During Holy Week, we recall a week of extreme suffering, pain, and trauma for Jesus. As we reflect on Jesus' sufferings, we too may be having an extremely difficult week. As we look at our lives, we may feel we have "toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent" our strength (Is 49:4). Like Jesus, we may grow "deeply troubled" (Jn 13:21). We are tempted to let Satan enter our hearts (see Jn 13:27), or we are brokenhearted because others have let Satan enter their hearts. Spiritually speaking, we may be going through the night (see Jn 13:30) of spiritual warfare where the prince of darkness (see Eph 6:12) seems to be reigning.
When Jesus suffered all this distress and Judas had left to betray Him (Jn 13:31), Jesus did not cower in fear or have a pity party. Rather, He proclaimed: "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in Him. [If God has been glorified in Him,] God will, in turn, glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him soon" (Jn 13:31-32). In the deeper holiness which we are receiving this Holy Week, let us proclaim with Jesus that, especially in the midst of terrible suffering, God the Father will be glorified through our lives. "In His temple all say, ‘Glory!' " (Ps 29:9)
| PRAYER: | "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen." |
| PROMISE: | "I will make you a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." –Is 49:6 |
| PRAISE: | Melissa repented of her years of using artificial contraception and opened her heart to receive all God had to give. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College