We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross

They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.  (Mark 15: 21)

Lord, grant us willing spirits that we may be your instruments on earth.

 

Lord Jesus, as I walk in your steps, please bring an end to the COVID 19 Pandemic.  Amen.

May God Be Praised!

On Sunday morning March 29, 2020 the Kellys were blessed by the birth of Elin Joan Kelly.  Amy and Joe newest baby girl joins her twin sisters Abigail & Beatrice, Elin’s name means “ray of sunshine”; in the current darkness of our world we need sunshine.

My son Joe wrote, “This morning at 1:33 a.m. we added to our clan of girls.  Elin Joan was born weighing 6 lbs. 11 oz and measuring 18 1/2 inches.  We chose the names Elin (derivative of Helen) and Joan to honor our respective maternal grandmothers.  

I learned this a.m. that name means ‘ray of sunshine’.  Although I am not one for social media or posting photos, given the current state of affairs, we wanted to share our 'ray of sunshine' with you all.  Stay safe, Stay Home.”

Carl Sandburg said, “A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on …. A baby represents life.”  Even as the COVID 19 Pandemic continues to spread Elin Joan Kelly is a 'ray of sunshine' who reminds us that God loves us and is with us on our journey.

Her picture is below and reminds us to “Walk joyously through life.  And if at times you cannot, at least walk with faith and courage.”  

[St. Francis de Sales]

The COVID 19 crisis will pass, but God’s love will never cease.

May God Be Praised!

We will continue our Scripture Stations tomorrow.

A Reflection on our Sunday Scripture Readings, March 29, 2020:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032920.cfm

Our nation and our world have been shaken by the COVID 19 Pandemic, may we learn from this experience not only how fragile life is, but also, how to love God and one another more fully and more faithfully.

The prophet Ezekiel said, “… you shall know that I am the Lord … I will put my spirit in you that you may live ….”  Then, in our Responsorial Psalm we cried out, “Lord, hear my voice … I trust in the Lord.” 

In these difficult times TRUST in God’s goodness is often questioned.

Yet, St. Paul teaches us “… if Christ is in you … the spirit is alive because of righteousness.”  Not our righteousness, but God’s, today is the time to take our burdens to the Lord Jesus and ask Him to help us carry them.

In the Gospel Martha and Mary are overwhelmed by grief and heartache.  St. John reminds us in his Gospel that Jesus gives us HOPE in time of anxiety, distress and uncertainty.

Jesus prays, “Father, I thank you for hearing me.  I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Today we pray like Jesus, Lord hear my prayer, I know that You always hear my prayers and answer them.  My prayers are increasing with the upward curve of the spread of COVID 19, I pray that when the curve flattens my prayers continue, and when the curve is dissipated may I have the perseverance to pray.

Mary and Martha although blinded by grief TRUSTED in Jesus’ Word, we should follow Mary and Martha’s path TRUST in the Lord.  

Fr. John Pilch S.J. wrote, “Faith in the risen … is not simply a pledge of resurrection on the last day but is rather a present and continuing participation in the life of the ever-living Jesus now, at this moment. Those who believe in Jesus never truly die.”  https://liturgy.slu.edu/5LentA032920/theword_cultural.html

Expect mercy during this pandemic is a concept offered by Dr. Paul Farmer.  Dr. Farmer is the chairmen of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

His essay appeared in The Boston Globe [March 19, 2020].  I want to share part of what he wrote: “We know how to confront the coronavirus pandemic: Expert mercy.”

Such mercy, … “stems from an alchemy that mixes compassionate fellow feeling with interventions that save the sick and slow down the spread [of the virus].”  For Dr. Farmer and his colleagues, “expert mercy” is the driving force behind the selflessness of Americans to practice “social distancing” and quarantining themselves as necessary.

“Expert mercy” …  keeps doctors, nurses and health care workers working long … keeps open shelters and soup kitchens and clinics for the poor …. inspires us to help, to reach out, to keep in touch, to put aside our own comfort for the sake of others …. can get us through this crisis.  [Connections, March 30, 2020]

In today’s Gospel Jesus offers His “Expert mercy” to Mary and Martha in their time of need.  May we be sources of “Expert mercy”, “Expert prayer” and “Expert care” for those in pain [emotional or physical] in this crisis.

For a few minutes, in silence, reflect on this poem by Lynn Unger and ask the Lord to guide your path through the darkness of COVID 19 with His “Expertise” in mercy, prayer and care.

  
Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.

–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

http://www.lynnungar.com/poems/pandemic/

May God Be Praised!

