The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

John
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	John 12
1.	JESUS therefore, six days before the pasch, came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life.	Jesus ergo ante sex dies Paschæ venit Bethaniam, ubi Lazarus fuerat mortuus, quem suscitavit Jesus.	ο ουν ιησους προ εξ ημερων του πασχα ηλθεν εις βηθανιαν οπου ην λαζαρος ο τεθνηκως ον ηγειρεν εκ νεκρων
2.	And they made him a supper there: and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that were at table with him.	Fecerunt autem ei cœnam ibi, et Martha ministrabat, Lazarus vero unus erat ex discumbentibus cum eo.	εποιησαν ουν αυτω δειπνον εκει και η μαρθα διηκονει ο δε λαζαρος εις ην των ανακειμενων συν αυτω
3.	Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.	Maria ergo accepit libram unguenti nardi pistici pretiosi, et unxit pedes Jesu, et extersit pedes ejus capillis suis : et domus impleta est ex odore unguenti.	η ουν μαρια λαβουσα λιτραν μυρου ναρδου πιστικης πολυτιμου ηλειψεν τους ποδας του ιησου και εξεμαξεν ταις θριξιν αυτης τους ποδας αυτου η δε οικια επληρωθη εκ της οσμης του μυρου
4.	Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said:	Dixit ergo unus ex discipulis ejus, Judas Iscariotes, qui erat eum traditurus :	λεγει ουν εις εκ των μαθητων αυτου ιουδας σιμωνος ισκαριωτης ο μελλων αυτον παραδιδοναι
5.	Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?	Quare hoc unguentum non veniit trecentis denariis, et datum est egenis ?	δια τι τουτο το μυρον ουκ επραθη τριακοσιων δηναριων και εδοθη πτωχοις
6.	Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried the things that were put therein.	Dixit autem hoc, non quia de egenis pertinebat ad eum, sed quia fur erat, et loculos habens, ea quæ mittebantur, portabat.	ειπεν δε τουτο ουχ οτι περι των πτωχων εμελεν αυτω αλλ οτι κλεπτης ην και το γλωσσοκομον ειχεν και τα βαλλομενα εβασταζεν
7.	Jesus therefore said: Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of my burial.	Dixit ergo Jesus : Sinite illam ut in diem sepulturæ meæ servet illud.	ειπεν ουν ο ιησους αφες αυτην εις την ημεραν του ενταφιασμου μου τετηρηκεν αυτο
8.	For the poor you have always with you; but me you have not always.	Pauperes enim semper habetis vobiscum : me autem non semper habetis.	τους πτωχους γαρ παντοτε εχετε μεθ εαυτων εμε δε ου παντοτε εχετε
9.	A great multitude therefore of the Jews knew that he was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.	Cognovit ergo turba multa ex Judæis quia illic est, et venerunt, non propter Jesum tantum, sed ut Lazarum viderent, quem suscitavit a mortuis.	εγνω ουν οχλος πολυς εκ των ιουδαιων οτι εκει εστιν και ηλθον ου δια τον ιησουν μονον αλλ ινα και τον λαζαρον ιδωσιν ον ηγειρεν εκ νεκρων
10.	But the chief priests thought to kill Lazarus also:	Cogitaverunt autem principes sacerdotum ut et Lazarum interficerent :	εβουλευσαντο δε οι αρχιερεις ινα και τον λαζαρον αποκτεινωσιν
11.	Because many of the Jews, by reason of him, went away, and believed in Jesus.	quia multi propter illum abibant ex Judæis, et credebant in Jesum.	οτι πολλοι δι αυτον υπηγον των ιουδαιων και επιστευον εις τον ιησουν

1. Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2. There they made him a supper: and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
4. Then says one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5. Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6. This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the clay of my burying has she kept this.
8. For the poor always you have with you; but me you have not always.
9. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death:
11. Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

ALCUIN. As the time approached in which our Lord had resolved to suffer, He approached the place which He had chosen for the scene of His suffering: Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany. First, He went to Bethany, then to Jerusalem; to Jerusalem to suffer, to Bethany to keep alive the recollection of the recent resurrection of Lazarus; Where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom He raised from the dead.

THEOPHYL. On the tenth day of the month they took the lamb which was to be sacrificed on the passover, and from that time began the preparation for the feast. Or rather the ninth day of the month, i.e. six days before the passover, was the commencement of the feast. They feasted abundantly on that day.

