Something Strange is Happening – Holy Saturday

 Something Strange  Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. These are the opening sentences in the non-scriptural reading in today’s Office of Readings. The author, it seems, is unknown.  The liturgy simply tells us that it is … Continue reading Something Strange is Happening – Holy Saturday

Is it I, Lord? – Good Friday

Is it I, Lord? It seems all too easy for us sometimes to see the Apostles, in their bumbling humanity, as almost comic figures.  They certainly don’t appear too dignified, for instance, when they argue over which one of them is greatest (Luke 22:24, Mark 9:33, etc.); they look almost like clamoring children, who are clearly … Continue reading Is it I, Lord? – Good Friday

Christ Came to Serve – Holy Thursday

Christ Came to Serve - The Mass of the Lord's Supper Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples, by Giotto. c.1305 “It is enough.” He said to them, "But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one.  For … Continue reading Christ Came to Serve – Holy Thursday

Which Crowd? Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday

Ecce Homo, by Antonio Ciseri, 1871 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."     (Matthew 26:40-41)   The Inner Struggle … Continue reading Which Crowd? Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday