The Crucifixion of Jesus Mk 15 21-41.

GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES.

The Bible: Gospel of Mark icon.

During 2019, each week, I will write a weekly post about the Gospel of Mark, as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. If you are following this series for the first time, you will find this series under Scripture- New Testament- Gospel of Mark. 

Click here to read the first post in the series. I have written this series in different years (2012, 2015, 2018) with some irregularity, but am determined to complete this series this year since I am more than half way through this Gospel.

My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark. I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season.  In today's post we explore chapter 15:21-41 1 which is called the crucifixion of Jesus.

THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS.

 The death of Jesus is the final climax of his revelation to the world of the power of God.  With the identification of Jesus as the Son of God by God Himself at the river and on the mountain, by Himself in His passion and now, by a Gentile at the cross, the four great pillars of Mark’s Gospel are in place.

In the journey to Golgotha, about 500 metres, a stranger forced to carry the cross after Jesus emphasises his aloneness. The crucifying begins about nine in the morning. A humanitarian offering of wine, drugged with myrrh to reduce pain is made, but Jesus refuses it.  He hangs naked on the cross, for His clothes are divided among His executors.  He is called king, the charge again Him put about His head, as He hangs on a cross between the two thieves.

The two thieves, the passers-by, the priests, and the scribes mock Jesus as one who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days and who saves others but not himself.  They taunt Him to do what He cannot- to be king without the cross.  The truth is spoken in the malice and blindness of those who speak it.

The darkness at midday aptly symbolises how none see what is really happening.  At three, when Jesus calls out, someone from compassion, or curiosity to see if Elijah will come, offers him vinegar.  But Jesus with a cry of strength breathes out his life. This cry of strength and breathing is last is significant because for all other human beings, when it comes to die, the person breathes his last not by choice. The time has come and the breath leaves the body. In the case of Jesus, He literally breathes his last by choice and shows that He is God.

The tearing open of the temple veil dramatically symbolises that the power of God is no longer separated and hidden from the world, but is made accessible to through the death of Jesus.  The centurion before Jesus, proclaims Him Son of God at a time he appears hardly human, while the faithful women from Galilee watch everything from a distance.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS.

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In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?

• Imagine that you are these solders.  What do you see and hear and feel? What can I learn from this?
  
  
• Are there any present-day situations which have all the hallmarks of a similar execution (e.g. the assault on the beliefs of the Church and its constant persecution by the media or when Judges do not speak up for the right outcome out of fear of the crowd?
  
  
•  Imagine being Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross unwillingly. What questions do I want to bring to Jesus?  

•  Imagine being one of the people offering Jesus the wine drugged with myrrh . What would you want to say to Him when you realise who it was, you have ‘drugged’.?  In what ways do we offer wine with myrrh in our lives?
  
  
• Imagine being the Centurion who speaks the truth about God in a hostile environment.  When am I like the Centurion or why do I fear being like the Centurion?
  
  
•  What is reading the Gospel passage with the eyes and ears of disciple mean to me?
  
  
• How does Jesus make clear His teaching to me in this passage?
  
  
•  Consider a situation in your life today where the teaching of Jesus needs to be applied.
  
  

• Consider how much my faith means to me and what does my faithfulness/unfaithfulness to my church/parish mean to me and others?

• What are the areas in my life I need to bring to Jesus in the light of this teaching?
  
  
• Am I willing to look into myself with honesty and ask how much do I grasp what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus in the light of this teaching? 

Collect for 26th Sunday of Year C

COLLECT SERIES

The Mass: Collect Series  Icon.

The Collect for the 26th Sunday of the Year C is as follows:

O God, who manifests your almighty power above all

by pardoning and showing mercy,

Bestow, we pray, Your grace abundantly upon us

 and make those hastening to attain your promises 

 heirs to the treasures of Heaven.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

                                       
In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflections questions emerged:

1.    What are the characteristics/traits of God’s pardon and mercy?

2.    What scripture passages exemplify God’s pardon and mercy?

3.    How have/ will I experience God’s pardon and mercy?

4.    What graces do I need to be poured on my life abundantly?

5.    What graces can I pour on others I meet this coming week through God’s help?

6.    Why do I wish to be an heir to the Kingdom of Heaven?

GOSPEL REFLECTION.

Today’s gospel is the parable of the rich young man and Lazarus.  Both in life were given different lifestyles- the rich man sadly did not help Lazarus, who was not only a beggar but a beggar outside his own gate.  Scripture tells us ‘’’He would have gladly eaten the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table’’

The rich man had the means to help but did not because he was too interested in his own life. His heart was hardened to seeing the need of other people less fortunate and he did not acknowledge that the blessings he had received ultimately came from God not him.   Added to that, his example caused his brothers to follow a lifestyle similar.

On the other hand, Lazarus although poor and a beggar did not scoff at God for his predicament but accepted the blessings that God had given him. 

The contrast between the two men is stark.   Both experienced the mercy of God in their own way, although the rich man still wanted more. He was not satisfied to admit his own selfishness completely, still had to complain when things were not to his liking.  However, he did want to save his own brothers from a similar fate.

Lazarus experienced the mercy of God in the after life. Despite his life being difficult as a poor beggar, he remembered God in his life and the importance of who he was in relation to God.  He knew that God in his mercy would care for him because he experienced it every day in his life. Although a beggar and poor he managed his life with God’s help. He kept in his own way a sense of balance and he knew his priority- God was no 1 in his life.

We may might not be poor or rich, but the questions we wish to ponder include

1.            Who do we identify with most here- the rich man or Lazarus?

2.             If we died today/tonight, are we ready to be co-heirs with Jesus?

3.            Are we blind to those closest to us in need (physical, emotional and spiritual need)?

4.            Is God first place at any given moment in my life?

There is a lot to ponder in this Gospel.  We need to both ponder and take action. 

Jesus is Lord

REFLECTION AND PRAYER SERIES.

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My Scripture reflection is 

“At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow

And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”
(Philippians 2 10-11 )

Christ The Redeemer.

My post is called:

                                                              Jesus is Lord.

The Saviour will not be denied

,           though scorned and scourged and crucified

The sad, lost world for which he died

Will one name Him Lord.

No 113 What were the accusations by which Jesus was condemned to death?

COMPENDIUM SERIES.

JESUS THE TEACHER: COMPENDIUM SERIES ICON.

No 113.  What were the accusations by which Jesus was condemned to death? (CCC 574-575)

WHAT DOES THE COMPENDIUM SAY?

Compendium states:

Some of the leaders of the Jews accused Jesus of acting against the law, the temple in Jerusalem and in particular against faith in the one God because He proclaimed to be Son of God.  For this reason they handed Him over to Pilate so that he could condemn Him to death.

What does this mean for me?

1.            I can thank God every day for His saving plan of redemption for all of humanity and that my redemption came at a great price- the suffering, death and resurrection. My redemption came through His blood.

2.            I can be thankful that Jesus, in His humanity did not deny who He truly is- the Son of God.

3.            I can draw inspiration from Jesus to stay true to my own identity as a child of God through adoption.

Questions to consider.

1. 1. How can I appreciate the saving plan of God- the Paschal Mystery in my life every day? 
   
2. How do I build up the Church – what contribution do I make?
   
3. Why is important to understand why the Jewish leaders handed Jesus over to Pilate?
   
4. How can I be true to the truth when I am accused by other people or when my reputation is sullied by idle, untruthful gossip?

Liturgy of the Eucharist Introductory Dialogue.

ABOUT THE MASS SERIES VOL 2 

THE MASS: ABOUT THE MASS ICON.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST INTRODUCTORY DIALOGUE. 

In the previous translation of the Mass, the Introductory dialogue was as follows:

Priest: ‘The Lord be with you.

Congregation: And also with you.

Priest: Lift up our hearts.

Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right to give Him thanks and praise’.

The current translation of the Mass for the introductory dialogue is as follows:

Priest:  ‘The Lord be with you.

Congregation: And with your spirit.

Priest: Lift up our hearts.

Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right and just’.

This can be entered into either as recited dialogue between priest and people  or chanted. In either case, it is there to help us enter into dialogue.

This is called the Introductory Dialogue and begins the next section of the Mass-Liturgy of the Eucharist.  All the Eucharistic Prayers begin with the Introductory Dialogue, possibly a custom from the Jewish tradition. The oldest example of this dialogue is read in the Eucharistic Prayer of Hippolytus. 

According to this tradition, the priest enters alone into the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass, but the entire congregation prays it with him in spirit. Therefore, the Introductory Dialogue from its earliest times attests to the unity of the Congregation.  Saint Cyprian, around 251-252 in his prayer treatise said:

 “When we rise for the orison, we must watch and apply ourselves with all our hearts to prayer. Let all carnal and worldly thoughts be cast aside, let the soul think of nothing other than praying”.

These thoughts still hold true for us today every time we participate in the Mass as we enter into the Introductory Dialogue with the priest.  He encourages us to enter into the sacrifice of the Mass as fully as we can by preparing us saying ‘Let us lift up our hearts’ and we respond ‘We lift them up to the Lord’.

If your mind has wondered, or you have lost your focus, the words of the Introductory Dialogue in the Mass give us another opportunity to refocus and to give God thanks and praise since it is right and just.

Collect for 25th Sunday of Year C Ordinary Time

COLLECT SERIES

THE MASS: COLLECT SERIES ICON.

