These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:6b-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033124.cfm
May the peace of the Risen Lord be with you always! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!! Alleluia, alleluia!!!
On entering the tomb the women saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’” Then they went out and fled from the tomb, seized with trembling and bewilderment. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mk 16:1-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033024.cfm
The women said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. End of gospel. That’s probably the strangest ending to a gospel ever. Of course, what the gospel writer intends is for us, the hearers of the gospel, to go and complete the mission: to go and tell the Good News! And so, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!! Alleluia, alleluia!!!
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. (Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032924.cfm
He gives himself for us—what wondrous love!
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (1 Cor 11:23-26)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032824-Supper.cfm
The oldest account of the Lord’s Supper is not from the gospels, but rather from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. And as the Lord asks, we still take bread and wine and celebrate the meal he left us. We still remember how he loved us to the end. And we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes again.
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. (Mt 26:14-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032724.cfm
Traditionally called Spy Wednesday, today’s gospel points out that it was one of the Twelve that betrayed the Lord. Of course, we all recognize that we too are capable of an equal betrayal, and yet we still are loved infinitely.
