Father Madden's Sunday Reflection
5th Sunday of Lent
St. John's Church
March 26, 2023
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- Fr. Madden's Sunday Reflection
- Video Mass
- Sunday Mass Readings
- Prayer: Parish Needs, Intentions & Prayers
- Parish Resources
- Online Giving
Fr. Madden's
Sunday Reflection
Dear Friends in the Lord,
At the 10:15 a.m. Mass on Sunday, we will be celebrating the annual Sending Mass with our high school Confirmation class. These twenty-one young women and men will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, April 16 at the Cathedral of St. Paul. My sincerest thanks to Dianne Gustowski for preparing them for this important moment in their faith journey. Thanks, as well, to Cynthia, Carmen, Fr Brice, Deacon Ed and all the parents for your efforts. As the date approaches, let us pray more urgently for our candidates.
This week I had the chance to do one of my favorite things – I spent two nights at my Mother’s home in Montpelier, VT. In fact, I arrived the day of her annual physical. She will be 89 on next Saturday and her Doctor said that he thinks she is doing well. I agree. Thank God. However, though I do not think that her cognitive diminishment rises to this level, my mom did tell the Doctor that she has dementia. Then immediately added, that she is praying it does not get worse. The Doctor looked at her warily and pointed out that it is a degenerative disease. To which she responded: I know, but I am praying.
Today’s Gospel, the Raising of Lazarus, is the final of the three stories from John’s Gospel which we hear during the Lenten Season. It focuses on Resurrection, the greatest blessing the Father offers his children. In this way, it assists us in both concluding Lent and preparing for Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. The purpose of this penitential season is to help us “learn how to live in this passing world with our hearts set on the world that will not end.” During Holy Week we are invited to celebrate the salvation which awaits us. For it is in celebrating here and now that we prepare ourselves to accept the invitation. Life here on earth, too often, seems like a degenerative disease. It is important that we gather to pray that it does not get worse.
The Holy Week and Easter schedule is:
Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 – Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion (Regular schedule)
Holy Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper, April 6 at 7:15 p.m.
Good Friday, April 7 - Downtown Way of the Cross, 12 noon
Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion, 7:15 p.m.
Easter Vigil, Saturday April 8, 7:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 9 (Regular schedule)
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr John Madden
1st Reading: Ezekial 37
Thus says the Lord GOD:
O my people, I will open your graves
and have you rise from them,
and bring you back to the land of Israel.
Then you shall know that I am the LORD,
when I open your graves and have you rise from them,
O my people!
I will put my spirit in you that you may live,
and I will settle you upon your land;
thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.
O my people, I will open your graves
and have you rise from them,
and bring you back to the land of Israel.
Then you shall know that I am the LORD,
when I open your graves and have you rise from them,
O my people!
I will put my spirit in you that you may live,
and I will settle you upon your land;
thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.
Responsorial: Psalm 130
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
More than sentinels wait for the dawn,
let Israel wait for the LORD.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
2nd Reading: Romans 8
Brothers and sisters:
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you,
although the body is dead because of sin,
the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit dwelling in you.
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you,
although the body is dead because of sin,
the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit dwelling in you.
Verse Before the Gospel
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die.
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die.
Gospel: John 11
The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying,
“Master, the one you love is ill.”
When Jesus heard this he said,
“This illness is not to end in death,
but is for the glory of God,
that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So when he heard that he was ill,
he remained for two days in the place where he was.
Then after this he said to his disciples,
"Let us go back to Judea.”
“Master, the one you love is ill.”
When Jesus heard this he said,
“This illness is not to end in death,
but is for the glory of God,
that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So when he heard that he was ill,
he remained for two days in the place where he was.
Then after this he said to his disciples,
"Let us go back to Judea.”
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus
had already been in the tomb for four days.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went to meet him;
but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus,
“Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,
God will give you.”
Jesus said to her,
“Your brother will rise.”
Martha said,
“I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world.”
had already been in the tomb for four days.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went to meet him;
but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus,
“Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,
God will give you.”
Jesus said to her,
“Your brother will rise.”
Martha said,
“I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world.”
He became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said,
“Where have you laid him?”
They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”
And Jesus wept.
So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”
But some of them said,
“Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man
have done something so that this man would not have died?”
“Where have you laid him?”
They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”
And Jesus wept.
So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”
But some of them said,
“Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man
have done something so that this man would not have died?”
So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb.
It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him,
“Lord, by now there will be a stench;
he has been dead for four days.”
Jesus said to her,
“Did I not tell you that if you believe
you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone.
And Jesus raised his eyes and said,
“Father, I thank you for hearing me.
I know that you always hear me;
but because of the crowd here I have said this,
that they may believe that you sent me.”
