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St. Elizabeth Seton Virtual Parish

Sandstone Pattern

Daily Reflection

Isaiah 42: 1-7
Psalm 27
John 12:1-11

As we enter into Holy Week, we see the troubling times and controversies are getting closer to Jesus. There is a conflict of emotions between those who deeply believe and those who are beginning to turn doubt into action. Jesus is with people we know were some of His closest friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus where I am sure there was a great deal of exuberance and celebration. How could one not be overwhelmed by the emotion of being with the person who raised your brother, Lazarus, from the dead.

Mary is so very thankful for the miracle Jesus performed that she uses expensive perfumed oil to anoint Jesus. Mary does not anoint Jesus just because He raised Lazarus from the dead though, because we know that Mary and Martha believed Jesus to be the Son of God before Jesus ever raised Lazarus. The experience of Jesus and Lazarus has raised the love Mary has for Jesus to new heights.

The exact opposite is the case with Judas. He just does not get it. Mary goes beyond accepting Jesus as the Son of God, and moves to having her life engulfed by the belief she has in Him. Judas was aware of Lazarus being brought back from the dead by Jesus, but he just refused to take that leap of faith in Jesus that would alter his entire life. That’s a pretty sad thing. I always feel sorry for Judas.

It is really important we focus more on what Mary does in this gospel than what Judas did. Focusing on Mary’s actions helps us integrate Jesus into every little thing we do during the day. What Mary did was a common every day experience but she did it with great love. This week, take the time to experience Jesus in even the little things. Try your best to get to all of the Holy Week liturgies.

Now, go smile at God today! You are loved!

March 30

John 13:21–33, 36-38

The Gospel reading today draws us into the tension of betrayal and trust at the Last Supper. Traditionally proclaimed on the Tuesday of Holy Week, this passage marks the transition from Jesus’ public ministry to his glorification through the cross. The focus narrows, the tone darkens, and the shadow of the Passion falls fully over the scene.

Central to this reading is Jesus’ deep interior distress as he foretells Judas’ betrayal. John tells us that Jesus was “deeply troubled,” using the very same language he employed earlier when Jesus encountered the grief surrounding the death of Lazarus (John 11:33). Even though Jesus foresaw Judas’ betrayal, it was no less painful. He truly experienced the wound of it. Judas was not a distant follower or casual acquaintance; he was a beloved disciple, one of the Twelve.

It is hard to imagine all that Judas witnessed firsthand—the miracles, the parables, the intimate moments of teaching, and the indescribable love of God made flesh. From a human perspective, Judas was incomprehensibly fortunate: he lived through the greatest moment in human history, when God Himself walked among us. And yet, somehow, it was not enough.

John’s brief but haunting phrase, “and it was night,” is particularly telling. Throughout his Gospel, John consistently uses light and darkness as spiritual symbols. Here, Judas departs from the presence of the One who is the Light of the world (John 8:12) and steps into the night. The physical darkness mirrors the spiritual darkness taking hold of his heart, as he moves into the domain of the evil one.

Immediately after Judas’ departure, the focus turns to Peter. In an almost childlike innocence, Peter asks Jesus questions whose answers are painfully obvious to the reader: “Where are you going?” and “Why can’t I follow you now?” Peter has no understanding of the forces about to be unleashed against them. Despite Jesus’ repeated predictions of his Passion, Peter simply cannot comprehend what lies ahead.

Peter’s confident declaration—that he would lay down his life for Jesus—is met not with affirmation, but with a devastating prophecy. Jesus tells him that before the night is over, Peter will deny even knowing him three times. The shock of this moment is easy to miss. Just after Judas’ betrayal, Jesus reveals that his closest disciple, the one he called the rock, will also fail him.

Here we see two betrayals side by side—one deliberate and dark, the other fearful and confused. Surrounded by weakness, denial, and impending violence, Jesus does not turn away. He moves steadily toward the cross, fully aware of human frailty and fully committed to love unto the end.

Today’s question for reflection
How do my sins betray my relationship with Jesus?

March 31

In today’s Gospel we hear the story of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus and his denial to Jesus at the Last Supper.

The Gospel of Matthew sets up a contrast between the woman who anointed Jesus at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13) and the betrayal of Judas (Matthew 26:14-16). The unnamed woman was so generous that she lavished an entire jar of expensive oil – worth a year’s salary – on Jesus to anoint him. Judas was so greedy and miserly that he was willing to betray Jesus and hand him over for a handful of thirty coins. The thirty pieces of silver recall the story of Zechariah 11:12, where the work of the prophet Zechariah, envisioned as one of the Lord’s faithful shepherds, was valued by sheep merchants at the paltry sum of thirty shekels of silver. Matthew sees a messianic fulfillment of this episode from Zechariah when the chief priests pay Judas Iscariot thirty pieces of silver to betray, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, into their hands.

