Ad Jesum per Mariam

Jesus’ Call to Saul: Jesus’ Plans for St. Paul: Implications for Our Spiritual Journey! In Jesus' times, there was great violence. Saul was able to persecute “Christians” based solely on a letter from the high priests. Legally, there were no other documents, other than this letter that permitted the persecution. The Lord takes advantage of this for the spreading of the Gospel. Recently, we heard the persecution of Stephen did not hinder the growth of the Church. In fact, it led to the expansion. Believers leave Jerusalem to other areas of the world to spread the Good News. Today, we hear the Church arrives in Syria (in Damascus). We hear also that one of the persecutors is moving from Jerusalem as well, toward Damascus. Rome simply allows this persecution to take place. We hear today that Saul is struck down by someone greater than his authority. Saul is struck down, blinded, and has to be led to the town. The strong one meets a stronger authority. What a powerful transition! Saul Was Chosen By God Saul will go forth from Damascus with a different and greater authority. He will go and spread the Good News. He was chosen by God. This was God’s plan for Saul / Paul all along. Jesus IS NOT reacting to Saul persecution of early believers. It was His plan all along for Saul to witness and teach to the world. Why? The Lord takes the one who is least sympathetic. He takes one with a harden heart. He takes Saul to spread the news to the unbelievers. The Lord saw Saul from all eternity. He saw that He would meet Saul along the way. The Lord has brought Saul to this point. Saul’s self-righteousness brought him forward; the One who is truly self-righteous will bring Him forward for the good of the Gospel. Listen to: Jesus’ Call to Saul: Jesus’ Plans for St. Paul: Implications for Our Spiritual Journey! Listen to this Meditation Media. ----------------------------------- Image: The Conversion of Saint Paul: Italian Artist: Caravaggio: 1600 ----------------------------------- Gospel Reading: John: 6: 52-59 First Reading: Acts 9: 1-20

What is Jesus Telling Us on Good Shepherd Sunday? How Should that Influence Our Spiritual Life? Today’s Gospel focuses on The Good Shepherd. We have all heard this Gospel in the past. “They know my voice”. Each year the fourth Sunday of Easter is The Good Shepherd Sunday. But what is the Lord telling us? Is He just telling us that He knows us? What is Jesus Telling Us on Good Shepherd Sunday? How Should that Influence Our Spiritual Life? Listen to this Meditation Media. --------------------------------- Image: The Good Shepherd: German Painter: Bernhard Plockhorst: (Lived) 1825-1907 --------------------------------- Gospel Reading: John: 10: 11-18

I Am the Bread of Life. What is Jesus Actually Telling Us? Impact on Our Spiritual Life! Yesterday, we heard about the martyrdom of St. Stephen, and Saul was present. Stephen placed his spirit into the hands of Christ. This had an immediate impact. Stephen says, Lord do not hold this against them. The great Deacon’s actions echo what Jesus Himself says on The Cross. Saul is emboldened by the death of Stephen. Saul, encouraged by the people putting Stephen to death, begins his immediate persecution of members of the “Catholic” Church. We hear in scripture about breaking into homes of people in the middle of the night and dragging them out! What we hear is a remarkable example of cruelty and persecution. Even as this is happening, within these events, something greater is happening! The world sees this false strength in a bold and threating way. What does the Church say? The Church tells us the blood of the martyrs are the seeds by which the Church grows! Stephen’s blood has been spilled. The persecution erupts around him. And the Church grows! Hear more within the Homily! The Bread of Life The Gospel scripture is St. John’s description of the Bread of Life (Chapter 6). He doesn’t just write down what Jesus says. He very carefully frames it. The Lord has fed several thousand people. Then He walks across the water. Note what the Lord demonstrates to us! As the Lord of nature, He is capable of doing several things . . . or anything He desires . . . with bread! And, as Lord, He is capable of doing anything He desires with His body! He easily walks upon water despite a great storm. He demonstrates He is capable of going beyond our sense of the reasonable and natural. People experience the feeding of the thousands. People come to Him asking Him for another sign. The Lord has already given His sign. The heart of mankind still seeks more and asks for more signs. Hear the significance and reason behind this within man’s heart! Jesus Tells Us . . . This Gospel is not unfamiliar to us. We understand Jesus is the Bread of Life. However, we encourage you to listen to this Homily to understand what St. John is trying to frame and its importance for our own Spiritual Life. Jesus tells us to not be concerned with being unworthy. That is not what Jesus focuses on. It is not what we should be focusing on . . . as true as that might be. Understand what Jesus is telling us. Listen to: I Am the Bread of Life. What is Jesus Actually Telling Us? Impact on Our Spiritual Life! Listen to this Meditation Media. ----------------------------- Image: The Last Supper – The First Eucharist: Spanish Painter: Vicente Juan Masip: 1562 The first image is a cropped image focusing on The Bread of Life. ----------------------------- Gospel Reading: John: 6: 35-40

