HOLY WEEK

INTRODUCTION

The Resurrection of Jesus is the central pillar of our Faith. “If Christ did not rise, our Faith is in vain.” I Cor. 15:14. 

 In His resurrection, Jesus overcame death, the consequence of sin.  Because of Jesus, we are no longer bound to sin or death but are liberated from both sin and death through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Hebrews 6:5, Paul writes, “As in Adam all die, so also, in Christ, shall all be made alive.  We live now not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.”

Christ’s resurrection takes place in history, in real time, and in real space.  This real historical event is attested to by hundreds of eye witnesses after his resurrection.  Acts 1:22

Some of the historical facts to support the resurrection are: the empty tomb and burial cloth discovered by John and Peter John 20:2, The eyewitness account of Mary Magdalene John 19:31, the eyewitness accounts of the apostles in the upper room, Easter evening John 20:19-23

HE IS RISEN ALLELUIA!

REFLECTION

 The final enemy Jesus must face down is death by His own death, a death on the cross. Oh, death, where is thy sting! 1 Corinthians 15:55

“Faith in the Resurrection is the basis of our hope in the inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”  I Peter 1:4

 For those disciples who follow Jesus…the same fate awaits…a glorious resurrection of our bodies on the last day…eyes have not seen…ears have not heard what await those who love Jesus…1 Corinthians 2:9

He is risen…He is alive…He goes before us….do not be afraid… the risen Lord has not gone away…He remains with us in the sacraments…in our faith…in our praye

EYE WITNESSES TO THE EMPTY TOMB

 “On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene 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.”

 Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw the burial cloths and the cloth that covered his head.  They did not yet understand the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead and they returned home.

.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.”  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. 

MARY!

She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”

 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.”  John 20:1-18

REFLECTION

Mary was weeping because she could not find her Lord…

Do we weep when we feel the Lord is not near?

Jesus appears to Mary, Mary did not recognize Him until He addressed her by name…

Listen for when Jesus calls me by name because He does…sometimes a whisper

Rejoice and be glad, for Jesus died and rose for me personally!

CHRIST VICTORIOUS

 

BEYOND THE CROSS

INTRODUCTION

Jesus did not go to sleep from Good Friday until Easter Sunday.  He has a mission from the Father to announce his victory over sin and death to those in the abode of the dead, Sheol in Hebrew, Hades in Greek and Hell in English.

Today there is great silence upon the earth, great silence and solitude. Great silence because the King sleeps … God died in the flesh… God, made man, entered into the extreme and absolute solitude of man, where no ray of love enters, where there is total abandonment without any word of comfort: “hell”.

According to Church Tradition, after dying on Good Friday, Jesus descended to the depths of the dead to preach His message to them, liberating all holy men and women held captive in past centuries.

 The People in the abode of the dead are deprived of the vision of God. The experiences of those in the abode of the dead are different, some await the bosom of Abraham; some await damnation eternal separation from God. CCC 631-637

THE LORD’S DESCENT INTO HELL

ANCIENT HOMILY FOR HOLY SATURDAY

“What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages.

He wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains…

When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ And Christ in reply says to Adam: And with your spirit.

And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,… I am your God, Come forth, those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.

I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person….

Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.

‘See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back.  My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades…arise, let us go hence.

The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven.

“The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages.”

JESUS WELCOMES HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH

 

 

 

BETRAYAL ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

 They came out to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane like he was a robber, led by Judas his betrayer who betrayed him with a kiss.  Jesus, showing no animosity to Judas called him friend.

In chains they brought Jesus before the high priest where he was mocked, struck and spat upon.  The chief priests and elders condemned Jesus to death.   Meanwhile in the high priest’s court yard Peter denied he knew Jesus three times before the cock crowed.

Peter repented and wept bitterly.

REFLECTION

How often do I betray Jesus and turn my back on him?    

 Do I repent and ask for forgiveness, return to Jesus like Peter or like Judas stay away and separate myself from Jesus?

The Jewish leaders took Jesus before Pilate the Roman Governor, because under Roman law the Jews had no right to carry out the death penalty.  Pilate found no guilt in Jesus and tried to trade Jesus for a horrific revolutionary and murderer, Barabbas, but incited by the chief priests, the crowd cried out for Barabbas.

Pilate feared the crowds, so he had Jesus scourged.  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.”

 BEHOLD THE MAN!

