April 8, 2020, Wednesday of the Holy Week Year A

Isaiah 50:4-9a,

Ps 69:8-10.21-22.31,

Matthew 26: 14-25 Full Readings

Saint Julie Billiart

Never start a conversation with the Devil

Brethren, time is near, Jesus is giving his last prophecy and even pointing out the person to betray him as Judas but even after that Judas still denied that he can't betray Jesus: "Not I, Rabbi, surely? We can say Judas was very stuck in the sin of betrayal, nothing could change him. In yesterday's Reflection we saw that his love for money was uncontrollable but it also looks beyond this, it is the devil at work. Luke 22:3  presents to us that the devil entered Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve  and John 13:7 presents to us that as soon as he took the bread Satan entered him, which automatically shows that not only was Judas love for money but also allowed the devil to work in him.

April 7, 2020 Tuesday of Holy Week Year A

Isaiah 49: 1-6,

Psalm 71: 1-2.3-4a.5-6ab.15ab,

John 13:21 - 33.36-38) Full Reading

Saint John Baptist de la Salle

Even the more closest friends of Jesus betrayed Him

Brethren, let not love of money and fear make us disown Jesus. Today's Gospel shows that Judas betrayed Jesus because of money, his love of money as we saw yesterday's reflection was beyond control, even after Jesus had made him know that he was to betray him he went ahead and did it. Secondly Peter denied Jesus because of fear, he feared to be killed  though he was boasting that he would follow Jesus and even die with him. Peter saved preferred his life to that of Jesus. All Jesus' prophecies were right. All these were Jesus' closest disciples and friends and that's why I have given the theme of this reflection that even Jesus' closest friends betrayed him.

April 6, 2020, Monday of Holy Week Year A

Isaiah 42: 1-7,

Psalm 27: 1.2.3.13-14,

John 12.1-11) Full Readings

Saint Crescentia Hoess

 Let us imitate Mary's act of Charity to Jesus 

Brethren, as we enter fully into the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ through our observance of this Holy Week and walking with him, let us stop and reflect, where has Jesus done great wonders in my life, and how have I really shown gratitude to him? Of course the biggest sacrifice is still to come, that's to die for us on the cross, but there are also many things he has done in our lives by which he deserves our gratitude. This is an invitation not to be like Jews who have seen what he has done as a son of God, but could not be grateful and finally killed him, it's an invitation to be like Mary who anointed Jesus with the most expensive ointment one can ever think of in those days.  

Today, let us Reflect on the actions of Mary, Jesus and Judas as presented in the Gospel.

April 5, 2020, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion Year A

Procession Gospel: Matthew 21: 1-11
Reading I: Isaiah 50: 4-7
Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Reading II: Philippians 2: 8-11
Gospel: Matthew 26: 14-27:66 Full Reading
Saint Vincent Ferrer

Jesus abandoned and crucified Man

And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?”  And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:10–11

The entrance Gospel above shows Jesus asking the ass and entering into Jerusalem. What a solemn welcome, what a hail, it was so marvelous from the crowd. It was just four short days before He would be arrested, He was received with great joy.  As He entered, riding a donkey, the crowds spread their cloaks, strewed palm branches before Him and cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest” (Mt. 21:9).  Jesus was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and He was given a Kingly welcome.

April 4, 2020, Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Ezekiel 37:21-28,

PSALM Jeremiah 31: 10.11-12ab. 13,

John 11:45-57  Full Readings

St Isidore of Seville

Jesus died for us to make us one people: Christians

Brethren,the previous day’s reflection, and this week's general message was about Jesus as a Son of God, an accusation which was laid upon him to be sentenced to death. Today's Gospel points out more reasons why Jesus had to be arrested and tried which we will reflect about in this Reflection, that is: doing many miracles and gaining popularity, and the fear that Romans would destroy their nation because of following Jesus. It is further important for us  to start putting our focus on the suffering and death of Jesus.  Holy Week begins this Sunday, so this is the time of year when God wants us to look intently at His Cross.  It’s important to look at it from all angles,  to try to understand what was going on, what Jesus was experiencing, what the disciples were experiencing and even what the Pharisees and high priests were experiencing.

April 3, 2020, Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Jeremiah 20:10-13,

Psalm 18:1-2a. 2bc-3.4-5.6,

John 10:31-42 Full Readings

Saint Benedict the African

 God is with us till the end.

As we draw closer to Holy Week, and to Good Friday, we begin to see that hatred was growing toward Jesus.  Just as we saw in yesterday’s reflection, this week's readings point out the most outstanding accusation which was laid upon Jesus, that of calling himself son of God, but this to Jesus makes no sense, he continued his mission despite the fore knowledge of what would happen to him.  To hate Jesus and to desire to stone Him to death is an act of the greatest irrationality.  But this is what happened.  Little by little, those who were against Jesus grew in boldness until that ultimate day came when He laid down His life for us and willingly embraced His death. He fell into their hands when appointed time had come but God was with him till the end.

April 2, 2020, Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent, Year A

Genesis 17:3-9,

Psalm 105:4-5.6-7.8-9,

John 8:51-59 Full Readings

 Saint Francis of Paola

 Whoever keeps my word will never see death.

Brethren today's readings point us to the Graces involved in heeding to the word of God, to the word that Jesus brings to us. 

In the first Reading, Abraham was made the father of a multitude of nations because he heed to the word of God and followed whatever was instructed to him by God. However, he didn't not only heed to God's word but also had unwavering faith in God and that's why we even call him the father of faith. Thus, from Abraham, we see that whoever keeps the word of God and believes in him, will never taste death and will reign forever with Him.