Why Does the Church Insist We Celebrate the Easter for an Octave? The Gospel today is the Road to Emmaus. Jesus appears to two disciples. It is important to understand today’s Gospel to comprehend how the Easter Octave works. Why does Church celebrate and keep this octave in the first place? The reason is exactly what we hear in the Gospel reading. We move forward through the octave to consider all the things that have taken place. The Church reminds us that rather than being busy to get back to ordinary time, we pause on an extended Easter Sunday. Why pause? To consider all that have taken place. Hear more within the Homily on why this is so important! The octave is a point of shared rest and shared contemplation the Church sets aside each year. The disciples move together and share “all of these things”. As they do so, the Lord appears and joins them in this process. There is an intensity of Our Lord’s presence over these days. This is true during the Apostles days and true today for us! Why! Because we (and the disciples) contemplate Our Lord’s presence considering “all of these things”. How we come to Mass during the Octave manners. If we come to Mass as we do on any Sunday during ordinary times, something is missing. Listen again to the conversation, in this light, to the Gospel story the Road to Emmaus. Listen to: Why Does the Church Insist We Celebrate the Easter for an Octave? Listen to this Meditation Media. -------------------------------- Image: On the Road to Emmaus: French Painter: James Tissot: 1886 This artwork currently resides within the Brooklyn Museum. -------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Luke 24: 13-35

The Church Moves Across The Water Feeling Alone. Lessons for Our Own Spirituality! The first reading (not included within this audio, is very instructive on how the Church moves forward. No one in the ancient times was more vulnerable than a widow. Without the support of a husband, and often with small children, a widow was vulnerable. As the Church began to grow in numbers, many of them were widows. But the Church could not tend to all of them. For a small segment of the Church, there was an opportunity for neglect or simply an oversight. The complaint is raised to the Apostles. The Greek widows are being neglected. The Apostles recognize they cannot do everything by ourselves. These men, personally called by Jesus, and govern the community, also recognize as the community grows, there is more work than they can handle. They cannot do or fix everything. They turn to the community and ask the community to solve it. The opportunity for complaining, now changes and requires the community to step forward to help fix the issue. This is the recognition of the order of Deacons. It is also the recognition of another vocation by the Apostles. The Apostles ask the community to look among themselves and choose people of high quality to assist in providing a solution. Listen more within the Homily and listen to this example of the early Church at work. Hear how God calls some of us to service within His Church. The Lord Approaches the Disciples In today’s Gospel we hear about the Lord walking on water. The disciples are in the boat, as night settles upon the seas. They are alone. Jesus is not physically with them. This is the image of the Church. A boat on the sea. On the sea, every boat is tiny and vulnerable. Note the image. The body of Christ is on the move to get to the other side of the sea. The only way to get to the other side is to get in the boat, which carries them forward. In scripture, water is a complicated reality. We tend to think water is always good. But that is not the case in scripture. Water can be destructive (ie; the great flood). In the Bible, the only one who is capable of controlling water, is God. The disciples do not hear the voice of Jesus. He is obviously, not in the boat. As the storms rages on, the disciples feel alone. They know they have to move forward, but they feel alone, and it is getting darker. Think about your Spiritual Life. At times, isn’t that a familiar scenario? Then, in today’s scripture, something remarkable happens. Hear more in the Homily! What lessons can we draw from today’s Gospel? Listen to: The Church Moves Across The Water Feeling Alone. Lessons for Our Own Spirituality! Listen to this Meditation Media. --------------------------- Image: Jesus Walking On Water: English Painter: William Brassey Hole: 1905 --------------------------- Gospel Reading: John 6: 16-21 First Reading: Acts: 6: 1-7

