A fter the opening prayer and the reading of the Gospel, the Reflection begins with the topic Why and How Do We Bless Ourselves Before the Gospel is Read. Listen more to the homily.

Who does the world say I am? We hear this in the Gospel that is read as Jesus asks the question to His disciples. You who know me, what does the world say about me? There are many answers. Jesus then asks the disciples Who do you say I am? While many disciples do not answer or say anything, Peter answers and says Jesus is the Christ. Only Peter answers the Lord.

The Lord then says do not tell everyone. Why? Because knowledge of Jesus does not come from us. Jesus then tells His disciples who He is! Hear more within the Mission’s Reflection.

Jesus tells His disciples who He is . . . Jesus will be rejected, He will be condemned, He will be made to suffer, He will be put to death, and He will rise again on the third day. This is exactly who I (Jesus) am! This was not the answer anyone was ready to hear from the Lord. Hear more within the Mission Reflection.

Jesus again tells His disciples; He is the Christ. But you (His disciples) do not know what those words mean. That is why He says do not share this fact. You have the right words, but you lack an understanding. But you are missing the right spirit. You do not think as God does.

We (all of us) need more than the right words. We also need the right spirit. The key to knowing the Lord, is The Cross. Without that understanding, one cannot know Jesus. You cannot understand me without understanding The Cross. The Spirit of Jesus Christ is one of self-denial and self-sacrifice.

The Great Summary to Follow Jesus Christ

The Great Summary to Follow Jesus Christ. The Lord does not tell us to pick up your cross and follow me. He tells us if you desire to come after me (be with me), deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me. Hear what that really means. Listen to The Wisdom of the Cross: Mission Day 1: One Cannot Know Jesus Without Understanding The Cross.

T he first night of this Mission began with a reflection on the sign one makes at the beginning of the proclamation of the Gospel. On the second night of the Mission, the reflection begins at the end of the proclamation of the Gospel. Hear more within the reflection.

The Gospel we hear tonight is The Passion of Christ, according to St. Luke. Sometimes Christians and non-Christians ask a simple question. Why did Jesus die? Some answer it was because of the hatred against Him. Others say it was the political environment of the Romans. But the simple fact is these are not the reasons. Jesus came into the world to suffer, sacrifice and die for our sins. He chose The Cross, even before His birth. Therefore, there is no engaging Jesus without also engaging The Cross.

The Cross is The Key

This is why it is so important, especially during the Lenten Season, to engage this great mystery . . . The Cross which is the key that unlocks the fullness and truth of Jesus Christ.

The Passion begins on Holy Thursday night, while He is in the Garden. The soldiers come at night, and He is ready . . . and He sees them coming. While He is ready, His close disciples crumble and abandon Him . . . and flee. Jesus is alone and He is taken. He is willing to stand before the unjust ruling of the world. The world, through Pilate, initially finds no guilt. Pilate states He committed no wrong. But ultimately, Jesus is found guilty . . . He is guilty of not being worth saving. Hear more of the opening of the Passion within this reflection.

After Pilate sentences Jesus to death, they bring out The Cross to Him. A large and heavy piece of wood is brought to the carpenter. The Cross is large, so much so that it takes multiple men to bring it to Jesus. Brought to Jesus to carry it . . . by Himself. He carries not only The Cross . . . but the guilt of every person whoever lived (past, present and future). The latter is much heavier. That’s The Cross. That’s the burden He bears.

Jesus Takes The Cross and Looks Toward Heaven

The reflection briefly talks about artwork for The Cross. Good artwork shows Jesus taking The Cross . . . Lifting up The Cross, with His eyes toward Heaven. Visualize Jesus Carrying The Cross. Listen to the sound of hammer and nail / spike as Jesus is crucified. Hear more within this reflection.

The Most Remarkable Statement Ever Uttered in the History of the Universe

After being sentenced, carrying The Cross, and after being nailed to The Cross, Jesus remarkably says nothing. After He is on The Cross, Jesus says What Jesus utters is remarkable. It may be the most remarkable statement ever uttered in the history of the universe. Nothing before this moment can compare. The Lord speaks after all the events and all the blows. He asks for a blessing for the guy who is swinging the hammer. Father, forgive them. Forgive him, because he does not know what he is doing. Listen to this greatest of all statements. This statement shows Who Jesus is . . . it is why The Cross is key to understanding and knowing Jesus.

The Two Thieves Have a Lesson For Our Own Spiritual Journey

Even the guys (the thieves) who died with Jesus. Two other guys lifted up their cross, and they follow Jesus. But lifting up your cross is not enough. Two men, but only one gets it right. It is not enough to just lift your cross. One must deny himself first, then carry your cross to follow Jesus. Two men, but only one gets it right.

These two men are important. In the entire history of the world, only these two men received this grace. Dying the same way, at the same time as Jesus. Only these two men received this grace. Going through it, they see the misery of their condemnation. Yet, Jesus is also condemned with them. Hear the lessons of the two thieves and its impact on our Spiritual Journey.

T he Gospel takes place largely on Easter Sunday night . . . and the following Sunday. The story also includes the disciples telling St. Thomas they have seen the Lord. St. Thomas says you did not. St. Thomas then says, unless I place my hand in His side, I will not believe.

The reflection begins with the words at the conclusion of the Gospel. Jesus did other things that are not written within this book. The Gospels were not written to merely gives us information. It isn’t a history book, though it is historical. Rather, these things have been written, so that you may believe. Listen more within the reflection.

The Gospel reading, at first glance, does not seem to have anything to do with The Cross. How could it? The timeline is Easter Sunday, and the following Sunday. Yet, the Gospel has everything to do with The Cross. Hear how the Gospel connects with The Cross.

On Jesus’ first appearance within the locked room, Jesus gives His first gift of the Risen Lord to His Church. Peace Be With You. Hear more within the reflection.

We Should All Be More Like Thomas

St. Thomas often gets a bad rap. He is often characterized, on first glance, as the non-believer. In fact, the saying / name of Doubting Thomas refers to this Gospel reading, characterizing him as the non-believer. But on deeper reflection, we, perhaps, should all be like Thomas. Hear a different perspective on the faith of Thomas.

St. Thomas reminds us that The Cross is the Key to Knowing Jesus, including in His Resurrection.  That is why Jesus bears the signs of hanging on The Cross.  Thomas suffers from the bum rap, of not believing when the other disciples saw Jesus on Easter Sunday. But Thomas offers (perhaps) the greatest declaration of faith in the New Testament from his knees. My Lord, and My God. Listen more to this reflection. Listen to how we might be more like Thomas.