Thus we find Jesus partook of a banquet at Bethany: There they made Him a supper, and Martha served. That Martha served, shows that the entertainment was in her house. See the fidelity of the woman: she does not leave the task of serving to the domestics, but takes it upon herself. The Evangelist adds, in order, it would seem, to settle Lazarus, resurrection beyond dispute, But Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him.

AUG. He lived, talked, feasted; the truth was established, the unbelief of the Jews confounded.

CHRYS. Mary did not take part in serving the guests generally, but gave all her attention to our Lord, treating Him not as mere man, but as God: Then took Mary, a pound of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair.

AUG. The word pistici seems to be the name of some place, from which this precious ointment came.

ALCUIN. Or pistici means genuine, non-adulterated. She is the woman that was a sinner, who came to our Lord in Simon's house with the box of ointment.

AUG. That she did this on another occasion in Bethany is not mentioned in Luke's Gospel, but is in the other three. Matthew and Mark say that the ointment was poured on the head, John says, on the feet. Why not suppose that it was poured both on the head, and on the feet? Matthew and Mark introduce the supper and the ointment out of place in the order of time (Matt 26:9 and Mark 14:3). When they are some way farther on in their narration, they go back to the sixth day before the passover.

And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

AUG. Remember the Apostle's words: To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life (2 Cor 11:16).

AUG. Then said one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him,

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? In the other Gospels it is the disciples who murmured at the waste of the ointment. I think myself that Judas is put for the whole body of disciples; the singular for the plural. But at any rate we may supply for ourselves, that the other disciples said it, or thought it, or were persuaded by this very speech of Judas.

The only difference is, that Matthew and Mark expressly mention the concurrence of the others, whereas John only mentions Judas, whose habit of thieving He takes occasion to notice: This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

ALCUIN. He carried it as a servant, he took it out as a thief.

AUG. Judas did not perish at the time when he received money from the Jews to betray our Lord. He was already a thief, already lost, and followed our Lord in body, not in heart; wherein we are taught the duty of tolerating wicked men, lest we divide the body of Christ.

He who robs the Church of anything may be compared to the lost Judas. Tolerate the wicked, you that are good, that you may receive the reward of the good, and not fall into the punishment of the wicked. Follow the example of our Lord's conversation upon earth. Wherefore had He bags, to whom the Angels ministered, except because His Church should afterwards have bags?

Why did He admit thieves, but to show that His Church should tolerate thieves, while it suffered from them. It is not surprising that Judas, who was accustomed to steal money from the bags, should betray our Lord for money.

CHRYS. But why was a thief entrusted with the bags of the poor? Perhaps it was to give him no excuse of wanting), money, for of this he had enough in the bag for all his desires.

THEOPHYL. Some suppose that Judas had the keeping of the money, as being the lowest kind of service. For that the ministry of money matters ranks below the ministry of doctrine, we know from what the Apostle says in the Acts, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables (Acts 6:2).

CHRYS. Christ, with great forbearance, does not rebuke Judas for his thieving, in order to deprive him of all excuse for betraying Him.

ALCUIN. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the clay of My burying has she kept this: meaning that He was about to die, and that this ointment was suitable for His burial. So to Mary who was not able to be present, though much wishing, at the anointing of the dead body, was it given to do Him this office in His lifetime.

CHRYS. Again, as if to remind His betrayer, He alludes to His burial; For the poor you have always with you, but Me you have not always: as if He said, I am a burden, a trouble to you; but wait a little, and I shall be gone.

AUG. He was speaking of His bodily presence; for in respect of His majesty, providence, ineffable and invisible grace, those words are fulfilled, Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world (Matt 28:20). Or thus: In the person of Judas are represented the wicked in the Church; for if you are a good man, you have Christ now by faith, and the Sacrament, and you shall have Him always, for when you have departed hence, you shall go to Him who said to the thief, Today shall thou be with Me in paradise (Luke 23:43).

But if you are wicked, you seem to have Christ, because you are baptized with the baptism of Christ, because you approach to the altar of Christ: but by reason of your wicked life, you shall not have Him always. It is not you (singular) have, but you (plural) have, the whole body of wicked men being addressed in Judas.

Much people of the Jews therefore knew that He was there, and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead. Curiosity brought them, not love.

THEOPHYL. They wished to see with their own eyes him who had been raised from the dead, and thought that Lazarus might bring back a report of the regions below.

