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Wednesday, April 13, 2022

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Holy Week


Isaiah 50:4-9
Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34
Matthew 26:14-25

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gory glory details

“For Your sake I bear insult, and shame covers My face.” —Psalm 69:8

Since the apostles ran away at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion and those few who stayed would probably not want to talk about the gory details of Jesus’ passion and death, the Gospel writers may not have known or did not want to express many of the details of Jesus’ sufferings. However, some details of His sufferings have been revealed in prophecy and psalms, especially by Isaiah. When we see a crucifix, we always see the front of Jesus. However, Isaiah reveals the condition of His back in addition to His beard and face. The Messiah says: “I gave My back to those who beat Me, My cheeks to those who plucked My beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting” (Is 50:6).

Jesus’ back must have been bruised, almost shredded. Handfuls of hair were pulled out of His bloody beard. His face was beaten almost past recognition, with spit, blood, and dirt pasted on it, “so marred was His look beyond that of man, and His appearance beyond that of mortals” (Is 52:14). His heart was broken. He “looked for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters” (Ps 69:21) but found none. Rather, they put gall in His food and in His thirst they gave Him vinegar to drink (Ps 69:22; cf Lk 23:36). He suffered mercilessly to give us mercy. He suffered because He loves us. These details of His sufferings even more clearly manifest His love for us.

Prayer:  Jesus, thank You...

Promise:  “My appointed time draws near. I am to celebrate the Passover with My disciples in your house.” —Mt 26:18

Praise:  At a Healing Service, Jesus healed Sharon of her inability to walk.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Redemptive Suffering, listen to, download or order our CD 75-1 or DVD 75 on our website.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from April 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 3, 2021"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.