"The Cross gave peace to the world; and it must bring peace to our hearts. All our miseries come from not loving it. The fear of crosses increases them. A cross carried simply, and without those returns of self-love which exaggerate troubles, is no longer a cross. Peaceable suffering is no longer suffering. We complain of suffering! We should have much more reason to complain of not suffering, since nothing makes us more like Our Lord than carrying His Cross. Oh, what a beautiful union of the soul with Our Lord Jesus Christ by the love and the virtue of His Cross! I do not understand how a Christian can dislike the Cross, and fly from it! Does he not at the same time fly from Him who has deigned to be fastened to it, and to die for us? Contradictions bring us to the foot of the Cross, and the Cross to the gate of Heaven. That we may get there, we must be trodden upon, we must be set at naught, despised, crushed. . . . There are no happy people in this world but those who enjoy calmness of mind in the midst of the troubles of life: they taste the joys of the children of God. . . . All pains are sweet when we suffer in union with Our Lord. . . . To suffer! what does it signify? It is only a moment. If we could go and pass a week in Heaven, we should understand the value of this moment of suffering. We should find no cross heavy enough, no trial bitter enough. . . . The Cross is the gift that God makes to His friends. How beautiful it is to offer ourselves every morning in sacrifice to the good God, and to accept everything in expiation of our sins! We must ask for the love of crosses; then they become sweet. I tried it for four or five years. I was well calumniated, well contradicted, well knocked about. Oh, I had crosses indeed! I had almost more than I could carry! Then I took to asking for love of crosses, and I was happy. I said to myself, truly there is no happiness but in this! We must never think from whence crosses come: they come from God. It is always God who gives us this way of proving our love to Him." (St. John Vianney)
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Suffering - St. Bernadette's Prayer....
"The Cross gave peace to the world; and it must bring peace to our hearts. All our miseries come from not loving it. The fear of crosses increases them. A cross carried simply, and without those returns of self-love which exaggerate troubles, is no longer a cross. Peaceable suffering is no longer suffering. We complain of suffering! We should have much more reason to complain of not suffering, since nothing makes us more like Our Lord than carrying His Cross. Oh, what a beautiful union of the soul with Our Lord Jesus Christ by the love and the virtue of His Cross! I do not understand how a Christian can dislike the Cross, and fly from it! Does he not at the same time fly from Him who has deigned to be fastened to it, and to die for us? Contradictions bring us to the foot of the Cross, and the Cross to the gate of Heaven. That we may get there, we must be trodden upon, we must be set at naught, despised, crushed. . . . There are no happy people in this world but those who enjoy calmness of mind in the midst of the troubles of life: they taste the joys of the children of God. . . . All pains are sweet when we suffer in union with Our Lord. . . . To suffer! what does it signify? It is only a moment. If we could go and pass a week in Heaven, we should understand the value of this moment of suffering. We should find no cross heavy enough, no trial bitter enough. . . . The Cross is the gift that God makes to His friends. How beautiful it is to offer ourselves every morning in sacrifice to the good God, and to accept everything in expiation of our sins! We must ask for the love of crosses; then they become sweet. I tried it for four or five years. I was well calumniated, well contradicted, well knocked about. Oh, I had crosses indeed! I had almost more than I could carry! Then I took to asking for love of crosses, and I was happy. I said to myself, truly there is no happiness but in this! We must never think from whence crosses come: they come from God. It is always God who gives us this way of proving our love to Him." (St. John Vianney)
