Good Friday

Reflection

Jesus accepted the Cross. He could have dodged it. Avoided the confrontations with the authorities who monopolized the Temple; his interrogation before Caesar’s brutal, cynical agent; the agony of crucifixion. Standing there were “his mother and the disciple whom he loved.” Only John’s gospel tells us this, and not just for information. John puts us in the scene, too. Every Good Friday is a time for us, hearing the Passion proclaimed, to stand with Jesus in the faith that his Cross is not the defeat of Truth but its victory. This is a challenging scene we must not sentimentalize. 

The Son fulfills his last filial duty by committing Mary his mother to the care of a beloved disciple who is never named in the text itself. That anonymity challenges the readers not to supply the missing name but ourselves to accept the commission: both to be and to foster Jesus’ legacy, Jesus’ community.

Prayer

Verses from the hymn Stabat Mater (“At the cross her station keeping”)-- “O my Mother, fount of love/ touch my spirit from above…Make me feel as you have felt…with the love of Christ my Lord.”

Fr. Richard Berube, S.S.E. ’66
Emeritus Professor Religious Studies, Saint Michael’s College Trustee Emeritus

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Gospel: John 18:1—19:42

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

Holy Thursday

Reflection

WOW, what an evening meal with friends and betrayer! -- The institution of the Eucharist – the example/message of serving others – and a new covenant! The image created of Jesus’ last supper is most often depicted with all gathered at a long table and Jesus in the middle. – Is that a true picture of the life of Jesus we know? Does the image of Jesus seated at a round table with friends and foes depict a more accurate picture? Where there are no places of honor, where all can see and feel Jesus’ messages and instructions, and he can look at and speak to all equally.

1 Corinthians
“This is my body that is for you.” Jesus’ humiliating and peaceful suffering and dying was for you—for us – for all! “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” God’s new Covenant and promise of everlasting life was made through Jesus’ life, teachings and living amongst us, daily, and dying so we may have everlasting life.

Gospel: John 13: 1-15 -- Washing of the feet
“I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done, you should also do.” Now is the model the washing of the feet, or is it all the examples and parables Jesus gave us throughout his life? For example: speaking to women, walking amongst and acknowledging all peoples of faith and cultures, eating with tax col-lectors and those thought to be sinners, allowing himself to be touched, and to touch the lives and hearts of all people. For seeing and accepting! Are these not the modeling Jesus left us? Is that what we should do?

Psalm Response (1 Corinthians 10:16)
“Our Blessing – cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.” The blood of Christ is our blessing!

Prayer

May we be nourished by the blessings of Jesus’ body and blood, to walk in Jesus’ ways all the days of our lives. Seeing, loving and peacefully accepting all God’s people, and reaching out to help wherever and whenever needed. Amen.

Sister Laura Della Santa, RSM M’84

Scripture

First Reading: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Gospel: John 13:1-15

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website 

Wednesday of Holy Week

Reflection

“What will you give me?” Judas asked. How often do we approach the Lord with that same attitude? It is easy at times to fall into the trap of making our prayers Transactional – that is “God if you do this for me – I’ll go back to Church, or I’ll do that for you”.

Jesus has given us the structure of all prayer – 1st we acknowledge God as Father and Creator – 2nd then we are called to surrender or life and our will to the care of God; trusting that God’s Will for us is far better than anything we can desire for ourselves – 3rd we ask for our daily needs, again trusting that God will provide for our needs, not necessarily for our “wants”. Far too often we mistakenly “feel” that when God’s Will does not align with our will that God is not listening to us. When do not get what we “want” we sometime are not able to recognize the gifts that are given. God provides for are many needs – let us acknowledge with grateful hearts God’s Gifts which sometimes come to us in quiet and small ways.

As we enter into this Holy Week we remember God’s greatest gift – Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died on the Cross that we might live with Him in Glory.

Prayer

We adore you O Christ and we Bless you because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World!

Thomas F. X. Hoar, S.S.E., Ph.D.
President and CEO of St. Edmunds Retreat

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34
Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Tuesday of Holy Week

Reflection

As we move further into Holy Week with the Lenten season nearing an end, we encounter through sacred scripture the tremendous drama and redemption found in the passion, death, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament reading from Isaiah 49, we learn about the Servant of the Lord who has been called from the womb like a polished arrow in his quiver to bring light to the nations and salvation to the world. This Servant will restore and renew Israel and ultimately reaches fulfillment in Jesus. Our responsorial psalm amplifies this message, and each of us has received our own unique calling to share the Good News in our daily journeys, relation-ships, and responsibilities.

In the Gospel passage from John, we ponder the betrayals and disappointments of some of those closest to Jesus, including Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter. In true humility, Jesus provides the ultimate model of perseverance and trust in facing extraordinary obstacles and challenges while remaining focused on the will of God. And Peter later offers the wonderful example of humbly seeking reconciliation after the inevitable falls that we all confront.

