gospel contemplations mapping out lent for discipleship

GOSPEL CONTEMPLATIONSMAPPING OUT LENT FOR DISCIPLESHIP

“COME WITH ME INTO THE DESERT.JOIN ME IN THE FORTY-DAY CHALLENGE FOR THE FATHER'S GLORY!”JESUS CHRIST - LENT 2016

GOSPELS OF LENT

GOSPELS FOR DISCIPLESHIP CONTEMPLATIONS

WHAT TO CONTEMPLATE

AND

HOW TO CONTEMPLATE THIS LENT

GOSPEL INTRO

GIVING CONTEXT TO THE GOSPEL CONTEMPLATION(1) Before reading the Gospel for the GC lets begin by considering the context of the passage. What happened before, what will happen, where it takes place and who the characters are in the passage? The point of this is so that we can see more clearly what we are about to hear and the Holy Spirit will work more effectively in us for seeing Jesus in this Encounter through the Word

(2) It also will be good, depending on the week, to consider the liturgical season or day that we are in, or the prior week’s Gospel, to put it in context of the overall movement of the Holy Spirit in the Church. This is to helping us to Encounter Jesus in a Communio way by connecting it to the liturgy and the Church as a whole

(3) We are being invited into prayer, lets push away all distractions, turn off our phones, and focus. “Come Holy Spirit…Come Holy Spirit…Come Holy Spirit…..Holy Spirit Come…AMEN!”

GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 6:1-6,16-18

ASH WEDNESDAY: FIRST DAY OF LENT The Context of this Passage:

Ash Wednesday begins Lent and every year we recall the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount that invite us to join Him in His simple but challenging call to purify ourselves in for the preparation to receive His mercy in an ever deeper way each year.

He became like us so that we - in grace - can become like Him.

Prayer, Fasting and Acts of Charity are the little way of Jesus. Let us make them our way with His help.

Jesus’ Instruction on Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving: Gospel Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 6:1-6,16-18

ASH WEDNESDAY: FIRST DAY OF LENT

PRAYERFASTING ALMSGIVING

ATEAM LENTEN PLAN OF LIFE

Its gonna be a 40 day journey so:

Lets do it together NOT alone,

Lets make a solid plan for accountability,

Lets make this the BEST LENT EVER!!!!

WE ARE THE ATEAM ~ THERE'S NO “I” IN TEAM

WE ARE A COMMUNIO - NO SOUL LEFT BEHIND

HERE’S THEPLAN….

THE IDEA IS THAT THIS

WILL FIT IN YOUR POCKET

AND YOU CAN USE IT AS A

REMINDERACCOUNTABILITY…

KEEP TRACK BETTER,SEE THE BIG

PICTUREAND

IT'S JUST KINDA COOL TO

HAVE A LITTLE FOLDY THING

IN YOUR POCKET!

TYPE A QUOTE HERE.

ITS HARD TO STAY FOCUSED FOR 5 MINUTES…

HOW CAN I DO IT FOR 40 DAYS!LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE HOW THIS WILL WORK

WE ARE ALSO GOING TO MAKEA SPECIAL EFFORT TO INCREASE

EACH WEEK IN:PRAYER

FASTING ALMSGIVING

WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE IT EASY TO REMEMBER HOW TO DO EACH STEP-MORNING OFFERING-DAILY LECTIO DIVINA-DAILY ROSARY OR DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET-NIGHTLY EXAMINATION OF HAPPINESS

PRAYER - FASTING - ALMSGIVING

LETS START SMALL AND EASE INTO ITHOW ABOUT THIS WEEK WE JUST

PRAYER:LETS JUST STAY REAL FAITHFULTO THE ATEAM COMMITMENTS

FASTING:GIVE UP ONE LITTLE THING IN

OUR DIET LIKE SALT

ALMSGIVING:LETS JUST COMMIT TO BEING SO

POSTIVE THIS WEEK THAT EVERYONE IS CURIOUS AND WANTS TO JOIN YOU AT URS

THIS SUNDAY

IT DOESNT HAVE TO BE THESE THREETHINGS SPECIFICALLY, BUT LETS JUSTSTART WITH SOMETHING SMALL LIKE

THESE…MAKES SURE YOU TELL YOUR TEAM,

WINGMAN PARENTS AND THEN KEEP IT QUITE BEYOND THAT

LECTIO CAN BE THE MOSTCHALLENGING DAILY

SPIRITUALEXERCISE, SO YOU MIGHT

WANT TO READ THE INSIDE QUOTE

FROM POPE BENEDICT XVITHEY ARE HIS

WORDS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO TEENAGERS ON HOW TO PRAY WITH

