tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80403756042162382532024-03-29T07:28:34.085-04:00Bro. Rene's Daily BreadReflections on Marist SpiritualityBro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.comBlogger4849125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-68669794959175306492024-03-29T07:28:00.000-04:002024-03-29T07:28:03.582-04:00Good Friday<p><img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1711709754619_704" src="https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.aEdvHkxe7EMcTYSVE3I8vgHaEK&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 156.9px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 11.6px; width: 278.9px;" /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 18:1-19:42 <br /></span></b></p><div class="std-text"> <h3><span class="text John-18-1" id="en-NIV-26787">Jesus Arrested</span></h3><p class="chapter-2"><i><span class="text John-18-1"><span class="chapternum">18 </span>When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-2" id="en-NIV-26788"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.</span> <span class="text John-18-3" id="en-NIV-26789"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-4" id="en-NIV-26790"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, <span class="woj">“Who is it you want?”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-5" id="en-NIV-26791"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-18-5"><span class="woj">“I am he,”</span> Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)</span> <span class="text John-18-6" id="en-NIV-26792"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>When Jesus said, <span class="woj">“I am he,”</span> they drew back and fell to the ground.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-7" id="en-NIV-26793"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>Again he asked them, <span class="woj">“Who is it you want?”</span></span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-18-7">“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-8" id="en-NIV-26794"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”</span></span> <span class="text John-18-9" id="en-NIV-26795"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: <span class="woj">“I have not lost one of those you gave me.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-10" id="en-NIV-26796"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>Then
Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s
servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-11" id="en-NIV-26797"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>Jesus commanded Peter, <span class="woj">“Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-12" id="en-NIV-26798"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him</span> <span class="text John-18-13" id="en-NIV-26799"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.</span> <span class="text John-18-14" id="en-NIV-26800"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text John-18-15" id="en-NIV-26801">Peter’s First Denial</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-18-15"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard,</span> <span class="text John-18-16" id="en-NIV-26802"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>but
Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was
known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty
there and brought Peter in.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-17" id="en-NIV-26803"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-18-17">He replied, “I am not.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-18" id="en-NIV-26804"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text John-18-19" id="en-NIV-26805">The High Priest Questions Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-18-19"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-20" id="en-NIV-26806"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>“I have spoken openly to the world,”</span> Jesus replied. <span class="woj">“I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.</span></span> <span class="text John-18-21" id="en-NIV-26807"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-22" id="en-NIV-26808"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-23" id="en-NIV-26809"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>“If I said something wrong,”</span> Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”</span></span> <span class="text John-18-24" id="en-NIV-26810"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text John-18-25" id="en-NIV-26811">Peter’s Second and Third Denials</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-18-25"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-18-25">He denied it, saying, “I am not.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-26" id="en-NIV-26812"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”</span> <span class="text John-18-27" id="en-NIV-26813"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text John-18-28" id="en-NIV-26814">Jesus Before Pilate</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-18-28"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.</span> <span class="text John-18-29" id="en-NIV-26815"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-30" id="en-NIV-26816"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-31" id="en-NIV-26817"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-18-31">“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected.</span> <span class="text John-18-32" id="en-NIV-26818"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-33" id="en-NIV-26819"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-34" id="en-NIV-26820"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>“Is that your own idea,”</span> Jesus asked, <span class="woj">“or did others talk to you about me?”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-35" id="en-NIV-26821"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-36" id="en-NIV-26822"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>Jesus said, <span class="woj">“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-37" id="en-NIV-26823"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-18-37">Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-38" id="en-NIV-26824"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>“What
is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews
gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.</span> <span class="text John-18-39" id="en-NIV-26825"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>But
it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of
the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-18-40" id="en-NIV-26826"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup>They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text John-19-1" id="en-NIV-26827">Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified</span></h3><p class="chapter-2"><i><span class="text John-19-1"><span class="chapternum">19 </span>Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.</span> <span class="text John-19-2" id="en-NIV-26828"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe</span> <span class="text John-19-3" id="en-NIV-26829"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-4" id="en-NIV-26830"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”</span> <span class="text John-19-5" id="en-NIV-26831"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-6" id="en-NIV-26832"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-19-6">But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-7" id="en-NIV-26833"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-8" id="en-NIV-26834"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,</span> <span class="text John-19-9" id="en-NIV-26835"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.</span> <span class="text John-19-10" id="en-NIV-26836"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-11" id="en-NIV-26837"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-12" id="en-NIV-26838"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>From
then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept
shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone
who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-13" id="en-NIV-26839"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha).</span> <span class="text John-19-14" id="en-NIV-26840"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-19-14">“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-15" id="en-NIV-26841"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-19-15">“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-19-15">“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-16" id="en-NIV-26842"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.</span></i></p><h3><span class="text John-19-16">The Crucifixion of Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-19-16">So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.</span> <span class="text John-19-17" id="en-NIV-26843"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).</span> <span class="text John-19-18" id="en-NIV-26844"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-19" id="en-NIV-26845"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">jesus of nazareth</span>, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">the king of the jews</span>.</span> <span class="text John-19-20" id="en-NIV-26846"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.</span> <span class="text John-19-21" id="en-NIV-26847"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>The
chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King
of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-22" id="en-NIV-26848"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-23" id="en-NIV-26849"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>When
the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into
four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining.
This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-24" id="en-NIV-26850"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-19-24">This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,</span></i></p><div class="poetry top-05"><p class="line"><i><span class="text John-19-24">“They divided my clothes among them</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text John-19-24">and cast lots for my garment.”</span></span></i></p></div><p class="first-line-none top-05"><i><span class="text John-19-24">So this is what the soldiers did.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-25" id="en-NIV-26851"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.</span> <span class="text John-19-26" id="en-NIV-26852"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, <span class="woj">“Woman, here is your son,”</span></span> <span class="text John-19-27" id="en-NIV-26853"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>and to the disciple, <span class="woj">“Here is your mother.”</span> From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text John-19-28" id="en-NIV-26854">The Death of Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-19-28"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, <span class="woj">“I am thirsty.”</span></span> <span class="text John-19-29" id="en-NIV-26855"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.</span> <span class="text John-19-30" id="en-NIV-26856"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>When he had received the drink, Jesus said, <span class="woj">“It is finished.”</span> With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-19-31" id="en-NIV-26857"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.</span> <span class="text John-19-32" id="en-NIV-26858"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.</span> <span class="text John-19-33" id="en-NIV-26859"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.</span> <span class="text John-19-34" id="en-NIV-26860"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.</span> <span class="text John-19-35" id="en-NIV-26861"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.</span> <span class="text John-19-36" id="en-NIV-26862"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”</span> </i><span class="text John-19-37" id="en-NIV-26863"><i><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”</i></span></p> <h3><span class="text John-19-38" id="en-NIV-26864">The Burial of Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-19-38"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>Later,
Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a
disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.</span> <span class="text John-19-39" id="en-NIV-26865"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-26865f" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-26865f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2018:1-19:42&version=NIV#fen-NIV-26865f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]</sup></span> <span class="text John-19-40" id="en-NIV-26866"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup>Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.</span> <span class="text John-19-41" id="en-NIV-26867"><sup class="versenum">41 </sup>At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.</span> <span class="text John-19-42" id="en-NIV-26868"><sup class="versenum">42 </sup>Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.</span></i></p><p><span class="text John-19-42" id="en-NIV-26868"> Why is this day, when the tragic painful crucifixion of the Son of God is commemorated, called Good Friday? Should it not be called Sad Friday or Tragic Friday? (For a detailed description of the pain and suffering Jesus endured, I recommend a half hour video, "How Jesus died: the final 18 hours" on Amazon, well worth the price of $1.99) But, no, it's GOOD FRIDAY because the death of Jesus paid the price of Adam and Eve's prideful disobedience and gave us our salvation:victory over evil, life over death. In solemn silence we reflect on the Passion and Death of Jesus. No Mass is celebrated until the Easter Vigil. This is our day to mourn, be silent and with gratitude and love, ponder the passion and death of Jesus.</span></p><p><span class="text John-19-42" id="en-NIV-26868">Bro. Rene</span></p><p><i><span class="text John-19-42" id="en-NIV-26868">Dear God, may St. John's vivid account of the last hours of Jesus cause us to tremble as well as appreciate his infinite love. Amen. </span><span class="text John-19-42" id="en-NIV-26868"> <br /></span></i></p> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-52303074337769762932024-03-28T06:45:00.001-04:002024-03-28T06:45:14.450-04:00An Example For Us<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1711620900253_707" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.gV80xn5TtADJSY-5W2CfoQHaGN&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 192.5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -6.2px; width: 229.6px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 13:1-15</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b><span class="text John-13-1" id="en-NIV-26632"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet</span></b></span></p><p class="chapter-2"><i><span class="text John-13-1"><span class="chapternum">13 </span>It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-2" id="en-NIV-26633"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.</span> <span class="text John-13-3" id="en-NIV-26634"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;</span> <span class="text John-13-4" id="en-NIV-26635"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.</span> <span class="text John-13-5" id="en-NIV-26636"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-6" id="en-NIV-26637"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-7" id="en-NIV-26638"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-8" id="en-NIV-26639"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-13-8">Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-9" id="en-NIV-26640"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-10" id="en-NIV-26641"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”</span></span> <span class="text John-13-11" id="en-NIV-26642"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.</span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text John-13-12" id="en-NIV-26643"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. <span class="woj">“Do you understand what I have done for you?”</span> he asked them.</span> <span class="text John-13-13" id="en-NIV-26644"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.</span></span> <span class="text John-13-14" id="en-NIV-26645"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.</span></span> <span class="text John-13-15" id="en-NIV-26646"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.</span></span></i></p><p><span class="text John-13-15" id="en-NIV-26646"><span class="woj">On this day when we </span></span><span class="text John-13-15" id="en-NIV-26646"><span class="woj">celebrate the institution of the great gift of the Holy Eucharist, we also receive a vivid lesson of what it means to be bread for one another, to be of humble service to all, symbolized by the washing of the feet. Such, service, as Jesus tells Peter, is non-negotiable. What acts of kindness can I perform today? Can I pray for the sick, the struggling, the homeless, those who have strayed from the truth, those suffering the ravages of war in the Middle East and the Ukraine? Today begins the three most holy and solemn days of the year...may our actions and prayers rise to honor them. "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Jn 13: 15).</span></span></span></p><p><span class="text John-13-15" id="en-NIV-26646"><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: small;">Bro. Rene </span></span></span></p><p><span class="text John-13-15" id="en-NIV-26646"><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of yourself in the Holy Eucharist and for the vivid example of service to others. May they continue to feed me and guide the way I live. Amen.<br /></i></span></span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-19460002328354565772024-03-27T06:33:00.001-04:002024-03-27T06:57:57.723-04:00Painful Dynamic<p> </p><p><img alt="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1711534618235_723" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.ZCfZHgv9s9xNDKlWfbSt-gAAAA&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 167px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 6.5px; width: 297.5px;" /> <br /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Mt 26:14-25</span></b></p><div class="std-text"> <h3><span class="text Matt-26-14" id="en-NIV-24069">Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Matt-26-14"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests</span> <span class="text Matt-26-15" id="en-NIV-24070"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.</span> <span class="text Matt-26-16" id="en-NIV-24071"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Matt-26-17" id="en-NIV-24072">The Last Supper</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Matt-26-17"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-26-18" id="en-NIV-24073"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>He replied, <span class="woj">“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”</span></span> <span class="text Matt-26-19" id="en-NIV-24074"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-26-20" id="en-NIV-24075"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.</span> <span class="text Matt-26-21" id="en-NIV-24076"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>And while they were eating, he said, <span class="woj">“Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-26-22" id="en-NIV-24077"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-26-23" id="en-NIV-24078"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-26-24" id="en-NIV-24079"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”</span></span><span class="text Matt-26-25"><span class="woj"> </span></span></i></p><p><span class="text Matt-26-25"><span class="woj"> We can feel the tension and the sadness aroused by the prediction Jesus made as the Eleven ask in innocence, "Is it I?" Even Judas joins the chorus, knowing full well that he is the guilty one. What was going on in his mind and soul? Disappointment? Or maybe a prod to get Jesus to establish and earthly kingdom? He later on regrets his deal and tries to stop the process, but it was too late.He had given the High Priests what they wanted, and his guilty conscience was not their concern. The weight of his guilt led to his self-inflicted death. Life often presents us with choices that cause anguish and demand prayer and reflection to find the right path. What am I facing on this "Spy Wednesday" that needs this level of attention? How will I respond?</span></span><i><span class="text Matt-26-25"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></i></p><p><span class="text Matt-26-25"><span class="woj">Bro. Rene</span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-26-25"><span class="woj">Dear God, be my guide and direct my choices and decisions that they may keep me on the path that leads to you. Amen.<br /></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-26-25"><span class="woj"> </span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-26-25"><span class="woj"> </span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-26-25"><span class="woj"> </span></span></p> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-83909937447469840352024-03-26T07:11:00.001-04:002024-03-26T07:11:23.922-04:00Reality Mars The Last Supper<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1711450310023_722" src="https://tse1.explicit.bing.net/th?id=OIP.uGDvAzIXyc-UYk36HeqhCwHaFj&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 192.7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -6.3px; width: 256.9px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 13:21-33, 36-38</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> The Betrayer<br /></span></b></p><div class="passage-text">
<div class="passage-content passage-class-0"><div class="version-NIV result-text-style-normal text-html">
<div class="std-text"> <p><i><span class="text John-13-21" id="en-NIV-26652"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, <span class="woj">“Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-22" id="en-NIV-26653"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.</span> <span class="text John-13-23" id="en-NIV-26654"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.</span> <span class="text John-13-24" id="en-NIV-26655"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-25" id="en-NIV-26656"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-26" id="en-NIV-26657"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”</span> Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.</span> <span class="text John-13-27" id="en-NIV-26658"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-13-27">So Jesus told him, <span class="woj">“What you are about to do, do quickly.”</span></span> <span class="text John-13-28" id="en-NIV-26659"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.</span> <span class="text John-13-29" id="en-NIV-26660"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.</span> <span class="text John-13-30" id="en-NIV-26661"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text John-13-31" id="en-NIV-26662">Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-13-31"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>When he was gone, Jesus said, <span class="woj">“Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him.</span></span> <span class="text John-13-32" id="en-NIV-26663"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-33" id="en-NIV-26664"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>“My
children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for
me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going,
you cannot come.</span></span></i></p> </div></div></div></div><h1 class="passage-display"><div aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="listbox" aria-labelledby="dropdown-678c4" class="translation d-container go2888862000" id="dropdown-678c4" role="button" style="position: static;"><i><span class="d-root"></span></i></div>
</h1>
<div class="passage-text">
<div class="passage-content passage-class-0"><div class="version-NIV result-text-style-normal text-html">
<div class="std-text"> <p><i><span class="text John-13-36" id="en-NIV-26667"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-13-36">Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-37" id="en-NIV-26668"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-13-38" id="en-NIV-26669"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>Then Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!</span></span></i></p><p><span class="text John-13-38" id="en-NIV-26669"><span class="woj">How ironic, how realistic that the joy of the Last Supper should be blemished by the reality of Judas's betrayal and the prediction of Peter's impending denial. Yet such is our human condition, always a mixture of the heavenly and the earthly, the sublime and the base. The most impure thoughts seem to come at the holiest moments, or our selfishness overshadows our attempts to help others. We are reminded over and over again that we need our Savior and the means he left us to follow him more closely. He never tires of picking us up and giving us another chance. May we never tire of making the effort to allow him to do so.</span></span></p><p><span class="text John-13-38" id="en-NIV-26669"><span class="woj">Bro. Rene</span></span></p><p><span class="text John-13-38" id="en-NIV-26669"><span class="woj"><i>Dear Jesus, bear with me as a stumble and fall; give me the humility to allow you to pick me up and start over again. Amen. <br /></i></span></span></p></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-26499691088197253682024-03-25T06:39:00.000-04:002024-03-25T06:39:45.551-04:00Mary's Fearless Love<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1711362053738_691" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.9FUDUl3ANFoteW8G8ZdVpgHaEx&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 155.2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 12.4px; width: 241px;" /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 12:1-11 <br /></span></b></p><h3><span class="text John-12-1" id="en-NIV-26582">Jesus Anointed at Bethany</span></h3><p class="chapter-2"><i><span class="text John-12-1"><span class="chapternum">12 </span>Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.</span> <span class="text John-12-2" id="en-NIV-26583"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.</span> <span class="text John-12-3" id="en-NIV-26584"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-12-4" id="en-NIV-26585"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,</span> <span class="text John-12-5" id="en-NIV-26586"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”</span> <span class="text John-12-6" id="en-NIV-26587"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-12-7" id="en-NIV-26588"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>“Leave her alone,”</span> Jesus replied. <span class="woj">“It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.</span></span> <span class="text John-12-8" id="en-NIV-26589"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”</span></span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text John-12-9" id="en-NIV-26590"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>Meanwhile
a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only
because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the
dead.</span> <span class="text John-12-10" id="en-NIV-26591"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,</span> <span class="text John-12-11" id="en-NIV-26592"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.</span></i></p><p><span class="text John-12-11" id="en-NIV-26592">Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, displays her love for Jesus by this extravagant act of washing his feet with a very expensive perfume. She provokes criticism from Judas but wins approval from Jesus. What deep and fearless love she had for Jesus and what a model she serves for us, especially this last week of Lent. What lavish act of love can offer to Jesus? Something I do for my family, my community, the poor? How can I anoint the feet of Jesus as Mary did?</span></p><p><span class="text John-12-11" id="en-NIV-26592">Bro. Rene</span></p><p><span class="text John-12-11" id="en-NIV-26592"><i>Dear Jesus, may I have the courage and deep love of Mary to anoint the feet of Jesus by some lavish act of kindness and care during this last week of Lent. Amen.<br /></i></span></p><p> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-91681004832793513542024-03-24T06:55:00.001-04:002024-03-25T06:41:15.858-04:00The Passion According To St. Mark<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1711275656039_1140" src="https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.RMoEB3MjxzaxSIBAez5l2wHaFH&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 167.1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 6.4px; width: 242.2px;" /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Mark 14:1-15:47</span></b></p><p><span class="text Mark-14-1" id="en-GNT-27801"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Plot against Jesus</span></b></span></p><p class="chapter-2"><i><span class="text Mark-14-1"><span class="chapternum">14 </span>It
was now two days before the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread.