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
A Choral Meditation On The Eucharist
A CHORAL MEDITATION ON THE EUCHARIST
Choral Meditations from National Shrine of Immaculate Conception in Washington DC- 2013-3-31
Monday, April 01, 2013
Jesus, the Bread of Life --- Jn 6:25-59 --- Ġesù, il-Ħobż tal-Ħajja
The Holy Eucharist represents Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Holy Trinity, WHOLE - in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, in PERFECT UNITY with the Holy Trinity ONE GOD - THE CREATOR
Jesus, the Bread of Life --- Jn 6:25-59 --- Ġesù, il-Ħobż tal-Ħajja
[Ġw:6:25] U meta sabuh in-naħa l-oħra tal-baħar staqsewh: "Rabbi, meta ġejt hawn?" [Ġw:6:26] Ġesù weġibhom: "Tassew tassew ngħidilkom, intom qegħdin tfittxuni mhux għax rajtu sinjali, imma għax kiltu mill-ħobż u xbajtu. [Ġw:6:27] Tħabtu mhux għall-ikel li jgħaddi, iżda għall-ikel li jibqa' għall-ħajja ta' dejjem, dak li Bin il-bniedem jagħtikom, għaliex lilu Alla l-Missier immarka bis-siġill tiegħu." [Ġw:6:28] Mbagħad staqsewh: "X'għandna nagħmlu biex nagħmlu l-opri ta' Alla?" [Ġw:6:29] Weġibhom Ġesù: "L-opra ta' Alla hija din: li intom temmnu f'dak li huwa bagħat." [Ġw:6:30] Qalulu: "X'sinjal se tagħmel biex aħna narawh u nemmnuk? X'sejjer tagħmel? [Ġw:6:31] Missirijietna kielu l-manna fid-deżert, bħalma hemm miktub, 'Tahom jieklu ħobż mis-sema.' " [Ġw:6:32] Weġibhom Ġesù: "Tassew tassew ngħidilkom, mhux Mosè takom il-ħobż mis-sema, iżda Missieri jagħtikom il-ħobż tassew mis-sema; [Ġw:6:33] għaliex il-ħobż ta' Alla huwa dak li jinżel mis-sema u jagħti l-ħajja lid-dinja." [Ġw:6:34] "Sinjur," qalulu huma, "agħtina dejjem minn dan il-ħobż." [Ġw:6:35] Weġibhom Ġesù: "Jiena hu l-ħobż tal-ħajja. Min jiġi għandi ma jieħdu qatt il-ġuħ, u min jemmen fija ma jkun qatt bil-għatx. [Ġw:6:36] Imma jiena ġa għedtilkom li, għalkemm rajtuni, ma emmintux. [Ġw:6:37] Dawk kollha li jagħtini Missieri jiġu għandi, u min jiġi għandi ma nkeċċihx 'il barra; [Ġw:6:38] għax jiena nżilt mis-sema mhux biex nagħmel ir-rieda tiegħi, imma r-rieda ta' min bagħatni. [Ġw:6:39] Issa r-rieda ta' min bagħatni hija din: li jiena ma nitlef xejn minn dak kollu li tani, iżda li nqajjmu mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum. [Ġw:6:40] Din hi tabilħaqq ir-rieda ta' Missieri: li kull min jara lill-Iben u jemmen fih, ikollu l-ħajja ta' dejjem u jiena nqajjmu mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum."
[Ġw:6:41] Il-Lhud bdew igergru fuqu għax kien qal, 'Jiena hu l-ħobż li niżel mis-sema.' [Ġw:6:42] U bdew jgħidu: "Dan m'huwiex Ġesù bin Ġużeppi? Lil missieru u 'l ommu ma nafuhomx? Mela kif qiegħed jgħid, 'Jiena nżilt mis-sema'?" [Ġw:6:43] Ġesù weġibhom: "Toqogħdux tgorru bejnietkom. [Ġw:6:44] Ħadd ma jista' jiġi għandi jekk il-Missier li bagħatni ma jiġbdux lejja; u jiena nqajjmu mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum. [Ġw:6:45] Hemm miktub fil-Profeti, 'U kulħadd ikun mgħallem minn Alla.' Mela kull min jisma' lill-Missier u jitgħallem minnu jiġi għandi. [Ġw:6:46] Mhux għax xi ħadd qatt ra lill-Missier ħlief dak li hu minn Alla; hu dan li ra lill-Missier. [Ġw:6:47] Tassew tassew ngħidilkom, min jemmen għandu l-ħajja ta' dejjem. [Ġw:6:48] Jiena hu l-ħobż tal-ħajja. [Ġw:6:49] Missirijietkom kielu l-manna fid-deżert, u mietu; [Ġw:6:50] dan hu l-ħobż nieżel mis-sema, biex min jiekol minnu ma jmutx. [Ġw:6:51] Jiena hu l-ħobż il-ħaj, li niżel mis-sema. Jekk xi ħadd jiekol minn dan il-ħobż jgħix għal dejjem. U l-ħobż li jiena nagħti huwa ġismi għall-ħajja tad-dinja."
