Friday After Ash Wednesday
Then Jesus took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for […]
Covenants
In ancient times, few people ever put anything in writing. The spoken word was all they had, and it meant everything. A “covenant” was spoken promise surrounded by ritual. Often the ritual involved blood, because people thought that breath (the source of life) was in the blood. When sealed in blood, the words became sacred, […]
Daily Gospel – MT 9:14-15
The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
Thursday After Ash Wednesday
Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” (LK 22:17-18) Normally, participants the Passover meal drank from their own cups. But at […]
CRS Rice Bowl
A few years ago, Catholic Relief Services added a new feature to its annual Lenten Rice Bowl program. In addition to encouraging participants to donate money to combat hunger and poverty, CRS introduced recipes from various countries that it helps, encouraging people to try the meatless meals during Lent. Among the featured countries have been […]
Daily Gospel – LK 9:22-25
Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross […]
Passion according to Luke
When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for , I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” (LK 22:14-16) When the […]
Ash Wednesday
The distribution of ashes today is generally done as part of the weekday Mass or a prayer service. But some parishes also offer daylong ashes. Volunteers are trained to be on hand every hour of Ash Wednesday to administer ashes to those who come to church.
Daily Gospel – MK 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 […]
Luke’s ‘Gospel of Compassion’
Only Luke records Jesus saying, ‘When you give a dinner invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.’ Luke was a well-educated person and the most skillful writer of the four evangelists. His is the longest Gospel – about 23,000 words in the english translation. He added a second volume – the Acts of the […]