Holy Week
We just celebrated our Easter Triduum. The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper where Jesus instituted the Eucharist and the Priesthood. It continues with the celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ’s death. Yes, we celebrate his death. …
Read MoreEaster Vigil Year AGenesis 1:1-2:2Genesis 22:1-18Exodus 14:15-15:1Isaiah 55:1-11Romans 6:3-11Mark 16:1-7March 30, 2024 Tonight’s liturgy is the highest liturgy of the year. To understand the meaning of tonight’s liturgy, we must understand the symbols and rituals of this most solemn liturgy.…
Read MoreJesus’ death on the Cross was “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23). It was a “stumbling block to Jews” because it was not what they expected or wanted. Our first reading from Isaiah today…
Read MoreEaster Vigil Year AGenesis 1:1-2:2Genesis 22:1-18Exodus 14:15-15:1Isaiah 55:1-11Romans 6:3-11Matthew 28:1-10April 8, 2023 What we have been celebrating in recent days is nothing short of amazing. On Thursday evening, we celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper where Jesus instituted the…
Read MoreGood Friday 2023Isaiah 52:13-53:12Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 (Luke 23:46)Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9John 18:1-19:42April 7, 2023 Jesus is put on trial. First, He is brought before the high priest who is among those who do not believe that Jesus…
Read MorePalm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year AMatthew 21:1-11Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (2a)Philippians 2:6-11Matthew 26:14 – 27:66April 2, 2023 Today we start Holy Week. It is called holy because it contains the most important events that…
Read MoreEaster Vigil, Year CGenesis 1:1-2:2Genesis 22:1-18Exodus 14:15-15:1Isaiah 55:1-11Romans 6:3-11Luke 24:1-12April 16, 2022 “In the beginning…the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss.” From the formless, God created order. From the darkness, God brought light, not just light…
Read MoreToday is Holy Thursday. At the Last Supper Jesus instituted both the Eucharist and the Priesthood. He instituted the Eucharist as He celebrated the Passover, taking that and transforming it into the Eucharist. The Passover was set by God (see…
Read MoreWe need God’s mercy. Our world is in need of God’s mercy and we need it as individuals. We are human beings who are not perfect. At times we fall short of doing good and we need forgiveness. As look…
Read MoreToday is Monday of Holy Week. What we celebrate at the end of Holy Week are the most solemn liturgies of the year. Today’s readings lead me to think about what God offers us this week. Today’s first reading, Isaiah…
Read MorePalm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year CLuke 19:28-40 Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (28)Philippians 2:6-11Luke 22:14-23:56April 10, 2022 Our Passion narrative today begins, “When the hour came, Jesus took his place.” What hour? What was his…
Read MoreGood Friday: Celebration of the Lord’s PassionIsaiah 52:13-53:12Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 (Luke 23:46)Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9John 18:1-19:42April 2, 2021 I begin with two questions. First, who is responsible for the death of Jesus? Secondly, why was He put…
Read MoreHoly Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s SupperExodus 12:1-8, 11-14Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-181 Corinthians 11:23-26John 13:1-15April 1, 2021 Our readings tonight begin in the time of the first Passover, that saving time when the Lord set his people free from slavery…
Read MorePalm Sunday of the Passion of the LordGospel at the Procession – Mark 11:1-10Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (2a)Philippians 2:6-11Mark 14:1-15:47March 28, 2021 Our gospel for the blessing of the palms began, “When Jesus and his disciples drew near…
Read MoreEaster VigilGenesis 1:1-2:2Exodus 14:15-15:1Isaiah 55:1-11Romans 6:3-11Matthew 28:1-10April 11, 2020 Tonight we celebrate our Easter Vigil. It is the highest liturgy of our liturgical year. We started our Easter Triduum Thursday evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper with the…
Read MoreIf you read this the same day I write it, Good Friday, the answer to the question in the title, “Who is Our Savior?” might seem obvious. However, there are people who don’t go for the Christian answer. There are…
Read MoreHoly ThursdayExodus 12:1-8, 11-14Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-181 Corinthians 11:23-26John 13:1-15April 9, 2020 As we begin our Easter Triduum tonight, I note that the Jewish people just began their Passover last night. Our first reading tonight is the story of the…
Read MorePalm Sunday of the Passion of the LordGospel for the Procession Matthew 21:1-11Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (2a)Philippians 2:6-11Matthew 26:14-27:66April 5, 2020 The appointed time draws near so Jesus goes to Jerusalem. As He nears Jerusalem, He receives a…
Read MoreI write this on Saturday morning just before we celebrate Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday begins Holy Week with our celebration of the Easter Triduum culminating in the Resurrection of Jesus. This year Holy Week will be like no other Holy…
Read MoreHomily for June 2019 Holy HourGenesis 12:1-4aPsalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22Romans 8:31-39John 3:1-17 How much do you trust God? Do you have the faith of Abram (who will become known as Abraham)? The first reading for tonight comes from the…
Read MoreEaster VigilGenesis 1:1-2:2Genesis 22:1-18Exodus 14:15-15:1Isaiah 55:1-11Romans 6:3-11Mark 16:1-7April 20, 2019 Tonight we come as darkness falls. Night comes and another day will follow. We come in a world where we know the darkness of bad things that happen. Sometimes it’s…
Read MoreGood FridayIsaiah 52:13-53:12Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 (Luke 23:46)Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9John 18:1-19:42April 19, 2019 “Knowing everything that was going to happen to him,” Jesus first went off with his disciples. Since He knew what was going to happen…
Read MoreHoly ThursdayExodus 12:1-8, 11-14Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-181 Corinthians 11:23-26John 13:1-15April 18, 2019 We began our readings tonight with God’s instructions for the first Passover. It is to be celebrated once a year and put at the head of the calendar.…
Read MorePalm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year CFirst Gospel – Luke 19:28-40Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (2a)Philippians 2:6-11Luke 22:14-23:56April 14, 2019 Today we mark the beginning of Holy Week. We began our Mass today by hearing the…
Read More2nd Sunday of Lent, Year CGenesis 15:5-12, 17-18Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14 (1a)Philippians 3:17-4:1Luke 9:28b-36March 17, 2019 Jesus went up on the mountain to pray. What does “prayer” mean to you? It can include recite familiar prayers like the Rosary. …
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