In light of the current pandemic and the restrictions on mass gatherings, Holy Rosary Parish in Swakopmund is now offering Sunday mass online at 8a.m. available on facebook:
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The theme of this Sunday: “The road to Emmaus”.
This Sunday’s Gospel captures the story of the two disciples of Jesus on their way back to their native village on the first day of the week. They were filled with sadness because the man, on whom they had put their hopes in, had been executed. All hope was gone by the fact that they had seen Him being crucified and buried. This experience itself, devastating as it was, shattered them from recalling what He had said to them before that “The Christ should suffer, die, and rise from the dead on the third day” (Luke 24:46). Surprising enough, it is that same day He said He will rise from the dead (the third day) that they were returning back to their native village (meaning, back to their old way of life). A typical example of how sometimes disappointing events can shatter the understanding and fulfillment of God’s word that has been planted in our hearts, leading to the loss of hope in Him. However; disappointed/disillusioned as they were; they had a story to tell, a story of their life journey with Jesus, and how this journey seemed to have ended when He died. It is exactly at this moment when they think their journey with Him has ended that he joins them again. Remarkably enough; what He does is that He asks them to re-tell the story of what had happed. As he listens to them, He does not say “It is I/Me”. He simply gives a listening ear, and explains to them in all the Scriptures the things written concerning Himself, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets. Yet throughout the Seven Miles walk to Emmaus from Jerusalem, they are not able to recognize Him. It is at table with them when after taking the bread; blesses, breaks it, and gives it to them, that their eyes are opened and recognize Him. Reflecting on “the story-telling” on the road to Emmaus, I would like to point out that Holy Mass in the Catholic Church is like the Road to Emmaus. Some of you might be saying; well, why talking about Holy Mass when we are in Lockdown period and have no opportunity to attend Holy Mass? True, but this will help us understand where we are on this road to Emmaus during the Lockdown. Let us see ourselves like the two disciples on the way to Emmaus during the Lockdown period. Lockdown period is a sign of still being on the road to Emmaus, discussing the Easter events. In this period, while in our homes reflecting on the Word of God, Jesus wants to engage us in a conversation with Him. He wants to listen to our own stories of faith. As we open up our hearts to Him in prayer each day, He continues to shed light in our own faith stories. We might experience difficulty in understanding our own stories of faith as we try to open up to God in prayer, but let us see this reality as still being on the journey towards Emmaus destination where our eyes will be open to understand and to recognize Him as He truly is. And the Emmaus destination should be understood here as the table fellowship. And the table fellowship in the Catholic Church is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Mass). Let us be hopeful that soon after the lockdown we will come together at table to break bread, and there to have our eyes opened and recognize Him fully alive and present amongst us. Just for further reflection, I mentioned before that in the Catholic Church, Holy Mass can be understood as the road to Emmaus experience. Why do I say so? There are five important parts of Mass: The first part is the Introductory Rite; the second part is The Liturgy of the Word; the third part is the Liturgy of the Eucharist; the fourth part is the Communion Rite; and the fifth part is the Concluding Rite. The introductory rite at Mass helps us prepare and begin the journey to Emmaus (a journey to table fellowship). During the liturgy of the Word, we begin our conversation with Christ. Here, He speaks to our troubled hearts. At times, we show lack of understanding, and yet He does not judge us, He waits for a perfect moment to help us understand. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, He invites us at table in fellowship. During the Communion Rite, He breaks the bread, and gives it to us. It is at the breaking of bread that He opens our eyes to understand the Scripture, and to as well recognize Him as He is, and our hearts rejoice again. At the Concluding Rite, as we depart from the table fellowship (alter), we embark on a mission of testifying to His name to other, just like the two disciples who, as He vanished from their sight after sharing the bread, returned to Jerusalem and testified “We have seen the Lord”. And so, the Mission of testifying to His name begins after being in fellowship with Him at table where He opens our eyes. With opened eyes, we can be proud to tell the story of our encounter with Him. It hurts to hear people who say “why should I go to Church, I have my bible, I will just read the word of God at home” when they have the opportunity to go to Church. This is a sign of a failed faith journey with Jesus to Emmaus destination (which is table fellowship). Anyone who does this deprives himself or herself from the great opportunity of knowing who Christ truly is, who reveals Himself and is recognized in a special way at the breaking of bread. As we are in the lockdown period, let us