Spy Wednesday- how do I betray Jesus?

 Wednesday in Holy Week was often referred to as 'Spy Wednesday', but it is not a liturgical term.  Although the reason is indefinite, it is most likely due to the phrase in scripture: 

'Judas 'kept looking for a way to hand him over'. (Mt 26:15).
It is also noteworthy that Matthew's Gospel tells us that after Judas had betrayed Jesus, that he went back to the Chief priests and flung the money back into the temple. (Mt: 27:3).   The guilt and remorse of Judas was so real that he went and hung himself. Sadly, he could see no future.

 

Although Judas is known through Scripture to have unsavoury characteristics in his behaviour, we can take heart that he was a failed disciple.  We too can be like Judas- at least some part of us- we can fail and betray Jesus by our behaviour and choose not to be a worthy disciple.

 

On this Spy Wednesday, we may wish to consider which areas of our lives that could be aligned or similar to Judas' behaviour in being a failed disciple.  We may wish to consider what are the 30 pieces of silver that we use to betray Christ? For example, do we set up our work colleagues, family members, parishioners and watch them take the fall in the trap we set? Do we, when we are down, see no hope in Jesus as our Saviour?
Do we set high prices to make up for losses due to coronavirus and be dishonest in our business dealings? Every time we are dishonest in some way, we are betraying Jesus and not being a faithful disciple.  Let us spend some time today reflecting on how I personally betray Jesus and reading this powerful Gospel passage..

 

Thankfully, through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we have been redeemed and we can turn to Him.  We admit our faults/sins and through the grace and the mercy of God in the sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance hear the beautiful words of absolution that Christ offers us.

Collect for Palm Sunday Year B

 

COLLECT SERIES

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT 

The Collect for Palm Sunday Year B reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God,

who as an example of humility for the human race to follow

caused our Saviour to take flesh and submit to the Cross,

graciously grant that we may heed His lesson of patient suffering

and so merit a share in His Resurrection.

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

one God, for ever and ever.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What does humility mean to me? Is my meaning of humility in agreement with God’s or the world?
2. Ponder the humility of Christ today- Son of God yet born of a virgin in a stable and suffered the most horrendous death man could inflict- Crucifixion. 
   As I ponder this, what difference does it cause in my heart?
3. What is my attitude to suffering for myself, those whom I love and for other people in the world?
4. What areas of my life do I wish to take to the cross  this Holy Week?
5. What areas of my life do I wish to have a share in the Resurrection?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today on Palm Sunday we hear 2 Gospel Readings. The first one we hear as part of the Procession of the Palms which describes and sets the mood of the day of Palm Sunday.  We see Jesus, riding on the donkey with the crowd shouting ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’. 

This is direct contrast of mood with the Gospel read during the Mass which is the account according to St Mark of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The crowd are no longer shouting Hosanna to the Son of David but ‘Crucify Him’.  We may wish to ask ourselves what do we shout – Hosanna or Crucify Him by the lives we lead.

There is a lot to ponder in the reading of the Passion of Christ.   Take some time today and during Holy Week to read and meditate on the Passion of Christ and what it means for yourself.  Enter into the triduum ceremonies as much as possible.  If your country remains in the pandemic, there are many opportunities to enter into the triduum online.  Prepare a prayerful space, turn off the mobile and enter into the passion and death of Jesus fully.

If you are able to attend in person and perhaps are waning as to whether to attend or not, ask yourself how important is Jesus to you?  Remember 2020 when we were unable to attend in person because of the restrictions of the pandemic and remember the pain.  Also, it is a wonderful opportunity to remember our brothers and sisters in other countries who are not able to attend in person yet.  Remember them and attend all the ceremonies. Offer your attendance for them too.

Lent finishes on Holy Thursday at midday. If your Lent has been all over the place ( like mine), then use these last few days Lent in Holy Week to truly make an effort.  We are near the finishing line of Lent for 2021.  How will you finish Lent this year?

 

 

 

Living Quiet Days

 

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 

 

''He will quiet you with His Love”’   

( 2 Ephesians 3:17)

 

Christ The Redeemer.

 

 

My post is called:

 

Living Quiet Days.

Lord, let me treasure quiet days,

Living them in constant praise.

and trusting in Your love.

Collect for 5th Sunday Lent Year B

 

COLLECT SERIES.

