Saturday March 23, 2024

“I will turn their mourning into joy. I will show them compassion and have them rejoice after their sorrows.” (Jeremiah 31:13)

Good News Reflection for:

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
March 23, 2024

Today’s Readings:

Ezekiel 37:21-28
Jeremiah 31:10-13
John 11:45-56
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032324.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-23-2024

How to turn mourning into joy

Sometimes it feels easier to stay home or at work on Holy Thursday and Good Friday rather than go to church services. The Church offers very special experiences to focus us on the agony we cause to Jesus by our sins. These are painful and sorrowful events.

The other side of Christ’s passion is what happens when we follow Jesus in holiness. Life is hard and Holy Week opens up the stigmata — the wounds — we get from following Christ. Especially the stigmata of being rejected by loved ones who are rejecting Christ.

It’s painful to be falsely accused, whipped by the words of those who misjudge us as they protect their view of the world and their unwillingness to consider their own need to repent. But this unites us to Jesus during his trial. It’s unpleasant to get nailed for something we didn’t do, and it’s painful to hang on the cross unable to reach out, unable to embrace, and unable to draw into our hearts of love the ones who refuse our love. But this suffering unites us to Jesus during his crucifixion.

Jesus tells us: “Remember, My beloved, that when you willingly unite your sufferings to mine, accepting the hardships that come from staying true to Me, you are sharing My load. You keep Me company at the foot of the cross with my Mother, and this not only helps her, it also helps Me.”

Holy Week can be a time of comforting Jesus, a time of helping him carry his cross by caring about those who are misjudging you or rejecting you or crucifying you, saying with Jesus, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing to us, and they don’t understand the damage they are doing to their own souls.”

By interceding for their forgiveness, you free yourself to turn mourning into joy and to rejoice after experiences of sorrow.

© 2024 by Terry A. Modica

Access more in our new Calendar of Reflections.

 To distribute the Good News Reflections in your church bulletin or in RCIA or faith sharing groups, please contact us.

 You can also receive this & more faith-builders by text message on your phone.

 Keep it going! This reflection reached you thanks to benefactors. Please support this ministry today.

 Post your prayer request.

 How else can we serve you today? Visit our homepage.

Search more reflections in our continually growing database.

Homebound, Prison & Hospital Ministers are invited to print and distribute them without further permission.

Continue your prayer time with these:
Pray with Saints | Pray the Rosary | Other Prayers | Random Quotes.

Order and share Terry Modica's books

Socialize with us at:
        

Please share this with others by inviting them to visit this page. You may also print this for your personal use and you may share the print-out with others.