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Men of Epiphany will be meeting this Saturday, March 31st, 6:30 a.m. in the Hearth room. If you can make it, this study is a marvelous preparation for each week's Mass readings.

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Obedience to God, The Path to Greater Freedom, Joy, and New Life

Sunday, April 1, 2007
Palm Sunday
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22:8-9,17-20,23-24
Philippians 2:6-11
Luke 22:14–23:56

Click here for readings  (For quick review only; bring your Bible)

Among all the sights, sounds, and smells of our liturgies during Holy Week, one image will overshadow all the others: Jesus Christ crucified. What comes to mind when you look at the cross? Love? Redemptive suffering? Mercy? Salvation? What about obedience? The cross is the greatest sign we will ever have of perfect, loving obedience to the will of God.

Jesus spent his entire time on earth living in humble obedience. He obeyed his parents (Luke 2:51). He obeyed God’s call to public ministry (Matthew 3:14-15). He was obedient to God in times of trial and temptation (John 12:27-28). He spent time with his Father in prayer so that he might know and obey the Father’s will (Luke 6:12-13). Obedience was not always easy for Jesus—just think about his struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. But Jesus constantly relied on the Holy Spirit’s power and so won the victory of obedience: his resurrection into glory!

Do you want a summary of all the readings for today—and of the whole gospel? It’s this: Obedience to God always brings about exaltation. Jesus passed through death to new life because of his obedience, and he has paved a way for all of us to experience the same death-to-life transformation.

As we meditate on the death and resurrection of Jesus this Holy Week, let’s especially focus on the glorious victory that Jesus won for us by his reverent submission to God. Let’s allow the promise of the gospel to move us to imitate Jesus’ life of obedience. Of course it will entail suffering at times, but it will also bring deeper intimacy with Jesus and greater freedom and joy. Let’s be confident that every time we obediently die to self, our Father will bring us to new life.

“Jesus, how awesome are your humility and obedience! Help me to follow your example of obedient love and so share in your glory, both here and in heaven.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1.    In the Gospel at the procession with palms, we read of the crowd’s joy and celebration at Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem on Sunday. By Friday, much of this same crowd was to turn against him. In what ways can your own relationship with Christ be like a “fair weather” friend? What steps can you do to strengthen your relationship with Jesus?

 

2.    The first reading provides us with one of the many prophecies in Isaiah on the suffering Christ would endure for us. It also speaks of a well-trained tongue the Lord has given Isaiah to “speak to the weary a word that will rouse them” (Isaiah 50:4). What steps can you take to train your tongue to speak words of comfort to the weary you encounter during the day?

3.    Again in the Responsorial Psalm, we find words foretelling Christ’s suffering. As in the first reading, even in the midst of his suffering, he prays to and honors God. What are some of the reasons, listed in the first reading and the Responsorial Psalm, that enables him to do this? How do you handle suffering and misfortune in your own life? What can you learn from the first reading and the Responsorial Psalm that will help to strengthen you in times of suffering?

4.    In the letter to the Philippians, St. Paul says that Christ “emptied himself” of his rights as God to save us. Do you tend to stand on your “rights” in your relationships with others? In order to serve and save others, what might God be asking you to empty yourself of?

5.    In Luke’s version of the passion narrative, at supper the disciples are arguing about which of them is the greatest. Christ gives them himself as an example: “I am among you as the one who serves”. In imitation of Christ, how might you be of more loving service to others in your family, or in your parish, or at work?

6.    In the garden, Jesus asks his disciples to pray with him? What steps can you take during Holy Week to spend extra time with Christ in prayer and Scripture reading?

7.    In the meditation, we are told that our obedience to Christ “will entail suffering at times, but it will also bring deeper intimacy with Jesus and greater freedom and joy.” Why do you think this is so?

Come Holy Spirit!  ~  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and en kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. Let us pray: O God, you taught the hearts of your faithful by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit. In that same spirit give us your right judgment and the joy of your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer to St. Joseph  ~  Glorious St. Joseph, guide and protector of the Holy Family, we ask that you obtain for us from your son, Jesus, the strength and wisdom to lead our families to their Father in heaven. Most Chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we imitate your obedience to the will of God and be ever mindful of the vocation to which we have been called. Amen