Back ground: all 3 cycles palm sunday,1st and 2nd readings are same, only Gospel readings differs :cycle 1 to 3 gospel readings are from passion of Jesus, read thru' ...luke, while good friday, all 3 cycles are same readings with passion of christ,read thru' John.
today is the last sunday of the lent. During this 6 sundays of lent: we were reminded, about a practical behavior of catholic life.
(1)how we should read scripture(be clear about concept of God in creating you)
(2)how you should get to know about God's grace in your life(magical)
(3)how you should realize God, in your day to day activities(proactive ness)
(4)As human,who is prune for sins, how your life swing from elder brother to prodigal son(grace to sin) and treatment for sin/catholic confession
(5)special characteristics of confession-before confessions,pardoned all others who has sinned against you+sorry for your sins+determination not to repeat+confessed to a priest; after confession/follow the merciful acts given by priest in retrition for your sins+ forget act of sin+follow 7 ethics and church rules.
Human life is swing from grace (sin less) to sinful. You will rehabilitate your life with every confession!. This is why God has told that priest can absolve our sins.
Jn 20:23 If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven;
Though you are baptized/confirmed Catholic, but you cannot do this!,unless you a catholic priest.
Today readings shows 2 important points
(1)you welcome Jesus,but, after a week you asked HIM to be crucified
(2) With confession negative effects of your sins are taken off. You will live in full grace
Jesus told to the right hand thief "you will be with me today in paradise"
B. Preamble for today's reading:
B.1. Contrition
-is guilt &sorry you feel for your actions against 7Ethics&church rules(sins). Sorry for sins MUST be genuine. Priests give everyone benefit of doubt,but no-one can fool God. PERFECT SORRY is when you are genuinely sorry as SINS OFFEND GOD. Imperfect Sorry is when your sorry as you fear pains of hell. Church believes either sorry will do;but PERFECT is obviously better. When you visit the doctor,you should explain symptoms before he diagnose problem &prescribe remedy. CONFESSION is like a spiritual check-up. Priest is SPIRITUAL PHYSICIAN. Once you reveal your sins he will judge suitable penance(accd:Jn20:23).But only God judges if the person is truly sorry for his sins. Otherwise Sacrament will not work. you can FOOL PRIEST BUT NOT GOD. Effect of sin will increase fear/sorrow in life. God,thru' Catholic confession provides rehabilitation path for happy life. Are you same as good thief with Jesus at Golgotha?you Confess sin?
B.2- 7 Ethics
7ETHICS to follow n your life;
1)10 Commandments - Thou shall have no other gods before Me/Thou shan't make idols/Thou shan't take the name of thy LORD God in vain/Remember Sabbath day,to keep it holy/Honour thy father&mother/Thou shan't murder/Thou shan't commit adultery/Thou shan't steal/Thou shan't bear false witness against thy neighbour/Thou shan't covet thy neighbours goods.
(2)7 SACRAMENTS-Baptism/Communion/Confirmation/Confession/Last rights/Matrimony/Holy Orders
(3)Avoid7VICES-Lust/Gluttony/Greed/Laziness/Wrath/Envy/Pride
(4)Practice7CORPORAL MERCIES-Feeding hungry/Giving drink to thirsty/Clothing naked/Welcoming strangers/Visiting sick&imprisoned/Burying death
(5)&SPIRITUAL MERCIES-Counselling doubtful/Instructing ignorant/Admonishing sinner/Comforting sorrowful/Bearing wrong patiently/Pray for living&dead
(6)PARDONING
(7)LOVE&
Additionally ChurchRules(Ex:artificial/bir/con/,Abortion,Euthanasia)U?
B.3 Way Of The Cross
Jesus did not take up the cross,to show us HOW TO DIE but to show us HOW TO LIVE!
(1)JESUS CONDEMN TO DEATH{Jn19:5}
(2)HE RECEIVE HIS CROSS{jn19:17}
(3)HE FALLS1stTIME UNDER CROSS
(4)HE MEETS HIS MOTHER{lk2:35}
(5)SIMON OF CYRENE CARRIES CROSS{Lk 23:26}
(6)VERONICA WIPES FACE OF JESUS{Mt 25:40}
(7)HE FALLS 2nd TIME
(8)WOMEN OF JERUSALEME MOURN FOR HIM{Lk 23:27}
(9)HE FALLS 3RD TIME
(10)JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS
(11)HE IS NAILED TO CROSS
(12)HE DIES ON CROSS{jn 15:13}
(13)JESUS TAKEN DOWN FROM CROSS &REST ON LAP OF MARY
(14)HE IS LAID IN TOMB{jn19:41}
(15)JESUS IS RISEN{Lk 24:1}/
on 1st Easter day,Jesus said'GO TELL TO DISCPILES"/
At Ascension,HE told"GO TEACH ALL NATIONS"/
On Pentacost,Holy Spirit gave power to disciples,TO GO PROCLAIM/
Baptism you are called to proclaim GOOD NEWS/
At confirmation you receive Holy Spirit to strength your mission/
From Confession+receivng Holy Eucharst+reflecting Sunday readings, You can re strength, your mission.
