Easter Thursday
Ezekiel,
Chapter 12, Verse 18-19
18 Son of man, eat
your bread trembling and drink your water shaking with fear. 19 And say to the people of the land: Thus says the
Lord GOD about the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: they shall
eat their bread in fear and drink
their water in horror, because the land will be emptied of what fills it—the
lawlessness of all its inhabitants.
We become lawless when we lack leaders that had a
leader’s heart. God measures the greatness of a leader’s heart not his
intelligence or his wealth. Ezekiel message is that God punishes evil leaders
and those who follow them. No nation rises above its leadership. God desires
that leaders first develop the following characteristics of the heart: 1)
Healthy personal security 2) Strong biblical identity 3) Growing intimacy with
Him 4) Consistent personal disciplines 5) Pure motives and ambitions 6)
Biblical values and priorities 7) Humble servant’s heart 8) Healthy community
relationships 9) Principle-centered decisions 10) Compassionate love for
people.
Also, Ezekiel was warning
the Israelites that this type of fear is a result of being a lawless nation.
Israel had become a nation without respect for God or man and suffered exile.
If we as a nation follow the same path what could be the result for our nation?
No nation rises above its leadership.[1]
Easter Thursday[2] is a day for Commemoration of
the departed which is a Slavic tradition. Thursday of the Dead is described as
a universal day for visiting tombs, engaged in most diligently by townspeople,
followed by fellaheen ("peasants"), and then Bedouins. Women
would go to the cemetery before sunrise to pray for the departed and distribute
bread cakes known as kaʿak al-asfar ("the yellow roll") and dried
fruit to the poor, to children, and to relatives. Children would also receive
painted eggs, generally yellow in color. The sharing of this tradition between
Christians and Muslims is thought to date back to at least the 12th century
when Saladin urged Muslims to adopt Christian customs in order to promote
religious tolerance in the region.
Shallow minds are easily scandalized at
the thought that, despite Christ Jesus' divine mission and His heroic
earnestness in fulfilling it, despite the limitless possibilities of the
Sacrifice of Calvary glorified in the power of the Resurrection, even now so
many human souls are still sick and diseased, even dead in sin and seemingly
lost in impenitence. But think for a moment of some definite astounding force
in nature, as for instance lightning, or even better, of so simple a force as
the stroke of a hammer or the approach of a lighted match; notice the vast
difference in the effects produced on a block of granite, on a cake of ice, and
on a keg of powder. Even so, the definite effect of the same graces upon
different individual souls depends on the receptivity of each. Yet never doubt,
the doors of the treasury of the merits and fruits of Calvary are wide open;
the fountains of the Savior are pouring out heavenly waters to purify and cure
and refresh souls; the invitation goes out to all:
"Come, eat
My bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you. All you that thirst
come to the waters, and you that have no money, make haste, buy, and eat: come
ye, buy wine and milk without money! Come! to experience the virtue of the
waters, and of the food, and of the medicine, and of the fire. Come and drink
lest you die of thirst! Come and eat lest your soul hunger and starve! Come,
approach the fire of My charity, to be stirred out of your spiritual coldness
and numbness!"
The Apostles must have
been astonished at their power to heal the bodies of the faithful while on the
road when Christ sent them out before His death. Yet, the greatest power was to
come after His death and resurrection. Jesus made it perfectly clear that the
power to forgive sins is far greater than the power to heal. (Mk. 2:9) Jesus
healed people of every disease as a sign of the greater work of forgiveness of
sins. For in the gospel he states, “That you
may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sin.” (Mk
2:10) The physical signs were there for the sake of a spiritual reality. “Is anyone among you sick?
He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and
anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer
of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has
committed any sins, he will be forgiven.” (Jas. 5:14-15) This is the sacrament we know as the
Anointing of the Sick. It
must be noted that grave physical suffering is often accompanied by a great
spiritual trial. Sacramental anointing gives us the grace we need to face our
trials. Oils have been used for millennia to convey the grace and health of
God. Anointing helps us transform physical suffering into something more deeply
curative, something truly releasing. Don’t wait! At the first sign of serious
ailment seek the aid of Christ through this sacrament.