[Ġw:6:52] Fuq hekk il-Lhud tlewwmu bejniethom, u bdew jgħidu: "Kif jista' dan jagħtina ġismu biex nikluh?" [Ġw:6:53] Ġesù mela qalilhom: "Tassew tassew ngħidilkom, jekk ma tiklux il-ġisem ta' Bin il-bniedem u ma tixorbux demmu, ma jkollkomx il-ħajja fikom. [Ġw:6:54] Min jiekol ġismi u jixrob demmi għandu l-ħajja ta' dejjem, u jiena nqajjmu mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum. [Ġw:6:55] Għax ġismi huwa tassew ikel, u demmi hu tassew xorb. [Ġw:6:56] Min jiekol ġismi u jixrob demmi jibqa' fija u jiena fih. [Ġw:6:57] Bħalma bagħatni l-Missier, li hu ħaj, u jiena ngħix b'Missieri, hekk ukoll min jiekol lili, hu wkoll jgħix bija. [Ġw:6:58] Dan huwa l-ħobż li niżel mis-sema; m'huwiex bħal dak li kielu missirijietkom u mietu; min jiekol dan il-ħobż jgħix għal dejjem." [Ġw:6:59] Dan qalu huwa u jgħallem fis-sinagoga, f'Kafarnahum.
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Questions about The Holy Eucharist
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Saturday, March 30, 2013
Holy Saturday Morning --- THE HOUR OF THE MOTHER - IS-SIEGĦA TA' L-OMM --- WITH MARY AFTER THE DEATH OF JESUS - MA' MARIJA WARA L-MEWT TA' ĠESÙ
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Our Lady consoles St. Peter on Holy-Saturday
Jn 19:38-42 -- The Burial of Jesus - Id-difna ta' Ġesù
Id-difna ta' Ġesù
(Mt 27, 57-61 ; Mk 15, 42-47 ; Lq 23, 50-56)
[Ġw:19:38] Wara dan, Ġużeppi minn Arimatija, li kien dixxiplu ta' Ġesù bil-moħbi għax kien jibża' mil-Lhud, mar u talab lil Pilatu biex jieħu l-ġisem ta' Ġesù. Pilatu ħallieh, u hu ġie u ħa l-ġisem tiegħu. [Ġw:19:39] Ġie wkoll Nikodemu, dak li qabel kien mar għand Ġesù billejl, u ġieb miegħu taħlita ta' morr u sabbara, tiżen xi mitt libbra. [Ġw:19:40] Dawn it-tnejn ħadu l-ġisem ta' Ġesù u kebbewh bil-faxex ta' l-għażel bil-fwejjaħ, kif soltu jagħmlu l-Lhud qabel id-difna. [Ġw:19:41] Fejn kienu sallbu lil Ġesù kien hemm ġnien, u f'dan il-ġnien kien hemm qabar ġdid li fih kienu għadhom ma difnu lil ħadd. [Ġw:19:42] Hemm qiegħdu lil Ġesù, għax kien Jum it-Tħejjija għal-Lhud, u għax il-qabar kien fil-qrib.
REFLECTION
How Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus Risked All to Give Jesus An Honorable Burial
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Wagner15.html
As a crucified criminal in the eyes of the Law, what kind of burial do you suppose Jesus of Nazareth would normally have received?
