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Passion of the Lord (Good Friday) - April 18

Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1—19:42 Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart. (Gather hymnal) The Good Friday readings have it all: Isaiah’s dramatic prophecy of the Suffering Servant, the proclamation of Paul, and, of course, the heartbreak of the Passion. During Good Friday service, we have special blessings, we carry the cross, and we adore the cross. At the end of the readings and the service, we strip the altar to bareness, we sit in silence, and then we leave in silence. We wait on the Lord; his time is near. This is usually an Advent theme, and it fits Good Friday as well. Our church is paused; there is no Saturday service. We wait, hope, and pray until we enter into the glory of the Resurrection in the Easter Vigil. Good Friday teaches us, forces us even, to wait and pray, in quiet, in joyful hope. To wait for the revelation of God’s plan; to wait for the resurrection which we, unlike the Disciples, know is coming. Wai...
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Mass of the Lord's Supper - April 17

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15 “What does Grace mean to you?” Teresa Albright sat across from me in the parish library, smiling softly and waiting patiently as I considered her question. It was August 2019, and I’d come to her inquiring about the RCIA process, which would begin in a few weeks. I had just mentioned that it was important to me to be in a faith community that erred on the side of Grace. And though I’d like to say that my response to Teresa’s question was perhaps spiritually deep, or philosophically sound, or even mildly interesting, unfortunately I think I panic-mumbled something uninspired about being open and accepting and loving to everyone. In that moment, I realized I’d never really asked myself this question. I’d never truly pondered the idea of Grace. Reflecting on today’s readings and the rituals we observe on Holy Thursday each year, I see in clear, sharp detail overwhelming evidence of Grace in these words and acts. In this moment today...
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Wednesday of Holy Week - April 16

Isaiah 50:4-9a Matthew 26:14-25 Today the suspense and emotion continue to build in the most pivotal drama of human history. This passage from Isaiah presents a vivid portrayal of suffering, obedience, and vindication that foreshadows Jesus in Matthew’s preface to the Passion narrative. Isaiah speaks of the Servant of the Lord who is given "a well-trained tongue," able to speak words of comfort to the weary, even in the face of his own oppression and ridicule. This mirrors Christ’s ability to communicate profound truths to his disciples and followers, even as betrayal and abandonment encroach ever closer. Isaiah's Servant faces physical abuse and verbal mockery, which foreshadows the cruel treatment Jesus will endure in his Passion—his scourging, the spitting, and the insults hurled at him. The Servant shows unwavering trust in God's vindication. Christ also models this steadfastness, showing ultimate obedience to God’s will, even as he anticipates his suffering when ...
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Tuesday of Holy Week - April 15

Isaiah 49:1-6 John 13:21-33, 36-38 After converting to Catholicism in my 20s, I long wondered what people meant when they mentioned direct encounters with God. My path to the Church was not about the mystical aspect of faith, so I left these questions unanswered. Where is the supernatural in my own day-to-day life? Would I recognize God were I to encounter him? What does evil look like? Today, Jesus directly encounters Satan. “After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’" I find this passage both terrifying but also a powerful message that Good and Evil work in this world palpably. It has taken me time to understand what that can mean. Several years ago, I began singing lessons, because I was tired of mumbling hymns under my breath, self-conscious over my inability to sing on pitch. Singing can be taught and, in time, I gained confidence and began to sing hymns loudly. One Sunday, just as we finished the closing hymn...
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Monday of Holy Week - April 14

Isaiah 42:1-7 John 12:1-11 These readings are a great reminder to us all during Lent and Holy Week that we are called by God to spread His word. We are called to listen to Jesus in our daily lives, follow his example, and spread his teachings in our daily lives. The readings and Gospel first help us remember gratitude for all the beauty around us. As a parish, we are so blessed with the wonderful leadership of our parish, the beautiful church in which we celebrate Mass and the Sacraments, the amazing choir that shares its angelic voices, and a wonderful Catholic community. God has provided the very breath in our bodies, allowing us to share Jesus’s teachings by acting Christlike in our daily lives, living out Jesus’s example for our community and beyond. And when we are called to more overtly spread Jesus’s teachings – we are given instruction on HOW to share the Good News - humbly and quietly. The Gospel gives us a reminder of what is to come during Holy Week. While Mary anoints Jesus...
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Palm Sunday - April 13

Luke 19:28-40 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 On this day, we pack into the narthex bearing our palms and listen to a Gospel reading recounting Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with his disciples before processing into the sanctuary. In recent years, these exclamations have troubled me; after all, not long after this moment of praise, we hear (or say) the words, “Crucify him!” It can feel vaguely uneasy to join in triumphal exclamations knowing that we’ll soon be meditating on the disciples who betrayed Jesus - betrayals mirrored in our own lives. Does that sense of unease miss the point of Palm Sunday’s opening rite? Turning to Luke, we learn that those who cry out are a “multitude” of his “disciples” - that is, a veritable crowd of outsiders who gradually joined Jesus as pilgrims on his journey from Galilee up to Jerusalem. They exclaim, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” The first sentence is shar...
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Saturday of the Fifth Week - April 12

Ezekiel 37:21-28 John 11:45-56 I was raised in a very religious home with devout parents that displayed patience and grace toward me. They used the trials and tribulations of Jesus to put life into perspective. They taught me that no matter what was happening to me, it paled in comparison to what Jesus faced in his life on Earth. And they never ceased to remind me that God’s patience and love was an opportunity to learn from every experience. Years later, with numerous life lessons learned, God blessed me with an opportunity to travel the world. I saw this as the chance to see all of God’s creation firsthand. I had no clue how big the world was, but I wanted to find out. My family was less than thrilled, as my career would take me to austere and dangerous places; but I reassured them that I have God to protect me. All gave me this guidance, “keep God in your heart, pray often and never let your belief falter. And always know there is no place like home.” I visited some of the most beau...
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