"All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine." Jeremiah 20:10 (full readings) >0
Steve's Reflections: The first words from today's Gospel are ominous, "The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus." This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and we will soon hear the passion of our Lord Jesus. As a congregation, we will say the words together, "Crucify Him!" The stark reality is that we are all part of the crowd that cried out for Jesus' death. We are like the Jews picking up the rocks ready to stone him. I can imagine that Jesus felt the walls closing in around him. Even His closest friends were watching for His missteps. At the last supper Jesus prophesies that all of the disciples will have their faith in Him shaken and Peter will deny Him three times. How would you feel knowing that your closest friends would soon turn their back on you? Jesus agonizes in the garden sweating blood over what was to come. He cries out to his Father, "let this cup pass" only to pray "not My will, but Your will be done". He sees these men unable to spend even an hour with Him in prayer without dozing off. Imagine how Peter would later feel knowing that was the last hour alone with Jesus, his Lord, and he spent it sleeping. Finally, the kiss of a friend, Judas, would betray Him. We know well the terrible physical pain that Jesus went through (scourging, crowning of thorns, carrying of the cross, and Crucifixion), but perhaps His greatest agony was the betrayal of those closest to Him. For those who have seen divorce or a close friendship end badly, Jesus first walked through these agonies with you. Dear Lord, as we approach Your passion and death, let us give to You our many little sufferings and agonies and unite them to Your cross. >
Faith Challenge: Our sufferings can have purpose and merit - unite your little troubles to the cross as a prayer for those in need and the conversion of sinners. >
Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Fr. Jose Fr. Jose, a priest from India, died in a horrible motorcycle accident. Read how this priest visited hell, purgatory, and heaven. He would come back to life after meeting Jesus in heaven and realizing God had a powerful plan for his life. Fr. Jose is now a missionary in Florida and has a powerful healing ministry. .
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now. >
Feast Day: Blessed Caesar De Bus (d. 1607) "“Family catechesis” is a familiar term in parish life today. Grounded in the certainty that children learn their faith first from their parents, programs that deepen parental involvement in religious education multiply everywhere. There were no such programs in Caesar’s day until he saw a need and created them. Other needs abound in our parishes, and it’s up to us to respond by finding ways to fill them or by joining in already established efforts." >
Faith Quote: "Lord by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the savior of the world." ~ Memorial Acclimation, Roman Catholic Mass >
Through Christ Our Lord,
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (23% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize:Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.
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