SCRIPTURETHIS FOUR PART PLAN FOR

DAILY PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE

IS EASILY REMEMBERED IN THE WORDS YOU SEE

HERE TO YOUR LEFT(1) READ

(2) REFLECT(3) RESPOND(4) REST

TAKEAWAY:WHEN WITH JESUS DESOLATION BECOMES CONSOLATION

Lent 2016

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

“JOIN ME TODAY! IN THE BATTLE FOR SOULS,YOU WILL SAVE YOUR OWN IF YOU FIGHT IN PRAYER,IN FASTING AND IN WORKS OF CHARITY.”

JESUS CHRIST - LENT 2016

GOSPEL OF LUKE 4:1-13

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENTJesus is Tempted in the Wilderness: GospelLK 4:1-13Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.” Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

The Context of this Scripture Passage:

Jesus has not yet begun his public ministry. He was just baptized by St John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove and they all heard God the Father speak from heaven saying:

“This is my beloved Son in Whom I Am Well Pleased!”

What you are about to read is what followed Jesus’ baptism.

http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/4:1


FIRST SUNDAY OF LENTJesus is Tempted in the Wilderness: GospelLK 4:1-13

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone shall you serve.” Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.




FIRST SUNDAY OF LENTJesus is Tempted in the Wilderness: Question 1: GospelLK 4:1-13

-What struck your Heart?-How did God speak to you in this passage?-What did you see in these words or this story?-What bothered you? And what are you curious about?



Why do you think the Holy Spirit sent Jesus into the Desert?

Answer: “To be tempted by the devil” and so prepare himself for his public ministry. Also Jesus is sent to fulfill everything that happened in the Old Testament. So just as the Israelites spent 40 years in the desert to prepare them, purify them, for entering into the promised land, Jesus had to experience such an intense physical purification so as to prepare his body as a pleasing sacrifice to God; and so win for all of humanity the eternal promised land: Heaven!



The first temptation was, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Why do you suppose this was a temptation for Jesus? How and why did he respond as he did?

Answer: Jesus is fully human and fully God, so the temptation of making a rock into bread was tempting for his humanity - because he would become hungry after even a few days - and his Divinity was tempted because as God he is creator and can change the physical world. So the temptation was trying to save himself, help himself rather than lose himself for others, and in so doing he would be failing in his ultimate mission: to save the whole World! And how does he save the world? By dying on the Cross and then becoming the “Bread of Life” for all of humanity in the Eucharist. In short, Jesus is the Word made Flesh and so “man does not live on bread alone…but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God,” Jesus did not give himself bread in the desert but in our journey through this life he is our food and our life!



The second temptation was, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Why do you think the devil tempted Jesus with this temptation? And what was Jesus’s response?

Answer: Jesus is sent as the Messiah, which is Hebrew for King. The prophesies of the Messiah is that he will be ‘King of Kings', or king over all the nations of the earth. The devil, when Adam sinned, was given a kind of evil power over the world by which he could offer it to Jesus. He is tempting Jesus by offering Him what He came here to be, again the easy way out, king of kings in a worldly sense. But rather than doing it the way God the Father sent him to do, by worshiping the Father in his (Jesus’s) humanity on our behalf, the devil wants Jesus to worship him (the devil). The devil seems to want to help Jesus to fulfill his mission with humanity, if only the devil can win his battle against God. Jesus’s response was therefore, “You shall worship the Lord your God alone and He alone shall you serve."



The third temptation says, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Why do you think the devil tempted Jesus with this? And what was Jesus’s response?