Peter Exclaims to the World, In the Name of Jesus You Are Saved! The scene in the first reading (not included within this audio) has a theme of Holy Week. The scene is about two months after Good Friday. The numbers of “Christians” have swelled to several thousand and growing. The scene includes the Jewish religious leaders, Peter and John, the temple guards and others. The leaders thought they were rid of Jesus and His followers. Peter Stands Before the Religious Leaders The same people whom Jesus stood in front of on Good Friday are in this new scene. A remarkable scene. Peter, who on that night denied the Lord, now stands before the same religious leaders. However, he stands there with an animated spirit. The same group who judged Jesus, now judges Peter. The scene is provoked by an act of power (healing the sick and teaching with authority). Some religious leaders and their groups did not believe in the possibility of a resurrection. Announcing a resurrection will provoke the religious leaders. Hear more within the Homily. Peter, standing in front of these leaders says something. He says you are judging us because we did something good to a cripple. That is why we are here and why you are judging us! You are judging us on the manner of how we saved / healed someone. Peter was not saying the person could now walk. He was saying the person was saved, and that his healing was a sign from heaven of that fact. Peter tells the leaders that In the Name of Jesus, this man was saved. Hear more: Peter Exclaims to the World, In the Name of Jesus You Are Saved! Listen to this Meditation Media ------------------------------- Image: Christ Charges Peter: Italian Painter: Raphael: 1515 ------------------------------- Gospel Reading: John 21: 1-14 First Reading: Acts: 4: 1-12

The Apostles Were Slow to Believe the Lord Has Risen! One of the aspects of Easter we do not talk about is the topic of abundance. The Church places before us certain things that underscores how important this time really is to all Christians. The Homily explains this further. Today’s readings emphasize something. Have you ever experienced a difficult time in paying attention? If the answer is yes, todays reading become even more important. Faith is not about someone else. Faith is about our life. In today’s reading we hear about the difficulty in believing. Difficulty in having faith. Difficulty in changing one’s heart. In the first reading (not included within this audio) we hear the religious leaders thought they were done with Jesus and His disciples. Now they see Peter and John healing people and teaching to the people in the name of Jesus. The leaders should have the easiest time in understanding the will of God. But they don’t! What do the leaders do next? Hear more in the Homily. Slow to Believe In today’s Gospel, Jesus is not happy with Peter and John. These are the same guys doing wonders in the first reading. When we go to Mass, we have a mix of people. We are not talking about race or background. We are talking about the heart. We’ll have people that attend Mass regularly and have a strong faith. Others are attending, perhaps for the first time and are not strong in their faith. That is why today’s Gospel is important. Jesus rises and appears to Mary Magdalene. She rushes to tell the Apostles. She saw the Lord. Their response? We do not believe you! Two other disciples return to the Apostles and tell them they have seen the Lord. Their response? We do not believe you! These are the guys who know Jesus the best, and they do not believe! Why were the Apostles slow to believe? Hear and understand the impact on the Apostles. Understand how this impacts our own heart and our own spiritual life! Listen to: The Apostles Were Slow to Believe the Lord Has Risen! Listen to this Meditation Media. ---------------------------- Image: The Resurrection: Dutch Painter: Carl Bloch: 1875 ---------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew 16: 9-15

Jesus Chooses You on Easter Sunday and Every Day In today’s Gospel we hear about St. John and St. Peter running to Jesus’ empty tomb. Recall, they did not yet understand what Jesus’ Resurrection meant. After arriving at the tomb, the Gospel tells us . . . they understood what had happen. Imagine turning within the tomb, and looking out at the world, completely changed. They exited from the tomb changed. The world itself changed. Peter and John are tasked with spreading the message of Jesus’ Resurrection. Now imagine you and me at the tomb. Jesus also chooses us to spread the message through our normal life. However, imagine how the Resurrection will impact their life . . . with our life . . . in delivering the message. Jesus chooses you . . . to deliver this message. Understand what that really means! Listen to: Jesus Chooses You on Easter Sunday and Every Day Listen to this Meditation Media. ------------------------ Image: The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre on the Morning of the Resurrection: Swiss Painter: Eugène Burnand: 1898 This painting is also known by its shorten name, The Disciples. Now residing in Paris, it was not well received when it was first presented. But look at the painting again. It is truly remarkable! Look at the hands of the younger disciple in anticipation. He holds his hands together anxiously. Look at Peter’s expression. He looks both terrified and hopeful. The artist captures the emotion and the movement of the disciples. How truly wonderful and appropriate for this Meditation piece. ------------------------ Gospel Reading: John 20: 1-9

