Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • March 23, 2018 5 Thank you, Jesus, Mary, St. Jude, and St. Anthony for prayers answered. CS Thank you, St. Jude, for prayers answered. CS In thanksgiving to the Holy Spirit, Blessed Mother and St. Jude, for prayers answered. BAB 1260 Ocean Springs Road, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Ph: 228-818-0650 For more information, contact Jody Ellis Stoddard, Executive Director or email her at gardensED@BlueHarborSL.com Web Address: www.gardensseniorliving.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheGardensSeniorLivingOceanSprings 9274 Hwy 49/Airport Gulfport, MS 39503 228-863-5525 1-800-880-2446 FAX: 228-863-9612 www.butchoustalet.com Everyone loves an inspirational story with a happy ending. Word Among Us , Catholic Digest , Liguorian , Guideposts and other Christian magazines regularly feature such stories where the protagonist moves from defeat to triumph, conflict to peace, doubt to faith, or destitution to solvency, always through providential intervention. Today’s readings include two contradictory Gospel accounts that reverse the inspiring themes often brought to us in these and other publications. The first is very uplifting, but the second ends on a sour note. The first Gospel, which is read before our procession with palms, proclaims Jesus’ trium- phant entry into Jerusalem amid the praise and worship of an enthusiastic crowd. They want to anoint him king. The second is read as the Passion narrative, turning the tide from praise to persecution. Those who adored Jesus a week before will now shout, “Crucify him” “Crucify him.” They want his blood! This dramatic shift in human emotion is put into perspective by the Celebrant’s introductory remarks for the Mass. Here are excerpts: “Today we gather to herald…the celebration of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection… for our salvation…so that being made partakers of the Cross we may have a share in his Resurrection and in his life.” Passion Sunday, then, sets the pattern of the Christian life as a cycle of uniting our trials and sufferings with our Lord’s, so that we can share in his life of victory. He rode into the city cloaked in majesty but walked to Calvary’s hill clothed in blood. Pilate’s soldiers nailed him to a cross and left him there to die. His tomb was a cave hewn out of a rock with a stone rolled in front to announce, for the moment, that death had claimed victory. Jesus came to His passion willingly. Were he not betrayed and crucified the whole world would perish in its sins. These are his own words; “Behold, we are going to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be handed over…and condemned to death” (Matthew 20:18). Jesus speaks of the Cross as his glory. “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified” (John 12:23). Reflecting on Jesus’ passion St. Cyril of Jerusalem said, “He came therefore of His own set purpose to His passion, rejoicing in His noble deed, smiling at the crown, cheered by the salvation of mankind; not ashamed of the Cross, for it was to save the world. It was no common man who suffered, but God in man’s nature.” Today’s readings challenge us on the one hand to r ecogn i ze t he unpleasantness, shame, agony and bloody brutality of the cross and on the other hand to view it through the eyes of Jesus, who actually embraced it. He invites us to unite the crosses we experience in life to his and thank him for working in and through them. Today’s Old Testa- ment reading is the third of four “Servant of the Lord” oracles (see Isaiah 42:1-4; 49:1-7; and 52:13-53:12). The New Testament and Christian tradition see these prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Although the “Suffering Servant,” was despised and mistreated by his tormentors, he experienced God’s mercy and vindication. The message is clearly one of hope; although we may endure physical suffering, emotional stress or persecution for our beliefs we do not carry these burdens alone. God walks with us in our trials, transforming despair to victory. “I have not rebelled, have not turned back” (Isaiah 50:5). Self-denial will always bring benefit, not disgrace or shame. Writing to the church in Philippi, Paul holds Jesus as the model of Christian behavior in a culture filled with contradiction and injustice. Christ gave his followers a road map to the Father’s heart by embracing obedience, self-sacrifice, and humility. Despite our weaknesses and failings, he forgives over and over again. He forgives knowing that tomorrow we may once again lapse into sin; he distributes his gifts, recognizing we are often inadequate stewards; he sacrificially carries out God’s plan of salvation, having no guarantee of a love response from us. Following Christ means entering into this attitude of humility. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Philippians 2:6-8 wrote, “Humility is above all truth, living in truth, learning truth, learning that my smallness is actually greatness, because in this way I am important in the great web of God’s history with humanity. By recognizing that I am a thought of God, in the building of his world, and that I am irreplaceable, in this very way, in my littleness, and only in this way am I great. This is the beginning of being Christian: it is living truth. And only by living truth, the realism of my vocation for others, with others, in the Body of Christ do I live well.” During this coming Holy Week dedicate time to participate in Church rituals and activities. As much as possible with an extra effort to giving up personal non- essential activities, attend Adoration, Stations of the Cross, daily Mass, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pray the Rosary and Liturgy of the hours daily and attend the Liturgies of the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil). Experience the richness of your faith as offered by the Church. 1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm: 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47 Passion (Palm) Sunday Victory in Jesus! Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries SEE SUNDAY SCRIPTURE COMMENTARIES, PAGE 7