March 29, 2015 Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Lectionary: 37 and 38

at the procession with palms - Gospel Lk 19:28-40

Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany
at the place called the Mount of Olives,
he sent two of his disciples.
He said, “Go into the village opposite you,
and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered
on which no one has ever sat.

Jesus continued on His journey to Jerusalem.  As they came near to Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His students to find a colt which had never been ridden.
Untie it and bring it here.

And if anyone should ask you,
‘Why are you untying it?’
you will answer,
‘The Master has need of it.’”

He said, "Untie it and bring it to me.  If anyone asks why you are taking it, simply say, "The Teacher needs it."

So those who had been sent went off
and found everything just as he had told them.
And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them,
“Why are you untying this colt?”
They answered,
“The Master has need of it.”

And the two went in obedience to Jesus and found everything exactly as Jesus had said.

So they brought it to Jesus,
threw their cloaks over the colt,
and helped Jesus to mount.

So they brought Jesus the colt and threw their coats over it and then helped Jesus to mount.

As he rode along,
the people were spreading their cloaks on the road;
and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives,
the whole multitude of his disciples
began to praise God aloud with joy
for all the mighty deeds they had seen.

Then, as He rode along, all the people of the vicinity threw their coats on the road and as he came to the Mount of Olives, all His students began to thank God rejoicing for all the great things they had seen Jesus do.

They proclaimed:
“Blessed is the king who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest.”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,
“Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
He said in reply,
“I tell you, if they keep silent,
the stones will cry out!”

And they cried out, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of God.  Hosanna in the hightest.  Some of the Pharisees saw this and thought the students were going too far.  And they said to Jesus, "tell them to stop!"  And Jesus said, "if they were to stop, even the rocks would begin to cry out!"

at the mass - Reading 1 Is 50:4-7

The Lord GOD has given me
a well-trained tongue,
that I might know how to speak to the weary
a word that will rouse them.
Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I may hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.

God has given me the ability to talk that I might know what to say to those who are suffering.  That I may wake them.  Every day, He tells me what to say and I have always obeyed.

I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.

They beat me and I did not resist.  They hit me and I did not stop them.  I did not protect myself.

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
God is my protector, therefore, I am not ashamed.  

Responsorial Psalm Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

R. (2a) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All who see me scoff at me;
they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:
“He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, if he loves him.”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

O Lord, why have you left me alone?  I am besieged on every side.  Why don't you help me? They make fun of me, they chastise me, they say, "He trusts in God, let God save Him if He loves him."

Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Like wolves around their prey, they pursue me.  A pack of wicked people.  They have pierced my hands and my feet.  They have numbered all my bones.

They divide my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

They have removed my clothes and passed it around between them.  They have taken my cloak and gambled for it.  Lord, make haste to help me.

I will proclaim your name to my brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:
“You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I will praise you, Lord, before all who believe. I will praise you in the gathering of the Church.  "All who love God, give glory to His name.  All children of Jacob, praise His holy name.  Worship God, all you who are children of Israel.

Reading 2 Phil 2:6-11

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.

St. John says it like this:
John 1

King James Version (KJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.....
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 10:11

King James Version (KJV)
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, God the Father greatly exalted Him and gave Him a name above all names.  That at the sound of Jesus, everyone should humble themselves in worship.  And every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Lk 22:14—23:56

When the hour came,
Jesus took his place at table with the apostles.
He said to them,
“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,
for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again
until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

It is frequently questioned whether the Last Supper was a true Jewish Passover.
 But Jesus calls it a Passover and no one seems to question this fact.

Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said,
“Take this and share it among yourselves;
for I tell you that from this time on
I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine
until the kingdom of God comes.”

This is probably the second cup of wine which Jesus is talking about.
Because He will pour another one in the next verse.  Notice how He
 says He will not drink  of the fruit of the vine until He enters the Kingdom.  Then He pours another and says, ....

Then he took the bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
“This is my body, which will be given for you;
do this in memory of me.”
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
which will be shed for you.