COLLECT 

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

The Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Lent Year B reads as follows:

 

By Your help, we beseech You, Lord Our God,

May we walk eagerly in that same charity

with which out of love for the world,

You handed Himself over to death

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

1. What does the suffering, death and Resurrection of Jesus mean to my life?
2. How can I show my gratitude to God for His great love for me this coming week?
3. How can walk eagerly in the same love as God has for me this coming week?
4. How is my Lenten journey progressing?  It is not too late to start afresh and/or tweak your commitment.  What changes do I need to make to make progress?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Gospel for today is from St. 12:20-33.  This Gospel reminds us to:

Choose Christ first and foremost in every aspect of our lives rather than our own personal earthly comforts first.. We need to view every action, thought, word and suffering in the light of eternity- our true home.

Contemplate and imitate the immensity of love God has for us by sending Jesus to redeem us.  We need to reflect upon this great love that Jesus had by His suffering, death and resurrection.  What a great love but what is our response to this great love in our lives?

We  need to look fervently and devoutly on the crucifix today, and try to compare our willingness to suffer our crosses sent to us by God, with the crushing cross and passion our Saviour Jesus Christ gladly accepted for us and not for his own sake. However, do not let the conclusion you draw stun you into inactivity, but rather let it shock you into a new outlook on life; a new resolve to serve, follow and imitate our loving Christ more closely in future.

This is the last week of Lent before we head next week into Holy Week.  It is an opportune moment to reflect on our Lenten journey.  It is not too late to get started or start again.  Let us review our journey and make adjustments so that this coming week we will show Jesus that we do choose Him first and that we view our life this week with eternity in mind.

 

 

Abide in God

 

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 

 

'' 

''Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”’   
(I Peter5:7)

Christ The Redeemer.

 

 

My post is called:

 

Abide in God.

Lord, help me to abide in You

casting all my cares on You

 resting as I lean on You

and trusting in Your love.

 

 

Praying with Art Part 2

 

PRAYER SERIES.

Holy Spirit: Prayer Series Icon.

 

PRAYING WITH ART PART 2

Do you ever feel dry in prayer, stopped praying, would like to explore a different way to pray?

Throughout this series I would like to present some different ways to pray.  Many of them you will have heard of before, some of them you have already tried but might like to revisit and others may provide a different way into prayer.

In a previous part Praying with Art part 1 I introduced you to this type of prayer based on my own experience.   I would recommend that you read this post before reading this post.

In today’s post I would like to share with you further   I was introduced to this type of prayer last year, so I want to say that I am no expert.  I am sharing my own experience from this type of prayer from the course.  It is definitely worth exploring as another tool in the prayer tool box.

FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH PRAYING WITH ART.

Process:

1.    Relaxing of body, mind and spirit.  A guided relaxation of body, mind and spirit is important as it invites us to prepare for communion with God.  It helps let go of stress and tension and sets a relaxed slowing down of body mind and spirit. We can do this ourselves and/or use a guided relaxation already recorded of approximately 5-10 minutes.  This relaxation process should be in proportion to the time allocated.  For example, if you have set aside 15 minutes then a 10-minute relaxation exercise is too long, whereas a 5 minute one would be better.    If however you set aside 30 minutes for Praying with Art, then a 10 minute relaxation exercise as preparation would be great balance. In the end, it depends solely on you and your needs.

2.    Praying with Art using guided reflection questions.

Questions that you may wish to consider include:

1. Where does your eye first focus when you look at the picture? Then where does it travel to take in the whole painting?
2. How many colours do you see? Is there a particular colour which attracts your attention?
3.  Would you consider this a bright or a dark picture? • Are there any figures in the picture? Are you drawn to one in particular?
4.  Is there movement in the painting, or is it static?
5. Imagine yourself in the picture – become different figures or parts of it and see where you feel most comfortable.
6. You may want to compose a story around it – what has happened? What is happening? What do you imagine may happen? • Give the picture a different title or a ‘feeling’ name (such as ‘joy’, ‘anger’, ‘peace’, ‘hurt’)
7.  Does a piece of Scripture or a poem come to mind?
8. Stay with the painting and speak to the Lord about how it affects you and its significance for your life.
9. Feel free to allow the Holy Spirit to communicate other reflection questions and allow yourself to go where the Holy Spirit take you.  It is your time with God and the art is a medium in which to pray.