And when he had said this,
He cried out in a loud voice,
“Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out,
tied hand and foot with burial bands,
and his face was wrapped in a cloth.
So Jesus said to them,
“Untie him and let him go.”
It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him,
“Lord, by now there will be a stench;
he has been dead for four days.”
Jesus said to her,
“Did I not tell you that if you believe
you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone.
And Jesus raised his eyes and said,
“Father, I thank you for hearing me.
I know that you always hear me;
but because of the crowd here I have said this,
that they may believe that you sent me.”
And when he had said this,
He cried out in a loud voice,
“Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out,
tied hand and foot with burial bands,
and his face was wrapped in a cloth.
So Jesus said to them,
“Untie him and let him go.”
Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary
and seen what he had done began to believe in him.
and seen what he had done began to believe in him.
Prayer
St. John's Parish:
Prayer Needs & Intentions
Please remember the following needs and intentions in your prayers:
- For a special intention (George V)
- Please pray for the health and intentions of Jeff Parson. (Steve S)
- Please pray for Cindy T. and her family as she manages her medical decisions. (Susan M)
- Please pray for my sister who is very ill and for my brother. Also for a special intention. Thank you 🙏 (Kathleen L)
- Requesting prayers for Jack that he grow in understanding of his father's actions, and for his father Paul. For all those affected by the devasting tornado in Mississippi, that they not lose faith in their losses, but grow even more close to our loving and merciful God. For the repose of the soul of Richard Flynn and all who mourn his passing. (Sandra K)
- Please pray for Mae Richards' soul, may she rest in peace. (Ann Q)
- Prayers for my family. (Katie D)
- Please pray for the success of the interfaith ministry and the Sunday Mass tomorrow at 7 PM at Worcester State University. Thank you. (Barbara K)
- Praying for improved health for Brenna B, Denise R, Rita W, Sharon R, AnnMarie L, and Bob/Maryanne H. Also praying for the repose of the souls of Marguerite Conlin and Patricia knowlton. May their souls Rest in Peace. (Donna W)
- Prayers for Toby, Jim, Paul and Peter as they battle their serious illnesses. (Cynthia D)
- Thanks for all your prayers for Henry. His leg braces are strengthening his legs and his helmet is helping with shaping his head. The kids continue to suction his lungs twice a day as he still hasn’t got the muscle strength to cough. The PT,OT and Speech therapy is progressing pretty well. Please continue to pray for this little warrior and thank you all. (Brian M)
- My family's continued good health, safe trip for my granddaughter. Strength for the Leto family dealing with their tragic loss. Thank you. (Anne L)
- Please pray for the emotional and social health of my grandmother. (Janice A)
- For Tristan, my siblings, and my career path (Kassandra R)
- Please pray for my family; may God protect and guide us. (James K)
To share a prayer request or intention in the Sunday Reflection, please click the REPLY button at the bottom of the Saturday morning Prayer Intentions email and post it in the comments.
Act of Spiritual Communion
by St. Alphonsus de Liguori
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Our Common Prayer
O God, whose Only Begotten Son bore the weight of human suffering for our salvation, hear the prayers of your Church for all our brothers and sisters in need and deliver us from our trials. Open our ears and our hearts to the voice of your Son:
"Be not afraid, for I am with you always."
Bless all those working for the common good; give us the wisdom to do what is right and the faith to endure this hour,
that, trusting in your loving protection,
we might see the end of our struggles
and rejoice in your mercy.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
by Pope Leo XIII
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against
the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
PRAYER PLEDGE
Join the team of St. John's parishioners pledging to pray daily
for the religious education and spiritual formation of our young people
In this challenging time our commitment to praying for our youth is more necessary than ever. Without prayer we cannot hope to transmit the riches of our Catholic faith to the next generation; join us as we lift our voices to God and ask for His blessing upon our efforts to teach our young people to become disciples of Christ.
We welcome you to pray a daily prayer of your own choosing, or to use the "Prayer for St. John's Religious Education" below. 👇
Prayer for St. John's Religious Education
Most gracious Lord, we ask your blessing upon the Religious Education program of our beloved parish of St. John’s. Please allow Your love and grace to flow freely and permeate the hearts and souls of our students and their families. Holy Spirit allow your gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Piety to flourish in our Catechists as they pass on the teachings of Your Church to our students. Bless our volunteers for their generosity and loyalty which keeps our program operating properly. St. Joseph, intercede for our parents in this time so that they will recognize and accept their role as leaders of the Domestic Church.
We praise and honor you our Triune God, Father, Son and Spirit. Amen
St. Charles Borromeo, patron of catechists, pray for us.
St. Gemma Galgani, patron of students, pray for us.
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