God’s Vindication Easter Sunday 2021

                                                          God’s Vindication

Easter Sunday 2021

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Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4; Mark 16:1-7

 

This week I paid to God’s sadness as Jesus of Nazareth went to his death and lay in the tomb. God must have been heartbroken. Jesus had spoken all that he learned in prayer and he was put to death in a vile, humiliating manner. I asked to feel God’s vulnerability and to have compassion upon God as the events unfolded, and it was necessary to spend time in the tomb where the body of Jesus lay. Much can happen when we stay in the dark cave and just tend to his broken body. The two Mary’s and Salome knew that as they came early to anoint him and to give him the respect and dignity due to a child of God. They wanted to have compassion on him because we judge a society by how well we care for our beloved dead.

 

The three women are surprised when they arrive at the tomb and find the stone rolled back. When the young man tells him Jesus has been raised from the dead, they believe. They do not need to see his physical body. They don’t need to research the facts. They know this is possible with God. God transformed a painful moment into great beauty and victory. Because Jesus was faithful to God in all matters, God vindicated him and raised him up to a new sphere of life that was incomprehensible to human thought. The women understood, though. They knew God would have the last word, and they would soon realize that death would no longer threaten Jesus, that he could die no more, and was both with God and with us to let us know that he and God will care for us. God holds no grudges, even after we crucified Jesus, but continues to offer us friendship. This is a magnanimous, forgiving love. 

 

The Resurrection each year offers us a new chance to put this forgiving love into action, and we can start by deepening our friendship with God through Jesus. Any true friendship is based upon mutual sharing, and we start by sharing our feelings with Jesus, who understands them well because he experienced them. We also listen to the feelings of Jesus, and today he wants to share with you his happiness for going to the cross for you, to let you know that his way of life made him victorious over the forces of the world and he wants to share that triumph with you. Nothing, not one thing that you have said or done, not hundreds of things that you have said or done, not any failing or poor choice, can make Jesus think any less of you. He wants you to know that he did all this for you so you can become closer to God and to accept God’s offer of friendship.

 

The immediate message of Jesus is two-fold – to tell you about his victory over sin and death, and to console and encourage you to accept his friendship. He will be with you in sadness and sorrow, when you are angry and hurt, when you feel rejected or betrayed, and he will be the gentle voice that urges you just a tiny step forward because he knows deep down of your goodness, of your beauty, of your lovableness. He will continue to console you all life-long until you finally accept it. He just wants your care and affection. He wants to be with you in good times and bad. He wants you to know he will always abide by you, and to urge you to know that God is happy with you.

 

This is truly a happy day. God has made it possible for you to know that God will always be with you – because Jesus is raised from the dead and has received a new mission – to reach out to you, to go before you to lead the way, to stretch out his arms once again, in friendship, to say, “This is a new day. Let’s start something new together. Nothing will ever separate us.” Alleluia. Alleluia. 

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

 

Monday: (Acts 2) Peter stands up on Pentecost to proclaim to Jews in Jerusalem that Jesus of Nazareth who they put to death has been vindicated by God and raised to new life. 

 

Tuesday: (Acts 2) When the Jews realize the significance of their actions, they petition Peter to be baptized in the name of Jesus. 

 

Wednesday: (Acts 3) Peter and John heal the crippled man at "the Beautiful Gate" at the temple. 

 

Thursday: (Acts 3) All who witnessed the healing recognize that the man used to be the crippled beggar. Peter and John preach to the Jews gathered at Solomon's portico and tell them all that the prophets and scripture say about Jesus. 

 

Friday (Acts 4) The priests, temple guards, and the Sadducees confront Peter and John and hold them in custody. The religious authorities question their teaching and healing power. The Sanhedrin dismissed them with instructions not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 

 

Saturday (Acts 4) Peter, John, and the healed man persevere in their boldness. The Sanhedrin wait to see if this is of God or of another source of power.