AUG. When the news of this great miracle had spread everywhere, and was supported by such clear evidence, that they could neither suppress or deny the fact, then, The chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to death. O blind rage! as if the Lord could raise the dead, and not raise the slain. Lo, the Lord has done both. He raised Lazarus, and He raised Himself.

CHRYS. No other miracle of Christ excited such rage as this. It was so public, and so wonderful, to see a man walking and talking after he had been dead four days. And the fact was so undeniable. In the case of some other miracles they had charged Him with breaking the Sabbath, and so diverted people's minds: but here there was nothing to find fault with, and therefore they vent their anger upon Lazarus.

They would have done the same to the blind man, had they not had the charge to make of breaking the Sabbath. Then again the latter was a poor man, and they cast him out of the temple, but Lazarus was a man of rank, as is plain from the number who came to comfort his sisters. It vexed them to see all leaving the feast, which was now coming on, and going to Bethany.

ALCUIN. Mystically, that He came to Bethany six days before the passover, means, that He who made all things in six days, who created man on the sixth, in the sixth age of the world, the sixth day, the sixth hour, came to redeem mankind. The Lord's Supper is the faith of the Church, working by love. Martha serves, whenever a believing soul devotes itself to the worship of the Lord.

Lazarus is one of them that sit at table, when those who have been raised from the death of sin, rejoice together with the righteous, who have been ever such, in the presence of truth, and are fed with the gifts of heavenly grace. The banquet is given in Bethany, which means, house of obedience, i.e. in the Church: for the Church is the house of obedience.

AUG. The ointment with which Mary anointed the feet of Jesus was justice. It was therefore a pound. It was ointment of spikenard (pistici) too very precious. Greek for faith. Do you seek to do justice? The just live by faith (Heb 10:38). Anoint the feet of Jesus by good living, follow the Lord's footsteps: if you have a superfluity, give to the poor, and you have wiped the Lord's feet; for the hair is a superfluous part of the body.

ALCUIN. And observe, on the first occasion of her anointing, she anointed His feet only, but now she anoints both His feet and head. The former denotes the beginnings of penitence, the latter the righteousness of souls perfected. By the head of our Lord the loftiness of His Divine nature, by His feet the lowliness of His incarnation are signified; or by the head, Christ Himself, by the feet, the poor who are His members.

AUG. The house was filled with the odor; the world was filled with the good fame.

Catena Aurea John 12

Christ in the House of Simon

Dieric Bouts the Elder

1440s
Oil on wood, 40,5 x 61 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

The Magdalene washing the feet of Jesus
surrounded by grisailles of other scenes from the life of the "composite Magdalen"

Frans Francken II

1637

Christ at Simon the Pharisee

Pieter Pauwel Rubens

1618-20
Oil on canvas transferred from wood, 189 x 285 cm
The Hermitage, St Petersburg

Information: St. John Climacus

Feast Day: March 30

Born: 525, Syria

Died: 30 March 606, Mount Sinai

Interactive Saints for Kids

St. John Climacus

Feast Day: March 30
Born: (around) 579 :: Died: 649

St. John was born in Palestine and was a disciple of St. Gregory Nazianzen. If he wished, he could have become a famous teacher, but instead he decided to serve God with his whole heart. He joined a monastery on Mount Sinai when he was sixteen. Then he went to live for forty years alone in the desert. He spent all his time praying and reading the lives of the saints.

At first, St. John was tempted by the devil and he felt all kinds of bad passions trying to make him sin. But he put all his trust in Jesus and prayed harder than ever. So the temptations never made him fall into sin. In fact, he only grew holier. He became so close to God that many heard of his holiness. They came to ask him for advice.

God gave St. John a wonderful gift. He was able to bring peace to people who were upset and tempted. Once a man who was having terrible temptations asked St. John to help him and said how hard it was for him to fight these temptations. After they had prayed together, peace filled the poor man's soul. He was never again troubled with those temptations.

When St. John was seventy-four years old, he was chosen as abbot of Mount Sinai. He became the superior of all the monks and hermits in the country. St. John was then asked to write the rules which he had lived by all his life so that the monks could follow his example.

Humbly, St. John wrote the book called The Ladder of Perfection, or The Climax of Perfection. And that is why he is called "Climacus." St. John died in 649.

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Monday, March 30

Liturgical Color: Violet

Giambattista Castagna was ordained a
priest on this day in 1553, and was
eventually elected pope in 1590.
Although Urban VII’s papacy was one of
the shortest reigns, lasting only 12 days,
he was known for his great compassion
for the poor.

