SANTO ROSARYO: Palm / Passion Sunday

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Sunday, April 1, 2012

Palm / Passion Sunday

Palm/Passion Sunday
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Obedience Till Death
Mk 11:1-10 and Mk 15:1-39
An elderly lady visited the grave of her departed husband. Her attention was caught by the sight of a man who was kneeling at a nearby grave, obviously overwhelmed with grief. She could overhear him repeatedly saying between sobs, "Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die?" The lady approached him and said, "Sir, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies. Forgive me for asking, but how are you related to the departed? Is she your wife? Your child? Your mother?” The man took a moment to wipe his tears and to compose himself. Then he replied, "This is the grave of the first husband of my wife."
This Sunday, we begin the celebration of Holy Week. We call this Palm Sunday. But more accurately, this is called Passion Sunday. That is why our Gospel is the long narrative of the Passion of the Lord. Today we join Jesus as he begins his passion and sufferings, which will end up in his death on the cross. This is in obedience to the will of the heavenly Father for the salvation of sinful humanity.
Jesus is both true God and true man. As God, he must have known and accepted without question the plan of the heavenly Father. But as man, his human nature would be in turmoil and repeatedly asking the Father: “Why do I have to die? Why do I have to die?”
In the Gospels, there were many attempts by the scribes and Pharisees to apprehend and even to kill Jesus. But he would always be able to elude them. The reason is simply because his “hour has not yet come”. Later on, he would just keep away from the crowd so that he would not expose himself to the authorities. But this Sunday, we see Jesus not anymore hiding or avoiding the people. He boldly exposes himself to the crowd and openly enters the city of Jerusalem. He knows that it is in Jerusalem that he will die. But he enters the city amid all the cheers of the people holding palm branches in their hands: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
His “hour” has already come. It is the hour when he has to offer his life as sacrifice on the cross. This is also “the hour for the Son of Man to be glorified” (Jn 12;23). His hour of sacrifice is at the same time his hour of glory, for it is when he will be able to accomplish his mission and completely fulfill the will of the heavenly Father.
Surely, obeying God’s will is not that easy and simple. Jesus himself struggled with it. His human nature must have rebelled against the thought of dying: “Why do I have to die?” In fact, even towards the end, at the Garden of Gethsemane, he pleaded, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me.” Notwithstanding all these, his sheer desire to obey the will of the Father took over his whole being: “Yet not what I will but what you will be done” (Mk 14:36). He knew all along that it is the main purpose of his life in this world. This he already expressed at an early age of twelve, when he told his parents at the Temple, “Did you not know I must be about my Father’s business?” (Lk 2:49).
As Christians, doing the Father’s will is our business. It is the only guarantee of having complete relationship with Jesus: “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Mt. 12:50). It is the only way to our glory as God’s children. Unfortunately, for many of us, this is not the case. We insist on our own will, even against the will of God.
This is one thing we have to seriously reflect on. We profess to be followers of Jesus, but do we really follow him? Or we readily abandon him when things do not happen according to our plan? Take for example our celebration of Holy Week. This Sunday our churches are filled with people. Well, perhaps it is due to the palms. But come Holy Thursday and Good Friday, this multitude is nowhere to be seen. They will reappear at dawn on Easter Sunday when they expect another “added attraction” with the traditional “salubong” or “encuentro”. When we think we do not get something, we abandon Jesus right away. This explains why many Catholics are also into superstitions, feng shui, faith healers and horoscopes. This is why we have lots of Catholics who constantly live in immorality, corruption and perversion.
Jesus enters Jerusalem to fulfill the will of the Father, even though he knows that it means his own death. But he does not really mind because he knows that both life and death lead to the same glory – as long as they are in fulfillment of the will of God.
Let us, then, not be afraid to obey the will of God. It is the only way to remain pleasing in His sight. In his message to St. Faustina, Jesus said, “My daughter, know that you give Me greater glory by a single act of obedience than by long prayers and mortifications” (Divine Mercy in my Soul, 894). And according to St. John of the Cross, it is the best penance we can do in order to unite ourselves with the sacrifice of Jesus: “Obedience is a penance of reason, and, on that account, a sacrifice more acceptable than all corporal penances and mortifications.”
In moments when we feel our cross becomes heavier, may we take courage and strength from the words of Pope Benedict XVI: ‎"The Cross often frightens us because it seems to be a denial of life. In fact, the opposite is true! It is God’s “yes” to mankind, the supreme expression of his love".
Fr. Mike Lagrimas
Sta. Lucia Church
JP Rizal Street, Bgy. Sta. Lucia
Novaliches, Quezon City 1117