Answer: Again the devil is tempting Jesus to essentially betray himself and his mision, by taking the easy way out for accomplishing his mission. The devil doesn’t fully understand Jesus’s mission but he perhaps understands enough that Jesus needs to offer himself as a kind of sacrifice and wants, again, for him to take the easy way out…which would ultimately mean the devil wins. Jesus is not on a suicide mission but rather must offer himself as a sacrifice, not unto death, but unto eternal life, not only for himself, for his glory, but for the Fathers glory and for the whole world!



How did this Gospel Contemplation change your mindset about Jesus’s dual nature (human and divine: God and Man) specifically in regard to his suffering of temptations?

How did this change your mindset about your own Temptations?

How might you respond to the temptations in your life now having seen Jesus’s mindset in the face of temptation?

Answer: Here, like the first question, they are to answer as they please. But the goal is to promote a new mindset where in they are not alone in temptations, but that Jesus is right there with them, helping them, strengthening them in the midst of life’s biggest trials and temptations. It is also perhaps very important to note that Jesus responded not relying on himself but on the Word of God. He did speak directly to the tempter…we should rather let Jesus handle the devil and we learn from Him go to the Word of God in the face of every temptation.


FIRST SUNDAY OF LENTLesson from Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness:

Jesus went into the desert to prepare himself to be a perfect sacrifice.

We are entering into the desert of Lent to more perfectly accept the Mercy of His sacrifice for us.

- Sacrifice then leads to Joy

- Desolation become Consolation for those who are in Christ!

TAKEAWAY:WHEN WITH JESUS, DESOLATION BECOMES CONSOLATION

Lent 2016

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

“I AM HERE WITH YOU IN YOUR DESOLATION…I CHOSE YOU … WILL YOU CHOOSE ME?”


WILLYOU BEMYVALENTINE?

JESUS CHRIST – VALENTINE'S DAY

2016

JESUSand

YOU


SECOND SUNDAY OF LENTThe Context of this passage:

Jesus has just received the disciples back after their first missionas his disciples. Herod has stated his opinion of Jesus and Jesus then fed the 5,000 for the first time…. Following the feeding, Jesus then takes Peter and the other disciples up to Cesarea Philipae where He asks them: “Who do you say that I am?”

St. Peter replies: “You are the Messiah of the Living God!”


SECOND SUNDAY OF LENTJesus is Transfigured on the Mount: Gospel LK 9:28B-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.




SECOND SUNDAY OF LENTJesus is Transfigured on the Mount: Question 1:

What struck your Heart?

How did God speak to you in this passage?

What did you see in these words or this story?

What bothered you? And what are you curious about?



What do you think it would have been like to be on the Mountain that day as Jesus was transfigured before their eyes?

Answer: You might need to explain that transfiguration means Jesus’s dual nature (he is both God & Man) is fully revealed in all its glory…they could see Him as He will be seen in heaven. You might have to explain to them that while His divinity is fully revealed they also could not deny His humanity. In this moment Jesus didn’t become God, He was always God. In this moment Jesus didn’t cease being fully human, His humanity is completely integrated and united to his Divinity:- Anyway that Jesus does not become like us, He is not able to saved in us-Jesus is God, but fully human…so He experienced everything just like we do as humans…only chose not to sin!



What was Peter’s reaction and why do you think he reacted this way?

Answer: Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents,one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” They may have various responses and insights which you should encourage. This response of Peter is echoing the encounter of Abraham with the “three angel” which represented God…whom he invited into his tent and dined with them. Peter, wanted to extend this powerful experience of encounter and joy.



Peter had just declared in the previous passage that Jesus was the “Messiah of the living God.” What do you think was going through Peter’s mind now about Jesus? Is Jesus who he thought?

Answer: Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the “Messiah of God” is not the same as saying he is God. It is true that in the Gospel of Matthew 16 (the same story) Peter says, “Son of God.” But in reality this was for the Jewish mind in that time simply to say that he is a dependent of Adam…not a declaration of his divinity. The transfiguration go well beyond the messianic prophesies or at least what they would have expected. Jesus is revealed here as God, not just Son in the sense of He is holy and a descendent of Adam…Jesus is God in the flesh!



Peter and you have now seen that the Divinity of Jesus established in his transfiguration. So now we must consider the question: Why was Jesus visited and encouraged by the prophets Elijah and Moses?