Day 89 - The Crucifixion of Jesus

Today's Reading: Matthew 27: 32-44

32 As they were marching out, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots; 36 then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews." 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, I am the Son of God.' " 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

Today's Commentary:

Gall: A mixture of herbs and myrrh used as a narcotic (cf. Mk 15:23). Jesus' refusal of painkillers signifies his total acceptance of the Father's will and the extent of his sacrificial love (cf. Jn 10:17-18; Rom 5:8).

Crucified him: Crucifixion was designed to facilitate a slow and torturous death. Victims died from a combination of blood loss and asphyxiation. See note on Mk 15:24.

Divided his garments: An allusion to Ps 22:18. This psalm is quoted by Jesus before his death (Mt 27:46; cf. Jn 19:24).

Day 41

Lent Day 41 – A New Temple

by Fr. Robert Barron

St. Mark tells us that Jesus approached the Holy City of Jerusalem from the east: “When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives…” The Mount of Olives was just to the east of Jerusalem, and Bethphage and Bethany were on the eastern slope of the Mount.

Why in the world would the direction of his approach be important? Well, in the prophet Ezekiel, we hear that, because of the corruption of the Temple, the glory of the Lord had departed. This was one of the most devastating events in all of the Old Testament, for the Temple of the Lord was, in practically a literal sense, the dwelling place of Yahweh. To imagine that the glory of the Lord had quit the Temple was shocking in the extreme.

However, Ezekiel prophesied that one day the Lord would return to the Temple, and from the same direction by which he departed. Upon the return of the glory of Yahweh, Ezekiel predicted, the Temple would be rebuilt, reconstituted.

Pious Jews in Jesus’ time certainly knew these texts. As they watched Jesus, they couldn’t help but think of them, because Jesus proclaimed himself the true Temple: “You have a greater than the Temple here.” And then see what Mark saw: Jesus approaching the old Temple from the east, just as Ezekiel said the glory of Yahweh would approach the Temple. Jesus, speaking and acting in the very person of God, is the glory of Yahweh taking possession of his house.

Catholic Spiritual Direction.com

On the Holy Communion

March 30, 2015 by Dan Burke

ON THE HOLY COMMUNION

“Take ye, and eat: this is my body.”
Matthew 26:26

Let us consider the great gift which Jesus Christ has bestowed on us in the institution of the most holy sacrament; the great love he has shown to us in this gift; and his great desire that we should receive this gift. Let us, in the first place, consider the great gift which Jesus Christ has bestowed upon us in giving us himself entirely for our food in the holy communion. St. Augustine says that Jesus Christ, though an omnipotent God, has nothing more to give us. “Cum esset omnipotens, plus dare non potuit.” And what greater treasure, adds St. Bernardine of Siena, can a soul receive or desire, than the sacred body of Jesus Christ? “Quis melior thesaurus in corde hominis esse potest, quam corpus Christi?” The prophet Isaiah exclaims, O men, proclaim aloud the loving inventions of our good God (cf Isaiah 12:4). And if our Redeemer had not bestowed this gift upon us, who among us could have asked it? Who could have dared to say to him. Lord, if you wish to make us understand your love, remain under the species of bread, and permit us to make you our food? Even to think of it would be considered folly. “Does it not,” says St. Augustine, “appear foolishness to say. Eat my flesh; drink my blood?” When Jesus Christ made known to his disciples this great gift of the most holy sacrament which he wished to leave us, they could not bring themselves to believe it; and, therefore, they departed from him, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?…This saying is hard, and who can hear it?” (cf John 6:52, 60). But what men could never imagine, the great love of Jesus Christ has invented and executed.

St. Bernardine says that the Lord has left us this sacrament as a memorial of the love he has shown us in his passion: “Hoc sacramentum est meraoriale suae dilectionis.” And this accords with what Jesus Christ himself has said: “Do this for a commemoration of me” (cf Luke 22:19). The love of our Savior, adds St. Bernardine, was not content with sacrificing his life for our salvation before his death, this love constrained him to bequeath to us the greatest gift which he had ever bestowed upon us, by giving us himself for our food. “In illo fervoris excessu quando paratus erat pro nobit mori, ab excessu a moris majus opus agere coactus est, quam unquam operatus fuerat, dare nobis corpus in cibum” (S. Ber. Sen., tom. ii serm. live. cap. i). The abbot Guerric says that, in this sacrament, Jesus made the last effort of love. “Omnem vim amorise effudit amicis” (Serm. v. de Ascens). This was better expressed by the Council of Trent, which declared that, in the Eucharist, Jesus poured out all the riches of his love for men. “Divitias sui erga homines amoris velut effucit” (Sess xiii cap ii).