not lose hope that soon we will be united at table with Him. Let us keep walking and discussing with Him as we reflect continuously on the Word of God in our homes. To fail reflecting on the Word of God during this time is to fail walking with Jesus towards the table fellowship with Him. May God continue to accompany you on this journey until we soon meet as disciples around His Holy Table (Alter). Fr. John Hausiku, OMI Father Rufus writes: Modern life is very complicated. Every time there is so much input that we are overloaded with: for example diseases like COVID 19 that we are currently fighting, noise, latest music, electronic gadgets, computers etc. Our lives seem more and more crowded, and it seems we have to work harder and harder just to stay still. Looking at the world at large, it sometimes become very difficult to figure out where God fits into it all and we often forget to ask ourselves the questions Peter, John and Mary asked on the Easter Sunday: what’s next? What is the risen Christ to me? How can I make this Easter the start of a new phase of our friendship that is beautiful, new and delightful? Sometimes people who feel well-disposed to the Church may start to feel that God, faith, the Mass, and the Church don’t really have a place in their lives anymore. Often, those things just don’t seem relevant to the lives they lead, and to the world they live in. Like now when the world is shattered, many are loosing faith in God. It is possible that our Christian faith seem not relevant to the modern world anymore and that after two thousand years, for the first time, we are in a world where faith in Christ has nothing to say to us. Although it may seems so, I personally don’t think so. Reason being that, maybe we need to look at faith from a different angle. If faith seems not relevant to the modern world, perhaps the reality is not that there is a problem with faith, but that there is a problem with the modern world. Perhaps the modern world is damaged – not broken beyond repair, but damaged. If it seems that faith does not have a place in your life or faith does not seems relevant to the life you live, then maybe the problem is not with faith, but with your life. It might be easy to assume that faith is irrelevant to my everyday life, but what if the terrible truth is that, in reality, in the light of eternity, it is my life, the way I chose to live, the priorities on which I hang my daily decisions, that proves to be irrelevant and has nothing of lasting value to say? The Easter story shows us what happens when faith and life collide. Mary, Peter, and John crashed into something unexpected: The tomb is empty, the Lord’s body is gone and they started to wonder what happened to the body of Jesus Christ having forgotten all that the Lord has told them before He died. But after seeing the cloth and that indeed the tomb is empty, they believed and peter and John left. However, Mary Magdalene, whom I think is the key to the Easter story remained at the tomb weeping. She is the one that does not go back to her ordinary life and the one who really wanted Easter to take root in her life. Because of what she wanted very deeply, she is the one whom the risen Christ appeared to and told her to go tell the apostles that He will meet them in Galilee (John 20: 1-18; Mat 28: 1-10). One can wonder, how many of us continue to live out our Lenten challenge after the Lenten season. How many of us continue to pray and give to those in need. Does Lent really change our way of living or do we go back to our ordinary life after Easter? Just as the empty tomb challenged the apostles’ ordinary way of life, their ordinary expectations and their decision on what to do next, we too are challenged in the similar way. The empty tomb where we run to today should help us answer these question: Where is Jesus? Who is He to me? Where can I find Him? Mary Magdalene was able to find Jesus when she truly looked for Him. We too can find Him when we look for Him in His Holy word and prayers every day. Our president called out a National day of prayer last week Wednesday - 8th April 2020 in order to end the Covid 19 pandemic in the world. In my views, each day should be a National day of prayers, in that way we become prayer warriors. Stay home and stay safe and a Happy, Happy, Happy Easter to you all
FRIDAY IN THE AFTERNOON: 15:00
The Service of the Passion of The Lord and the Veneration of the Cross (Any Cross that your family has) INTRODUCTION As we celebrate the Passion of Jesus Christ and hear John’s Gospel account of his suffering and death, we are reminded of the injustices that pervade our world. Often times these systems of oppression, hate, and fear are so commonplace in our world that perhaps we do not even notice them. Good Friday serves as a good reminder of this reality. It is easy to become discouraged, to see the work that has to be done and look away. Today we pray that we may have the conscience to see and the courage to act, remembering that death never wins. Life and love always prevail in Christ. The traditional Good Friday liturgy contains three unique components: the reading of John’s Passion, the praying of The Solemn Intercessions, and the Adoration of the Holy Cross. Each of these helps us enter more fully into our relationship with Christ and recommits us to pray and work for the good of the church and world. Ritual at Home The Adoration of the Holy Cross begins with a Showing of the Holy Cross. The rubrics for the Adoration of the Cross call for a cross rather than a crucifix, as it highlights the major symbol of the crucified and risen Christ. Rather than an act of idolatry, the Adoration of the Cross points us to the Risen Christ. While the Good Friday liturgy calls for a cross sans corpus, your home adaptation might use a crucifix, if that is what you have. Opening Prayer during the Service Lord of Glory, we proclaim your death and look ever forward to your Resurrection. As we contemplate your Cross, the tree on which you hung so that we may have life, may we be ever aware of the life that springs from death, the light that rises from darkness, and the hope that banishes fear. Draw us close to you, so that we may know the glory your Cross points to. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 1st Reading – Isaiah 52:13-53:12 See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at him so marred was his look beyond human semblance and his appearance beyond that of the sons of man so shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; for those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom people hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted.But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, a grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses. The Word of the Lord Responsorial Psalm R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me. Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God. R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. For all my foes I am an object of reproach, a laughing stock to my neighbors, and a dread to my friends; they who see me abroad flee from me. I am forgotten like the unremembered dead; I am like a dish that is broken. R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. But my trust is in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God. In your hands is my destiny; rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.” R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness. Take courage and be stouthearted, all you who hope in the LORD. R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. 2nd Reading – Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. The Word of the Lord Gospel acclamation Glory and praise to you, O Christ. Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name. Glory and praise to you, O Christ. The Gospel N -Narrator ✠ - Christ V - Voice C-Crowd N: The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John: Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, ✠ “Whom are you looking for?” N: They answered him, C: “Jesus the Nazarene.” N: He said to them, ✠ “I AM.” N: Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM,” they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, ✠ “Whom are you looking for?” N: They said, C: “Jesus the Nazarene.” N: Jesus answered, ✠ “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” N: This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, ✠ “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” N: So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, C: “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” N: He said, V: “I am not.” N: Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm. The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, ✠ “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said.” N: When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, V: “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” N: Jesus answered him, ✠ “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” N: Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, C: “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” N: He denied it and said, V: “I am not.” N: One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, C: “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” N: Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed. Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, V: “What charge do you bring against this man?” N: They answered and said to him, C: “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” N: At this, Pilate said to them, V: “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” N: The Jews answered him, C: “We do not have the right to execute anyone,” N: in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, V: “Are you the King of the Jews?” N: Jesus answered, ✠ “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” N: Pilate answered, V: “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” N: Jesus answered, ✠ “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” N: So Pilate said to him, V: “Then you are a king?” N: Jesus answered, ✠ “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” N: Pilate said to him, V: “What is truth?” N: When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, V: “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” N: They cried out again, C: “Not this one but Barabbas!” N: Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, C: “Hail, King of the Jews!” N: And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, V: “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” N: So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, V: “Behold, the man!” N: When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, C: “Crucify him, crucify him!” N: Pilate said to them, V: “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” N: The Jews answered, C: “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” N: Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, V: “Where are you from?” N: Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, V: “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” N: Jesus answered him, ✠ “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” N: Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, C: “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” N: When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, V: “Behold, your king!” N: They cried out, C: “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” N: Pilate said to them, V: “Shall I crucify your king?” N: The chief priests answered, C: “We have no king but Caesar.” N: Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, C: “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” N: Pilate answered, V: “What I have written, I have written.” N: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, C: “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” N: in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, ✠ “Woman, behold, your son.” N: Then he said to the disciple, ✠ “Behold, your mother.” N: And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, ✠ “I thirst.” N: There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ✠ “It is finished.” N: And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. Here all kneel and pause for a short time. N: Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for the Sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced. After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by. N: The Gospel of the Lord The Solemn Intercessions: 1. For the church, for the Pope, and for all women and men who live their lives in service of God: May they know the intimacy of authentic relationship with Christ. 2. For all catechumens, and for all who are preparing to celebrate sacraments: May they respond to their baptismal call with courage, opening their hearts to the invitation of God. 3. For all who are sick or suffering in body, mind, or spirit: May they know the great compassion of God through those who care for them. 4. For peace in our families, communities, nation, and world: May all seek resolution to disagreement and difference in ways that protect the life and dignity of all people. 5. For all who are unemployed or underemployed: May they find opportunities to use their gifts for the service of others in ways that are sustaining and life-giving. 6. For all who grieve: May they know the consolation of hope found in Christ. Adoration of the Cross: Place a cross on a table or some other place of honor, adding candles if you wish. Be sure to allow some time in silent reflection as you gaze upon the cross and grow in relationship with Jesus. Part of the beauty of the Adoration of the Cross is the time for personal prayer and reflection, as well as performing individual acts of reverence. You may wish to touch the cross, or show another suitable sign, such as genuflection or a kiss. Do not let this time be cluttered by words but bask in the power of the cross as a symbol of not only death but ultimately of Resurrection. To begin and end the time of reflection, simply proclaim and respond: Behold, the word of the Cross. NB: At some point during the period of reflection, you may wish to pray the following Litany for Forgiveness: Litany for Forgiveness: For the times we have not loved as we are called to love……………………….Father, forgive. For the times we have cultivated doubt instead of hope………………………...Father, forgive. For the times that selfishness, greed, and lust influence our decisions………… Father, forgive. For the times we nurture isolation instead of community……………………….Father, forgive. For the times we hear the needs of others but refuse to act…………………..Father, forgive. For the times we create divisions………………………………………………....................Father, forgive. For the times we neglect care for our common home…………………………......Father, forgive. For the times we are not good stewards of the gifts you give us………………Father, forgive. The Lord’s Prayer: Gathering these prayers together, as well as those we hold in the silence of our hearts, we pray in the words that Jesus taught us. Our Father . . . Concluding Prayer: Loving God, We praise you in a special way today as we celebrate Good Friday. Be with us as we continue our journey through Holy Week, that we may more closely align our lives with yours, knowing that death never wins, and that life and love always prevail. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen The End: In the Name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit. Amen. FRIDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
Reflecting on The Stations of the Cross in your Home The Importance of Reflecting on the Stations of the Cross - Reflection The Stations of the Cross belong to an old custom in our Catholic family. In every Catholic Church you enter, you find 14 pictures on the wall which we call the “14 Stations of the Cross”. What are they all about? They are stations or stops on Jesus’ way of suffering from the courtyard of Pontius Pilate to the hill of Calvary where He died. Today is Good Friday, also known as the Friday of the Passion of The Lord, and it is an obligation and call for every Catholic to pray the “Stations of the Cross” on this day. As Catholics, when we pray the Stations of the Cross we accompany Jesus on his long walk of suffering. However, not only do we accompany him, but he accompanies us in our own sufferings, because as his disciples, our sufferings are his sufferings; just as his sufferings are our sufferings and his death our death. Not praying the Stations of