DAILY PRAYER

The Church manifests a respectful sorrow for the death of the Lord. Today, the universal Church has no official liturgy. The Church symbolically dies with her Lord.

People all over the world today are seeking the pardon and forgiveness that Jesus won for us from the Father employing all that we have been recalling these last few days — Jesus’ blood shed on the cross.

“It is precisely in this that God proves his love for us: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Now that we have been justified by his blood, it is all the more certain that we shall be saved by him from God’s wrath.” (Rm 5:8-9)

This night we will gather in joyful anticipation to celebrate the most solemn Mass in the Church: The solemn Easter Vigil Liturgy.

The word vigil means ‘to watch, to wait, to be ready.’ We anticipate the Resurrection of Jesus, His passage from death to life — from slavery to freedom, in much the same way the Jews passed from Egyptian slavery to freedom in the Promised Land.  Our resurrection is His marvelous gift offered us in His Resurrection.

There will be many Scripture texts read in tonight’s liturgy.  They will serve to recall the path to salvation our people have followed for thousands of years. 

“If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we hold out to the end we shall also reign with him.” (2 Tm 2:11)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 118:22 “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

WEEKLY PETITIONS

March 29, 2024, Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Read:  Is 52:13–53:12   Heb 4:14-16, 5:7-9   Jn 18:1–19: 42   (Pss Prop)

DAILY PRAYER

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy…” (Heb 4:15-16)

Christian tradition has emphasized the importance of Good Friday from the earliest days. Though not a holy day of obligation (it never had to be), pious Christians naturally venerate this day.

We remember the Passion, Crucifixion, and Death, of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The purpose of recalling His suffering is to remind us of His love for us, and our need for gratitude before Almighty God.

We need to be grateful because Jesus placed Himself between the Father and us as the perfect and acceptable sacrifice.  Jesus is our flesh.  By voluntarily offering Himself as priest and victim, He canceled out the evil that had us excluded from eternal life.

Through sin, humanity broke off the love relationship we enjoyed with the Lord.   Without divine life within us, we were incapable of reconciling to God’s rehabilitating love.

 “You were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross.”  (Col 2:13-14)

Today we venerate this day on which we were saved!

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 22:8   “All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer; they shake their heads at me.”

WEEKLY PETITIONS

DAILY PRAYER

“When he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, ‘Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow so that as I have done for you, you should also do.’”  (Jn 13:12-15)

The apostles were surprised that Jesus would wash their feet. Although washing the feet of guests at a banquet was standard procedure, the job of footwasher was considered so undignified it was suited only for slaves. 

Peter objected forcefully: “You will never wash my feet.” But Jesus answered him: “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” (Jn 13:8)

Jesus wanted to teach His followers an essential lesson: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples: if you have a love for one another.” (Jn 13:35)

For the Christian, there is no job in the service of the Lord that is too embarrassing or beneath us.

“I have given you a model to follow so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

Even after all that Jesus taught and lived, many of us keep the ugly mentality that our greatness depends on the number and quality of those who are attending to our needs, rather than seeing greatness in the example of Christ — in our service to others.  In Christ, we are the servants of the servants.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 133:1  “See!  How good it is, how pleasant, where the brothers dwell as one!”

WEEKLY PETITIONS

DAILY PRAYER

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.’”   (Mt 26:17-18)

Jesus and His disciples went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Thousands of Israelites went to Jerusalem to do the same. Passover was the most important celebration of the Jewish people.  The Jews commemorated their delivery from slavery in Egypt. They commemorated the pact between God and His chosen people.  It was a national feast of thanksgiving.

Each family was required to bring to the temple an unblemished lamb, which a priest would offer in sacrifice.

At the Last Supper, Jesus and His apostles were going to do the same. Yet Jesus was about to institute a New Passover. Now it wouldn’t be the flesh or blood of lambs that would win a hearing from God.  Rather, it would be the very Body and Blood of the Lord Himself, offered to the Father in expiation of our sins.  It would be an offering for all time and all people, sealing with the Blood of Christ — the Lamb of God — a New Covenant between God and man.

It is essential that we, too, participate in the New Passover instituted by Our Lord. We do so when we partake of His Body and His Blood in the Holy Eucharist at Mass.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 78:24: “God rained manna upon them for food; bread from heaven he gave them.”

WEEKLY PETITIONS

DAILY PRAYER

“‘My children, I will be with you only a little while longer… Where I go you cannot come… Simon Peter said to him, ‘Master, where are you going?’ Jesus answered him, ‘‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.’ Peter said to him, ‘Master, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’” (Jn 13:33-37)

Peter insisted on knowing what was going to happen to the Master, and even offered to accompany Jesus to His death.  Our Lord gently reminded Peter of the weakness of human nature: “The cock will not crow before you deny me three times.” (Jn 13:38) 

During the Last Supper, Jesus also had to suffer Judas’ presence, who would ultimately deliver Our Lord to those who would kill Him.

Said Jesus to Judas: “What you are going to do, do quickly.”   (Jn 13:27)

Perhaps Jesus felt a little better after Judas left. After Judas was gone, Our Lord opened His soul to His intimate friends: “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him…”   (Jn 13:31)

In this soulful prayer, Jesus alluded to His impending death. But, for whatever divine rationale, He did not explain to them what was about to happen: “Where I go you cannot come.”

Jesus acknowledged Peter’s eager good intentions while at the same time knowing he would stumble at first.  After his repentance, Peter would later become a courageous martyr for the Lord: “You cannot follow me now, though  you will follow later.”

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 57:7 “They have set a trap for my feet; my soul is bowed down.”

WEEKLY PETITIONS

DAILY PRAYER

“They gave a dinner for Jesus, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.  Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair.” (Jn 12:2-3)

Jesus must have been preoccupied with His imminent Passion.  Just a short time before this scene, He commented to His apostles: “‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem and everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.  He will be handed over to the Gentiles and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon…’  But they understood nothing of this; the word remained hidden from them and they failed to comprehend what  he said.” (Lk 18:31-34)

At the dinner for Jesus mentioned in today’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene had acquired a very fine perfumed nard to anoint the Master, as was the custom of showing respect towards persons of high stature. While Jesus and his followers were at table, Mary Magdalene went to anoint His feet. Everyone accepted and understood the act, except Judas.

Out of pride, jealousy, envy, and greed, Judas reproached Mary Magdalene.

But Jesus came to her defense, comparing what she was doing to the anointing of a corpse at the time of death.  “Leave her alone.  Let her keep this for the day of my burial.” (Jn 12:7)

Mary demonstrated her great love and respect for the Lord through this humble and intimate sacrificial service.  What are we doing to show our love for Him?

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 144:4 “Man is but a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” 

WEEKLY PETITIONS