JOHN 19:1-6

The chief priests and the guards cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood….”They cried out “let his blood be on us and our children”!

THE CRUCIFIXION

 Jesus is led out to be crucified, carrying the crossbeam of the cross himself.  Because of the severe scourging at the pillar, Jesus soon falters and the soldiers force Simon of Cyrene to assist in carrying the cross..  .

At the place of the skulls, Golgotha, the soldiers nailed his hands to the cross beam, attached the cross beam to the vertical beam already in place then nailed his precious feet. The soldiers then cast lots for His discarded garments.

REFLECTION

 What a difference a few days make.  Today Jesus’ precious feet are nailed to a cross.  A few days ago in Bethany in the home of Lazarus, they were anointed by Mary and embraced with love and kisses. 

Do I embrace my Savior or nail him to the cross again? 

Jesus overcame hate with love, death with his own life.  “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:31. 

Do I forgive others, even unpleasant ones?

 Jesus looked on His mother and the disciple He loved and said, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” John 19:25

From the cross Jesus gives us one of our greatest gifts, His Mother Mary.  Mary is the finest intercessor with her Son, Jesus.  Don’t forget Mother Mary when you need something from the Son.!

 Do I ask Mary to intercede?

Bowing His head Jesus expired. “it is finished, and giving a loud cry, Father into your hands, I commend my spirit.” When the centurion who stood facing him saw how Jesus breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:37-39.

 

“They will look upon whom they have pierced…when I am lifted up,

I will draw all things to me…who ever looks upon me and believes will be saved”

John 12:32

The pagan centurion gave witness, “Truly this was the Son of God!”  What prompts me to recognize God in my life? Do we ever bear witness to these God events to others? 

The veil in the temple that divided the holy of holies from the people was torn from top to bottom in two. No longer is God separated from his people by some veil, Jesus is the New Temple. Jesus is available now to everyone who seeks Him.

Seek the LORD while he may be found, Call upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

BURIAL OF JESUS

 Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the Sanhedrin council, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  Having brought a linen cloth, Joseph took Jesus down, wrapped him in the linen cloth and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where he was laid.

 CONCLUSION

 The burial of Jesus is not the end of the story.  Jesus descended to the abode of the dead to announce the good news…that soon those in Sheol will join Him in the exodus to eternal life…neither the tomb nor death will hold Jesus… Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover^* with you before I suffer… Then he took a cup,^* gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; ….Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying,

“This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. LUKE 22:14-20

 INTRODUCTION

 Two of our seven sacraments, Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders, were instituted on Holy Thursday.  Jesus at the Passover meal took bread and wine and told his disciples to eat and drink, for this was his body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins,

“Do this in remembrance of me” Luke 22:19

These words, “Do this in remembrance of me” are the foundation for our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist today and establishes the ministerial priesthood (Holy Orders) whereby this command will be carried out through the successors of the apostles until the end of time.

TAKE AND EAT; THIS IS MY BODY

MATTHEW 26:26-30

 In St. John’s Gospel we don’t find the institution of the Eucharist but we find Jesus, Servant of servants, washing the feet of His disciples and telling them to do likewise.

Jesus washing the feet of his disciples represents the service and charity of Christ, who came ‘not to be served, but to serve.’ Matthew 20:28

 And at supper, Jesus—although knowing that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was to return to God— Jesus rose from his place, and, taking off his upper garments, tied a towel round his waist. He then poured some water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel tied round him…..

 Do you understand what I have been doing to you?” he asked. “You yourselves call me ‘the Teacher’ and ‘the Master’, and you are right, for I am both. If I, then—’the Master’ and ‘the Teacher’—have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet;  For I have given you an example, so that you may do just as I have done to you.” .

“In truth I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger than the man who sends him. JOHN 13:1-1-26

A SERVANT IS NO GREATER THAN HIS MASTER

 REFLECTION

Jesus Christ, is the fullest revelation of God that we can possess on earth. The Eucharist is the sacramental means to abide in Jesus. “”He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6:54  Abide in me, and I in you” John 15:4. 

When I receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion, Do I truly believe I am  receiving Jesus body and blood or do I think I am just receiving a symbolic remembrance?

The washing of the feet of His disciples including Judas who betrays Him demonstrates God’s unconditional love for us.

God loves us with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:

What does God’s unconditional love of me say to me?

No one gets to heaven by their self. What am I doing to help others?

 How do I love others? Do I have stipulations or conditions? Like what?