Ash Wednesday
In today’s Gospel reading (Matt. 6:1-6, 16-18), Jesus says that we should not perform righteous deeds in order to be seen and then follows up on that with three examples to clarify what he means. At one point, he specifically says “anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting.” Shortly after hearing this Gospel passage, we have dark ashes rubbed on our forehead and wear them for the rest of the day for everyone to see. Why the contradiction? More…
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.
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.
Live: Youth Missionaries Evangelizing the Citizens of Manhattan this weekend
James Stone and Fr Jason Smith reporting live from New York…
The Holy Triduum has begun! Missionary Youth have taken too the streets: Explaining the Catholic faith, inviting people to confession — scores of priests available! — handing out rosaries More…
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill” — Matthew 5:17
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.
After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said,
“I thirst.”
Darkness came over the whole land… Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Say to daughter Zion, “Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”
There are at least 2 contradictions in the readings for Palm Sunday. The first is blatant, the second gets overlooked. More…
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. (John 19:26-27)
Our Lord addresses his first word from the cross to the Father, his second word to the repentant sinner (who represents us all), his third to “Woman.” More…
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? 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: More…
“Father! Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Every word Christ spoke was for our salvation. His last words spoken from the cross before he died — each one of them – required great physical and emotional effort to pronounce. To breath a single breath caused his crucified body excruciating pain. And he speaks to us, 7 times, before he dies. How great his love for us! More…
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