Matthew tells us that on Thursday morning, “the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,” Jesus’ disciples asked him where he wanted to eat the Passover in the evening. “The Passover meal was eaten on the first day of the weeklong Feast of Unleavened Bread. However, in popular speech the day before Passover was referred to by the name “Unleavened Bread,” perhaps because the ritual removal of leaven from every Jewish home was conducted then. Jesus, it seems, had made prior arrangements to use a guestroom for his last Passover. Traditionally, this upper room has been identified as the house of John Mark (Acts 12:12).

When we read the Gospel, we sometimes think we would never betray Jesus like Judas. Yet every time we choose disordered pleasure over God, or choose money over God, or choose ourselves over God, we act like Judas. None of us is perfect. We have plenty of sins, faults, and mistakes to be sorrowful for. Every Holy Week, we are confronted with a choice: Will we be like Judas and remain indifferent to Jesus’ warnings?

Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection
In what ways have I “betrayed” Jesus’ unconditional love and mercy?

Source for today’s reflection: https://epriest.com/reflections/view/3387

April 1

Exodus 12: 1-14
Psalm 116
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15

The Triduum is underway as we celebrate Holy Thursday. This is the great day of celebration for the institution of the Eucharist, the Mass, and the Priesthood. The events of the gospel occur during a meal…this is the first meal at which Jesus in the Eucharist will be shared.

Before the Eucharist is share though, Jesus places Himself at the service of others in a very lowly position. Only those who were more or less desperate for wages in order to survive would have taken such a job, Jesus would be among the meek. Peter was of course one of the Apostles closest to Jesus, but even Peter did not understand the level to which Jesus would go to serve others.

As Peter does finally get it, Peter wants more and more of it. Peter wants to be close to Jesus, as close as he could get so that Peter could do what it is Jesus will ask of Peter. One big thing we need to make a focus is who was at this foot washing…Judas. There was the one who had already turned toward satan in his actions, still being served by Jesus.

Jesus is open to forgiving our mistakes as He forgave Peter in this gospel and Jesus will again forgive Peter after Peter denies Jesus three times. Jesus is also ready to forgive Judas, to take Judas close to Him, but Jesus was not going to share Himself in the Eucharist while Judas was not ready to reconcile himself with Jesus. The breaking of the bread would occur after Judas left the Last Supper.

We need to be careful to engage Jesus in the Eucharist when we are worthy, when we are in a state of grace, when we are free of grave of mortal sin. Reflect on your conscience. Grave, or mortal, sin entails something of grave or significant matter, knowing it is wrong, and doing it anyway. It is never too late to reconcile! Jesus wants us to be with Him for eternity!

Now, go smile at God today! You are loved!

April 2 - Holy Thursday

Today’s Gospel is John’s version of the Passion of our Lord. Unlike the other Gospel writers, today is the first and only time John speaks, through the question of Pontius Pilate, about Jesus as the King of the Jews.

John waits until the end of his Gospel to narrate something about the Kingdom of God. The Jews who handed Jesus over to Pilate needed something better than blasphemy to argue that Jesus deserved to be executed by the Romans. And so, they accused Jesus of insurrection and treason. That is why Pilate asks him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Pilate wants to know if Jesus poses a challenge to Caesar’s authority.

Jesus uses Pilate’s question to clarify that there is a distinction between earthly kingship and heavenly kingship. Earthly kingship is not superior to divine omnipotence and omniscience. As Jesus says to Pilate: “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above.” The Kingdom of God that Jesus established is not political or merely earthly. It is a heavenly Kingdom that has been inaugurated on earth. It is like leaven in the dough. It transforms society, making it more just and charitable. It is like a treasure buried in the field of the world. It welcomes both sinners and saints. It will start small like a seed but become a great tree that welcomes all nations. As we hear in the Preface for the feast of Christ the King, the Kingdom of Christ is “an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.”

When Pilate presented Jesus to the people, he said, “Behold, your King!” He said it mockingly, but he declared a great truth. The king the people saw was bloodied from the scourging and bruised from the punches across his face. He was a suffering king. On the cross Jesus, our Lord and King, reigned and offered forgiveness to sinners. From the tomb, Jesus emerged victorious. Jesus conquered death by dying. Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father. And for two thousand years, Jesus has reigned and will reign until the end of time, when he comes in glory.

As we remember Jesus’ Passion, let’s remember why we call today “Good Friday.” Today is the day Jesus inaugurated the events directly leading to our salvation. Yes indeed, today is Good Friday.

Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection
How can we honor Jesus today for the love He poured out for us on the Cross?

Sources for today’s reflection: https://epriest.com/reflections/view/3389

April 3 - Good Friday

Today, Holy Saturday, the Church abstains from the Sacrifice of the Mass, with the sacred table left bare. Rather, the Church waits at the Lord’s tomb in prayer and fasting, meditating on his Passion and Death into Hell and awaiting his Resurrection.

Because there is no Mass, there are no Mass Readings. From the Divine Office, the Church gives us Morning Prayer and the Office of the Readings. The second reading from the Office of the Readings is taken from an unattributed ancient homily for Holy Saturday.

“Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep… Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, … saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

… Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.”

April 4 - Holy Saturday

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