The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were looking for a way to
arrest Jesus secretly and put him to death. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-2" id="en-GNT-27802"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>“We must not do it during the festival,” they said, “or the people might riot.”</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-14-3" id="en-GNT-27803">Jesus Is Anointed at Bethany</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-3"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Jesus
was in Bethany at the house of Simon, a man who had suffered from a
dreaded skin disease. While Jesus was eating, a woman came in with an
alabaster jar full of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She
broke the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus' head. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-4" id="en-GNT-27804"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Some of the people there became angry and said to one another, “What was the use of wasting the perfume? </span> <span class="text Mark-14-5" id="en-GNT-27805"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor!” And they criticized her harshly.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-6" id="en-GNT-27806"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a fine and beautiful thing for me. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-7" id="en-GNT-27807"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>You will always have poor people with you, and any time you want to, you can help them. But you will not always have me. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-8" id="en-GNT-27808"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>She did what she could; she poured perfume on my body to prepare it ahead of time for burial. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-9" id="en-GNT-27809"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>Now, I assure you that wherever the gospel is preached all over the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-14-10" id="en-GNT-27810">Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-10"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-11" id="en-GNT-27811"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>They
were pleased to hear what he had to say, and promised to give him
money. So Judas started looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to
them.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-14-12" id="en-GNT-27812">Jesus Eats the Passover Meal with His Disciples</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-12"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>On
the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the day the lambs
for the Passover meal were killed, Jesus' disciples asked him, “Where do
you want us to go and get the Passover meal ready for you?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-13" id="en-GNT-27813"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>Then
Jesus sent two of them with these instructions: “Go into the city, and a
man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him </span> <span class="text Mark-14-14" id="en-GNT-27814"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>to
the house he enters, and say to the owner of the house: ‘The Teacher
says, Where is the room where my disciples and I will eat the Passover
meal?’ </span> <span class="text Mark-14-15" id="en-GNT-27815"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>Then he will show you a large upstairs room, fixed up and furnished, where you will get everything ready for us.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-16" id="en-GNT-27816"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>The disciples left, went to the city, and found everything just as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-17" id="en-GNT-27817"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>When it was evening, Jesus came with the twelve disciples. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-18" id="en-GNT-27818"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you that one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-19" id="en-GNT-27819"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>The disciples were upset and began to ask him, one after the other, “Surely you don't mean me, do you?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-20" id="en-GNT-27820"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>Jesus answered, “It will be one of you twelve, one who dips his bread in the dish with me. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-21" id="en-GNT-27821"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>The
Son of Man will die as the Scriptures say he will; but how terrible for
that man who will betray the Son of Man! It would have been better for
that man if he had never been born!”</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-14-22" id="en-GNT-27822">The Lord's Supper</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-22"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>While
they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks,
broke it, and gave it to his disciples. “Take it,” he said, “this is my
body.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-23" id="en-GNT-27823"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and handed it to them; and they all drank from it. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-24" id="en-GNT-27824"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>Jesus said, “This is my blood which is poured out for many, my blood which seals God's covenant. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-25" id="en-GNT-27825"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>I tell you, I will never again drink this wine until the day I drink the new wine in the Kingdom of God.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-26" id="en-GNT-27826"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-14-27" id="en-GNT-27827">Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-27"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>Jesus
said to them, “All of you will run away and leave me, for the scripture
says, ‘God will kill the shepherd, and the sheep will all be
scattered.’ </span> <span class="text Mark-14-28" id="en-GNT-27828"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-29" id="en-GNT-27829"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>Peter answered, “I will never leave you, even though all the rest do!”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-30" id="en-GNT-27830"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>Jesus
said to Peter, “I tell you that before the rooster crows two times
tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-31" id="en-GNT-27831"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>Peter answered even more strongly, “I will never say that, even if I have to die with you!”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-31">And all the other disciples said the same thing.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-14-32" id="en-GNT-27832">Jesus Prays in Gethsemane</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-32"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>They came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” </span> <span class="text Mark-14-33" id="en-GNT-27833"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>He took Peter, James, and John with him. Distress and anguish came over him, </span> <span class="text Mark-14-34" id="en-GNT-27834"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>and he said to them, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-35" id="en-GNT-27835"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>He
went a little farther on, threw himself on the ground, and prayed that,
if possible, he might not have to go through that time of suffering. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-36" id="en-GNT-27836"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>“Father,”
he prayed, “my Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup
of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-37" id="en-GNT-27837"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>Then
he returned and found the three disciples asleep. He said to Peter,
“Simon, are you asleep? Weren't you able to stay awake for even one
hour?” </span> <span class="text Mark-14-38" id="en-GNT-27838"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>And
he said to them, “Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into
temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-39" id="en-GNT-27839"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>He went away once more and prayed, saying the same words. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-40" id="en-GNT-27840"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup>Then
he came back to the disciples and found them asleep; they could not
keep their eyes open. And they did not know what to say to him.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-41" id="en-GNT-27841"><sup class="versenum">41 </sup>When
he came back the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping
and resting? Enough! The hour has come! Look, the Son of Man is now
being handed over to the power of sinners. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-42" id="en-GNT-27842"><sup class="versenum">42 </sup>Get up, let us go. Look, here is the man who is betraying me!”</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-14-43" id="en-GNT-27843">The Arrest of Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-43"><sup class="versenum">43 </sup>Jesus
was still speaking when Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived.
With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs and sent by the chief
priests, the teachers of the Law, and the elders. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-44" id="en-GNT-27844"><sup class="versenum">44 </sup>The traitor had given the crowd a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want. Arrest him and take him away under guard.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-45" id="en-GNT-27845"><sup class="versenum">45 </sup>As soon as Judas arrived, he went up to Jesus and said, “Teacher!” and kissed him. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-46" id="en-GNT-27846"><sup class="versenum">46 </sup>So they arrested Jesus and held him tight. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-47" id="en-GNT-27847"><sup class="versenum">47 </sup>But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck at the High Priest's slave, cutting off his ear. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-48" id="en-GNT-27848"><sup class="versenum">48 </sup>Then Jesus spoke up and said to them, “Did you have to come with swords and clubs to capture me, as though I were an outlaw? </span> <span class="text Mark-14-49" id="en-GNT-27849"><sup class="versenum">49 </sup>Day after day I was with you teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must come true.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-50" id="en-GNT-27850"><sup class="versenum">50 </sup>Then all the disciples left him and ran away.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-51" id="en-GNT-27851"><sup class="versenum">51 </sup>A certain young man, dressed only in a linen cloth, was following Jesus. They tried to arrest him, </span> <span class="text Mark-14-52" id="en-GNT-27852"><sup class="versenum">52 </sup>but he ran away naked, leaving the cloth behind.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-14-53" id="en-GNT-27853">Jesus before the Council</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-53"><sup class="versenum">53 </sup>Then
Jesus was taken to the High Priest's house, where all the chief
priests, the elders, and the teachers of the Law were gathering. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-54" id="en-GNT-27854"><sup class="versenum">54 </sup>Peter
followed from a distance and went into the courtyard of the High
Priest's house. There he sat down with the guards, keeping himself warm
by the fire. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-55" id="en-GNT-27855"><sup class="versenum">55 </sup>The
chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some evidence against
Jesus in order to put him to death, but they could not find any. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-56" id="en-GNT-27856"><sup class="versenum">56 </sup>Many witnesses told lies against Jesus, but their stories did not agree.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-57" id="en-GNT-27857"><sup class="versenum">57 </sup>Then some men stood up and told this lie against Jesus: </span> <span class="text Mark-14-58" id="en-GNT-27858"><sup class="versenum">58 </sup>“We
heard him say, ‘I will tear down this Temple which men have made, and
after three days I will build one that is not made by men.’” </span> <span class="text Mark-14-59" id="en-GNT-27859"><sup class="versenum">59 </sup>Not even they, however, could make their stories agree.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-60" id="en-GNT-27860"><sup class="versenum">60 </sup>The
High Priest stood up in front of them all and questioned Jesus, “Have
you no answer to the accusation they bring against you?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-61" id="en-GNT-27861"><sup class="versenum">61 </sup>But
Jesus kept quiet and would not say a word. Again the High Priest
questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-62" id="en-GNT-27862"><sup class="versenum">62 </sup>“I
am,” answered Jesus, “and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the
right side of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of heaven!”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-63" id="en-GNT-27863"><sup class="versenum">63 </sup>The High Priest tore his robes and said, “We don't need any more witnesses! </span> <span class="text Mark-14-64" id="en-GNT-27864"><sup class="versenum">64 </sup>You heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-64">They all voted against him: he was guilty and should be put to death.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-65" id="en-GNT-27865"><sup class="versenum">65 </sup>Some
of them began to spit on Jesus, and they blindfolded him and hit him.
