Home + 2012 Year of
Social Justice
Now
the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was
drawing near and the chief priests and the scribes were
seeking a way to put him to death, for they were afraid of the
people.
A justice and peace
meditation for Palm Sunday
Pueri Hebraeorum - Tomas
Luis de Victoria
Meditation for Monday of Holy Week
Jesus is Betrayed, Tuesday of Holy Week
They paid him thirty pieces of silver.Shall we
betray Jesus today? Wednesday of Holy Week
When the hour came, he took his place at table with the
apostles. He said to them, I have eagerly desired to eat
this Passover with you before I suffer. . .
Gethsemene, Judas, Pilate a literary redaction of the Gospels for Holy Thursday
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified
him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on
his left.
The
Seven Last Words
a literary harmony of the Gospels.
A Justice
and Peace Meditation for Holy Saturday
But at daybreak on the first day of the week
they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
Holy Week is
an important time and place in the spiritual journeys of
Christians. In the Roman Catholic tradition, this is a special
week for the rites of initiation. Let us keep all those
receiving sacraments this week in our prayers.
During Lent,
we have talked about many issues and situations relating to
justice and peace. Our discussions ranged far and wide and
covered both specific details and broad structures. Holy Week
is a time to remind ourselves that ultimately this is a
spiritual battle. The Enemy of God is at work in the world,
seeking the ruination of many souls. As Paul writes, our
battle is not against earthly power, but rather against
spiritual powers and dominions that work against God and His
Providence.
Thus, our work for justice and peace is rooted
in our own personal Christian conversion, which happens moment
by moment, day by day. As we practice virtue, we grow in the
gospel. As we practice the works of mercy and justice and
peace (both corporal and spiritual), we grow in our
understanding of the spiritual dimensions of this apostolate.
As we consider how
to change unjust structures and bring about peace and
reconciliation, during Holy Week we are reminded that massive
societal changes grow out of the individual change of heart,
the personal conversion, that is available to every human
being. This isn't to say that changing structures should wait
on universal conversion -- the conversion of individual souls
and the conversion of societal structures is kind of a
"process in tandem".
I hope and pray that all who visit here will be
touched by the power of this Week, so that the One whose
journey we remember may become a living reality in our lives.
May we find the strength and joy that is necessary to live the
mysteries of Holy Week every day of our lives. May Jesus who
gave His life for the world be resurrected in our lives. May
His spirit give us hope and creativity for daily living and
for living the works of mercy, justice, and peace.
Come, let us go and be with Jesus the son of
Mary on this
journey.
* Two Hearts + One Love *
Robert Waldrop, Justpeace webservant