1.
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
(Luke 23:34)
Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins? Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness? Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?
2.
“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)
Have you staked your life on Jesus? Have you put your ultimate trust in him? Do you know that, when your time comes, you will be with him in paradise?
3.
“Dear woman, here is your son.”
(John 19:26)
What does Mary’s presence at the cross evoke in you? Why do you think was it necessary for Jesus to suffer physical pain as he died?
4.
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
(Mark 15:34)
Have you taken time to consider that Jesus was abandoned by the Father so that you might not be? What does this “word” from the cross mean to you?
5
“I am thirsty.”
(John 19:28)
How do you respond to Jesus’ statement “I am thirsty”? What does this statement suggest to you about Jesus? About yourself?
6.
“It is finished!”
(John 19:30)
Do you live as if Jesus finished the work of salvation? To you have confidence that God will finish that which he has begun in you?
7.
“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
(Luke 23:46)
Have you put your life and, indeed, your life beyond this life, in God’s hands? How do you experience God’s salvation through Christ in your life today?
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34)
ReplyDeleteThe reality that all of the sins we have ever committed nailed Jesus to his cross is hard to face. I have never been able to watch the entire Passion movie because it is painful to watch someone suffer like that, especially if I know I'm the one putting him through it.
It takes a lot of love to forgive someone, and to forgive them wholeheartedly, when they do something that just seems irritating, let alone when it kills you. Jesus' last words show once more that he is God. A human would die in spite and hatred, but the last thing Jesus thought of before he died from earth was pity and forgiveness for us and our sins.
I do believe that God forgives us because he wants us to be with him, just as our earthy parents want us to do what is right and have a strong relationship with them. Sins weekend our relationship with God but confession through Jesus' death strengthens the relationship again. This is a hard concept for me to grasp sometimes because the relationship is more than a relationship of this world, but everytime I go to confession, it makes a little more sense.
I do not usually have a hard time going to confession luckily because, even though it is awkward some times, it makes me feel so remarkable after I am done. When someone on earth who is mad at me forgives me it feels this wonderful as well.
I frequently remind myself of a story Justin Johnson shared with me at DME. It was about a man whose job was to sit in a shack by a river and close the bridge across the river when a train was near so it could make it across safely, and them reopen it when a ship needed to go underneath it. The one day as a train neared the river, the lever was broken. The hundreds of passengers on the train relied on him to live, so he quickly ran to the other side of the bridge to manually pull the lever. Right before he went to pull the lever, he heard "daddy, where are you?" coming from the bridge. His four year old son was standing on the bridge and would never be able to run fast enough to get off before he needed to turn the bridge for the train, nor could he save his son by running to him and delivering him to safety. Someone was going to have to die. He made his decision and decided to pull the lever, delivering all of the people to safety and completing his job while his son fell into the river below him. None of the passengers knew that the man was standing there, still holding onto the lever, crying for his son who he just lost. They never knew the pain the child went through for them. This is like God. God looked at his Son, he looked at you, and he chose you. This is the climax of the liturgical year because it is when humanity was suffering at its worst, unable to die and enter paradise. The Triduum is when Jesus died from our torment but forgave us anyway. This is the greatest act of love in eternity, why would it not be the climax?
Grace, I'm so glad you brought up Justin's story. That story is one that is almost always brought up at DME, and it's one of my favorites. How beautiful a sacrifice for God to look into the eyes of His own son and let Him go simply for our sake. Many times, people consider Jesus's sacrifice, and how horrific it was for Him to undergo. But how hard must it have been for God to give up His only Son for us? I always think about Mary too. After all that she had gone through, what with bearing Jesus into the world and raising Him up, she is now forced to watch her Son die, and trust that it is all in God's plan. I pray everyday for that kind of trust, and maybe by using Mary as an example, I'll be able to attain it.
DeleteGrace, that story Justin told at DME is definitely a heart wrenching one. To be honest, I don't know if I would be able to make that split moment decision if it meant giving up my own child. Especially because I am a very introverted person so it would be hard for me to choose strangers over my own flesh and blood. But I guess that is the amazing part about God. He was willing to watch as his own Son suffered in order to save all of humanity. When people say it was the Bible story, it is easy to just believe oh well it is a Bible story so of course that happened, but when someone puts it into a different perspective with real people, it really reminds us of how monumental it was for God to even do it too.
DeleteI think that story really is able to allow us to comprehend God's love for us. I know I would not be able to let my own child go like this, which shows how greatly God loved all of us, to give His only Son for our sins. We all need to take this Easter season to realize this ultimate sacrifice and use it to reflect upon our own spirituality.
DeleteGrace, I love that story you shared. That truly would be an awful decision, and I think if I was out in the same situation, I probably would've made the terrible decision of running to save the kid. But it really ties into the fact that God had to make pretty much the exact same decision. And he decided to let His Son die so that we could achieve eternal salvation. That really is kind of remarkable.
Delete“I am thirsty.”
ReplyDelete(John 19:28)
A few years ago, my mom gave me a small excerpt from a book she had, and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. I will leave a link to it below, and I encourage you all to read it. It's not very long, and it will give you a whole new perspective on how precious you really are to Our Father in heaven. It's a great reflection for Holy Week too!
