Mary’s Lifetime of Hours

I am His Mother.  Thirty-four years ago I said “Yes” to the Father’s plan of salvation. I have been faithful, have loved and nourished my little one, even as I knew I must suffer.  (Luke 2:34-35)  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His Mother, ”Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel and for a sign to be opposed… and a sword will pierce even your own soul… to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Joseph and I thought we had lost him when he was twelve, but he was teaching in the temple.  He knew his mission. “How is it that you sought me?  Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?” (Lk2:49)  We did not understand, but you came back with us to Nazareth and I kept all these things in my heart.

 Learning your earthly father’s carpentry skill and my Hebrew teaching the lessons of the Torah were sufficient for you until you were about thirty.  At Cana you knew your hour was not yet; still you changed water into wine so the young couple being married would not be embarrassed.  I am glad I asked you for this favor; I knew you would do whatever I asked.  Jesus always thought of the welfare of others- especially he wanted them to enjoy eternal life with the Father. 

To see Jesus suffer now is hard. In silence and prayer we are joined; I walk with him on this final journey.  “At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping.  Close to Jesus to the last.” (4th Station of the Cross)

Even on the cross He thinks of others.  Knowing my loss would make me inconsolable, He gives John to me and me to John.  I will be mother to the entire human race, to continue his work of making the Father known to all.

For the last time I will wrap my arms around his lifeless body, yet believing in three days He will rise again.  In his death lies the promise of life; in His Death and Resurrection lies our redemption.  Death is healing; I understand; I believe.  Jesus, my Son, I love you.

“Give your hearts to my Son, all emptied, thirsting, and turned solely toward him, wholly unoccupied with yourself.  You have met him many times, but you did not know it, because your anxieties, and thoughts were not concerned with this unique love.  Oh, how sad it is for my Son to seek with so great a desire a loving look from one who remains distracted, dreaming, or even laughing with the foolishness and dissipation of the world.”  Mother Marie des Douleurs

Judas’ Hour of Betrayal

My interior voice resounds with my own importance; my own knowledge is superior as to what the Messiah is to be.  I am responsible for the money; money is power and surely Jesus must realize he is to overthrow the dominance of Rome so Israel can prosper.  I will have a key role in governing then; worldly glory, power, riches, fame will be mine.  He has done other than what I expect; I have used so much of my energy defending my position here.  What does Jesus mean to need him in our hour of sorrow?  Bah on mercy and forgiveness; Rome is not going to fall for that outlook.  My pride too will not fall for that steel trap.

Today the die is cast.  A woman comes and anoints Jesus with precious oil. Why?  One could feed many people for what she spent on oil.  She must have spent thirty pieces of silver, and for what?  Love she says; I anoint him because he is going to suffer and die for my sins.

No, I will go to the authorities; I will make plans to turn Jesus over to the authorities.  We will see how loving and merciful he is when he is scourged, humiliated, or even killed. Soon we will go to the Passover Feast.  I will be given a seat of honor next to the Master.  He will recline his head on my breast.  I am the perfect actor, perfect hypocrite.  No one will suspect what I have done. “ Surely, it is not I, Rabbi? (Mt26:25)   

Well maybe Jesus will know of my betrayal- he always seems to know the desires of the heart. It will be dark, and there should be little light to highlight my misdeeds.  Let us see if he is a light to the world.

I will accept his morsel of bread as his friend, his companion, not realizing all this is in God’s plan. It was prophesized, “Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me. (Ps41:9)

Again and again Jesus offers me his love and mercy.  I justify my reasoning; I will offer Jesus to the authorities.  “The man I shall kiss is the one.” (Mt26:47-50)   A kiss, a sign of affection, has turned into a sign of betrayal. 

I have chosen my path.  My hour does not end well for me; I cannot acknowledge my sinfulness; I can only condemn myself.

“Judas is neither a master of evil nor the figure of demoniacal power of darkness but rather a sycophant who bows down before the anonymous changing moods and current fashion.  But it is precisely this anonymous voice that cried, “Away with him!  Crucify him!” (Pope Benedict XVI)

Peter’s Hour of the Cross

Around the campfire in the courtyard of Caiaphas I sit. Memories surface with each spark of fire; memories are buzzing like angry gnats. Memories disturb my uneasy being; I am quaking with fear of someone discovering who I am. It is something I also ask myself. Who am I? Is this my hour of suffering? I am thinking of self, not the Master, the one I profess to love. I call to mind the words I uttered not so long ago; “To whom can we turn? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn 6:68) My faith is wavering; the Master needs to see my presence, to feel my support and my love.

I remember Jesus coming to the boat to speak to the crowd; to urge me to put out the nets for a catch- of men not fish, he said. Are the guards here in the courtyard the men I am to show the Way to Jesus? I have not kept my eye on Jesus; I struggle again as I did on the water to reach him.

Those days were idyllic, simple. It was easy for me to follow Jesus; easy to listen to his words about his Father and him. The boat was on an even keel.

