Maundy

 The Spiritual Waiting Room

Maundy

Humble     Selfless

Imitating     Cleansing     Anointing

Wash One Another's Feet

Serve

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 13: 12 to 15

So when Jesus had finished washing the feet of the disciples, He put His garments back on and reclined at table again. He said to them, "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."

(scripture adapted by John J. McNamara)

Reflection

Such an amazing scene! Jesus taking the role of a servant!

Our initial reaction is that something is wrong with this picture. Jesus shouldn't being doing this.

We can understand the reaction of Peter when Jesus comes to wash his feet. He can't understand why Jesus is doing something that a slave would do.

On top of that Jesus is doing this just before He is going to be arrested, scourged, and crucified. 

Why?

Jesus knows exactly how we humans can try to look for power and control. He will be leaving the apostles soon. 

He knows that there will be many challenges for the apostles to face. He shows them what is most important: to serve others.

As we minister in the Church, it is so important to always keep this in mind. It is never about us and our role. 

Jesus shows us the way: put others first and never hesitate to do the smallest task. 

Kathy's picture is from a day at the beach. Cleanup time!

1. What would you say to Jesus if He came to wash your feet today?

INRI

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

INRI

Name     Cross

Thirsting     Forgiving     Redeeming

That I am He

Christ

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 19: 19 to 22

Pilate had an inscription written and placed it on the cross. It read, "Jesus, the Nazorean, the King of the Jews." Now many of the authorities saw this inscription because Jesus was crucified at a place near the city. It was in three languages---Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the authorities said to Pilate, "You should change that and write that He said "I am King of the Jews" and not "The King of the Jews". Pilate told them, "What I have written, I have written."

(scripture adapted by John J. McNamara)

Reflection

You always wonder why Pilate wrote that inscription above the cross. Was he trying to be cruel? Was he pointing out that anyone who challenged his authority would be treated harshly?

This aggravated the authorities. Maybe they were thinking that some people might get the wrong idea. 

They knew that Jesus was popular. A great crowd had acclaimed Him when He came into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. 

Would an inscription like that stir up His followers? 

When they went to Pilate, they were probably thinking he would cave into their wishes as he did when they brought Jesus to him. Pilate discovers some courage and refuses them. He probably did not want to be bothered. He wanted to be done with this sad affair. He was finished with it!  

What is the connection between being a King and being crucified? It is pointing us toward a different type of kingship.

We are used to kings who seek power. Kings who like to gather wealth and power to themselves.

Jesus shows us what it truly means to be a king. Kings are called to put their people first, to think about their welfare, to work for their happiness.

Jesus is showing us how to live: be faithful to what God wants and not what we want. It is not about holding on to power or prestige. It is about loving and caring for others.

We have seen this time and again during the pandemic. So many people are putting the needs of others before their own comfort.

They are thinking about how they can help.

I was reading recently about some women who were moved to make meals for our frontline workers. They had no medical training and so they couldn't help out in that way with the patients who were suffering. They did what they could and showed their appreciation to all those who were putting their lives on the line for others.

Jesus shows us the way. We are all called to be kings----kings who put the needs of others first!

1. What does INRI mean to you?

2.  How are you called to be a king?

Paschal

 The Spiritual Waiting Room

Paschal

Eternal     Life

Suffering     Dying     Resurrecting

The History of Salvation

Mystery

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:  Isaiah 50: 4 to 7

The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might be able to speak to the discouraged a word that will lift them. Morning after morning He opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not refused, have not turned away.

I gave my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who grabbed my beard.

My face I did not turn away from those who struck me and spat at me.

The Lord God supports me, therefore I am not disgraced.

I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be embarrassed.

Reflection

Jesus comes to lift us up as the Prophet Isaiah indicates. As we enter into Holy Week, we reflect on what Jesus tries to accomplish.

Isaiah wrote many years before the ministry of Jesus but he indicates the path that Jesus will embrace.

Jesus is listening to the Father. "Morning after morning" Jesus speaks with the Father in prayer. We will see on Holy Thursday night that Jesus has a long conversation with the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is so long that three of the apostles fall asleep while Jesus is in prayer.

