Friday, March 29, 2013 Good Friday   Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 View Readings Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25 John 18:1—19:42 Similar Reflections   TAKING IT PERSONALLY   Jesus "bowed His head, and delivered over His spirit." —John 19:30   During Lent, many churches depict the crucifixion of Jesus graphically. They show movies or slides showing the brutality of Jesus' crucifixion. Some churches display a real crown of thorns or even have you hear the pounding of the hammer driving nails into Jesus' flesh. The purpose of this is to show people that Jesus literally suffered and died for them and that the crucifixion is not just a story. A graphic depiction of Jesus' crucifixion is an occasionally successful attempt to lead secularized, lukewarm people to repentance. However, for those who have a total, personal relationship with Jesus, these realistic recollections of Jesus' crucifixion are torture. What if your older brother was tortured and executed? Would you watch the video of His execution? Would you go to a play that dramatized his torture? Could you stand to hear the pounding, gasps, and grunts which were the sound-track of his sufferings? For hundreds of years after Jesus' death, Christians never put a representation of Jesus' body on the cross. His death was so personal to them that they couldn't bear to recall the details of His appearance, "so marred was His look beyond that of man, and His appearance beyond that of mortals" (Is 52:14). This doesn't mean we should get rid of our crucifixes. It does mean that a deep, total, personal relationship with Jesus, our older Brother, should determine how we react to everything, including the depictions of Jesus' death.   Prayer: Jesus, may I react to Your death as I would react to the death of the person I love most in this world. May the deepest personal relationship in my life be with You. Promise: "Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered; and when perfected, He became the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him." —Heb 5:8-9 Praise: (none)     Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant my permission to publish One Bread, One Body covering the period from February 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013. †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, September 13, 2012. The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

Thursday, March 28, 2013 Holy Thursday   Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 View Readings Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18 John 13:1-15 Similar Reflections   FAST FOOD   "You shall eat like those who are in flight." — Exodus 12:11   Moses commanded the Hebrews who were leaving Egypt to eat like those who were in flight from tyranny. This is likewise timely advice for modern Christians. We should eat as those who are fleeing: from sin, from a culture of death, from the slavery of sin and into liberation, from the bad news with which our culture bombards us and towards the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and from apathy and fleeing toward Jesus (Mt 11:28). Those who are fleeing do not overeat, but consume only what will nourish them for that day's journey. Foods that can be prepared quickly are much more important than tasty foods. Those in flight live simply and pack lightly so they can travel rapidly; no excess baggage is possible. There is still another way in which we should eat like those in flight: when we eat the New Passover, the Eucharist, we eat as free children of God. The New Passover of the Mass demands a new Exodus. "Flee from" the corruption and slavery of sin (see 1 Tm 6:11). Flee to the eucharistic Jesus. Be set free in Jesus.   Prayer: Father, liberated from my sin, I will soar with joy as I eat the Bread from heaven (Jn 6:50). Promise: "This is My body, Which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." —1 Cor 11:24 Praise: "Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore. O make us love Thee more and more."   (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)   Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant my permission to publish One Bread, One Body covering the period from February 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013. †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, September 13, 2012. The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Holy Week   Isaiah 50:4-9 View Readings Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34 Matthew 26:14-25 Similar Reflections   PIERCED EARS   "Morning after morning He opens my ear that I may hear." —Isaiah 50:4   The Lord will open our ears every morning to hear Him. He will give us words to rouse the weary (Is 50:4). Because we hear God, we will speak in His name. We will have "a well-trained tongue," that is, the tongue of a disciple of Jesus (see Is 50:4, JB). However, there is resistance within us to hearing God. The Lord often tells us things we don't want to hear. Then we either die to ourselves or rebel, refusing to hear the Lord (Is 50:5). Because others resist hearing God, they will try to prevent us from hearing God, for when we hear God, we will say things they don't want to hear. To shut us up they may beat our backs, pluck our beards, spit in our faces, or attack us in more subtle ways (Is 50:6). However, we must not rebel. We must set our faces like flint (Is 50:7) and let God open our ears to hear Him, no matter what the consequences. Jesus is the perfect Example of this. He is the Incarnate Word of God. Every morning He opened His ear to His heavenly Father and then proclaimed the truth. There was such resistance to His words that He was crucified, but Jesus did not rebel. Hear as Jesus heard; speak as Jesus spoke; suffer as Jesus suffered; die as Jesus died; rise as Jesus rose.   Prayer: Father, may I hear You this Holy Week no matter what the consequences. Promise: "I am to celebrate the Passover with My disciples in your house." —Mt 26:18 Praise: Bernice ministers to Jesus by teaching underprivileged and retarded children.   (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Hearing God, or our audio AV 45-1 or video V-45.)   Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant my permission to publish One Bread, One Body covering the period from February 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013. †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, September 13, 2012. The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Isaiah 49:1-6 View Readings Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17 John 13:21-33, 36-38 Similar Reflections   COMING ATTRACTIONS   "For now the Lord has spoken Who formed Me as His Servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to Him and Israel gathered to Him." —Isaiah 49:5   Jesus is like "a sharp-edged sword" or "a polished arrow" (Is 49:2). He can pierce us and cause us pain. Jesus is like a concealed sword or hidden arrow (Is 49:2). Unless we are attentive, we won't notice Him. Jesus' work in our lives at first often appears to be "in vain, and for nothing" (Is 49:4). Consequently, to be open to Jesus, we must suffer pain, be attentive, and persevere in walking "by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7). It is difficult to be open to Jesus. In one way, Jesus is the most attractive Person Who has ever lived. After being lifted up in His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus draws all people to Himself (Jn 12:32). Yet, in other ways, Jesus is not attractive. "There was in Him no stately bearing to make us look at Him, nor appearance that would attract us to Him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a Man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from Whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held Him in no esteem" (Is 53:2-3). Jesus simultaneously attracts and repels us. If we focus on ourselves, we will spin away from Him. If we die to ourselves, we will gravitate toward Him. Sin disrupts the attraction of Jesus' love. Repentance and faith lock us into his love. "Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you" (Jas 4:8).   Prayer: Jesus, may I be baptized into, immersed in, and preoccupied with Your love. Promise: "God will, in turn, glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him soon." —Jn 13:32 Praise: After a prayer meeting one night, the Martins and the McCoys, both deeply in debt, burned their credit cards and put their finances in the Lord's hands.     Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant my permission to publish One Bread, One Body covering the period from February 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013. †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, September 13, 2012. The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

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