tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5176231645022543980.post7287549881786757926..comments2024-03-28T16:38:25.884-07:00Comments on Celebrate the Psalms: Psalm for Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015Editor @ Parishworld.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351018547370080019noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5176231645022543980.post-11099504450604630122015-03-26T21:22:54.247-07:002015-03-26T21:22:54.247-07:00I wondered why Jesus Christ as the Son of God crie...I wondered why Jesus Christ as the Son of God cried out to God at the time of His crucifixion, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Is it his urgent prayer as a human being for his suffering? What about his divinity? He surely has two natures, divine as well as a human being. And so it proved that He has emotion and feelings and all the senses like us. His passion and suffering which He went through for us was real.<br /> <br />This morning Barry and I stopped for a short meditation on the stations of the cross. When I approached Station 9, the station where Jesus falls the third time under the heavy cross, I felt horrible to think of him suffering unbearably because of our hideous sins. At the same time I realized his tremendous love for human beings' salvation. <br /><br />I questioned myself, "Did I really mock and scoff at our Savior?" My answer is Yes. Whenever I condemned my neighbor, disobeyed God, was full of pride and sinned against our Lord, my sins were laid down on Him under the cross. He went through a torturous journey. But He won the victory over death. By His Cross and His passion He redeemed us. Praise God !<br />Bethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5176231645022543980.post-69732500226065526492015-03-25T22:03:48.857-07:002015-03-25T22:03:48.857-07:00My Lenten journey this year hasn't been as muc...My Lenten journey this year hasn't been as much about sacrificing and fasting as I had hoped it would be. I made big plans. I even announced said plans to God and also to friends and family. I had a pure heart at the start, but like the disciples in Gethsemane, I couldn't keep up. In Mark 14:38, Jesus' own words tell us "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak." <br /><br />I become a hypocrite when I don't follow through on what I promise God. My actions, or lack thereof, can end up scoffing and mocking him. This pains me and I must make every effort to make it right through repentance, Reconciliation, and sincere prayer. It's so easy to condemn Judas, but there is an element of his character in all of us. <br /><br />The way of Jesus can be so difficult, so opposite from the worldly kingdom in which we live. I cling to Jesus and contemplate his suffering, for the strength to stay the course.<br /> J Kimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5176231645022543980.post-17914796143392959222015-03-25T19:00:59.260-07:002015-03-25T19:00:59.260-07:00How can you identify with those that scoff and moc...How can you identify with those that scoff and mock Jesus on the cross? Unfortunately it’s all too easy to go with the flow. We’re scared, we don’t want to be targeted and singled out; we don’t want to go against the herd. It’s the pack mentality and conformity….we only need to look at the recent rioting in Ferguson. <br />The answer is PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND TO DO THE RIGHT THING EVEN IF IT’S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND UNPOPULAR. All too often we don’t recognize the sins of omission….the actions we should do, but elected not to! Timnoreply@blogger.com