Panis Angelicus

On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the institution of the Holy Eucharist. John's Gospel says that Jesus, "having loved those who were his in the world, loved them to the end."
Yes, the Holy Eucharist, Jesus' real presence is the greatest expression of Jesus' love for us, "the Bread of the Angels, made the bread of men".



English translation of the Latin text:
Bread of Angels,
made the bread of men;
The Bread of heaven
puts an end to all symbols:
A thing wonderful!
The Lord becomes our food:
poor, a servant, and humble.
We beseech Thee,
Godhead One in Three
That Thou wilt visit us,
as we worship Thee,
lead us through Thy ways,
We who wish to reach the light
in which Thou dwellest.
Amen.

We are the reason

May these Holy days lead us to a deeper experience of the breadth, length, height and depth of God's love.
Why did Jesus not go down from the cross, despite the fact that He could have done so?
Because He knows that so many of us cannot go down from our crosses. So He stayed there, to be with us and to show us that He knows our sufferings, our weaknesses, our failures.
But it didn't end with the cross. He will rise again. And so shall we, too, if we carry our cross with Him.

Carrying the cross

The mere fact of carrying the cross is not what is important... Every people, every family has on its shoulders sorrows and burdens to bear. That which gives fullness of meaning to the cross is to carry it behind Jesus, not in a journey of anguished solitude, hopeless wandering or rebellion, but rather in a journey sustained and nourished by the presence of the Lord. (Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB)

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday Hosanna Triumphant Entry Church Video from RCCG VICTORY TEMPLE on Vimeo.

A portion of her joy

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, 'Make your request. What can I do for you before I am snatched away from you?' Elisha answered, 'Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.'

(2 Kings 2:9)

Today would have been my mother's 72nd birthday. I miss her. Her death was so sudden that we didn't even have time to prepare ourselves for it. But then, who is ever prepared for the death of a loved one?
She died nine years ago but to my mind and my heart she is still very much alive. Maybe it is a blessing that I've not seen her bedridden or confined to a hospital. She will always remain to me a happy and friendly person, always reaching out and trying to make people feel at ease, even those who were quite condescending towards her.

As I remember her today, I ask for a portion of her joy. A joy so authentic, that she has always radiated it in the most stressful and difficult situation. A joy so pure that she was never left without it even when people were indifferent and unkind.

Jesus teaches us to be merciful

Everything for our good

Everything is meant for our good: even sin.
Once we confront the sin in ourselves
there is no room for arrogance anymore,
no room to be judgmental of others.
Sin, if we admit it in ourself,
frees us to be kind, to be merciful, to be humble.

(Sr. Joan D. Chittister, OSB)