 

Gospel: 

Monday: (Matthew 28) In Matthew, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary meet Jesus on the way and he exhorts them not to be afraid. The chief priests hire soldiers to say, "the disciples came and stole the body of Jesus." 

 

Tuesday: (John 20) Magdalene weeps outside the tomb and thinks Jesus is the gardener, until he speaks to her familiarly. 

 

Wednesday (Luke 24) Two disciples heading towards Emmaus meet Jesus along the way and he opens the scripture for them. 

 

Thursday (Luke 24) As they recount their story to the Eleven, Jesus appears before them, beckons them not to be afraid, and eats with them. 

 

Friday (John 21) Six disciples are with Peter as they fish at the Sea of Tiberius. After a frustrating night of fishing, Jesus instructs them to cast their nets wide and they catch 153 large fish. The beloved disciple recognized the man on the beach as the Lord and they rush to meet him. 

 

Saturday (Mark 16) Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene who told the Eleven about him. Two other disciples on the road returned to speak of their encounter, and then Jesus appears to them while they were at table.

 

Saints of the Week

 

No saints are remembered on the calendar during this Easter week.

 

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• April 3, 1583. The death of Jeronimo Nadal, one of the original companions of Ignatius who later entrusted him with publishing and distributing the Jesuit Constitutions to the various regions of the early Society. 
• April 4, 1534. Peter Faber (Pierre Favre) ordained a deacon in Paris. 
• April 5, 1635. The death of Louis Lallemant, writer and spiritual teacher. 
• April 6, 1850. The first edition of La Civilta Cattolica appeared. It was the first journal of the restored Society. 
• April 7, 1541. Ignatius was unanimously elected general, but he declined to accept the results. 
• April 8, 1762. The French Parliament issued a decree of expulsion of the Jesuits from all their colleges and houses. 
• April 9, 1615. The death of William Weston, minister to persecuted Catholics in England and later an author who wrote about his interior life during that period. 
• April 10, 1585. At Rome, the death of Pope Gregory XIII, founder of the Gregorian University and the German College, whose memory will ever be cherished as that of one of the Society's greatest benefactors.

La Vindicación de Dios Domingo de Pascua 2021

                                                  La Vindicación de Dios

Domingo de Pascua 2021

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Hechos 1 0: 3 4- 43 ; Salmo 118 ; Coloss IANS 3: 1 - 4 ; Marcos 16 : 1- 7

 

Esta semana pagué por la tristeza de Dios cuando Jesús de Nazaret fue a la muerte y yacía en la tumba. Dios debe haber estado desconsolado. Jesús había dicho todo lo que había aprendido en oración y fue condenado a muerte de una manera vil y humillante. Pedí sentir la vulnerabilidad de Dios y tener compasión de Dios a medida que se desarrollaban los eventos, y era necesario pasar tiempo en la tumba donde yacía el cuerpo de Jesús. Pueden pasar muchas cosas cuando nos quedamos en la cueva oscura y solo atendemos su cuerpo roto. Las dos María y Salomé lo sabían porque llegaron temprano para ungirlo y darle el respeto y la dignidad que se debe a un hijo de Dios. Querían tener compasión de él porque juzgamos a una sociedad por lo bien que cuidamos a nuestros amados muertos.

 

Las tres mujeres se sorprenden cuando llegan a la tumba y encuentran la piedra enrollada. Cuando el joven le dice que Jesús ha resucitado de entre los muertos, ellos creen. No necesitan ver su cuerpo físico. No necesitan investigar los hechos. Saben que esto es posible con Dios. Dios transformó un momento doloroso en gran belleza y victoria. Debido a que Jesús fue fiel a Dios en todos los asuntos, Dios lo reivindicó y lo elevó a una nueva esfera de vida que era incomprensible para el pensamiento humano. Sin embargo, las mujeres lo entendieron. Sabían que Dios tendría la última palabra, y pronto se darían cuenta de que la muerte ya no sería una amenaza para Jesús, que él no podría morir más, y que estaba con Dios y con nosotros para hacernos saber que él y Dios se preocuparán por nosotros. Dios no guarda rencor, incluso después de que crucificamos a Jesús, pero continúa ofreciéndonos amistad . Este es un amor magnánimo y perdonador.

