Virtual Retreat

Daily scriptural reflections by Fr. Rory Pitstick, SSL from Immaculate Heart Retreat Center in Spokane, WA
Also available via daily email

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Daily Retreat 04/02/07

2007 Apr 2 Mon: Monday of Holy Week
Is 42: 1-7/ Ps 26(27): 1. 2. 3. 13-14/ Jn 12: 1-11.

Overview of the Scripture of Holy Week


This is Holy Week - take advantage of it by immersing your life in the Paschal mystery of our redemption through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ! Give ample time and opportunity for the Word of God to permeate your life - print out this chart of the scripture of this week, then commit yourself to daily time in meditation. Check your local parish for times to go to confession, and join in the celebration of the Sacred Triduum: Thursday Mass of the Last Supper, Friday Veneration of the Cross, and the most holy Easter Vigil.

Passion/Palm Sunday
Holy Week begins with the commemoration of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, where He was greeted by the excited crowd waving palm branches and shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!"
Matt 21:1-11    Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16    Luke 19:28-40

Isaiah 50:4-7 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue... (3rd Servant Song)
Psalm 21(22) My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?
Phil 2:6-11 Christ Jesus, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God...
Matt 26:14-27:66    Mark 14:1-15:47    Luke 22:14-23:56


Monday - Wednesday of Holy week
The Cleansing of the Temple was Jesus’ first action on entering Jerusalem. He went on to preach several parables, tell about the End, and respond to crucial questions raised by the Sadducees and Pharisees.
(cf. chapters between 1st and 2nd Gospel of Passion/Palm Sunday)

Monday
Isaiah 42:1-7 Here is My Servant whom I uphold, My chosen one,(1st Servant Song)
Psalm 26(27) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
John 12:1-11 Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil
Tuesday
Isaiah 49:1-6 I will make you a light to the nations,(2nd Servant Song)
Psalm 70 (71) I will sing of your salvation.
John 13:21-33, 36-38 "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
Wednesday
Isaiah 50:4-9 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue... (3rd Servant Song)
Psalm 68 (69) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Matt 26:14-25 One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
Holy Thursday
Chrism Mass
Isaiah 61:1-9 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me;
Psalm 88 (89) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Rev 1:5-8 He has made us into a kingdom, priests for His God and Father,
Luke 4:16-21 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me

TRIDUUM

Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Exodus 12:1-14 It is the Passover of the LORD.
Psalm 115 (116) The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
1Cor 11:23-26 When you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.
John 13:1-15 He loved His own in the world and He loved them to the end.

Good Friday
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 but the LORD laid upon Him the guilt of us all. (4th Servant Song)
Psalm 30 (31) Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered
John 18:1-19:42 "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews."

Easter Vigil
Genesis 1:1-2:2 In the beginning...
& Psalm 103(104) Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or Psalm 32(33) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Genesis 22:1-18 God put Abraham to the test.
& Psalm 15(16) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Exodus 14:15-15:1 Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians.
& Exodus 15:1-18 Let us sing to the Lord; He has covered Himself in glory.
Isaiah 54:5-14 Your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,called God of all the earth.
& Psalm 29(30) I will praise You, Lord, for You have rescued me.
Isaiah 55:1-11 All you who are thirsty,come to the water!
& Isaiah 12:2-6 You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Baruch 3:9-15,32-4:4 Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life: listen, and know prudence!
& Psalm 18(19) Lord, You have the words of everlasting life.
Ezekiel 36:16-28 I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you,
& Psalm 41 & Psalm 42 Like a deer that longs for running streams....
or Isaiah 12:2-6 You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
or Psalm 50(51) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Romans 6:3-11 We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
Matt 28:1-10    Mark 16:1-7    Luke 24:1-12


Easter Sunday
Acts 10:34-43 This Man God raised on the third day
Psalm 117(118) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!
Col 3:1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
or 1Cor 5:6-8 For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.
John 20:1-9 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early
or Luke 24:13-35 Stay with us, Lord!


P.S.  Today is also the anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul the Great.