Author: jcgosj

“MUST WE GO ALL THE WAY?” (Jn 18:1-19:42):  21 March 2008 (Good Friday)

Today’s Readings

There is a little-known but beautiful song from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.”  The song is found near the end of the play:  Jesus has just been taken to Herod, and as he is being led away back to Pilate, Mary Magdalene and Peter appear out of nowhere to sing this song to him.  The song expresses the disciples’ bewilderment at the unexpected turn of events.  Things weren’t supposed to go wrong!  And together with the other followers of Jesus, they express a plea to him:  Let’s start over!

“WHY SHOULD I LET YOU WASH MY FEET?” (Jn 13:1-15):  20 March 2008 (Holy Thursday)

Today’s Readings

It’s an unforgettable scene:  After supper, our Lord himself rises from the table and–to the horror of his disciples–washes their feet.  All are stunned speechless with, as usual, the exception of Peter.

Peter protests.  “You shall never wash my feet!” he declares–only to take it back almost in the same breath and to beg the Lord to wash his entire self (“Not only my feet, but also my hands and head!”) when he realizes the consequences of refusing the Lord.

“IS IT I, LORD?” (Mt 26:14-25):  19 March 2008 (Holy Wednesday)

Today’s Readings

I haven’t seen the movie, but I read Khaled Hosseini’s first novel The Kite Runnersometime last year. Set in Afghanistan, the story revolves around two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan.  Hassan is the son of the servant of Amir’s father, and is his loyal kite runner–the one who runs to fetch the kites that Amir defeats in the  game of kite-fighting.  To avoid spoiling the novel or the movie, all I will say is that Amir ends up betraying his friend, and for many years, long after he has moved to a faraway country, he is haunted by the memory of his treacherous act.

“HOW DO I FOLLOW YOU?” (Jn 13:21-33, 36-38):  18 March 2008 (Holy Tuesday)

Today’s Readings

On the night that the Lord was arrested, Judas betrayed him, and Peter denied knowing him.  As we know, Peter and Judas were among our Lord’s closest friends and disciples, so it wasn’t a very good night for him.  Nor for the two disciples.

They both loved Christ and had left everything to follow him.  So what happened?  They started out quite nicely—generous and determined—but like all of us, they must have made a wrong turn somewhere.  

“WHY GET CARRIED AWAY?” (Jn 12:1-11):  17 March 2008 (Holy Monday)

Today’s Readings

Bette Midler starred in a 1979 movie called “The Rose.” It’s loosely based on the life of rock singer, Janis Joplin.  I never saw the movie because I figured that it would be too depressing to watch a movie about a self-destructive celebrity.   At least that’s what the trailer looked like to me then. But I’ve always liked the song from the movie.

The song has the simplest melody, sung by Midler in the simplest of ways–but it has the most extraordinary words!  The song is really a series of attempts to define love and to find a symbol for it in all its excesses:  a river that drowns, a razor that cuts, a hunger that aches.