He is Risen! - The Easter Vigil ~ by Josephine Fernando

We had a number of readings read at the Easter Vigil. We primarily commemorate the Passover Feast of the Lord. The Israelites were redeemed from bondage, from slavery at the hands of the Egyptians. It was a command from God, that every generation henceforth will tell its generation and will celebrate this great feast.

When they crossed the Reed Sea, they were being baptized and were led into the wilderness. When Our Lord was baptized, He too, was led by the Spirit into the desert.

The Water, Fire and the Easter candle are blessed at the Easter Vigil. They are very symbolic of new life in the Lord. Water and Fire symbolizes our Baptism and Holy Spirit, through which we enter the Church and become the Body of Christ. It symbolizes our new life in the Lord, to forget our old self, behavior, attitude... for we put on the robe of Christ. Baptism is the first Sacrament, which initiates the other sacraments and our Christian walk.

We heard the reading from the Book of Genesis, the Creation story. God created man in His image and likeness. The Lord also wants us to imitate Him. We need to be loving and caring, the very essence of Our Lord's quality, which led to Our Lord's Apostolic ministry. Only when we are loving, will gratitude flow from us; will we be more concerned of our neighbors than ourselves. Thus we can build up our Church together.

If there was no resurrection, there would have been no hope for us Christians. We too believe, that one day, when we die, we will also rise, for the Lord rose from the dead. Death has no power over us, for Our Lord Jesus Christ defeated death.

Easter is one of the greatest feasts in our Church. The tomb is empty. Our Lord is Risen! We need to be joyous. Shalom. May we experience the Peace of Christ, every moment of our lives, for we have risen with Our Lord Jesus Christ.



~ Three Marys at the Tomb by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
~ Image at Free Christ Images

Good Friday - The Lord's Passion ~ by Cathy Woodson

This day, as well as this entire week, is special - Holy Week. With the death of Jesus, we feel sorrow because he died and we feel joy because his death rescued us from sin. We may ask ourselves was there another way for salvation to come to us; but this was God's plan. Jesus was condemned to die and he was put to death by crucifixion, the method used to deter others from following the acts of criminals. Jesus was not a criminal but he was treated like a criminal, but remember, he suffered and died because of our sins.

In our ordinary lives, we celebrate those who give their lives to protect us, to keep us free. But freedom is not free; someone always pays a price. We make this week special because Jesus is our hero. He worked and gave his life for all nations. We honor him now, today, at this Good Friday service.

Jesus reminds us there is no greater love. We are here to say thank you, thank you Jesus. We must ask ourselves how will we show supreme love? What do we need to do to show and practice true love. We too must be prepared to suffer.

Jesus asked forgiveness for those who persecuted him, demonstrating true love for all. He shows us that we must love those who hurt us; hurt is part of human life. Remember, Jesus was betrayed, but he still asked God to forgive those who stood against him.

We must pray, fast and give alms so that we will be able to feel the strength of our faith in God and love with all our hearts, even those who hurt us. AMEN.



~ The Crucifixion
~ Image at Lost Seed

Holy Thursday ~ Jesus teaches by example II

"This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

"This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 1 Cor 11:24 and 25



~ The Last Supper by Jacopo Bassano, 1542
~ Free Christ Images

Holy Thursday ~ Jesus teaches by example

"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." John 13:8



On Holy Thursday night, twelve of our parishioners took the role of the apostles and had their feet washed. Here are the twelve and the Apostle they portrayed:

1. Tommie Williams ~ St. Andrew
2. Roland Smith ~ St. Jude
3. Tyronna Jones ~ St. Thomas
4. Barbara Randall ~ St. John
5. Melvon McMillan ~ St. Phillip
6. Stacey Wright ~ St. Peter
7. Amy Williford ~ St. Simon the Zealot
8. Jennie Green ~ St. Matthew
9. Jackie Hall ~ St. Bartholomew
10. Johnell Nero ~ St. James the Lesser
11. Nancy Freeman ~ St. James the Great
12. Barbara Williford ~ St. Matthias


~ Christ Washing Peter's Feet by Ford Madox Brown
~ Free Christ Images

FOLLOW...