First Station

JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

Oh Lord Jesus, you have been a victim of the cruelty of man. Pontius Pilate was not only indecisive, he was also a coward. He allowed himself to be pressured by a mob. He could not take responsibility and would not own what he did on that day when you were condemned to death. He made actually a fun of himself. You were alone. Some would want to stand up for you but there was not much strength in terms of numbers. The majority was not right when you were condemned. They were moved by evil motives and evil designs. As I read and listen to news reports nowadays, the injustices and atrocities have not ceased. Many have been condemned and only to find out later that the person was innocent of the crime charged. Many have experienced death by way of curtailment of their freedom to live as human beings. Poverty, hunger, human trafficking, drug and substance abuse, violence against women and children, among other and similar crimes and offenses. The victims are virtually condemned to death since in the end – how they wished they were dead, how they wished they were not born, how they wished that the world would end. Perhaps. Well, actually my own weaknesses, my own sinfulness have condemned you to death. But there is still time and as I walked through with you and contemplate on the stations of the cross, I am truly thankful to you Lord Jesus for this opportunity, as I pray for those victims, who, like what you have gone through when you were condemned to death, are now suffering and languishing in their present state of life. I lift them up to you and may they be blessed with your generosity and goodness. Amen.

Second Station

JESUS CARRIES THE CROSS

Oh My Lord Jesus Christ, how heavy indeed is the cross which you have been made to carry on your shoulders. That cross is actually this world ! The sins of men ! The transgressions and ungratefulness of humanity ! And to think that all these continue up to this day as you bear them, every moment, on your shoulders. Yet, and yes, yet, many among us would not even want to carry the little crosses that come our way. We always want to be within our respective comfort level. What a shame?! What really is that cross that I have always been to told to carry? Is it the same cross that you carried all the way up to the Calvary, to your death? Uh Oh. I think, not even a bit or fragment of that cross could be carried by me. Not even a breath that comes out of it. The cross of my life refers to myself, my iniquities, my sins, my forgetfulness, my carelessness, my lack of faith, and being a Christian and yet, I refuse to face each and every of these bits (or even one or two) of my own cross. Maybe because, I am afraid of problems; or I do not even try to carry my cross because of my fear of failure, that I may not be able to bring it up to my own Calvary. Well, wake up, you will not be nailed if you carry your cross. That cross, your cross, is actually a millionth fragment of the tiniest dust found in Jesus’ cross, and all you need to do is do your part in not being an additional burden for Christ. Be a solution, not a problem. Amen.

Third Station

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

My Lord and My God, My Savior , My Redeemer, Oh Lord Jesus. Forgive me. I mean it. From the very bottom of my heart. Had it not been for me, you would not have fallen from the sheer weight of that heavy cross that bears my sins. I don’t think I could even last carrying the cross before a first fall, but because you are My Lord, you have made sure that I would be able to carry my own cross. I now know why I was able to – because you were carrying me and my cross. Well, the bottomline is that I must carry on with whatever good things I may have started in my life and with my life. I should not be giving up and I ought to realize that there will always be a first time, and that first time must never discourage me to carry on. There may be obstacles, frustrations, disappointments, discouragement or whatever damn-if-you-do situations, but I must always bear in mind and in my heart that Jesus will always be with me, and I can truly feel His Holy Presence, unworthy as I am, for He loves me, and He wants me to succeed ! Amen.