 

La Resurrección cada año nos ofrece una nueva oportunidad para poner en acción este amor perdonador , y podemos comenzar por profundizar nuestra amistad con Dios a través de Jesús. Toda amistad verdadera se basa en el compartir mutuo, y comenzamos compartiendo nuestros sentimientos con Jesús, quien los comprende bien porque los experimentó. También escuchamos los sentimientos de Jesús, y hoy quiere compartir contigo su alegría por ir a la cruz por ti, para hacerte saber que su forma de vida lo hizo victorioso sobre las fuerzas del mundo y quiere compartir. ese triunfo contigo. Nada, ni una cosa que hayas dicho o hecho, ni cientos de cosas que hayas dicho o hecho, ni ninguna falla o mala elección, puede hacer que Jesús piense menos de ti. Quiere que sepas que él hizo todo esto por ti para que puedas acercarte más a Dios y aceptar la oferta de amistad de Dios.

 

El mensaje de Jesús es inmediata dos veces - para decir que sobre su victoria sobre el pecado y la muerte, y para consolar y animarle a aceptar su amistad. Él estará contigo en la tristeza y el dolor, cuando estés enojado y herido, cuando te sientas rechazado o traicionado, y será la voz suave que te insta a dar un pequeño paso adelante porque sabe en el fondo de tu bondad, de tu amor. belleza, de tu amabilidad. Él continuará consolándote durante toda la vida hasta que finalmente lo aceptes. Solo quiere tu cuidado y afecto. Quiere estar contigo en las buenas y en las malas. Quiere que sepas que él siempre estará a tu lado y que te exhorte a que sepas que Dios está feliz contigo.

 

Este es un día verdaderamente feliz. Dios te ha hecho posible saber que Dios siempre estará contigo, porque Jesús ha resucitado de entre los muertos y ha recibido una nueva misión: llegar a ti, ir delante de ti para guiar el camino, estirar su brazos una vez más, en amistad, para decir: “Este es un nuevo día. Empecemos juntos algo nuevo. Nada nos separará jamás ". Aleluya. Aleluya.

 

Escritura para la misa diaria

 

Lunes: (Hechos 2) Pedro se pone de pie en Pentecostés para proclamar a los judíos en Jerusalén que Jesús de Nazaret, a quien dieron muerte, ha sido reivindicado por Dios y resucitado a una nueva vida.

 

Martes: (Hechos 2) Cuando los judíos se dan cuenta del significado de sus acciones, le piden a Pedro que sea bautizado en el nombre de Jesús.

 

Miércoles: (Hechos 3) Pedro y Juan curan al hombre lisiado en "la Puerta Hermosa" en el templo.

 

Jueves: (Hechos 3) Todos los que presenciaron la curación reconocen que el hombre solía ser el mendigo lisiado. Pedro y Juan predican a los judíos reunidos en el pórtico de Salomón y les cuentan todo lo que los profetas y las Escrituras dicen acerca de Jesús.

 

Viernes (Hechos 4) Los sacerdotes, los guardias del templo y los saduceos se enfrentan a Pedro y a Juan y los detienen. Las autoridades religiosas cuestionan su poder de enseñanza y curación. El Sanedrín los despidió con instrucciones de no hablar ni enseñar en absoluto en el nombre de Jesús.

 

Sábado (Hechos 4) Pedro, Juan y el hombre sanado perseveran en su denuedo. El Sanedrín espera a ver si esto es de Dios o de otra fuente de poder.

 

Evangelio: 

Lunes: (Mateo 28) En Mateo, María Magdalena y la otra María se encuentran con Jesús en el camino y él les exhorta a no tener miedo. Los principales sacerdotes contratan soldados para decir: "Vinieron los discípulos y robaron el cuerpo de Jesús".

