Culmination of Salvation History

Great Vigil of Easter

Genesis 7.1-5, 11-18, 8.6-8, 9.8-17; Exodus 14.10-31, 15.20-21;

Ezekiel 37.1-14; Romans 6.3-11; Mark 16.1-8

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

“This is the night!” As we heard in the Exsultet, “This is the night, when [God] brought . . . the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt, and led them through the Red Sea . . . This is the night, when [we] are delivered from . . . sin, and are restored to grace and holiness of life. This is the night, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell, and rose victorious from the grave.” Just as this is the night when our Jewish sisters and brothers celebrate Passover, this is the night we celebrate our Passover.

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Being Vulnerable for Servant Ministry

Maundy Thursday

John 13.1-17, 31b-35

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

On this holy night, we come to the end of our Lenten journey and begin a new journey. The beginning of what is known as the Triduum – the Three Days – that begins with sundown on this day and extends through sundown on Easter Day. From the beginning of Jesus’ Passion, to in his death on Good Friday, culminating in the glory of his Resurrection on Easter. It was on this first day of the Triduum that Jesus’ had his last meal with his disciples. What we know and now commemorate as the Last Supper. As we hear in scripture, this period coincides with the Jewish festival of Passover, which Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem to celebrate when he was arrested, taken to trial, and executed.

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Christ's Passion, Our Passion

Palm/Passion Sunday (Year B)

Mark 11.1-11; Philippians 2.5-11; Mark 14.1—15.47

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

On this day that begins as Palm Sunday and then abruptly takes a turn, becoming Passion Sunday, how often do we sit back and merely observe the events that unfold before us, taking the part of dispassionate observers? Maybe dispassionate is not quite the right term to use. After all, as faithful Christians, we cannot help but be moved by what we witness on this day. By the exultation of witnessing Jesus making his triumphal entry into Jerusalem with shouts of “Hosanna!” which we willingly and joyfully participate in. And before the high of that experience can wear off, we are brought to the depths of sorrow and despair as we witness Jesus’ Passion. Again, an event we enter into and engage in a unique way, albeit reluctantly. As we seek to enter into the most tragic, yet the most important, period in the life of our Lord. The most important period in our lives of faith.

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On to Jerusalem

Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year B)

Jeremiah 31.31-34; Hebrews 5.5-10; John 12.20-33

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

We often talk about the Lenten journey being one of traveling with Jesus toward Jerusalem. With each week, we get closer and closer. The tone of the readings become more and more explicit, more and more urgent, revealing more and more about what we can expect. Well, today, just one week out from Palm Sunday and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, our readings – the Gospel in particular – stomp on the accelerator, barrel headlong toward Jerusalem, and then take a sharp turn right into the gates of Jerusalem, coming to a screeching halt just shy of the venue for the Last Supper.

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For God Soooo Loved the World

Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year B)

Numbers 21.4-9; John 3.14-21

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

As we draw closer to Holy Week, our readings seek to prepare us for what will happen in Jerusalem – Christ’s Passion. Today’s reading from the Gospel according to John is part of a meeting Jesus has with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, who comes to Jesus under cover of night to discuss some of Jesus’ intriguing teachings. In the course of their discussion about “being born from above” and other spiritual matters, Jesus gives his first prediction regarding his Passion – “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (Jn 3.14). Jesus then talks about what it means for the Son of Man – his term for himself – to be lifted up. What he reveals is not just about the predicted event, but what it will mean for all humanity. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (Jn 3.16).

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Clearing Away What Distracts Us from Our Relationship with God

Third Sunday in Lent (Year B)

Exodus 20.1-17; John 2.13-22

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Thus far during this Lenten season, the lectionary has incorporated scripture readings that focus on our covenant with God. Readings that focus on providing parameters for relationship with God. That makes sense as Lent is a time when we intentionally focus on our relationship with God.

Our Old Testament reading is one of the major covenants between God and his people – the giving of the Ten Commandments. The laws that would be foundational to the Jewish religion, the nation of Israel, and indeed, would come to be considered a bedrock of western society. Comprising a mere 10 of the 613 laws God actually gave to his people, these are considered the “biggies.” They are significant in terms of the scope and magnitude of the issues covered, but also in terms of how they are presented.

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