the Cross means to silently abandon Jesus on his way to Calvary and to also say we can manage life’s journey on our own without him. Each Station of the Cross we pray has a deep meaning for us on our journey of faith. It is good now, that we walk through each station, to see the power hidden in the Stations of the Cross. Please note that if you do not have/have not made the Stations of the Cross in your home; make sure that after reading the reflection on each Station, you keep a moment of silence in prayer before moving to the next station reflection. With the first Station of the Cross we reflect on Jesus being condemned to death. On this station, we see Jesus being condemned unjustly. In life as we walk this journey of faith, many of us must have been falsely accused and condemned by others, but Jesus understands and assures us hope; that with Him, there is light after all, in every situation that we see ourselves as losers and we can’t change it. On the Second Station, we reflect on Jesus accepting his cross. All of us have a “cross” to carry; and this cross can be a problem, a sickness. With Jesus, these crosses heavy as they may be, He makes them lighter for us when we walk along his side. On the Third Station, Jesus falls under the Cross the first time. All of us at times, feel that our problems are too heavy for us. We fall. With Jesus, we are sure that we can get up again and continue on our way. On the forth Station, Jesus Meets his mother Mary. Mary is a loving mother; she is ready to accompany us in times of suffering and difficulties. On the fifth Station, Simeon helps Jesus to carry the cross. On this station, we thank God for people who help us in times of difficulty and pain. On the sixth Station, Veronica offers Jesus a cloth to wipe his face. Here we keep in mind that whenever we offer help to others, the face of Jesus is imprinted on our efforts. On the seventh Station, Jesus Falls under the cross the second time. On this station, we recall the moments when we fall again and again into the same sin or difficulty. With Jesus, we get up again and continue on our journey of life. On the eight Station, Jesus consoles the weeping women of Jerusalem. It is important that on this Station, we weep over our own misery, but at the same time rejoice because we know Jesus carries our suffering and death along with us. On the ninth Station, Jesus falls under the cross the third time. In life’s journey, the time comes when we feel utterly crushed under problems of life, sickness and disappointment. Without Jesus, these would be hopeless, but with him, we are able to carry on. On the tenth station, Jesus is stripped of his clothes. In life, a day may come when we are stripped of our good name or loose our possessions. This is a moment to unite with the “forsaken Jesus”. On the eleventh Station, Jesus is nailed to the cross. On this Station, we become aware that the time may come when sickness or old age will nail us to our bed. This will be a time to be in union with Jesus in surrendering our love to God. On the twelfth Station, Jesus dies on the cross. This Station helps us to reflect on our own death. At the hour of death, we cannot be afraid but cry out like Jesus “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”. On the thirteenth Station, Jesus is taken down from the cross. In life, there are moments when we will lose our positions of power in life. Life will definitely come to an end. But we pray for wisdom to learn what will be of lasting value before God. On the fourteenth Station, Jesus is buried in the grave. On this Station, we come to complete awareness that the grave is for us Christians the gate way to new life. We are never buried alone in our graves. Jesus also steps down into our graves and brings us back to new and glorious life. Be part of the journey with Jesus to Calvary in your home, as you reflect with your family, the mystery of the Cross, and remember to pray for one another! Fr. John Hausiku, OMI Holy Thursday, also known as the day of “The Lord’s Super” begins the Easter Triduum. On this day when the Holy Mass is being celebrated, three important mysteries are being commemorated. The first mystery is that of the institution of the Holy Eucharist; the second mystery is that of the institution and establishment of the Priestly Office; and the third one is the command to exercise Fraternal Charity (the washing of feet). In the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians today, we hear that; on the night he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said: “This is my body which is for you, and turning to his disciples he said: do this in remembrance of me”. We need to understand now that on that night at the Last Super, Christ offered himself to us as spotless food from heaven which is his body and blood. To explain this further; when Jesus said: ‘this is my body and this is the cup of my blood after the blessing; He instituted the Holy Eucharist, and when He turned to his disciples and said: “do this in remembrance of me; he instituted the priestly office of offering himself through the priest to his people at the altar in the species of bread and wine. Here we see a close link between the first two mysteries being commemorated today: The institution of The Eucharist and The Priestly Office of offering sacrifices in remembrance of Him. According to the Letter of St. Paul, for as often as this bread is eaten and the cup is drunk, the Lord’s death is proclaimed until he comes again. This means that