 

Martes: (Juan 20) Magdalena llora fuera de la tumba y piensa que Jesús es el jardinero, hasta que le habla familiarmente.

 

Miércoles (Lucas 24) Dos discípulos que se dirigen hacia Emaús se encuentran con Jesús en el camino y él les abre la Escritura.

 

Jueves (Lucas 24) Mientras cuentan su historia a los Once, Jesús se les aparece, les hace señas para que no tengan miedo y come con ellos.

 

Viernes (Juan 21) Seis discípulos están con Pedro mientras pescan en el Mar de Tiberio. Después de una frustrante noche de pesca, Jesús les instruye que echen sus redes a lo ancho y pesquen 153 peces grandes. El discípulo amado reconoció al hombre en la playa como el Señor y se apresuraron a encontrarlo.

 

Sábado (Marcos 16) Jesús se aparece a María Magdalena quien le contó a los Once sobre él. Otros dos discípulos en el camino regresaron para hablar de su encuentro, y luego Jesús se les apareció mientras estaban a la mesa.

 

Santos de la semana

 

No se recuerda a ningún santo en el calendario durante esta Semana Santa .

 

Esta semana en la historia de los jesuitas

 

·                3 de abril de 1583. Muerte Jerónimo Nadal, uno de los compañeros originales de Ignacio, quien más tarde le confió la publicación y distribución de las Constituciones de los jesuitas a las diversas regiones de la Compañía primitiva.

·                4 de abril de 1534. Peter Faber ( Pierre Favre) se ordena diácono en París.

·                5 de abril de 1635. Muerte de Louis Lallemant , escritor y maestro espiritual.

·                6 de abril de 1850. Apareció la primera edición de La Civilta Cattolica . Fue la primera revista de la Sociedad restaurada.

·                7 de abril de 1541. Ignacio fue elegido general por unanimidad, pero se negó a aceptar los resultados.

·                8 de abril de 1762. El Parlamento francés emitió un decreto de expulsión de los jesuitas de todos sus colegios y casas.

·                9 de abril de 1615. Muerte de William Weston, ministro de los católicos perseguidos en Inglaterra y más tarde autor que escribió sobre su vida interior durante ese período.

·                10 de abril de 1585. En Roma, fallecimiento del Papa Gregorio XIII, fundador de la Universidad Gregoriana y del Colegio Alemán, cuya memoria siempre será atesorada como la de uno de los mayores benefactores de la Sociedad.

Prayer: “Suffering Unites People in Solidarity and Draws Them Near to God” by Oscar Romero

Holy Week is a call to follow Christ’s austerities, 

the only legitimate violence, 

the violence that he does to himself 

and that he invites us to do to ourselves: 

“Let those who would follow me deny themselves,” 

be violent to themselves, 

repress in themselves the outbursts of pride, 

kill in their hearts the outbursts of greed, 

of avarice, of conceit, of arrogance. 

Let them kill it in their hearts. 

This is what must be killed, 

this is the violence that must be done, 

so that out of it a new person may arise, 

the only one who can build a new civilization: 

a civilization of love.

 

Suffering will always be. 

It is a heritage of the first sin 

and a consequence of other sins that God permits, 

even after the redemption. 

But the redemption converts them 

into power of salvation when suffering is undergone 

in union of faith, hope, and love 

with the Redeemer’s divine suffering and cross. 

Suffering is the shadow of God’s hand, 

which blesses and pardons; 

and suffering unites people in solidarity 

and draws them near to God.

 

St. Oscar Romero was martyred on March 24, 1980 while celebrating Mass in his Cathedral in San Salvador. 

