Father Kubicki???s Prayer Reflection

Several years ago, when Pope Benedict XVI visited Africa, he talked to people who in his words “bear the burden of sickness and suffering.” His words are good for us to reflect upon as we approach Holy Week.

The gospels at Mass in the days that lead up to Holy Week, show Jesus debating with both enemies and friends. In fact, the gospel today from the 8th chapter of John begins with Jesus talking to those Jews who believed in him. In other words, his supporters.

Fr. James Kubicki shares a reflection from Cardinal Joseph Zen, retired Archbishop of Hong Kong. Several years ago, Cardinal Zen gave some reflections on the stations of the cross on Good Friday. This particular station is based on a passage from the gospel of St. Luke.

The gospel at Mass today begins with these words of Jesus: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” The enemies of Jesus who first heard these words may have thought of them as a proud declaration, but if you think about it, they are not.

Today’s gospel is from chapter 8 of the gospel of St. John with the famous story of the woman who had been caught in adultery. This is one gospel story that is very easily imagined. You can just see the enemies of Jesus having just caught a woman in adultery dragging her in front of Jesus, hoping to catch him up.

In a world that encourages us to "supersize it," we have a saint today that founded an order of Franciscan hermits who became known as the little ones. Today’s saint is St. Francis of Paola. He once said the following: “I earnestly admonish you to look after your spiritual well-being with judicious concern.”

Throughout history and even today, many consider Jesus to be a fool. In the eyes of the world what he did was foolish. As St. Paul put it, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.

In the bible,  we see Jesus as both a lion and a lamb. We see both in a brief passage from chapter five in the book of revelation. “No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or examine it.”

Both Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic Christians are celebrating a saint today who’s name came from a book he wrote which is read in all eastern monasteries during lent. It is called the Ladder of Divine Ascent written by St. John Climacus.

In today’s Prayer Reflection, Fr. James Kubicki shares some thoughts on penance and confession. God forgives us when we confess our sins and receive absolution in the sacrament of reconciliation. Some may question why the priest gives us a penance if we have already been forgiven.

We usually think of the prophet Isaiah as a prophet to be read during the season of Advent, but he also appears in the first reading at Mass today. It is a beautiful passage from what is known as the book of consolation and it makes sense that we have it right after Laetare Sunday.

The Entrance Antiphon today begins: “Rejoice Jerusalem, be glad for her.” Thus, the name for this fourth Sunday of Lent is from the Latin word for rejoice – Laetare. It is Laetare Sunday, a day to rejoice in the midst of Lent.

Yesterday, the Church celebrated the solemnity of the Annunciation. We can keep this great mystery of our faith in mind throughout the year by praying the Angelus prayer, which is traditionally prayed three times a day.

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Assumption which is another major feast on which we put aside the violet vestments and the priest wears white vestments at Mass. It is a feast of Mary’s yes to God’s will, an exactly nine months before the celebration of the Nativity.

In today’s Prayer Reflection, Father James Kubicki talks about one of his favorite memories of a pilgrimage he made to the Holy Land. He was blessed to celebrate Holy Mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

Today the Church is celebrating a Spanish saint who became a great missionary bishop. His name is St. Toribio de Mogrovejo. He was born in the 1500s, and in a decision that must have shocked him, he was named the archbishop of Lima Peru.

The word that is central to today’s gospel is forgiveness. We use this word all the time, but what does it really mean? Forgiveness recognizes that a wrong was done, and that justice requires that a penalty be paid.

It may not feel like it where you live, but today is the first day of Spring. For those especially who live in the North, this is great news. In this prayer reflection, Fr. James Kubicki talks about the fact that the days are getting longer and how this is a good way of looking at Lent, turning away from the darkness of sin to the light of Christ.

In today’s gospel, we hear about how some terrible things happened and people thought that God was punishing the victims. Pope Francis has said that the reality is otherwise.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Joseph. If you go to Mass today, you will notice something very different. The violet vestments are gone for this morning’s Mass and replaced with white vestments. Today, the Church celebrates a feast that is so important reminders of Lent.