1.
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
(Luke 23:34)
Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins? Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness? Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?
2.
“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)
Have you staked your life on Jesus? Have you put your ultimate trust in him? Do you know that, when your time comes, you will be with him in paradise?
3.
“Dear woman, here is your son.”
(John 19:26)
What does Mary’s presence at the cross evoke in you? Why do you think was it necessary for Jesus to suffer physical pain as he died?
4.
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
(Mark 15:34)
Have you taken time to consider that Jesus was abandoned by the Father so that you might not be? What does this “word” from the cross mean to you?
5
“I am thirsty.”
(John 19:28)
How do you respond to Jesus’ statement “I am thirsty”? What does this statement suggest to you about Jesus? About yourself?
6.
“It is finished!”
(John 19:30)
Do you live as if Jesus finished the work of salvation? To you have confidence that God will finish that which he has begun in you?
7.
“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
(Luke 23:46)
Have you put your life and, indeed, your life beyond this life, in God’s hands? How do you experience God’s salvation through Christ in your life today?
“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46)
ReplyDeleteHave you put your life and, indeed, your life beyond this life, in God’s hands? How do you experience God’s salvation through Christ in your life today?
It seems that so often today, many of us find ourselves so caught up in our own lives — our joys, our sufferings, our past, our present, our future (and just about anything else, to be fully honest)— that we forget to really step back, reflect, and realize that, sometimes, we must rely on God and place our worries in him. I have personally fell prey to this mentality (perhaps this “default setting”) on numerous occasions. I, like many others, worry about where I want to go to college, what I want to major in, and of course, what I want to do for “the rest of my life.” I think, I think, and then I think some more, and just when I think I have an idea, my thoughts change. I also set high expectations for myself, demanding only the best; when I do not meet these expectations, I generally work harder, persevering until I reach the expectation, the goal.
Now, while all of these actions and qualities — hard work, persistence, discernment, independence, and goal setting — are good to take part in and possess, I feel that I have failed in incorporating God into my life, into the discernment process, into all of my fears, my worries, my suffering, into all that I dedicate myself to, and into my joys and successes that are a direct result of the characteristics that He so graciously bestowed on me. And, I think much of this is due to the fact that I overvalue independence. It’s just not in my nature to ask for help over and over again; I like to solve problems by myself. And so, in this way, I think this has served as a barrier in my relationship with God, in terms of entrusting my spirit, my life into His hands.
In terms of my faith exclusively, I have experienced God’s salvation through the Eucharist/the Mass, prayer, Reconciliation, and all of the other signs of God’s grace present within the Church. However, I feel that I have most experienced His salvation through those around me — my family, my teachers, my friends. Each group has had a tremendous impact on me throughout my faith journey, and I feel, has brought me closer to Christ’s saving love in one way or another. I could not have been blessed with greater people to share in this journey of life.
As for Holy Week, I feel that it has such a profound meaning, but so many just “blow off” this week as another “Jesus freak’s” holiday. Sure, this week is about Jesus and His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, but if viewed solely in this manner, without looking for the meaning present in these events, such an important message is missed — a message of life, of unconditional love, of rebirth, and of hope. Easter isn’t only about the orthodox, “perfect” followers of Christ; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Easter is about all those who have sinned, those who have fallen from grace, those who are in need of the “Divine Physician.” It’s not just about those who are “on fire for Christ;” it’s also about those who are seeking Him, but are still faced with some form of unbelief. Easter and its preceding Holy Week, when seen from this lens, are about love, rebirth, hope, and healing — all those graces and divine cures that we so often pursue, yet fail to find.
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DeleteI completely agree as to many people just blow off Holy Week as if it is not a big deal, but we all know it is! I personally think one might do this because they do not know the true meaning of what is about to come, or even the true meaning of Holy Week. It is heartbreaking to think that most people do not actually understand why Easter Sunday is so important. Also, your first paragraph could not be more true.
Delete“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
ReplyDeleteHave you staked your life on Jesus? Have you put your ultimate trust in him? Do you know that, when your time comes, you will be with him in paradise?