Prayer: Prayer for Holy Week

Loving God, give us the grace to understand the suffering of your Son as he goes to his Passion for us. Help us to listen to him as he moves through his Agony, and help us be his spiritual companion, just to be with him, to hear his story, to listen to his perceptions and observations. Help us hear his pain as he reveals why he needs to die for us. Help us hear the deep meaning of his words. May our presence be of comfort to him as a show of our friendship. May our love deepen for him, and he shows us the courageous extent of his love. Amen. 

May Almighty God bless us, Father, Son +, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer: Andrew of Crete

So let us spread before his feet,
not garments or soulless olive branches,
which delight the eye for a few hours
and then wither, but ourselves,
clothed in his grace, or rather,
clothed completely in him.
We who have been baptized
into Christ must ourselves be the
garments that we spread before him.
Let our souls take the place
of the welcoming branches
as we join in the holy song:
“Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Blessed is the King of Israel.”

Prayer: Augustine

We do not cease praying so long as we continue to do good. The prayer of the heart and of good deeds has more value than the prayer of the lips.

Prayer: Patrick

Whatever will come my way, whether good or bad, may I accept it calmly and always give thanks to God, who has ever shown me how I should believe in God, unfailing and without end.

Poem: “The Annunciation” by Elizabeth Jennings

Nothing will ease the pain to come 

Though now she sits in ecstasy 

And lets it have its way with her. 

The angel’s shadow in the room 

Is lightly lifted as if he 

Had never terrified her there. 

The furniture again returns 

To its old simple state. She can 

Take comfort from the things she knows 

Though in her heart new loving burns 

Something she never gave to man 

Or god before, and this god grows 

Most like a man. 

She wonders how To pray at all, 

what thanks to give 

And whom to give them to. 

Alone To all men’s eyes I now must go” 

She thinks, “And by myself must live 

With a strange child that is my own.” 

So from her ecstasy she moves 

And turns to human things at last 

(Announcing angels set aside). 

It is a human child she loves 

Though a god stirs beneath her breast 

And great salvations grip her side.

God’s Silence? Palm Sunday 202

                                                           God’s Silence?

Palm Sunday 2021

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Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Philippians 2;6-11; Mark 14:1-15:47

 

 

Serenity seems to set into Scripture as Jesus begins his preparations for the Passover meal with his friends. Everything has been arranged and falls into place easily as if it had been preordained. The Passover meal is the celebration of God’s fidelity to the Israelites, and God seems very present in these early events.

 

As the story unfolds, it begins to go wrong. After celebrating the festive meal, Jesus is betrayed and denied by his closest friends, and the rest of his disciples desert him. They fall asleep in the Garden during his time of need, and God seems more remote to Jesus in prayer. Mark’s Gospel is chilling because everyone abandons Jesus, and, God, the one he relied upon most, seems silent. In fact, in Mark’s account, Jesus goes to his death without knowing that God heard him. He dies quickly, but he dies alone, and God never answered him. 

 

God’s silence at the crucifixion scene is quite loud. It makes us wonder where God is in the face of human suffering. How many times has God been silent to us in our pain and hurt? If this is the moment when God is steadfast and always stands by the faithful loved ones, then it doesn’t seem like God’s best moment. On the other hand, this is the moment of God’s vulnerability. In Jesus, God saves us by becoming so vulnerable that we are able to kill him in the most vile and humiliating way. 

 

At the cross, we turned away from friendship with God and we lost our way, and God remained silent as we chose our actions. God became vulnerable, and our best response to this vulnerability is to become compassionate and understanding. To be compassionate means to feel so completely for others who are in trouble or in pain that we put our very selves at risk. God’s compassion for the world leads God to risk taking on human flesh and getting killed for doing so. In retrospect, God certainly was not silent. God was not absent. God was certainly more present than we could comprehend.

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

 

Monday of Holy Week: We hear from Isaiah 42 in the First Oracle of the Servant of the Lord in which God’s servant will suffer silently but will bring justice to the world. In the Gospel, Lazarus’ sister, Mary, anoints Jesus’ feet with costly oil in preparation for his funeral.

