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Cycle B
Year I
Wednesday, April 1, 2015WEDNESDAY
(Lec. 259)OF HOLY WEEK
1) Isaiah 50:4-9a
2) Matthew 26:14-25
Gospel related: CCC 610, 1339
FOCUS:Our words can save us or condemn us.
In so many different biblical contexts, we are reminded of how we can use our tongue for good or ill. It is worthwhile for us to look more closely at how this power is referenced in today’s readings.
In our first reading, the prophet Isaiah says he will use his well-trained tongue to serve the Lord. What does he mean by a well-trained tongue? Trained by whom? He answers this question by saying that the Lord God opens his ear each morning. He does not turn away, he does not refuse to hear. And it is because he does not deny his vocation that he has no fear when he speaks the words the Lord has given him – words to awaken the weary, words we need to hear. He does not fear the suffering that his speech may bring him – the shame or disgrace, the insults and spitting. What gives the prophet this freedom from fear? He says the Lord God is his help. God is with him. He has no need to fear; his tongue is trained by his fidelity to the truth, by his obedience to the Lord.
Contrast that freedom with the bondage that awaits a disciple in today’s Gospel reading. It would be better for him, says the Lord, if he had never been born.
The reading begins with Judas’ own words: What are you willing to give me if I hand him over toyou? Words have power – the power to save, when they come from the well-trained tongue of a faithful servant. But when they come from an unfaithful one, they can have the terrible power to condemn. When Jesus tells his disciples, One of you will betray me, Judas has a chance to recant. He can’t take back the words he spoke to the elders in the Temple, but he could confess. He could tell the truth and beg the Lord’s forgiveness. But what does he choose instead? Surely, it is not I, he says. And the Lord replies, You have said so. Judas has not chosen the truth, but a lie. Thus, by his own words, he reveals himself as the traitor. His words are hypocrisy and deception, the words of infidelity to his Lord.
Our words have astonishing power. We may use our tongues in faithfulness to the truth or we may use them to deceive. We may use them to help build up the kingdom of God – or we may use them in sinful ways, possibly condemning ourselves.
As disciples of Jesus, we follow the one who has the words of everlasting life. As we continue with Mass in this sacred place, let us speak the words of our prayer with a conviction and assurance that we witness to the Christ, the very one who gives astonishing meaning to our words spoken in truth and love. Let us be attentive to our “Amen” as we receive the body and blood of Christ. Let us be attentive to our “Thanks be to God” as we take the words we have prayed out into the world.
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Thursday, April 2, 2015THURSDAY
(Lec. 39)OF HOLY WEEK
1) Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14(HOLY THURSDAY)
2) 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
3) John 13:1-15
Gospel related: CCC 423, 447, 520, 557, 609, 616, 622, 730, 1085, 1269, 1337, 1380, 1524, 1694, 1823, 2843; CSDC 484
FOCUS:Our cup of blessing is a communion with the blood of Christ.
Tonight, as a community of faith, we join with members of the Church around the world in beginning the Easter Triduum. This celebration extends across three days, with each day having its own emphasis. Nevertheless, the Easter Triduum is meant to be seen, understood and celebrated as part of an organic whole. Through it we are called to enter more deeply into the heart of the Paschal Mystery – Christ’s passion, death and resurrection.
The hope is that those who celebrate the Triduum will adopt the Paschal Mystery as a pattern for their lives. For this to come about for us, we must be willing to die to sin and our selfish ways. When we do this, we are able to lead more Christ-like lives of love and service to others.
During this Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we are called to remember and reflect that it was on this night before he died that our Lord instituted the Eucharist. Jesus instituted the Eucharist so it could serve as a memorial. And whenever the sacred liturgy would be celebrated by the Church, until the end of time, Jesus’ once-and-for-all sacrifice – by which we are saved – would not only be remembered, but its effects made present.
Our Lord instituted the Eucharist so we would be nourished by nothing less than himself. When we come forward to receive the bread of life and drink from the cup of salvation, we are given the strength and nourishment we need to model our lives based on Jesus’ teaching.
On this Holy Thursday, we focus on Jesus’ extraordinary act of humble love and service at the Last Supper when he washes the feet of his disciples. This act of humble service links the Eucharist with Jesus’ challenge to us to humbly love and serve the needs of others. It also makes it crystal clear that humbly loving and serving the needs of others are essential characteristics of any genuine Eucharistic spirituality.
Although this may seem easy to understand and even appealing to live out, we need to remember that Jesus loved with a radical love. He never turned away from anyone, as he poured himself out completely in love and service to others. He ultimately gave the total gift of himself, by freely choosing to give his life on the cross for the sake of salvation.
If we are sincerely committed to living a genuine Eucharistic spirituality, we need to have a deep love and reverence for the Eucharist. We need to open our hearts to Jesus, who is truly present to us every time we receive Holy Communion. We then need to pray each day in order to build on the grace we have received in Holy Communion, leading us to a continual conversion of heart. This will allow us, day-to-day, to grow in faith, to grow in holiness and to grow in our ability to see the face of Jesus in all whom we meet.