when the priest together with the people of God gather at the table (altar) of the Lord and share the bread (which becomes his body) and drink the cup (which becomes his blood) at consecration; the death of the Lord is proclaimed until he comes again. The third mystery being commemorated on this night of the Last Super as pointed out at the beginning is that of the washing of feet, representing a perfect example of fraternal charity. In the Gospel we hear that when Jesus rose from super and came to Simon Peter to wash his feet, Simon Peter said: “Never! You shall not wash my feet”. But Jesus answered him: “if I do not wash you, you have no share with me”. What does this mean to us in our time and present moment/situation? As followers and disciples, Our Lord and teacher has left us an important call and central mission to embark on. A call and mission of exercising fraternal charity which requires a practice of unconditional care for one another, if we truly want to have a share in Him. When I think about the response of Christ to Peter “if I do not wash you, you have no share with me”, I usually think of the times I have denied myself a share in/with Christ in moments I have been selfish, mean to others, not showing them fraternal love and care in their needs. To wash each other’s feet therefore means to serve and bear one another’s burdens in love, without any expectation of reward. Jesus said: “if I then, your Master and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash each other’s feet”. Love is at the center of service. If we as Christians and the world at large could deeply reflect on the example Jesus gave his disciples on this night we celebrate today; the world could be a better place to live. In Jn 13:34; we read that after Judas had gone out to betray him, he said: “a new command I give you, love one another as I have loved you”. As a disciple who has a share in/with Christ; I need to ask myself this question: Do I love my neighbor, friend, child, husband or wife for who he or she is; or there are conditions that determine my love? Remember, God’s love for us led him to the Cross and to death which gave us new life. Your love for the other person, be it your neighbor, friend, child, husband or wife; where does it lead you? And where it leads you, does it give life and meaning in the other person’s life? If after reflecting on this you discover that your love is self-centered and does not give life to the other, know that you have no share in/with Christ. And to have no share with Christ gives way to one thing: Eternal Death. Family life is a type of life willed and ordained by God (Gen 1:27-28; Eph 5:21- 6:1-4). For this reason, one is never a member of a particular family by accident/mistake but as a gift. We find ourselves as members of a particular family for a purpose, and for this, each one has a role to play in it, for its intended purpose to be achieved. Lockdown period is a moment to be open to the gift of one another; to appreciate the uniqueness that is in every member of the family; and to embrace the dynamics in family life. As a family, be aware of the fact that never had you planned that you could be confined to the boundaries of your home for many days, seeing the same members of the family every time. Probably you are used to being away with work, and now you are facing the reality of your family closely. To some members in family, this might be difficult and frightening, due to the fact that this might be a time that begins another process of discovering unknown sides about each other in the family. And as these unknown sides begin to surface if not careful and patient enough, you might end up misunderstanding each other, and as a result begin fights, arguments and so forth which are not healthy in a family. As we enter Easter Season, we make it a special moment to renew our family spirit, where prayer life is cultivate; unity achieved; truth, peace, understanding, gentleness, love, compassion and other values of the kingdom of God are experienced. Do not be quick to judge each other, listen more to each other; forbearing one another with Patience and Love. God Bless Fr. John Hausiku, OMI
Written by Michelle Brandt:
World Youth Day 2019 in Panama was an extraordinary experience. We have explored another part of the world and have met thousands of Youth from different cultures all over the world in the spirit of the Catholic faith. We as Namibians were impressed by the proper organisation from the beginning to the end. Our host family, from Chilibre, were so patient and humble, and they treated us with great Love, Care and hospitality during our stay. Everything of the WYD was great. The theme “I am the servant of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word”; the opportunity to confess every day at the Omar Park, as well as the churches in Panama; the Opening and Closing Mass and The Way of the Cross led by our Pope leaving us with great messages that we brought home; the Night of the Vigil with adoration and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and we prayed the Rosary with good music and the procession of our Lady of Fatima. We learned a lot throughout the pilgrimage, from our cultures, from the catechism we had every day, from our Pope especially my most favourite phrase which is: “Wherever we may be and whatever we may do, we can always look up and say: Lord, teach me to love as you have loved us” and also to be like Mary who said “Yes, behold the servants of the Lord, let it be done.” |