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross

When the chief priests and the guards saw [Jesus] they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him." ... They cried out, "Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." 

Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19: 6, 15-17)

 

Lord, grant us strength of purpose that we may faithfully bear our crosses each day.

Lord Jesus, as I walk in your steps, please bring an end to the COVID 19 Pandemic.  Amen.

May God Be Praised!

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

 

Sixth Station: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly.  (John 19: 1-3)

Lord, grant me patience in these times of suffering that I may offer my life as a sacrifice of praise.

Lord Jesus, as I walk in your steps, please bring an end to the COVID 19 Pandemic.   Amen.

May God Be Praised!

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Lord,
grant us your sense of righteousness
that we may never cease to work
to bring about the justice of the kingdom that you promised.

Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged by Pilate

The chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." The chief priests accused him of many things. 

Again Pilate questioned him, "Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of." Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.... Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barrabas... [and] handed [Jesus] over to be crucified.
(Mark 15: 1-5, 15)

Lord, grant us discernment that we may see as you see, not as the world sees.

Lord Jesus, as I walk in your steps, please bring an end to the COVID 19 Pandemic.  Amen.

May God Be Praised!

Scriptural Stations of the Cross

These Stations of the Cross are based on the scriptures as celebrated by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday 1991. They are shared as an aid for Lenten reflecting on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

FOURTH STATION

Lamentations 1: 12

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=lamentations+1%3A12&version=NABRE

JESUS MEETS HIS SORROWFUL MOTHER

I adore you, O Christ, and I bless you.

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world

Jesus speaks to you: I have just seen Mary. I wished for a second that she and I could have been spared that meeting. Do you tend to avoid your loved ones, and they you, in times of crisis? Some spend a lifetime shielding their deepest selves from their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons and daughters. In the end, this will fail, because your death exposes your weakness to your loved ones as nothing in life could.   Why wait until death or desperation to “meet” your loved ones? Share with them your most profound aspirations, joys, fears and troubles before the opportunities are gone.   Just as my Father gives you the grace to face loved ones when all hope seems lost, so He gives them the grace to cope not only with your pain but theirs as well. Lord Jesus, as I walk in your steps, please bring an end to the COVID 19 Pandemic. May God Be Praised!

Third Station: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin

I adore you, O Christ, and I bless you.

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us," but he replied to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. 

But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied to them, "You say that I am." Then they said, "What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth."  (Luke 22: 66-71)

 

Lord, grant us your sense of righteousness that we may never cease to work to bring about the justice of the kingdom that You promised and help us to walk in Your steps.

May God Be Praised!

 Scriptural Stations of the Cross

These Stations of the Cross are based on the scriptures as celebrated by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday 1991. They are shared as an aid for Lenten reflecting on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Second Station: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested

I adore you, O Christ, and I bless you.

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Then, while [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.  His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, "the man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely."

He came and immediately went over to him and said, "Rabbi."   
And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him.
(Mark 14: 43-46)

Lord,
grant us the courage of our convictions
that our lives may faithfully reflect the good news you bring and help us to walk in your steps.

May God Be Praised!

Thanksgiving for deliverance  [Excerpts from Psalm 107 & a Reflection on COVID 19]

 

Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress
and he led them along the right way
to reach a city they could dwell in.

Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for people.
For he satisfies the thirsty soul;
he fills the hungry with good things.

Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress.
He led them forth from darkness and gloom
and broke their chains [the chains of COVID 19] to pieces.

Then they cried to the Lord in their need

and he rescued them from their distress.

He stilled the storm to a whisper:
all the waves of the sea were hushed.
They rejoiced because of the calm
and he led them to the haven they desired.

Psalm Prayer

You fill the hungry with good things, Lord God, and break the sinner’s chains. Hear your people who call to you in their need and lead your Church from the shadows of death. Gather us from sunrise to sunset, that we may grow together in faith and love and give lasting thanks for your kindness.

Ant. Those who love the Lord will see and rejoice; they will understand his loving kindness.

The people of God welcome the light.
– So that all may see that God’s deeds are true.

As we pray for an end to the COVID 19 Pandemic in our nation and in our world, may we use our time sequestered to renew family life and our prayer life. 

When the crisis ends may we take any good we have accomplished and weave it into our daily life.

May each person and family who has suffered illness and/or death during this pandemic experience the Lord’s care and love.

One day each one of us will experience God’s eternal love, when every tear will be wiped away and death will be no more.

May God Be Praised.

Tomorrow we resume our Scripture Stations Way of the Cross, consider offering up your prayer time with the Stations for the strengthening of family life in our nation, and an end to the COVID 19 Pandemic.