- Matthew 28:1-6 -
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary
Magdalene
and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down
from
heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His
appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The
guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you
are
looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just
as
he said. Come and see the place where he lay."
___________________________________________________________
Jesus' resurrection is the key to the Christian faith. Why? (1) Just as he
promised, Jesus rose from the dead. We can be confident, therefore, that
he
will accomplish all he has promised. (2) Jesus' bodily resurrection shows
us
that the living Christ is ruler of God's eternal Kingdom, not a false
prophet or impostor. (3) We can be certain of our resurrection because he
was resurrected. Death is not the end - there is a future life. (4) The
power that brought Jesus back to life is available to us to bring our
spiritually dead selves back to life. (5) The resurrection is the basis
for
the church's witness to the world. Jesus is more than just a human leader
-
he is the Son of God.
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March 25th - Dismas the Good Thief (RM)
1st century.
The Good Thief, who was crucified with Christ on Calvary, was given the
name Dismas; the other thief is known as Gestas (Luke 23:39-42). A popular
myth during the Middle Ages in the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy said that
the two thieves held up the Holy Family on their flight into Egypt. In
this
tale, Dismas bought off Gestas with forty drachmas to leave them
unmolested,
whereupon the Infant Jesus predicted that they would be crucified with him
in Jerusalem and that Dismas would accompany him to paradise. Tradition
assumes that because Jesus told Dismas: "Today you will be with me in
Paradise," his salvation was assured and he could therefore be invoked as
a
saint. Because so little is known of Saint Dismas-not even his name, which
means "dying"-perhaps the Mass for his feast can give us some insights.
Introit: Psalm 130:6: "My soul waited for the Lord, more than the night
watchmen wait for the dawn." Psalm 121:1, "I rejoiced when I heard them
say,
'Let us go up to the house of the Lord.'"
Reading from Ezekiel 33:11-12: "I am living says the Lord. It is not the
death of the sinner that I want. What I want is that he be converted, and
that he live. Be converted, be converted, change your way of life! And why
would I condemn you to die? Let the prophet say to his people: 'The just
are
just in vain, for it is not his justice which will save him, if one day he
sin. And it is not for his sin that the sinner will be judged, if one day
he
is converted.'"
Gospel from Luke 23:39-43 [RSV]: "One of the criminals who were hanged
railed at him, saying, `Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But
the other rebuked him, saying, `Do you not fear God, since you are under
the
same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving
the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' And he
said, `Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' And he said to
him, `Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'"
Communion antiphon: "Happy is he who sees his debts paid, and whose sins
are
forgiven! Happy is the man whom the Lord does not punish as he deserves,
and
who does not try to defraud him" (Psalm 31:1-2) (Attwater2, Benedictines,
Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer).
In art, Dismas is represented as carrying his cross immediately behind
Christ in pictures of the Harrowing of Hell. He may also be shown (1)
crucified at Christ's right hand, or (2) ****d, holding his cross, often
with his hand on his heart to signify penitence (Roeder). Dismas is the
patron of criminals, condemned men, and thieves (Farmer, Roeder).
From:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0325.shtml
Quote:
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a
difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be
done.
(Franciscan blessing)
Bible Quote:
Woe to the worthless shepherd that leaveth the flock! The sword shall be
upon his arm, and upon his right eye; his arm shall be clean dried up, and
his right eye utterly darkened. Zech 11:17
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Today is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is
the great festival of the Incarnation, commemorating the announcement by
the
Archangel Gabriel to Our Lady that the Divine Son of God, the Word, would
take human nature upon Him in her virginal womb. Its date is determined
by
that of Christmas Day, and as the day which marked the beginning of
Christian dispensation it was for many centuries regarded as the first day
of the civil year.
On this day the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, uniting
forevermore
our human nature to the Divine nature. The Mystery of the Incarnation
brings vividly before us the boundless condescension and humility of God
the
Son in stooping to our condition in order to be our Saviour. Equally it
proclaims the glory and greatness of Mary, who was chosen to give to the
Divine Word human flesh and human birth, and so to co-operate with God in
the restoration of mankind. Hence her most glorious title of "Mother of
God," which explains all her glories, her sanctity and her honor.
(Taken from the New Marian Missal)
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OH MY GOD
I thank You for all the favors You have given me. I give
You thanks from the bottom of my heart for having
created me, for all the joys of life and it's sorrows too-
for the home you gave me-for the loved ones with
which you have surrounded me-for the friends I have
made through life, my Lord God. I thank You for
guarding me always and keeping me safe. I thank You
for forgiving me so often in the Sacrament of Penance.
For offering Yourself in the Holy Mass with all of Your
infinite merits to the Father for me.
For coming to me in Holy Communion in spite of the
coldness of my welcome. For Your patience waiting in
the adorable sacrament of the Altar.
My Jesus I thank You for having lived, suffered and died
for me. I thank You Lord for preparing a place for me in
Heaven where I hope to be happy with You and to thank
You for all eternity. Amen.
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