His body would probably have been thrown into a common grave set apart for criminals. It would be risky to ask for the body of a crucified criminal so that the deceased could be given a proper burial. For anyone to obtain such a corpse, permission would have to be granted by the proper authorities, but it could be dangerous to ask for that permission.
Two influential Jewish leaders were willing to take that risk. One of these men was the wealthy and honorable Joseph of Arimathea. He had not agreed with the other religious leaders to put Jesus to death. After Jesus died on the cross, Joseph courageously approached Governor Pilate and begged that Jesus' body be given to him. Pilate granted his request.
There was another secret disciple who risked his reputation that afternoon. His name was Nicodemus. Once one night, before this sorrowful day, he had privately interviewed Jesus under cover of darkness -- perhaps for fear of being observed.
Joseph of Arimathea owned a new tomb he probably planned to use himself. That is where he and Nicodemus placed the body of Jesus. Nicodemus brought a mixture of about 100 pounds of expensive myrrh and aloes to use to prepare Jesus' body for burial. Myrrh is a type of gum resin that acts as a kind of glue. Aloes is a sweet-smelling oil used for medicinal purposes, as a fragrance, and to use to bury the dead.
The two men worked together spreading this mixture between the encircling layers of a long linen cloth purchased by Joseph. They wrapped the fabric around and around His body until it was completely sealed with the fabric cocoon and perfumed resin. They also wrapped an additional cloth around his head. After they were satisfied they had properly prepared Jesus' body for burial, Joseph rolled a large stone over the cave's opening.
These men publicly declared they were Jesus' friends! Their last act of love for Him is recorded in the Gospels. They both risked their reputations and more to give their Friend a proper burial.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus could not have known at the time that they were participating in the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy from the book of Isaiah. Here is the Scripture telling about the Messiah written over 600 hundred years before Jesus' crucifixion:
"But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.
He had done no wrong
and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave." (Isaiah 53:8b-9, NLT).
To their great joy, Jesus did not remain in Joseph's tomb for long! He rose from the dead three days later and is alive forever!
Today too it's risky standing up for Jesus, but His true friends are willing to pay the price through God's grace.
And they will never be sorry!
THE HOUR OF THE MOTHER - ON HOLY SATURDAY MORNING (in our parish church, the meditation starts at 7.30am).
THE WHOLE CHURCH WAITS AT THE LORD'S TOMB - MEDITATING ON THE VARIOUS THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS JESUS' MOTHER EXPERIENCED WHILE HER SON-GOD IS DEAD IN THE TOMB.....
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A priest’s reflections on the Sacred Triduum, written from Jerusalem
http://www.regnumchristi.org/english/articulos/articulo.phtml?id=29208&se=362&ca=966&te=707
Holy Saturday: The Hour of the Blessed Mother
Our Lady consoles St. Peter on Holy-Saturday
There is deep symbolism for Christian reflection on Holy Saturday. On this day, the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, and meditates on his passion and death, and descent to the dead. With prayer and fasting we await His glorious Easter resurrection. Mary is also a Holy Saturday symbol. According to Catholic tradition, Mary represents the entire body of the Church. As she awaited in faith for the victorious triumph of Her Son over death on the first Holy Saturday, so we too wait with Mary on the present Holy Saturday. This faithful and prayerful symbolic waiting has been called the Ora della Madre or Hour of the Mother.