Despite the darkness felt in many places across the globe today, each of us has the chance to bring God’s light and grace into our own personal situations. Although we too may stumble sometimes in our steps, through our Lenten practices, may we be heartened to discern the will of God and persevere in our own vocations..

Prayer

Dear Lord, through your sacrifice and obedience to God’s will, you lived your vocation to the fullest. May we learn from your example and be transformed by your atonement in our Holy Week journey with you. Saint Peter, pray for us!

George Ashline
Professor of Mathematics

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-6
Psalm 71:1-6ab, 15, 17
Gospel: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Monday of Holy Week

Reflection

In our Gospel reading, Jesus is once again in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany. Mary, who had “chosen the better part” when she sat at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10: 38-42), now kneels at his feet and anoints them with oil; and then Mary proceeds to dry Jesus’ feet with her hair. The oil is made from nard extracted from the root of a plant that grows high in the Himalayas, a long way from Judea, and is very expensive. Judas objects to such valuable oil being used on Jesus’ feet. To Judas, and maybe to others present, it seems extravagant.

Extravagant. That’s what caught my attention when I meditated on this passage. God sent his Son to be one of us, teach us, open our eyes, be our light, and lead us out of darkness; to challenge leaders who led people astray; and, ultimately, to be ridiculed, suffer horribly and be killed—all for us. It is the extravagance of what the Father and the Son did for us—and continue to do for us—that make me realize how much I am loved by God—no matter what, and more than I can imagine. I must accept this
extravagant love, love God back, love myself and others and help them to realize how much God loves them, too.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, in a few days we will commemorate and celebrate your passion, death, and resurrection. Help us to understand the depth of your unconditional love and draw us closer to you. You, Lord, are truly our light and our salvation. Amen.

Brother Frank Hagerty, S.S.E.
Spiritual Director & Prison Minister

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-7
Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14
Gospel: John 12:1-11

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Passion Sunday

Reflection

Palm Sunday places us at the uneasy intersection of praise and betrayal, courage and collapse. We begin with palms raised high and end at the foot of the cross, confronted by how swiftly human allegiance can waver. The readings will not let us remain spectators; they press a deeper question: Where do we stand when faith becomes costly?

Isaiah speaks of the servant who listens before speaking, whose well-trained tongue offers a word that sustains the weary. That posture of attentive obedience finds its fullest expression in Christ, who, as Paul reminds us, did not cling to status or power but emptied himself completely. His authority is revealed not in domination but in surrender — obedience shaped by love, even unto death.

The Passion narrative lays bare how fragile discipleship can be. Judas betrays, Peter denies, the crowd demands Barabbas, and even silence becomes a form of complicity. Yet Psalm 22 reminds us that abandonment is not the final word. The cry of desolation —“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” — is itself an act of faith, a refusal to let go of God even in the darkness.

For a college community devoted to learning, formation, and service, Palm Sunday stands as a sobering invitation. It asks whether our convictions endure when discipleship requires humility, patience, and sacrifice. The cross before us is not a sign of despair but the place where divine love proves stronger than fear, failure, and death.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, teach us to listen with patience, to speak with integrity, and to follow with courage—even when the path leads to the cross. Shape our hearts in humble obedience, that our lives may proclaim your love and reveal you as Lord.

Richard Plumb PhD
Saint Michael’s College President

Scripture

Procession Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Matthew 26:14—27:66

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

 

Saturday of the Fifth Week

Reflection

Fear is a powerful emotion. It can break things apart, create uncertainty, and can cause us to react from a place of suspicion and pain. On this last day before Holy Week, these readings speak to me of choices we face – unity vs. division, faith vs. fear, life vs. death. Fear often tears us apart from one another, but we hear so beautifully in the first reading of the Lord promising to gather people who have wandered apart back into one nation in a covenant of peace so that “they may be my people and I may be their God.” The Lord wants to reunite our human family and repair our brokenness. This vision feels like a distant reality in today’s world, and I feel myself yearning for a community of faith with God dwelling among us.

As we move on to the Gospel reading, we then see people being divided – some choosing faith in Jesus while other chose fear. We hear that many people saw and believed in Jesus, but there were also those who turned to the Pharisees, fearful that the Romans would come and take away what was theirs. They – like we often are – were afraid, frightened, and unsure of the future.

Those in the Gospel asked each other, “What are we going to do?” We too have to make a choice. To seek unity. To overcome fear. To embrace the selfless act of love that Jesus gives to us. None of this is easy. As our world feels more and more divided, fearful, and self-serving, we continue to try to strive towards unity and love in a world that often feels bleak. As we enter Holy Week, may we be reminded of how love conquers fear and find the hope we need by witnessing the unconditional love that Jesus has for all of us.

Prayer

Loving God, help us not be overcome by fear, but unite with one another as a community of faith who responds with love, compassion, and life in the face of a troubled world. Prepare our hearts as we enter Holy Week and the new life and hope that awaits us. Amen.

Anna Lester, ’98, M‘11

Scripture

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:21-28

Psalm: Jeremiah 31:10-13

Gospel: John 11:45-56

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website