monday of Holy Week When I learned that the fourth Monday of March (I write a reflection for the fourth Monday every month) this year is Monday of Holy Week, I immediately looked at the Mass for Monday of Holy Week in my 1962 St. Andrew Daily Missal, curious to see whether it was at […]
March 24, 2024
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion I recently rewatched Steel Magnolias. The graveside scene resonated with me. Shelby’s mother, M’Lynn, recounts the moment when life support ended. Shelby’s husband and father could not take it and left while M’Lynn stayed until Shelby took her last breath. M’Lynn received the gift of presence when her daughter […]
March 23, 2024
In the Gospel reading today, the Jews planned to kill Jesus over their concern for their land and their nation. Passover was approaching, and the Jews were wondering whether Jesus would come to the feast or not so they might arrest him. I was single until my late 20s and did not live at home. […]
March 22, 2024
Why were people plotting to kill Jesus, have him arrested, or stone him (today’s Gospel)? Ah, let me count the ways (whys) – what we’ve heard about just this Lent. Jesus healed on the Sabbath. He stood up for the “woman caught in adultery.” He praised the prayer of the tax collector. He embraced the […]
March 21, 2024
Father Eymard’s Vow of Personality in 1865 On March 21, 1865, towards the end of his 65-day retreat in Rome, Father Peter Julian Eymard made a “vow of personality” to the Lord. We read in his notes: “One must give to God one’s personality, love God for God and not for self, becoming nothing more […]