Easter reminds us that there is something more powerful suffering and death: the love of the God who, in Christ, has taken upon himself our broken humanity.

We have been re-created for love, for joy, for zeal, and for gratitude. We have been granted the freedom to be truly alive.

It was on this day that Jesus entered into the darkest recesses of the human experience, bringing the Divine Presence into the reality of death itself

Good Friday reminds us that God has hidden the seed of divine life in our experiences of suffering.

This mandate to love—symbolized in foot washing—shapes how we should talk about the gift of the Eucharist, just as it informs how we should celebrate our liturgies during these three days.

Are the Readings proclaimed today simply positioned to move the Passion narrative forward? What else might we discern as we reflect on the story of Judas?

Rather than being a hapless victim of circumstance or the machinations of his enemies, Jesus shows his agency and power to discern as he sees what is in the hearts of both Judas and Peter.

The Evangelist John uses this final visit to Bethany as an opportunity to prefigure what is to come and to highlight the growing animosity of Judas Iscariot and all those who wanted Jesus to die.

Living the mystery of the Cross leaves no room for indifference.

If we are able—like Jeremiah and Jesus—to recognize the abiding and grace-giving presence of the Father in every aspect of life, then we will be able to recognize the light of Easter shining beyond and through the suffering we endure.

To live in freedom requires a choice on our part. It means that we have to do the work of Lent and strip away distractions, pretense, agenda, and the masks that we present to the world, to open ourselves to the truth that saves us.

Today the mystery of Christ and the Cross come together in a way truly confounds our expectations and which demands more than a child’s “Bible story” understanding of Jesus.

The liturgy today confronts us with a different reality: the priorities of the Reign of God do not necessarily align with those who have preference or a voice here and now. It is only the one who is innocent—the youthful Daniel and the sinless Christ—who is able to offer right judgment.

As we hear the story of the raising of Lazarus proclaimed on this Fifth Sunday of Lent, Jesus is making a promise to us: God has the power to bring life where there was once death

Mary’s humble acceptance speaks to us of the readiness to accept God’s will, in whatever way it is manifested.

As we take comfort in the prayer of Savior and the mercy that we receive through him, we are also invited to pray for others, even as Moses prayed for his own people.

The Readings today are calling us to a deeper knowledge and love of the One in whom and through whom we discover the fullest expressions of the Father’s mercy and love.

Through the saving action of Jesus, we are empowered to “get up” and to live in freedom, unhindered by the attachments or sins that prevent us from living life and faith to the fullest.

What was more important was who Joseph was: a person of trust who made himself available, open to what God asked of him. He lived his life as a gift.

On the Fourth Sunday of Lent with its rose-colored vestments, we hear the story of the blind man from the Gospel of John. In this story about being enlightened, Jesus gives the gift of sight to a man who was blind from birth.