Sibt il-Għid: Uffiċċju tal-Qari u Tifħir ta’ Sbiħ il-Jum – 16 ta’ April 2022
Is-Siegħa tal-Omm - 16.04.2022
Ċelebrazzjoni tas-Siegħa tal-Omm mis-Santwarju Ta' Pinu mmexxija mill-Isqof ta' Għawdex Anton Teuma - 03.04.2021
IS-SIEGĦA TA' L-OMM
HOLY SATURDAY MORNING - THE HOUR OF THE MOTHER
Is-Siegħa tal-Omm - 11/04/2020
Inti biss li emmint O Marija
Inti biss li fit-talb stennejt
Inti biss li emmint O Marija
Inti ħienja għaliex kliemu żammejt
https://www.facebook.com/notes/diocese-of-gozo/il-mara-ta-sibt-il-g%C4%A7id/889586661220619/
Inti biss li fit-talb stennejt
Inti biss li emmint O Marija
Inti ħienja għaliex kliemu żammejt
-----------------
https://www.facebook.com/notes/diocese-of-gozo/il-mara-ta-sibt-il-g%C4%A7id/889586661220619/
Il-Mara ta’ Sibt il-Għid
Marija Santissima tgħodd ruħha midjuna lejn min jagħmel dan l-eżerċizzju. - San Gabriel tal-Addolorata
Wara li l-Iben waħdieni tal-Verġni Mbierka Marija Santissma ġie mqiegħed, magħluq f'qabar, allura, din flimkien ma' l-appostlu Ġwanni, ma' Marija Madalena u mat-twajba nisa l-oħra reġgħet lura f'darha, fejn għaddew il-lejl flimkien.
Ma' Marija wara l-mewt ta' Ġesù
MA' MARIJA WARA L-MEWT TA' ĠESÙ
Kitba:San Ġorġ Preca
Kitba:San Ġorġ Preca
Wara li l-Iben waħdieni tal-Verġni Mbierka Marija Santissma ġie mqiegħed, magħluq f'qabar, allura, din flimkien ma' l-appostlu Ġwanni, ma' Marija Madalena u mat-twajba nisa l-oħra reġgħet lura f'darha, fejn għaddew il-lejl flimkien.
Fil-ħemda ta' dak il-lejl tassew ta' niket, l-Omm Santissma, mingħajr ma tagħlaq għajn ma' għajn għall-impressjonijiet kbar tagħha fuq il-mewt traġika ta' l-innoċċentissimu Binha, f'dik il-velja, tilmaħ għaddejja sfilata quddiem il-menti tagħha ħaġa ħaġa, l-ħwejjeġ kollha, li ġraw taħt għajnejha mal-jum:
Folol ta' nies, għajat, dalma tax-xemx, salib, imsiemer, lanza, suldati, sponza, bieqja bil-ħall, ħbula, libsa maqsuma f'erba biċċiet, iċ-Ċenturjun, Ġużeppi minn Arimatea, Nikodemu, qabar, lożor, skrizzjoni, it-transport għad-difna, il-ġisem ippjagat u bla sura fi ħdanha.
Tistħajjel li qiegħda wieqfa ma' ġenb Binha msallab tisimgħu jitlob għall-mahfra ta' dawk li sallbuh;
li qiegħda tisimgħu jassigura l-Ġenna lill-ħalliel ikkonvertit, li kien ċanfar lil sieħbu li ddisprezza lil Ġesù.
Tistħajjel li qiegħda tisma' lill-Iben maħbub tagħha jgħidilha biex tieħu b'iben tagħha lil Ġwanni, u lil Ġwanni jgħidlu biex jieħu lilha b'omm tiegħu;
li qiegħda tisimgħu jgħid lill-Missier tiegħu: "Alla tiegħi, Alla tiegħi għaliex tlaqtni?"
li qiegħda tara s-suldat iqiegħed max-xufftejn ta' Ġesù sponża bil-ħall għall-kelma: "Għandi l-għatx",
Tistħajjel li qiegħda tisma' lill-agonizzant iben tagħha f'baħar ta' disprezz u wġigħat jgħid: "Huwa mitmum";
Tistħajjel li qiegħda tisma' l-għajta l-kbira: "Missier, f'idejk nerħi l-Ispirtu tiegħi," u li tarah jinkina rasu u jmut.
Oh! X'lejl!
Tistħajjel li qiegħda tara s-suldati jiksru saqajn iż-żewġ ħallelin, li kienu msallbin wieħed kull naħa ma' ġenb Kristu, u li tara wieħed mis-suldati jgħaddas fil-kustat Divin, lanza u jislet b'ċarċir ta' demm u ilma.