Now the waters are turbulent; I am afraid. I want to stop my ears from hearing his words of truth. “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own but the one who sent me, who you do not know, is true. I know him because I am from him and he sent me. (Jn 7:28) These are words of blasphemy to some; they are words of truth to believers.

Is my human nature in control of my thoughts and actions? I want the Spirit to revive my broken heart. Who is the real me, the real Peter? Is the real Peter the one who attempted to cut off the ear of the soldier in the garden? Is the real me the one only one who followed Jesus after his arrest, albeit at a distance? Is the real Peter the one who has been given a special task- to lead the flock of believers?

Will Jesus still love me with all my faults? Will he see what is inside me- see what is to be for me? This is my hope. This is why Jesus is before Caiaphas. This is why he shoulders all my faults as he goes up the hill to Calvary. Three times I will deny him- Jesus whom I love. He forgives me; he loves me. With his support, his grace, I can go forth to fulfill the purpose for which I was created.

Strength for the Journey

There is a road meant for you to travel. Narrow and steep is the shepherd’s way, and as you say, “Yes,” letting me guide you, I will be strength for the journey.

I will be, I will be, I will be strength for the journey . (Repeat chorus.)

There is a cross meant for you to carry. There is a cross meant for you alone, and as you bow down in humble surrender, I will be strength for the journey. Chorus

How many times have you doubted my word? How many times must I call your name? And as you say, “Yes,” letting me love you, I will be strength for the journey.

I will be, I will be, I will be strength for the journey. I will be, I will be, I will be strength for the journey.

Michael John Poirrier

“Lifting up” Moses, Jesus and Man

“Moses lifted the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life.” (Jn3:14-15)

The initiative for both Moses and Jesus in “lifting up” comes from God; God gave both men power to restore life to another. The initiative, the power, was generated by God’s love for man.  God himself is love; love is given over to another.

Moses’ lifting up has time restraints for man.  Jesus by His “lifting up” on the cross gives away power to man.  Man is given eternal life- the very life of God himself.  God’s love for man is from all time until all time.  Christ’s lifting up on the cross is the most visible expression of God’s love for man.  “And this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (Jn17:3)

Jesus’ power, Jesus’ love is one with God- real power, real love- love becoming powerful, encompassing heaven, earth, time, and eternity.  The power, the love, pours forth from the roots of the cross to lift man up from sin so man may believe and have eternal life.

Christ being lifted up on the cross is the radical gift of himself- the ultimate surrender in which nothing is held back- a total giving of self- the total self-giving face of God.  It is not a passive role; Christ does not merely bear with man; Christ identifies himself with man so that our sins belong to him and his entire being belong to us.  He accepts man and lifts man up so that man can be active with his support in continuing the love and work which he has shown on earth.  Then Christ is lifted up in His glory!

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Whenever a national event is televised, journalists and psychologists look for the precipitating event- an event which precedes and greatly motivates an action.  Matthew, Mark and Luke would have concluded driving out the money changers in the temple was the precipitating event of the Passion and Death of Jesus.  When money is taken away, when men are humiliated, men become angry and seek revenge.  It is the way of the world.  Jewish authorities probe Jesus for a sign of His authority.  His zeal they could not understand.  After all, this was only an area where Gentiles could come to pray.  Ah, human nature!  If one wants to deter another- to say they have no standing, selling animals in their sacred space is a way to discourage them.  Yes, Jesus is angry- not a passing human emotion, but a passion to set things right.  His Father’s sacred place has become a mall where merchandise is exchanged, where love has no meaning.

John’s Gospel is the gospel of the Messiah- the gospel where one searches deeper to find truth.  John’s Gospel places the cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Christ’s ministry.  Probably Jesus attended the Passover in Jerusalem more than once; he was a devout Jew.  The event could be the precipitating event for the disciples understanding the meaning of Messiah.  His zeal is for His Father’s temple- the place He is to be found for Jews in the Old Testament; He is the Messiah; His zeal is that of the Messiah who is love for all men- both Jew and His cleansing is of the sin of human corruption- avarice, disrespect, hate. The temple He cleanses is man built; the Temple of His sacred Body is the one that will arise from the dead on the third day- the greatest event in human history.  It is the event the world will remember, whereby death leads to eternal life.  It is the event where man is able to become the living temple of the Lord.

Fallen human nature is cleansed to become a new creation-the temple of man’s heart is the place where God’s heart is; the zeal is the fire of the Holy Spirit entering and enlarging the heart of man, so man may be open to receiving God.  Now the heart can hear His words, know His love and both Jew and Gentile live in the peace of God.

No longer slaves to Egypt, no longer slaves to money, division, no more sacrifice of sheep and oxen, Christ the Messiah has entered the temple of the world to become the new Jerusalem, the new perfet high priest, and man is given the Word of Life.  To Him do all men come to pray, to have sins washed away, to have hearts become hearts of love whereby He might dwell, for man to continue the work He has shown to man.