SCRIPTURE 9:1-41

 the man born blind.

 

As he passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.  We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash^* in the Pool of Siloam. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?

Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So they said to him, “[So] how were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went there and washed and was able to see.” And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.” They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.

Now Jesus had made clay^* and opened his eyes on a Sabbath….. some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath.” [But] others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them….so they summoned his parents… Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?

His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself. His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, He is of age; question him.

So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him…What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?

They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from. The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.

It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.  They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us? Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he. He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.

Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind. Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we? Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.

REFLECTION

This Scripture reading begins with Jesus encountering a man born blind on the Sabbath. His disciples ask Jesus, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind.  Back then it was just assumed especially by the religious leaders that if you were sick you were also a sinner.

While it is true one of the consequences of Original Sin is suffering and a broken human nature, it does not necessarily mean that a specific personal sin is responsible for a current affliction.  However, we may bring on that affliction by our own personal sinful behavior.

Jesus asserts, While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.  This means He can conquer the darkness of sin and its consequences, including death.  Bring on the light, especially this Advent season.

The curing of this blind man is different than other healings.  It reminds us of the story in the Old Testament of Elisha the prophet curing Naaman the leper. 2 Kings 5:1-19 Jesus tests this blind man’s faith by giving him  instructions on how to cooperate in God’s grace

When the formerly blind man is brought before the Pharisees all they could see is a legalistic point of view, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath. Elsewhere in Scripture, Jesus says this about the Sabbath, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Mark 2:27  The Sabbath was not intended to be a burden like the rules Pharisees made up but a time of rest and worship and refreshment in the presence of God.

Who is really blind in this story?  You guessed it! So these blind Pharisees  summon his parents to testify They are looking for physical evidence of a spiritual mystery. But the clincher is when they summon the blind man again and they get their comeuppance.  The blind man bears witness to the Pharisees, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?

 After the young man was thrown out, Jesus found him and gave him solace,  Do you believe in the Son of Man?” the blind man answered and said, “Who is he, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he. He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.

SCRIPTURE 10:1-20

the good shepherd.

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold^* through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech,^* they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep^* that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 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.

REFLECTION

Jesus is the gate keeper.  We can’t sneak into heaven.  Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. Jesus opens the gate for his sheep.  Are we among His herd? Jesus walks ahead of His sheep and they follow him. Do we follow Jesus? His sheep will not follow strangers.  Do we follow strange gods, idols?  Where our treasure is so will be our heart.  Whoever enters through me will be saved. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  There is no other!

A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…Are we good shepherds to others? Are we willing to deny ourselves and lay aside our wants and needs to address the needs of others even those we call enemies? Are we envious of others, hold grudges, anger, resentment in our hearts?  If so, let’s purify those hearts before purgatory in the next life by seeking and nourishing the virtues of mercy and humility.

I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me. I have other sheep^* that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.  I find this very encouraging. We all know people who have walked away from the sheepfold or were never apart of it.

Jesus has his way of seeking those outside the fold. We cooperate in this search on earth by spreading the Good News and prayers and sacrifices. God wills the salvation of all but also respects free will. Pray for conversion of sinners that they may find themselves back in the care of the Good Shepherd.

Let us also pray for ourselves that we hear his voice at the Last Judgment,  ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:34

SCRIPTURE 10:22-39

feast of the dedication.

The feast of the Dedication^* was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense?^* If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you^* and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.  But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.

My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,^* and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.

The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him. Jesus answered them, I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me? The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God. Jesus answered them…,

If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize [and understand] that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then] they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.

REFLECTION

The Feast of Dedication is a Jewish festival mentioned in John 10:22–23. Today, this Jewish festival is perhaps better known as Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights.  This winter holiday is an eight-day festival observed which occurs in late November or December depending on the Jewish calendar. During the Feast of Dedication, Jews celebrate the dedication of the second temple as recorded in the books of First and Second Maccabees in the time between the Old and New Testaments.

 If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you^* and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.  The spiritually blind (works of the Father) and deaf (words of Jesus) will never recognize Jesus.  They are too filled with themselves and their agendas.  Busyness and noise fill their hearts and there is no room in the inn.

Plainly, Jesus declares His divinity in this passage. The Father and I are one. One God three Divine Persons.

The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him. Jesus answered them, I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?  The Jews could not deny the good works but could not accept Jesus’ claim of divinity.  Still today there are those who would deny Jesus’ divinity. Reject Jesus at your own peril!