Tuesday of Holy Week: In the Second Oracle of the Servant of the Lord (Isaiah 49), he cries out that I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth. In deep hurt, distress and grief, Jesus tells his closest friends at supper that one of them will betray him and another will deny him three times before the cock crows.

(Spy) Wednesday of Holy Week: In the Third Oracle of the Servant of the Lord (Isaiah 50), the suffering servant does not turn away from the ridicule and torture of his persecutors and tormentors. The time has come. Matthew’s account shows Judas eating during the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread with Jesus and their good friends after he had already arranged to hand him over to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. The Son of Man will be handed over by Judas, one of the Twelve, who sets the terms of Jesus’ arrest.

Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday: Only an evening Mass can be said today and we let our bells ring freely during the Gloria that has been absent all Lent. In Exodus, we hear the laws and customs about eating the Passover meal prior to God’s deliverance of the people through Moses from the Egyptians. Paul tells us of the custom by early Christians that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. In John’s Gospel, Jesus loves us to the end giving us a mandate to wash one another’s feet.

Good Friday: No Mass is celebrated today though there may be a service of veneration of the cross and a Stations of the Cross service. In Isaiah, we hear the Fourth Oracle of the Servant of the Lord who was wounded for our sins. In Hebrews, we are told that Jesus learned obedience through his faith and thus became the source of salvation for all. The Passion of our Lord is proclaimed from John’s Gospel.

Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil: No Mass, baptisms, or confirmations can be celebrated before the Vigil to honor the Lord who has been buried in the tomb. The Old Testament readings point to God’s vision of the world and the deliverance of the people from sin and death. All of Scripture points to the coming of the Righteous One who will bring about salvation for all. The Old Testament is relished during the Vigil of the Word as God’s story of salvation is told to us again. The New Testament epistle from Romans tells us that Christ, who was raised from the dead, dies no more. Matthew's Gospel finds Mary Magdalene and the other Mary at dawn arriving at the tomb only to find it empty. After a great earthquake that made the guards tremble, and angel appears telling the women, "Do not be afraid." The angel instructs them to go to the Twelve to tell them, "Jesus has been raised from the dead, and is going before you to Galilee." 

 

Saints of the Week

 

No saints are remembered on the calendar during this solemn week of our Lord's Passion.

 

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• March 28, 1606: At the Guildhall, London, the trial of Fr. Henry Garnet, falsely accused of complicity in the Gunpowder Plot. 
• March 29, 1523: Ignatius' first visit to Rome on his way from Manresa to Palestine. 
• March 30, 1545: At Meliapore, Francis Xavier came on pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle. 
• March 31, 1548: Fr. Anthony Corduba, rector of the College of Salamanca, begged Ignatius to admit him into the Society so as to escape the cardinalate which Charles V intended to procure for him. 
• Apr 1, 1941. The death of Hippolyte Delehaye in Brussels. He was an eminent hagiographer and in charge of the Bollandists from 1912 to 1941. 
• Apr 2, 1767. Charles III ordered the arrest of all the Jesuits in Spain and the confiscation of all their property. 
• Apr 3, 1583. The death of Jeronimo Nadal, one of the original companions of Ignatius who later entrusted him with publishing and distributing the Jesuit Constitutions to the various regions of the early Society.

¿El silencio de Dios ? Domingo de Ramos 2021

                                                 ¿El silencio de Dios ?

Domingo de Ramos 2021

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Isaías 50: 4-7 ; Salmo 22 ; Filipenses 2; 6-11 ; San Marcos 14: 1-15: 47

 

 

La serenidad parece incorporarse a las Escrituras cuando Jesús comienza los preparativos para la cena de Pascua con sus amigos . Todo ha sido arreglado y encaja fácilmente como si hubiera sido predeterminado. La comida pascual es la celebración de la fidelidad de Dios a los israelitas, y Dios parece muy presente en estos primeros eventos.