Then He instituted the Eucharist and said, "This cup is my blood of the New Covenant...." 

This, in my opinion, is the point where the Old Testament Passover became the New Testament Passover.  The Mass.

“And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me
is with me on the table;
for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined;
but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.”
And they began to debate among themselves
who among them would do such a deed.

Then He prophesies that Judas Iscariot will betray Him. 

Then an argument broke out among them
about which of them should be regarded as the greatest.

Then we see an aspect of humanity in the Apostles.  They haven't been paying attention to one thing Jesus said.  They are fighting about who is the greatest amongst them.

He said to them,
“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them
and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors’;
but among you it shall not be so.
Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest,
and the leader as the servant.

But Jesus doesn't get upset.  He merely explains that their values are confused.  They should be vying to become the humblest and weakest.  Because they must become servants of the servants of God.

For who is greater:
the one seated at table or the one who serves?
Is it not the one seated at table?
I am among you as the one who serves.
It is you who have stood by me in my trials;
and I confer a kingdom on you,
just as my Father has conferred one on me,
that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom;
and you will sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Then He reassures them that they have already have a reward waiting for them in heaven.  A Kingdom.  Because they have stood by Jesus during His trials. 

“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded
to sift all of you like wheat,
but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail;
and once you have turned back,
you must strengthen your brothers.”
He said to him,
“Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.”
But he replied,
“I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day,
you will deny three times that you know me.”

Then He prophecies again, that they will all abandon Him.  Including St. Peter.  But St. Peter has been given the grace of unity.  It is he who will bring the Apostles back together and lead them on.

He said to them,
“When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals,
were you in need of anything?”
“No, nothing, “ they replied.

Then He asks them if they needed anything when He sent them out with nothing.  And they replied that they hadn't.

He said to them,
“But now one who has a money bag should take it,
and likewise a sack,
and one who does not have a sword
should sell his cloak and buy one.
For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me,
namely, He was counted among the wicked;
and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.”
Then they said,
“Lord, look, there are two swords here.”
But he replied, “It is enough!”

But now, He says, they will not have enough of anything.  For it is time for Him to be executed.

Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives,
and the disciples followed him.
When he arrived at the place he said to them,
“Pray that you may not undergo the test.”

Then He went out, interrupting the Passover.  They have only drunk three cups.  They have not consummated the Passover with the fourth cup.  And He leads them to Gethsemane, the Garden of Olives, on the Mount of Olives.   There He warns them to pray so that God may forgive them the test. 

After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling,
he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing,
take this cup away from me;
still, not my will but yours be done.”
And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him.
He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently
that his sweat became like drops of blood
falling on the ground.
When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples,
he found them sleeping from grief.
He said to them, “Why are you sleeping?
Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.”

There, He prays in agony, anticipating what is about to happen.  Then He returns to the Apostles and they have fallen asleep from sheer mental and nervous exhaustion.  They are confused, knowing that something terrible is going to happen, but not understanding what it could be.

While he was still speaking, a crowd approached
and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas.
He went up to Jesus to kiss him.
Jesus said to him,
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

And then Judas comes, with the Jewish guards and betrays Jesus with a kiss.

His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked,
“Lord, shall we strike with a sword?”
And one of them struck the high priest’s servant
and cut off his right ear.
But Jesus said in reply,
“Stop, no more of this!”
Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him.

Then, St. Peter pulls out the one sword they have and cuts off one of the guard's right ear.  But Jesus restrains him and heals the person.

And Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards
and elders who had come for him,
“Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
Day after day I was with you in the temple area,
and you did not seize me;
but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness.”

Then Jesus questions the guards, asking them why they are here?  He says, "If I've done anything wrong, why didn't you arrest me before?"

After arresting him they led him away
and took him into the house of the high priest;
Peter was following at a distance.
They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it,
and Peter sat down with them.
When a maid saw him seated in the light,
she looked intently at him and said,
“This man too was with him.”
But he denied it saying,
“Woman, I do not know him.”