 

 

SCRIPTURE 11:1-44

the raising of lazarus.

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.

So the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

He said this, and then told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” So the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.” So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go to die with him.”

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise. Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.” As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed* and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”

And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that man would not have died?” So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone.

And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

LAZARUS, COME OUT!

REFLECTION

 In this scripture passage of the raising of Lazarus, we read about GLORY, LOVE, COMPASSION, FAITH, RESURRECTION, AND ANOTHER EPIPHANY.

Jesus loves Martha, Mary, and Lazarus but does not immediately go to them, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

 When Jesus does decide to go, he is rebuked by his apostles, Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?” Jesus reminds them He is the Light of the world. If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world Choose light over darkness!

Jesus tells his apostles, I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. The apostles may not understand Jesus’ purpose to affirm their faith.  Just like we may not  understand God’s providence in our lives. Thomas the apostle speaks up, “Let us also go to die with him.” Are we willing to follow Jesus wherever He may lead us?

When Jesus does arrive,  Martha approaches Jesus and expresses her faith, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you

Jesus then stretches Martha’ faith like He sometimes pushes us farther than we might want to go. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus receives exactly the response He hopes for from a faithful disciple. Martha said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Do we believe and express that belief of Martha’s to others? 

Jesus asks Martha to show Him where they have laid Lazarus. And Jesus wept. Jesus knows what He is about to do but in His humanity and divinity shows compassion for those who mourn. Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted!

 Many of those accompanying Martha questioned Jesus a man who opened the eyes of the blind, couldn’t He do something to save the one He loved. Of course Jesus could, but raising the dead would be much more dramatic and revealing of His divinity that others might believe He was truly the Son of God.

They took away the stone covering the tomb of Lazarus.  Jesus prayed, Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” Do we pray to the Father before significant events?

 Lazarus, come out! Lazarus walked out, another Epiphany of Jesus, Son of God, Savior of the world. Throughout the Gospels Jesus has shown us who He is.  Who do we say Jesus is?  What impact does our belief have in our lives?

“But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. Matthew 16:16 Faith in Jesus is revealed by the Father.  Pray for that faith!

SCRIPTURE 11:45-54

raising of Lazarus brought to Pharisees and chief priests.

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.”

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.”

He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.

So from that day on they planned to kill him. So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.

IT IS BETTER FOR YOU THAT ONE MAN SHOULD DIE,

SO THAT THE WHOLE NATION MAY NOT PERISH.”

 REFLECTION

The chief priest called together the Sanhedrin.  The Sanhedrin back then was like our Supreme Court with leaders, presided over by the chief priest, Caiaphas. The question before them is a political one even though held in temple and made up of high priests.

 What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation. They are more concerned for their secular world than whether this Jesus may be the long awaited Messiah.

Caiaphas thinks he has the answer, it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” While Caiaphas was looking for a secular solution, the irony is that yes it is better spiritually that Jesus dies for the salvation of the world, a new exodus from sin, to eternal life.

So from that day on they planned to kill him. So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews.  Although Jesus knew his passion, death, and resurrection lie ahead, it was not yet his hour.  Jesus had more evangelizing, more healing, and more catechizing of his disciples before He left this world.

We the mystical body of Christ (the Church) today are the beneficiaries of this public ministry, institution of the sacraments, and founding of his church upon Peter the Rock. “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

 Jesus loves His Church.  Do we love the church warts and all?  All means for salvation are found in the Sacraments ministered today in the Catholic Church.

In the Catholic Mass we celebrate the wedding feast of the Lamb as they are celebrating it in heaven.  We will never be as close to heaven on earth as we are in the liturgy of the Mass.

 

GOSPEL OF JOHN CHAPTER 12

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 12:1-8

 the anointing at Bethany

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

 REFLECTION

Jesus knew the heart of Judas, a man not so interested in caring for others but what he could gather for himself.  Are we selfish in any ways similar?  Do we have to force ourselves to share with others?  Are our motives for apparent charitable acts always pure or do we sometimes look to call attention to ourselves?

Is Jesus putting himself above the poor?  Is he asserting special privilege because he somehow believes He is more important?  I think not.  Jesus knows his hour is near and accepts the love and anointing of Mary that previews his death and burial.  His time on this earth is limited and He is not going to get in the way of his disciples returning His love and blessings upon Him.

SCRIPTURE JOHN 12:12-15

 the entry into jerusalem.

