USCCB, Palm Sunday Readings

Prayer Reflection

Today's Gospel reading gives so much thought about what Jesus is all about. It's hard when reading this encounter to not feel anything at all for what Jesus went through for us. Most of us read books everyday that relate experiences of others, some fictional some true to life. We cry at moments that touch us deeply when we read of the sorrow and loss in a story. Or we laugh with joy when we read of wonderful happenings, such as love when a woman finds that one man that touches her heart in those romance novels and we cry with them when they have problems. But for us when we read of Jesus' life and all that he went through to bring us closer to his Father, to give us healing and love, we sometimes are so untouched by what we read or hear at Mass. I have to think about the movie that was made about this Passion Jesus underwent, that showed us in images how much he did go through. There weren't too many dry eyes either. One has to ask did it bring a change into the lives of those who watched it? When we go through it this day, is our heart open to the Word and as Jesus is led on the path laden with palms to begin His suffering. We forget that throughout His whole ministry he suffered in a different way to bring us His Father's message of love and healing. This is a profound reading of a life that is going to be sacrificed in order for us to know of this great love. Would we do the same to bring a message of love for mankind?

And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins.

And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife.
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father this one is done a bit late in the day, but it is after all about the earthly father to your son. You chose him to be the one who will teach your Son the many ways of faith. He is a model that you selected personally to show the men of this world how to be fathers after your own heart. It's just really sad when we read of men who abuse their children in many ways, or abandon them because they don't want the responsibility. Joseph was chosen to take on a wife who was already with child and not one of his own and he gladly said yes to the task. There are some men in this world who do the same, they become fathers to other mens children and do a very fine job of it too. These men have more than the job of raising children, they have the same task set before them as Joseph, to nurture and bring up the child in faith. To love as God loves. Sometimes work, and our own desires get in the way of teaching our children the right way to live. If we aren't following it ourselves why should they. Fathers be the role model set before you as Joseph also was chosen, so are you. Don't let time slip by where you find your child grown and gone lost without morals or faith as their guide.

The Jews then took up stones to stone him. Jesus answered them: Many good works I have shewed you from my Father; for which of these works do you stone me? The Jews answered him: For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, maketh thyself God. Jesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: I said you are gods?
If he called them gods, to whom to word of God was spoken, and the scripture cannot be broken; do you say of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world: Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though you will not believe me, believe the works: that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father. They sought therefore to take him; and he escaped out of their hands. And he went again beyond the Jordan, into that place where John was baptizing first; and there he abode. And many resorted to him, and they said: John indeed did no sign. But all things whatsoever John said of this man, were true. And many believed in him.
John 10:31-42 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father I know more than anything that you and Jesus have touched my life for a reason. But many in the world don't see you in theirs. Jesus tried many a time to give them proof that you and he are one. Not only that but of your sending him to bring love and mercy to them. To establish the truth of your existence. Without Jesus we would not have known your love in this beautiful way. The people had a hard time believing in Jesus back then but he perservered and continued to do your work in order that they may belief in the work that was done. We have some of the greatest testimonies of all time that have been passed down since. They have withstood over two thousand years and continue to draw people to you because of the works Jesus had done. He still continues to work for you even in our time. He draws us to him for you so they will believe. Now that is the greatest testimony Jesus has ever given to prove that you and he are one. I for one love you beyond all time because I believe.

Amen, amen I say to you: If any man keep my word, he shall not see death for ever. The Jews therefore said: Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest: If any man keep my word, he shall not taste death for ever. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead. Whom dost thou make thyself? Jesus answered: If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father that glorifieth me, of whom you say that he is your God. And you have not known him, but I know him. And if I shall say that I know him not, I shall be like to you, a liar. But I do know him, and do keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day: he saw it, and was glad. The Jews therefore said to him: Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am. They took up stones therefore to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.
John 8:51-59 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father what do we do throughout our day to glorify you? Jesus did exactly that for you. He went around living your Word and doing your Will. Everything he did he did for you. I think we too can say the same thing when we take a look at our own lives and see Jesus' hand there. Unless we too are like those who attempt to kill him off. Like when we suffer at times, we pray for his help. But do we also give thanks for getting us through those troubling times. Or do we throw stones afterward, as in going about our business and not once keeping Jesus in focus, but putting him to the farthest corner of our thoughts. We do that with you too, don't we dear Father. But you are ever patient with us and wait for the day when we turn ourselves around come back to you.

Then Jesus said to those Jews, who believed him: If you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him: We are the seed of Abraham, and we have never been slaves to any man: how sayest thou: you shall be free? Jesus answered them: Amen, amen I say unto you: that whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. Now the servant abideth not in the house for ever; but the son abideth for ever. If therefore the son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you are the children of Abraham: but you seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do the things that you have seen with your father. They answered, and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus saith to them: If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man who have spoken the truth to you, which I have heard of God. This Abraham did not. You do the works of your father. They said therefore to him: We are not born of fornication: we have one Father, even God. Jesus therefore said to them: If God were your Father, you would indeed love me. For from God I proceeded, and came; for I came not of myself, but he sent me.
John 8:31-42 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father I think Jesus' patience won the day when he was trying to get what he wanted to say across. If that were us we would have lost it and thought how dense is this person that they can't grasp the message I'm giving them. But Jesus living in a period of time that doesn't have advanced technology at their fingertips, has something far greater. He has God as his Father and personal ties to him. And to think they kept plotting to kill him because of it. We too claim that also, not in the same fashion as Jesus, but he is our Father too. Do we tend to be as stubborn as this reading in regards to who Jesus is sent from. Many in the world believe he is only a prophet, not the son of God. Are we the same way? Is our belief and trust, that Jesus is sent from God and is His Son. Or do we also try to kill Jesus in our own lives? Just thinking about this reminded me of a time when I was relating to someone a message from another person and they basically did close to the same as this reading, they didn't believe that so and so sent me to give them the message. They had to go direct to get it from the person themselves, and it had nothing to do with me or the message. I think I've done this myself too after that. When thinking about situations in life we often find a link to the Word of God. Everything that is done has at some point evolved from the Gospels. But many times we take credit for it. Just a thought!