During this moment in Jesus’ Life, he was dying, the men around him were dying, and his worshipers were dying inside. It was a hard time to be thinking about a paradise when everything came crashing down. Of course, paradise is heaven, but not everyone will make it there. I believe it is hard for a person to judge how staked Jesus is in their life at this point in time because our life is so up and down. I know it is personally hard for me because I have challenges everyday in my life that I try and try to count on God, but my relationship isn’t as strong as I hope it would be. It’s hard to trust him when bad things happen because sometimes I blame him, when I know it’s not his fault. I get frustrated easily with things and I just don’t take my time to sit, relax, and pray about when I need to. I hope to sit with him in heaven one day, I know I do sin but so does everyone else. No one is perfect and I hope that he can forgive me and help me into heaven.
Holy Week is the climax of the liturgical year for many reasons. The biggest reason is mainly because it goes through the time where Jesus died for our sins to allow us to go into heaven. The main goal of our life is to make it to heaven, and by Jesus dying for us, we are allowed to. Every year, we recap what happened during his time and relive it in our own way to really feel how he felt during his death. Almost all gospels lead up to the Easter season. Even during the season, the gospels are so important and relevant to the Catholic life.
Kristen, I think that many, when speaking of their faith, are not fully honest with themselves, but you seem to be just the opposite; it's extremely important to be honest with yourself in regards to faith because it really is the only way to grow in your faith.
DeleteAlso, I think you did a good job highlighting the importance of the Easter season; our faith really is rooted in love and forgiveness, and the Easter season is where these themes are primarily found.
Including how important Easter is in all of the Gospels was a great point, it really gives a great explanation your views of Holy Week.
Delete“It is finished.” (John 19:30)
ReplyDeleteThese three simple words are, to me, perhaps some of the most important words in scripture, as they were the last words Jesus said before his death on the cross at the end of His Earthly Ministry. At first, it seems like this is indeed the end; the Son of God is dead, so now what do we do? Without Him, how are we supposed to get to Heaven? In actuality, these words represent the beginning of our Salvation. Through His death, Jesus propped open the gates of Heaven, and allowed for our souls to be more effectively guided towards eternal life.
That being said, I feel that, knowing that Jesus propped those gates open, we the faithful sometimes get off our high horse. We, comfortable in knowing that Jesus died for our sins and allowed for us to be saved and live with God in Heaven, allow ourselves to be too-easily fatigued when it comes to our faith. It is so easy for us to say, “Well, I know I shouldn’t sin, but if I do, it’s fine; Jesus will pick up my tab and I’ll make it into Heaven unscathed.” This attitude is far too common, experienced by many a Christian, myself included, and it is an attitude that comes with living as if Jesus’ work of salvation is finished, when it actually will not be coming to an end until the end of time. As long as there is evil and temptation in the world, Jesus’ work of salvation is not done.
I do, however, have complete confidence that God will finish the work of Salvation He has begun in me. While I am just as prone to temptation as anyone else, I always find renewal in my Faith through the sacrament of Reconciliation. Every time I confess my sins, I leave with a renewed sense of stability and confidence in my faith that reassures me that God will always be on my side, and that He will finish what he has started.
I firmly believe that Holy Week is the climax of the liturgical calendar because it is a time that inspires great thought about why we are where we are. At this time, we reflect on the life of Jesus, and how He brought humanity closer to the Kingdom of God. Having just attended the Easter Vigil, I also believe that it calls us to refocus on living the will of God. Maybe I just haven’t paid enough attention in the past, but at the renewal of the Baptismal Promises, I really felt the gravity of what Christ did for us, and I really felt connected to my faith, more than I ever have. Because of this strong pull toward refocusing my attention on my faith, I can safely say that Holy Week is indeed the pinnacle of the liturgical calendar.
Happy Easter!
Wow, this is such a great blog. I think you fully answered of the questions, and you did a great job of explaining yourself. Also, your argument about why Holy Week is the climax of the liturgical year was argued very well. Great work!
DeleteI agree with Bethany, this was a great blog. I especially liked how you included what you drew from attending the Easter Vigil.
DeleteI like how you picked this quote because I thought it would be difficult to write about, but you did a great job with it. I also liked how honest you were in your opinions and beliefs. Lastly, your argument for why the Holy Week is the climax is very good and thorough.
Delete“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34)
ReplyDeleteDo you really believe God has forgiven your sins? Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness? Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?