Then they took Jesus away and St. Peter followed. When they got to the High Priest's house, one of the girls present there recognized St. Peter and informed everyone that St. Peter was one of Christ's Apostles.  But St. Peter denied it.

A short while later someone else saw him and said,
“You too are one of them”;
but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.”

Then another person recognized him as one of Jesus' followers.  But St. Peter denied it again.

About an hour later, still another insisted,
“Assuredly, this man too was with him,
for he also is a Galilean.”
But Peter said,
“My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.”

A third time, someone recognized him and three times St. Peter denied knowing Jesus.

Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed,
and the Lord turned and looked at Peter;
and Peter remembered the word of the Lord,
how he had said to him,
“Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”

Just then, a rooster crowed and Jesus looked St. Peter in the eye.  And St. Peter remembered Jesus' prophecy, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”

He went out and began to weep bitterly.

And St. Peter left, crying bitter tears.

The men who held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him.
They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying,
“Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?”
And they reviled him in saying many other things against him.

The men who arrested Jesus were beating Him and insulting Him.  They covered His eyes and said, "Prophesy!  Who hit you?" 

When day came the council of elders of the people met,
both chief priests and scribes,
and they brought him before their Sanhedrin.
They said, “If you are the Christ, tell us, “
but he replied to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe,
and if I question, you will not respond.
But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated
at the right hand of the power of God.”
They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He replied to them, “You say that I am.”
Then they said, “What further need have we for testimony?
We have heard it from his own mouth.”

Then they brought together their council of Priests and questioned Him.  They asked Him if He was the Messiah.  And He said, "Why do you keep asking me if you won't believe my answer?  But you will know when you see me seated on God's Throne."

Then they asked, "You are the Son of God, then?"  And He replied, "You said so."
And they said, "We have no further need to continue this inquiry, He has admitted His blasphemy."

Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate.
They brought charges against him, saying,
“We found this man misleading our people;
he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar
and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.”

But since they did not have the authority to execute Him as was required by the Law of Moses for anyone claiming to be God, they had to make up false charges and bring Him to the Roman authority and request that they put Him to death.

Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
He said to him in reply, “You say so.”
Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds,
“I find this man not guilty.”
But they were adamant and said,
“He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea,
from Galilee where he began even to here.”

Pilate was the Roman authority in the area and He asked, "You are the king of the Jews then?"  And Jesus replied, "So you say."  Pilate turned to the Priests and people and said, "This man has done nothing wrong."  But they said, "He's from Galilee and He's trying to start a war with Rome."

On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean;
and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction,
he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.

Pilate had selective hearing that day.  He heard the part that Jesus was from Galilean.  So, he tried to wash his hands of Jesus by saying that therefore, Jesus was not his concern, but Herod's (this is the son of the other Herod who was alive when Jesus was born and who killed the infants of Bethelehem).

Herod was very glad to see Jesus;
he had been wanting to see him for a long time,
for he had heard about him
and had been hoping to see him perform some sign.
He questioned him at length,
but he gave him no answer.
The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile,
stood by accusing him harshly.

Herod, on his part, was very eager to see Jesus.  He wanted to see Jesus perform some miracle.  But Jesus would not direct a word to him.  All the while, the Jews insulted Jesus.

Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him,
and after clothing him in resplendent garb,
he sent him back to Pilate.

Then Herod and his troops insulted Jesus and treated him harshly.  They clothed Him in a beautiful garment and sent Him back to Pilate.

Herod and Pilate became friends that very day,
even though they had been enemies formerly.

Herod and Pilate became friends that day, although previously, they despised each other.

Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people
and said to them, “You brought this man to me
and accused him of inciting the people to revolt.
I have conducted my investigation in your presence
and have not found this man guilty
of the charges you have brought against him,
nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us.
So no capital crime has been committed by him.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”

Herod then said, "I find no crime in this man.  I shall simply have him punished corporally and released."

But all together they shouted out,
“Away with this man!
Release Barabbas to us.”
— Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion
that had taken place in the city and for murder. —

But all the Jews responded as one, the Priests and then people, saying, "No!  Release Barabbas, not this man."