The Lord Freely Gives Up His Life: Understand the Implications Freedom can actually be a terrible thing! Strange to say! How freedom is used has consequences. We see this in today’s Gospel and through Holy Week. The Lord will freely lay down His life. It is a freedom to obey a will other than one’s own. We don’t often connect freedom with obedience. The Homily explores this further. Judas also freely goes and asks the religious leaders to hand over Jesus. He freely enters into a bargain to hand Him over. The Lord embraces the moment. He is aware of what will happen and who will betray Him. Not to save His own life will the Lord prevent someone’s freedom to act. The Lord gives Himself to Us and For Us. Listen to: The Lord Freely Gives Up His Life: Understand the Implications Listen to this Meditation Media ------------------------ Image: Judas Iscariot (right), retiring from the Last Supper: Danish Painter: Carl Bloch: late 1800s ------------------------ Gospel Reading: Matthew 26: 14-25

Understand How Our Lady of Sorrows Impacts Our Holy Week Devotion and Our Spiritual Life The audio opens up describing a specific image . . . Our Lady of Sorrows. The image within this post is further explained. Listen to the details behind this image and understand its importance within the Lenten Season. Weeping at the foot of The Cross is the result of a deep appreciation for everything her Son, Jesus, is undergoing. Scripture tells us Our Lady held in her heart all of these things, like a treasure. Her tears do not fall on the ground as they are caught. Our Lady holds all the events of Jesus life as a treasury. She will not let them go un-mourned. Hear more within the Homily. The sword within the image is also explained. Listen to: Understand How Our Lady of Sorrows Impacts Our Holy Week Devotion and Our Spiritual Life Listen to this special conference during the Lenten Season. Listen to this Meditation Media. ------------------------ Image: Our Lady of Sorrows Note: This marks the six Friday of the current Lenten Season, featuring special formation conferences covering a range of seasonal topics. You can revisit the initial installment, titled “The Spiritual Meaning of Lent”. The second installment is entitled: Where Did the Stations of the Cross Come From? Why Are They Important? What is the Peculiar Power of this Prayer? The third conference: Atonement, Reparation and Reconciliation to the Heart of Jesus. The fourth conference: The Seven Last Words of Jesus: The Fourth Friday Lenten Season Conference. The fifth conference: The Mysteries of Holy Week.

Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Inthe first reading, God is speaking of something eternal. God makes a promise. It involves the land and involves Jerusalem, but His promise goes beyond that. God addresses Israel, but reaches beyond it . . . to all mankind. Hear more within the Homily. The promise is also encountered in our Gospel. It occurs after Jesus’ last great sign . . . the raising of Lazarus. Jesus’ Word reaches into a tomb and raises His friend from the dead. This miracle creates great worry after it happens. It was a sign that could not be ignored. It demanded a response. There was no way to remain indifferent to Jesus’ sign. The religious leaders gather together to determine what to do. He is working many great signs. If we leave Him alone, the people will believe in Him. Therefore, we must stop Him. Why are the leaders concerned? Listen more to the Homily. The signs really don’t matter to the religious leaders. The leaders decide what to do next. Why did the religious leaders think Jesus’ must die? The leaders think if Jesus dies, the people will be saved from the external threat (Romans). The leaders think we sacrifice one person, for the betterment of all of us! That actually was God’s plan. The world doesn’t sacrifice Jesus. The Lord offers Himself up. Hear more. Listen to: Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Listen to this Meditation Media. ---------------------------------- Image: Christ before the High Priest: Dutch Painter: Gerard van Honthorst: 1617 ---------------------------------- Gospel Reading: John 11: 45-56

Jesus Says I Am Here Now on Palm Sunday. Then He Asks Us a Question! The Palm Sunday Gospel is of the account of the Passion. We also hear that Jesus tells us He is here now. Then He asks us a question! Our response is the only thing that matters during Holy Week . . . in fact, it is the only thing that matters within our lives. Here more within the Homily. Listen to: Jesus Says I Am Here Now on Palm Sunday. Then He Asks Us a Question! Listen to this Meditation Media ------------------------------------ Image: Jesus Enters the City: French Painter: James Tissot: 1896 ------------------------------------ Gospel Reading: Mark 14: 1 – 15:47

