Archive for March 23, 2013

Catholicjules’ Prayer/Mantra

Posted: March 23, 2013 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Meditations, Prayers
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As I continue to journey in faith, one of my greatest challenges is remaining humble and holy when faced with confrontation.  The temptation to be snide, defensive and in certain situations even a little aggressive is overwhelming.  I have given in to the weakness from time to time though not as often as I used to in the past. As I was reflecting on this weakness today, this came to mind….

If I see every situation or encounter as an opportunity to bear witness to Christ then I remain walking in the Light.

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Later this morning, I brought my kids for their swimming lesson and decided to go for a swim as well. And again I believe inspired by the Holy Spirit I came up with this mantra/prayer which I intend to recite every day first thing I wake up and need be throughout the day until it I am one with it. It incorporates the Jesus prayer as well as a desire to live in discipleship.

“Lord Jesus Christ, son of the Living God have mercy on me a sinner, with, through and in your Love let me always bear witness to you in thought, word and deed.” Amen

March 24th 2013 – Passion of the Christ

Posted: March 23, 2013 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

Passion Sunday

Readings:
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Philippians 2:6-11
Luke 22:14-23:56

 

What is written about Me is coming to fulfillment,” Jesus says in today’s Gospel (see Luke 22:37).

Indeed, we have reached the climax of the liturgical year, the highest peak of salvation history, when all that has been anticipated and promised is to be fulfilled.

By the close of today’s long Gospel, the work of our redemption will have been accomplished, the new covenant will be written in the blood of His broken body hanging on the cross at the place called the Skull.

In His Passion, Jesus is “counted among the wicked,” as Isaiah had foretold (see Isaiah 53:12). He is revealed definitively as the Suffering Servant the prophet announced, the long-awaited Messiah whose words of obedience and faith ring out in today’s First Reading and Psalm.

The taunts and torments we hear in these two readings punctuate the Gospel as Jesus is beaten and mocked (see Luke 22:63-65; 23:10-11,16), as His hands and feet are pierced (see Luke 23:33), as enemies gamble for His clothes ( see Luke 23:34), and as three times they dare Him to prove His divinity by saving Himself from suffering (see Luke 23:35,37,39)

He remains faithful to God’s will to the end, does not turn back in His trial. He gives Himself freely to His torturers, confident that, as He speaks in today’s First Reading: “The Lord God is My help…I shall not be put to shame.”

Destined to sin and death as children of Adam’s disobedience, we have been set free for holiness and life by Christ’s perfect obedience to the Father’s will (see Romans 5:12-14,17-19; Ephesians 2:2; 5:6).

This is why God greatly exalted Him. This is why we have salvation in His Name. Following His example of humble obedience in the trials and crosses of our lives, we know we will never be forsaken, that one day we too will be with Him in Paradise (see Luke 23:42). Seeing and Believing

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: March 23, 2013 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe!

Why are testimonies of miracles, signs and wonders from God received with skepticism even disdain by some? Why do some of us who claim to have a love for God not recognize His good works? Direct from Him or through others?

All that is good in the World comes from Him, why do we not treasure them? The earth that we live on? Our children? The air that we breathe? Animals, trees, plants etc? Why do we overuse even abuse the gifts? Why are we sometimes so selfish and self centred? Yet we often choose instead to blame Him for our misgivings?

Even then our loving Lord chose to die for us so that we may not perish. He waits patiently for us in the background for us to turn to Him. Let us declare our love for Him by dying to outselves so that we may live in Him and with Him. Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen

GOSPEL John 11:45–56

Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him.

So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.

Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?