THE GREAT EASTER VIGIL.

THE WOMEN GAVE THE NEWS OF THE RESURRECTION TO THE APOSTLES BUT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THEM.


THE GOSPEL:
"After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

And behold, there was a great earthquake;
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
His appearance was like lightning
and his clothing was white as snow.

The guards were shaken with fear of him
and became like dead men.

Then the angel said to the women in reply,
“Do not be afraid!
I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.

He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.

Come and see the place where he lay.

Then go quickly and tell his disciples,
‘He has been raised from the dead,
and he is going before you to Galilee;

there you will see him.’

Behold, I have told you.”
Then they went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce this to his disciples.

And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.

They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28: 1 - 10).


Saturday April 4th, Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter. 

My brothers and sisters, we celebrate tonight the Great Easter Vigil.

The Church allover the world will be trembling with excitement and joy when the great Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) rings out.

I want to offer for our reflection some key truths from the Easter Proclamation:

#1 "This is our Passover feast, when Christ, the true lamb is slain, whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers."

#2 "What good would life have been to us if Christ had not come as our Redeemer?"

#3 "The power of this holy night dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy; it casts out hatred, brings us peace and humbles earthly pride."

#4 "Therefore heavenly Father, in the joy of this night, receive our evening sacrifice of praise, your Church's offering."

#5 "May the Morning Star which never sets find this flame still burning:

Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead, and shed his peaceful light on all mankind, your Son who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen."

This is our Passover Feast.

“God raised up Jesus, freeing him from the pains of death” (Acts 2:24).

In April, the Church honors the Most Holy Eucharist.

The Church teaches:
“The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life." (CCC 1324).

My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink says the Lord. 

“Since Christ Himself has said, ‘This is My Body,’ who shall dare to doubt that it is His Body?” (St Cyril of Jerusalem).


For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:


http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

GOOD FRIDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION AND DEATH.

GOOD FRIDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION AND DEATH. 

JESUS CHRIST WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR SINS. 

“Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”

So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak.

And Pilate said to them,

“Behold, the man!”

"When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out,

“Crucify him, crucify him!”

"Pilate said to them,

“Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.”

 (The Passion of the Lord according to St John). 

Friday 3rd March 2025, Good Friday of the Lord's Passion. 

The Jewish leaders see the death of Jesus on the Cross as the execution of a criminal.  

“If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”

In truth and in reality, 

"But he was pierced for our sins,

crushed for our iniquity.

He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed." (Isaiah 52: 5).

How do you see the death of Jesus on the Cross?

"It is love "to the end" that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He knew and loved us all when he offered his life. Now "the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died." (CCC 616).

We adore You O Christ and worship You because of Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

In April, the Church honors the Most Holy Eucharist. 

The Church teaches:

“The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life." (CCC 1324). 

My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink says the Lord. 

“Since Christ Himself has said, ‘This is My Body,’ who shall dare to doubt that it is His Body?” (St Cyril of Jerusalem). 

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

HOLY THURSDAY - THE BEGINNING OF THE EASTER TRIDUUM.

HOLY THURSDAY. THE BEGINNING OF THE EASTER TRIDUUM. 

"Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. 

"The ­devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.

"So, during supper, ­fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.

 He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured ­water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 

"He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” 

"Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus ­answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no ­inheritance with me.”

"Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

"So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, 

“Do you realize what I have done for you?

 You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. 

I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (John 13: 1- 15).

Thursday  April 2, 2026, Holy Thursday, Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. The beginning of the Holy TRIDUUM. 

Jesus gives us a new commandment this evening: 

 

"Love one another as I have loved you." (John 13: 34). 

This new commandment is now enfleshed in an unforgettable Example.

 Consider for a moment the power of example, testimony and biography.

 The three which are synonymous are unparalleled way of teaching. It works for kids. It works for their parents.

Today is Holy Thursday. 

 According to ancient tradition, the Church celebrates this evening the Mass of the Last Supper. 

When Jesus celebrated the first Mass at the Last Supper, the Apostles did not understand what He was doing. 

 The narrative of today's Gospel is dominated by the event of the washing of the feet of the apostles, an event so significant that it was incorporated into the Holy Thursday liturgy from ancient times.  

What does this event mean for us?

Jesus the Lord and Teacher of the Apostles just washed the dirty feet of the astounded Apostles and then called it an example. 

Whose feet will you prefer to wash?

"If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.

  I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."  (John 13: 14 - 15).

In April, the Church honors the Most Holy Eucharist. 

The Church teaches:

“The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life." (CCC 1324). 

My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink says the Lord. 

“Since Christ Himself has said, ‘This is My Body,’ who shall dare to doubt that it is His Body?” (St Cyril of Jerusalem). 

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

THE PRICE OF BETRAYAL.

JUDAS ACCEPTED 30 PIECES OF SILVER TO BETRAY JESUS.

Gospel:

"One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,

went to the chief priests and said,

“What are you willing to give me

if I hand him over to you?”