On the next day, when the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: “Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel.” Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written: “Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.”

REFLECTION

 Jesus makes triumphant entrance into Jerusalem fulfilling the prophecy of Zecariah (9:9) “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion; cry out, daughter of Jerusalem! Look! Your king is coming to you. He is righteous, and he is able to save. He is humble, and is riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

This fanfare and enthusiasm for the Messiah did not last even a week before many would be shouting with crowd mentality, Crucify him, Crucify him!  Do we lose our enthusiasm for Jesus and His Church?

How are we trying to rekindle that original spark when we first discovered Jesus? I am reminded of the parable of the Sower who planted seeds along a path where birds of the air snatched them away, some among rocky soil that had no roots, and then again some fell among thorns that choked the seeds.  What thorns do we have that strangle our faith in Jesus?

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 12:23-33; 44-50

 the coming of jesus’ hour.

unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat but if it dies, hit produces much fruit.

Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life, loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.

 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”

 The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world* will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.

 And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life.

REFLECTION

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified Once again Jesus blows us away.  God’s ways are not our ways.  Who back then or now for that matter thinks death by crucifixion is a moment to celebrate?  It is at our own peril to second guess God.

Jesus defines clearly what a disciple of his must be. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.  Can we drink the cup Jesus must drink? Is a servant greater than His master?

Even Jesus in his humanity had trouble accepting His Father’s will, Father, save me from this hour. Just like us Jesus doesn’t enjoy suffering but suffering may be necessary to fulfill the Father’s will.  Again trust God.  God knows the full picture and if God can bring glory out of the greatest suffering, the passion and death of His only begotten Son, what is the good God will bring out of our suffering a little on this earth.

I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Jesus did not come to condemn but save! The words Jesus spoke will condemn us if we fail to observe his teachings.  We ourselves choose Heaven or Hell.  We are free to embrace Jesus or not, again at our own peril!

when I am lifted up from the earth, 

I will draw everyone to myself.

 

SCRIPTURE JOHN 13:1-17

 the washing of the disciples’ feet.

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.

So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”

 Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”

Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all. ”For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again.

He said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. 

I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.

REFLECTION

He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. Jesus knew his hour had come and was soon to pass from this world.  He had one more lesson to teach His disciples. One who loves must also serve.  The only thing we take from this world is what we have given away.

He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Jesus knows human nature and what He is doing seems all messed up.  He the teacher, the master, waiting on his disciples, his servants. This is not the way of this world but it is Jesus’ way!

Peter protests, You will never wash my feet! Jesus can’t teach the lesson all at once but He does get Peter’s attention. “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”

 The teacher that He is, Jesus then checks out whether his disciples understand the lesson. Do you realize what I have done for you?.  Do we understand the lesson?  As disciples, are we showing our love by caring and serving others or do we come first?

If we do then we have Jesus’ blessing. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. You will notice the real emphasis is on the last part, and do it!

SCRIPTURE JOHN 13:31-35

 the new commandment.

When Judas had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. …My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.

 I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love one another, this is how all will know you are my disciples

 REFLECTION

Jesus is leaving them soon. To prepare them for what is to come, knowing again human nature and how it looks on things, Jesus wants to get out in front, Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  Jesus knows they don’t understand now but Jesus will return to them after the resurrection to strengthen their faith,

As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Are we seen by others as disciples of Jesus? If not, why not?  Can we do more to prove we really are disciples of Jesus?

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 13:36-38

peter’s denial predicted.

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered [him], “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

 REFLECTION

 Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” In this Jesus not only promises their suffering persecution for His sake but the blessedness of Heaven and eternal life.

If we follow Jesus the same is in store for us.  But no Easter without Good Friday.  In the words of St. Paul in his letter to Timothy, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7

 Peter the brash one, confronts Jesus, why can’t I follow you now, I will lay down my life for you.”

Maybe sometimes we make un-informed promises to Jesus but we have not yet been pruned enough, watered enough, lots of baby steps before we are mature disciples.  Jesus is patient with us.  It is our effort to do good,, success may elude us sometimes. Be patient with us Jesus and help us to persevere.

Jesus loves Peter with all his heart though He knows Peter’s weaknesses. Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.” Peter wept bitterly in the aftermath.  Do we mourn and reject our past sins?

