second sunday of lent

Posted on by Cassie

Today’s gospel takes us to the Mount of the Transfiguration.  Jesus has been speaking to His apostles about His coming crucifixion and death.

Within this context Jesus takes His closest apostles to Mount Tabor.  The thought of His death caused His followers to be “overwhelmed with grief.”  To counterbalance their grief, the Transfiguration of Jesus gave them a foretaste of His risen glory.  They were shown what would be the outcome of Jesus’ laying down His life:  He would be raised to eternal glory.  A share in that glory awaited those who were joined with Him and remained faithful to Him.

Matthew tells us that when God spoke the apostles fell to the ground and were afraid.  As they lie on the ground overcome with fear, he touches them and tells them not to be afraid.  By this addition the risen Lord assures His Church that He is with them.  The next verse adds a new dimension in the disciples’ relationship to the risen Lord.  They look up to see “no one except Jesus alone.”

Matthew has shaped this story in order to tell us that when the crises and shocks of life paralyze us, there is only one option for a believer.  We must feel Jesus’ touch, look up from our doubt and fear and move forward with the risen Lord.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell

 

palm sunday

Posted on by Cassie

It is our tradition to read the Passion of Our Lord on Palm Sunday.  This year we use St. Luke’s Gospel to guide us.

In His Gospel, Luke emphasizes the personal relationship of Jesus with others, and describes His kindness, His tenderness.  For Luke, to know Jesus is to love Him.  This is evident in his Passion narrative.

Only Luke describes the following:

-After one of the disciples cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Jesus stops and heals him then and there.

-After the Third denial, Peter breaks down and weeps.  In Luke’s account, this happens because “Jesus turned and looked at Peter.”

-On the way to the cross, Jesus stops and speaks to the women who are mourning and lamenting Him.

-Hanging on the cross, Jesus forgives his executioners.

-One of the criminals crucified next to Jesus addresses Him by His first name (with no titles- the only time in any Gospel).  The Good Thief says “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”  Jesus responds: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

May we all live in such a way that Jesus will say these same words to each of us as we come to the end of our life.

God Bless

Msgr. Powell

 

fifth sunday of lent

Posted on by Cassie

The person on trial in today’s reading is not the woman, but Jesus.  A trap is set for him.  They try to make him choose between upholding the Mosaic law, which imposed a death penalty, and Roman Law, which reserved the death penalty to Rome itself.  Another interpretation would see Jesus being forced into condemning the woman, even though His mission was to bring mercy and not condemnation.

Despite a lot of speculation, we just do not know why Jesus wrote on the ground and what exactly he wrote.  What is clear is that those pressing for the death of the woman had no real interest in her.  They were out to get Jesus.  She was simply, a means of putting Jesus on the spot.

Jesus invites whomever was without sin to be the first to cast a stone.  That thins out the crowd to the point where Jesus is left alone with the woman.  Only then does anyone say anything to the woman.  Up until now, she has been merely an exhibit in Jesus’ trial.

But now Jesus speaks to her and grants her forgiveness.  He then talks her into leading a new life based on His forgiveness.  Jesus has not only preserved her life but given her the possibility of a different and better life.

You and I have been forgiven a great deal in our life.  In His love God has given each of us an opportunity to live a better life in relationship with Him.  May each of us respond to His forgiveness and live a better Christ-like life.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell