Preparations for the Passover

Posted on by
Reply

This series of posts considers, in detail, the gospel reading from Mark for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. This is the fourth post in the series.

12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15 Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.  Continue reading →

Patris Corde

Posted on by
Reply

Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Several years ago Pope Francis wrote the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde – With a Father’s Heart. It is a wonderful reflection of the attributes and characteristics of fatherhood – and also understands that St. Joseph serves as a model, not just for fathers, but for all who care for others. Click here to read the full text of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter. Continue reading →

The Betrayal by Judas

Posted on by
Reply

This series of posts considers, in detail, the gospel reading from Mark for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. This is the third post in the series.

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand him over to them. 11 When they heard him they were pleased and promised to pay him money. Then he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.  Continue reading →

The Anointing at Bethany

Posted on by
Reply

This series of posts considers, in detail, the gospel reading from Mark for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. This is the second post in the series.

3 When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head. 4 There were some who were indignant. “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? 5 It could have been sold for more than three hundred days’ wages and the money given to the poor.” They were infuriated with her. 6 Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body for burial. 9 Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” 

Continue reading →

Possibility of New Life

Posted on by
Reply

The scene in today’ gospel (a woman caught in adultery) is a mixture of zealous righteousness that seeks to enact the law without pardon or quarter, the leadership who want to trap Jesus between mercy and the Law, and a woman caught in sin, fearing for her life.  True righteousness would have some measure of concern for her soul. True righteousness would be free from deceitfulness, not hiding behind loyalty to Moses for other intentions. Continue reading →

The Passion of the Christ

Posted on by
Reply

The Conspiracy Against Jesus

This series of posts considers, in detail, the gospel reading from Mark for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. This is the first post in the series.

There is much that occurs between the entry gospel on Palm Sunday and the gospel proclaimed during the Mass. If one wanted to give a moniker to what falls between it may be best described as a “conflict between the kingdoms.” The passages (11:12 – 13:37) between include:

  • Arguments surrounding the authority of Jesus, taxes to Caesar, the Resurrection, the greatest commandment, and the nature of the Messiah
  • The parable of the vineyard and the widow’s mite
  • The Markan discourse of the things to come and the end time.

Continue reading →

Footlocker Letters

Posted on by
Reply

As we come to the end of our Lenten journey we begin to hear the echoes of Holy Week and the Passion of the Christ: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” It is hard to hear those words and not think of the coming passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. The One who came that we might have life and have it to the fullest. The One who even now, just like on the cross, has arms wide open to welcome and embrace us. The One whose heart is filled with love for us. The One who is love itself. Continue reading →

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – at the Procession with Palms

Posted on by
Reply

In Lectionary Cycle B, this passage is the gospel read at the start of the Palm Sunday celebration before the procession with the palms. There is another gospel proclaimed that day: the Passion of the Lord, also taken from the Gospel of Mark (the long version: 14:1—15:47). But this reading is the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and in Mark’s narrative it is another “hinge moment” on which the gospel pivots – just as the Transfiguration (9:2-8) served as the pivot towards Jerusalem. So too, the moment pivots our attention from the ministry of Jesus to the final events of Holy Week.

Continue reading →

A Final Reflection

Posted on by
Reply

The Biblical scholar Gail O’Day offer some final thoughts:

John 12:20–36 is the most concentrated collection of sayings on the death of Jesus in the Gospel of John and, therefore, provides the interpreter with an appropriate place to reflect on the meaning of the death of Jesus in this Gospel. Theological inquiry about Jesus’ death and its soteriological [things relating to salvation] efficacy is most frequently identified as “atonement theology.” Before looking at the Johannine understanding of the death of Jesus, it will be helpful to review the theologies of atonement that have shaped and continue to shape the life of the church. Continue reading →

Palm Sunday and the Passion Gospels

Posted on by
Reply

Starting tomorrow and up until Wednesday, March 27th, there will be a series of posts that offer a gospel commentary of the two gospels proclaimed on Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. The full commentary runs 27 pages in length – so, I thought it best to provide in smaller posts with some natural breaks in the narrative providing some guidance. That being said, some of the posts are long. There’s a lot going on in the readings. May the commentaries help you prepare for Holy Week!