 

A medida que se desarrolla la historia, comienza a ir mal. Después de celebrar la comida festiva, Jesús es traicionado y negado por sus amigos más cercanos, y el resto de sus discípulos lo abandonan. Se duermen en el huerto durante su tiempo de necesidad, y Dios parece más remoto para Jesús en oración. El evangelio de Marcos es escalofriante porque todos abandonan a Jesús, y Dios, en quien más confiaba, parece silencioso. De hecho, en el relato de Marcos, Jesús va a la muerte sin saber que Dios lo escuchó. Muere rápidamente, pero muere solo, y Dios nunca le respondió.

 

El silencio de Dios en la escena de la crucifixión es bastante ruidoso. Nos hace preguntarnos dónde está Dios frente al sufrimiento humano. ¿Cuántas veces Dios nos ha guardado silencio en nuestro dolor y dolor? Si este es el momento en que Dios es firme y siempre está al lado de los fieles amados, entonces no parece que sea el mejor momento para Dios. Por otro lado, este es el momento de la vulnerabilidad de Dios. En Jesús, Dios nos salva al volvernos tan vulnerables que podemos matarlo de la manera más vil y humillante.

 

En la cruz, nos apartamos de la amistad con Dios y perdimos nuestro camino, y Dios permaneció en silencio mientras elegíamos nuestras acciones. Dios se volvió vulnerable y nuestra mejor respuesta a esta vulnerabilidad es volvernos compasivos y comprensivos. Ser compasivo significa sentir tan completamente por los demás que están en problemas o sufriendo que nos ponemos en riesgo. La compasión de Dios por el mundo lleva a Dios a arriesgarse a asumir la carne humana y ser asesinado por hacerlo. En retrospectiva, Dios ciertamente no guardó silencio. Dios no estuvo ausente. Dios ciertamente estaba más presente de lo que podíamos comprender.

 

Escritura para la misa diaria

 

Lunes de Semana Santa : Escuchamos de Isaías 42 en el Primer Oráculo del Siervo del Señor en el que el siervo de Dios sufrirá en silencio pero traerá justicia al mundo. En el Evangelio, la hermana de Lázaro, María, unge los pies de Jesús con aceite costoso en preparación para su funeral.

Martes de Semana Santa : En el Segundo Oráculo del Siervo del Señor (Isaías 49), clama que te haré luz de las naciones, para que mi salvación llegue hasta los confines de la tierra. En profundo dolor, angustia y dolor, Jesús les dice a sus amigos más cercanos en la cena que uno de ellos lo traicionará y otro lo negará tres veces antes de que cante el gallo.

(Espía) Miércoles de Semana Santa : En el Tercer Oráculo del Siervo del Señor (Isaías 50), el siervo sufriente no se aparta del ridículo y la tortura de sus perseguidores y verdugos. El tiempo ha llegado. El relato de Mateo muestra a Judas comiendo durante el primer día de la Fiesta de los Panes sin Levadura con Jesús y sus buenos amigos después de que ya había acordado entregarlo a los principales sacerdotes por treinta piezas de plata. El Hijo del Hombre será entregado por Judas, uno de los Doce, quien fija los términos del arresto de Jesús.
 

Misa de la Cena del Señor el Jueves Santo : Hoy solo se puede decir una Misa vespertina y dejamos que nuestras campanas suenen libremente durante la Gloria que ha estado ausente toda la Cuaresma. En Éxodo, escuchamos las leyes y costumbres acerca de comer la comida de la Pascua antes de la liberación del pueblo por parte de Dios a través de Moisés de los egipcios. Pablo nos habla de la costumbre de los primeros cristianos de que cada vez que comemos este pan y bebemos esta copa, proclamamos la muerte del Señor hasta que Él venga. En el evangelio de Juan, Jesús nos ama hasta el final dándonos el mandato de lavarnos los pies unos a otros.

