Its here! The most important week of the year. I'm hoping and praying this week brings us closer to Jesus. That we recognize our sins, but know they are forgiven if we ask and are truly repentent. Let's nail our sins to the cross this week so that we can arise anew with Our King on Easter. Peace. Here is a great homily to start off the week. http://aleteia.org/blogs/deacon-greg-kandra/we-are-the-mob-homily-for-palm-sunday/
I always feel a little uncomfortable when listening to the Passion readings mostly because I feel I have a heart that is kinda made of stone and I always think I should be more moved by what I am hearing. However this Palm Sunday I was listening to the reading of the Prophet Isaih and something suddenly struck me: Isaiah 50:4-9a The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? Suddenly it came to me that since the Church considers Isaiah's description of the Passion as prophetic I was actually listneing too a description of the Passion itself. That yes they did pull His beard and spit right in His face and this did touch me. It kinda gave me a new side light on things. But what particularly touched me were the Words of the Psalmist: Psalm 22:16 15My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. 16For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. 17I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at Now I have always had a great love of dogs so this kind of hit home to me. I imagine the half wild dogs that haunt Jerusalem 's street drawn by the sight and smell of blood and the excitemnt actualy surrounding Jesus and biting Him. Have you ever had a dog bite? I have had several down the years and believe me they really, really hurt and mine were just slight nips. Anyway I thought about this and , yes, it did touch me. View attachment 4616
I heard in prayer on Sunday, "This Holy Week will be like no other." Yesterday we had the bombings. Closer to home, an aquaintance had a young grandson murdered yesterday by a stepdad, who also killed another child, their mother and himself. I shudder to think what's coming later in the week...
Well looking back on my Lent I guess I get the comment, 'Could have done better'. But then, I suppose that is the same for most people's Lent. But at least this period of Penance have cranked up the Spiritual Motor for what may be coming, thank God.
I tell you one very,very strong feeling I have had recently and that is of the passing of things, that as Scripture says, 'Man is like the grass, that grows withers and dies'. 1 Peter 1:24 The Word of the Lord Stands Forever …23for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, 25BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you. Psalm 103:15 All within me, Praise His Holy Name! …14For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. 15As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer.…
I sat at mass yesterday, 'Spy Wednesday', waiting to be given my ashes. I am convinced I am loosing the plot. Lent has gone so quickly this year it seems like moments. But on standing on the wieghing scales this morning I find, to my delight, I have lost a stone in weight, so I must have been doing something right. Today, Holy Thursday I ahve always found the strangest day of all, in may ways I don't know what to make of it. On the one hand the instituion of the Eucharist and the mass, the setting forth of the Church on its Eternal Mission. Such a source of joy. Yet plummeting to the depths in Christ's arrest. On the other hand again it is the beginning of the defeat of Satan and the harrowing of Hell. So a roller coaster, a huge roller coaster, up and down, up and down up and down. View attachment 4623
I find this article very interesting and appropriate for Eastertide. I'm guessing that The Lord will be revealing Himself in all manner of interesting/exciting ways in the months to come ...... for those that care to look, trust and believe. "Modern-day 'Indiana Jones' links Shroud to 1st century" http://www.wnd.com/2016/03/modern-day-indiana-jones-links-shroud-to-1st-century/ GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
I wonder if the Holy Shroud could have been kept at Mary's House in Ephesus in Turkey? How interesting.