B.4. God Enough/Why Confess To Priest?
Main theme of Christianity"LAMB OF GOD,WHO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF WORLD "What is the process you should follow to pardon your sins?.John20:23 says"IF YOU FORGIVE ANYONES SINS,THEIR SINS ARE FORGIVEN"
(1)who is 'YOU'?
(2)Why,HE didn't tell"if YOU repent &ask to forgive,YOUR sins are forgiven?'
Ans:(1)YOU is the priest appointed by Holy Spirit,thru' Pope
(2)to forgive your sins. you have to confess to authorize priest. Confession allows you to be happy,as promised by God.
B.5 Effect of sin
Every religion in this world, tells that when you sin, it will effect your happiness in this world. Christianity does not support Rebirth and believe that your sins can be forgiven, during this life too. The process is
(1)identify what is your sin
(2) repent for that and determine not to do again
(3)pardoned your enemies for their against you
(4) Confess to a priest
(5) do the Penance the priest propose
(6)forget the sin/s
(7)live with 7 Ethics of catholism.
C. Today's reading:
Isaiah(Is 50:4-7) says "Lord has given me tongue/know how to sustain to weary/Lord helps me."
Paul(Ph 2:6-11) says "He was in form of god/But emptied himself/Taking form of slave/Accepting death on cross.
Lk(22:14-23:56) says "On the cross/One criminal mocked Jesus/Aren’t U Christ? Save Urself & us/Other spoke& rebuke Don’t U fear God? Jesus when in kingdom, remember me/”Indeed U'll be with me in paradise".
D. Reminds:
A) your life swings from left to right like thieves at Golgotha.When in trouble, if you BLAME GOD U’r like 1st thief. Ones who love God, identify sins, recover life with CONFESSION like 2nd thief.
(B)To erase sin &gain complete forgiveness,
Have a confession,with Priest!
the outcome of having sacrament of confession-HAPPINESS. Our whole life swings in 2 states, (1) sinning- due to earth bound desires (2) confession- getting pardoned for our sins and have spiritual happiness. More and more confessions means you are focusing to catholic ethics+ try to follow God's Will. Hand washing confession(without going to a priest) tends to lose your focus on Ethics, without your knowledge, you move like abusing God.
When every thing goes well towards earth bound needs, you love God, but when there is a hik up, you start blaming and doubting God.
(C)Today people praise God, but within a week they crucify him, showing how much we'r prune for sin. U?
E. Conclusions: it is interesting to note, that only LUKE, gives the story of this good Thief, who shows us the value of confession!. This is talling with previous sundays of this cycle.
TAKING AWAY THE EFFECT OF SINS OF U'RS IS THE MAJOR FETURE OF CHRSTIANITY.
Christianity does not support rebirth, it supports only one birth. Why fear/sorrow/disagreement will come to your life?
(1) It can be due it sins or
(2) God wants you to change your life pattern
You don't know, which is the actual cause, it can be due to 1 of these 2. Only God knows!
Sin will introduce adverse effect to your happiness. Your life will be in this world or hell or purgatory. Whether your effect of sin comes during this life or outside this life, only knows by God. One thing appears to be clear, that you have to repay for your un pardoned sins. Christian allows you to identify your sin and get it pardoned. If you believe in rebirth and assume Karma has caused you to suffer, you don't know, what is the actual reason of your suffering!.
In sri lankan history,one person who was identified as criminal was Saradiel, he was put to death in 7/5/1864 before death, he embraced into Christianity,and baptized as Joseph,
Main reason for him to embrace into Christianity, was the pardoning for sins, he has believed.
Every religion in this world, teach us that worries, fear & sorrow of our lives are due to sin. BUT Christianity will allow U to identify, what is your sin & give a process to rehabilitate & erase the effect of sin. Identifying sin & erasing effect of sin, will be done during this life only. Thru' resurrection of Christ, Christian believes of only one life - NOT REBIRTHS. Why? Death was due to original sin. With confession you can remove effect of sins, to reach eternal life. One life, after death - hell or purgatory to heaven! NO DEAD PERSON HAS EVER CAME BACK TO THIS WORLD, EXCEPT JESUS!
GBU
For more pl visit:
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/
Or
http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com