FOLLOW is an unusual meditation for Holy Week and Easter. And well worth watching...




~ Uploaded to YouTube by Igniter Media ~

Palm Sunday 2011 ~ Ride on, King Jesus!

Is 50:4-7
Ps 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Phil 2:6-11
Mt 27:11-54

Our procession this morning commemorated Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem so many centuries ago. From the parking lot to the entrance of the church, we sang and waved our palms! On entering the church, the choir began our entrance song, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, lift up your voice and sing: Hosanna in the highest; Hosanna to our King!"

Jesus arrived like a king to the cheers of the people. But this Jesus was a different kind of king than the one the people expected. He was a humble king who rode into the city on an ass instead of a horse.

His kingship was not political or economic. No, Jesus' mission was spiritual. His agenda was to bring peace of mind and heart to His people; a servant leadership that was expressed as "we", not "I". Jesus led by example and showed us that the way to God was through serving and loving one another.

The crowds that cheered Jesus that triumphant day turned into a mob that mocked and jeered Him a few days later as He was led away to carry His cross. The crowd failed to recognize a king who did not liberate them in the manner they expected. So, instead, they crucified Him.



~ Icon at Crossroads Initiative

The Raising of Lazarus ~ Fifth Sunday of Lent

Jn 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45

In today's Gospel, we hear what happened when Jesus learned of the serious illness that had befallen his friend, Lazarus. Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus to come as soon as possible. They were frightened and felt certain that Jesus could cure their brother and that he wanted to cure him. However, Jesus lingered along the way and back in Bethany, Lazarus died and his sisters buried him.

Several days later, Jesus finally arrived in Bethany. Martha went to meet him on the road, saying: "If only you had been here, my brother would not have died." Martha seemed to have lost hope for her brother's life... but she was comforted as she listened to the words of Jesus.

But Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow, when he saw the grief of the bereaved sisters, their family and friends. He wept with them and asked where Lazarus had been laid. There he had the stone rolled away. After offering a prayer to his Father, we turned to the open tomb and cried out: "Lazarus, come out!"

Can you imagine their joy as Lazarus was united with his family and friends? There could be no question that a true miracle had taken place... Lazarus had been in the tomb so long that his body had begun to decompose; and yet, here he stood, a whole and alive human being! God's plan (not theirs), accomplished through the action of Jesus, tells us that we should never give up! Jesus purposely delayed his arrival in Bethany so that an even greater miracle than a healing could take place.

What does this event mean for us? We must hold out even when our prayers seem to go unanswered. No matter the situation, we must trust that God has something even more wonderful in store for us or for those we pray for.

So during the rest of this Lenten season, we pray: "Father, we do trust you. We ask that you help us to hold out. With your grace, we believe we can hold out... until our change comes. Amen."

~ Image by Hermano Leon Clipart

Reflection on the Gospel Reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent ~ by Phyllis Booth

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Jesus Heals the Man Blind from Birth

John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45

Lent is a season when we stop the business of our life and find a quiet place or space to devote time to really see if we are following the greatest commandment of God - "to love our neighbor as you love yourself."

In today's Gospel, we find four diverse groups that didn't see the joy and gladness the healing by Jesus brought to the man born blind. His neighbors still saw him as a beggar; the Pharisees saw only the fact that the healing took place on the Sabbath; therefore, Jesus broke the law and wasn't from God. The Jews didn't believe he was born blind and gained his sight; and even the disciples saw his blindness as a sin.

The most compassionate and merciful character in this story is the man born blind. He gave his healing to the glory of God and thought Jesus was a prophet. He didn't criticize those who questioned his healing and wouldn't believe him or his parents. The Holy Spirit helped him to hold out under the pressure he received and still believed God had a hand in what had happened.

The commandment to love others as you love yourself is a great challenge. We see so much in ourselves that we just don't love. The desire to look different, our hair, our shape, the desire for wealth, praise, popularity, attachment to possessions and pleasure - the list seems endless. This is the blind spot in our character. Why does this happen? Is it because we don't believe we are made in the image and likeness of God and that God loves us unconditionally? When we have these thoughts we need to talk to God and say, "Lord, help me to hold out and believe that You love me and help me to love others."

~ Image by Turn Back to God