Reading One: Is 52:13—53:12 ;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 ;
Second Reading: Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9 ;
Gospel: Jn 18:1—19:42 ; go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)
May your heart be changed as you listen or read God's Word today. I hope your Lenten Journey was beneficial and that you renewed and strengthened your love and appreciation of God. If not, Change. Like the spring buds popping about everywhere, blossom and find new life. Ask God for the grace to enjoy your own springtime, and ask to be renewed in your love of God, your love of others, that your heart might find new heights of thankfulness, and that He helps you with your unbelief.
I hope the changes you made leave you feeling happier, and that you continue to grow in Holiness and not slip into old habits. Don't give up. God can do the impossible, keep asking for help when you need it. When you are most in need, He is closest to you. Spend more time in prayer, please. It is so beneficial, but you have to find time to get to the treasures. And sing your prayers, in your home when no one is around, or if others are around. Pray and don't be afraid to sing your prayers.
Prayer does not change God, but it changes those who pray.The Catholic church offers two services on Good Friday. The Veneration of the Cross, and in some parishes, there is also a Tenebrae service. You learn more about that here.
Soren Kierkegaard
Today is a sad and mournful day. I remember growing up, how so many times, the sky would turn dark around 3:30 PM, and often just pour down rain. There were even a few years where it was a nice sunny day in the morning, and then in the middle of the afternoon, the sky would darken in the ominous way. A reminder of who is in charge of the weather. I wonder what today will bring? (ed - Friday, EST - 1:33PM, dark, overcast - downright lugubrious).
In case you were wondering, scripture tells us Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, the Valley of the Skull. Calvary is Latin for skull or so I remember reading somewhere. So where is it? Well, in truth, no one can really be certain, but after a little research, I think it is close to or at one of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Now there are a bunch of churches with that name around Jerusalem, but if you check google maps, doing a search of Church of the Holy Sepulchre, you can look at the one with the marker - A, which contains the following text in the description.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre , also called the Church of the Resurrection, by Eastern Christians, is a Christian church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem.The site is worshiped by most Christians as Golgotha,(the Hill of Calvery), where as the New Testament says that Jesus was crucified, and is said to also contain the place where Jesus was buried (the sepulcher).Here is an interesting read on the subject of Where was Golgotha?
I thought I would close with a wonderful blues video by Roy Buchanan, offering a wonderful rendition of the blues tune - The Messiah Will Come Again. Hang in there, and remember how it is often dark and scary sometimes in life. Have Faith! The darkest hour is often right before the dawn.
