Hope springs from the tomb. And hope is not just an optimism, which sees the more pleasing side of a reality ignoring the other side. The hope brought by Jesus' resurrecion transforms everything. Mary goes to the tomb perhaps to see Jesus once more, even just his dead body. Instead, she will be led to see Jesus who is alive. The two disciples who return to Emmaus have seen their hope of arrival of Israel's glory dashed into pieces by Jesus' death. Instead, Jesus rekindles a flame in their hearts and reveals to them the far greater glory of the Messiah who has to suffer.
The believers instead look at the empty tomb and see in it Jesus' victory over death and their own destiny, too. Man has been rescued from the claws of death. Where, O death is your sting? Jesus has conquered death. This is not just an assurance that despite everything, things will turn in the right direction. This is an assurance that everything has turned out marvelously (for Him and for us). For His life and destiny are also ours.
excerpts, 365 Days with the Lord, Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Friday, April 14, 2006
The Crucifixion of Jesus
Gospel : John 19:25-34 ( Jn 19:25-34 )
The Word
"They did not break his legs" --- The Johannine Passion of Jesus enables us to reflect better why we call this day "Good Friday" :
The Passion of Jesus is theophany. Jesus is not a helpless, pitiful victim. He reminds Pilate that he is King. He breathes the Spirit even as he Breathes his last. He establishes a community represented by his mother and the beloved disciple.
The Passion of Jesus is victory. Earlier in the Gospel, in his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus alluded to his crucifixion: "Just as Moses lifted the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. ( Jn 3:14 ). At Calvary, Jesus may be dangling on the cross as a condemned criminal, but in the eyes of the evangelist, he reigns as king. His death sentence, written in three languages, is a universal proclamation of this kingship: "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews".
The Passion of Jesus is saving. John brings in the image of the lamb of the Israelite Passover. Hyssop was used to paint the doorposts of the Israelites with the blood of the lamb. The bones of the Passover lamb were not broken when eaten. Now, a sprig of hyssop is used to make Jesus drink wine. And not one of his bones is broken. Clearly Jesus is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world ( Jn 1:29 )"
365 Days with the Lord, Good Friday (Fast & Abstinence) RED
26-27 : When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom Jesus loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother" And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Mary is given a role as mother of Christians (personifed by the beloved disciple [John] ); or, as a representative of those seeking salvation, she is supported by the disciple [John] who interprets Jesus' revelation; or Jewish and Gentile Christianity (or Israel and the Christian community) are reconciled.
29 : There was a vessel filled with common wine..
John does not mention the drugged wine, a narcotic that Jesus refused as the crucifixion began [Mark 15:23, but only this final gesture of kindness at the end [Mark 15:36]
30 : Handed over the spirit: there is a double nuance of dying (giving up last breath or spirit) andthat of passing on the Holy Spirit [John 7:39] which connects the giving of the Spirit with Jesus' glorious return to the Father, and [John] 20, 22, where the author protrays the conferral of the Spirit
34 : ..and immediately blood and water flowed out
In the blood and water there may be also a symbolic reference to the Eucharist and baptism
The New American Bible
The Word
"They did not break his legs" --- The Johannine Passion of Jesus enables us to reflect better why we call this day "Good Friday" :
The Passion of Jesus is theophany. Jesus is not a helpless, pitiful victim. He reminds Pilate that he is King. He breathes the Spirit even as he Breathes his last. He establishes a community represented by his mother and the beloved disciple.
The Passion of Jesus is victory. Earlier in the Gospel, in his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus alluded to his crucifixion: "Just as Moses lifted the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. ( Jn 3:14 ). At Calvary, Jesus may be dangling on the cross as a condemned criminal, but in the eyes of the evangelist, he reigns as king. His death sentence, written in three languages, is a universal proclamation of this kingship: "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews".
The Passion of Jesus is saving. John brings in the image of the lamb of the Israelite Passover. Hyssop was used to paint the doorposts of the Israelites with the blood of the lamb. The bones of the Passover lamb were not broken when eaten. Now, a sprig of hyssop is used to make Jesus drink wine. And not one of his bones is broken. Clearly Jesus is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world ( Jn 1:29 )"
365 Days with the Lord, Good Friday (Fast & Abstinence) RED
26-27 : When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom Jesus loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother" And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Mary is given a role as mother of Christians (personifed by the beloved disciple [John] ); or, as a representative of those seeking salvation, she is supported by the disciple [John] who interprets Jesus' revelation; or Jewish and Gentile Christianity (or Israel and the Christian community) are reconciled.
29 : There was a vessel filled with common wine..
John does not mention the drugged wine, a narcotic that Jesus refused as the crucifixion began [Mark 15:23, but only this final gesture of kindness at the end [Mark 15:36]
30 : Handed over the spirit: there is a double nuance of dying (giving up last breath or spirit) andthat of passing on the Holy Spirit [John 7:39] which connects the giving of the Spirit with Jesus' glorious return to the Father, and [John] 20, 22, where the author protrays the conferral of the Spirit
34 : ..and immediately blood and water flowed out
In the blood and water there may be also a symbolic reference to the Eucharist and baptism
The New American Bible
Sunday, April 09, 2006
2 Sundays
Friar Rowland teaches us about the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Passion of Jesus Christ
Saturday, April 01, 2006
"Follow Me"
Following Jesus is for the simple, the available, the vunerable. Those who are filled up with themselves have no room for Jesus. Following Jesus is for those who are open, who are not so touchy whenever their egos are pricked, and who are willing to be corrected and learn from their mistakes
365 Days With The Lord
365 Days With The Lord
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