April 4, 2012

Wednesday of Holy Week

Reading 1 Is 50:4-9a

The Lord GOD has given me
a well-trained tongue,
That I might know how to speak to the weary
a word that will rouse them.
Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I may hear;
And I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
My face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let him confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

Responsorial Psalm Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34

R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
For your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother's sons,
because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak,
I looked for sympathy, but there was none;
for consolers, not one could I find.
Rather they put gall in my food,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving:
"See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not."
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Gospel Mt 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
"What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?"
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?"
He said,
"Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
'The teacher says, AMy appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."'"
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
"Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
"Surely it is not I, Lord?"
He said in reply,
"He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born."
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
"Surely it is not I, Rabbi?"
He answered, "You have said so."

One Bread, One Body

<< Wednesday, April 4, 2012 >>

Holy Week
Saint of the Day

Isaiah 50:4-9
View Readings

Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34

Matthew 26:14-25

"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY" WEEK

"Speak to the weary a word that will rouse them." —Isaiah 50:4

This week is called "Holy Week" because, during this week, the Lord gives us the grace to become more holy, to become like Him in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pt 1:15). Of course, every week is holy week because the Lord constantly calls us to become holy as He is holy (1 Pt 1:15-16). However, this week is the opportunity to realize that the Lord is constantly trying to "rouse" us to holiness. In Holy Week, we can receive the grace to hunger and thirst for holiness (Mt 5:6). If Holy Week turns out as God has planned it, then on Easter we will want to be a holy one, a saint, more than we want anything else in life. Then we will utilize the circumstances of our life not to maximize pleasure and minimize pain but to maximize holiness.

In the coming days and years, we can expect to be persecuted (2 Tm 3:12). We may be beaten, buffeted, and spit at (see Is 50:6). Only if we are holy will we respond to this abuse with love, forgiveness, and courage. Like Jesus, we may be betrayed even by those closest to us (see Mt 26:21). Only the holy respond to betrayal without betraying the Lord through sin. Only if we are holy will we be loving spouses, wise parents, obedient children, true friends, victorious workers, or faithful Christians. Only the holy are pure, joyful, and free. Without holiness, we cannot see God (Heb 12:14), we cannot go to heaven. After this Holy Week, may we want holiness enough to live and die for it.

Prayer: Lord, make me holy — no matter what it takes.

Promise: "Morning after morning He opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back." —Is 50:4-5

Praise: "The Lord hears the poor, and His own who are in bonds He spurns not" (Ps 69:34). Praise You, Jesus, for becoming poor, so we might become rich (2 Cor 8:9).

The Partial Birth Abortion Procedure

Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps.

	The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
	The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
	The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole...
	The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.

A Christian Pilgrim

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR THAT MAN IF HE HAD NOT BEEN BORN

[WEDNESDAY, 4 APRIL 2012]

Gospel Reading: Matthew 26:14-25

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray Him.

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will You have us prepare for You to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to such a one, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.’” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, He sat at table with the twelve disciples; and as they were eating, He said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to Him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with Me, will betray Me. The Son of man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who betrayed Him, said, “Is it I, Master?” He said to him, “You have said so.” (Mt 26:14-25 RSV)

Prayer: Jesus, You said about Judas, that it would have been better if he hadn’t been born. He must have handed himself over to the devil, when he rejected You and hated Your teaching. How could I say that this same thing won’t happen to me? I beg You now: let me die, rather than turn against You or betray You.

I pray You to have mercy on all people who haven’t had the chance to know You and believe in You. I ask Your mercy for all who love themselves more than they love You. I beg You in my own sinfulness to give another chance to those who have turned away from You in despair or hate. Help me to love everyone in such a way that my loving will help them not to sin or fall away from You. Forgive me for those I’ve caused to sin by my words or actions. Jesus, our Savior, have mercy on all the world. Amen.

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