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Lent: April 11th

Tuesday of Holy Week

MASS READINGS

April 11, 2017 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

Almighty ever-living God, grant us so to celebrate the mysteries of the Lord's Passion that we may merit to receive your pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Old Calendar: Tuesday of Holy Week

"False witnesses have stood up against me, and my enemies threaten violence; Lord, do not surrender me into their power!" Our Lord calls upon His heavenly Father to shield Him against His enemies. In God's providence, however, the Cross of Christ was destined to be a sign of glory and not an emblem of shame: from that Cross came victory over Satan, from it came life, resurrection and salvation: "It behooves us to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, by whom we are saved and delivered."

On the Cross Our Lord expiated our avarice by His extreme poverty, our sensuality by His most bitter sufferings, our pride by His profound humiliations, our disobedience by His most perfect submission to the Will of God. Embracing us with His extended arms He draws us into the path which He has trod and which alone leads to life eternal. — Cathedral Daily Missal

The feast of St. Stanislaus, which is ordinarily celebrated today, is superseded by the Holy Week liturgy.

Stational Church


Meditation
Today, again, our Savior sets out in the morning for Jerusalem. His intention is to repair to the temple, and continue His yesterday's teachings. It is evident that His mission on earth is fast drawing to its close. He says to His disciples: "You know that after two days shall be the Pasch, and the Son of Man shall be delivered up to be crucified."

On the road from Bethania to Jerusalem, the disciples are surprised at seeing the fig-tree, which their divine Master had yesterday cursed, now dead. Addressing himself to Jesus, Peter says: "Rabbi, behold, the fig-tree, which Thou didst curse, is withered away." In order to teach us that the whole of material nature is subservient to the will of God, Jesus replies: "Have the faith of God. Amen I say to you, that whosoever shall say to this mountain: Be thou removed and cast into the sea! and shall not stagger in his heart, but believe that whatsoever he saith shall be done, it shall be done unto him."

Having entered the city, Jesus directs His steps towards the temple. No sooner has He entered, than the chief priests, the scribes, and the ancients of the people, accost Him with these words: "By what authority dost Thou do these things and who has given Thee this authority, that Thou shouldst do these things?" We shall find our Lord's answer given in the Gospel. Our object is to mention the leading events of the last days of our Redeemer on earth; the holy volume will supply the details.

As on the two preceding days, Jesus leaves the city towards evening: He passes over Mount Olivet, and returns to Bethania, where He finds His blessed Mother and His devoted friends.

The Liturgical Year, Abbot Gueranger O.S.B.


32 posted on 04/11/2017 5:28:45 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
The Word Among Us

Meditation: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Tuesday of Holy Week

One of you will betray me. (John 13:21)

Imagine how deeply Jesus must have grieved that a friend would turn on him: “Even my trusted friend, who ate my bread, has raised his heel against me” (Psalm 41:10).

Earlier, in the synagogue in Capernaum, when Jesus declared that he was the bread of life, many of his followers turned away from him (John 6:53, 66). John tells us that Jesus knew even then that Judas would betray him (6:70-71). Later, at the Last Supper, when he washed the disciples’ feet, Jesus still had hope that Judas might turn back and abandon his plans.

It also appears that Judas was present when Jesus offered the bread and wine, his own Body and Blood, to his disciples (Luke 22:19-21). So it’s likely that Judas received the first Eucharist. Still, he refused these overtures from the Lord and held fast to what he intended to do.

The story of Judas is a powerful illustration of how critical it is that we have the right disposition toward Jesus. This is especially true when we receive the Eucharist.

Can you imagine how Jesus felt as he looked at Judas at the Last Supper? Or how he felt every time he caught Judas grumbling against him or quietly siphoning off money from the disciples’ common purse? He must have been brokenhearted. One of his own was going to betray him. One of his own had rejected his teaching and his will, preferring his own ideas and his own will instead. You can even imagine Jesus weeping over Judas’ lack of faith. What was Judas thinking? How could he make such a poor decision?

Just as he looked at Judas, Jesus looks at us. He asks us, “What is your disposition toward me? Am I the Living Bread that brings you life? Or am I just one option among many that makes you happy?”

Let’s not make a poor decision here. May we all repent for the ways we have preferred our own will to God’s. May we always come to Communion with an open and willing heart. Let’s all echo Peter’s bold proclamation of faith: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe . . . that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69).

“Lord, soften my heart so that I can become the Eucharist I eat.”

Isaiah 49:1-6
Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17

33 posted on 04/11/2017 5:54:29 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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