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Friday, April 3, 2015FRIDAY
(Lec. 40)OF THE PASSION
1) Isaiah 52:13C53:12 OF THE LORD
2) Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9(GOOD FRIDAY)
3) John 18:1C19:42
Gospel related: CCC 217, 440, 478, 495, 501, 549, 554, 559, 575, 586, 595, 596, 600, 607, 608, 609, 624, 641, 694, 726, 730, 964, 1225, 1432, 2471, 2561m 2605, 2618, 2677, 2679
FOCUS:Christ’s humble submission to his Father’s will can give us courage to follow him more faithfully.
A man from a non-Christian country was shown a crucifix. When told that it depicted Jesus, the God of Christians, he was horrified. He could not look at it or believe anyone would adore such a one. Although the Gospels do not dwell on the physical terrors of the crucifixion, early Christians had to endure ridicule for following one who was condemned to the worst punishment the Roman Empire had to offer. Historians have discovered a piece of first-century graffiti showing a man worshipping a crucified donkey. The inscription reads “Alexemenos worships his god” – apparently making fun of the Christian belief.
Today’s Scriptures show clearly that the Apostles had a hard time with the crucifixion. With the exception of John, they had all abandoned Jesus, their greatest friend, in his hour of dire need. Perhaps they were not able to connect Jesus with the prophecy of Isaiah, which vividly described the sufferings the Messiah would have to endure, and the attitude of submission the lamb would have as he was led to slaughter.
Today, we may suffer from a different problem. We are so used to viewing Jesus hanging on the cross that we may forget what he suffered for us. Today’s liturgy places vividly before us the humiliation, betrayal, torture and death Jesus endured to bring about the salvation of the world. It is hard not to be overwhelmed as we realize the great evil of sin that could require such suffering to expiate. At the same time, each year we are reminded that Jesus is our exalted High Priest who is able to empathize with us. Through him, we can confidently approach God for his mercy and favor.
It is not that our faith asks us to dwell on the sufferings of Jesus in a morbid way. Instead, we are able to gain strength through them. I am reminded of the deeply distraught mother of a man who was condemned to death for a murder he had committed. When she was told of the sorrow and strength of Mary under the cross, she united her pain with that of our Blessed Mother, and was greatly consoled. We, too, can be consoled and even feel joy as we realize that, yes, we are sinners, but that God loves sinners.
As we pray today, we remember the words of Jesus, No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (Jn 15:13) Our remembrance of that love can surely give us the courage to return love for love in gratitude.
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Saturday, April 4, 2015HOLY SATURDAY
(Lec. 41)- EASTER VIGIL
Nine readings are assigned to the Easter Vigil: seven from the Old Testament, and two from the New. If circumstances demand in individual cases, the number of prescribed readings may be reduced. Three selections from the Old Testament, both from the Law and the Prophets, should be read before the Epistle and Gospel. In any case, the reading from Exodus about the escape through the Red Sea (reading 3) should never be omitted.
Genesis 1:1,2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a
Genesis 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Exodus 14:15, 15:1
Isaiah 54:5-14
Isaiah 55:1-11
Baruch 3:9-15, 32C4:4
Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28
New Testament Readings
8) Romans 6:3-11
9) Mark 16:1-7
Gospel related: CCC 333, 641, 652, 2174
FOCUS:So many things grow in darkness, even our faith.
No matter how long you stare at a blade of grass, a budding flower or a stalk of corn, we never seem to be able to detect its growth, and yet all of these plants seem to sprout up overnight.Light and dark are both necessary – light to begin and nurture the growth process, while darkness allows the plant to mature.The same is true with the resurrection of Jesus – it is an event that contrasts light with darkness.The darkness of death was conquered by the immense, radiating light of God's love in the glory of the Resurrection.In the dark of this most sacred night, we began in darkness, watching as the paschal fire was ignited, showing forth the light of Christ. It is a light at the end of our tunnel – showing us the way to the kingdom of heaven.
The Easter Vigil is a combination of darkness and light, liturgy and symbols, word and sacrament, all woven together in a seamless tapestry, playing out for us the mystery of salvation.In the extensive selection of readings from the Old Testament, we encounter another element so vital in making things grow in addition to light and dark – water.Water covered the earth during creation; the waters of the Red Sea were miraculously parted by the power of God and the staff of Moses, allowing the Israelites to be freed from slavery in Egypt: and the life-giving waters rained down from the heavens, making the earth fertile and fruitful.These images of watersuggest cleansing, freedom and newlife – thevery gifts promised us in the waters of baptism, celebrated by so many neophytes all over the world during the Easter Vigil, where we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death so that by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.