Viernes Santo : Hoy no se celebra Misa, aunque puede haber un servicio de veneración de la cruz y un servicio del Vía Crucis. En Isaías, escuchamos el Cuarto Oráculo del Siervo del Señor que fue herido por nuestros pecados. En Hebreos, se nos dice que Jesús aprendió la obediencia a través de su fe y así se convirtió en la fuente de salvación para todos. La Pasión de nuestro Señor se proclama en el Evangelio de Juan.

Sábado Santo y Vigilia Pascual : No se pueden celebrar misas, bautismos o confirmaciones antes de la Vigilia en honor al Señor que ha sido sepultado en la tumba. Las lecturas del Antiguo Testamento apuntan a la visión de Dios del mundo y la liberación del pueblo del pecado y la muerte. Toda la Escritura apunta a la venida del Justo que traerá la salvación para todos. El Antiguo Testamento se disfruta durante la Vigilia de la Palabra mientras se nos vuelve a contar la historia de la salvación de Dios. La epístola del Nuevo Testamento de Romanos nos dice que Cristo, quien fue levantado de entre los muertos, ya no muere. El Evangelio de Mateo encuentra a María Magdalena y la otra María al amanecer llegando a la tumba solo para encontrarla vacía. Después de un gran terremoto que hizo temblar a los guardias, aparece un ángel diciéndoles a las mujeres: "No temáis". El ángel les dice que vayan a los Doce para decirles: "Jesús ha resucitado de entre los muertos y va delante de ustedes a Galilea".

 

Santos de la semana

 

No se recuerda a ningún santo en el calendario durante esta solemne semana de la Pasión de nuestro Señor.

 

Esta semana en la historia de los jesuitas

 

·                28 de marzo de 1606: En el Guildhall de Londres, el juicio del P. Henry Garnet, falsamente acusado de complicidad en el complot de la pólvora.

·                29 de marzo de 1523: Primera visita de Ignacio a Roma en su camino de Manresa a Palestina.

·                30 de marzo de 1545: En Meliapore , Francisco Javier vino en peregrinación a la tumba de Santo Tomás Apóstol.

·                31 de marzo de 1548: P. Antonio Corduba , rector del Colegio de Salamanca, rogó a Ignacio que lo admitiera en la Sociedad para escapar del cardenalato que Carlos V pretendía procurarle.

·                1 de abril de 1941. Muerte de Hippolyte Delehaye en Bruselas. Fue un eminente hagiógrafo y estuvo a cargo de los Bollandistas desde 1912 hasta 1941.

·                2 de abril de 1767. Carlos III ordenó el arresto de todos los jesuitas en España y la confiscación de todos sus bienes.

·                3 de abril de 1583. Muerte Jerónimo Nadal, uno de los compañeros originales de Ignacio, quien más tarde le confió la publicación y distribución de las Constituciones de los jesuitas a las diversas regiones de la Compañía primitiva.

Spirituality: “Formation and Transformation” by Jean Vanier

Jesus formed these men and many other disciples,
not in a formal way by teaching idea, skills,
or giving them classes in Scripture,
but he formed them and transformed them
by living with them, walking with them,
being a model for them.

He loved them and they loved him so naturally that
they learned from him, to do things as he did them.
He taught them how to live the good news,
how to trust the Father
and to read the signs of God in all the little events of each day.

He showed them that faith is trust in God,
not ideas about God,
and that this faith and trust grow day by day
through all that is beautiful
as well as through all that is painful,
all that reveals our weakness and poverty.

He showed them that trust is like a dialogue,
a communion between hearts that is continually deepening.
Jesus gave them an example of how to live,
how to love,
how to welcome the poor,
how to become a friend of the powerless,
how to be with women and with strangers,
how to be with sinners, tax collectors,
and victims of prostitution.

They saw how Jesus lived,
simply and poorly,
open to each moment and to each situation,
open to the will of the Father,
and how he was moved or motivated
not by codified, written law,
but by the law of love,
the love of each person in need.

Source: Jesus, The Gift of Love, as found in Give Us This Day, October, 2019, pp. 287-288.