The service.
Good Friday
Tag: Holy Week
Stations of the Cross – Migrants 2025
Stations of the Cross photos, document and videos.
Station Prayers
Station Photos
Photos Blessings
Stations Videos
Holy Week Muse
I’ll write the Good Friday reflection later today, evening time I think. I have a morning outdoor Stations of the Cross in Palm Beach Gardens to attend and participate, then Good Friday services at Saint Mark’s.
What an amazing Holy Week. It is unusual for me to have so many memorial and graveside services during Holy Week (usually deferred). Yet, much to my surprise the readings Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Holy Week were so perfect to fit the inspirations for the liturgy itself and the homiletics and eulogy themes that resulted for me and the mourning family speakers.
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end (Jn 13:1).
We usually know when death is near. Yet it is the perfect time to know how your family loves you. And loves on you to the end.
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?” (MT 26:17).
Preparing for the Passover has many vectors to consider. For the moment consider this. We help those those who are about to die. We help those in anticipatory grief. We help those who mourn and need to ways to express love. Where and how. In love the disciples asked, not as a facilitation of an event, but as an expression of love and honor.
The Passover commemorated the redemption from slavery and the departure of the Israelites from Egypt by night (NABRE Commentary).
It is a movement from affliction to freedom. It recognizes the sudden haste with which death comes – even as we know it comes, does it not startle us when it comes ‘so quickly‘. It recalls the promises. The blessings of the everlasting mountains, the delights of the eternal hills (Gen 49:26).
Some miscellany shots.
South Florida National Cemetery
Holy Thursday was Chrism Mass in the morning at the VAMC and Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the evening. The Chrism Mass was both Chrism and Memorial. God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness (PS 45:8) which is also known as the Sacred Chrism of our baptism. It that not perfect for a mourning soul?!
Conclusion
Until later today, be well. Remember you are loved. Deeply. Personally. Absolutely. Eternally.
P.S. AI doesn’t like my muse. It’s hard for AI to believe English is my first language.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
The LORD is our Healing Balm
Greetings on this the Holy Thursday – Chrism Mass
Readings: Isaiah 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9; Psalm 89:21-22, 25 and 27; Revelation 1:5-8; Luke 4:16-21
Summary
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Reflection
Is there no balm in Gilead, no healer there? Why does new flesh not grow over the wound of the daughter of my people? (Jer 8:22). Yes! Jesus, Bishop and the People of God with the gifts of the oils.
He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Personal Reflection
The oils blessed once per year in a large volume is distributed among the 54 parishes of the Diocese of Palm Beach. We trace the early versions of the Chrism Mass by way of the Apostolic Tradition. The artifact, The Apostolic Tradition [ca. A.D. 215]. Within the book instructions on ordaining a bishop, a deacon, confessors and presbyters (priests), prayers over the waters (holy water), infant baptism, and the blessing of oils
1. Oil of Thanksgiving (SC)
2. Oil of Exorcism (OC)
- Oil of the Infirm (OI)
- Oil of the Catechumen (OC or OS)
- Sacred Chrism (SC)
Jesus has given many gifts to express the divine love. The Chrism Mass oils remind us that at every phase of our life (pre-baptism, baptism and in our infirmity) we are give aid and comfort by the Lord. Here is an educational page: https://www.simplycatholic.com/what-are-holy-oils/
Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041725-chrism.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Reflection on Judas: A Lesson in Spiritual Awe
Greetings on this the Wednesday of Holy Week
Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34; Matthew 26:14-25
Summary
How can Judas betray Jesus? One might say it was because he never appreciated with fear and trembling the works of the Lord.
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” (MT 26:20-21, 24).
Reflection
Sobering thought on so many levels. An enormity of a deed is such that it would be better not to exist than to do it (USCCB Commentary).
We can heap a lot of scorn on Judas’ head. He was there to see miracles, he received supernatural blessings, he partook in the Sign miracles and more. Nonetheless he betrayed.