“Guess who hit you!” they said. And the guards took him and slapped him.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-14-66" id="en-GNT-27866">Peter Denies Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-66"><sup class="versenum">66 </sup>Peter was still down in the courtyard when one of the High Priest's servant women came by. </span> <span class="text Mark-14-67" id="en-GNT-27867"><sup class="versenum">67 </sup>When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked straight at him and said, “You, too, were with Jesus of Nazareth.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-68" id="en-GNT-27868"><sup class="versenum">68 </sup>But
he denied it. “I don't know … I don't understand what you are talking
about,” he answered, and went out into the passageway. Just then a
rooster crowed.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-69" id="en-GNT-27869"><sup class="versenum">69 </sup>The servant woman saw him there and began to repeat to the bystanders, “He is one of them!” </span> <span class="text Mark-14-70" id="en-GNT-27870"><sup class="versenum">70 </sup>But Peter denied it again.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text Mark-14-70">A
little while later the bystanders accused Peter again, “You can't deny
that you are one of them, because you, too, are from Galilee.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-14-71" id="en-GNT-27871"><sup class="versenum">71 </sup>Then
Peter said, “I swear that I am telling the truth! May God punish me if I
am not! I do not know the man you are talking about!”</span></i></p> <p><span class="text Mark-14-72" id="en-GNT-27872"><i><sup class="versenum">72 </sup>Just
then a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered how Jesus had
said to him, “Before the rooster crows two times, you will say three
times that you do not know me.” And he broke down and cried</i>.</span></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-15-1" id="en-GNT-27873">Jesus before Pilate</span></h3><p class="chapter-2"><i><span class="text Mark-15-1"><span class="chapternum">15 </span>Early
in the morning the chief priests met hurriedly with the elders, the
teachers of the Law, and the whole Council, and made their plans. They
put Jesus in chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-2" id="en-GNT-27874"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text Mark-15-2">Jesus answered, “So you say.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-3" id="en-GNT-27875"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>The chief priests were accusing Jesus of many things, </span> <span class="text Mark-15-4" id="en-GNT-27876"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>so Pilate questioned him again, “Aren't you going to answer? Listen to all their accusations!”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-5" id="en-GNT-27877"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>Again Jesus refused to say a word, and Pilate was amazed.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-15-6" id="en-GNT-27878">Jesus Is Sentenced to Death</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-15-6"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>At every Passover Festival Pilate was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner the people asked for. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-7" id="en-GNT-27879"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>At that time a man named Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder in the riot. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-8" id="en-GNT-27880"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>When the crowd gathered and began to ask Pilate for the usual favor, </span> <span class="text Mark-15-9" id="en-GNT-27881"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>he asked them, “Do you want me to set free for you the king of the Jews?” </span> <span class="text Mark-15-10" id="en-GNT-27882"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>He knew very well that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-11" id="en-GNT-27883"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask, instead, that Pilate set Barabbas free for them. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-12" id="en-GNT-27884"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>Pilate spoke again to the crowd, “What, then, do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-13" id="en-GNT-27885"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>They shouted back, “Crucify him!”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-14" id="en-GNT-27886"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>“But what crime has he committed?” Pilate asked.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text Mark-15-14">They shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-15" id="en-GNT-27887"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>Pilate
wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for them. Then he
had Jesus whipped and handed him over to be crucified.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-15-16" id="en-GNT-27888">The Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-15-16"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>The soldiers took Jesus inside to the courtyard of the governor's palace and called together the rest of the company. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-17" id="en-GNT-27889"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>They put a purple robe on Jesus, made a crown out of thorny branches, and put it on his head. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-18" id="en-GNT-27890"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>Then they began to salute him: “Long live the King of the Jews!” </span> <span class="text Mark-15-19" id="en-GNT-27891"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>They beat him over the head with a stick, spat on him, fell on their knees, and bowed down to him. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-20" id="en-GNT-27892"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>When
they had finished making fun of him, they took off the purple robe and
put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-15-21" id="en-GNT-27893">Jesus Is Crucified</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-15-21"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>On
the way they met a man named Simon, who was coming into the city from
the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross. (Simon
was from Cyrene and was the father of Alexander and Rufus.) </span> <span class="text Mark-15-22" id="en-GNT-27894"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>They took Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means “The Place of the Skull.” </span> <span class="text Mark-15-23" id="en-GNT-27895"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>There they tried to give him wine mixed with a drug called myrrh, but Jesus would not drink it. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-24" id="en-GNT-27896"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>Then they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, throwing dice to see who would get which piece of clothing. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-25" id="en-GNT-27897"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-26" id="en-GNT-27898"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>The notice of the accusation against him said: “The King of the Jews.” </span> <span class="text Mark-15-27" id="en-GNT-27899"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>They also crucified two bandits with Jesus, one on his right and the other on his left. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-28" id="en-GNT-27900"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-29" id="en-GNT-27901"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>People
passing by shook their heads and hurled insults at Jesus: “Aha! You
were going to tear down the Temple and build it back up in three days! </span> <span class="text Mark-15-30" id="en-GNT-27902"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>Now come down from the cross and save yourself!”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-31" id="en-GNT-27903"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>In
the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the Law made fun of
Jesus, saying to one another, “He saved others, but he cannot save
himself! </span> <span class="text Mark-15-32" id="en-GNT-27904"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>Let us see the Messiah, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him!”</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text Mark-15-32">And the two who were crucified with Jesus insulted him also.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-15-33" id="en-GNT-27905">The Death of Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-15-33"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-34" id="en-GNT-27906"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-35" id="en-GNT-27907"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>Some of the people there heard him and said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah!” </span> <span class="text Mark-15-36" id="en-GNT-27908"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>One
of them ran up with a sponge, soaked it in cheap wine, and put it on
the end of a stick. Then he held it up to Jesus' lips and said, “Wait!
Let us see if Elijah is coming to bring him down from the cross!”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-37" id="en-GNT-27909"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>With a loud cry Jesus died.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-38" id="en-GNT-27910"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>The curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-39" id="en-GNT-27911"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>The army officer who was standing there in front of the cross saw how Jesus had died. “This man was really the Son of God!” he said.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-15-40" id="en-GNT-27912"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup>Some
women were there, looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary
Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joseph, and
Salome. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-41" id="en-GNT-27913"><sup class="versenum">41 </sup>They
had followed Jesus while he was in Galilee and had helped him. Many
other women who had come to Jerusalem with him were there also.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text Mark-15-42-Mark-15-43" id="en-GNT-27914">The Burial of Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-15-42-Mark-15-43"><sup class="versenum">42-43 </sup>It
was toward evening when Joseph of Arimathea arrived. He was a respected
member of the Council, who was waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of
God. It was Preparation day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), so
Joseph went boldly into the presence of Pilate and asked him for the
body of Jesus. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-44" id="en-GNT-27915"><sup class="versenum">44 </sup>Pilate
was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead. He called the army
officer and asked him if Jesus had been dead a long time. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-45" id="en-GNT-27916"><sup class="versenum">45 </sup>After hearing the officer's report, Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-46" id="en-GNT-27917"><sup class="versenum">46 </sup>Joseph
bought a linen sheet, took the body down, wrapped it in the sheet, and
placed it in a tomb which had been dug out of solid rock. Then he rolled
a large stone across the entrance to the tomb. </span> <span class="text Mark-15-47" id="en-GNT-27918"><sup class="versenum">47 </sup>Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph were watching and saw where the body of Jesus was placed.</span></i></p><p><span class="text Mark-15-47" id="en-GNT-27918">We begin Holy Week with the blessing of the Palms and the reading of the Passion. Despite our busyness, might we find some time to read and reflect on Mark's version of the Passion and Death of Jesus and maybe even today or during this Holy Week watch Mel Gibson's <i>Passion of the Christ. </i>Lent comes to an end this week as we turn to the events that brought Jesus to death on Calvary. The focus is now on him. his condemnation, his sufferings as he is scourged at the pillar, forced to carry his cross, hang on it for three hours and finally give up his spirit. He has died for our sins; we are forgiven and enabled to rise to new life with him. It boggles the mind to ponder such great love. Let us find ways, as small as they might be, to return it. Let gratitude be a major part of our prayer as we empathize with the suffering Jesus. Let us do our best to make this truly an HOLY WEEK!</span></p><p><span class="text Mark-15-47" id="en-GNT-27918">Bro. Rene </span></p><p><span class="text Mark-15-47" id="en-GNT-27918"><i>Dear Jesus, by your suffering and death you have set us free. We give you thanks and ask for the help to live our lives more and more in conformity with yours. Amen.</i><b><br /></b></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-23725121960555521972024-03-23T06:06:00.002-04:002024-03-23T06:08:26.815-04:00The Die Is Cast<p> <img alt="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1711187210293_1130" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.THsVx8fm0dXANIUedQUDGQAAAA&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 153.9px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 13.1px; width: 205.4px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 11:45-56</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="text John-11-45" id="en-NIV-26569">The Plot to Kill Jesus</span></span></b></p><div class="std-text"><p><i><span class="text John-11-45"><sup class="versenum">45 </sup>Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.</span> <span class="text John-11-46" id="en-NIV-26570"><sup class="versenum">46 </sup>But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.</span> <span class="text John-11-47" id="en-NIV-26571"><sup class="versenum">47 </sup>Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-11-47">“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.</span> <span class="text John-11-48" id="en-NIV-26572"><sup class="versenum">48 </sup>If