Tistħajjel li qiegħda tara lil kulħadd imwerwer bil-biża’ għad-dalma u għat-terremot u jħabbtu fuq sidirhom jirriturnaw lejn djarhom.
Tistħajjel li qiegħda tħoss il-piż tal-ġisem mejjet ippjagat fi ħdanha.
Tistħajjel li qiegħda tara lil Ġużeppi minn Arimatea u lil Nikodemu jeħduh minn ħdanha, jidilkuh bl-ingwent u jaħbuh fil-liżar.
Tistħajjel li qiegħda bħall-Armla ta' Najm tassoċja fl-akkompanjament għad-difna.
Tistħajjel li qiegħda tara l-ġebla taħbilha l-oġġett ta' qalbha għal kollox.
Tistħajjel li qiegħda terġa' tara u tisma' kollox fir-ritorn lejn darha minn dawk in-naħiet.
Inti, o midneb, tista' ma tarax kemm huwa ikrah id-dnub u kemm għandek raġun tħobb lil din l-Omm, li permezz tagħha ġie mogħti lilna l-Feddej u s-Salvatur tal-bnedmin ? Jista' jkun li ma titgħallimx quddiemha sabiex tapprezza is-sofferenzi li jissieħbu neċessarjament mal-ħajja ta' kull bniedem ?
Talba:
O Verġni Mbierka, bil-qawwa tiegħek għamel li l-Passjoni u l-Mewt ta' Kristu Ibnek u lid-duluri tiegħek ma jkunux bla frott għalija. Ammen.
Jn 19:38-42 -- The Burial of Jesus - Id-difna ta' Ġesù
Id-difna ta' Ġesù
(Mt 27, 57-61 ; Mk 15, 42-47 ; Lq 23, 50-56)
[Ġw:19:38] Wara dan, Ġużeppi minn Arimatija, li kien dixxiplu ta' Ġesù bil-moħbi għax kien jibża' mil-Lhud, mar u talab lil Pilatu biex jieħu l-ġisem ta' Ġesù. Pilatu ħallieh, u hu ġie u ħa l-ġisem tiegħu. [Ġw:19:39] Ġie wkoll Nikodemu, dak li qabel kien mar għand Ġesù billejl, u ġieb miegħu taħlita ta' morr u sabbara, tiżen xi mitt libbra. [Ġw:19:40] Dawn it-tnejn ħadu l-ġisem ta' Ġesù u kebbewh bil-faxex ta' l-għażel bil-fwejjaħ, kif soltu jagħmlu l-Lhud qabel id-difna. [Ġw:19:41] Fejn kienu sallbu lil Ġesù kien hemm ġnien, u f'dan il-ġnien kien hemm qabar ġdid li fih kienu għadhom ma difnu lil ħadd. [Ġw:19:42] Hemm qiegħdu lil Ġesù, għax kien Jum it-Tħejjija għal-Lhud, u għax il-qabar kien fil-qrib.
============
REFLECTION
How Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus Risked All to Give Jesus An Honorable Burial
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Wagner15.html
As a crucified criminal in the eyes of the Law, what kind of burial do you suppose Jesus of Nazareth would normally have received?
His body would probably have been thrown into a common grave set apart for criminals. It would be risky to ask for the body of a crucified criminal so that the deceased could be given a proper burial. For anyone to obtain such a corpse, permission would have to be granted by the proper authorities, but it could be dangerous to ask for that permission.
Two influential Jewish leaders were willing to take that risk. One of these men was the wealthy and honorable Joseph of Arimathea. He had not agreed with the other religious leaders to put Jesus to death. After Jesus died on the cross, Joseph courageously approached Governor Pilate and begged that Jesus' body be given to him. Pilate granted his request.
There was another secret disciple who risked his reputation that afternoon. His name was Nicodemus. Once one night, before this sorrowful day, he had privately interviewed Jesus under cover of darkness -- perhaps for fear of being observed.