Repentance is first sign of conversion, turning back to God.  Jesus rewards this sinful man, Peter with making him his prime minister.  You are Peter and upon this rock I build my church. And the gates of hell shall not prevail. Matthew 16:18

 The Church is divinely instituted (Christ) but humanly constituted (Peter) So be patient with the Church of Christ.  We have the promise of the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the promise that the gates of hell will not prevail.

 

 

 

SCRIPTURE JOHN 14:1-14

 last supper discourse

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith^* in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.  Where [I] am going you know the way.”^*

Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth^* and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.^b If you know me, then you will also know my Father.^* From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father,^* and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.ⁱ If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.

REFLECTION

Jesus prepares his disciples for when He ascends into heaven.  Jesus goes to prepare a place for us. What will that place look like?  I am sure most of us have imagined a place we have dreamed about here on earth that satisfies our worldly needs but knowing Jesus, I am sure it is going to be the perfect place for each of us. I am prepared to trust Jesus, what about you?  If there was a place for the Good Thief, there must be one for me. Do not let your hearts be troubled.

How do we get to our dwelling place in heaven? Where I am going you know the way.  What way is that Jesus? I am the way and the truth and the life.  I get it, conform to Jesus, imitate Christ, do what Jesus did, love God and my neighbor, be good to those who don’t deserve it, be merciful as the Father is merciful, mercy is love we don’t deserve.

 Philip said to Jesus “Master, show us the Father,^* and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?  Jesus and the Father are one. The will of the Father is the will of Jesus.  The Father sent the Son as His most dramatic revelation of Himself, a word incarnate that could be seen, heard, embraced, and followed in his footsteps.  If we know Jesus we will know the Our Father.

Jesus promises whoever believes in me will do the works that I do so that His Father will be glorified. so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11 Jesus says, ask anything in my name and He will do it.  Believe it, pray over it.  Trust in Jesus!

SCRIPTURE JOHN 14:15-31

 the advocate.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate  to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.

Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him. Judas, not the Iscariot,^* said to him, “Master, what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. I have told you this while I am with you.

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me tell you, I am going away and I will come back to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.  I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world (Satan) is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me…

 REFLECTION

 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. The law will never save us because we continue to break the law.  That is why we needed a Savior.  But Jesus does tell us we show Him love by keeping the commandments, denying ourselves and choosing God’s will instead.  All we take with us when we die is what we have given away.  Love God and your neighbor by keeping the commandments for a happy whole life.

Jesus promises not to leave us orphans when He leaves this earthly life.  That is good to know we won’t be left alone to just stumble around in a quagmire of sin.. But what does this mean?  When Jesus goes to the Father, He will ask the  Father to send the third person of the Most Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, the advocate, to coach us, to guide us, to guide the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. Through the Sacraments God dwells in us.  We are alive in Christ!  We were not left orphans!

The Advocate (Holy Spirit) will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you. Not only that, it is the Spirit that convicts us of our sins through our conscience and calls us to conversion.

Before departure Jesus offers his disciples peace not as the world describes it but peace of union with God

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. Jesus must go now that the world may know that He did just as the Father has commanded me.  Not my will but thy will be done!

 

 

SCRIPTURE JOHN 15 1-17

The Vine and the Branches.

“I am the true vine,^* and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends,^* because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.

REFLECTION

When I look at the picture above I am reminded of how many great saints attached to the vine of Christ bore good fruit.  They are our ancestors and models of discipleship. I Am the True Vine is the last of the seven I Am declarations of Jesus, found only in Gospel of John.  The I Am declarations point to Jesus’ unique divine identity.

Jesus and the Father are one. Jesus reminds us that we have life only when we are attached to Him. “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love.

For the Hell deniers, Jesus throws in, “Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.”

Next time we meditate on crucifix/crucifixion rather than concentrating on pain and suffering of Jesus dig deeply into the love God has for us that He lay down His very life to save us from sin and death  that our joy may be complete,

 “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.    The fruit that remains is our love for one another! “By their fruit you will know them” Matthew 7:20

SCRIPTURE JOHN 15:18-27

JESUS’ DEPARTURE WARNING ABOUT THE WORLD’S HATRED

“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;    but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.

…No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you….And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me….Whoever hates me also hates my Father If I had not done works among them that no one else ever did, they would not have sin; but as it is, they have seen and hated both me and my Father….

REFLECTION

 If they persecuted Jesus they will also persecute followers of Jesus.  This is the cost of discipleship. We may not confront the world, the flesh, and the devil to the extant Jesus did but we are still a threat to worldly ways. Jesus warned us, “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” Matthew 10:16

 Be smart, trust in Jesus, and be humble, don’t try to make it on your own.  When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:19

 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy

both soul and body in Gehenna.