we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the
Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-11-49" id="en-NIV-26573"><sup class="versenum">49 </sup>Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all!</span> <span class="text John-11-50" id="en-NIV-26574"><sup class="versenum">50 </sup>You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-11-51" id="en-NIV-26575"><sup class="versenum">51 </sup>He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,</span> <span class="text John-11-52" id="en-NIV-26576"><sup class="versenum">52 </sup>and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.</span> <span class="text John-11-53" id="en-NIV-26577"><sup class="versenum">53 </sup>So from that day on they plotted to take his life.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-11-54" id="en-NIV-26578"><sup class="versenum">54 </sup>Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-11-55" id="en-NIV-26579"><sup class="versenum">55 </sup>When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover.</span> <span class="text John-11-56" id="en-NIV-26580"><sup class="versenum">56 </sup>They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?”</span></i></p><p><span class="text John-11-56" id="en-NIV-26580">The scene is set. The anger of the Pharisees has reached the point where it's either Jesus be eliminated or the nation perish. We know what happens. Jesus chose the path of Truth and certainly fidelity to his mission. He came into this world to die in reparation for our sins and the wheels were now in motion for this to be accomplished. Holy Week begins tomorrow, the final days before the Triduum beginning next Thursday. Lent is almost over. May we use these final days to reflect on what our Lenten disciplines have accomplished in our spiritual lives, and may we make the effort to find extra time to reflect on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.</span></p><p><span class="text John-11-56" id="en-NIV-26580">Bro. Rene</span></p><p><span class="text John-11-56" id="en-NIV-26580"><i>Dear Jesus, "the die is cast." Your hour is at hand. Help me to walk closer with you as we enter this final week of Lent. Amen. <br /></i></span></p><p><span class="text John-11-56" id="en-NIV-26580">Bro. Rene </span> </p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-88864859950323464472024-03-22T05:55:00.000-04:002024-03-22T05:55:23.817-04:00Do I Believe?<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1711100255381_1622" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.vmnqBjixkme3EHbSaSCWOgHaD6&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 158.9px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 10.6px; width: 300.3px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Jn 10:31-42</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A Call To Believe <br /></span></b></p><p><i><span class="text John-10-31" id="en-NIV-26513"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him,</span> <span class="text John-10-32" id="en-NIV-26514"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>but Jesus said to them, <span class="woj">“I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-10-33" id="en-NIV-26515"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-10-34" id="en-NIV-26516"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>Jesus answered them, <span class="woj">“Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’?</span></span> <span class="text John-10-35" id="en-NIV-26517"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—</span></span> <span class="text John-10-36" id="en-NIV-26518"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?</span></span> <span class="text John-10-37" id="en-NIV-26519"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.</span></span> <span class="text John-10-38" id="en-NIV-26520"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>But
if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works,
that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the
Father.”</span></span> <span class="text John-10-39" id="en-NIV-26521"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.</span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text John-10-40" id="en-NIV-26522"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup>Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed,</span> <span class="text John-10-41" id="en-NIV-26523"><sup class="versenum">41 </sup>and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.”</span> <span class="text John-10-42" id="en-NIV-26524"><sup class="versenum">42 </sup>And in that place many believed in Jesus.</span></i></p><p><span class="text John-10-42" id="en-NIV-26524">It was very hard for the Jewish leaders to accept the claim of Jesus that he was God, because the belief in ONE God had been drummed into them over the centuries since the time of Moses. Who was this carpenter to make this claim? Even today, polls show that many do not accept the divinity of Christ, but see him as a good teacher and miracle worker. They cannot make the "leap of faith." despite the words of Jesus himself. He is the one "set apart" and his works and words testify to that. May we be among the believers and not the disbelievers!</span></p><p><span class="text John-10-42" id="en-NIV-26524"><i>Dear Jesus, I do believe that you are the Son of God sent by the Father to save us from our sins and call us to eternal life. Amen. <br /></i></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-64796807131039272952024-03-21T05:43:00.001-04:002024-03-21T05:46:21.151-04:00Do I Believe?<p> <img alt="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1711013239941_1584" src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.YxhZVhILBV8AiPnDSs2BkgHaF7&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 192.9px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -6.4px; width: 241.1px;" /></p><p> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Jn 8:51-59</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Great "I AM" <br /></b></span></p><div class="std-text"><p> <i><span class="text John-8-51" id="en-NIV-26433"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">51 </sup>Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-8-52" id="en-NIV-26434"><sup class="versenum">52 </sup>At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death.</span> <span class="text John-8-53" id="en-NIV-26435"><sup class="versenum">53 </sup>Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-8-54" id="en-NIV-26436"><sup class="versenum">54 </sup>Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.</span></span> <span class="text John-8-55" id="en-NIV-26437"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">55 </sup>Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.</span></span> <span class="text John-8-56" id="en-NIV-26438"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">56 </sup>Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-8-57" id="en-NIV-26439"><sup class="versenum">57 </sup>“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-8-58" id="en-NIV-26440"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">58 </sup>“Very truly I tell you,”</span> Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“before Abraham was born, I am!”</span></span> <span class="text John-8-59" id="en-NIV-26441"><sup class="versenum">59 </sup>At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.</span></i></p><p><span class="text John-8-59" id="en-NIV-26441">When Moses knelt before the burning bush, he asked for a name that he might tell Pharaoh who sent him. The Answer was I AM WHO I AM. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Ex 3: 14)</span>. The Jews knew what Jesus was saying and thus wanted to stone him for claiming to be God. The question is Do I believe that Jesus is God? Many accept him as a great teacher and model, but shy away from his being Divine, being God. If we are among them, we are wasting our time. </span></p><p><span class="text John-8-59" id="en-NIV-26441">Bro. Rene <br /></span></p><p><i><span class="text John-8-59" id="en-NIV-26441">Dear Jesus, I do believe you are God; increase my faith and help me to live it. Amen.<br /></span></i></p> </div><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></i></p><p> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-44222097455808320982024-03-20T06:01:00.000-04:002024-03-20T06:01:07.880-04:00Missing The Boat<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710928003613_713" src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.NcXaRgv2oe-mvHLaTNo29gHaEK&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 195px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -7.5px; width: 346.4px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 8:31-42</span></b></p><h3><span class="text John-8-31" id="en-NIV-26413">Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-8-31"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, <span class="woj">“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.</span></span> <span class="text John-8-32" id="en-NIV-26414"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-8-33" id="en-NIV-26415"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-8-34" id="en-NIV-26416"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.</span></span> <span class="text John-8-35" id="en-NIV-26417"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.</span></span> <span class="text John-8-36" id="en-NIV-26418"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.</span></span> <span class="text John-8-37" id="en-NIV-26419"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.</span></span> <span class="text John-8-38" id="en-NIV-26420"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-8-39" id="en-NIV-26421"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>“Abraham is our father,” they answered.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-8-39"><span class="woj">“If you were Abraham’s children,”</span> said Jesus, <span class="woj">“then you would do what Abraham did.</span></span> <span class="text John-8-40" id="en-NIV-26422"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup>As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.</span></span> <span class="text John-8-41" id="en-NIV-26423"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">41 </sup>You are doing the works of your own father.”</span></span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-8-41">“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”</span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text John-8-42" id="en-NIV-26424"><sup class="versenum">42 </sup>Jesus said to them, <span class="woj">“If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.</span></span></i></p><p><span class="text John-8-42" id="en-NIV-26424"><span class="woj">The conflict with the Jews continues. They hold to strict observance of the Law but Jesus is trying to teach them that accepting and believing him will give them a new freedom, a new life. They claim God as their Father, yet, as Jesus says to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God. I have not come on my own, God sent me."<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Jn 8: 42)</span>. Could he have been any clearer? Where do stand? With the Jews, or with Jesus? May I not miss the boat!<br /></span></span></p><p><span class="text John-8-42" id="en-NIV-26424"><span class="woj">Bro. Rene</span></span></p><p><i><span class="text John-8-42" id="en-NIV-26424"><span class="woj">Dear Jesus, increase my faith and conviction and help me to stand fast in my belief in you. Amen.<br /></span></span></i></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-69461036335122922972024-03-19T06:38:00.000-04:002024-03-19T06:38:21.235-04:00Quiet Obedience<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710843339235_687" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.xY27RMA_tYzCdaKOtsl7AgHaFn&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 184.1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -2.1px; width: 242.6px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lk 2:41-51a</span></b></p><h3><span class="text Luke-2-41" id="en-NIV-25015">The Boy Jesus at the Temple</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Luke-2-41"><sup class="versenum">41 </sup>Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-42" id="en-NIV-25016"><sup class="versenum">42 </sup>When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-43" id="en-NIV-25017"><sup class="versenum">43 </sup>After
the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy
Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-44" id="en-NIV-25018"><sup class="versenum">44 </sup>Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-45" id="en-NIV-25019"><sup class="versenum">45 </sup>When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-46" id="en-NIV-25020"><sup class="versenum">46 </sup>After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-47" id="en-NIV-25021"><sup class="versenum">47 </sup>Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-48" id="en-NIV-25022"><sup class="versenum">48 </sup>When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Luke-2-49" id="en-NIV-25023"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">49 </sup>“Why were you searching for me?”</span> he asked. <span class="woj">“Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”</span></span> <span class="text Luke-2-50" id="en-NIV-25024"><sup class="versenum">50 </sup>But they did not understand what he was saying to them.</span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text Luke-2-51" id="en-NIV-25025"><sup class="versenum">51 </sup>Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.</span></i></p><p><span class="text Luke-2-51" id="en-NIV-25025">As we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse the Blessed Virgin Mary we take moment to reflect on his quiet, faithful obedience to the call to marry a pregnant Mary and stand in as the foster Father of her Son, Jesus. He went through his moments of doubt and dilemma, but remained faithful and strong in his role as foster father to the Son of God. He worked hard to find work in that poor area of Palestine and as a good father, trained his son as a carpenter. Can we picture father and son going off to find work in the poor hamlets around Nazareth? And earlier when Jesus was a baby, trudging off to Egypt and settling there? Joseph's strength of character, will and fidelity stands as a call to us to do, as Mary put it, "whatever he tells you." Joseph is the Patron of the Universal Church, he is the patron of each one of us, he is our "foster father". May we learn quiet obedience and fidelity to God's plan from him.</span></p><p><span class="text Luke-2-51" id="en-NIV-25025">Bro. Rene</span></p><p><span class="text Luke-2-51" id="en-NIV-25025"><i>Dear Saint Joseph, continue to guide God's Family today as you guided and provided for your Holy Family. Amen</i>.</span><span class="text Luke-2-51" id="en-NIV-25025"> <br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-12660044409919002872024-03-18T05:51:00.000-04:002024-03-18T05:51:13.079-04:00Compassion Towards Sinners<p> <img alt="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710754469969_687" src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.LR8xoIXQlNfobFiEcIy3DgHaFj&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 152.2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 13.9px; width: 202.7px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Jn 8:1-11</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b><span class="text John-8-1" id="en-NIV-26383"><i><sup class="versenum mid-paragraph">1 </sup>but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.</i></span> </p><p><span class="text John-8-2" id="en-NIV-26384"><i><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.</i></span> <span class="text John-8-3" id="en-NIV-26385"><i><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group</i></span> <span class="text John-8-4" id="en-NIV-26386"><i><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.</i></span> <span class="text John-8-5" id="en-NIV-26387"><i><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.</i> <i>Now what do you say?”</i></span> <span class="text John-8-6" id="en-NIV-26388"><i><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>They were using this question as a trap,</i> <i>in order to have a basis for accusing him.</i></span></p><p><span class="text John-8-6"><i>But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.</i></span> <span class="text John-8-7" id="en-NIV-26389"><i><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>When
they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let
any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone</i> <i>at her.”</i></span> <span class="text John-8-8" id="en-NIV-26390"><i><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.</i></span></p> <p><span class="text John-8-9" id="en-NIV-26391"><i><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>At
this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones
first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.</i></span> <span class="text John-8-10" id="en-NIV-26392"><i><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”</i></span></p> <p><span class="text John-8-11" id="en-NIV-26393"><i><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>“No one, sir,” she said.</i></span></p><p><span class="text John-8-11"><i>“Then neither do I condemn you,”</i> <i>Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”</i></span></p><p><span class="text John-8-11">The compassion Jesus shows towards sinners is sharply illustrated in his dealing with this woman. He doesn't condemn her, but forgives her and admonishes her to sin no more. We might keep this in mind as we go to confession during this Lenten season. There is nothing to fear, nothing to avoid. It's a needed cleansing, a logical step in our preparation for the renewal of our baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil or on Easter Sunday. If we have not done so already, let's make this a priority in the two remaining weeks of Lent.</span></p><p><span class="text John-8-11"><i>Bro. Rene</i></span></p><p><span class="text John-8-11"><i>Dear God, help me to find the desire and the time to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Easter. Amen.<br /></i></span></p><p> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-58334289378431627942024-03-17T06:04:00.001-04:002024-03-17T06:04:43.959-04:00Born To Die<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710668823516_693" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.1BfaPKaDi7bQS_lxpLh45wHaH4&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 163.2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 8.4px; width: 153.5px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 12:20-33</span></b></p><h3><span class="text John-12-20" id="en-NIV-26601">Jesus Predicts His Death</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-12-20"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.</span> <span class="text John-12-21" id="en-NIV-26602"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”</span> <span class="text John-12-22" id="en-NIV-26603"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-12-23" id="en-NIV-26604"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.</span></span> <span class="text John-12-24" id="en-NIV-26605"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.</span></span> <span class="text John-12-25" id="en-NIV-26606"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.</span></span> <span class="text John-12-26" id="en-NIV-26607"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-12-27" id="en-NIV-26608"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.</span></span> <span class="text John-12-28" id="en-NIV-26609"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>Father, glorify your name!”</span></span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-12-28">Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”</span> <span class="text John-12-29" id="en-NIV-26610"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.</span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text John-12-30" id="en-NIV-26611"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>Jesus said, <span class="woj">“This voice was for your benefit, not mine.</span></span> <span class="text John-12-31" id="en-NIV-26612"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.</span></span> <span class="text John-12-32" id="en-NIV-26613"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”</span></span> </i><span class="text John-12-33" id="en-NIV-26614"><i><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.</i></span></p><p><span class="text John-12-33" id="en-NIV-26614">This is a somber reminder that we are approaching the Passion and Death of Jesus, yet for sure in the United States, the emphasis will be on celebrating St. Patrick's Day. He himself, most likely would be focused on the words of Jesus, seeing himself as that grain of wheat that fell into the ground in order to eventually provide the bread that would sustain life. Perhaps in our celebrating St. Patrick we might remember his dedication to living and spreading the Gospel with tireless energy and despite threats to his life. A true follower of Jesus, he lived this Gospel passage and invites us to do the same. Being a disciple of St. Patrick is more than just "the wearin' of the green"!</span></p><p><span class="text John-12-33" id="en-NIV-26614">Br. Rene</span></p><p><span class="text John-12-33" id="en-NIV-26614"><i>Dear God, thank you for St. Patrick and the call to die to self and bear fruit like a grain of wheat fallen into the soil. Help me to keep this in mind and in my prayer today. Amen</i>.<br /></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-9673754930154687522024-03-16T06:39:00.001-04:002024-03-16T06:39:22.452-04:00Puzzled Over Jesus<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710584388556_683" src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.SRZX9pAzdtz2vyhgLVZoTQHaEK&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 167.7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 6.1px; width: 298.2px;" /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 7:40-53</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Divided <br /></span></p><p><i><span class="text John-7-41">Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?</span> <span class="text John-7-42" id="en-NIV-26371"><sup class="versenum">42 </sup>Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”</span> <span class="text John-7-43" id="en-NIV-26372"><sup class="versenum">43 </sup>Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.</span> <span class="text John-7-44" id="en-NIV-26373"><sup class="versenum">44 </sup>Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.</span></i></p> <h3><span class="text John-7-45" id="en-NIV-26374">Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-7-45"><sup class="versenum">45 </sup>Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-7-46" id="en-NIV-26375"><sup class="versenum">46 </sup>“No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-7-47" id="en-NIV-26376"><sup class="versenum">47 </sup>“You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted.</span> <span class="text John-7-48" id="en-NIV-26377"><sup class="versenum">48 </sup>“Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?</span> <span class="text John-7-49" id="en-NIV-26378"><sup class="versenum">49 </sup>No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-7-50" id="en-NIV-26379"><sup class="versenum">50 </sup>Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked,</span> <span class="text John-7-51" id="en-NIV-26380"><sup class="versenum">51 </sup>“Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”</span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text John-7-52" id="en-NIV-26381"><sup class="versenum">52 </sup>They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”</span></i></p><p><span class="text John-7-52" id="en-NIV-26381">We look at Jesus through the eyes of Faith, so accepting him as the Son of God is not a problem; but for those who believed in ONE God, to hear someone proclaiming to be God is unacceptable. Thus the dilemma described in today's passage. Nicodemus, who had a private and enlightening conversation with Jesus calmly attempts to defend him and gets immediately dismissed. T</span><span class="text John-7-52" id="en-NIV-26381">oday's world also has come either to ignore or to reject Jesus. Where do I stand? Is my faith growing stronger, or am I drifting with the crowd? Let us remain faithful to our daily prayer and reflections in order to remain firm disciples. Jesus needs us more than ever.</span></p><p><i><span class="text John-7-52" id="en-NIV-26381">Bro. Rene</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-7-52" id="en-NIV-26381">Dear God, help me to remain strong in my faith in this world that ignores him more and more. Amen.<br /></span></i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-84895118769716500512024-03-15T05:50:00.001-04:002024-03-15T06:09:57.858-04:00Do I Know Him?<p> <img alt="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710495643849_678" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.xxwnraG_wJjE5fLuNaqfrAHaEK&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 153.2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 13.4px; width: 272.4px;" /></p><p> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Jn 7:1-3, 10, 25-30</b></span></p><div class="passage-text">
<div class="passage-content passage-class-0"><div class="version-NIV result-text-style-normal text-html">
<div class="std-text"> <h3><span class="text John-7-1" id="en-NIV-26330">Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles</span></h3><p class="chapter-1"><i><span class="text John-7-1"><span class="chapternum">7 </span>After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him.</span> <span class="text John-7-2" id="en-NIV-26331"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near</span><span class="text John-7-2" id="en-NIV-26331"></span> <span class="text John-7-3" id="en-NIV-26332"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do.</span></i></p></div></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="passage-cols mobile"><div class="passage-col-tools"><div class="passage-col passage-col-mobile version-NIV" data-translation="NIV"><h1 class="passage-display">
</h1>
<div class="passage-text">
<div class="passage-content passage-class-0"><div class="version-NIV result-text-style-normal text-html">
<div class="std-text"> <p><i><span class="text John-7-10" id="en-NIV-26339"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.</span></i> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><h1 class="passage-display"><div aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="listbox" aria-labelledby="dropdown-10b9a" class="translation d-container go2888862000" id="dropdown-10b9a" role="button" style="position: static;"><span class="d-root"></span></div><div class="clearfix"></div><span class="text John-7-25" id="en-NIV-26354"><span style="font-size: medium;">D</span><span style="font-size: medium;">ivision Over Who Jesus Is</span></span></h1><div class="passage-text"><div class="passage-content passage-class-0"><div class="version-NIV result-text-style-normal text-html"><div class="std-text"><p><i><span class="text John-7-25"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?</span> <span class="text John-7-26" id="en-NIV-26355"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah?</span> <span class="text John-7-27" id="en-NIV-26356"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-7-28" id="en-NIV-26357"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, <span class="woj">“Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him,</span></span> <span class="text John-7-29" id="en-NIV-26358"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-7-30" id="en-NIV-26359"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.</span></i></p><p><span class="text John-7-30" id="en-NIV-26359">Things are getting more and more threatening as opposition to Jesus increases. He stands fast and continues to antagonize the authorities. He has a mission to accomplish and he remains faithful to it. He challenges his opponents fearlessly, paving the way to the cross, the instrument of our redemption. This is why he came. Do I know him? Do I accept him? Do I try to follow him as best I can? Food for thought as we move closer to the fifth week of Lent and Good Friday in two weeks.</span></p><p><span class="text John-7-30" id="en-NIV-26359">Bro. Rene</span></p><p><span class="text John-7-30" id="en-NIV-26359"><i>Dear Jesus, increase my faith and loyalty to you as I witness your steadfast determination to accomplish your mission. Amen.<br /></i></span></p></div></div></div></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-9804142437314302292024-03-14T06:25:00.000-04:002024-03-14T06:25:07.434-04:00Where Do I Stand?