#40 Holy Saturday 4/4/2026 Newness of life is now.
Holy Saturday is quiet. We meditate on the death of our Lord. We pray with the saints in pondering what death means and how can Jesus, the Son of God die. We seek to be still in a busy world. And we hope in the words of St. Paul in the newness of life. “We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.” (Rm 6:4) Living for today is pouring our love into the search for truth and holiness. It is placing our lives fully and completely into the plan of salvation. It is hearing the call to life and embracing the goodness and uniting ourselves with Jesus Christ in his Church.
#39 Good Friday 4/3/2026 Seven Words of Silence
Today the Church sits in silence. There will be no Mass celebrated today. Today Jesus dies on the Cross and we come to church to venerate the blessing and wonder of the cross. Today we are called to sit in silence. Silence in the modern world is very hard. The noise of society intrudes into almost every corner of our lives and yet, we are challenged to find silence in the presence of our Lord. To get lost in the contemplation of life, like a parent gazing at they sleeping child. The silence of sitting in front of a great work of art, being drawn deeper into a mystery that expands and expands the more we seeks to discover a depth of love. Let us take time today to listen to St. Mark’s Passion and offer a time of silence to the Lord.
#38 Holy Thursday 4/2/2026 Doubling Down
Today we hear the request for the body and the surprise of Pilate that Jesus had died so soon. He had expected much more suffering. That is what happened. The casual cruelty of sin shows forth in all its terrible destruction. But there is also the kindness of Joseph of Arimathea in this cruelty, this is where God is and we are challenged and invited to search for this blessing amidst the pain and suffering in our lives. As we begin this sacred Triduum ending our Lent, let us double down on our commitment to prayer, renew our desire in fasting, and lovingly extend our alms to those around us. Amen.
#37 Holy Wednesday 4/1/2026 Paying attention
What happens after the excitement, the worry, the troubles are deemed finished? What happens next? Today Joseph of Arimathea comes and takes Jesus’ body to a tomb. Most people have left to go about their daily routines. What happens next? In our life this is a pattern, a disaster, the championship game, a wedding or a funeral happen and then it can be quickly forgotten by so many. But someone is left behind. There is still need of cleaning up, healing a broken heart or the need to have someone to talk with for a little while longer. In our spiritual journey we need to leave behind but we cannot stop paying attention. Sin needs to be left but the attentiveness to the healing, the renewing needs to be continued. Let us always pay attention to the voice of our Lord.
#36 Holy Tuesday 3/31/2026 Holding Jesus
As the Holy Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday draw near we may want to reflect back on these past days of Lent and ask, where do I stand with Jesus? Near? Close but not to close? Or afraid and distant? Our challenge as we reflect on the Passion according to St. Mark is to, no matter what stage we are in, to turn and face Jesus. To move ever closer to Jesus. To take Jesus in our hands with faith, hope and love. I would continue to encourage you to take the Gospel of St. Mark and re-read the Passion narrative once more today. God Bless
#35 Holy Monday 3/30/2026 And he saw how he breathed his last
What drew that centurion to look at Jesus in those last minutes of his life? In the pains and sufferings of life, we are invited by our God to look on the face of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. To see the peace and freedom that comes from the obedience of love. We are challenged to keep seeking him even in the most troubling moments of life. I would challenge you once more to take your Bible and read the Passion of St. Mark from the first verse of Chapter 14 until the end of Gospel…reflecting back on what you prayed this Lenten season.
Palm Sunday of the Passion of our Lord 3/29/2026
Today we begin Holy Week with the triumphant procession into Jerusalem followed quickly by the reading of the Passion of the Lord from the Gospel of St. Matthew. We, in faith, trust in the goodness of the Lord. We believe Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection is the gift of eternal life. It is where we discover how goodness and love will always defeat the evil of the world. Where we will always discover God’s loving presence in our life. I would invite you this week to take the Passion of St. Mark, pick up your Bible, and read it completely. You may want to do this as a family and reflect back on the Little Black Book. Blessed Holy Week.