Answer: Jesus is fully God yet He is fully man as well. In his divinity He knows that He must come to the crucifixion and die for the sins of humanity, but in His humanity this is no easy task. Elijah was a prophet who was rejected but then assumed into heaven, Moses had to lead his people through the desert but then never entered the promised land of Israel. They above any other prophets could encourage Jesus in his humanity…not that they gave him advice…but like Mary at the foot of the cross, they were a powerful source of comfort in his human nature.



How did this Gospel Contemplation change your mindset about Jesus?

How did this change your mindset about Jesus in you and you yourself?

What fruit, wisdom, consolation, can you draw from this consideration of his transfiguration?

Answer: The wisdom of the Church’s liturgy seems to be emphasizing the dual nature of Jesus. On one hand we need to understand in ourselves that because of our baptism we are sharers in the Divine Nature…God is in us, He is in you! But not in some theoretical sense, God and your soul are one, when God looks to you He literally sees Jesus. This is the new mindset that we are invited to take, and it doesn't mean we need no encouragement, but rather we now can actually be encourage…because our courage is within us: God!

TAKEAWAY:RELIANCE ON JESUS IS MY TRUE ENCOURAGEMENT BECAUSE HE IS IN ME!

Lent 2016

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

“BEHOLD! YOU MY FRIEND,YOU AND I ARE ONE…ONE MIND, ONE SOUL, ONE HEART, ONE WILL!”



THIRD SUNDAY OF LENTGospelLK 13:1-9Some people told Jesus about the Galileanswhose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means!But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener,‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply,‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

The Context of this passage:He has just given the sermon on the mount were He explains how to grow in your relationship with God and with others. He then cast out demons and spoke “woes” to the Pharisees, and called for complete dependence on God. Just before this verse He speaks of consequences for sins un-repented…



THIRD SUNDAY OF LENTGospelLK 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” And he told them this parable:

“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”




THIRD SUNDAY OF LENTThe Call to Repentance: Question 1:







What is Jesus saying about Repentance? How important is it?

Answer: Jesus is not saying that the people who had been killed by Pontius Pilate were experiencing the consequences for their particular sins. Rather, their sins are no worse than ours. (Scholars do not know the details of the “slaughter” by Pontius Pilate in this account in Luke.) It seems that their death was quite gruesome, such that they were even offering sacrifice to God in the very moments that they were murdered. Jesus places great importance on repentance, beyond the fear of consequences for particular misdeeds. The need for repentance has to do with Original Sin…not any particular sin but the Universal Need for God’s Mercy…our most fundamental need to live in God’s Grace!



What does the word Repentance mean? And how do we do it?

Answer: Jesus is not using the common word for repentance as we tend to understand it. The common word is from the Latin “poenitentiae” which as repentance is usually understood as “sorrow for sins” or “sincere regret and remorse for moral failures.” Rather, Jesus is not using thisword, in the passage he uses a very different word, “μετανοῆτε” “metonate” which means “change your mindset”. Jesus is not suggesting that they change their behavior per se, but rather change their mindset. Change the whole way they think, their understanding of who and what they are, what life is all about and how short it is, which will change the way they feel and make it easy for them to change the way they respond to every circumstance of life.



What did the man in the orchard say in Jesus parable? What could it mean for Jesus? And what could it mean for you?

Answer: Jesus says, “For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaustthe soil?” This could perhaps be indicating that Jesus was doing ministry for three years before His crucifixion and yet there was no real fruit…even His disciples didn't show much improvement. He then suggests cultivating the ground around it and fertilizing the soil. This is really all anyone can do, for a tree or for your soul. Only you can metanoia, change your mindset. But because God has already done so much, if you simply change your mindset and see God’s love for you, and open your soul and heart, then you will easily be able to change any behavior.



Did this new understanding of “Repentance” give you a “Mindset” change?

What specifically was the mindset change you needed to have?

How can you see this changing your life

Answer: Again this is not to get a specific response but in some sense it is to call them or invite them to speak out load or at least to think directly over the mindset they have had and to replace it with a new one. The burden of changing behavior is quite large. To change mindset is very simple, liberating and empowering. It makes repentance more likely, more easy and even exciting!

