Association Of Catholic Bloggers

The Gospel reading for Palm Sunday is riveting  (Matthew 26:14—27:66); it moves us through a gamut of emotions as we picture crowds adoring Christ as He enters Jerusalem, witness the Last Supper, watch Judas betray his friend, Peter deny his Lord, the trials, the crowds now roaring for Jesus’s death, and the agony of the crucifixion.

However, what strikes me this year about the Passion narrative is that everyone eventually ends up serving God, whether they know it or not, whether they act in an ungodly manner or out of weakness.

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In North Carolina, we are under a state of emergency, where no more than ten people can congregate at one time. Therefore, our Bishop cancelled all Masses throughout my Diocese, until further notice. Yet, this is the holiest week of the year, with Mass on Holy Thursday, Good Friday Services, and of course, the Easter Vigil. So, how might one honor Holy Week while the Churches are closed? Honor Holy Week Although we cannot attend services here in North Carolina, and perhaps in your neck of the woods, as well, here are some suggestions on how you might honor Holy Week, safely from our own homes: Read Scripture, specifically the daily Mass readings. You can find them by... Read more...

You think you have drama in your life?Well, stay tuned for the week we are entering into.I hope you have managed to have a deeply spiritual experience during this Lent because the joy of the resurrection will soon be released upon us.
Here’s the scene we step into today.I must start by asking an obvious question.
How dare Judas ask, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” (Remember, Judas was given 30 pieces of silver to turn Jesus over to the authorities, which led to his death.)
Judas wasn’t alone in wondering about this according to the other gospels.There were others that wondered the same thing, but how dare he, in particular, ask this question since he was a thief and actually stole contributions from people?
Did he really care about the poor?No, of course not, and although he gives the appearance of taking the high moral ground during this exchange (Gospel of John, Chapter 12) at the house of Simon the leper, in front of Mary, the siste…

Journal during coronavirus pandemic, part 3

One thing that I have noticed with being pregnant this time around is that I have had little trouble sleeping up until this point, and being able to sleep hard and well and long is feeling to me like a superpower.  I am not tossing and turning when I turn in at night.  Yes there have been days of nausea, and moments of discomfort.  But everyone in my family is very understanding of my need for more sleep.  It may be hard in some ways, but it's just a different kind of annoying. AND I get a baby daughter out of it! Some might say I'm making light of it, but another way of looking at this moment in my life is that I reject any opportunity to complain, focus on negativity, or become consumed by fears. 

So the same could be said about the coronavirus.  It's annoying. It's hard.  But it's like life. It's a different kind of annoying.  It's a different kind of normal. I think we can all reframe our mentality about it.  I&…

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Here's something we can all do tomorrow, Friday, April 3, 2020. Be sure to check it out!
https://dioceseoflansing.org/news/day-prayer-and-fasting-announced
Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.blogspot.com janetcassidy.blubrry.net

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Christ's Entry inot Jerusalem Melozzo da Forli [Web Gallery of Art]

The Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11.
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
        and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds th…