 

 

SUGGESTED ACTION PLAN FOR THIS WEEK.

 

1.      Choose an image/photo or art work either religious and secular.  Some people who use this process of praying using Art,  use the same image for a few days/week whilst others prefer to use a different image each time.  It is a personal choice.  Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you on the choice of religious or secular painting and whether you use it for a length of time on an ongoing basis or change.. 
2. .  . Take 5-10 minutes to relax your body and release stress from body/mind and spirit to prepare for your time with Jesus.
3.     Then spend time with the image and allow Jesus to speak to you through it.   

 

From my own experience, it is worth exploring this type of prayer as another means of praying.  If you are not used to this type of prayer or being quiet in His presence, many distractions can enter our mind even when some of them are valid and important. If you are able to let them pass in your mind without giving them due attention, then these distractions become less.  I find if I thank the distraction and let it know the matter will be attended to at a certain time, it goes away quickly.  It may sound strange but it works for me.

Another ideal way of dealing with distractions during prayer is to have a pen/paper handy coming into your praying with art time.  Should distractions/reminders arise in your mind, make a short note and bring yourself back to the art and more importantly to communing with Jesus. I like to thank the Holy Spirit for this reminder and by doing this, it becomes part of the prayer time too. 

The key to Praying with Art is to remember to pray and being in God’s presence for the time allocated.  The art is there as a medium to commune with God.  It is not meant to be a analysis of the art work itself as an art student or art critic may employ. Obviously, we will notice colour, texture, movement, subject but these are a means to allowing our thoughts to connect with God and what these thoughts mean for us in that time of Prayer. Praying with Art is entering into God's presence and allowing God to speak to us on a very personal level.

 

 

No 126 What place does the resurrection of Christ have in our faith? CCC 631,638)

 

COMPENDIUM SERIES

JESUS THE TEACHER:  Compendium Series Icon.

 

 

No 126.  What place does the resurrection of Christ have in our faith? (CCC631,638)

 

WHAT DOES THE COMPENDIUM SAY?

Compendium states:

The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ and represents along with His Cross an essential part of the pascal mystery.

What does this mean for me?

1. In acknowledging this truth of my faith, I can live knowing that I am loved by God.
2. I can accept the crosses that come across my path in my life knowing that I can offer them in union with Jesus who suffered, died and rose again for me.

Questions to consider.

1. What does the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus mean to me?
2. Why is the Resurrection of Jesus the crowning truth of our faith?
3. What part does this essential crowning truth play in my life?
4. What part does the Cross of Jesus play in my life?

 

 

 

Collect for Fourth Sunday Lent Year B

 

COLLECT SERIES

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT 

The Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Lent Year B reads as follows:

O God, who through Your Word

reconcile the human race to Yourself, in a wonderful way,

grant, we pray, that with prompt devotion and eager faith

the Christian people may hasten toward the solemn celebration to come.

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, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What is my relationship to Jesus?
2. What does the death and resurrection of Jesus mean to me?
3. What does it mean to have an eager faith and prompt devotion?
4. What is my attitude towards the upcoming solemnity of Easter?  Is it just a holiday or do I enter into the Triduum fully in my parish?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Gospel for today is from St. John 3:14-21. We meet   Nikodemus whose mind was partly open to Jesus, as  he was moved by the  teaching and miracles of Jesus.  He also defended Jesus when his companions wanted to arrest Jesus.  He assisted to ensure that Jesus had a proper burial when his enemies had him put to death.   There is no mention of him in the first Christian community of Jerusalem. What held him back, what kept. Him from giving himself fully to Jesus who spoke so kindly and told him so clearly that he himself was indeed a teacher who had come from God, that he had been offered by God as the sacrificial victim who would save the world? All Nicodemus had to do was to accept his word, "believe in him" and be baptized and he too would have eternal life.

Why did he not do this? The answer is given in the beginning of his story "He came to Jesus by night." He was one of the leading Pharisees and evidently was afraid of what they would think of him had they seen him associating with Jesus. How much more so did he dread what their reactions would be had he become a follower of him whom they called "this impostor." Nicodemus had only half of his mind open to the truth, the other half was closed and barred by his fear of what his own class—the leaders of the Jews—would think of him. He risked his own future happiness in order not to lose the present respect of his sinful associates.

