Jesus’ teachings challenge and remind us that the answer to the Parable of the Good Samaritan is about which person was a good neighbor. We should be “good neighbors” to everyone, including the people we think we could never associate with.
If we count up the number of times the Bible tells us not to worry, or where a person in the Bible tells another: “do not worry,” you might be surprised at the number of times it appears. Even Jesus devotes time to the subject of worry, and the current times are a good example of when not to worry.
This experience in 2020 might be the strangest Easter in decades due to the social isolation required to battle the spread of covid-19, but we welcome you to rejoice with us, and give glory to God, for Jesus has risen from the grave!
I have to be honest; my Lenten commitments took a huge hit by these unforeseen circumstances. I think that’s understandable, but I find it immensely disappointing. At the heart of observing the church calendar is an awareness that Christians are citizens of another world.
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before
you for all members of your holy Church that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve
Today would be a good opportunity to use Ignatius’ imaginative prayer to take ourselves back to the night when Jesus was crucified. These events are among the most emotional in all the Bible. Use John 13 to immerse yourself into the story that night.
Use this dark hour to remind yourselves of some good times, perhaps with family or friends. Maybe Christmas morning as a child, a birthday party, or a family vacation. We have those memories in our minds – our memories are truly a gift from God.
As we consider all that Jesus did for us and had to overcome in his sacrifice, let us not forget that much of that same evil often stands against us. Peter compares the devil to a “roaring lion” – something to take seriously.
The movies we have covered up to this point all include the crucifixion scene. I have intentionally kept our focus on other parts of Jesus’ life so that we could wait until now to really fill our hearts with the message of Jesus’ death.
As we approach Holy Week, while experiencing self-isolation combating covid-19, there are high and low points in everybody’s lives. Palm Sunday and Holy Week mix triumph, praise, and also weeping and sorrow, capturing so many ideas and emotions in such a short time.