Our Lady of Sorrows: Unite the Last Two Lines of the Hail Mary With Mary at the Foot of the Cross Thisfour minute audio was originally recorded as part of a recent Passion of Mary. This brief homily reflects on the last two lines of the Hail Mary and Our Lady of Sorrows standing at the foot of The Cross praying for Jesus and mankind. Listen to this brief, but special Meditation Media. Note: The media references the reading of the Passion of Mary. This is a separate audio and is only available for a few days during Holy Week. ---------------------------------- Image: Our Lady of Sorrows

It is God that Witnesses to Me, so I may Witness to Him! Impacts for Our Spiritual Life Scripture, especially during Lent, speaks to your heart and my heart. The readings are challenging today. They speak about the religious leaders’ hearts. In the first reading (not included within this media set), God is frustrated with His people even after all the things and signs He showed us. Even after seeing the Red Sea parting, the plagues, and the shaking of Mt. Sinai, the people created an image of the “god” they would worship. God became frustrated. Seeing signs is not enough. God turns to Moses. Look at what your people have done, says the Lord. What should I do with them who turned their back on Me? Moses responds. Hear more within the Homily. In the Gospel today, the Lord says . . . I haven’t come to tell you what you want to hear. I do not have to prove anything to you . . . the heart of man. It is God who authenticates Me! It is God that witnesses to Me, so I may witness to Him! I am not authenticated by any man! Wow! What a statement! Jesus tells us believe in my works and believe in me. Hear more within the Homily and understand the impacts for our spiritual life. Listen to: It is God that witnesses to Me, so I may witness to Him! Impacts for Our Spiritual Life Listen to this Meditation Media. --------------------------- Image: Jesus . . . from the Painting: Sermon on the Mount: Danish Artist: Carl Bloch: 1877 --------------------------- Gospel Reading: John 5: 31-47

Scripture Foretells of the Events of Good Friday In today’s Gospel we have a strong indication of Good Friday. This Sunday begins Passiontide . . . the time of The Cross. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, but Passiontide begins a week earlier. The readings have a strong message about The Cross. The first reading is from the third chapter of the Book of Wisdom. It is also a good reading to read at home. Why? It anticipates the events of Good Friday. The anticipation is not only of the events of Good Friday, but the workings of the heart within those who put Him to death. The world is threatened by Jesus. Understand this! This chapter is both instructive and troubling because it may surface the hidden traits of our own hearts. The Gospel provides a message as well. Hear more within the Homily. Listen to: Scripture Foretells the Events of Good Friday Listen to this Meditation Media. ------------------------------ Image: The Crucifixion: French Painter: Simon Vouet: 1622 This painting resides in the Church of Jesus, Genoa. ------------------------------ Gospel Reading: John 7: 1-2, 10, 25-30

The Mysteries of Holy Week: Good Friday through Easter The second conference walks through Good Friday through Easter. This conference is the fifth in a series of Leneten Conference. Listen to The Mysteries of Holy Week: The Passion through Holy Thursday before listening to this media set.

The Mysteries of Holy Week The Mysteries of Holy Week: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion through Holy Thursday Note: This audio is the fifth Friday conference within the Lenten Season. The first several media sets’ titles within this series appear below. The Mysteries of Holy Week: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion through Holy Thursday In a number of the Homilies during the Lenten Season, it has been mentioned that Lent is going somewhere. It is headed toward the Holy Week. Everything that happens during Lent . . . all of the fasting, prayers and acts of charity . . . are at the service of bringing us to the Holy Days ready to celebrate them worthily and well. The prayers of the Lenten Season are at the service of a greater act of service and prayer. Hear more within the conference. The Lenten Season Prepares Us The Lenten Season prepares us to show up prepared for the Holy Days. It is not just showing up that is the key. It is showing up for these days . . . prepared. Preparing for what? To enter fully into the Mysteries of the Holy Days. What is Passiontide? Passiontide is the last two weeks of Lent. Scripture tells us Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem. Meaning, He is on the way to the Holy Days. What does that mean and why is it significant? Hear more within the conference. Holy Week begins during Palm Sunday. It is that day we arrive at the doorstep of Holy Week. The official name by the Church is Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. As we move toward Holy Week, there are some changes. It begins on the fifth Sunday of Lent. Hear more within the conference. Palm Sunday is Not a Re-enactment Palm Sunday is not a re-enactment of the events of Jesus entering into Jerusalem! Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is not a re-enactment of the events of Jesus entering into Jerusalem. It is a participation in it! It is a participation of the movement of the Lord. Hear more within the media. Listen to this first of two conferences: The Mysteries of Holy Week: Palm Sunday through Holy Thursday. Hear about the last week of Jesus’ public life and public ministry. The first conference takes us through Holy Thursday. The second conference picks up from Good Friday. Listen to both conferences. ------------------------------------ Image: Triumphal entry: German Painter and Graphic Artist: Bernhard Plockhorst: (1825 – 1907) -------------------------- Note: This marks the fifth Friday of the current Lenten Season, featuring special formation conferences covering a range of seasonal topics. You can revisit the initial installment, titled “The Spiritual Meaning of Lent". The second installment is entitled: Where Did the Stations of the Cross Come From? Why Are They Important? What is the Peculiar Power of this Prayer? The third conference: Atonement, Reparation and Reconciliation to the Heart of Jesus. The fourth conference: The Seven Last Words of Jesus: The Fourth Friday Lenten Season Conference.