The excerpt basically explores one of Jesus's last words, "I thirst," and analyzes it from our viewpoint today. Jesus spoke these words when He was hanging on the cross, and was provided with a sponge soaked in sour wine. But when reflecting on these words in a different sense, we begin to see that Jesus was speaking to all of humanity. He was saying that He thirsts for us - for our whole beings. Jesus longs for us to return to Him in heaven after our earthly pilgrimages have ended. But more than that, He wants us to give our whole lives to Him right now. He wants us to surrender ourselves completely and melt into His embrace. He wants to take our pain and our sufferings, and that is why He gave His life on the cross. Because the truth of it all is that we cannot find happiness - true happiness - without Him. One thing that I find absolutely amazing is that Jesus would gladly go through His Passion and death all over again if that meant saving one of us - just one. Because that is how much we mean to Him. And yet some of us have the audacity to disregard Jesus as an inconvenience in our lives, something that just interferes with our daily schedules etc. After everything Jesus did for us, He thirsts for us to come back to Him. So why are we so hesitant to do it? I know that one of my biggest struggles right now is trusting God's plan for my life. I really have no idea where I'm headed, and that scares me so much. I know that Jesus thirsts for me to come to Him, to lay it down at His feet and entrust my life to Him. But it's much easier said than done. It's definitely something I'm still working on, and I hope that these words of Jesus can be my motivation to quench His thirst and give Him my life.
Here's the reading:
https://elizabethamorales.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/i-thirst-secretfiremeditation-mt.pdf
Another thing you might like to check out is this song by Danielle Rose. The lyrics are really beautiful and they really show Jesus's unrequited willingness to sacrifice for us.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OGwqynuFgbo
Holy Week is the climax of the liturgical year because it is regarded with great anticipation. Throughout all of Lent, we prepare for the Triddum and the Easter celebrations. Holy Week is the time of the year when Jesus undergoes the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation, the sacrifice that gives us hope and really lays out the rest of our lives. Without Holy Week, we would really have no motive to go on.
Happy Holy Week!
I read that book excerpt an listened to the song, and they were both special. It makes me feel so ignorant that I do not take that much time out of my day for someone who did something that loving and life giving for me. I love how the excerpt said that all we need to do is trust in God and he will take care of us. We are to just put everything in his hands and go where he takes us which is very hard at times. It is so much easier to know what is going to happen years in the future, but it will never work that way. I often try to do what I think is right and forget about what God is trying to tell me, but that trust is just something I need to improve on.
DeleteMary, whenever I think of that phrase, I always think of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. When we watched the movie on her in theology, a suffering Indian man uttered these words to her and it seemingly motivated her works because she knew God was speaking to her. It is very extraordinary to think of all the places Christianity touches. It graces everyone of every color and nationality.
DeleteWow, that is a really powerful story that really shows how much God sacrificed through Jesus's death. However, it also shows how much He loves us and how much He gave up for us. This is why this time of year is so important, because this fact is brought to the very forefront of our mind. Through the Easter season we are able to grow closer to God and allow Him into our lives on a more intimate level.
Delete“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
ReplyDelete(Luke 23:46)
This statement made by Jesus in his final moments has always astounded me. After everything he has gone through; being beaten and starved and tortured, he still has enough faith in his Father to trust that he will raise him to new life. This shows remarkable faith and perseverance on Jesus' part. After everything, and feeling as if he is abandoned by God, he makes this statement, showing that he still trusts God. Through Jesus fully giving himself to God and His plan for him, we are able to achieve our salvation.
I think this is an important statement that can resonate with so many of us. Our struggles are minute in comparison to Jesus' struggle to Calvary, but Jesus still trusts in God even though he has put him through it. This shows that we should always remain steadfast in out faith, no matter what we are going through. We can always entrust our lives and spirit into God's hands and trust Him to guide us to do his will. If Jesus can trust in God as he walks bravely to his death, then we can trust in God in our daily struggles. Although many times we feel alone, God is always there with us.
Holy Week is a great time to not only appreciate the great gift of salvation that has been given to us, but also to inwardly look at ourselves in regards to our spirituality. Even in the course of writing this blog, I have realized that I do not trust God as much as I should and try to control situations around me. No matter what happens, God is ultimately in control and I think this is something that many people need to realize. Throughout Holy Week, we are called to reflect on the life of Jesus and the elements that are so essential to our faith. Holy Week is so important because it reminds everyone about the important of our salvation. Throughout the year we recognize that Jesus died in atonement for our sins, but during Holy Week this truth is so poignant and is brought to the forefront of our mind. Holy Week is always a great opportunity to grow closer to God and develop a deeper appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice.
Trusting people is one of the hardest things to do. It seems like having control over your own life is so much easier than putting it into the lives of others. Trusting God is difficult in this same way. We often forget what he wants us to do and do our own things. Holy Week makes me remember that God is in control and that he wants us to do what is right. It is nice to give everything to God and be done with it, but the first part of trusting is hard.
