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Fourtieth Friday of Lent
Opening Prayer:
Pardon the offenses of your peoples, we pray, O Lord,
The Readings: (alternate) In His Steps - A Lenten Series
Today:
Daily Meditation:
Set us free.
Jesus carried our sins in his own body on the cross
Today's Daily Reflection:
by Robert P. Heaney
Today's gospel describes one of the several confrontations between Jesus and the
Jewish religious establishment. Jesus is in Jerusalem for the feast of the
Dedication of the Temple (what we now call Hanukkah). It's a kind of prelude to
the ultimate confrontation that we will remember and relive in the Holy Week
liturgies. St. Ignatius tells us to use our imaginations, put ourselves into the
scene, so as to get a better sense of what is really happening. Luke Timothy
Johnson, in his book "Prophetic Jesus" helps us to do this.
Imagine, he says, a dedicated small town pastor, deeply committed to God's
Kingdom on earth, leading a group of his ordinary parishioners to the Vatican
for the Holy Week celebrations. He stops on the steps of St. Peter's in Rome and
begins preaching to the many pilgrims gathered in the Holy City for the feast
proclaiming: "Don't pay attention to what's going on here. That's not what God
wants. God has indeed given us charge over the world, but this is not the way
God wants us to run things."
Jerusalem in Jesus' time was more than Rome is for us today, as it was the
center not only of Jewish belief and practice, but of Roman imperial power in
Palestine as well. Herod and Pilate were both in the city at the time of the
final confrontation. Imagine the courage it took for Jesus to challenge both the
civil and the religious establishments. We too easily forget what the letter to
the Hebrews tells us: Jesus was human like us in all things save sin. He had had
to learn His Father's will in the same way we do by prayer and by trial and
error in this case by going up against those in power. His hope, always, was
that they would listen and change. But, failing that, His fate was pretty much
sealed. He was a troublemaker. That's what's behind the many gospel passages
that say "They sought ways to put Him to death," a sentiment prefigured in
today's reading from Jeremiah.
We believe that Jesus' victory was won on the cross, that in his death God is
enthroned not just as "King of the Jews" but as King of all the world. But that
Kingship must continually be made our own in every generation. As the body of
Christ, who lives on in the Church, we have the same Christ-duty to speak
prophetically to power. Like Jesus 2000 years ago, we have ample reason today to
say: "This is not the way God wants the world to be run . . . Change . . .
Repent!"
and in your goodness set us free
from the bonds of the sins
we have committed in our weakness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 18:2-7; John 10:31-42
On this Friday before Good Friday,
it might be most appropriate to make the Stations.
Our desire is becoming more focused and more intense.
After our weeks of reflection, we know that our selfishness has placed us in
ruts,
has made us slaves to some very unhappy and sometimes death-dealing patterns.
The celebration of our freedom and healing is close at hand.
so that we could die to sin and live in holiness;
by his wounds we have been healed.
The Communion Antiphon - 1 Peter 2:24
John A. Creighton University Chair, Creighton University
Jesus gives us the needed courage . . .
Preface for Meditation:
by Prince Mathew
The Significance of the Number 40:
Of all the types and shadows of the Old Testament, none is as pervasive and important as the shadows revealed in the relationship between "forty," and the fulfillment of promises.
* The rains (in Noah's day) fell for 40 days and nights (Genesis 7:4).
* Israel ate Manna for 40 years (Exodus 16:35).
* Moses was with God in the mount, 40 days and nights (Exodus 24:18).
* Moses was again with God 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 34:28).
* Moses led Israel from Egypt at age 80 (2 times 40), and after 40 years in the
wilderness, died at 120 (3 times 40; Deuteronomy 34:7).
* The spies searched the land of Canaan for 40 days (Numbers 13:25).
* Therefore, God made Israel wander for 40 years (Numbers 14:33-34).
* 40 stripes was the maximum whipping penalty (Deuteronomy 25:3).
* God allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 3:11).
* God again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 5:31).
* God again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 8:28).
* Abdon (a judge in Israel) had 40 sons (Judges 12:14).
* Israel did evil; God gave them to an enemy for 40 years (Judges 13:1).
* Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Samuel 4:18).
* Goliath presented himself to Israel for 40 days (1 Samuel 17:16).
* Saul reigned for 40 years (Acts 13:21).
* Ishbosheth (Saul's son) was 40 when he began reign (2 Samuel 2:10).
* David reigned over Israel for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Kings 2:11).
* The holy place of the temple was 40 cubits long (1 Kings 6:17).
* 40 baths (measurement) was size of lavers in Temple (1 Kings 7:38).
* The sockets of silver are in groups of 40 (Exodus 26:19 & 21).
* Solomon reigned same length as his father; 40 years (1 Kings 11:42).
* Elijah had one meal that gave him strength 40 days (1 Kings 19:8).
* Ezekiel bore the iniquity of the house of Judah for 40 days (Ezekiel 4:6).
* Jehoash (Joash) reigned 40 years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:1).
* Egypt to be laid desolate for 40 years (Ezekiel 29:11-12).
* Ezekiel's (symbolic) temple is 40 cubits long (Ezekiel 41:2).
* The courts in Ezekiel's temple were 40 cubits long (Ezra 46:22).
* God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4).
* Jesus fasted 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:2).
* Jesus was tempted 40 days (Luke 4:2, Mark 1:13).
* Jesus remained on earth 40 days after resurrection (Acts 1:3).
The number forty is used by God to represent a period of testing or judgment (the length of time necessary to accomplish some major part of Gods plan in his dealings with various portions of mankind). The 40 days of rain in the days of the flood were the judgments of God. The 40 day periods of fasting, testing, and communing with God that were faced by Moses and Jesus were a form of God's judgments. The forty years that the Israelites spent in the wilderness were also the judgments of God. Various leaders in Israel who reigned for 40 year periods were put there by God according to His Will and Judgments.
We all have done our 40 days Noyambu (lent) to rejuvenate the holy spirit, now we walk with master the God, with his strength, with his power and with truth. hence, its worth enough to us to reminiscence the Hosanna to Resurrection of Jesus the Savior".
Bible Reading Passages:
Fifty-Day Gospel Planner
(Read all Gospels during the Great Lent)
Evening
Morning
Before Holy Qurbana
Holy Qurbana
Sermons and Commentaries for 40th Day of Lent (40th Friday)
Gospel Readings:
Luke 4:1-13 (KJV)
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
Matthew 4:1-11 (KJV)Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Bible Verse of the Day:
Jesus answered, "It says: Do not put the Lord your God to the test". St. Luke 4:12
Intercessions:
Thanks be to Christ the Lord, who brought us life by his death on the cross.
Teacher and Savior, you have shown us your fidelity and made us a new creation
by your passion,
Closing Prayer:
Most forgiving Lord,
May the Lord bless us,
More
Sermons For The Fortieth Friday
MW Journal Issue 208 (40th Friday Special) April 8,
2014
MW Journal Issue 131 - Holy Week Special 1 (40th Fri/Lazarus Sat)
MW Journal Issue 67 - Holy Week Special 1 (40th Fri/Lazarus Sat/Palm Sunday)
Source: Portions from: Creighton University Praying Lent
With our whole heart let us ask him:
By your death raise us to life.
- keep us from falling again into sin.
Help us to deny ourselves today,
- and not deny those in need.
May we receive this day of penance as your gift,
- and give it back to you through works of mercy.
Master our rebellious hearts,
- and teach us generosity.
again and again you welcome me back into your loving arms.
Grant me freedom from the heavy burdens of sin
that weigh me down
and keep me so far from you.
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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