Jesus does not refuse His Mission from the Father. He does not turn away from letting the people know about the Kingdom of God.

It would have been easier to be quiet and to avoid any confrontation with the authorities. He could have spent time away from Jerusalem where he would not be noticed.

He was faithful. That sense of mission, that willingness to serve, that commitment to the words He was asked to share led to His suffering.

He was struck.

He was spat upon.

He did not turn away.

He was not embarrassed because He did what He was called to do: to heal those whose hearts were broken, to proclaim freedom to those who were in slavery to their own selfishness and vision, to lead us all on a path of Love.

Kathy's photo is from St. Francis Xavier Church in New York City. It depicts the cross---the symbol of suffering. It is, however, a cross surrounded by Light.

Darkness has been overcome.

We walk during Holy Week on a path that is lit by Love.  

1. What does Holy Week mean for you?

2. How does prayer sustain Jesus as He enters into His Passion?

3. What does Kathy's photo say to you?

Wheat

 The Spiritual Waiting Room

Wheat

Heavenly     Earthly

Fulfilling     Dying     Glorifying

The Hour Has Come

Honor

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 12: 20 to 24

Some of the Greeks who had come from other areas were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. They had heard about Jesus so they came to Philip, who was from the town of Bethsaida in Galilee, and he asked him, "We would really like to see Jesus."

Philip mentioned this to Andrew and they decided to approach Jesus and tell Him about this request.

Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I proclaim to you that a grain of wheat must first fall to the ground and die or it just remains a simple grain of wheat.

However, when that grain of wheat dies it will produce much fruit."

(scripture adapted by John J. McNamara)

Reflection

The Greeks come with a very powerful request---"We would really like to see Jesus."

Doesn't that request really echo what is in our hearts? Don't we all really want to see Jesus?

Of course Jesus has already told us where He can be seen: in the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the imprisoned, the oppressed. We do know where to find Him.

To really find Him, however, demands something from us. Jesus gives us the clue: the grain of wheat must die.

If I really want to see Jesus, there is a selfishness and a self-centeredness within me that has to die. I can't just think about my own life of comfort and ease.

I have to enter into the life of another. I have to listen to their pain and hurt.

I was reading recently about Dick Hoyt. His son, Rick, was a quadriplegic and in a wheelchair. In 1977 Rick told his Dad that he wanted to help in a benefit run for a lacrosse player who had been paralyzed.

Dick listened to his son and entered that benefit run and pushed his son in the wheelchair, finishing next to last. That was only the beginning.

They entered many other races together and even ran in 32 Boston Marathons. Dick was the Grand Marshal of the 2015 Boston Marathon in recognition of his amazing devotion to his son.

He had to die to himself and think not of his own comfort but of the needs of his son. He listened to the cry of his son's heart and responded to that cry.

Jesus listens every day to the cry from our hearts. He knows what we need. He was willing to be that grain of wheat for all of us.

When His Hour came, Jesus did not turn away. He embraced the challenge of Love---to put others before ourselves.

1. Do you have a desire to see Jesus?

2. Like Dick Hoyt, where do you try to reach out to others in your life?

Uplifted

 The Spiritual Waiting Room

Uplifted

Joyfully     Powerfully

Transforming     Saving     Healing

Be Saved Through Him

Rising

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture: :  John 3:14 to 17

Jesus was talking with Nicodemus and said to him: "When Moses was in the desert, he lifted up the serpent to heal the people. In the same way the Son of Man will be lifted up so that all those who place their trust in Him will be saved. For the Heart of God was overflowing with Love for all in the world and gave His Son so that all who placed their trust in Him might not be lost and confused but that they might have Life forever. God did not gift us with His Son so that people would be lost but that all would be saved through Him."

(scripture adapted by John J. McNamara)

Reflection

In this Gospel (the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Lent in the B Cycle) Jesus is having a conversation with the curious Nicodemus. In addition to being a seeker, Nicodemus was also afraid to be seen talking with Jesus so he came under the cover of darkness. He was from the ruling class at the Temple and he did not want any of his associates at the Temple to know about this visit.

