Thursday, April 17, 2014

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY #35 - LAST ONE


A NEW CHAPTER
Easter Sunday
Read Matthew 28:1-20.
As you read the story of the resurrection, what emotions stir in your heart?  What questions come to your mind?
What does the message of the empty tomb mean to you?
Notes on the text:
Although not stated explicitly, the women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body for burial.  A body was prepared for burial by being anointed with fragrant spices and then wrapped in linen cloths.  Preparing a body for burial was an act of love usually performed by closest relatives and friends.  However, this was considered work, and no work could be done on the Sabbath.  Since Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross close to sundown and the beginning of the Sabbath, there had been no time to properly prepare his body for burial.  Therefore, the women came to the tomb to finish the burial rites at their first opportunity, sunrise the day after the Sabbath.
Mary Magdalene alone is named in all four gospel accounts as the disciple who discovered the empty tomb.  She is often called the “Apostle of the Apostles” because she is the one who is first charged with spreading the good news of the resurrection.
Matthew’s sequence of events varies from the other gospel accounts because of his emphasis on the resurrection being the beginning of a new era.
The angel acts as an interpreter, like the angel in the infancy narrative, explaining the event the women are witnessing and commanding them to share the news with Jesus’ other disciples.
Verses 19-20 are referred to as the Great Commission.  The Church is now to take the message of Christ to all peoples.  Notice our baptismal formula comes from this passage.  In Hebrew usage, “in the name of” means “in the possession or under the protection of.”

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY #34


REVIEW

Holy Saturday

Review Matthew 26:1-27:66.  Read the text slowly and prayerfully.

What words or phrases jump out at you?  Go back and read that verse again.

What is God trying to say to you through this scripture?

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY #33


THE DEATH OF JESUS

Good Friday

Read Matthew 27:45-66.

Isaiah 53:4-5 says: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.”  Reflect on the crucifixion in light of these words.

Notes on the text:

Verse 45: See Amos 8:9 which states that on the day of the Lord, the sun shall set at midday.

Jesus quotes Psalm 22:2 in Aramaic.  Those who spoke only Greek could easily have misunderstood his words to think he was calling for Elijah, who was thought to come to assist those in distress.

Verse 50 emphasizes that Jesus was in control of the situation even up to and including his death.

The veil of the sanctuary was a heavily woven curtain, several inches thick, which separated the Holy of Holies from the innermost court of the Temple.  Only the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies and only once a year on the Day of Atonement.  The significance is that now all people have access to the presence of God.

The story of the earthquake and the resurrection of the dead appear only in Matthew.  While Jerusalem is an area with frequent earthquakes, it is likely that this part is symbolic, borrowing language from the Old Testament to describe the coming of a new age.

The bodies of the crucified were normally not buried but left upon their crosses as a warning to others who might seek to defy Roman authority.

Jewish burial rites called for internment before sunset.  This is especially important here because the Sabbath was to begin at sunset. [The Jewish day ran sunset to sunset.]

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY #32


THE CRUCIFIXION

Thursday of Holy Week

Read Matthew 27:32-44.

Jesus’ female disciples watch the crucifixion.  Imagine their suffering.  Think of a time when you saw someone suffering.  How did you feel and what did you do?

Which parts of Jesus’ suffering touch you the most?  Why?

Notes on the text:

Cyrene was the capital of the Roman province Cyrenaica on the north coast of Africa.  It was home to a large community of Greek-speaking Jews.  Simon could have possibly journeyed to Jerusalem for the Passover, a pilgrimage Jews tried to make at least once in their lives.

Verse 34: Mark’s text reads “myrrh,” not “gall.”  Myrrh was a narcotic used as a sedative to shorten the length of crucifixion and reduce the suffering.

Those being crucified were stripped naked and their clothing, a precious commodity, was given to their executioners.

It was typical for prisoners to have a sign hung over their head stating their offense which merited crucifixion.  This served as a warning to others who might be thinking of committing such an offense.

The mocking taunts echo the charges leveled against Jesus in the trial by the Sanhedrin in 26:61 and also the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness in 4:3, 6.

Daily Scripture Reflection - April 17


April 17

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

John 13:1-15

“Not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”

On this, one of the holiest days of the Church year we see Jesus on his knees wiping away dirt, washing the feet of his followers.  This is truly what it means to be like Christ.  He said so himself.  For all those who ask the perennial question, “What would Jesus do?”  Here is your answer.  “I have given you a model to follow,” he tells his disciples, “so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

And so confronted with the challenge of this gospel reading, it’s worth asking ourselves: what have we done? How many feet have we washed? How have we tried to imitate Christ?

  • By Deacon John Collins

Today is our last Lenten Daily Devotion.  We hope you have enjoyed this series.  We plan to repeat it during the week of Safari.

Please join us tonight for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 p.m. at St. Raphael Church; Good Friday at 12 noon at St. Raphael Church; and the Easter Vigil, Saturday, at 8:00 p.m. at St. Raphael Church.

Easter Sunday masses are: 8:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Church; 10:30 a.m. at St.  Joseph Church; and 10:30 a.m. at St. Raphael Church.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY #31


JESUS BEFORE PILATE

Wednesday of Holy Week

Read Matthew 27:1-31.

Both Peter and Judas are remorseful for their sins.  Judas repents of betraying Jesus but then hangs himself.  Peter weeps over his denial of Jesus.  How does meditating on the passion call you to repentance?

Notes on the text:

Jesus was led before Pilate because the Jews were a conquered people subject to Roman rule.  As such, they had no authority to execute anyone.  A death sentence could only be imposed by a Roman official.  Crucifixion was a distinctly Roman form of execution.

Pilate’s concern was whether Jesus had made a claim to earthly kingship and would, therefore, stir up another revolt against Rome.  Pilate was unconcerned with whether Jesus had broken any Jewish laws.

Pilate protects his own self-interest throughout his encounter with Jesus.  Judea was considered the “Siberia” of the Roman government.  Pilate had been transferred there because he had already proven himself an ineffective leader elsewhere in the Roman Empire.  It was his last post before he would be executed for his mistakes.  Therefore, Pilate comes to the situation ready to do whatever is necessary to prevent another in a series of revolts against Roman rule. 

Pilate’s handwashing is actually a mocking gesture directed against Jewish purity rituals.

Verse 25 must not be taken as an indictment of the whole Jewish people of that era or of any succeeding generations.  Rather, this verse should serve to remind us of the “crowd mentality” which incites people in a group to act in ways contrary to the ways they would act as individuals.

Daily Scripture Reflection - April 16


Wednesday of Holy Week

 

Isaiah 50: 4-9

Mathew 26: 14-25

 

The third song of the suffering servant is an act of confidence and trust in God.  He describes his openness to the Lord, receiving from him the word he is to preach to others.

 

But he was persecuted for carrying out his mission.  In spite of this he remained true to his mission, and persevered in doing his work.  He accepted is suffering as part of his mission, as God’s will for him.

 

He is so certain that suffering is part of his mission and God’s will that he openly challenges his oppressors to enter into a legal contest before God; and he is certain that God will justify him.

 

According to Matthew, Jesus knew that his death was part of God’s plan and the fulfillment of what the Scriptures had foretold.  And Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father.

 

As we approach the end of Lent the Church wants to emphasize for us that God took the initiative on our behalf.  Christ knew what was in store for him, and willingly endured it, because this was the will of God.


Jesus trusted that God would take care of him so he obediently accepted death for us.  How well do we trust in the Lord?  Do we accept the difficulties of life?  Has this Lent helped us to better understand God’s love for us?  Have we become more Christ like in the way we deal with others?

 

By Fr. Bill Kramer