It is sad to say, but many teenagers feel like they do not need to go to Reconciliation. They do not believe in the idea of sins being forgiven, but that is not my case. I truly believe God is able to forgive our sins. We were born with Original Sin, and this is not something we could avoid. This form of sin is the reason the Sacrament of Reconciliation was created. We are not perfect, and God knows that. God wanted us to be able to start over with our actions, which is why we confess our wrongdoings. Whenever I am given the chance in school, I always make sure to confess my sins. After I do this, I honestly just feel like a much better and happier person. Personally, I do need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today. Everyday, there are so many little things that can cause us to sin. Since we are able to receive this sacrament, I think every single person needs to experience forgiveness.
Through my faith, I can easily say that Holy Week is the climax of the liturgical year. The week prior to Easter is extremely important. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday. This day is when we celebrate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Holy Thursday is significant because it represents the Last Supper. Good Friday is known as the day of remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus. The days leading up to Easter are so important because Easter is when the gates of Heaven open up and all of our sins were able to be forgiven. Holy Week helps prepares our hearts for the best day of the entire year — Easter Sunday.
I can definitely agree that many people do not go to reconciliation, especially people in our grade. I think about half of our grade do not go when they are given the chance. I also think your description of Holy Week being the climax is really good.
Delete“It is finished!” (John 19:30)
ReplyDeleteDo you live as if Jesus finished the work of salvation? Do you have confidence that God will finish that which he has begun in you?
Salvation is won through sacrifice. In the Gospel account of John, Jesus breathed His last shortly after proclaiming those three words: it is finished. These words, while significant in their own right in the context of the passage from which they come, gain extreme poignancy when looked at through the greater lenses of salvation history. With these words, Jesus is declaring an end. He declares an end to sin by bearing the weight of sin. He declares an end to death through His death on a cross. And finally, he declares an end to sacrifice by giving Himself as the sacrificial offering. He takes the place of the lambs offered in atonement for offenses in the Old Testament, and Jesus is instead slain for our sins. He puts an end to sacrifice by serving as the ultimate sacrifice. But these words mean something else as well. The words “it is finished” speak to salvation itself. Here, Jesus is saying that everything necessary to complete the work of salvation is accomplished, and only through His death and Resurrection may His work come to fruition.
For the sake of transparency before beginning this particular section of the blog I must be forthright about my biases—Holy Week is my favorite part of the liturgical year. Now perhaps I simply feel this way because I can still smell the incense on my clothes from serving the Easter Vigil Mass, but I honestly believe that there is something pervasive about Holy Week. And that makes sense because, essentially, it is the pinnacle of our faith (at least from the perspective of the liturgical year). During Holy Week, we hear in the Scriptures some of the most pivotal accounts from the whole of salvation history. The Institution of the Eucharist, for example, is read in the Gospels at least three times throughout the week, and that is not without good reason. The Eucharist is the source and summit of Catholic spirituality, making it something well worth emphasizing. Through the Last Supper, Christ instituted the memorial of his own death. He made known His place as the sacrificial offering. Also memorialized during Holy Week is the death of Christ. By His death, salvation was won and sin was conquered. It is something to never be forgotten, even if we are “a resurrection people”, that our salvation, the burdens of sin and death removed, was won through death on a cross.
Anna, I think your opening statement is extremely powerful. I love how Holy Week is your favorite part of the year. I love all of the services offered in our community. You are right by saying it will never be forgotten because it has been 2000 years and it is still prominent is society.
DeleteDear woman, here is your son.” (John 19:26)
ReplyDeleteWhat does Mary’s presence at the cross evoke in you? Why do you think was it necessary for Jesus to suffer physical pain as he died?
In theology we recently just watched The Passion, and although it’s just a perception of what happened to Jesus, I could not stop thinking about it with relation to Mary and what she endured through Jesus’ suffering. Throughout the whole entire movie, Mary was included quite frequently, she was present at almost all stages of the process. For me, it was frustrating. It bothered me that she just had to sit and watch all of this happen to her beloved son, there was not a whole lot she could do about it. She gave him whatever comfort possible but I still hated seeing her so helpless and watching her son endure something so horrific. Along with this, I think it was necessary for Jesus to suffer physical pain as he died because it showed a whole lot of his human side, which really helps us clarify that he was both divine and human. What he went through on earth was real, physical, pain. It was horrendous, and yet he endured everty single second of it just for us. Had Jesus not suffer any physical for us and opened the gates of Heaven for us still, it definitely would not suddenly become insignificant or something. I just feel that all that he suffered through was so much more meaningful because he did it for the love of everybody else in the world and everyone to come in the future.