Watch and Listen : Footprints in the Sand

Fourth Station

JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER

My Lord Jesus, you were all alone by yourself, as you continue to suffer from the weight of the cross, the thousands of wounds inflicted upon you, and as blood flows down from your body and from your head. For sure, you were already grasping for your breath, dehydrated from lack of water, famished for not having taken anything for the day since you were taken forcibly at the Garden of Gethsemane. This is a terrible situation and ordinary humans will certainly not be able to endure and survive these hardships, sufferings, and agony. Yet, here comes the Blessed Mother, who have shown herself to you, if only to assure you that she is by your side, together with the Father in Heaven. Though you don’t need any assurance, our Blessed Mother has done what her bleeding and crying heart has told her to do – to be a mother, to care, to love, and as much as she wanted to but cannot, to suffer for you, her son, to take your place. How many among us would be willing to do what the Blessed Mother has done? In our world, at the present time, we seldom see people who would be willing to share what they have, or at the least, just to be honest, just be to good, just to be fair, just to be the man created in the image of God. We thank the Blessed Mother for being there with you as she is now for us. Amen.

Watch Jesus Meets His Mother

Fifth Station

JESUS IS HELPED TO CARRY THE CROSS

My Lord Jesus Christ, I know that you do not need any help but amidst the humiliation that you have suffered from the hands of your persecutors, you have been humble enough to allow, a reluctant Simon of Cyrene to carry your cross. You have shown to us Lord that indeed “no man is an island”. That we live, not only for ourselves, but for our family and the people of God. That we have a responsibility to help others and to make sure that those who are in need are provided with what is necessary and which we can give as God has allowed us to. I have pleaded many times for help and you have not abandoned me. In many ways, you have answered my prayers. There were many times that I never realized that you have given me so many blessings and I was not even grateful. I can actually help carry the cross by heeding the call for me to serve God and in everything that I do, I must see to it that He is glorified and praised. Amen.

Watch and Listen: Jesus is Helped to Carry the Cross

Sixth Station

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

Oh my Lord Jesus, it was just a piece of cloth wiped on your face of Jesus, with blood and sweat dripping. Through such very small way, you are pleased. Veronica knows it is the only thing that she can do if only to ease up your sufferings and pains.

What about each one of us? Do we give our share to ease up the burden of Christ? Do we offer ourselves for him? Do we work and do things to help others who are in need?

There have been many times that we have thought of giving ourselves a break, or demanding some space for ourselves. We feel that we deserve better, or we need to have some more of what we already have, never contented of anything. We always think of ourselves and forget the fact that we must also think of others. Yet, we still have the gull to ask a lot of things through our prayers. Is this the right attitude? Is this the life that we lead and live? Well, it is time. Time to change. Time to be what you want you to be. Like Veronica, we need to have the humility of meeting you personally and in our own little way, do something that will ease up your agony, sufferings, sacrifices, among others. In doing so, we do not expect any reward but at the same time, we will not refuse the blessings that will come our way, and in everything and in anything, we shall always thanks and praise God for his overflowing generosity. Amen.

Seventh Station

JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

My Lord, My Jesus and Savior. You are extremely exhausted already. The cross is heavier and more difficult to carry. The pain is just so intense. The soldiers are cruel. The crowd, even more mean and ferocious. The weight of the cross was just too much to bear. You fell for the second time.

But the reasons, no matter how valid they may be, and would justify that your giving up, did not deter you from getting up and continue carrying the cross on your way to calvary.

Teach us Lord to do the same. As we fall, many times actually, help us to stand up once again and move on to our life’s journey. We know that without you, we are nothing. Without you, we cannot do anything. Be our strength. Amen.

Eight Station

JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

Hearing Jesus reproach the women of Jerusalem who follow him and weep for him ought to make us reflect. How should we understand his words? Are they not directed at a piety which is purely sentimental, one which fails to lead to conversion and living faith? It is no use to lament the sufferings of this world if our life goes on as usual. And so the Lord warns us of the danger in which we find ourselves. He shows us both the seriousness of sin and the seriousness of judgement. Can it be that, despite all our expressions of consternation in the face of evil and innocent suffering, we are all too prepared to trivialize the mystery of evil? Have we accepted only the gentleness and love of God and Jesus, and quietly set aside the word of judgement? "How can God be so concerned with our weaknesses?", we say. "We are only human!" Yet as we contemplate the sufferings of the Son, we see more clearly the seriousness of sin, and how it needs to be fully atoned if it is to be overcome. Before the image of the suffering Lord, evil can no longer be trivialized. To us too, he says: "Do not weep for me, weep for yourselves... if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (catholic news agency)