Joseph of Arimathea owned a new tomb he probably planned to use himself. That is where he and Nicodemus placed the body of Jesus. Nicodemus brought a mixture of about 100 pounds of expensive myrrh and aloes to use to prepare Jesus' body for burial. Myrrh is a type of gum resin that acts as a kind of glue. Aloes is a sweet-smelling oil used for medicinal purposes, as a fragrance, and to use to bury the dead.
The two men worked together spreading this mixture between the encircling layers of a long linen cloth purchased by Joseph. They wrapped the fabric around and around His body until it was completely sealed with the fabric cocoon and perfumed resin. They also wrapped an additional cloth around his head. After they were satisfied they had properly prepared Jesus' body for burial, Joseph rolled a large stone over the cave's opening.
These men publicly declared they were Jesus' friends! Their last act of love for Him is recorded in the Gospels. They both risked their reputations and more to give their Friend a proper burial.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus could not have known at the time that they were participating in the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy from the book of Isaiah. Here is the Scripture telling about the Messiah written over 600 hundred years before Jesus' crucifixion:
"But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.
He had done no wrong
and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave." (Isaiah 53:8b-9, NLT).
To their great joy, Jesus did not remain in Joseph's tomb for long! He rose from the dead three days later and is alive forever!
Today too it's risky standing up for Jesus, but His true friends are willing to pay the price through God's grace.
And they will never be sorry!
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THE HOUR OF THE MOTHER - ON HOLY SATURDAY MORNING (in our parish church, the meditation starts at 7.30am).
THE WHOLE CHURCH WAITS AT THE LORD'S TOMB - MEDITATING ON THE VARIOUS THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS JESUS' MOTHER EXPERIENCED WHILE HER SON-GOD IS DEAD IN THE TOMB.....
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The following reflection on the events of Holy Saturday was written by Fr Eamon Kelly, LC, Vice Chargé of the Pontifical Institute
The typical Jerusalem Jewish Sabbath is particularly quiet. Even in 2010 there are hardly any cars on the streets. No machines work the construction sites. Shops are closed. Everyone is at home, resting quietly, at ease. This is all the more on the Sabbath of the Passover week. Now add the eerie quiet, typically following tragedy, when people are numbed by the violent death of a close family member. Mary wakes up on Holy Saturday morning, if she went to sleep at all! What mother can go to sleep the night of her son’s criminal death! People remember last words and keep mulling over them. His last words begin to come back to her. She cannot let them go. The charity-filled tones in which he spoke embedded them even more deeply into her consciousness, and her pure and perceptive heart noticed those nuances. She ponders them continually and they are to her advantage. Yesterday she saw his body placed in the tomb and the sorrow is great. His Good Friday continues in her Holy Saturday and in ours. So often we Christians go through our various “Holy Saturdays.” Again and again we go through heavy moments and barely survive or are badly bleeding or seriously wounded. We do know there will be some solution but we can’t really wait. We need something now to get through all this. We are once again living a personal Holy Saturday. Bad news and bad events strike quickly. Calvary was over in hours. But Holy Saturdays often lasts a long time. At such times it might be to our advantage to draw close to Mary as she ponders these last minutes and words of Jesus’ life. We will need to use our brain to reflect and capture even a little bit of the reality. Mary picked up the state of his soul much more intuitively as mothers, and particularly she, are capable of doing. “Today you will be with me in Paradise!” (Lk. 23:43) How can he think of “Paradise,” let alone utter the word with all his gaping wounds and butchered body, the pain and, even worse still, the total rejection of his person as his chosen people’s leaders incite them to demand his crucifixion and Barabbas’ release? His body and soul are experiencing an invasion of hell and yet his heart has the peace of victory declaring “Paradise is yours today alongside me.” The smart thief really knows that it is “because of” him, not only ”with” him! That’s why he asked him in the first place. What peace must reign in his heart to be able