Jesus is pointing out to Nicodemus what can happen when we lift something or someone up. He recalls a famous incident in the life of Moses (Numbers 21:9) when Moses mounted a bronze serpent on a pole and the people were healed.

Jesus tells Nicodemus that there will also be healing when He, the Son of Man, is lifted up. The term that Jesus uses for "being lifted up" actually refers to a glorification. 

Jesus has come not only to be glorified through His death and resurrection, but also to share that glory with us so that we might be healed of our selfishness and self centeredness.

It is so hard for us to look beyond our own worlds sometimes. I was reflecting on that as I was studying the new encyclical of Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti.

The vision that Pope Francis presents to us is one that takes in all living beings as our sisters and brothers. It is the vision of Jesus.

Jesus came for all, to heal all, to embrace all. Such a challenge for all of us.

It is so easy to just think about our own situations and the daily difficulties and joys that we experience. Jesus calls us on our spiritual journey to embrace more and to reach out more.

We are reminded in this Gospel about why Jesus came among us. The Heart of God was overflowing with Love. God wanted to share what was most precious for God with all of us.

It is the way we feel when we look upon someone we love. We see goodness. We see kindness. Our heart overflows.

Kathy took the picture for this blog during a walk on the beach. She saw the cross with the name of Jesus formed from rocks someone had gathered. That person left it there for Kathy and others as a gift, a gift of Love.

Let us rejoice in the gift of Love we have been given and share it with each person we meet, especially those who are most in need of our encouragement and help.

1. How does Jesus share His Glory with you?

2. Why is it such a challenge for us to look beyond our own world?

3. When has your heart overflowed with Love?

Keep

 The Spiritual Waiting Room

Keep

Commands     Statutes

Strengthening     Restoring     Enlightening

Walk In His Way

Enjoin

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture: 1 Kings 8: 56 to 58, 60

Let us bless the Lord for He has given respite to His people, just as He said He would. Not a single part of the covenant He made with Moses has been broken. 

We pray that the Lord will be faithful to all of us today as He was to those who have gone before us. 

We pray that He draws our hearts to His Heart so that we will continue to have the strength to keep all the commandments that He has given to those who have gone before us in the faith.

This way all in our world from every part of the world will know that our God is faithful and that there is no other.

(scripture adapted by John J. McNamara)

Reflection

The author of 1 Kings points out the faithfulness of God in keeping the covenant agreement that He made first with Abraham and then continued with the Jewish people. God was always faithful and will continue to be faithful.

God draws our hearts close to His heart. He is always reaching out to us in Love.

1 Kings tells us in this passage that the purpose of that Love is to give us strength to keep His commandments. God knows that we will face many challenges and that it will not always be a straight and smooth road. 

We know that well, of course, with our experience of the pandemic. We are challenged every day to follow the restrictions that this highly contagious illness places on our activities.

This demands faithfulness on our part. It reminds us that our God is faithful also. It shows us the importance of keeping commandments that God has shared with us.

Sometimes we can get the wrong idea about commandments. We can look at them in a negative way as restricting our freedom instead of a positive way of pointing us in the right direction---a direction that leads away from the slavery of evil to the true freedom of caring for and loving others in an unselfish way.

That unselfish way is well illustrated in Kathy's photo. Jesus is pictured at the moment of His death on the cross in the 12th Station. Mary and the Apostle John are looking away. They cannot bear the sight of the suffering that Jesus is enduring.

That suffering was the consequence of Jesus being faithful to His mission from the Father. He was not thinking about what was easy or convenient for Him. He was focused on doing what the Father had asked: inviting the people to repent and join the Kingdom of God by loving God and loving their neighbor.

That invitation continues for all of us today. We ask ourselves how we can be faithful to the call we have from God: how can we be more caring and loving in our lives?

It is a challenge that we can take up with the reassuring knowledge that God is drawing our hearts to His Heart every moment of our lives.

Rest in the Heart of God!

1. How does reflecting on the faithfulness of God make you feel?

2. During Lent does doing the Stations of the Cross assist you as you try to follow Jesus?

3. Do you personally view the commandments in a negative or a positive way?

4. How do you view the call that God has given to you?