As for why Holy Week is so significant, there are many reasons behind that. The most obvious being that Jesus died and is raised again so that we can enter Heaven. The main goal of our lives is to enter Heaven, so truly putting the importance of Jesus’ death for us into words cannot be done. However, so many other important things occurred, such as the institution of the Eucharist. I feel like that gets overlooked a lot when we talk about Easter because of what happened to Jesus, but the Eucharist is such an important thing and was brought into existence during Holy Week.
Erick, I think you did a great job expressing how many of us feel when pondering over the helplessness and despair Mary must have felt at the foot of the cross. Your emphasis on the Institution of the Eucharist was also quite significant, as this is the source and summit of our faith.
DeleteWhen I read this, for some reason, I also thought about the violence that we have seen over the past years within our own nation, specifically within schools. Mothers, fathers, entire families grieving, suffering due to the loss of their loved ones. Yet, many have become so desensitized to this suffering due to what almost seems an epidemic of violence. Holy Week really allows us to step back and realize that this lack of feeling is dangerous and incompatible with our belief in the dignity of the person.
This is really a unique approach to your prompt. I find it interesting that you managed to find some way to relate to Mary through Mel Gibson’s movie. I think it is interesting that that performance gave you a different perspective on the suffering of Christ and what that means in relation to salvation. On a different note, I think it is really interesting how Holy Week and our own history tie back into that quote. In that moment on the cross, Jesus not only gave Mary to the Church by way of John, but he also gave us to Mary to serve as our intercesor and queen. I have to say, I do find it all rather fascinating, and I think you did well in expressing your thoughts here.
Delete“It is finished.” (John 19:30)
ReplyDeleteThese words speak to me on an incredibly deep level. Jesus came to earth fully knowing what kind of suffering, pain, and torment he’d go through, and chose to anyway. This fills me with a respect and admiration for Jesus, and also a feeling that wherever I go and whatever I do, He’ll be watching me.
As for myself, I’ll be entirely honest when I say I’m hardly the ideal catholic. I try, but at least some of the I inevitably fail. I’m trying to work more and more on it everyday, but I’m not anywhere near perfect. That’s also why I think the sacrament of confession is so beautiful and a sign of God’s love
You need to write more. I understand how people can put all their thoughts in a short paragraph nicely, but you need more. You have good ideas and such but you need to expand more.
DeleteLike, I like how you were honest in this blog. I do agree with Kristen that you need to expand a lot more, but other than that you had amazing ideas and you did well explaining Jesus’ mission.
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ReplyDelete“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34)
ReplyDeleteDo you really believe God has forgiven your sins? Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness? Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?
Truthfully, I do believe that God has forgiven my sins. Jesus forgave everyone; the people who stood at His side and hammered nails into His hands and feet were forgiven as the life faded from Him. He forgave Judas for betraying Him even after He gave him all of His love. The whole symbol of the cross stands for forgiveness; Jesus is our Redeemer because He died to forgive our sins. When we go to Confession and tell the priest our sins, we are expressing the fact that we have sinned and we recognize that. We offer up our secrets and shames because we ultimately know that God will forgive them. He forgives us as Jesus forgave those who hurt Him because it was the key to redemption. Easter is the climax of the liturgical year for this reason. When Jesus sacrificed His life for our sins, we were forgiven. He who had done no wrong died for us who had done everything wrong. While Christmas is very important because it was the birth of Jesus, Easter is more influential because it fulfills the purpose of Jesus. Lent and Advent are important times of preparation for liturgical happenings, but Ordinary Time still shows us the constant impact of Jesus’ death. Easter is the time that we most remember that Jesus died for our sake as we should be willing to live for His.
Great analysis of Jesus’s words. Also, the way you explained how and why the Easter season is the climax of the liturgical season gave me a new perspective. I really like your line, “He who has done no wrong died for us who had done everything wrong.”
Delete“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Mark 15:34)
ReplyDeleteHave you taken time to consider that Jesus was abandoned by the Father so that you might not be? What does this “word” from the cross mean to you?
