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Showing posts from March, 2021

Holy Week: Top of the Charts to Lethal Fiasco

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It's the start of Holy Week, almost the end of Lent.... ...Jesus was top of the charts, wildly popular. Grass roots opinion, apparently, was that they finally had their messianic king.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

The Sacred Paschal Triduum - Tréan Naofa na Cásca

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  The Sacred Paschal Triduum Tréan Naofa na Cásca   Thursday of the Lord's Supper Déardaoin Shéire an Tiarna Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples (detail) Tintoretto [ Web Gallery of Art ] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,   rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it round his waist.   Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped round him   (John 13:3-5, ESVUK).  Ó bhí a fhios ag Íosa go raibh gach uile ní tugtha isteach ina lámha dó, ag an Athair, agus gur ó Dhia a ghabh sé amach, agus gur ar Dhia a bhí a thriall,  d'éirigh sé ón suipéar, agus leag sé uaidh a chuid éadaigh, agus cheangail sé tuáille faoina choim.  Ansin chuir sé uisce sa bháisín agus thosaigh ag ní cosa na ndeisceabal agus á dtiormú leis an tuáille a bhí faoina choim (Eoin 13:3-5, ABN). The Last Suppe

Passing the Word Along

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  My husband was out walking one day and stopped to talk to a neighbor.   He mentioned that we were looking for a quality contractor to do some work for us in our basement.   The neighbor gave us the name of someone she had used and was happy with their work. When my husband told me about it, my response was “Yes, of course, we should call them!” because we knew what the neighbor had just been through with their own house and we knew how thorough she was in getting her work done. As I was thinking about this, it occurred to me that this is how it should be for us, in faith.   We can be confident in the character of the apostles and those early disciples of Jesus who not only gave witness to him, but truthfully—and accurately—passed on the message of salvation. We can trust their word. You might say it is easier for me to believe in the neighbor I can see than Jesus who I cannot, but that shouldn’t be the case.   There are many things we believe based on what we have heard wit

Lenten Reflections

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Too much of ME?

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  Have you poured your heart and soul into writing for your blog or podcast only to be disappointed that five people in total are following you? Have you ever given a presentation for work, or given a talk before your civic group, only to realize that the response of your audience implies boredom rather than engagement in your message? How did this make you feel?   If it has happened more than once, it may lead you to reconsider whether your efforts are worth it. One thing that stands out for me has nothing to do with being personally affirmed, or rejected, but whether I feel called to it.   Disappointment can lead us to call into question our own ability.   That seems like a pretty universal thing, but if you are only doing what you do because you need to hear positive feedback, you may be doing it for the wrong reasons. One of the things that is critical to self-assessment when you have put your personal efforts out there for others, is to remove the “me” from the critique.   O

'They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross.' Sunday Reflections, Palm Sunday, Year B

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  From  The Gospel of John   (2003) directed by Philip Saville [John 12:12-16 runs from 0:00 to 0:56] The Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem Mark 11:1-10   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus   sent two of his disciples   and said to them,  “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.   If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’”   And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it.   And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”   And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.   And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.   And many spread their cloaks on the