They paid him thirty pieces of silver,

and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,

the disciples approached Jesus and said,

“Where do you want us to prepare

for you to eat the Passover?”

He said,

“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,

‘The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near;

in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”

The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,

and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening,

he reclined at table with the Twelve.

And while they were eating, he said,

“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Deeply distressed at this,

they began to say to him one after another,

“Surely it is not I, Lord?”

He said in reply,

“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me

is the one who will betray me.

The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,

but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.

It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”

Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,

“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”

He answered, “You have said so.” (Matthew 26: 14 - 25). 

On Wednesday of the Holy Week 2026, the word of God presents for our reflection: Sin, Betrayal and Repentance. 

The word "Betrayal" is used in today's Gospel, Matthew 26: 14 - 25 six times.  

You may call it:  Betrayal Wednesday in Holy Week. 

 What do you think of the mystery of sin and betrayal? 

Every single sin is a betrayal of Jesus.  

The question is:

What is your price? What is it that you love and prefer to Jesus?

Money, Power or Pleasure? 

Your answer is the price you ask for your  betrayal of Jesus. 

Awake, O sinner, and arise from your sleep, and Christ will give you light.  (Cf Ephesians 5: 14)

We enter a brand new month on Wednesday: APRIL. 

In April, the Church honors the Most Holy Eucharist. 

The Church teaches:

“The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life." CCC 1324. 

St Thomas Aquinas, OP is the preeminent Doctor of the Church on the Eucharist. He teaches:

“The Eucharist is the true Passover, in which Christ, the true Lamb, is sacrificed for our sins, and His body and blood are given to us as food and drink, for our spiritual nourishment and redemption.”

In the Eucharist, 

therefore, there is present in a 

sacramental way, that is, under the 

Eucharistic species of bread and wine, 

Christ whole and entire, God and Man."

My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink says the Lord. 

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

Share this reflection. 

BETRAYAL TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK.

HOLY WEEK - BETRAYAL TUESDAY. 

THE GOSPEL:

"Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, 

“Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 

"The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. 

One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. 

"So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. 

He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?”

"Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.”

 So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot.

 After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.

"So Jesus said to him,

“What you are going to do, do quickly.” 

Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. 

Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, 

“Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor.

 So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

"When he had left, Jesus said,

 “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. 

"My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.

 You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

"Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” 

Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.”

"Peter said to him, 

“Master, why can I not follow you now?

 I will lay down my life for you.”

 

Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.” (John 13: 21 - 33, 36 - 38).

Tuesday 31st March 2026 in Holy Week.

Our Gospel of today is the beginning of the Last Supper Discourse. 

The foreboding events of the next 24 hours weighed heavily on Jesus.

 Jesus is 100% Man and 100% God. 

The human part of His nature dreaded the agony in the garden, the brutal interrogations with curses, slaps and spitles. The crowning with thorns and the dreadful flagellations. The Crucifixion! The betrayals and abandonment by His disciples. 

Jesus shares His groomy ruminations with His friends:

 “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Three of the disciples are mentioned by name in this segment of the Last Supper Discourse:

#1. Judas, the traitor. Architect of evil. 

#2. The simplistic and over confident Peter.

#3. John the Evangelist simply described as "the one whom Jesus loved."

Why did Judas and Peter betray Jesus?

 Perhaps the more important question is: Why did Peter repent and Judas did not?

Why do some Christians hear the call to come to Jesus in the Sacrament of Penance and respond and why do others hear and not respond?

Every sin is a betrayal. Every recourse to the Sacrament of Reconciliation is acting like Peter.

 Every refusal to accept reconciliation and healing is being a Judas.

My friend, do not say your sin is a small one. Christ Jesus died for sin. Not for big sin or small sin.

 Every big sin starts from a small sin.

Sow a thought and you reap a word. Sow the word and you reap an action or deed. Sow the deeds continuously and you reap a character. Your Character is your destiny.

Judas was treasurer of the group.

"Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor."

Judas helped himself little by little from the purse.

The opportunity for last Reconciliation before Easter might be right now. 

Joseph is honored by the Church throughout MARCH. 

St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.

St. Teresa of Avila’s Testimony:

 "I do not remember that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant."

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/05/devotion-to-st-joseph.html?m=1

MARY OF BETHANY ANOINTS THE FEET OF JESUS.

MARY OF BETHANY ANOINTS THE FEET OF JESUS. 

"Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 

"They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. 

"Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus 

and dried them with her hair;

 the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 

"Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, 

“Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?”

 He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. 

"So Jesus said,

 “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. 

You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

"The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 

"And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him." (John 12: 1 - 11).

Monday 30th March 2026, Monday of Holy Week.

In six days, it will be the Passover.

 Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, His very good friends.

Why?

 Perhaps to enjoy one last good meal and wine in Martha's Vineyard before His Passion. 

The star of the story today is not the matriarch, Martha whose hospitality is proverbial nor their apparently recluse brother, Lazarus.

The star is Mary who performed an outlandish gesture to demonstrate her love for Jesus. 

She broke a vial of what may be considered the very top line of precious and exquisite perfumes and poured the oozing aromatic liquid on the feet of Jesus and wiped the feet with her long hairs.

