2024-03-22-eEdition

MARCH 22, 2024 THE CATHOLIC WEEK PAGE 3 Archbishop’s Schedule March 21 - April 4 Thu Mar 21 3:00 p.m. Administrative Councill Fri Mar 22 6:30 a.m. Pray with Lifesavers Noon–4:30p.m. Annual Lenten Afternoon of Prayer for Archdiocesan Employees Sat Mar 23 5:30 p.m. Mass at St.Michael Catholic High School Sun Mar 24 10:30 a.m. Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Palm Sunday Mass of the Passion of Our Lord Tue Mar 26 11:00 a.m. Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Chrism Mass Thu Mar 28 5:15 p.m. Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception,Mass of the Lord’s Supper Fri Mar 29 10:00 a.m. Way of the CrossThrough the Streets of Downtown Mobile Starting in Spanish Plaza 3:00 p.m. Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Good Friday Services 5:30 p.m. Outdoor Way of the Cross in Cathedral Square (Inside Cathedral in Case of Rain) Sat Mar 30 8:00 p.m. Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Easter Vigil Mass Sun Mar 31 8:00 a.m. Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Easter Mass 10:30 a.m. Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Easter Mass MARCH 24 - MARCH 30 DAILY READINGS Sun., March 31 Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Col 3:1-4 Jn 20:1-9 Mon., April 1 Acts 2:14, 22-33 Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 Mt 28:8-15 Tue., April 2 Acts 2:36-41 Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22 Jn 20:11-18 Wed., April 3 Acts 3:1-10 Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 Lk 24:13-35 Thur., April 4 Acts 3:11-26 Ps 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9 Lk 24:35-48 Fri., April 5 Acts 4:1-12 Ps 118:1-2 and 4, 22- 24, 25-27a Jn 21:1-14 Sat., April 6 Acts 4:13-21 Ps 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21 Mk 16:9-15 MARCH 31- APRIL 6 Sun., March 24 Mk 11:1-10, Is 50:4-7 Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 Phil 2:6-11 Mk 14:1—15:47 Mon. March 25 Is 42:1-7 Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14 Jn 12:1-11 Tue., March 26 Is 49:1-6 Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17 Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 Wed., March 27 Is 50:4-9a Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34 Mt 26:14-25 Thurs., March 28 Mass of the Lord's Supper Ex 12:1-8, 11-14 Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18 1 Cor 11:23-26 Jn 13:1-15 Fri., March 29 Good Friday Is 52:13—53:12 Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Jn 18:1—19:42 Sat., March 30 Easter Vigil Gn 1:1—2:2 Ps104:1-2,5-6,10,12,13-14,24,35 Gn 22:1-18 Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 Ex 14:15—15:1 Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18 Is 54:5-14 Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 Is 55:1-11 Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 Bar 3:9-15, 32—4:4 Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28 Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4 Mk 16:1-7 Jesus' love ismore powerful than death itself ome years ago I was invited to a home of a very nice family outside of the Archdio- cese of Mobile, so you do not know them.Their home was beautiful. It was decorated in a rustic early American style.The lady of the house took pride in how she decorated her home and it was obvious that she had an eye for it. Over the fireplace in the den hung a large photo.The picture looked to be about 100 years old. It had an impressive frame around it. I supposed that the picture was of a family relative and I asked the lady who the person was in the picture. She told me that she had no idea who it was! She had seen the photo in a shop and thought that it would look perfect for the wall above her fireplace, so she bought it and hung it there. She was correct.The picture looked great in her den, but it struck me as odd that she would prominently display a picture of someone whom she did not know. It reminded me of the old pictures one sees hanging on the walls of a Cracker Barrel restaurant. No one knows who they are but they fit the décor of the restaurant. This got me thinking. In our homes we may have a picture of Jesus, a crucifix, or a stat- ue—at least I hope we do— perhaps we also might wear a cross on a chain or bracelet. But do we know who He is or do we have these items or wear such jewelry just because it looks good? Who is Jesus or, more impor- tantly, who do we say He is? That was the question which Jesus asked the Apostles one day, “Whom do people say that I am?”The Apostles gave Jesus many answers of what they had heard about Him, but Peter finally answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Each of us must answer that question, there is no escaping it. Even not to answer it is to answer it.The question is placed before us no more powerfully than at Easter.Who do we say that Jesus is? There are many possible answers: Would we say that He was a wise man who lived 2,000 years ago, did and taught some nice things, but I’m not sure that He rose from the dead. We could say that He is God who rose from the dead as He promised, but now is so far above the heavens that He does not know what I am going through. We could say that He is the risen Lord who knows me, but what He taught is too idealis- tic for me to live that way in a modern world. Or we could say that He is God, risen from the dead, who knows me better than I know myself and whose wisdom is the only way to live in order to have purpose, meaning, peace of mind, peace of heart, and eternal life. We know that God will judge us on the last day, but the truth is that we judge God here and know.We judge if He is truly Lord of all and that he rose from the dead.We judge if He is worth following even when it is challenging.We judge if He is worth committing our lives to.We judge if we believe that the tomb is empty, that the Lord is risen, that we are called S APRIL 14 PROGRAM SCHEDULE www.catholicinamerica.com March 24.........................................Why This Millennial Became a Catholic Priest WJTC UTV 44 Mobile/Pensacola—6 am Sunday • WTVY CW 3 Dothan—11 am Sundays to eternal life. If we truly believe in the resurrection, truly believe He is more powerful than death itself and that we are called to live for all eternity and will one day stand before Him to give an accounting of our life, then it changes the way we live. If we intend to follow Him, then we must know Him. How do we get to know Him? We get to know Him by reading the word of God in scripture, receiving the sacraments, speaking with Him in prayer and listening to Him—by listening to that small voice inside of us that prompts us to trust God, to do good, and to care for neighbor. Otherwise, we do not know Him. Jesus is like that picture hanging on the wall of that den that no one knows who he is. It is for us to believe in the Good News proclaimed at Easter, no matter who we are and how sinful we may be. Jesus always takes the initiative. “It was not you who chose me it was I who chose you.” Jesus always seeks us out like a lost sheep. He never gives up on us. He calls for us to believe that His power and love are more powerful than anything—even death itself. Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi Saint Lea March 22 (died c. 383) FROM THE ARCHBISHOP Official Announcement ArchbishopThomas J. Rodi announces: Deacon G. David Ray has been appointed director for Prison Ministry of the Archdiocese of Mobile, effective March 25. He will suc- ceed Deacon Stephen A. Tidwell.