Interestingly, the name Barabbas means, son of the father.  Bar-son abbas-father. 

Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus,
but they continued their shouting,
“Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Pilate addressed them a third time,
“What evil has this man done?
I found him guilty of no capital crime.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”
With loud shouts, however,
they persisted in calling for his crucifixion,
and their voices prevailed.

Pilate continued to implore the Jews to release Jesus.  But they insisted that Jesus should be executed.

The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.
So he released the man who had been imprisoned
for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked,
and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.

So, Pilate released the man, Barabbas, who was soon to be executed for rebellion and murder.  And also released Jesus.  But he released Jesus to the Jews so that the Jews might do with Him as they pleased.  The Jews pronounced death upon Him.

The symbolism here is profound. 

Barabbas, the son of the father, symbolizes all the people.  We are all sons of God.  Therefore the Scripture says that we are gods.  We are guilty of all manner of sins and deserved death.  But Barabbas was released.  Symbolizing that God has taken away our death sentence and we have another chance.

Jesus was then executed by His own people, in the place of Barabbas who deserved to be executed.

As they led him away
they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian,
who was coming in from the country;
and after laying the cross on him,
they made him carry it behind Jesus.

Then, because Jesus was too weak, after His flogging, to carry the cross, the soldiers forced a man who had just come into town to carry the cross for Jesus. 

I may be reaching, but I believe this symbolizes Peter's task.  St. Peter's name is originally, Simon.  And  after Christ, he is to carry the Cross to every part of the world as the leader of the Church.  Remember, Jesus said:

Matthew 10:38
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

A large crowd of people followed Jesus,
including many women who mourned and lamented him.
Jesus turned to them and said,
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;
weep instead for yourselves and for your children
for indeed, the days are coming when people will say,
‘Blessed are the barren,
the wombs that never bore
and the breasts that never nursed.’
At that time people will say to the mountains,
‘Fall upon us!’
and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
for if these things are done when the wood is green
what will happen when it is dry?”

As Jesus was led away, a large crowd gathered many of whom were women who cried for Jesus.  Jesus said to them, "Women of Jerusalem!  Don't mourn for me, but for your children.  Because there will come a time when your suffering will be so great, that you will wish you were dead and that you had never been born."

Notice that Jesus specifically directed this comment to the Women of Jerusalem.  That is significant.  Because in the year 77ad, Jerusalem was besieged by Rome and razed to the ground.  It is said the siege was so severe that parents ate their children.


Jerusalem, AD70: Josephus (The Jewish War 5.10.2)in his description of the famine before the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD says that parents even killed and ate their children (as was prophesized in Lev. 26:29 and Dt 28:53-57). 

Now two others, both criminals,
were led away with him to be executed.
When they came to the place called the Skull,
they crucified him and the criminals there,
one on his right, the other on his left.

Two other criminals were executed with Jesus.  We know, from St. Luke's Gospel, that one of them repented of his sins.  While the other did not.  I believe this illustrates the Gospel in a snapshot.  Christ died for all men.  But only a few accepted His sacrifice, as did St. Dismas, the Good Thief, and were saved.  Those who reject Jesus to the end, condemn themselves.

Then Jesus said,
“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”

From the Cross, Jesus prayed for the Jews which had condemned Him. 

This is another illustration of the Gospel.  This symbolizes Christ, in Heaven, interceding on behalf of all sinners.  When the Father sees Jesus, standing as though dead, He is reminded that Jesus suffered and died for our sins:
Revelation 5:6
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,....

They divided his garments by casting lots.
The people stood by and watched;
the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,
“He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Above him there was an inscription that read,
“This is the King of the Jews.”

Hundreds of years prior to this, Scripture described this event:
Psalm 22:
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?....14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.  16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.  17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.


18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.  20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.  21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
“Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.”
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
“Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him,
“Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The evil man wants to be saved although he has done nothing to merit salvation.  Whereas the Just man knows that He deserves death but asks God for mercy.  This is the Gospel in a nutshell. 