TAKEAWAY:IF I SIMPLY CHANGE MY MINDSET I CAN CHANGE BEHAVIOR…ANYTHING!

Lent 2016

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

“METANOIA!KEEP GOING!I AM WITH YOU!I LOVE YOU!LET GO…ANDLET GOD!”


GOSPEL OF LUKE 15:1-3;11-32 (LAETARE SUNDAY)

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT: THE CHOICE OF JOY GospelLK 15:1-3, 11-32Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought,‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father.While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

The Greater Context of this passage: It is perhaps most clearly discovered in a penitential season: Lent.

Jesus inspired thousands, multitudes of in Israel in His day to repent…not by calling them out on the sins for which they already are so ashamed…rather by revealing God’s Love…



FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT: THE CHOICE OF JOY GospelLK 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”




FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENTThe Joy of Gods Love: Question 1:







What is the basic story of the younger (prodigal) son?

Answer: You could help them to go deeper here, after the answer some in their own words, by explaining that essentially the prodigal or younger son is saying effectively, “Dad I wish you were dead so that I could already have my inheritance.” The way inheritance worked in that culture at that time was that the sons would be divided their Father's inheritance upon the Fathers death. The Father, if he so chose, could give to his sons their inheritance before his death…which was very rare.You could also point out there are basically three steps away from the Father and three back to the Father. Three steps away: (1) rejects Father to get the money (2) spends his fortune (3) despairs. Three steps back: (1) hopes (2) expends effort to return (3) Father runs to meet him before he could even fully repent!



What is the basic story of the older son?

Answer: The older sons story is in some ways more surprising than the story of the prodigal. He never left, always worked hard for the Father, yet then rejects the father for simply embracing his sinful brother. Here the story is left hanging. You might ask them to explain why the older brother might have had such a hard time with the brother and now even the Father? The answers will vary but essentially he feels that he deserves more from the Father if the sinful son is getting anything. He feels betrayed by the Father whom he had stood by even when the other son betrayed him. He is alone, because he cannot love a person who was so unjust to his Father. You might also point out that his own (the older brother) inheritance was damaged by the younger leaving because the over all value of the property, etc, would be lost in flushing half of it down the drain.



What is the basic difference between the sons? And what is the overarching point of their stories?

Answer: The younger son rejects the Father and then scraps a plea to come back…finding that the Father had only grown in love for him with his departure. The older son is perfectly obedient to the Father, yet rejects Him when the sinful son is shown mercy. While there is a lot to be said about the two sons, the point of the story is not really the sons at all!

The point of the story is to reveal the love of the Father…of God our Father and how He loves us. The point of the story is to help us to see the mission of Jesus…why the Second Person of the Trinity, the Word became a man just like anyone of us…to lead us back to the Father!

Let them mull this over for a bit…perhaps have them consider the behavior of the Father from beginning to end with each of the sons and talk about how God our Father is with us…as revealed through the person of Jesus Christ!



How did your mindset change in this Gospel Contemplation?

What changed in your thoughts about God?-your sense about God?-your feelings toward and with God?

And what actions might you take to solidify these thoughts, senses and feelings?

TAKEAWAY:I BELIEVE IN…. I LIVE IN…I LIVE FOR….GOD'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!

Lent 2016

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

“YOU’RE MY SON ALWAYS!EVERYTHING I HAVE IS YOURS!WE MUST REJOICE FOR YOU WERE DEAD, BUT IN ME NOW YOU’RE ALIVE!”JESUS CHRIST - LENT 2016

GOSPEL OF JOHN 8:1-11

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENTGospelJN 8:1-11Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, tis woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

The Context of this Passage:

The day before Jesus had been teaching in the temple. No one could defeat Jesus’ teaching through arguments or debate. They had tried to arrest Him but the guards were so amazed by His words they could not do it. People were beginning to believe in Him. So the Pharisees plotted to defeat Him another way.

http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/8:1


FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENTGospelJN 8:1-11Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”



FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Standing Before our Sins: Question 1:






FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENTStanding Before our Sins: Question 2:

Why do you think the Scribes and Pharisees brought this woman to Jesus?

Answer: Perhaps the obvious answer is that they wanted to catch him in a mistake with his teaching. He's made a profound impression on the people to the point that He is seen as overly merciful, and even to some extent broke the law (healing on a Sabbath day for example) to show God’s mercy. They are throwing a challenge, no longer hypothetical that Jesus will have to respond in such a way that, they think, will either fail to meet His standard of mercy or fail to meet the standard of the law.



What do the Scribes and Pharisees do when Jesus says, “you who are without sin may cast the first stone”?

Answer: They respond by walking away because they know their own sins. Starting with the eldest as they are wiser and know how many sins they have committed throughout their lives…could their sins be as great though…could their sins be the very same sins?



Could there be another reason the Scribes and Pharisees brought this sinful woman to Jesus?

Answer: Perhaps not as obvious is that in the Jewish law it is clear that if someone is caught in the act of sin there must be two or three true witnesses…people who were there as eye witnesses. This in the case of adultery, with a professional prostitute, could only happen if you were the customer of the prostitute…meaning it was a public confession of your own sin to accuse her as an eye witness. This is not to scandalize us about these men, but to show that their attempt to catch Jesus in a mistake, was also an attempt to perhaps rid themselves of either the burden of paying her their debts or perhaps to attempt violence as a means to rid themselves of their own sinful temptation. Jesus succeeds at defeating every evil in this trial of sinfulness.



All this time the woman is just standing there watching Jesus seem like He is unconcerned, then her accusers just slowly walk away as though nothing happened. What do you think she was thinking, sensing about her guilt, feeling about herself and what do you think she wanted to do?

Answer: Pure fear might be the answer, confusion, shame, embarrassment, or even anger. She had had so many times the experience of being treated like an object, a thing to be used for another persons pleasure. She was now going to be stoned to death to reaffirm what she had always believed about herself… “I am evil!” The repeated event of her sin could only be done away with by death, and even that would not make her clean.



Finally Jesus speaks to her and says, “Has no one condemned you?” She responds, “No one sir.” And Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you…go and sin no more.” Why is Jesus able to do this and still fulfill the laws requirements for punishing an adulterer?

Answer: It was really a death sentence to be stoned as they did for adultery and the sentence applied to the adulterer as well. In this case, as with all those whose sins He had forgiven, Jesus is taking the penalty upon Himself for her sins. For her the effect of His mercy would have been immediate as He publicly defeated and exposed her accusers. In effect, He had taken upon Himself both her and their sins without disgrace - besides their obvious theological and political failure. Jesus would die in their place for their sins…and for ours!



How does this change your mindset about Jesus’s regard for you in your sin?

Does His mercy change your mindset about sin and guilt itself?

How will it help you to approach the Sacrament of Confession?

How will this change the way you pray?

How will this new mindset change your behavior?

TAKEAWAY:I’M NOT AFRAID TO STAND IN HIS MERCY OVER ME!

LENT 2016

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

“YOU ARE A WALKING MONSTRANCE OF MY PRESENCE!“YOU ARE A LIVING BANNER OF MY INFINITE MERCY!”JESUS CHRIST - LENT 2016


SIXTH SUNDAY OF LENT: PALM SUNDAYThe Liturgical Context of this passage is very important:Here the Gospel is at the beginning of the liturgy while the priest stands outside the church to prepare the Palms for their blessing, symbolically making present the events of the Gospel. The priest will process in to the Church like Christ who entered Jerusalem in his Triumph! Jesus entered the Messiah’s gate which was and is the only way to enter directly into the Sacred Temple of Jerusalem.


SIXTH SUNDAY OF LENT: PALM SUNDAYIntro Gospel:At The Procession With Palms – GospelLK 19:28-40Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’” So those who had been sent went off and found very thing just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying this colt?” They answered, “The Master has need of it.” So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”


TAKEAWAY:JESUS’ SUFFERING WAS HIS GLORY! I WILL EMBRACE MY CROSSES FOR HIS PRAISE!

PALM SUNDAY 2016

SIXTH SUNDAY OF LENT

“ENTER THIS PASSION WEEK AS NEVER YOU HAVE BEFORE…ENTER WITH ME!PRAY WITH ME!SUFFER WITH ME!”