COLLECT

The Collect for the 25^th Sunday of the Year reads as follows”

O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law

upon love of you and of our neighbour,

grant that, by keeping your precepts,

we may merit to attain eternal life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What are the commands of God’s sacred law?
2. Why did found His commands upon love of You, and neighbour?
3. What difference/impact will this have on my life this coming week?
4.  What are the areas in my life that I struggle in relation to love and keeping His precepts?
5. Why do I want to merit eternal life?
6. What steps will I take this coming week to move towards meriting eternal life?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Gospel is from St. Luke 16:1-13. There are 2 lessons for us as disciples in today’s Gospel.  They are:

·         Do not to become the slaves of earthly things.  Christ warned against was not the just acquisition of this world's goods but their unjust acquisition, and the dishonest use of them when they were justly acquired.

·         The unjust steward showed more enterprise/interest in providing for his earthly happiness when he would lose his employment and was greater and keener than that shown by most of us in providing for our eternal happiness.

·         We should use what we can spare of our earthly possessions in helping those who are in need of our help

It was God who created all that exists in this world. He intended these goods for the use of man. We are only managers, therefore, of these worldly goods. It is on our way of managing these goods, not on the quantity we had to manage, that our judgement will be based.

Did I give one hour a day to God and the things of God, helping the needy, learning more about my religion, giving a hand in parochial affairs, advising those in difficulties, spiritual or temporal, praying for my own and my neighbour's needs—yet even if I did, it is less than one-tenth of the free time I had at my own disposal.

If I did not, if I barely managed to to get in the Sunday Mass and a few hasty prayers, could anyone suggest that I was showing great interest and was very enterprising as far as my future life was concerned? God is very generous with me. He gives me lots of time for providing for my health and temporal needs each week, and a lot of free time besides. I should not express surprise if he is disappointed at how little of that wonderful gift of time I am willing to give back to him. The unjust steward was far more enterprising as regards earthly provision for himself.

The second lesson our Lord wishes to teach us is that we should use what we can spare of our earthly possessions in helping those who are in need of our help. By doing that, we will be making friends who will help us at the judgment seat to get a lasting reception in heaven.

Remember that description of the judgment which our Lord gave when he said, "I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was naked and you clothed me"? What we do for the needy, we do for Him. Those whom we help, as far as we can, will be witnesses testifying for us when our final examination, on which our eternity will depend, comes upon us.

The challenge then for us is to take these warnings seriously.  We need to be resolved this week to start afresh and examine our lives in the light of this Gospel.

We may like to review our attitude towards earthly goods i.e. Never let them take up all your time. You have a far more serious purpose in life. Give it a little more thought and enterprise than you have been doing.

Secondly, be grateful to God for what He has given you in this life. You might like to have a lot more, but God knows best. Work honestly and be generous with what you have. You are serving God, not money. God will be waiting for you where there is no currency, and where the one bank account that matters will be the good use that you made of your time and your share of this world's goods while you were alive.

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Shepherd of my soul.

REFLECTION AND PRAYER SERIES.

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My Scripture reflection is 

''Since my youth, O God, You have taught me

And to this day I declare your marvellous deeds”’ 
(Ps71:17)

Christ The Redeemer.

My post is called:

                                                              Shepherd of my soul.

He was the Shepherd of my youth,

The Guide of my childhood days,

He is still the Shepherd of my soul,

And the God of all my praise.

Liturgy of the Eucharist Preparation of the Gifts Part 11 Prayer over the Gifts.

ABOUT THE MASS SERIES 

THE MASS: ABOUT THE MASS SERIES ICON.

Preparation of the Gifts Part 11  Prayer over the Gifts.

In the ancient Roman Liturgy, once the bread and wine were placed on the altar, the bishop said a prayer over these gifts and then began the Eucharistic prayer. The Prayer over the gifts was originally said aloud and later, because of the length of the prayer, only the conclusion was said aloud. Nowadays, the prayer’s original name and manner of recitation has been restored.

 The prayer over the gifts concludes the preparation of the bread, wine, altar and congregation.  Unlike the Collect of the Mass, which is more expansive and frequently characterizes the mystery of the day or liturgical season, the prayer over the gifts is more concise.  It requests divine acceptance and expresses the congregation’s desire to unite itself with the offering to come. The priest speaks in our name asking the Father to bless and accept these gifts. 

Our response to this prayer is ‘Amen’, and it is important, as when we use it as a response to prayer, it is used as an adverb meaning either ‘It is so’ or ‘May it be so’ (may that happen).

Although the prayer over the gifts is always used in the context of Mass, we may find it useful to incorporate it into our daily prayer life. Such a short prayer could provide spiritual nourishment for us as we reflect on its concrete meaning for our lives both in times of difficulty and joy.

The preparation of the gifts in the Liturgy of the Eucharist ends with the Prayer over the gifts.