How great, says St. Francis de Sales, the tenderness of love which a prince would show to a beggar by sending him a part of what he had on his own plate! How much greater should it be, if he sent him the entire of his own dinner! But what would it be, if he sent him, for his food, a part of his own arm! In the holy communion, Jesus gives us not only a portion of his own dinner, not only a part, but the entire of his body. “Take ye, and eat; this is my body.” And with his body he gives us his soul and his divinity. In a word, St. Chrysostom says that, in giving you himself in the holy communion, he gives you all that he has, and reserves nothing for himself. “Totum tibi dedit, nihil sibi reliquit.” And the angelic doctor says that, “in the Eucharist, God has given us all that he is and has.” Behold! exclaims St. Bonaventure, that God whom the world cannot contain, makes himself our prisoner in the most holy sacrament. “Ecce quern mundus capere non potest, captivus noster est.” And since the Lord gives himself entirely to us in the Eucharist, how can we fear that he should refuse us any grace which we ask of him? “How,” says St. Paul, “hath he not also, with him, given us all things?” (cf Romans 8:32).

Affections and Prayers

O my Jesus, what has induced thee to give thyself entirely to us for our food? After this gift what more remains for thee to give us in order to oblige us to love thee? Ah, Lord, give us light, make us understand the excess of thy love in becoming food in order to unite thyself to poor sinners! But, if thou givest thyself entirely to us, it is just that we too give our whole being to thee. O my Redeemer, how have I been able to offend thee, who hast loved me so tenderly, and who hast done so much to gain my love? Thou hast become man for my sake, thou hast died for me, thou hast become my food; tell me, what more couldst thou have done? I love thee, O infinite Goodness; I love thee, O infinite Love. Lord, come often to my soul; inflame my whole heart with thy holy love grant that I may forget all things in order to think only of thee, and to love nothing but thee. Most holy Mary, pray for me, and by thy intercession make me worthy to receive thy Son frequently in the holy sacrament.

Editor’s Note: This meditation is from St. Alphonsus Liguori’s “Preparation for Death” (1758).

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for:March 30, 2015
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, though in our weakness we fail, we may be revived through the Passion of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

o Holy Thursday Meal Menu

ACTIVITIES

o A Jonas (Jonah) Project

o Holy Week in the Catholic Tradition

o Housecleaning for Holy Week I

o Housecleaning for Holy Week II

o Jonas and Holy Week

o Lent Hymn: Open, O Hard and Sinful Heart!

o Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week in the Home

o Music for Lent and Easter: St. Matthew Passion by Bach

o Spring Cleaning

o The Passover Meal: 1. Introduction

PRAYERS

o Prayer for Monday of Holy Week

o Prayer Before a Crucifix

o Prayer for Palm Sunday and Holy Week

o Way of the Cross

o To Keep A True Lent

o Family Evening Prayer for Holy Week

· Lent: March 30th

· Monday of Holy Week

Old Calendar: Monday of Holy Week

"Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations. He does not cry out or shout aloud, or make his voice heard in the streets. He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame (Is 42:1-2)."

Stational Church

Meditation - Mary and Judas
Today the liturgy presents two noteworthy characters who play dissimilar roles in the Lord's passion. One fills us with solace and comfort; the other with uneasiness and wholesome fear. Their juxtaposition produces a powerful effect by way of contrast. The two characters are Mary of Bethany and Judas.

Jesus is in the house of Lazarus, at dinner. Mary approaches, anoints the feet of her Savior for His burial and dries them with her hair. Judas resents her action and resolves upon his evil course. These two persons typify man's relation to Christ. He gives His Body to two types of individuals: to Magdalenes to be anointed, to Judases to be kissed; to good persons who repay Him with love and service, to foes who crucify Him. How movingly this is expressed in the Lesson: "I gave My body to those who beat Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked them. I did not turn away My face from those who cursed and spit upon Me."

The same must hold true of His mystical Body. Down through the ages Christ is enduring an endless round of suffering, giving His body to other Marys for anointing and to other Judases to be kissed, beaten, and mistreated. Augustine explains how we can anoint Christ's body:

Anoint Jesus' feet by a life pleasing to God. Follow in His footsteps; if you have an abundance, give it to the poor. In this way you can wipe the feet of the Lord.

The poor are, as it were, the feet of the mystical Christ. By aiding them we can comfort our Lord in His mystical life, where He receives Judas' kisses on all sides-the sins of Christians.

The Gospel account may be understood in a very personal way. In everyone's heart, in my own too, there dwell two souls: a Judas-soul and a Mary-soul. The former is the cause of Jesus' suffering, it is always ready to apostatize, always ready to give the traitor's kiss. Are you full master over this Judas-soul within you? Your Magdalen-soul is a source of comfort to Christ in His sufferings. May the holy season of Lent, which with God's help we are about to bring to a successful conclusion, bring victory over the Judas-soul and strengthen the Magdalen-soul within our breasts.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

The Station today is at the church of St. Praxedes which was built over St. Praxedes' house. It was one of the twenty-five original parishes in Rome. It is easily one of the most beautiful churches in the Eternal City and is bedecked with incredibly beautiful mosaics. The present church is the one built by Pope Adrian I c. 780, completed and altered by Pope St. Paschal I c. 822. It was enlarged at that time mainly to serve as a repository for relics from the catacombs.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14

Monday of Holy Week

Wait for the Lord with courage. (Psalm 27:14)

This is a week for waiting. As we recall Jesus’ final days, his final steps toward the cross, and his final words, we are all waiting for his final victory. However much we share in Jesus’ sufferings, however much we unite ourselves to his passion, everything is still colored by that victory. So the psalmist’s cry, “The Lord is my light and my salvation” is not just wishful thinking. It’s the very bedrock of our lives!

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? (Psalm 27:1) Not other people. Not those who are smarter, wealthier, or more powerful than I am. Not situations where I feel inadequate. Jesus, my Savior, is my light. The Father not only sent him to walk this earth as one like me; he also gave me his Spirit, who is always with me. Day or night, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, I have the light of the Lord to give me the knowledge and wisdom I need.

The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1) I don’t have to fear the circumstances of my life. Not wakeful, lonely nights or sorrowful vigils at a loved one’s sick bed. Not bitter exchanges with an agitated family member. Not exhausting battles with illness or with tired children. When loving and caring become too burdensome, Jesus promises to be my strength. He offers his constant presence as a refuge whenever the storms of life threaten to overwhelm.

Though war be waged upon me, even then will I trust. (Psalm 27:3) Because Jesus believed unshakably that God was on his side, he could take those final steps toward the cross. God is on my side, too! He is my strength and refuge. He is in control, even when all around me seems chaotic. He is the victor. Period. Jesus might not have seemed victorious as he proceeded to Jerusalem. Not as one of his disciples betrayed him for money. Not as he was mocked and whipped and nailed to a cross. Not as his life’s blood poured out. But he waited. He trusted. And he triumphed. And so can I!

“God, you are good. I will hold fast to this truth today. I believe that no matter what happens, you are for me.”

Isaiah 42:1-7
John 12:1-11

Marriage=One Man and One Woman 'Til Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for March 30, 2015:

Email a love letter to your beloved today. It needn’t be long, but it can be romantic!

Regnum Christi

Blind Guides

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

March 30, 2015. Monday of Holy Week

By Father James Swanson, LC

John 12:1-11

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." The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I wish to accompany you closely on the road to Calvary. If I were to contemplate you more often as you hang scourged and bloody upon the cross, I’m certain I would be able to rest in your love and base my actions on that one truth. I know that you have loved me with an eternal love: you have proven it there on the wood of the cross. So I long to respond with gratitude, peace and the firm determination to spread your love to everyone.

Petition: Lord, grant me faith in your promise to raise everyone from the dead.