JESUS CHRIST - PASSION WEEK 2016


GospelJN 13:1-15Before 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. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that hehad come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. IfI, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

HOLY WEEK: HOLY THURSDAYThe Liturgical Context of this passage is very important:Here again the pastor or priest re-presents the even of Jesus’ washing of the feet by imitation. This is a sacred feast for the priest especially as its traditionally the night understood to be the first part of the ordination to the priesthood and in a sense begins the sacrifice of the Mass completed at the cross. All of these elements are in the liturgy in a powerful expression and the Gospel Reading is given to us to illumine our imagination in faith.



GospelJN 13:1-15

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. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me. ”Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

HOLY WEEK: HOLY THURSDAY



TAKEAWAY:JESUS SPENT THIS NIGHT IN PRAYER FOR YOU… I’M GOING TO PRAY THIS NIGHT FOR HIM.

HOLY THURSDAY 2016

HOLY THURSDAY OF HOLY WEEK

“JOIN ME TONIGHT! BATTLE FOR SOULSYOU WILL SAVE YOUR OWN IF YOUFIGHT IN PRAYER!I DELIGHT IN YOU!DELIGHT IN MY PASSION!”

JESUS - HOLY THURSDAY 2016


GospelJN 13:1-15Before 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. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that hehad come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. IfI, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

HOLY WEEK: GOOD FRIDAYThe Liturgical Context of this passage is very important. Here theGospel is at the beginning of the liturgy while the priest standsoutside the church to prepare the Palms for their blessing, symbolically making present the events of the Gospel. The priest will process in to the Church like Christ who entered Jerusalem in his Triumph! Jesus entered the Messiahs gate which was and is the only way to enter directly into the Sacred Temple of Jerusalem.

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GospelJN 13:1-15Before 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. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

HOLY WEEK: GOOD FRIDAY


“YOU ARE A WALKING MONSTRANCE OF MY PRESENCE!“YOU ARE A LIVING BANNER OF MY INFINITE MERCY!”JESUS CHRIST ~ GOOD FRIDAY 2016


GospelJN 13:1-15Before 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. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that hehad come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around s waist. then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. IfI, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

HOLY SATURDAYThe Liturgical Context of this passage is very important:

Here the Gospel is at the beginning of the liturgy while the priest stands outside the church to prepare the Palms for their blessing, symbolically making present the events of the Gospel. The priest will process in to the Church like Christ who entered Jerusalem in his Triumph! Jesus entered the Messiahs gate which was and is the only way to enter directly into the Sacred Temple of Jerusalem.



GospelJN 13:1-15Before 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. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

HOLY SATURDAY


GOSPEL JOHN 20:1-9

EASTER SUNDAYGospelJN 20:1-9On the first day of the week,Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

The Context of this passage:

The “first day of the week” indicates it is Sunday as it is in the Jewish calendar week; so it is changed only after the event of Jesus‘ resurrection and after the hard fought fight of spreading Christianity throughout the western world. The day of rest is complete, but now a new day is begun and the Lord works our salvation!


GOSPEL JOHN 20:1-9

EASTER SUNDAYGospelJN 20:1-9On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.


TAKEAWAY: HE HAS RISEN!!!!HOW CAN I THINK, SENSE, FEEL, OR ACT ANY WAY OTHER THAN SHEER JOY!

EASTER DAY 2016

EASTER SUNDAY

“I HAVE RISEN!”“I HAVE DEFEATED DEATH!”“IN ME YOU NOW LIVE!”IN ME YOU HAVE RISEN TO ETERNAL LIFE!”

JESUS CHRIST ~ EASTER 2016

GOSPEL CONTEMPLATIONS

EASTER HAS COME FOR HIS DISCIPLES!!!

“JOIN ME TONIGHT!BATTLE FOR SOULSYOU WILL SAVE YOUR OWN IF YOUFIGHT IN PRAYER,FASTING AND IN WORKS OF CHARITY”JESUS CHRIST - LENT 2016

“ENTER THIS PASSION WEEK AS NEVER YOU HAVE BEFORE…ENTER WITH ME!PRAY WITH ME!SUFFER WITH ME!”

JESUS CHRIST - PASSION WEEK 2016

gospel contemplations mapping out lent for discipleship

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