Category Archives: Uncategorized

Do Not Be Afraid Matthew 28:1-10 …the angel said, “Do not be afraid…Jesus said, “Do not be afraid… vs. 5, 10      Easter dawns with an earthquake and bright lights.  The shadow of the cross is no more.  God has overcome death and sends God’s messenger to announce Good News.  Dead is no longer dead.  The grave is empty.  Jesus movesContinue reading “Easter Day”

Dark Night of Death Matthew 27:57-66 When it was evening, there came a rich man…and asked for the body of Jesus…and laid it in his own new tomb….  vs. 57, 60      The followers of Jesus weren’t just “the least of these,” the riff-raff of society, the forgotten ones.  Joseph of Arimathea also considered himself a follower ofContinue reading “Holy Saturday”

Out of the Shadow John 19:25-30 Meanwhile standing near the cross of Jesus was his mother…v.25      In our Good Friday liturgy, we often read the story of Jesus’ Passion from the Gospel of John.  It’s a story of betrayal, denial, condemnation, crucifixion, and death.  The other gospels picture Jesus’ disciples and family standing at a distance asContinue reading “Good Friday”

Love One Another John 15:12-16 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  v. 12      Maundy Thursday gets its name from the reading of this gospel where Jesus not only gives a new commandment but also lives it out in the washing of the disciples’ feet.  The breadth of the HebrewContinue reading “Love one another”

Matthew 26:57-68 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest… v. 57      Jesus says that when we visit the prisoner, we are visiting him.  How often do we stop to think that Jesus literally stands among the least of these–those arrested, those charged, and those found guilty?  He is betrayed to the authorities,Continue reading “Jesus in Custody”

St. Dysmas Luke 23:39-43 “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  v. 43      Tradition has it that the thief on the cross who asks to join Jesus’ kingdom was named Dysmas.  Living briefly and literally in the shadow of the cross, Dysmas came that day to rely on God’s mercy and theContinue reading “Dysmus”

Inside the Walls Matthew 28:18-20 And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. v. 20b      My experience inside the walls of a prison or jail is, fortunately, very limited.   My stays were limited to an hour or less as I visited the incarcerated.        My first experience entering a prison occurred in theContinue reading “Inside”

Set Free Matthew 27:15-26 So (Pilate) released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. v. 26     Because of Jesus, Barabbas is set free.  Jesus takes his place as the condemned prisoner.  The crowd chooses the criminal Barabbas over the innocent Jesus.  Yet, we never hear of Barabbas again.  Did he amend his ways?  DidContinue reading “Barabbas”

Simon Peter in Prison Acts 12:1-17 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell.  v.7      The earliest believers found prison, torture, death to be constant threats as they went about their ministry.  They upset the powers that be with their insistence on God’s divine intervention in the world in Jesus.  They deniedContinue reading “Peter”

Joseph in Prison Genesis 39 …the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love…  v. 21           When we are looking for reasons to visit those in prison, we can begin with the fact that God is already visiting there.  Joseph is in Pharaoh’s prison on trumped up charges.  God does  not abandon him to that fate.  Indeed, God’s presenceContinue reading “Prison”