1. A Willful Blindness: Jesus produces one of his most convincing miracles – a sure sign that God sent him: He raises someone from the dead. The chief priests cannot deny this. The deed was not done far away in Galilee. Jesus is right there, in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. Lazarus is there too. Anyone who wants to see can travel the short distance from Jerusalem, over the Mount of Olives, and visit with Jesus and Lazarus. The chief priests, rather than give in and accept Jesus as the Messiah, reject him. Their rejection is complete. They should be able to see that Jesus’ miracle is obviously an act of God’s divine power, but they refuse to accept it. They can think of no way to convince people that he is not the Messiah except to kill both Jesus and Lazarus. Sometimes mere association with Jesus can bring about costly consequences. How ironic it would have been to be killed for the “crime” of being raised from the dead…

2. Harden Not Your Hearts: Logically, if anyone is to accept Jesus as Messiah, it should be the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees. They are the ones who know Scripture the best. They are the ones who are supposed to be on the lookout for the Messiah. By now they should realize that Jesus is doing everything that the Messiah is supposed to do. Yet with only a few exceptions (Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea), they fail to acknowledge him as Messiah. God’s ways are not our ways. God’s plans and actions remain impenetrable to the rationalistic mind that demands scientific-like proofs even in the spiritual realm. Hardness of heart makes us see the good works of others as evil. Do I seek to attune my mind and my heart to God’s ways or do I demand reasons from him? Often times the cross in our lives does not make sense. However, we will one day understand it by first accepting and carrying it.

3. Pride and Envy Can be Our Downfall: The Pharisees’ problem is pride. They think they’ve got everything figured out. They think (because they don’t want it to be true) that Jesus cannot be the Messiah. He doesn’t fulfill their expectations and they are not prepared to change – to examine themselves to see if they might be wrong. They are so sure they have it all figured out that they overlook all that Jesus does to fulfill Scripture. They go even so far as to overlook his having raised Lazarus from the dead! They clutch at any feeble excuse to discredit him: “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him” (Luke 7:39); “Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee” (John 7:52). God doesn’t conform himself to our plans and ideas. He expects us to conform to his.

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, faith comes so hard to me. I should be aware of all the good you have worked in my life. Help me to look with the eyes of faith that will bring me to an unshakeable belief in you, a faith like that of those who witnessed your raising of Lazarus.

Resolution: Today, I will look back briefly on my life and try to notice all the things Christ has done for me, so that by reflecting on these things my faith and trust in him will deepen.

Homily of the Day

March 30, 2015

A Love That Knows No Limits

When we love someone, we give our time and attention, and share the best things that we have with the person we love. Some may even question the extravagance, time and effort that we accord our loved one.

The Gospel reading speaks of love, a love that knows no limit. Mary showed her love and gratitude to Jesus by using costly ointment to wipe Jesus’ feet. Even if it seemed “wasteful,” she gave the best that she had out of love and gratitude for God’s mercy. Her utmost concern was to please the Lord. On the other hand, Judas was counting the cost and thought of it as wasteful. He also loved Jesus, but he was thinking more of his own benefit instead of giving more to God. It is so easy to “hold back” when we are beset with so many worldly things and concerns.

Jesus showed the greatest love by sacrificing his own life for us to save us from our sins. How do we show our love in return? Have we done something extravagant for him? Let us pray for the grace to love Jesus with all that we have, with our very selves: he gave everything for us until the very last drop of His blood.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 2

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Holy Week

Isaiah 42:1-7
View Readings

Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14

John 12:1-11
Similar Reflections

NEVER ENOUGH

"The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too, because many Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in Him on account of Lazarus." —John 12:10-11

Jesus, the Life (Jn 14:6), will not even quench a smoldering wick (Is 42:3). In fact, when the smoldering wick, that is, Lazarus, was extinguished and was buried, Jesus raised him back to life (Jn 11:43ff).

The chief priests, however, were not content with putting Jesus the Life to death; they planned to kill Lazarus too (Jn 12:10ff). When you choose death instead of life, one death is never enough. Once you make a covenant with death (Is 28:15), you are the slave of death. Only Jesus, and those who make a covenant with Him, have victory over death. "Death has no more power over Him" and those who are in Him (see Rm 6:9).

Many of you may have chosen death, particularly through abortifacient contraceptives which caused a chemical abortion that you aren't aware even happened. You may have made a covenant with death, and death is a cruel master. Repent! Come to Jesus. Let Him break the power of death and give you life to the full (Jn 10:10).

In this holiest of weeks, ask Jesus to break any bonds of death in your life. Make a full Confession. Place yourself under the protection of Jesus, the Life (Jn 11:25; 14:6). "I have set before you life and death...Choose life...that you...may live" (Dt 30:19).

Prayer: Father, use me to help overturn this present culture of death and replace it with a civilization of love and life.

Promise: "The Lord is my life's Refuge; of whom should I be afraid?" —Ps 27:1

Praise: Mel, a company vice-president, receives the Eucharist each morning before starting his workday.