Author: admin

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Gospel -John 19: 25-34:

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
    and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
    and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved,
    he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
    “Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished,
    in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
    Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop
    and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
    “It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. 

Now since it was preparation day,
    in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
    for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
    the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
    and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
    and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
    they did not break his legs,
    but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
    and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The death of Jesus ushers in the rarest moment in scripture. 

It is the only three days in history where God seems absent, nowhere to be found. 

Imagine Jesus locked away in a dark and dusty tomb, hidden behind a stone.

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In some sense, Mary is the closest anyone will get to Jesus; she alone was with him from the womb to the tomb.

She became like his second skin; she learned his habits; she knew his heart; and he knew hers.

If anyone can speak on Jesus’ behalf during his absence, it’s Mary, which is why he says to John in today’s Gospel, “Behold, your mother.”

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Perhaps some of us have felt like John the Apostle in that moment – lost; as if God has been taken from us.

It’s the most difficult experience in the spiritual life, feeling the absence of God.

But in those moments, we can turn to Mary, who assures us the Lord is nearby.

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For all who are in need peace, healing, or consolation, we ask for Mary’s intercession, saying:

Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, amen.

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Image credits: (1) The Crucifixion, The Community of Jesus (2) The Crucifixion, by Peter Paul Rubens (3) The Crucifixion with the Virgin, St. Mary Magdalene, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Vitus, by Garofalo

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Gospel: John 21: 15-19

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, 
he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” 
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; 
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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It’s time to be reconciled. Jesus has been raised from the dead. Now he’s appearing to Simon Peter, who denied him three times during his darkest hour. 

It’s only fair to ask Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

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A repentant Peter responds the only way a Christian can, “Lord, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

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“Lord, Lord,” Peter says.

In Latin, “Domine, Domine.”

It’s from the Latin word, Domine, that we get the English word, dominate. 

It’s a beautiful play on words: 

Lord, Lord…Domine, Domine…dominate.

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To “dominate” means to have a commanding influence; to be the central figure; or primary force behind action. 

It’s not something we’d ordinarily say to someone, “dominate.” But what Peter is saying to Jesus is that he has become the central figure – or commanding influence – in Peter’s life.

Peter will prove this while he preaches to the nations for the next thirty years, and finally as he dies upon a cross in Rome, much like his Lord.

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Perhaps we could ask ourselves the same question: Is the Lord the very center of my life? Or are there others competing for my affection?

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“Lord, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

You are the center of my life. 

May we all repeat Peter’s words, not only with our lips, but also with our lives.

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Image credits: (1) Pantocrator, Mount Sinai (2) DailyVirtue.net (3) Pinterest

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Acts 22:30 – 23:11

Wishing to determine the truth
about why Paul was being accused by the Jews,
the commander freed him
and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene.
Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,
so he called out before the Sanhedrin,
“My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees;
I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
When he said this,
a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees,
and the group became divided.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection
or angels or spirits,
while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.
A great uproar occurred,
and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party
stood up and sharply argued,
“We find nothing wrong with this man.
Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
The dispute was so serious that the commander,
afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them,
ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst
and take him into the compound.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage.
For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem,
so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

The Word of the Lord.

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Saint Paul has caused quite the stir! 

Imagine being caught up in the middle of a mob; people are furious and you’re the reason why.

Paul has caused division among the Jews. Some believed in the resurrection of the dead – a belief that started surfacing before Christ lived among us – while others believed in nothing after death.

The answer to this question: “Is there life after death?” determined how people lived out their faith.

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Paul stands trial for preaching about the resurrection and is being scourged with a leather whip, a method of torture so painful that many died from shock.

But as he’s being beaten, he defends himself, saying, “I am Roman citizen.”

It was considered terribly immoral – if not illegal – to strike a Roman citizen, so the commander drops his whip.

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While Paul was clearly willing to die for the Lord, and indeed he will shortly in Rome, he is unwilling to die early.

He will not just throw his life away or take it for granted.

Life is a precious gift from God that should never be wasted, even when we’re suffering. As Paul writes earlier, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  

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Sometimes that means professing our faith publicly like Paul did. But most often, we glorify God in little ways: being grateful; kind; or generous to a neighbor.

In what ways can I bring glory to God today?

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Image credits: (1) Teaching Humble Hearts (2) Christianity.com (3) Prince of Peace Lutheran Church