This passage has always struck my curiosity. It just seems so out of place, almost as if we like to ignore the fact that God abandoned his only son. To me, this is the most powerful passage throughout the entire bible. It truly illustrates the sacrifice that God made. We hear things like “God have his only son for YOU!” so much that we become desensitized, however this passage truly makes us take a step back and see the depth in that statement. It makes us realize the pain that Jesus had to endure. This passage also shows Jesus’s humanity. Jesus was created a human, and while that gave him all of the gifts that humanity has to offer, it also gave him the parts that aren’t so good. God made Jesus human so that he could suffer on the cross. It’s not like God wanted his son to die a painful death, but that had to be done. It was Jesus purpose to save us, and that’s the only way it could be done.
I really do believe that Holy Week is the climax of the liturgical year. Think of Jesus in terms of an action movie, just how every point in the movie leads up to the good guy fighting the bad guy, every point in Jesus’s life leads up to him dying on the cross. The climax is basically defined as the most exciting part, and this is for sure the most exciting part. Also, it is important to note that the climax is not the end, there is still much left in the movie after the good guy faces the bad guy. In the same way, there is still much left after Jesus’s death.
You really did a good job expressing your feelings about the passage. I am glad you picked one that piqued your curiosity and evoked a lot of thought. I really like what you say here, “every point in Jesus’s life leads up to him dying on the cross”, because it is so true. Right from the start, Jesus was born to die, to save us from sin. Honestly, I think this was a stand out blog. Again, good job.
Delete“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34)
ReplyDeleteForgiveness can be hard to give out. It can be even harder to forgive someone whom you has really hurt you. Jesus asked God to forgive those who have persecuted him when He was on the cross because I believe He already forgave them, but wanted God to as well. I do believe God has forgiven my sins especially after I have gone to confession. I know this because before I go into confession I am nervous, when I am done and have received a solution, I feel much better and forgiven. Reconciliation is an amazing sacrament because we can receive it as often as we want and it helps us grow closer to God and away from sin. I usually only go to confession when the school offers it. I try to motivate myself to visit the church to receive the sacrament every three or so months, but I never do it. I always regret not being able to enjoy this freedom, but then I remember that I will at school. The only bad part of this bad habit is that at college, they will not offer confession like our school does. Holy Week is the climax of the liturgical year because it is a time of forgiveness and learning. On Palm Sunday, Jesus strolls into the town and everyone rejoices in his presence. On Holy Thursday, Jesus washes the disciples feet. Peter told Jesus that He will not be washing his feet because He is Jesus and Peter felt that he should be washing Jesus’ feet. Jesus explained to Peter that he need to teach them how to serve others. On Good Friday, Jesus is sent on the road to His crucifixion which is the ultimate sacrifice. He died so that our sins were forgiven and he could open the gate of Heaven. Many may think that Christmas is holier than Easter because Easter would not have happened without His birth. This may be true, but Jesus did not have to die the awful death He did. He was sent to this earth to do so, but this forgiveness and knowledge we received through His life, death, and resurrection was much more important than His birth.
I don’t think that you connected your point about dying an awful death to the rest of your argument very well. It just seemed to break up your Easter vs. Christmas argument. Other than that, good job!
Delete“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34)
ReplyDeleteDo you really believe God has forgiven your sins? Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness? Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?
Jesus saying this statement as these people murdered him for being the Son of God shows just how much He gave up for us. Jesus forgave the people because he knew they were blinded and not seeing what they were truly doing. As humans, we are often blinded or choose the wrong path for ourselves, but the good news is that Jesus knows this and offers forgiveness. God has the humbleness to forgive us and give us many new tries to live in His Word. I do believe that God forgives us our sins because he knows how humans are flawed, and He knows it can take a few tries to get it right. At the end of the day, I usually reflect on mu day and the mistakes I made. I talk to God about these things and figure out how I can avoid doing these things again. God’s forgiveness is necessary, in my opinion. By being vulnerable and admitting my mistakes I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and a new path has been created. God removes all my guilt and suffering. The forgiveness of sins is a key of of Holy Week. Holy Week is the time we, as humans, admit our wrong of killing Jesus, but at the same time we reflect on why He gave His life for us. While we crucify Him, we thank Him for opening paradise and ending the suffering. If this week never happened, the world would not have any forgiveness. Jesus allowed us to come to Him and suffer with Him for the good of others. This is why at Lent we are suppose to give up or do something extra that will be difficult. By sharing in Jesus’s suffering, we grow closer to Him and learn to love Him more deeply.
I liked how you compared Jesus’ suffering to our own. He suffered to prevent us from feeling a pain as great as His. We definitely grow closer to Him through this, as you said. Good job!
Delete