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Celebrating your hard work and your devotion to sharing God's love. Congratulations on your ordination Br. Benedict Kelley, OSFM and may God bless you always.
Good and gracious God, our most glorious Creator, as we greet the signs in nature around us, of Spring once again regaling us in bloom, in the songs of returning birds and fields soon to be planted, we give you praise for an even greater sign of new life: the resurrection of your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, that we especially celebrate at this time. The sadness and despair of his death has given way to the bright promise of immortality. For the Resurrection is our guarantee that justice will triumph over treason, light will overcome darkness, and love will conquer death.
We praise you in this Easter season. Change our lives, change our hearts to be messengers of Easter joy and hope. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever. Amen. May you have a blessed and wonderful Easter Sunday! May the risen Christ bring peace and blessings to your life this Easter and always. From all of us with the OSFM! From Br. Benedict Kelley, OSFM
A simple way of the cross for Good Friday. Dear Sisters, Brothers and friends in Christ. Over the years I have found that this way of the cross has been a very useful way for me to enter fully into the passion of Jesus, particularly on good Friday. May this shortened version of the way of the cross allow you to add any personal reflections and music that will assist you in this powerful time of reflection. Pax et Bonum, Br. Benedict, osfm In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. First Station Jesus Condemned to Death. O Jesus! so meek and uncomplaining, teach me resignation in trials. Second Station Jesus Carries His Cross My Jesus, this Cross should be mine, not Thine; my sins crucified Thee. Third Station Our Lord Falls the First Time O Jesus! by this first fall, never let me fall into mortal sin. Fourth Station Jesus Meets His Mother O Jesus! May no human tie, however dear, keep me from following the road of the Cross. Fifth Station Simon the Cyrenean Helps Jesus Carry His Cross. Simon unwillingly assisted Thee; may I with patience suffer all for Thee. Sixth Station Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus. O Jesus! Thou didst imprint Thy sacred features upon Veronica’s veil; stamp them also indelibly upon my heart. Seventh Station The Second Fall of Jesus. By Thy second fall, preserve me, dear Lord, from relapse into sin. Eighth Station Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem. My greatest consolation would be to hear Thee say: “Many sins are forgiven thee, because thou hast loved much.” Ninth Station Third Fall of Jesus. O Jesus! when weary upon life’s long journey, be Thou my strength and my perseverance. Tenth Station Jesus Stripped of His Garments. My soul has been robbed of its robe of innocence; clothe me, dear Jesus, with the garb of penance and contrition. Eleventh Station Jesus Nailed to the Cross. Thou didst forgive Thy enemies; my God, teach me to forgive injuries and FORGET them. Twelfth Station Jesus Dies on the Cross. Thou art dying, my Jesus, but Thy Sacred Heart still throbs with love for Thy sinful children. Thirteenth Station Jesus Taken Down from the Cross. Receive me into thy arms, O Sorrowful Mother; and obtain for me perfect contrition for my sins. Fourteenth Station Jesus Laid in the Sepulchre. When I receive Thee into my heart in Holy Communion, O Jesus, make it a fit abiding place for Thy adorable Body. Amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” John 13:12–15
Do you want to be holy? Perhaps this question is not one that everyone will immediately answer with a resounding “Yes.” Sadly, holiness, for some, can seem boring and unattractive. The lure of evil is very enticing on a confused and superficial level. So what is your answer to this question? Do you want to be holy? As we begin today the sacred Triduum, we enter into the holiest days of the Church year. We walk with our Lord through His final glorification today as He celebrates the Passover with His disciples and enters the Garden of Gethsemane to await His arrest. Tomorrow we walk with Him through the stations of His Cross. On Saturday, we sit in silent adoration of His tomb as we await the Resurrection. In the Gospel quoted above, Jesus gives us a model for holiness by the witness of His actions. He Who is the God of the Universe, the Creator of all, the Eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, humbles Himself and takes on the form of a lowly servant by washing the feet of His disciples. He then offers them the Most Holy Eucharist for the first time, before He goes to meet His persecutors. The model Jesus gives us is a prophetic action by which Jesus tells us that true greatness, that is, true holiness, is found in humility. Holiness is realized in our lives when we turn our eyes from ourselves and love others as their servants. None of us are the Savior of the World, but each of