Sunday April 2, 2023

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“The strong love that Jesus exhibited on Good Friday is a lesson on what it means to have “compassion” for others.”

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Good News Reflection for:

Palm Sunday
The Passion of Christ
April 2, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

Jesus Christ, I recognize that sometimes I follow You and proclaim you as my Lord and my God, and other times I reject Your teachings and refuse to follow Your example. Forgive me and empower me with Your Holy Spirit to be a faithful witness of Your love and forgiveness. Amen.

Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
gnm.org/SaintQuotes/

Today’s Readings:

Isaiah 42:1-7
Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14
John 12:1-11
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040323.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-april-2-2023

The passionate love of Jesus

The word “passion” has powerful implications. Theologically, we use it to describe the suffering love that Jesus endured for each of us when he was beaten, mocked and crucified as he willingly took onto himself the punishment and destructive forces of our sins.

The world counterfeits the word “passion” by applying it to strong feelings of romantic, even lustful, attraction.

We also use this word to refer to a strong motivation to do something that we enjoy or greatly care about, and this is why we can say that Jesus cared “passionately” about us while enduring The Passion.

The strong love that Jesus exhibited in his ministry and on Good Friday is a lesson on what it means to have “compassion” for others. We walk with them in their sufferings; we “suffer with” them. This is passionate love in its holiest form.

Read the scriptures for Passion Sunday with an eye on how they reveal Jesus’ passionate love for you.

See yourself in the passion of the people who enthusiastically welcomed Jesus as well as in those who rejected and denied him.

Consider how much compassion Jesus must have felt for you when he subjected himself to the excruciating pains of his final hours. He did this for you despite how much you’ve hurt him through any lack of compassion for others. Rejoice is his passionate love for you! This will empower you to repent and grow stronger in holy love for others.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
Bring to mind the most painful way you are suffering compassionately with or for someone else. Connect this to what Jesus did. How does this help you feel more intimately involved with God’s salvation plan? How does it make your life a modern Gospel?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
1. Looking at the reading from Isaiah, what are some of the ways that good Christians sometimes beat on Jesus, pluck his beard, and spit on him?

2. How does your answer to #1 explain why Jesus emptied himself for you, as the reading from Philippians describes?

3. In what ways does the Passion of Jesus minister to us in our sufferings today?

2023 by Terry A. Modica

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