Healing by Christ of the Man by the Pool is a Foretelling of Our Spiritual Life. It is an Important Lesson During the Lenten Season Today’s Gospel is well known to many Christians. John tells us about the healing by Christ of the man by the pool. The Church selects this scripture as a reminder that we are all cleaned and healed in the pool of water at our Baptism. Baptism can only be done once, and it is permanent. However, it has little value if we do not do something. Hear what the Church teaches us on this day and during the Lenten Season. Listen to this Meditation Media. -------------------------- Image: Christ Heals the Man by the Pool: Spanish Painter: Bartolomé Estebán Murillo: 1670 Gospel Reading: John 5: 1-16

The Lord Tells Us Do Not Fall Into the Trap of Doing the Details and Thinking Your Spiritual Life Must Be Alright: The Lord Explains What We Must Do Scripture’s focus on Mass this last week has been our relationship with the Word of God. It focuses on the need to receive it and respond to it. Today’s scripture continues this focus. The Lord Himself tells us the human heart, for many, goes through the motions without faith. The Lord says He desires mercy, not sacrifices. The Lord is not saying sacrifices are bad. He is saying that sacrifices alone are often shallow. It is often an expression of piety that goes nowhere. People may go through the motions and offer sacrifices at the proper time. I do things when I am supposed to do them. There is a way of just showing up that is empty. The Lord and the Homily tells us more. We must be careful we do not fall into a trap. We must not think, if I get all the details right, that I must be all right. Listen to: The Lord Tells Us Do Not Fall into the Trap of Doing the Details and Thinking Your Spiritual Life Must Be Alright: The Lord Explains What We Must Do Listen to this Meditation Media. ------------------------ Image: The Lord’s Prayer: French Painter: James Tissot: 1886-1896 ------------------------ Gospel Reading: Luke 18: 9-14

Look UP in Faithfulness to See the Lord. The Gift of Hope Jesus says in the Gospel, the Son of Man will be lifted up. Jesus references in the Gospel Moses in the dessert. When the Israelites were unfaithful, and worshipped serpents, snakes came and bit the people. Many people died. When the people called out to God, He commanded Moses to create a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. He told Moses to raise it high, so the people can see it. People saw the power of God and those that looked, did not die from the snakes. The people remembered the reason why this happened. It was their unfaithfulness. Out of their affliction came the sign of their healing. All they had to do is be faithful and look up. Hear more within the Homily. The Lord says He must be lifted up so He can be a sign. The wounded people, filled with regret, can look up and see the Lord, and look to Him in their affliction. The Lord must be lifted up to find Me. This will give the people hope. Understand this within the Homily. Near the end of the Homily, we hear that 2025 has been designated a year of Hope – a Holy Year. Additionally, 2024 has been designated as a year of prayer. Hear more about these two years and the significance within the Homily. Listen to: Look UP in Faithfulness to See the Lord. The Gift of Hope Listen to this Meditation Media. ----------------------------------- Image: Crucified Christ with Donors: Italian Artist: Ugolino di Nerio: 1317-1327 This painting is one of the earliest known paintings of Jesus on The Cross. This painting is nearly 700 years old. Gospel Reading: John 3: 14-21