Week 12
This week we will finish reading the Gospel of St. John and move into the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. As we think of Jeremiah the young prophet we may get discouraged or rather see this book as a little dark. Jeremiah was born into this world at a time when the world was in great darkness and sin. Jeremiah was born a child of the light. He has the very special gift of God’s presence with him. Jeremiah was born with a mission, go tell others a message of HOPE from God. God has not given up on humans, rather He was reaching out to them, to help them through the prophet Jeremiah. God’s will is to bring all humanity in communion with himself. Jeremiah is filled with the grace and light of God. He is a light to others in darkness. God will always be a light for us in times of darkness. The darkness shall only overcome those who choose it.
We too, are called from our baptism to be like the prophet Jeremiah. To tell others the love God has for each of them. It can be hard at times, especially in today’s current culture. We could get easily discouraged like Jeremiah. There is HOPE!! God is with us, we also have the light of Christ with each of us to help us with our mission.
Sunday, February 14th
John 19:16-18, 40-42 Jesus dies on the cross.
"So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself He went out to what is called the place of the skull, in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.
They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where He had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by."
- We wonder many things about this great mystery of the passion of Jesus.
- I wonder how we might respond to the total gift Jesus makes of himself, our shepherd who lays His life down for His sheep.
Monday, February 15th
John 20:11 The Appearance of Mary Magdala
"But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been."
- I wonder how Mary felt at the sight of two angels.
- I wonder what Mary thought when the body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb.
- I wonder if she understood Jesus had risen and He was alive.
- I wonder what this says about the power and divinity of Jesus to rise from the dead.
Tuesday, February 16th
John 21:15 Appearance to Disciples
"When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, Do you love me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes Lord, you know that I love you.' He said to Him 'Feed my lambs.'
He said to Him a second time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' He said to Him, 'Yes Lord, you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Tend my sheep.'
He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was distressed He said to him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to Him, 'Lord you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'"
- I wonder what it was like to eat breakfast with Jesus after He died and rose.
- I wonder why Jesus ask this question three times.
- I wonder who these sheep are.
- I wonder how we feed the lambs of Jesus and tend to them. I wonder if there is a task Jesus calls us to do.
Wednesday, February 17th
Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
Before you were born I dedicated you,
A prophet to the nations I appointed you."
- I wonder God knows us before we are even formed.
- I wonder how much God loves us to give us the gift of our lives.
- I wonder what special tasks God has appointed us.
Thursday, February 18th
Jeremiah 2:2
"I remember the devotion of your youth, how you loved me like a bride."
- I wonder who the groom might be. I wonder who the bride might represent.
- I wonder how a young bride loves her groom.
- Is she full of happiness just to be near him?
- Does she want good things for him?
Friday, February 19th
Jeremiah 3:15
"I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently."
- I wonder what a shepherd does.
- I wonder, who are the shepherds God has appointed for us.
- I wonder how we can be like a shepherd for others.
Jeremiah 3:23
"In the Lord, Our God, alone is the salvation of Israel."
- I wonder how special is God that He alone is the only one who can save us.
- I wonder how we can respond to the gift of Salvation.
Saturday, February 20th
Jeremiah 4:14
"Cleanse your heart of evil, O Jerusalem, that you may be saved."
- I wonder how we cleanse our heart.
- I wonder what helps us keep evil from entering our hearts.