While some guests like Apostle Judas criticized this apparent waste, Jesus was very pleased and spoke up for Mary.

Who is Mary?

 Mary is the sister of Martha and Lazarus. 

They hail from the village of Bethany a couple of miles from Jerusalem. We want to focus here not on Mary of Bethany per se but on Mary, a type of the female who is a passionate follower of Jesus who is marked by the following characteristics:

#1 Absolute and radical commitment to a person or vision.

#2 Total self-giving.

#3 Deep consecration (set apart) to Jesus and His cause.

Consider the following female saints who fit this profile:

+ Mary of Nazareth, the Mother of the Son.

+ Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles.

+ Margaret Mary, the Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

+ Mary Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy.

We are today in Holy Week 2026.

 Where are you in the Journey of knowing Jesus more intimately so that you can love Him more passionately and follow Him everywhere?

You can catch up in one Week. Trust Jesus, the Miracle Worker. Nothing is impossible for God! 

I share below a powerful inspiration I received from the SENDING FORTH Song at the Mass of the Passion of the LORD.

"ABIDE WITH ME,

REMAIN HERE WITH ME,

WATCH AND PRAY,

WATCH AND PRAY." 

This may be the theme for Holy Week. 

THE CHURCH HONORS ST JOSEPH IN THE MONTH OF MARCH. 

St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/05/devotion-to-st-joseph.html?m=1

 

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST.

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION. 

GOSPEL: Matthew 26:14—27:66. 

BEHOLD SATAN WILL SIFT YOU LIKE WHEAT. 

“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat,  but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22: 31 - 32).

Sunday 29th March 2026 is Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.

We remember Christ's Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem to accomplish His mission through the Cross.

Just as Satan was given permission to sift Job in the Old Testament like wheat, Satan has again been given permission to sift Simon Peter. Yes. To sift you and me like wheat.

 Our most merciful Savior and Teacher has prayed for us and has given us a cheat sheet to pass this test.

“Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.” Jesus said. (Luke 22: 46).

Your cheat sheet from the Master is: STOP SLEEPING AND PRAY.

Jesus taught that Prayer is a vital necessity. 

While Jesus never taught that we WORK Always,  Jesus asks us to pray always. 

St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church teaches that a Christian who does not pray is lost.

 A Christian who does not pray will not experience miracles. 

Of course the most merciful heart of Abba Father succours His children always. 

But only those who pray recognize these silent miracles.

 One of the signs of a dying faith is cessation of prayer in Christian life. 

 The Christian who does not pray cannot overcome temptations. 

He has a wide open door for Satan to tempt him in all sorts of ways.

Through the power of Prayer, Jesus is strengthened in His inner self and ready to embrace the will of His Father during His temptations, especially in His agony in the Garden. 

"Father, if this chalice cannot pass without my drinking it, your will be done." (Matthew 26: 42).

The Church honors St Joseph in March.

 St Joseph was chosen like Abraham for a very big job. 

Let us always go to Joseph with confidence for all our needs. 

Litany of the Silent Provider:

 * Guardian of the Redeemer, Pray for us.

 * Protector of the Virgin, Pray for us.

 * Model of Artisans, Pray for us.

 * Terror of Demons, Pray for us.

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/05/devotion-to-st-joseph.html?m=1

 

THE PLAN TO KILL JESUS.

THE PLAN TO KILL JESUS. 

THE GOODNEWS:

"Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. 

"But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 

"So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, 

“What are we going to do? 

This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” 

"But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 

“You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.”

 He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.

 So from that day on they planned to kill him.

"So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.

"Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. 

They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area,

 “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?” (John 11: 45 - 56).

Saturday 28th March 2026 of the 5th Week in Lent. 

We are on the Eve of Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. 

The plot to kill Jesus has thickened at this point. 

Who wants to kill Jesus and who will benefit most from His disappearance from the religious-political scene?

“You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” (John 11: 49 - 50).

This is the voice of the High Priest, Caiaphas. 

He provides a powerful motive for the criminal conspiracy. The fate of Jesus is sealed.

The plan of the Father for the salvation of the world has taken a definitive path to victory.

 Is God the Father incapable of stopping the execution of His beloved Son Jesus? Or to stop all the evils in the world? 

Just one word from the Father will change everything.

"In the most mysterious way God the Father has revealed his almighty power in the voluntary humiliation and Resurrection of his Son, by which he conquered evil." (CCC 272).

The Cross has been ordained by the Father from eternity to be the means of our Salvation. 

No Cross, No Crown. No Trials. No Triumph.

As we enter the most holy Week of the year, we pray for the grace to understand the meaning of the Cross in our lives.

May God open our mind and heart to the mysterious designs of His Divine Providence. 

THE CHURCH HONORS ST JOSEPH IN MARCH. 

St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.

Joseph proves that "Adversity is an opportunity for God to be glorified." 

His flight to Egypt was not a defeat, but a strategic move directed by the Holy Spirit.

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/05/devotion-to-st-joseph.html?m=1