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon
because of an eclipse of the sun.
Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”;
and when he had said this he breathed his last.

And then there came an eclipse of the sun and the Jewish Temple was broken by an earthquake.  Symbolizing, in my opinion, that the Jewish religion was now brought to conclusion. 

Jesus cried out to His Father in Heaven, "Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit."  And at that time, He died.

Here all kneel and pause for a short time.

Let us pause to pray and reflect upon this, on our knees.

The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,
“This man was innocent beyond doubt.”

The Centurion, St. Longinus, was amazed and at that time recognized that Jesus was truly the Son of God. 

When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened,
they returned home beating their breasts;

Those who were present and saw what happened, also realized that something supernatural had just occurred.  And they were very afraid.  For the had consented to the crime.

but all his acquaintances stood at a distance,
including the women who had followed him from Galilee
and saw these events.

But those who loved Him, remained.

Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who,
though he was a member of the council,
had not consented to their plan of action.
He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea
and was awaiting the kingdom of God.
He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Then Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, member of the Synagogue and ruler of the people, who secretly was a follower of Jesus, came and requested of Pilate, Jesus' body. 

After he had taken the body down,
he wrapped it in a linen cloth

You should read about the very exciting discoveries concerning the Shroud of Turin, which, in my opinion, is this linen cloth.

 

and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb
in which no one had yet been buried.

And St. Joseph of Arimathea, laid Jesus in his own tomb.  A brand new sepulcher where no one had been buried.

This symbolizes the virgin womb of Mary.  No one else was ever buried in this tomb.

It was the day of preparation,
and the sabbath was about to begin.
The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind,
and when they had seen the tomb
and the way in which his body was laid in it,
they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils.
Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.

The Sabbath was always observed on the seventh day, or Saturday.  The day of preparation then was the day before the Sabbath, or Friday.  The women from Jesus' home, followed St. Joseph to the tomb and once they knew where it was and how Jesus was laid in it, they went home and prepared burial oils and spices before they returned home again to observe the requirements of the law of Moses which prohibited any work on the Sabbath day.

The secondary reading is a subset of the primary, so I'll leave it without comment.

Or LK 23:1-49

The elders of the people, chief priests and scribes,
arose and brought Jesus before Pilate.
They brought charges against him, saying,
“We found this man misleading our people;
he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar
and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.”
Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
He said to him in reply, “You say so.”
Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds,
“I find this man not guilty.”
But they were adamant and said,
“He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea,
from Galilee where he began even to here.”
On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean;
and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction,
he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.
Herod was very glad to see Jesus;
he had been wanting to see him for a long time,
for he had heard about him
and had been hoping to see him perform some sign.
He questioned him at length,
but he gave him no answer.
The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile,
stood by accusing him harshly.
Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him,
and after clothing him in resplendent garb,
he sent him back to Pilate.
Herod and Pilate became friends that very day,
even though they had been enemies formerly.
Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people
and said to them, “You brought this man to me
and accused him of inciting the people to revolt.
I have conducted my investigation in your presence
and have not found this man guilty
of the charges you have brought against him,
nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us.
So no capital crime has been committed by him.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”
But all together they shouted out,
“Away with this man!
Release Barabbas to us.”
— Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion
that had taken place in the city and for murder. —
Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus,
but they continued their shouting,
“Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Pilate addressed them a third time,
“What evil has this man done?
I found him guilty of no capital crime.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”
With loud shouts, however,
they persisted in calling for his crucifixion,
and their voices prevailed.
The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.
So he released the man who had been imprisoned
for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked,
and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.
As they led him away
they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian,
who was coming in from the country;
and after laying the cross on him,
they made him carry it behind Jesus.
A large crowd of people followed Jesus,
including many women who mourned and lamented him.
Jesus turned to them and said,
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;
weep instead for yourselves and for your children
for indeed, the days are coming when people will say,
‘Blessed are the barren,
the wombs that never bore
and the breasts that never nursed.’
At that time people will say to the mountains,
‘Fall upon us!’
and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
for if these things are done when the wood is green
what will happen when it is dry?”
Now two others, both criminals,
were led away with him to be executed.
When they came to the place called the Skull,
they crucified him and the criminals there,
one on his right, the other on his left.
Then Jesus said,
“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
They divided his garments by casting lots.
The people stood by and watched;
the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,
“He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Above him there was an inscription that read,
“This is the King of the Jews.”
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
“Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.”
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
“Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him,
“Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.”
It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon
because of an eclipse of the sun.
Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”;
and when he had said this he breathed his last.
Here all kneel and pause for a short time.
The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,
“This man was innocent beyond doubt.”
When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle
saw what had happened,
they returned home beating their breasts;
but all his acquaintances stood at a distance,
including the women who had followed him from Galilee
and saw these events.

