Saints + Scripture: Sacred Triduum | Holy Thursday

The Popish Plot
"The Patriarchal Plot"
&
"Triduum"

'Tis Holy Thursday (A.K.A. Maundy Thursday), act one of the Sacred Triduum, the Thursday of Holy Week: Holy Thursday-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Thursday, & Wikipedia-link Sacred Triduum; Holy Week-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Week.

Commentary: Video reflection by Bishop Earl Boyea: "Bishop Boyea's Seven Days of Holy Week | Holy Thursday | April 1"

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Chrism Mass
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-one, verses one, two, three(a), six(a), eight(b), & nine;
Psalm Eighty-nine (R/. two), verses twenty-one & twenty-two, twenty-five & twenty-seven;
The Book of Revelation, chapter one, verses five thru eight;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter four, verses sixteen thru twenty-one.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel recounts Jesus’ inaugural address in his hometown synagogue. Jesus reads words from the prophet Isaiah that he felt best summed up who he was and what his mission was. Therefore, it behooves us to listen carefully.

Jesus first says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” The Ruach Yahweh, the breath of God, the Spirit that hovered over the surface of the waters at the beginning of time, the life energy of God—this is what has seized and animated Jesus.

Animated by the Ruach Yahweh, what does Jesus do? He brings “glad tidings to the poor,” “liberty to captives,” and “recovery of sight to the blind.” In other words, he brings God’s love to those who are marginalized by injustice, freedom to those who are imprisoned in sin, and healing to those whose very self has been broken.

After the Paschal Mystery and Resurrection, he breathed on his disciples, communicating to them something of this Spirit—and drawing them into this mission.

Reflect: How has Jesus brought God’s love to you?

Mass Readings—Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper
The Book of Exodus, chapter twelve, verses one thru eight & eleven thru fourteen;
Psalm One Hundred Sixteen, verses twelve & thirteen, fifteen & sixteen(b/c), & seventeen & eighteen
(R/. the First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter ten, verse sixteen);
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter eleven, verses twenty-three thru twenty-six;
The Gospel according to John, chapter thirteen, verses one thru fifteen.

Commentary: Video reflection by Deacon Clarence McDavid (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Triduum Reflection.

Video reflection by Curtis Mitch (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Triduum Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"With the instituion of the Eucharist, we enter into th very heart of humanity's drama. Will it be life directed toward death, or life open to eternity!"
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"God has not called me to be successful, He has called me to be faithful. When we stand before God results are not important. Faithfulness is what matters."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)