<p> </p><p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710410579367_686" src="https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.qovPDgTI7uSf7Rxdvz5YwQHaEK&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 160.3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 9.8px; width: 285px;" /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 5:31-47</span></b></p><h3><span class="text John-5-31" id="en-NIV-26242">Testimonies About Jesus</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-5-31"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-32" id="en-NIV-26243"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-33" id="en-NIV-26244"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-34" id="en-NIV-26245"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-35" id="en-NIV-26246"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-36" id="en-NIV-26247"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-37" id="en-NIV-26248"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,</span></span> <span class="text John-5-38" id="en-NIV-26249"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-39" id="en-NIV-26250"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,</span></span> <span class="text John-5-40" id="en-NIV-26251"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup>yet you refuse to come to me to have life.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-41" id="en-NIV-26252"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">41 </sup>“I do not accept glory from human beings,</span></span> <span class="text John-5-42" id="en-NIV-26253"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">42 </sup>but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-43" id="en-NIV-26254"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">43 </sup>I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-44" id="en-NIV-26255"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">44 </sup>How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?</span></span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text John-5-45" id="en-NIV-26256"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">45 </sup>“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-46" id="en-NIV-26257"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">46 </sup>If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-47" id="en-NIV-26258"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">47 </sup>But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”</span></span></i></p><p><span class="text John-5-47" id="en-NIV-26258"><span class="woj">With strong words, Jesus describes his opponents as loveless, stubborn, proud and unaccepting. Even Moses would accuse them. How condemning are his words! As we make our way through Lent, my we take time to examine our hearts to see if any of these traits are present and humbly ask God to remove them. May he replace them with open, accepting and humble hearts as well as a clearer vision of who Jesus is.</span></span></p><p><span class="text John-5-47" id="en-NIV-26258"><span class="woj"><i>Dear God, remove pride and arrogance from my heart and bless me openness and humility. Amen.<br /></i></span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-71952862793783532872024-03-13T06:21:00.001-04:002024-03-13T06:21:36.524-04:00What Is The Father Asking of Me?<p> </p><p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710324102959_1135" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.88mbdVbRpaWnmU9eMmqpvAHaE8&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 152.2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 13.9px; width: 228.2px;" /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 5:17-30</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus Does His Father's Will <br /></span></b></p><p> <i><span class="text John-5-17" id="en-NIV-26228"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>In his defense Jesus said to them, <span class="woj">“My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”</span></span> <span class="text John-5-18" id="en-NIV-26229"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-19" id="en-NIV-26230"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Jesus gave them this answer: <span class="woj">“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-20" id="en-NIV-26231"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-21" id="en-NIV-26232"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-22" id="en-NIV-26233"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,</span></span> <span class="text John-5-23" id="en-NIV-26234"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>that
all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not
honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-24" id="en-NIV-26235"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-25" id="en-NIV-26236"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-26" id="en-NIV-26237"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-27" id="en-NIV-26238"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.</span></span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text John-5-28" id="en-NIV-26239"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice</span></span> <span class="text John-5-29" id="en-NIV-26240"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.</span></span> <span class="text John-5-30" id="en-NIV-26241"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.</span></span></i></p><p><span class="text John-5-30" id="en-NIV-26241"><span class="woj">Jesus speaks strongly of his dedication to his Father's will despite the opposition of the Jewish leaders who constantly challenge him. He does not succumb to their criticism and<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">opposition but further clarifies his mission. Jesus seeks to do the will of his Father and nothing will stop him.What is the Father asking of us this Lent, today? May we remain steadfast in our "mission" despite our limitations or the opposition of others. May our time in prayer so strengthen us.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Bro. Rene</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dear Jesus, may I remain faithful to you despite the many obstacles I face. Amen.<b><br /></b></i></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-79555229209750677942024-03-12T05:50:00.001-04:002024-03-12T05:50:50.266-04:00Sin No More<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710235964207_716" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.3nEb32yZQivdZZRMZjNVigHaEK&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 167.1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 6.5px; width: 297.1px;" /> <br /></p><p><span style="color: #bd9c67; font-size: 18px;"><b>J</b>ohn 5:1–16</span></p><p><span style="color: #bd9c67; font-size: 18px;"> </span><span class="text John-5-1" id="en-NIV-26212"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Healing at the Pool</span></b></span></p><div class="std-text"><p class="chapter-1"><i><span class="text John-5-1"><span class="chapternum">5 </span>Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals.</span> <span class="text John-5-2" id="en-NIV-26213"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.</span> <span class="text John-5-3" id="en-NIV-26214"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.</span> <span class="text John-5-4" id="en-NIV-26215"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span> <span class="text John-5-5" id="en-NIV-26216"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.</span> <span class="text John-5-6" id="en-NIV-26217"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, <span class="woj">“Do you want to get well?”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-7" id="en-NIV-26218"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>“Sir,”
the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the
water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down
ahead of me.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-8" id="en-NIV-26219"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>Then Jesus said to him, <span class="woj">“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”</span></span> <span class="text John-5-9" id="en-NIV-26220"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.</span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-5-9">The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,</span> <span class="text John-5-10" id="en-NIV-26221"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-11" id="en-NIV-26222"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, <span class="woj">‘Pick up your mat and walk.’</span> ”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-12" id="en-NIV-26223"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-13" id="en-NIV-26224"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-14" id="en-NIV-26225"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, <span class="woj">“See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”</span></span> <span class="text John-5-15" id="en-NIV-26226"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-5-16"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.</span></i></p><p><span class="text John-5-16">Jesus cured the long-time invalid and urged him to sin no more: a total healing. He could say the same to us, especially during Lent when we are trying to clean up our spiritual lives, get back on track, and draw closer to Jesus. We began Lent with good intentions, and now at the half-way point we might take stock and tighten up any loose ends that have crept into our prayer and spiritual lives. Jesus is our healer and savior, Let us reach out to him for the grace and energy to hold fast to our Lenten prayers and sacrifices. Like the cripple, we need the healing hand of Jesus to make us well.</span></p><p><span class="text John-5-16">Bro. Rene</span></p><p><span class="text John-5-16"><i>Dear Jesus, say but the word, and my soul will be healed. Amen. </i></span> </p></div><p> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-69917445710845912302024-03-11T06:03:00.001-04:002024-03-11T06:03:46.691-04:00Increase My Faith<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710150662518_690" src="https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.u_DxUfhMo-UT0OnNvHiE3gHaEK&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 167.6px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 6.2px; width: 298px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 4:43-54 <br /></span></b></p><div class="std-text"> <h3><span class="text John-4-43" id="en-NIV-26200">Jesus Heals an Official’s Son</span></h3><p><i><span class="text John-4-43"><sup class="versenum">43 </sup>After the two days he left for Galilee.</span> <span class="text John-4-44" id="en-NIV-26201"><sup class="versenum">44 </sup>(Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)</span> <span class="text John-4-45" id="en-NIV-26202"><sup class="versenum">45 </sup>When
he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all
that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-4-46" id="en-NIV-26203"><sup class="versenum">46 </sup>Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.</span> <span class="text John-4-47" id="en-NIV-26204"><sup class="versenum">47 </sup>When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-4-48" id="en-NIV-26205"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">48 </sup>“Unless you people see signs and wonders,”</span> Jesus told him, <span class="woj">“you will never believe.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-4-49" id="en-NIV-26206"><sup class="versenum">49 </sup>The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-4-50" id="en-NIV-26207"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">50 </sup>“Go,”</span> Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“your son will live.”</span></span></i></p><p><i><span class="text John-4-50">The man took Jesus at his word and departed.</span> <span class="text John-4-51" id="en-NIV-26208"><sup class="versenum">51 </sup>While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.</span> <span class="text John-4-52" id="en-NIV-26209"><sup class="versenum">52 </sup>When
he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him,
“Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-4-53" id="en-NIV-26210"><sup class="versenum">53 </sup>Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, <span class="woj">“Your son will live.”</span> So he and his whole household believed.</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text John-4-54" id="en-NIV-26211"><sup class="versenum">54 </sup>This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.</span></i></p><p><span class="text John-4-54" id="en-NIV-26211">Early in his ministry Jesus worked this second sign for a man whose faith would not take any hesitation for an answer. He repeated his plea in faith and trust and Jesus granted his wish. How often in our prayer do we "give up" when we don't receive an immediate and favorable answer? We are not like this royal official, but should be. May our Lenten focus on Jesus, who he is, what he wants, and what he can do, increase our faith.</span></p><p><span class="text John-4-54" id="en-NIV-26211">Bro. Rene</span></p><p><i><span class="text John-4-54" id="en-NIV-26211">Dear Jesus, I have to admit that my faith is weaker than it should be. I do believe, help my unbelief! Amen.<br /></span></i></p> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-77264645608288527542024-03-10T05:59:00.000-04:002024-03-10T05:59:43.926-04:00Choose Light<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1710063584352_1130" src="https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.YApUT_OXtoadQ82jFQw7RAHaFj&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 192.6px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -6.3px; width: 256.6px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jn 3:14-21</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Live In The Light <br /></span></b></p><p> <i><span class="text John-3-14" id="en-NIV-26135"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,</span></span> <span class="text John-3-15" id="en-NIV-26136"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”</span></span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text John-3-16" id="en-NIV-26137"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.</span> <span class="text John-3-17" id="en-NIV-26138"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.</span> <span class="text John-3-18" id="en-NIV-26139"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.</span> <span class="text John-3-19" id="en-NIV-26140"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.</span> <span class="text John-3-20" id="en-NIV-26141"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.</span> <span class="text John-3-21" id="en-NIV-26142"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>But
whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen
plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.</span></i></p><p><span class="text John-3-21" id="en-NIV-26142">Light, darkness, truth, life, belief, love. These few verses are full of food for our Sunday reflection. The familiar 3: 16 leaps out at us and invites us to consider the depth of God's love, the sending of his Son to be with us, teach us, show the way, and give up his life for us that we might rise with him and live. Certainly this far surpasses human love and gives us the model we need to follow if we are to choose and live in the light.</span></p><p><span class="text John-3-21" id="en-NIV-26142"><i>Dear Jesus help me to choose light, truth and life over darkness, lies and death. Amen. <br /></i></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-69270998469668489802024-03-09T05:57:00.000-05:002024-03-09T05:57:02.900-05:00Beware of Self-Righteousness<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1709980890250_685" src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.t2xDJYXxRoo3NbnO4tcdbgHaGw&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 166px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 7px; width: 182px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Lk 18:9-14</span></b></p><h3><span class="text Luke-18-9" id="en-NIV-25698">The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Luke-18-9"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:</span> <span class="text Luke-18-10" id="en-NIV-25699"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.</span></span> <span class="text Luke-18-11" id="en-NIV-25700"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.</span></span> <span class="text Luke-18-12" id="en-NIV-25701"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Luke-18-13" id="en-NIV-25702"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’</span></span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text Luke-18-14" id="en-NIV-25703"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>“I
tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified
before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and
those who humble themselves will be exalted.”</span></span></i></p><p><span class="text Luke-18-14" id="en-NIV-25703"><span class="woj">How subtly can the "holier than thou attitude" attitude creep into our thinking and prayer. We look at our Lenten program and pat ourselves on the back (maybe) and before long find ourselves not only self-complacent but even comparing ourselves to others. I would guess the Pharisee in the parable thought he was doing just fine in his spiritual life and saw nothing wrong in comparing himself to the tax collector. Not so, as Jesus points out. May we take some time today to examine our attitudes in prayer and ask God to purify them if we find any traces of the Pharisee in them.<br /></span></span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: small;">Dear God, help me to keep my prayer humble and sincere; extinguish any pride that might have crept in. Amen.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span><br /></span></b></span></i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-8293230386911600402024-03-08T06:01:00.000-05:002024-03-08T06:01:33.160-05:00It's All About Love<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1709894722431_691" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.KfpW01nBGTdYsyy2wzkySQHaD5&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 190.3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -5.1px; width: 361.2px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Mk 12:28-34</span></b></p><h3><span class="text Mark-12-28" id="en-NIV-24702">The Greatest Commandment</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Mark-12-28"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>One of the teachers of the law
came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good
answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most
important?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-12-29" id="en-NIV-24703"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>“The most important one,”</span> answered Jesus, <span class="woj">“is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.</span></span> <span class="text Mark-12-30" id="en-NIV-24704"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’</span></span> <span class="text Mark-12-31" id="en-NIV-24705"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Mark-12-32" id="en-NIV-24706"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.</span> <span class="text Mark-12-33" id="en-NIV-24707"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>To
love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all
your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important
than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”</span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text Mark-12-34" id="en-NIV-24708"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, <span class="woj">“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”</span> And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.</span></i></p><p><span class="text Mark-12-34" id="en-NIV-24708">Hearing the LAW summed up in these two brief commandments makes it sound easy, but putting it into practice effectively is the work of lifetime. Just how do I love God with all my being, and how can I realistically and effectively love my neighbor as myself? Taking time each day to reflect on these commandments, asking God to help putting them into practice and then applying them in simple kind words or acts of kindness in the family, and at work are a beginning simple enough to be a "starter', and soon enough will be a behavior that comes naturally. Try it and see.for yourself.</span></p><p><span class="text Mark-12-34" id="en-NIV-24708">Bro. Rene</span></p><p><span class="text Mark-12-34" id="en-NIV-24708"><i>Dear God help me to love you above all and my neighbor as myself. Amen.<br /></i></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-77802365646220196972024-03-07T05:59:00.005-05:002024-03-07T05:59:31.698-05:00Jesus Demands More<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1709808205838_699" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.t3lNpRfCO-rHWJp00Ej0NAAAAA&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 182.8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -1.4px; width: 293.7px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Mt 10:34-39</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Hard Sayings<br /></span></b></p><p><i><span class="text Matt-10-34" id="en-NIV-23452"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-10-35" id="en-NIV-23453"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>For I have come to turn</span></span></i></p><div class="poetry top-05"><p class="line"><i><span class="text Matt-10-35"><span class="woj">“‘a man against his father,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Matt-10-35"><span class="woj">a daughter against her mother,</span></span></span><br /><span class="text Matt-10-35"><span class="woj">a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Matt-10-36" id="en-NIV-23454"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span>a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’</span></span></span></i></p></div><p> <i><span class="text Matt-10-37" id="en-NIV-23455"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>“Anyone
who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;
anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-10-38" id="en-NIV-23456"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-10-39" id="en-NIV-23457"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.</span></span></i></p><p><span class="text Matt-10-39" id="en-NIV-23457"><span class="woj">Yes, following Jesus demands extraordinary sacrifice and reversal of "the normal." We must put him at the center of our lives, over and above family, over and above life! Look at the martyrs! Look at Jesus who gave his life for us. Being his disciple is not an easy way of life but a contradiction to what "the world" proposes as a "good life." How much can we bend and adjust our lives to conform to his high standards so contrary to "the world's standards"? These days of Lent are the training ground for such a life.</span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-10-39" id="en-NIV-23457"><span class="woj">Bro. Rene</span></span></p><p><i><span class="text Matt-10-39" id="en-NIV-23457"><span class="woj">Dear Jesus, help me to love and serve you totally, no matter what the cost. Amen.<br /></span></span></i></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-43023093604196124782024-03-06T05:55:00.004-05:002024-03-06T05:55:52.938-05:00Practice and Teach<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1709721722600_701" src="https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.9M6cEjMV8cDYH1-7WWvUiAHaHa&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 164.7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 7.7px; width: 164.7px;" /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Mt 5:17-19 <br /></span></b></p><div class="std-text"> <h3><span class="text Matt-5-17" id="en-NIV-23252">The Fulfillment of the Law</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Matt-5-17"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-5-18" id="en-NIV-23253"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>For
truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest
letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from
the Law until everything is accomplished.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-5-19" id="en-NIV-23254"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands
and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of
heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called
great in the kingdom of heaven.</span></span></i></p><p><span class="text Matt-5-19" id="en-NIV-23254"><span class="woj">What good is it to know the rules but not to keep them? Jesus strongly advises that we practice what we believe and teach so that we are not simply a babbling brook with no substance. We might refer to the old adage, "Example is the best teacher." We might examine our daily behaviors periodically during the day, say at noon, and before going to sleep to keep and eye on our words and actions. They should measure up together, but if they don't, we know we still have some work to do. </span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-5-19" id="en-NIV-23254"><span class="woj">Bro. Rene </span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-5-19" id="en-NIV-23254"><span class="woj"><i>Dear God, please grant me the grace to "walk my talk." Amen. </i></span></span> </p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040375604216238253.post-16526146296388365912024-03-05T05:52:00.002-05:002024-03-05T05:52:51.727-05:00Forgive From Your Heart<p> <img alt="" class="" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1709635201217_702" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.tMbyXsWB_TTiI1Am1oBd9AAAAA&pid=Api&P=0&h=180" style="height: 154.8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 12.6px; width: 275.9px;" /></p><p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Mt 18:21-35</span></b></p><h3><span class="text Matt-18-21" id="en-NIV-23749">The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant</span></h3><p><i><span class="text Matt-18-21"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”</span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-18-22" id="en-NIV-23750"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-18-23" id="en-NIV-23751"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-24" id="en-NIV-23752"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-25" id="en-NIV-23753"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-18-26" id="en-NIV-23754"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-27" id="en-NIV-23755"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-18-28" id="en-NIV-23756"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-18-29" id="en-NIV-23757"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-18-30" id="en-NIV-23758"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-31" id="en-NIV-23759"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.</span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="text Matt-18-32" id="en-NIV-23760"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>“Then
the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I
canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-33" id="en-NIV-23761"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-34" id="en-NIV-23762"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.</span></span></i></p><p> <i><span class="text Matt-18-35" id="en-NIV-23763"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”</span></span></i></p><p><span class="text Matt-18-35" id="en-NIV-23763"><span class="woj">We are called today to look at how sincerely and completely we forgive others, or even ourselves. Jesus teaches us to forgive from the heart, let the pain or mistake go, and start again with a clean slate. The servant who was forgiven did not do this and becomes the model of what NOT to do. Let us ask God for the grace to forgive and let go even if it takes seventy times seven attempts.</span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-18-35" id="en-NIV-23763"><span class="woj">Bro. Rene</span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-18-35" id="en-NIV-23763"><span class="woj"><i>Dear God, I pray for the grace to forgive others and myself as deeply and completely as possible. Amen. <br /></i></span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Bro. Rene's Daily Bread
http://cchsbroreneroy.blogspot.com/
Central Catholic High School
http://www.centralcatholic.net</div>Bro. Rene D. Roy, FMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00451628851833017928noreply@blogger.com0