All Christian life is a preparation for death. We
cannot predict the moment of our passing but we should be prepared for it both
remotely and near term when our death is imminent. It is best to prepare far in
advance by making a lifetime habit of confession and reception of the Holy
Eucharist. However, if seriously ill do not wait to take action. Confession
must be made while we are still thinking clearly and have the energy for the
task and we should make arrangements to receive sacramental anointing. Do not
rely on others to do this for you. It is important for you, if you are able, to
contact the hospital chaplain or priest. Remember there is more after our death
for the church teaches us that after our death there is judgment, heaven and
hell. Do not be a nilly willy and avoid thinking about death and we should
remind ourselves that death is a normal part of life and we should have a sense
of humor and it is not a license to make others miserable. We should try to get
our affairs in order so to make it easier on others. We should choose a
Catholic cemetery for the burial of our mortal remains, as a sign of our belief
in the resurrection of the body. Our flesh has been divinized in baptism, made
one the flesh of Jesus in Holy Communion, and so its repose is a matter of some
consequence. We should keep in mind that at our death as said by Cardinal
Newman, “Life is changed, not ended” and “All who ever lived still live.”
THURSDAY O
Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Body and Blood of Thy divine
Son Jesus, which He Himself, on the night before His Passion, gave as meat and
drink to His beloved Apostles and bequeathed to His holy Church to be the
perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of His faithful people, deliver
the souls in Purgatory, but most of all, that soul which was most devoted to
this Mystery of infinite love, in order that it may praise Thee therefore,
together with Thy divine Son and the Holy Spirit in Thy glory forever. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
ON EVERY DAY
OF THE NOVENA V. O Lord, hear my prayer; R. And let my cry come unto Thee. O
God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant unto the souls of Thy
servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that through our devout
supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired, Who livest
and reignest world without end. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST.
GERTRUDE THE GREAT O Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of
Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world
today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory and for sinners everywhere— for
sinners in the Universal Church, for those in my own home and for those within
my family. Amen.
PRAYER FOR
THE DYING O Most Merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I pray Thee, by the agony of
Thy most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thine Immaculate Mother, to wash
in Thy Most Precious Blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their
agony and who will die today. Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the
dying! Amen.
O Mother most
merciful, pray for the souls in Purgatory!
FRIDAY O Lord
God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which Jesus Thy divine Son
did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from His sacred hands
and feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I
am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders Thee
from admitting it quickly to the possession of Thy glory, where it may praise
Thee and bless Thee for evermore. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
SATURDAY O
Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which gushed forth from
the sacred side of Thy divine Son Jesus in the presence of and to the great
sorrow of His most holy Mother, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and among them
all, especially that soul which has been most devout to this noble Lady, that
it may come quickly into Thy glory, there to praise Thee in her, and her in
Thee, through all the ages. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be
SUNDAY O Lord
God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which Thy divine Son Jesus
shed in the Garden, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and especially that one
which is the most forsaken of all, and bring it into Thy glory, where it may
praise and bless Thee forever. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
MONDAY O Lord
God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which Thy divine Son Jesus
shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and among them
all, especially that soul which is nearest to its entrance into Thy glory, that
it may soon begin to praise Thee and bless Thee forever. Amen. Our Father. Hail
Mary. Glory Be.
TUESDAY O
Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood of Thy divine Son Jesus
that was shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the souls in
Purgatory, and among them all, particularly that soul which is in the greatest
need of our prayers, in order that it may not long be delayed in praising Thee
in Thy glory and blessing Thee forever. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
WEDNESDAY O
Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood of Thy divine Son Jesus
that was shed in the streets of Jerusalem, whilst He carried on His sacred
shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and
especially that one which is richest in merits in Thy sight, so that, having
soon attained the high place in glory to which it is destined, it may praise
Thee triumphantly and bless Thee forever. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory
Be.
Daily Devotions
·
Manhood of
the Master-Day 5 week 10
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
[1] John Maxwell, The Maxwell Leadership
Bible.
[3]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2018-04-05
[4] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic
Customs and their biblical roots. Chap. 22. Anointing of the Sick.
[5] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic
Customs and their biblical roots. Chap. 39. Preparation for Death.
[6]Schouppe
S.J., Rev. Fr. F. X.. Purgatory Explained
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