MARY, OUR MOTHER

PASSION SUNDAY (OLD CALENDAR)

On this traditional Passion Sunday, we continue to hear the Gospel of St. John (8:46-59), where Jesus continues to assert His innocence and His Oneness with the Father from eternity! The temple leaders blaspheme the Lord by saying: ! "Are we not right in saying that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?"

Imagine that! Their hatred of Him causes them to say these things. But Jesus leaves it to His Father the punishment for their unbelief and insults.

He answers them: "I have not a devil, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. Yet, I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks and who judges. . . If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say is your God. And you do not know Him, but I know Him. And if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be like you, a liar. But I know Him, and I keep His word. Abraham your father rejoiced that he was to see my day. He saw it and was glad."

They said: "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM."

Could Our Lord be any plainer? "I AM WHO AM." "YAHWEH." The Name God revealed to Moses. Jesus is proclaiming His co-existence with the Father before time began. Soon He would also reveal the Triune Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But not to these blind faithless men, only to those who will believe and obey Him; the new people of God, who will share in His Passion for an "eternal inheritance."

Through our Baptism and Confirmation, we also share in Christ's priesthood. Let us offer our prayers and ourselves for the conversion of unbelievers!

PRAYER

O Lord, may these offerings free us from the bondage of sin And win for us the gift of Your mercy.Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

God saves me, Jesus enlightens me, the Holy Spirit is my life, thus I fear nothing.
Deacon John