Instead, work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12b).
See these references: Ex 15:16; Jdt 2:28; Ps 2:11; Is 19:16.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ex/15?16#02015016
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jdt/2?28#18002028
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ps/2?11#23002011
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/is/19?16#29019016
Personal Reflection
Of all the antagonist exposed to the ministry of Jesus Christ, Judas is a singular example. He saw, he knew he participated.
- He simply had no awe for what he saw.
- He had no respect for the works of God he helped to complete.
- He did not tremble at the reality of our sinfulness in the presence of innocence.
These then are the warnings to me. Is that not the purpose of the story? Do we take no personal reflection on this tragic life?
- Lord, may I always be in awe of your works and your love.
- Lord, may I respect the fact you deigned to come Incarnate.
- Lord, may I reject my own sinfulness to prepare (and repairing) my soul to receive you now and forever.
Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041625.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Understanding Judas’ Betrayal During Holy Week
Greetings on this the Tuesday of Holy Week
Readings: Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17; John 13:21-33, 36-38
Summary
During Holy Week, in the gospel of John, we have entered the Book of Glory.
“The Book of Glory”: 13:1—20:31 (Last Supper: Washing the Disciples’ Feet, Foretelling Judas’ Betrayal & Peter’s Denial, Farewell Discourses; Jesus’ Great Prayer; Passion Narrative: Arrest, Hearings & Trials, Crucifixion, Death & Burial; Resurrection Appearances, esp. to Mary Magdalene and Thomas) x-ref https://catholic-resources.org/John/Outlines-Gospel.htm
In our gospel portion today and tomorrow the Betrayal by Judas is given in two parts (two gospel accounts, John and Matthew). In the gospel of John, the Washing of the Disciples’ Feet precedes the handing of the morsel and just after the giving of The New Commandment. In the gospel of Matthew, the scene begins with The Betrayal by Judas with the authorities and immediately followed by The Lord’s Supper.
Both the prediction of the denial of Jesus by Peter and the betrayal by Judas are given today. For Judas a determination of will and for Peter the weakness of the heart.
The Dividing Line
The Book of Signs is completed and now the great dividing line. Either we accept Jesus or we reject him. The last disagreements between the disciples has finished. Judas has left. What are left are believers. Weak hearted believers but believers. Some scattered, Peter denied, a few at a distance, and another wanted to use the sword to defend.
How then Glory?
- Jesus, the humble and suffering Servant – And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth (Isa 49:6).
- Jesus, Allowing the betrayal – When [Judas] had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the [authorities], ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.” (Jn 13:31-33)
- Jesus, Allowing the denial – Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.” (Jn 13: 36-38).
Just beyond the reading scope today, the New Commandment (Jesus, the Lord who commands). In our scope today the Glory begins with the permissive and humble heart of God. Jesus was deeply troubled and testified (Jn 13:21), but he kept his heart firmly for our redemption.
Reflection
So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night (Jn 13:30). Do we acknowledge the Signs of Jesus? Or do we take a simple morsel of betrayal and conduct our lives as before with money and greed and advantage? There are inflection points in our lives. We decide A or B, good or bad, help or harm.
Even in the darkness of today’s gospel portion, we can proclaim: Thus says the LORD: In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you (Isa 49:8). And again, Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2b).
Personal Reflection
It hits hard today’s gospel portion. Jesus shares everything and even washed my feet. It is a reflexive action to wonder how I might or might not reflect this love back to him and to the children he loves, that is, all of us.
But even now, even in the darkest movements. But the sun is not yet high in the sky. There is time, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041525.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Reflections for Holy Week: Love and Justice
Greetings on this the Monday of Holy Week
Readings: Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14; John 12:1-11
Summary
The land will never lack for needy persons; that is why I command you: “Open your hand freely to your poor and to your needy kin in your land.” (Deut 15:11). So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. (Jn 12:7-8)”
This Holy Week we must think like Mary and act like Mary in our gospel portion. Render love when we love. Learn to love where we do not have any.