February 8, 2015 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 74

Reading 1 JB 7:1-4, 6-7

Job spoke, saying:

Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery?

Are not his days those of hirelings?

He is a slave who longs for the shade,

a hireling who waits for his wages.

So I have been assigned months of misery,

and troubled nights have been allotted to me.

If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?”

then the night drags on;

I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.

My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;

they come to an end without hope.

Remember that my life is like the wind;

I shall not see happiness again.

I love the book of Job.  If you've never read it, Job is the most of faithful of men.  And yet, God permits Satan to test his faith. After many, many trials that leave him wondering why God brought him into existence only to make him miserable.  This book was invaluable to me when I sought to understand why God permits good men to suffer.  Also, note the similarities between the suffering of Job and that of Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm PS 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (cf. 3a) Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Praise the LORD, for he is good;

sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;

it is fitting to praise him.

The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;

the dispersed of Israel he gathers.

Praise God forever!  Although we don't understand the trials that we are undergoing, keep faith in God and trust that all that we suffer is for the purification of our faith.

1 Peter 1:7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.

He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

He tells the number of the stars;

he calls each by name.

God will dry up all our tears, when we are united with Him, in Heaven.

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.” 

R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

to his wisdom there is no limit.

The LORD sustains the lowly;

the wicked he casts to the ground.

R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.

And in the end, the wicked will get their reward.  But the just will receive everlasting life:

Matthew 25:46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

 

Reading 2 1 COR 9:16-19, 22-23

Brothers and sisters:

If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,

for an obligation has been imposed on me,

and woe to me if I do not preach it!

If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,

but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

What then is my recompense?

That, when I preach,

I offer the gospel free of charge

so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Although I am free in regard to all,

I have made myself a slave to all

so as to win over as many as possible.

To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.

I have become all things to all, to save at least some.

All this I do for the sake of the gospel,

so that I too may have a share in it.

This is the man to whom Protestants attribute the false doctrine of faith alone.  Obviously, St. Paul knew he needed to do more that proclaim himself saved in order to be so.  He had a duty to perform.  He was charged with preaching the Gospel and with living it out.

Alleluia MT 8:17

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Christ took away our infirmities

and bore our diseases.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Our infirmities and diseases of the soul.  Christ was like in all things, but sin.  And with His blood, He has washed us of our sins.

Gospel MK 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue

Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.

Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.

They immediately told him about her.

He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.

Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

To me, Jesus' healing the ill is a prefiguring of the Sacraments, wherein, we are healed of our sins.  Note how Jesus heals St. Peter's (Simon's) mother-in-law because of the faith of the Apostles.  This is the faith by which Christ heals our children's souls in baptism.  

When it was evening, after sunset,

they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.

The whole town was gathered at the door.

He cured many who were sick with various diseases,

and he drove out many demons,

not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

And it is very important that we bring a priest to our beloved who are in danger of death.  That they may receive the Last Rites.

Rising very early before dawn, he left 

and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.

Simon and those who were with him pursued him

and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages

that I may preach there also.

For this purpose have I come.”