to say these words with such certainty and evidently so contradicted by the surrounding reality. When Maximilian Kolbe intoned hymns of divine praise in the hunger bunker where he was being starved to death in August 1942, his fellow inmates probably sensed some measure of this same confidence which Mary felt at these final Calvary words. The inmates’ paradigms are changed. Beyond the negative violence, other forces are also at work: Christ’s pervading peace in the dark night of Auschwitz. Let’s penetrate beyond the words Christ utters and ponder our way with Mary into his heart of victory. Those dying cancer victims, like my mother in 1997, who give so much joy and hope to the family around them are making this Christ present in our midst once again. Peace reigns in his heart. “Woman, behold your Son. … behold your mother” (Jn. 19:26). He was thinking of us. Despite his wounds! It is not easy to think of others’ needs when one has a bad toothache! And he had more than a bad toothache, yesterday. What interior self-dominion reigned in his heart and transcended so much pain as to be able to consider others! Extraordinary inner peace enables this focus on the situation of others. He is sufficiently serene interiorly to be able to be centered on others’ needs. His deep serenity particularly touches Mary’s perceptive heart in these words directed to her. And the fact that her new son, John, is there now reminds her of this word, its tone and his heart from which it sprang. Her heart is broken with this new birth but from his broken heart some of that peace flows to hers. “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30). The work his Father gave him to finish (Jn. 4:34). Mary knows all about his sense of mission and purpose. This statement from the dying Jesus reveals two sources of peace. Firstly a very clear inkling of what was to come grew in him as he read the Psalms, Isaiah, Zachariah, etc. So, he was able to accept this as he shows time and time again: “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mt 16), “The Son of Man must suffer …” “Not my will but yours be done!” In order to be faithful to his mission he had reckoned with hard times that would surely come. He had already established “peace” with this future. Secondly this mission is completely fulfilled to the last detail, the hardest mission ever assigned to anyone in all of history. What peace must have filled his heart, if we enjoy the relief and peace from minor duties accomplished relatively well! Mary registered this peace-filled prayer of thanksgiving – that was the tone. He completed his life in peace. A mother wants her child to be at peace. Mary knows her own mission is not complete. Yet in some way it is, because she has shared in his mission. She can go ahead with her the rest of her mission with some of his peace in her heart. “Father into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk. 23:46). Search these words for any trace of rebellion, defiance or complaint over so much injustice suffered! It’s hard to find a slightest sign. He simply is above any such reaction. He transcends the horrible agony and the intentionally intimidating aggression and simply offers up his life, laying it down into his Father’s hands. No greater self-gift. No greater peace. At that moment Mother Mary must be overwhelmed by her son’s passing. How could it be otherwise for any mother! Yet now on Holy Saturday, as she gradually comes out of the dazed numbness of pain, these words come back and somehow she can also second this self-gift without complaint. In the midst of the raging seas and the heated assaults on what we are and hold dearest, Christ’s peace on Calvary can also reach our hearts, especially if we live our sundry Holy Saturdays close to Mary, taking her into our home (cf. Jn. 19:27). Let’s ponder these words with her to our great advantage. |
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>>> THE EASTER TRIDUUM --- HOLY THURSDAY - HOLY MASS GOSPELS - MORNING AND EVENING http://medjugorjemalta.blogspot.com/2014/04/maundy-thursday-holy-mass-gospels.html >>> THE EASTER TRIDUUM --- GOOD FRIDAY - Jn 18:1-19:42 -- 'Passion of Our Lord - Il-Passjoni tal-Mulej' - il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira http://medjugorjemalta.blogspot.com/2014/04/good-friday-jn-181-1942-passion-of-our.html#uds-search-results >>> THE EASTER TRIDUUM --- HOLY SATURDAY MORNING --- & --- HOLY SATURDAY EVENING - Gospels - YEAR A - Mt 28:1-10 ; YEAR B - Mk 16:1-8; YEAR C - Lk 24:1-12 -- Jesus Has Risen - Il-qawmien ta' Ġesù mill-imwiet http://medjugorjemalta.blogspot.com/2014/04/yr-holy-saturday-evening-mt-281-10.html |
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