DeleteI think the amount of trust that Jesus had in His Father was mind blowing. Even the night prior to the crucifixion, when He was praying in the garden that God take His suffering from Him, Jesus still agreed to do God's Will. He said "take this cup away from me IF IT BE YOUR WILL." It was clear how terrified Jesus was for the upcoming events, but His trust in God never faltered. I think this is so inspiring and I can only hope to attain half as much trust in The Lord, for it is one of my biggest stumblings as a Catholic.
DeleteAbbey, you're right. It is really cool that in Jesus's time of great suffering, He put his fate in His Father's hands. If I was in a really difficult time, I don't know that I'd ask for my father's help. I don't know that I'd ask for God's help either. I think I would probably just go ahead and try to trudge through the difficult time. I probably should trust Gid more often with my problems since He's pretty much always there. And you also bring up a very good point in the fact that even though we aren't being put to death, we should still trust in God.
DeleteAbbey, trust is an important part of our relationship with God. Many people find it hard to trust in Him because he is intangible. However, our trust must always be in Him. Jesus is a great role model for this because of His own trust in God. Even though He was put through a terrible ordeal, He still believed that God had a plan for Him. I remember hearing a song that said, "My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth." This reminds me of the power simple trust has. When we trust in the Lord, the creator, He can do great things for us.
DeleteDear woman, here is your son.”
ReplyDelete(John 19:26)
Mary's presence at the cross reminds me of unconditional love. Even though her son was false accuse and publicly shamed, she stood next to him instead of saving herself from the embarrassment and shame that was surely thrown her way by the nonbelievers. It also reassures me of how strong of a woman she was. She not only carried a child that was not hers despite the shame it would bring to her, but she also stood by her son during another ordeal. Although Mary could not bare any of Jesus' mental, spiritual, or physical pain, she was a support system that would have meant a lot to anyone going through that torture. Mary had extraordinary faith that is awe inspiring. God gave her a child, a child that she grew to love, yet Jesus had to be taken away from her. Despite how unfair this must have seemed, she was able to stand by God and realize the greater good in it for all of humanity. She was able to be selfless instead of a selfish mother protecting her child.
I believe it was necessary for Jesus to suffer physical pain when he died because Jesus had to show the world what human beings are capable of. When we sin, we sometimes intentionally or unintentionally inflict pain onto another human being for our actions. The repercussions for most sins are minor and involve hurt feelings, although sometimes it can be visible through sins that involve physical actions, Jesus shows that every sin hurts not only others but God. Even though Jesus had to fight through agonizing pain physically, he spiritually suffered greater because he saved mankind from all their sins. This weight was much greater than the physical cross he was forced to carry. Lastly Jesus had to suffer so humans remember the price at which their salvation cost. If Jesus died painlessly then it would not be such a heart wrenching story.
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
ReplyDelete(Luke 23:34)
Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins? Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness? Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?
I do believe that God has forgiven my sins. It's part of the Catholic doctrine and the reason we attend the sacrament of penance. On a deeper level though, I always feel refreshed after confessing my sins. I don't know what this is. But I feel like this should be some level of proof that God is real. I probably do not participate in the sacrament enough though. I only really attend around the holidays when our school offers us the option. But yes, I have committed some sins that I probably need forgiveness for before Easter comes upon us.
The climax is when all the important things happen in a movie, book, play, tv show, etc. There is no difference when it comes to the liturgical year. We spend all year preparing for the moment when Jesus sacrifices Himself so that we can all get to Heaven. But then, in a miraculous twist, He rose from the dead three days later and ascended to Heaven. Tell ya what, that's pretty neat.
Nick, I also feel refreshed after I go to confession. It feels good to come clean. I think one of the best things about this sacrament is the acceptance and love that come with it. Jesus looks into your soul and knows all of the bad things that you have done, and He still loves you. He knows every time you turned away from Him, and He doesn't give up on you. That love and commitment are so powerful. It is wonderful to be loved like that.
Delete“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
ReplyDelete(Mark 15:34)
These words really resound with me on a personal level. I understand how Jesus felt when he uttered this statement. When I lost my hearing, I felt abandoned by God as well. I felt as though I had been made to suffer with a terrible burden that I did not deserve, and I couldn't understand why. Everyone says that God will be close during times of great struggle, but I had never felt as alone as I did then. Now, as my condition is labeled "aggressive," I feel that same confusion. I feel as though God has left me to figure this out in my own, without Him. I cannot make sense of it. I cannot know God's plan for me. All I can do is struggle, time after time, to commit my future to Him. This is always hard for me, because all I want is to know that I'm going to be okay. I want some reassurance that my pain is not meaningless, and that God is really watching out for me. However, I feel alone most of the time. These words of Jesus from the cross let me know that I am not alone in my feelings, and provide me with a guide for my own struggles.
Holy Week is the climax of the liturgical year because it gives meaning to the other events the Church celebrates. Jesus' ultimate sacrifice saved humanity, and without his death and resurrection, we would not obtain eternal life. His sacrifice renewed God's covenant with humanity and allowed us to enter heaven. This gift is unsurpassable, the highest point in Jesus' lifetime. It is fitting that it becomes the center and climax of the liturgical year.