Reflection: Luke 24:1-12

March 26th, 2016 – Luke 24:1-12

Holy Saturday is the day in between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  Eucharist is not celebrated on Holy Saturday morning although some churches may have a Morning Prayer service. Liturgically speaking, Holy Saturday officially ends at dusk.  After dusk, the Easter Vigil is celebrated. The Easter Vigil is a lengthy but an extremely rich celebration.  It is one of the most solemn celebrations of the liturgical year.  In the past 40 days, we have journeyed through Lent.  On this Holy Saturday evening, our Lenten journey culminates with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Easter Vigil has 3 integral parts: the blessing of the fire and the preparation and lighting of the Easter candle; The Liturgy of the Word; and The Baptismal Liturgy.

The Holy Saturday service is solemn and lengthy. However, it is rich with word, action, hope, and new life.  This service begins with the ritual of blessing of the new fire and the preparation and lighting of the Easter candle.  After the Easter candle has been lit, it is lifted high and is carried into the Church.  The community gathers around the baptismal font and the Exultet is sung (the ancient hymn the Israelites sang as they praised the God who led them out of Egypt and into freedom). On this holy night, the readings re-tell the stories of our salvation.

Holy Saturday does not simply commemorate what God has done in previous times.  Holy Saturday also celebrates what God is doing today.  It is true that Jesus saved us by dying on the cross over 2,000 years ago.  However, God is at work in our lives today.  Salvation still is in process!

Today, let us ask ourselves: Will we enter deeply into this Easter mystery and miracle? Yes, Jesus did die for us and He rose for us.  Are we willing to wholeheartedly enter into the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?  What will we decide?

Reflection: John 18:1—19:42

Good Friday - John 18:1—19:42    

Today is one of the holiest of days in our Christian tradition. On this Good Friday we hear John’s account of Jesus’ Passion. The Passion narratives are never easy to listen to. They tell the story of betrayal, fearful disciples who deserted Jesus, Jesus’ arrest, questioning, and flogging by Pilate and the death penalty.  Jesus freely and willingly chose to go up to Jerusalem, knowing that he likely would die in the days ahead.  Jesus was willing to do this for you and for me. In the course of his passion, Jesus was rejected by his own people.  Jesus was at the mercy of Pilate and the Roman soldiers.  The crowds derided him, spit on him, mocked him, and scorned him!  Imagine what a nightmare this must have been for Jesus!

Jesus freely and lovingly came to earth and gave his life for you and for me.  Do we truly think of it in that light?  Or is this story so familiar that it has lost any power to touch us?  Does Jesus’ passion and death truly touch the depths of our minds and our hearts?  What are the emotions we experience when we hear the Passion read this week (and we hear it twice, first on Palm Sunday and then on Good Friday).  Do we experience any emotions or do we just listen to the Passion narrative in a detached manner?

On this Good Friday may we consciously decide to enter into Jesus’ passion. May we open our hearts and walk with Jesus as he carries the cross to Calvary. It is the very least we can do. Jesus literally gave his all for us.  Jesus freely chose to die for us. Yes, we know this. , but do we truly comprehend the depths of what Jesus did for you and for me?

Today may we ponder the height, the depth and the width of Jesus’ love for us. Truly, there is no greater love!

Reflection: John 13:1-15

Holy Thursday - John 13:1-15

On this Holy Thursday we hear John’s account of the washing of the feet. John’s Gospel begins on a somber note. John states that Jesus knew that “his hour had come.” Jesus sensed that in the next few days, his life would be filled with betrayal, turmoil, pain and death. Yet, John writes that Jesus loved “his own” and he would love them until the very end.

Then Jesus does something unexpected. At the end of the Seder meal, Jesus gets up from the table and takes off his outer robe and pours water into a basin. Then Jesus kneels down and one by one, he washes the dirty and dusty feet of his disciples. When Jesus comes to Peter, Peter protests. He asks Jesus: “Do you truly intend to wash my feet?” Jesus’ response must have confused Peter. Jesus tells him that if he does not wash his feet, Peter will never have an inheritance with him. What a shock this must have been to Peter! Did Peter wonder what having his feet washed had to do with his inheritance?