Matthew 10:28

 GOSPEL OF JOHN CHAPTER 16

THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT, THE ADVOCATE

SCRIPTURE 16:7-33

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. ….. now I am going to the one who sent me….^*it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation…I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.  But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears…He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you…..

‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.

When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.

So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you……For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”…..

Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.

REFLECTION

While Jesus’ physical presence has departed earth until end times, we are not left orphans.  We have the sacramental presence of Jesus and the advocate, the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of our sins, inspires us in hope of eternal joy, and assists in our daily struggles in the head wind of worldly delights.

This passage of Scripture brings to the fore, the Most Holy Trinity, the Father who sent the Son to save us,  the Son who sends the Holy Spirit who will guide us to all truth. While the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God, I address them at times in their various persons.

God the Creator to protect our environment and food supplies to the poor.  The Son, Jesus Christ, to pardon my sins and lead me to repentance.  The Holy Spirit to help me pray, to discern God’s will, and give me courage to follow it.

When we see Jesus again we will be filled with joy of the woman who has given birth to a child.  All love has some suffering that accompanies it whether it is sacrifices of our will to God’s will or grief over the loss of a loved one. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me.

 Is God’s love enough for us?   Worth pondering! 

And if not why not?

 

LAST SUPPER DISCOURSE PRAYER OF JESUS

SCRIPTURE JOHN 17:1-8

When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. “I revealed your name^* to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.

REFLECTION

Knowing Jesus and the one who sent Him is eternal life! “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.”1 COR. 13:12

Knowing Jesus is heaven on earth.  Why wait, let’s get started! To know Him is to Love Him!

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 17:9-17

I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, (Father), because they are yours,and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.

When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.  I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.

REFLECTION

 We do not belong to this world but to the one above! We live in this world of toil and calamity, pressed by worldly desires but Jesus is victorious over this world of sin and death.  Often, Jesus would tell His flock,

Do not be afraid! He was not telling us to be reckless but rather trust in him; faith and fear cannot coexist, For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Fear not, little sheep, the Good Shepherd hovers over us!

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 17-18-26

As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth. “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

FATHER AS YOU SENT ME I SEND THEM

Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

 REFLECTION

 We are sent into the world to magnify the Lord as Jesus did! We go out in union with Jesus.  His face shines upon us and those we meet.  Not only. are we invited to share in His Passion but we are invited to share in His glory and share that glory with others.  What a mission if we choose to accept! 

 See, I have today set before you life, and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I am giving you today, loving the LORD, your God, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and ordinances, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.  DEUTERONOMY 30:15-16

 CHOOSE LIFE!

 

 

SCRIPTURE JOHN 18:1-14

 JESUS IS ARRESTED

 When he had said this, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons., knowing everything that was going to happen to him, Jesus went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?”

BETRAYAL ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.”^* He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them.

When he said to them, “I AM,” they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.”Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.”

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.

REFLECTION

When asked who they seek, Jesus answers with affirmation that he not only is Jesus but also I AM, an affirmation that He is God; even the pagans fell on the ground.  Do I worship Jesus in awe?

To think it is God himself that saves us is too awesome to ever stop contemplating.  God so loved the world as to send His incarnate Son, word made flesh. It took one with both divine nature and human nature to save humanity from sin and death,

Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”  Calvary comes before Easter Sunday. Am I prepared to drink of that cup?  With God anything is possible!

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 18:15-27

PETER’S DENIAL

 Simon Peter and another disciple (John) followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in.

Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said.”  When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.

THE COCK CROWED!

 REFLECTION

How many times I have denied God’s will and chosen my own will to my peril! I didn’t hear a cock crow call me to conversion but the subtle voice of the Holy Spirit.  The world is a sinful place, and one of the Holy Spirit’s tasks is to convict the world of its sin.

No amount of preaching or pointing of fingers will bring about the conviction of sin, unless the Holy Spirit is at work in the sinner’s heart. John 16:8 The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin with the express purpose of reconciling them to God; the devil brings condemnation with the express purpose of shaming people into running away from God.

PRAYER

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.

And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit,

did instruct the hearts of the faithful,

grant that by the same Holy Spirit

we may be truly wise

and ever enjoy His consolations,

Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 18:28-38

THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE.

