Tuesday in Holy Week
Readings: Is 49:1-6. Ps 70:1-6, 15, 17, R/ v 15. Jn 13:21-33, 36-38. www.catholicbishops.ie/readings.
The words of Isaiah speak beautifully of our vocation in Christ. Chosen before birth, given great gifts of body and mind, called to be servant of the Most High, and destined to be a light of the nations so that Christ’s salvation may be brought to the ends of the earth. Such is our destiny. And yet, we can fail. We can reject this calling, give way to weakness. Both Judas and Peter in their weakness are put before us today, one to betray, the other to deny. So close to Jesus and yet capable of losing him.
Pope Francis on Twitter
“Only trust in God can transform doubts into certainty, evil into good, night into radiant dawn.”
Follow Pope Francis on Twitter @Pontifex.
Stations of the Cross for Our Time
The Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus
We Remember the Cross of Jesus
Simon the Cyrene, a stranger in
the city, did not know Jesus. But
that did not matter. What matters
here is that in this moment of
need Simon was capable of
lending his shoulders to one
whose own had given out, of
offering his strength to one who
had nothing left, of taking on
himself the cross, which Jesus
could no longer carry.
We Name the Crosses of Today
Look at Jesus who lies hidden and unknown
beneath every person in need. Across our world we
see human suffering in the faces of strangers, in the faces of
those struggling for democracy in the Middle East and
beyond, in the faces of those dealing with the loss of life and
destruction of property. People we know of, but do not
know, must live with the aftermath of the ravages and
destructive forces of nature – coping with floods and
drought, with the devastating effects of climate change…
We Pray
Lord, help us to grasp our opportunities to be a Simon in
our world. In those times when we can help, let us have the
generosity to do so. May we continue the spirit of Simon
through our support of agencies such as Trócaire and all
who work to alleviate suffering in our world. Lord, may we
have the humility to accept all the Simons along our road
who reach out to help us in our moments of need.
Holy Week
During Holy Week, the Church celebrates the mysteries of salvation accomplished by Christ in the last days of his life on earth, beginning with his messianic entrance into Jerusalem. The Lenten season lasts until Thursday of this week. The Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The days of Holy Week, from Monday to Thursday inclusive, have precedence over all other celebrations.