So he went into their synagogues,

preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

And today, it is the Church, which seeks us out in every town and village of the world.  In order to Teach us the Wisdom of God and drive out our demons.

2 Corinthians 5:20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

February 1, 2015 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 71

Reading 1 DT 18:15-20

Moses spoke to all the people, saying:
“A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you
from among your own kin;

A prophet like me - that's a reference to Jesus Christ.  The similarities between Moses and Jesus are astonishing.

Both are Hebrew and were hidden from an evil despot who sought to kill them.  Many children were martyred in their name.  Both used water in their miracles.  Both established a Passover.  Both established new religions.  Both established laws.  Both produced miracles.  Etc.

to him you shall listen.

Although, many did not.  Many did.  And they became the foundation of the Catholic Church.

This is exactly what you requested of the LORD, your God, at Horeb
on the day of the assembly, when you said,
‘Let us not again hear the voice of the LORD, our God,
nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.’
And the LORD said to me, ‘This was well said.
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin,
and will put my words into his mouth;
he shall tell them all that I command him.

God always answers our prayers, one way or another.

Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name,
I myself will make him answer for it.

This is important.  It is repeated in the New Testament.

Hebrews 5:9 and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 

But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name
an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak,
or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”

This is a mystery.  Because Jesus did die upon the Cross.  But He took up His life again as the first fruits of our redemption.  So, the death spoken of here, is a spiritual death.  

Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

When the Israelites walked in the desert, many of them fell away.  This is a sign to us.  The Isralites were the chosen people of God.  His Elect.  But they grumbled and were punished:

1 Corinthians 10: 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert.  6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did.

 We aren't assured of salvation because we are God's elect.  Yes, we are God's elect.  So make your election sure:

2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in doing so, you will never stumble.

Reading 2 1 COR 7:32-35

Brothers and sisters:
I should like you to be free of anxieties.
An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord,
how he may please the Lord.
But a married man is anxious about the things of the world,
how he may please his wife, and he is divided.
An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord,
so that she may be holy in both body and spirit.
A married woman, on the other hand,
is anxious about the things of the world,
how she may please her husband.
I am telling you this for your own benefit,
not to impose a restraint upon you,
but for the sake of propriety
and adherence to the Lord without distraction.

Do you see the rationale for the Celibacy of the Priesthood?  A man who has no wife can concentrate upon the Lord.  Every married man knows the truth of this teaching.  And this confirms the wisdom of the Church for insisting that Priests of God most high should be celibate.

Alleluia MT 4:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light;
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death,
light has arisen.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

This is a reference to the Jews, who, when Jesus was born were oppressed by the Romans.  And to the Gentiles, who were drawn to the light of Jesus Christ's teachings and came into the Church.

Gospel MK 1:21-28

Then they came to Capernaum,
and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said,
“Quiet! Come out of him!”
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
All were amazed and asked one another,
“What is this?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

The people of Capernaum had never seen the like.  Jesus Christ commanded even the demons.  

December 8, 2014 - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Patronal Feastday of the United States of America

Lectionary: 689

Reading 1 GN 3:9-15, 20

The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary,  is the celebration of the union of the Holy Spirit with Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, from the moment that she was engendered.  This union of the Holy Spirit and Mary is the reason why she was begotten without sin.

We begin in the book of Genesis at the point when Adam has already fallen from grace because it is at this point that God announces the coming of a Woman, who will hate the Serpent so much, that she will never be under his control.  This is the ProtoEvangelium.  The first announcement of the coming of the Messiah, the Seed of the Woman, Who will crush the Serpent under their feet.

The Woman will crush the Serpent by virtue of her giving birth to the Saviour.  The Saviour will crush the Serpent by virtue of His obedience to God, His Father.

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”

Adam, once a friend of God, now feared and hid from Him.

He answered, “I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.”
Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked?

Having eaten of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam was now separated from God.  It is as though the umbilical cord had been cut and Adam was no longer united to God.

The Catechism says that Adam lost the grace of Original Justice in which he was conceived.  And now lived in a state of Original Sin, which placed him at odds with God who is all holy.

You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!”

Dr. Scott Hahn alls this a pre-Judgment event.  In the Judgment, we will be told our sins and be judged by God.  Adam is standing before God and being judged.

The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”

Adam blames his wife for his sin.  Scripture says that it is Eve who was tricked by Satan.

The LORD God then asked the woman,
“Why did you do such a thing?”
The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”

And the Woman, Eve, blames the Serpent.  The Serpent is the Devil, the Father of lies.

Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.

God condemns the Serpent to crawl on its belly.

I don't think this is an explanation of why snakes lost their legs.  I believe this is an analogy or parable which is somehow related to the events of Revelation 12:7 where the Dragon was exiled from heaven and condemned to roam the earth.

I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.”

The is the Proto-Evangelium.  The first account of the Gospel predicting the coming of the Mother of God and her Son, the Saviour of the world.

Notice that there is "enmity" or "deep hatred", between the Serpent and Mary.  From the moment of her coming into existence, Mary is united to God and an enemy of Satan.  Therefore, she is conceived without sin and remains without sin her entire life.

The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.

Eve became the mother of all mankind.  But Eve, here, represents Mary and the Church, because it is Mary who is the Mother of all who live in Christ. See Rev 12:17.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

R. (1) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.

In Mary, God did something new that had never been seen.  A woman protects the man?  God made man, Ecce Homo, is put under the care of a mere woman.

R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.

God has done great things for us through the Maid which He made the Mother of His Son.  And Holy is His Name.

R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Therefore, thank God, for the Maid who gave her fiat that the Lord, the Saviour, might be engendered in her immaculate womb.

Reading 2 EPH 1:3-6, 11-12

Brothers and sisters:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Holy is the name of our God!

who has blessed us in Christ

Who has given us His Son

with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,

And, in Baptism, has poured the grace of the Holy Spirit into our souls.

as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,

As He predestined us from time immemorial.

to be holy and without blemish before him. 

that we might live righteously and be justified in His eyes.

In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,

Because of His love He elected us to be born again in Christ.

in accord with the favor of his will,

because He wanted to bless us

for the praise of the glory of his grace

by the gift of His life

that he granted us in the beloved.

that He gave us through His son.

In him we were also chosen,

In Christ we were elected

destined in accord with the purpose of the One

in line with the will of God

who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,

Who completes all which He sets out to do

so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,

So that we might give glory to His name.

we who first hoped in Christ.

We who turned to His Son believing and expecting to receive the promised salvation.

Alleluia SEE LK 1:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Most of us recognize these words as the prayer known as the Hail Mary.  But as you can see, they were first spoken to the Virgin Mary by the Angel Gabriel.  And they are inscribed in the Word of God. 

When you read these words, please recognize, that although they were spoken by the Angel, the Angel was also conveying the message which God sent him to deliver.  Therefore, it is not just the Angel praising Mary, but God through the Angel.

Gospel LK 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God

God sent the angel Gabriel

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to Nazareth

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.

to relay a message to the Virgin Mary

And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

And the message is one of praise

But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

The word, "hail" is a greeting reserved for royalty.  So, the humble maid was confused why an angel from heaven would humble himself before her.

Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.

But he comforted her and explained that she would be the Mother of God.

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

The Mother of the promised Saviour.

But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”

Mary was again confused.  She, obviously, at her age, knew about the birds and the bees.  And there is no record of any woman engendering a child without sexual relations.

And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.

And the Angel explained that this child would not be engendered by natural means, but by supernatural means by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The terminology, "the Most High will overshadow you" is Hebraic euphemism which means that she will be the Spouse of the Holy Spirit.   This is what it means when a man overshadows or covers a woman.  This is how she would have understood it.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”

As proof, the Angel offers that her own aged relative will also bear a son, even though she has been barren these many years.

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”

But that mattered little.  Because Mary gave her wholehearted fiat to the Lord and did not question the Angel's explanation.

Then the angel departed from her.

And the Angel went back to God who sent him.