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring [against] this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone,”^*

in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die.

So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”…..

WHAT IS TRUTH!

REFLECTION

“I am the way and the truth^* and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. JOHN 14:6  

Jesus says, everyone who belongs to the truth, listens to His voice,   Do I Listen to Jesus’ voice even when He might have tough love?

What is truth for me? Do I seek it wherever it may be found? In my daily readings, viewings, errands, people I meet. problems I encounter…. Do I bring Jesus into all aspects of my life? to seek the truth, Jesus!

SCRIPTURE JOHN 19:1-7

THE SCOURAGING AND CROWNING WITH THORNS

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him. So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak.

BEHOLD THE MAN!

And he said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

REFLECTION

Behold the Man! “Who, 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 death, even death on a cross” Philippians 2:6-7

God becoming man to save us! “What is man that you are mindful of him? Psalms 8:5

SCRIPTURE JOHN 19:8-16

PILATE HANDS JESUS OVER FOR CRUCIFIXION

Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the Praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered [him], “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”  When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him^* on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

SHALL I CRUCIFY YOUR KING?

It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon.^* And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

REFLECTION

 “We have no king but Caesar.”  What are the Caesars in our lives that we may put before God?  Is Jesus truly the king that we worship and serve foremost?  Do we really reflect on and mean the words of the prayer Jesus taught us, “….thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”?

SCRIPTURE JOHN 19:17-30

THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS.

 So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.  Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” in order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled [that says]: “They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots This is what the soldiers did.

JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED 1 CORINTHIANS 2:2

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. 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.

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled,^* Jesus said, “I thirst.” 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.

 REFLECTION

 “Bowing His head He gave up His spirit….” Jesus completes the Father’s mission of redemption. The gates of heaven are unlocked. We are given the Way, the Truth, and the Life, in Jesus Christ crucified. ….. keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith  Hebrews 12:2. We too may enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Pray we may hurdle any roadblocks and make straight the path from any detours.

SCRIPTURE JOHN 19:31-42

DEATH AND BURIAL OF JESUS

 Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, ^sbut one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows^* that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may [come to] believe. For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled: “Not a bone of it will be broken.” And again another passage says: “They will look upon him whom they have pierced.”

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds.

JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.

REFLECTION

Jesus is now laid to rest as we all will one day.  Jesus will rise from the dead in glory from mission accomplished.  We pray one day we too rise from the dead to our heavenly home.

“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God]. 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.” Revelation 21:3-4

 

SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:1-10

THE EMPTY TOMB.

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.  So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.  Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned home.

PETER AND JOHN RETURN HOME

REFLECTION

The apostles saw and believed.  They did not fully understand.  Nor would we!  Our faith has undergone centuries of development from Jesus’ teaching and fellow Christians, witnessing to the mystery of the Resurrection.  As St Paul says in First Corinthians, if Christ had not raised from the dead, our faith is in vain.  Life would be totally meaningless. A life without meaning, God save me from such a fate.

 SCRIPTURE JOHN: 11-18

THE APPEARANCE TO MARY OF MAGDALA

 But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”

I HAVE SEEN THE LORD

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”  She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”^* which means Teacher.

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,^* for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’  Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.

REFLECTION

I have seen the Lord!  What that must have been like!  Do we have special moments where we feel we are closer to Jesus or his Mother Mary? What do we say to them in those moments?  Do we ask for these special encounters where we can really relate and open our hearts to Jesus and Mary? Do we share with others like Mary Magdalen did with Jesus’ disciples?  Are we witnesses and evangelizers like Mary Magdalen?

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:19-23

APPEARANCE TO THE DISCIPLES

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

PEACE BE WITH YOU

 REFLECTION

 “Peace be with you.  The Peace Jesus gives us is an inner peace reconciled to the Father. Now Jesus sends his disciples into the world to forgive sins as the Father sent Jesus into the world for forgiveness of sins. Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. For his mercy endures forever!

SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:24-29

 THOMAS

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

MY LORD AND MY GOD

 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

REFLECTION

 Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Here is our challenge as Christians who have not seen the Lord in person, much less put our hands in his wounds. But we have Jesus’ promise that if we believe, WE WILL BE BLESSED! Is belief sufficient?  I think not.  Jesus said to come follow Him which means taking up our daily crosses and imitating Jesus in his love of the Father and our neighbor.

CONCLUSION. JOHN 20:30-31

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.