Ninth Station

JESUS FALLS A THIRD TIME

Oh Lord Jesus Christ, the cross is obviously heavier now than the first time you had to carry it. I can only imagine the world today so much of a burden to you and yet, you continue to bring us to the road of salvation, you keep on carrying the cross, without let up. You have been obedient to the Almighty Father and had pleased Him so much by not giving up. As for us, we are easily discouraged by failures, and we tend to stop trying, or cease from even trying to try. We should not be prevented, by ourselves, from pursuing something which is noble and even Divine. We should not lose hope. We must constantly pray and ask for guidance, in order that - if ever we fall for the third or nth time – we may continue to move and fight for the many battles in our lives. Amen.

Tenth Station

JESUS CLOTHES ARE TAKEN AWAY

My Lord Jesus, have mercy on us! Being stripped of your clothes is certainly deplorable. It is not only humiliating but it has added insult to injury. The soldiers are ruthless. They are gamblers which placed at stake your clothes on a winner take all basis. Terrible indeed. Many people today are stripped of what remains in them by those who have taken advantage of the weaknesses of such people. We pray that those who fall victims to these people would be able to recover and stand up, as always, for what is true and what is necessary. Amen.

Eleventh Station

JESUS IS NAILED ON THE CROSS

Lord Jesus, My Savior, this is the time when you know who are with you and those who are not. Many among us and in our own lives - we do encounter problems, serious enough, as to drive away people from us. During happy times, they are near. During trying times, they are nowhere to be seen or heard. A little prayer may suffice, yet we do not know if they are really praying for us. We are also guilty of the same weakness ourselves. There are those whom we should be helping out but we did not extend our hands to them. Is it our of fear? Just like when you were being nailed on the cross, there may be those who followed you but on account of fear that they too may be nailed on the cross, have chosen to keep silent about they presence and what they feel about what was being done to you. Or is it just because we are indifferent to the plight of others, just like when we continue committing sins unmindful of your goodness, greatness and generosity. Teach us then Lord to be humble and be sincere in our ways so that when the time comes for us to help other people, we would not hesitate to do so, not because of as a mere obligation but more on the fact that we love you so much Lord. Amen.

Twelfth Station

JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

My Lord and My Savior, My Christ and My Redeemer, My Jesus, you have died on the cross because of the many sins and transgressions we have committed against you. With 5,745 wounds which you have sustained, with the cross weighing about 300 pounds on your shoulder alone, with the thousands steps you took on your way up to Calvary, with the crown of thorns, lashes, blows and kicks, falls and the weight of the cross on your body, and finally the nails on your hands and feet, as well as the lance that pierced your body, WHO AMONG US HAS THE COURAGE TO STEP FORWARD AND TAKE YOUR PLACE? We are truly and deeply humbled prostrated on the ground, as we asked for your mercy and forgiveness. All in your Most Holy Name, Amen.

Thirteenth Station

JESUS IS LAID IN THE ARMS OF HIS BLESSED MOTHER

Lord Jesus, as when everyone, except for a few, has expressed fear, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are not afraid to stand up for you. They took you down from the Holy Cross and laid you in the loving arms of your Blessed Mother. But why the Blessed Mother. The cause of the downfall of humanity was Eve, who was responsible for the temptation of Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. When Christ died on the Holy Cross, it was the triumph that has been longed for. And the Blessed Mother, being the new Eve would offer such victory to the Heavenly Father. Amen.

The Fifteen Promises of Mary Granted to those who Recite the Rosary

The Blessed Virgin Mary promised to Saint Dominic and to all who follow that "Whatever you ask in the Rosary will be granted." She left for all Christians Fifteen Promises to those who recite the Holy Rosary. Imparted to Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan :

Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
The Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenititude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
All who recite the Rosary are my sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters of my only Son Jesus Christ.
Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

SANTO ROSARYO

PERPETUAL ADORATION

Morning Offering

Prayer of St. Gertrude