In the past few years, we have experienced this reality happening in our world. Pope Francis strives to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Pope Francis has broken the long-standing tradition of previous Popes who only had men participate in the foot washing on Holy Thursday. In 2013, Pope Francis traveled to a juvenile detention center to wash the feet of 12 young people. He shocked many more people by including two women and two Muslims in this ritual. In 2014, Pope Francis traveled to a care center for the elderly and disabled. He presided over their Holy Thursday service and he washed the feet of 12 participants. This past January, Pope Francis issued a decree that stated women and girls should be included in the foot-washing ceremony, not just men and boys, because "those participating in the ceremony should be representative of the entire community." This year, the pope plans to wash the feet of 12 refugees in Rome since the plight of immigrants and refugees has been in the forefront of the minds of many people.

What a sacred example of how we also have the opportunity to share Jesus’ love, concern and care for each and every person. Most likely, we will not wash someone’s feet today. However, on this Holy Thursday, how will we manifest Jesus’ love, concern and care for each person we meet? While we may not literally wash someone's feet, we can take the time to talk with someone who is lonely, help a neighbor, spend time at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, or call a friend or relative who might need some cheering up.

The themes of Holy Thursday are love and service. Jesus was the true embodiment of both love and service. Today may we be mindful of sharing one small act of love as we celebrate the great gift of love that Jesus was and is!

Reflection: Matthew 26:14-25

Wednesday of Holy Week  – Matthew 26:14-25

Today we experience Judas Iscariot negotiating with the chief priests.  Judas doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a traitor.   He goes to the chief priests to make a deal with them.  Judas bluntly tells them that he will hand Jesus over to them; however he will do this only if they agree to pay him very well for betraying his teacher and his friend.  The chief priests are delighted.  After all, 30 pieces of silver is a small price to pay for having this man Jesus given to them.  Jesus had been a thorn in the side of the Pharisees for a long time.  Judas then began to look for the opportunity to hand Jesus over to them.

Matthew then abruptly shifts to a very different scene. As we know, it was Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  Jesus’ disciples come and ask him where he wishes to celebrate the Passover meal. Jesus instructs them to go into Jerusalem and find an appropriate place where they could celebrate this sacred meal. Passover is the feast that celebrates Israel’s delivery from bondage in Egypt.  His disciples did as Jesus asked.

That evening in Jerusalem, Jesus and his apostles gathered around the table.  While they were enjoying their meal, Jesus astounded them when he bluntly told them: “One of you will betray me.”  Imagine the horror and shock the apostles must have experienced.  When Jesus uttered these words, the apostles must have been astounded.  Did they look at one another in shock?  Jesus was their friend and spiritual mentor.  They loved Jesus.  They had left their families and jobs to follow him.  Why would they betray him?

Jesus then told them that his betrayer was one who had dipped his hand into the dish with Jesus.  Each one of them had eaten from the dish.  They must have looked at one another, wondering who the betrayer was.  Then each of his disciples asked Jesus: “Am I the one?” Finally, Judas asked: “Is it I, Lord?” Jesus simply responded: “You have said so.”

Have there been times in our lives when we also have betrayed Jesus?  I assume so.  Jesus will forgive us!  Perhaps the more important question is: can we forgive ourselves?  Jesus never stops loving us, no matter what we do.  Jesus continues to invite us to come to him.  Today will we accept his invitation?

Reflection: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Tuesday of Holy Week - John 13:21-33, 36-38

The opening words of today’s Gospel are: “Jesus was deeply troubled.”  Jesus was saddened and dismayed by the knowledge that one of his beloved and intimate friends soon would betray him and hand him over to the Romans.  When Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray him, the disciples were aghast.  They looked at one another in shock.  They couldn’t believe what Jesus was saying. They all loved Jesus.  They not only were followers of Jesus, he also was their friend and mentor.  They did not think that any of them would betray him, but they began to look at one another, asking themselves: could it be Peter? Surely not! Perhaps Andrew? Thomas? Judas?  All of them had left their families, livelihoods and friends to follow this Jesus.  Why did Jesus believe that one of them would betray him?

Have you ever been betrayed by a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor? Betrayal is horrible! It is one of the most painful experiences in life, especially if the person who betrayed you was someone you loved and trusted, a person that you believed also cared about you.

Jesus was deadly serious, however. Imagine the emotions Jesus must have been experiencing, knowing that one of his loved ones would betray him. This knowledge must have broken Jesus’ heart! Yet he was determined to do what he needed to do. He knew his Father was with him. This gave Jesus strength.

At times in our lives, we also have been hurt, disappointed, and perhaps betrayed by someone we loved. What a gift it is that we can turn to Jesus when we are broken by betrayal or deceit. No matter what we experience in life, Jesus has trod the path before us. He understands. He loves us and longs to walk with us.

Today may we intentionally walk this path with Jesus. It is the very least we can do for our Savior and our God!