The Gospel invites us to reflect on how open is our mind to Jesus.  It challenges us to consider how we are following Christ.  Are we afraid of what others may think of us if we live our faith eagerly and with devotion?   Do we defend or stand up for their religion when it is insulted and attacked in their place of work or in a saloon?  Sadly, many Catholics stand idly by, and give at least tacit approval, when grave injustices are being carried out by individuals or by local or national groups. These and many more like them are Christian types of Nicodemus, who through fear of losing the approval, the worthless esteem, of their sinful associates, are prepared to forfeit the esteem of God and their own eternal welfare.

Nicodemus probably thought he had made reparation for his lack of openness to Jesus when he assisted at his burial. What value, however, had that work of mercy for one of his frame of mind?

The Gospel also highlights the need for the two fold commitment to the commandment of love, namely love of God and love of neighbour.  There are many people who help their neighbour but sadly do not honour God.   What we need to realise is that humanism or concentrating on our neighbour to the exclusion of God, is a false imitation of religion. Helping our neighbour because he is a son of God is part of our true religion, and the second of the two great commandments of love; but helping a neighbour from whom we have effaced the image of God has not and cannot have any religious value or significance whatever.

As we journey through Lent we need to review our journey so far.  We need to recommit to accepting Christ with our whole heart, mind and soul.  We need to reflect on those areas of our lives where we still hesitate.   It is through Jesus that we have learned to love God and learned of God's infinite love for us.

 

LAUTARE SUNDAY

In Lent, we have the tradition to have a mid-Lent break, (the half way point of Lent), which is known as 'Laetare' Sunday derived from the latin 'to rejoice'. Liturgically we break away from the Lenten penitential spirit of the purple vestments to the wearing of rose-coloured vestments by the priest and/or deacon.  These rose-coloured vestments are only worn twice a year, so from a practical perspective, some parishes do not have a set, but use lighter purple vestments.

This is a great opportunity to review and tweak our Lenten journey. and to recommit to loving Jesus fully  by our works of penance, prayer and almsgiving.

Open my heart 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 

 

'' Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”’   
(Mt 6:21)

 

Christ the Redeemer

 

My post is called:

OPEEN MY HEART LORD.

Open my hands Lord
Help me to let go of those worldly treasures to which I cling,

Open my heart, Lord,

 Help me to make room for the heavenly treasures Your Spirit will bring. 

God, My Forever Friend.

 

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 

 

'' God is love. This is how God showed His love among us. 
. He sent His one and only Son into the world

 that we might live through Him”’   
I John 4,8-9)

 

Christ the Redeemer.

.

 

 

My post is called:

 

God My Forever Friend.

Lord, You are faithful and unfailing

A Forever Friend.

Forgive me for all the times I’ve looked elsewhere for security
founding my hope on people or things,

 when in my heart I know there no real refuge but You...

 

 

 

 

 

No 125 What is the 'hell' into which Jesus descended? ( CCC 632-637)

 

COMPENDIUM SERIES

   

JESUS THE TEACHER:  Compendium Series Icon.

 

No 125.  What is the “hell” into which Jesus descended? (CCC 632-37)

 

WHAT DOES THE COMPENDIUM SAY?

Compendium states:

The “hell’ was different from the hell of the dammed. It was the state of all those  righteous and evil, who died before  Christ.  With His soul united to His divine person, Jesus went down to the just in hell who were awaiting their Redeemer so that they could enter the vision of God.  When He had conquered by His death both death and the devil who has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14 , He freed the just who looked forward to the Redeemer and opened for them the gates of Heaven.

What does this mean for me?

1. Imagine being one of those people who were awaiting their  Redeemer  e.g. Prophets from the Old Testament, St Joseph,  St Joachim and St Anne ( grandparents of Jesus). What would they have felt when Jesus came to them?

2.       What areas in my life am I still awaiting my Redeemer to come?

3.       How does Jesus come to me each day with His redemption?

Questions to consider.

1.     How can I  tap into the Divine in me and unite it more deeply with my humanity?

2.     What does redemption mean to me for my life currently?

3.    How do I show gratitude to Jesus for His suffering, death and resurrection to save and redeem me?

4.     How does this truth affect the way I recite the Nicene and Apostles Creed?