AD SENSE

Holy Week -3: Mystery of the Cross

Mystery of the Cross

*(R) Redeem us, Lord, and make us redeemers by the mystery of the Cross*
1)         Living the example of Jesus Christ, fidelity to our commitment as religious/Christians, will lead to the cross. Jesus himself told us that following him is reduced to three things: letting go ourselves, taking up our cross, and following him (Lk 9 23). The cross is not merely a possibility in religious life, or even a probability; it is an inevitabili­ty.

Wednesday of Holy Week, Apr 8th

Isaiah 50:4-9 / Matthew 26:14-25 
Jesus speaks about his betrayer: Judas said, “Surely it is not I?”

Judas was able to conceal his plan from the other disciples, but he wasn’t able to conceal it from Jesus. And this allows us to see how Jesus deals with sinners. One of the greatest mysteries of life is the tremendous respect God has for the free will of people. Jesus didn’t force sinners to change their lives. Rather, he invited them to change. He appealed to them to change. At every step of the way, Jesus dealt the same way with Judas. He made Judas the treasurer of the group. He invited him to eat the Last Supper, just as he did the others.

Tuesday of Holy Week, Apr 7

Isaiah 49:1-6 / John 13:21-33, 36-38 
Jesus talks about betrayal: The disciples were amazed at Jesus’ words.

The surprising thing about Judas’ plan to betray Jesus is that the other disciples had no idea of it. How could they have lived so close to Judas and been so blind to what was going on in his mind? There are two lessons here.

COVID – Prayer-16: God of our Hope

Lord, our God, 

We dream of a life no longer merely endured but enjoyed, no longer imposed but in-born, no longer coveted but creative, no longer feared but loved. And, Lord, these days, we continue to experience a life that is limited and conditioned. Our hands, called to open, stay closed. Our homes invited to welcome, stay shut. Our churches designed to praise and worship, are silenced. Our hearts remain frozen, O Lord, with fear and anxiety. No, our road leads not to the penetrating sweep of the light of day, but to choking, stifling night, we fear, O Lord.

Holy Week -2 Meditation: Jesus Emptied


I look at the crucified Lord here and in life. I see him stripped of everything:

*-Stripped of dignity*, naked before his friends and enemies...

*-Stripped of all his possessions*: I remember the times when people wanted just to touch the fringe of his garments.

COVID – Prayer-15: Living by the True Realities of Life

Dear Lord, our God,

As we go through the news of the ravages COVID has created in our world, in our neighbourhoods and in our lives, we console ourselves through the words of our spiritual leader Pope Francis who said, “God has not promised us a sky without storms, roads without accidents, bodies without illnesses, work without fatigue, relationships without misunderstandings and disappointments.” You ask us to learn to find strength in forgiveness, hope in battles, security in the stage of fear, love in discord. You teach us not only to enjoy the smile, but also to reflect on the sadness, not only to celebrate the successes, but to learn lessons from the failures, not only to feel happy with the applause, but to be happy in anonymity. Being happy is not a fatality of destiny, but an achievement for those who can travel within themselves. Blessed be God for these lessons. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Monday of Holy Week, Apr 6th

Isaiah 42:1-7 / John 12:1-11 
Judas criticizes Mary: “Why was this oil not sold?”

William Barclay says of Judas’ reaction to Mary’s anointing of the feet of Jesus: “Judas had just seen an action of surpassing loveliness; and he called it extravagant waste. He was an embittered man who took an embittered view of things.” Judas’ reaction illustrates an important fact: “We see things not as they are, but as we are.” H. M. Tomlinson

Holy Week-1: Jesus –Broken

 Into our broken world you came, Lord Jesus. You embraced our darkness, even though you are pure light.

COVID – Prayer-14: Waiting for the Lord’s Time

Dear Lord, our God,

These days, we have been waiting for the lock-down to be lifted, so that we can travel freely, explore the streets and stores, meet with friends and family and continue to catch up with our commitments, assignments and exams. Sometimes, Lord, this waiting has been difficult, worrisome, exhausting and frustrating.

COVID – Prayer-13: Change in Our Lives

Lord, our God,

You have asked us to get into a “Noah’s Ark” these days, an ark that was made according to a particular size, design, shape and material. We were asked to make a journey of uncertain length, floating in unknown waters, not knowing where it would go and when it would end and how we would survive. We were only asked to trust in the Lord. Forty days and forty nights it rained, the winds swayed and tossed the boat like a toy in the turbulent waters. We were only asked to trust in the Lord.