us must become instruments of His saving act for others. As we accept Jesus’ gift, we must then turn to others and humble ourselves before them. We must help them to see our love and their dignity. We must serve them with humility and put them first. Doing so will then enable us to invite them to imitate us as we imitate Christ. Thus, our humble imitation of Jesus becomes a means by which Jesus invites others to follow Him. Reflection: Today, upon the invitation of Jesus: “…as I have done for you, you should also do.” Jesus gave us everything, so we must give everything to others. We must serve without counting the cost. We must love them, putting their needs before ours. We must become a model of the love of Christ for them. Ponder Jesus’ service today and throughout the Triduum and commit yourself to live the invitation given you by our Lord. Let us pray: My humble Lord, may Your name be praised and adored above all things. May You be exalted by Your humility and lowly service. I see in Your humble act, dear Lord, the deep love You have for me and for all. May I imitate that humble love in my own life so that my imitation of You will help to share Your saving love with others. Lord Jesus, I trust in you. Amen. From Br. Benedict Kelley, OSFM
Today’s Readings: Luke 22:1-7 and John 12:8 One of Christ’s closest companions, he witnessed the miraculous, observed love in action, and ate bread from the hand of God. But proximity did not equate to personal change or closeness to conversion. Instead, scripture reveals that sin continued to wield power in Judas Iscariot’s life. Despite the admonitions and warnings of Jesus, Judas allowed avarice to strengthen its grip, therefore making a practice of stealing from the group’s money bag. Why would Judas have betrayed a man who he had followed for three years? A man of obvious power? In Luke :21 Christ prophecies about Jerusalem’s destruction and warns that those who love him will suffer hatred, persecution, and even death because of it. Perhaps anger festered in Judas’s heart as he imagined his beloved temple torn apart. Or fear might have swayed his decision to give Jesus up to the religious leaders. But the decision of the betrayer initiated a series of events that evening that altered history’s course. A few coins and a kiss sealed Christ’s fate as well as those who would later proclaim his name as Savior. May his name be in our minds + on our lips + and in out hearts + today and always as we give thanks and praise for Jesus’ sacrifice that our Lord Jesus has made for us all (+ symbols remind us to trace the cross on our forehead, lips and heart) Reflection: Is there a sin in your life that you have been reluctant or find difficult to give up? If so, confess it to Jesus however your faith community prescribes the act of reconciliation and start fresh today keeping in mind that God's abundant grace is succinct! Let us pray: Eternal and ever living Father, we see the rising tide of anger and animosity toward those who believe in you. Help us to hold firmly to you and your promises, with a blessed assurance that no matter the storm, trial or situation, you are always near to us. Strengthen our faith and hope in you and embolden our spirits as we offer our lives to you in total love and trust of your divine will and plan for us. (Romans 12:1). We ask these and all prayers in the mighty name of our soon coming king, Jesus the Christ. Amen! Today’s Reading: Matthew 24:3-6,44
News feeds flood television screens, iPhones, and other digital tools with stories about road rage, mass murders, and global wars. Is it any wonder that anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses are surging as our minds swim with overwhelmingly negative information? Yet Jesus exhorts, “See that you are not troubled.” The word translated troubled also means “ thrown into a state of confusion.” Panic. Fear. The world imploded around the disciples only a few days before Christ faced the Sanhedrin and Pilate. Some of Christ’s followers expected revolution, but their leader succumbed to arrest, and they cowered in an upper room. Perhaps the men and women spoke Christ’s words as encouragement to one another. “Don’t you remember? He told us not to be troubled.” Even in our uncertain times, we can look ahead with excitement to His return. Matthew 24:6-8. Reflection Question for Today: How can you comfort or encourage others struggling with worry because of current events? Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you warned the disciples that as the age of grace draws to a close before your return, the world would be thrust into turmoil. But along with the warning, you offered encouragement, reminding them not to fear. Lord, we confess that the headlines of the day sometimes cause our knees to weaken. Empower us with the word of truth and enable us by the strength of your mighty hand to stand in difficult times. Amen Today’s Reading:
Mark 11:12-17 The day after the kingly procession, Christ curses the fig tree and erupts in anger. Jesus intentionally voiced his complaint about the tree after hearing about the disciples. He was demonstrating his “righteous anger” against those in Israel who outwardly demonstrated love for God but only served themselves. How? A tree in full bloom should have been budding. Instead, it was dead at the core. In the same way, the merchants in the temple caused righteous indignation to stir in Christ’s belly. Rather than praising God, people were swindling one another. Like the fig tree, to which Israel had been compared in scripture, God’s people lacked fruit. Similarly, worshippers may appear alive outwardly,but lack faith on the inside. Only when we accept Jesus as Lord and savior will we flourish and bear fruit for the kingdom of God. Reflection Question: What fruit do others see in your lives Let us pray: Lord Jesus, only days before your death, you entered the temple and cleared it of unfaithful followers. Guard us against religiosity and help us to grow in relationship with you through the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus, may we faithfully and abundantly bear fruit as you transform us day by day. We ask this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you forever and ever, Amen! From Br. Benedict Kelley, OSFM
Dear Brothers, Sisters and Friends in Christ, as we enter into this sacred week, this Holy Week, in which we pause to recall, reflect and remember the day's that led to the glorious celebration of the feast of the resurrection. Let us open our hearts and minds so that we may receive the abundance of grace that each day holds. Have a blessed Journey! *Palm Sunday* In ancient times, palm branches were a symbol of victory and triumph. They were often used to celebrate military victories or to welcome royalty. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey in John 12, the crowds saw Him as a king, and they welcomed Him with palm branches as a symbol of His triumphal entry into the city. While the people thought Jesus would be enthroned as their new king and rescue them from harsh Roman rule, the streets echoed with the word, Hosanna, which means “save us.” Yet Jesus intended to save them from a far greater enemy. Their sins. The beautiful palm branches waving in the air represented more than a victory. They were a link to the Feast of Tabernacles and a familiar picture of God’s presence, a foreshadowing that Jesus would reside with and within those who love Him. As we reflect on Palm Sunday, we can consider the way we welcome Jesus into our own lives. Reflection: Do we welcome Him as King, or do we sometimes push Him aside in favor of other things? Are we willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads us, or only when it is comfortable or convenient? Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, who, so that the human race might have an example of humility, hast made our Savior to take our flesh and undergo the Cross; graciously grant that we may deserve to have both the lessons of His patience and the fellowship of His resurrection. Through the same our Lord. Amen! The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice, and this Sunday is the time for us to rejoice because Jesus came and died so that we may live forever with him!
The third Sunday of Advent we are invited to reflect on the joy we have access to because of our faith in Jesus. One of the defining characteristics of Christ-followers is their joyful demeanor. Let’s not allow the struggles of this year steal from the great joy we have because of Jesus. Philippians 4:4-5 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” There is so much comfort to be found in the practice of pausing to read, pray, and reflect over the course of the Advent season in which believers eagerly anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth. The third Sunday of Advent gives us the opportunity to prepare in our hearts a sense of holy anticipation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus as well as for his promised second coming. We can study the Scriptures as a reminder of the ways God has been faithful to us through the fulfillment of prophecy—and find hope in the promises of God that are laid out in his Word. The tradition for the third Sunday of Advent includes lighting a third sometimes pink candle that is a symbol of joy. This third Sunday of Advent we read, pray, and reflect on the joy that God’s plan gives us (foretold by the prophets and fulfilled by the life and death of Christ), and we meditate on the promise of Christ’s coming glory-filled return. Over this Advent, would you pray that the joy of the Lord would be evident in your heart and home? May God’s spirit transform the days leading up to Christmas into a time of holy anticipation; preparing our hearts, as we joyfully await the chance to celebrate the arrival of our king. |
AuthorFranciscan Musings is the collective blog of the members of the OSFM. Here, our brothers and sisters and friends of the OSFM share their reflections on their Franciscan experiences and their Christian journeys. Archives
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