Good Friday (year B)- John 19:16-19

 "Then delivered he [Pilate] him [Jesus] therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was "Jesus Of Nazareth the King of The Jews. " (John 19:16-19 KJV)

In the words of the 1917 Common Service Book Litany, we pray-

By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension, and by the Coming of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter,

Help us, good Lord.

In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment,

Help us, good Lord.

Lent 5 (year B)- Christ's Sufferings- Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:32-45

 For the Fifth Sunday in Lent, both the second reading from Hebrews 5:1-10 and the Gospel from Mark 10:(32-34) 35-45 refer to the sufferings of Christ. They foreshadow the upcoming readings for Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Hebrews 5 speaks of Christ as both high priest and divine Son. Despite His divine majesty, Jesus humbly obeyed and suffered. In this way, He acted as the eternal high priest who is the source of salvation. 

In Mark 10: 32-34, Jesus makes a third prediction to the disciples about His suffering, death, and resurrection at Jerusalem. Of course, as on many occasions in the Gospels, the disciples do not really understand or accept Jesus' teachings. Their misunderstanding is illustrated in a stark way in Mark 10: 35-45. The brothers James and John want Jesus to grant them special places of honor and power in His kingdom. Even at this late stage of Christ's ministry, they ignore the predictions of the cross and look for worldly success. The other disciples are no better. They resent James and John for trying to get a better situation, but they do not really get the point about Jesus or the implications of following Him. So our Lord emphasizes the nature of His leadership. He has come to serve and to suffer and die for human sin. Those who wish to follow Him must also be ready to serve and to suffer for the Gospel. 

Lent 3 (year B)- John 2:13-22

 The Gospel for this week (John 2:13-22) contains John’s story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. John mentions the cleansing the Temple early in Christ's ministry in order to make a point. Cleansing the Temple emphasizes Christ’s zeal for honoring the Father, and it is a foreshadowing of His rejection, death, and resurrection. This account also brings up a general New Testament theme- the relationship between Jesus and the Jerusalem Temple. The Temple is a recurring backdrop for Christ’s whole life on earth. From His infancy through Holy Week, our Lord visits the Temple numerous times. 

In John 2, Jesus shows respect for the original purpose of the Temple. The Jerusalem Temple was a holy symbol. It represented the divine presence. It was His Father’s earthly house, the primary place of prayer, meant to draw all people to God. The outer court was intended to be a place for religious study, discussion, and prayer, not just for Jews but for all nations.

Unfortunately, the practicalities of the sacrificial cult had been used as excuses for greed and worldliness. Trade and graft had overwhelmed true attitudes of worship. And Jesus was filled with holy anger at this corruption. In John 2:16b, He says, “you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade” (RSV). Later Christ's followers would realize that such zeal for true spiritual worship of the Father was a key factor in His rejection and death.

Along with His respect for the old Temple, Christ also presents Himself as the new and true Temple. He is God the Word incarnate, and the Holy Spirit is with Him. Our Gospel today alludes to this. Jesus is becomes the new focus for the divine presence. His body is a greater temple, the chief dwelling place of God among men. Christians are freed to worship God through Christ in all places and times!