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It was just another day of the week, or was it? Jesus knew, as God, that before the week would end, He will have given His life, for many, to conquer death. What must Jesus have been thinking? He arrived in Jerusalem the day before; greeted with fanfare; literally, with palms waving in the springtime breeze. Jesus knew, only too well, how fickle man can be; how in the blink of an eye, they would turn on Him. He would be turned over to the authorities and would be put to death. Jesus only had a few more days to... Read more...  

"Let us spread before His feet, not garments of soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves clothed in His grace, or rather, clothed completely in Him.  We who have been baptized into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before Him...."   (continue...)

Christ's Entry into Jerusalem , Melozzo da Forli, 1477-82  Basilica della Santa Casa, Loreto, Italy Gospel for the Procession   Luke 19:28-40   ( NRSV, Catholic Ed. , Can)  After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany   at the hill called the Mount of Olives,   he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,     “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.    If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.   As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.   As he went along, people spread their cloaks   on the road. When he came near the place where the r

The Gospel of John  (2003) directed by Philip Saville  The Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem John 12:12-16. The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.   So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.  Look, your king is coming,   sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. At the Mass   Gospel   Mark 14:1 – 15:47  or  15:1-39 Chalice , Gilt Silver,1450 -1500, Hungarian Goldsmith Hungarian National Museum, Budapest  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them dr

Our granddaughter's baptism was yesterday, which was a very happy occasion. We had a few folks over to celebrate, so my quiet Saturday afternoon was anything but. As a result, this post may be less organized than most: which is saying something.... (Palm fronds at Our Lady of Angels church. April 1, 2012.) ...It's Palm Sunday, when Christians remember Jesus' enthusiastic welcome in Jerusalem: followed by equally-enthusiastic cries of 'crucify him!' We'll be holding palm fronds and reading parts of Matthew 21:1-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66 this morning. I enjoy echoing the crowd's hosanna. What comes after that isn't much fun: even though I know what happened on the first Easter.... I don't enjoy some parts of our Palm Sunday reenactment: I'm too aware of my personal contributions to humanity's guilt. But I think it's prudent to get reminded of the big picture now and then. Besides, like I've said before, Jesus didn't stay

Christ's Entry into Jerusalem Melozzo da Forli, 1477-82, Fresco, Basilica of Santa Casa, Loreto [ Web Gallery of Art ] The Commemoration of the Lord's Entrance into Jerusalem  Gospel  Matthew 21:1-11  (New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition , Canada) 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 fulfill 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

Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ will be aired on Palm Sunday, April 13 on UP TV.  This is the first time this film (edited-for-television) will be shown on commercial television and coincides with the founding of UP TV (formerly the Gospel Music Channel) a decade ago. You can read more about the film at Being Catholic ... Really

My annual Palm Sunday project is finished!  I wove five palm fronds into these cone shapes.  I will keep the green vase on my dresser next to a statue of Our Lady and the Christ Child.  The blue and white vase will be in my prayer/music practice room next to my crucifix. My woven palms I am a lector in my parish.  This morning I had the honor of reading the First Reading, Isaiah 50:4-7, which was the prophetic third Song of the Suffering Servant.  It is a reading that reminds us to listen before speaking, always wise advice for anyone.  I was also the narrator for the Gospel Reading, the Passion according to Luke.  When I read, I get absorbed in what I'm reading, and certain parts resonate with me during the process. When Peter denied Jesus three times, as the Lord had predicted he would, the cock crowed and Jesus turned and looked at Peter.  The gaze of Jesus hurt Peter.  He wept bitterly, remorsefully.  As I read this today I imagined Jesus' looking.

From The Gospel of John (2003). Directed by Philip Saville. Jesus played by Henry Ian Cusick; narrator, Christopher Plummer. Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) At the Procession of Palms either of these gospels may be used: Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16. Gospel for Procession of Palms Mark 11:1-10 (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) When they were approaching Jerusalem, in sight of Bethphage and Bethany, close by the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, 'Go off to the village facing you, and as soon as you enter it you will find a tethered colt that no one has yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, "What are you doing?" say, "The Master needs it and will send it back here directly." They went off and found a colt tethered near a door in the open street. As they untied it, some men standing ther