Light,dark and water all have a part to play in Saint Mark's Gospel.The weeping women of Jerusalem have come at first light following the darkness of night. They make their way in haste to the tomb of Jesus, where they will use water from the well to wash his body, anoint him and prepare him for a proper Jewish burial rite. They come expecting tofind the body of Jesus, having watched the stone rolled against the tomb Good Friday afternoon. Only then do theydiscover that Jesus hasbeen taken from them. The tomb may be empty, but their hearts are filled with joy at the prospect that Jesushas triumphed.
Do not be amazed, the angel says, as if they should have expected this all along, and perhaps they should have.Each time Jesus predicted his passion, he made it clear to hisdisciples that his story would not end in death, and that he would be raised on the third day. As Paul explained to the Romans, by our baptism, Jesus has extended this same promise of new and everlasting life to all who repent and believe.
We rejoice that Jesus hastruly destroyed the power of sin and death, as he said he would. Wegive thanksthat, on this holy night, at parishes all over the world, the elect andcandidates are joining us at the Lord's table for the first time. In the darkness of this holy night, with light and water, the Churchhas grown, and thankfully, so has our faith.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2015EASTER SUNDAY
(Lec. 42)OF THE RESURRECTION
1) Acts 10:34a, 37-43OF THE LORD
2) Colossians 3:1-4 or- SOLEMNITY
1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
3) John 20:1-9 or
Mark 16:1-7(Lec. 41)
Gospel related-John: CCC 515, 640; Gospel related-Mark: CCC 333, 641, 652, 2174
FOCUS:We are an Easter people!
There was a certain pastor renowned far and wide for his bold and eloquent preaching. People from other parishes would travel just to hear his lofty rhetoric. At the height of the pastor’s popularity, however, something strange happened – he repeated the exact same homily, word for word, two weeks in a row. The people thought this was odd, but they figured he had simply been so busy that he had not had time to prepare a homily. The next Sunday, the pastor again delivered the same homily, word for word. At this, the crowds that had gathered to hear him began to get upset. When confronted after Mass by a group of perturbed parishioners as to why he kept delivering the same homily over and over again, the pastor replied, “You are right! I keep repeating the same homily, and I’ll keep repeating it until you put it into practice!”
Just like the pastor’s homily, the Easter mystery we celebrate today has not changed for more than 2,000 years. We read the same story about the same people, with the same outcome, year after year. Yet we keep coming back; and next year we shall do it all over again. The question is: If Christ’s resurrection from the dead was such a breakthrough in human history and in the story of our salvation, why do we need to celebrate it over and over?
The answer is simple: the story may not change, the outcome may always be the same, but it is we who are to change each time we gather to celebrate the mystery. Hopefully, each time we do so, we grow just a little bit more in our ability to live the mystery and to become the Easter people we are called to be.
For us, as Christians, Easter is not just a story we tell once a year. It is a way of life. As Paul so aptly puts it, we seek the things that are above to strive to fulfill the duty entrusted to us – the duty of giving witness to the faith by our lived example. At the same time, we reject the forces of death in our society and in our world that would lead us back into the tomb of slavery and sin from which Christ set us free.
In rising from the dead, Christ transformed the tomb from a place of death and despair to a channel of life and grace. As an Easter people, it is now up to us to continue the work Christ began by working to bring hope and healing where there is darkness and death in our world today.
No doubt, our task as Easter people is not an easy one. If we, however, follow the example of Christ by rising from the tomb of our complacency to be his witnesses, we may just find that we have finally begun to put our faith into practice, perhaps for the very first time. And, although the Easter mystery remains forever unchanged, we shall never be the same again!
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Monday, April 6, 2015MONDAY
(Lec. 261)WITHIN THE OCTAVE
1) Acts 2:14, 22-33OF EASTER
2) Matthew 28:8-15
Gospel related: CCC 640, 641, 645, 654
FOCUS:Jesus charges us to spread the Good News that he is risen.
There is a story that tells of the risen Jesus when he first appears in heaven. He meets the angel Gabriel, who is shocked to see his wounds. Gabriel asks, “Will all human beings know how much you suffered for them?” Jesus replies, “The Apostles know, and they will tell others. The word will spread down through the centuries.” “But what if they forget or stop?” Gabriel asks. “Do you have a plan B?” “No,” says Jesus. “I’m counting on them.” “Them” is us. We have been entrusted with the news that the crucified Jesus rose from the dead, winning eternal life for us. We need not fear annihilation or everlasting punishment. Rather, death is a doorway to eternal joy.
In order to come to a deeper understanding of the dynamics and events described in today’s Gospel reading, we must look at the verses that preceded it in Matthew 28:5-7. These verses describe the reactions of the witnesses. At the tomb, two women saw an angel who told them that Jesus was raised. He invited them to view the empty tomb and then sent them to tell the disciples. After meeting the risen Lord on their way back, they continued on their way to deliver the good news. They shared with others that indeed Jesus truly had risen. On the other hand, there were the soldiers present at the same time the women arrived at the tomb. They, too, witnessed both the empty tomb and the angel. Yet, these guards decided to accept a bribe to spread the lie that the disciples stole the body of Jesus. They kept quiet about the angel.