God's Inclusive Kingdom

If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God. Acts 11:17

It's hard to resist the temptation to try to hinder God. There are all kinds of things and people that I would rather not see included in the Kingdom of God. Mosquitoes and cockroaches, of course, top the list. But more often than I want to admit, I catch myself putting people on that list. "Surely those people aren't included in God's Kingdom."

No matter who those people are, when I hear myself using this phrase, I'm forced to examine my desire to hinder God's expansive love calling everyone into the Kingdom. Difficult as it is, I try to turn from this phrase to prayer for the inclusion of those people in the Kingdom and for the expansion of my narrowness of mind.
Aileen A. O'Donoghue

Catechcis of the Good Shepherd

Thomas, called Dydymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. John 20: 24-25.
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Since 1954, Dr. Sofia Cavalletti, a Hebrew and Scripture scholar and member of the Vatican Commission for Jewish-Christian Relations, and her colleague, Professor Gianna Goggi, a Montessori-trained educator, have developed the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

This approach to teaching children the Catholic faith was based upon their observance and working with children at the Children Centre in Rome.

The Catechesis provides an environment called an Atrium, in which certain biblical and liturgical themes suitable to the children's developmental needs are presented. The Atrium contains concrete materials, consistent with the themes that help children deepen their relationship with God.
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Sofia Cavaletti believes that youngsters already know the story of God and Jesus as the Good Shepherd before anyone tells it to them. Before they were born, they were in God's arms. The sights, sounds and smells of God are part of their makeup. They have had from the beginning an interior teacher - the Spirit of God that is deep within them. They know God. The teacher brings from the outside an echo of what they already know inside, and helps it to deepen.

Active Contemplation

It's been much too long since I've visited, three weeks, but do know that my spiritual growth continues each day. Holy week was very powerful for me this year. It's been one year since I was baptized at the Easter Vigil and don't get me wrong, that was a very powerful event, but this year had an even greater impact on me. I understood the events in a much clearer sense, embraced each in a solemn, peaceful manner as I sat back and contemplated each for what it stood for.

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Thomas, 'the Outspoken Twin
Thomas is mentioned several times in John's gospel. Although he is best known as the "doubting Thomas," he also comes across as a person of courage who speaks his mind.

At one point some of the Jewish people in Jerusalem threatened to stone Jesus because he had said, "The father and I are one." Jesus left the city and went to a deserted place with the disciples. While there, he heard that his friend Lazarus had died. Jesus tells the disciples that he going back to Jerusalem to "awaken" Lazarus. They warn Jesus that a return there so quickly would be dangerous. Thomas says, "Let us go to die with him."
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Thomas apparently had a nickname - "Didymus" (the Greek word for twin). There is an interesting tradition that the disciples gave Thomas this nickname because, in appearance, he closely resembled Jesus. They would refer to him, not "Thomas" but as "The Twin."

Good Friday

It is late Friday afternoon, Jesus is dead. Only the evening before he was at the Last Supper table celebrating the Passover with his disciples.

After supper, things began to go very, very bad. One of the twelve went off to betray Jesus. All of them fled when he was arrested and they haven't been seen since - except Peter, who returned only to deny Jesus three times.

The disciples will be seen just one more time in Matthew's Gospel - after the resurrection - and it isn't entirely laudatory: The eleven disiples went to Galilee, to the Mountain
to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw
him they worshipped, but they doubted.
That is their final appearance in Matthew's Gospel. By contrast, the women followers of Jesus (Mt 27:55-56) are there when Jesus dies, and they are there when he is buried. Faithful to the end. May it be said of me when I die.

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Immediately after the death of Jesus, Matthew symbolically brings out its meaning:

• The veil of the sanctuary barred entrance to all but the Jewish priest. Now it is torn in two and all have access to God through Jesus.
• The earthquake indicates that the foundations of the earth are shaken. The reign of God is beginning.
• The rising of the dead gives evidence that the death of Jesus is life-giving.
• The profession of faith by the Roman ceturion is a sign of the Gentiles becoming disciples of Jesus (Mt 27:51-54) .

The death-resurrection of jesus is a turning point of history. During the three days of the Sared Triduum, I enter into the dying and rising of Jesus.

The Holy Oils

In Cathedrals around the world, bishops bless the holy oils at the "Chrism Mass" celebrated on Holy Thursday morning (or earlier in Holy Week). The Church uses three sacramental oils:

• The Oil of Catechumens: used to strengthen those who are preparing for baptism at the Easter vigil.
• The Oil of the Sick: Used for healing of the mind, body and spirit.
• The Holy Chrism: Used at baptism, confirmation, ordination and the dedication of a church building.

The holy oils are kept in a chest called the "ambry" which comes from a Latin word meaning an "armory"- a place to store arms.

In recent years the Church, returning to a fuller expression of its sacred symbols, displays these oils in an ambry that is more ornate and prominent.

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On this day, the collection taken at Mass is always for the poor. It's also the day when people usually bring their rice bowl to church.

The Triduum

In Jewish tradition, the day ends at sunset, and evening is the beginning of the next day. Liturgically, the Church follows this same tradition, which is why Sunday Mass can be on Saturday evening.

Lent ends on Holy Thursday evening (which is the beginning of Friday). The "Triduum" (Latin for three days) begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, and ends with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. These are the three holiest days of the year.

Through the centuries, Christians have set these days apart - free from social engagements, entertainment and, if possible, work. It is a time of extraordinary prayer and fasting, and of intense expectation.

The "Triduum" is all one piece - one single celebration of the dying and rising of Christ.

• The Holy Thursday evening Eucharist recalls the Last Supper, the entry-way of the Lord into his suffering, dying and rising.
• The heart of the Good Friday liturgy is the Passion according to John, and the public veneration of the cross.
• Holy Saturday is not like the regular weekend with a "Saturday evening Mass." Instead there is the Easter Vigil during which we experience the "passing over" of Jesus from darkness of death to new life. It begins after dark with the blessing of the new fire.

Passover

One of the most popular songs of Seder during the Jewish Passover is Dayenu: "That would have been enough".

Its 15 stanzas list 15 examples of God's goodness in leading the Chosen People out of slavery in Egypt, in the miracles which allowed them to reach the Promised Land, and the five moments whichGod continues to shower goodness on the Jewish people today.

In each case, each stanza is followed by the chorus of Dayenu, reminding all that if God had stopped at that one goodness alone, "that would have been enough".
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Passover begins today.

Pope John Paul II

This is the holiest week of the year but the world doesn't stop. Everything goes on - the regular TV programs, the regular work schedule. So, if I want this to be a "holy week" what do I do? I decide.

"If growing old with its inevitable conditions is accepted serenely in the light of faith, it can become an invaluable opportunity for better comprehending the Mystery of the Cross, which gives full sense to human existence." -Message of John Paul II for Lent 2005. He died on this date in 2005.