Entering the Passion
Today is Monday of Holy Week. We have entered the climax of the conflict between humble love and extreme power. Beginning with Palm Sunday which is a sort of preamble of the Holy Week summarizing the events leading up to the tomb. Through the week, we step into each movement. The Easter Vigil speaks to victory over death and the final sign of Moses.
Gentle Lord
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, Until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching (ISa 42:1-4).
The large crowd of the [people] found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the [leadership] plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the [people] were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him (modified Jn 12:9-11).
Personal Reflection
Today has three specific meanings to me.
- Render to God that which is God’s. Mary returns love to the Lord because she loves him, accepts him and accepts the fate that is his alone. Yes, there are other uses for our resources and many of those uses are good in the ordinary sense. But we are given to also show our love for the Lord. It wasn’t at the expense of the poor but for the ultimate good for the poor she loved on Jesus!
- Render to the human family that which belongs to them. This too is love. Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street like a carnival barker. When we see and interact with a bruised reed, we shall not break, and a broken heart needing care as a smoldering wick we shall not quench, Until we/he/us establishes justice on the earth.
- The raising of Lazarus was the sign of Jesus’ power and later his Resurrection a sign of his Authority, authenticity, reliability as to his teachings.
My To-Dos Today
- Remind God I love him.
- Remind humaity I love them,too.
- Remember the divine hope given us in Jesus.
Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street like a carnival barker. Rather, quietly, personally as Mary did, give the Lord my perfumed oil. 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; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil (Jn 12:3).
Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041425.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Who will tell of his posterity?
worthy alone to know the time and hour
when Christ rose from the underworld!
Greetings on this the Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 8:26-40; Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; Jn 6:44-51
Notes
Forgive me. I am merging the readings of the days ahead (Friday and Saturday) to bring clarity to today’s gospel portion in a particular way.
The [leadership] quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?”
Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.
Summary
For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.
Reflection
Even to this day people struggle with the Eucharistic gift of Jesus in the Bread and Wine. It isn’t a struggle against historical fact or translation of Greek and Latin. It is a struggle against the extremes of love – and the instinctive response yearning for that love. Here then Jesus’ words in a like manner: No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. And, again, I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.
Personal Reflection
I missed Jesus. While on the AT the Catholic Churches were few and far between. Besides that, the opportunities to get off the trail were at the ‘mountain gaps’ and they were often 10’s of miles away from the nearest town. Sometimes a shuttle is available. Sometimes not. I brought with me prayer and liturgy, faith and faith practices. I brought everything I had to strengthen my faith and express my love for Jesus.
Holy Week was especially difficult. Lonely even. On the Easter Vigil I sang the Praeconium Paschale at sundown. Hikers tenting at the site for the night came over to listen and hear the explanation. This song is sang one night each year. The night of the Resurrection. To recall the event, the love, the mystery. The Light has come into the world and darkness shall not overcome it. The sanctifying power of this night dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners, drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty.
Who will tell of his posterity? I will.
Jesus lives. Jesus remains. Jesus feeds us as in the days of Galilee.
I am no more ashamed to feed on the gift of Flesh and Blood of the Risen Lord than an infant is ashamed to suckle at the breast of their mother who gives her life to her baby. I am no more ashamed to carry a crucifix of the Lord than a photo of my mother. I am content to live in the foolishness of God.
First Reading
Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will tell of his posterity?
For his life is taken from the earth.
Responsorial
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Gospel Acclamation
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.
Gospel
They shall all be taught by God.
I am the bread of life.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
P.S.
AI Assist evaluation (It helps me be a better writer).
AT 274.9 Hot Springs Holy Thursday
Time: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:08:13 -0400
Location: Mile 274.9
Google Maps link to my location:http://maps.google.com/maps?z=14&t=m&q=35.8898%2C-82.83267
Sent from the FarOut app
AT 262.1 Max Patch
