Biblical Moment: Jesus Proclaims New 11^th Commandment at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, also known as ‘Maundy’ Thursday!!!

‘“Maundy’ comes from the Latin word mandatum, or commandment, reflecting Jesus’ words “I give you a new commandment.”

“When Judas had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify Him at once. My Children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you. I give you a New Commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are My Disciples, if you have love for one another.””—John 13:31-35

“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.”

—John 15:12

“This I command you: love one another.”—John 15:17

“For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another.”—1 John 3:11

“And His Commandment is this: we should believe in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as He commanded us.”

—1 John 3:23

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.”—1 John 4:7

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.”

—1 John 4:11

“No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and His Love is brought to perfection in us.”—1 John 4:12

“But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another.”—2 John 5

“Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.”—Romans 12:10

“Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”—Romans 13:8

“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you.”—1 Thessalonians 3:12

“On the subject of mutual charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.”

—1 Thessalonians 4:9

“We ought to thank God always for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more, and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater.”—2 Thessalonians 1:3

“Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere mutual love, love one another intensely from a pure heart.”

—1 Peter 1:22

“Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.”—1 Peter 4:8

“For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.”—Galatians 5:13

“For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.”—Galatians 5:13-15

“I Paul, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the Unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

—Ephesians 4:1-6

“Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for He who made the promise is trustworthy. We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.”—Hebrews 10:23-25

Biblical Moment: The Events of Holy Wednesday during Holy Week Leading Up to Easter Sunday!

On Holy Wednesday, also known as Spy Wednesday, we remember that Jesus was betrayed by Judas, a clandestine spy among His Disciples. Then, as the Gospel of Luke is written, Satan entered into Judas and he deceived and betrayed Our Lord and Savior.

How many times do we deny, justify or rationalize our thoughts, words, and behaviors?

While I think (and most agree) in a worldly sense I am a really good guy. I was a decent husband and good father too! But I also know in truth, to be honest, there were many times in my life I let folks down too! I am far, far from being perfect but have for the most part done my best. I rejoice in knowing God The Father, The Holy Spirit and Jesus, my Lord and Savior have forgiven me and love me dearly even more so than I love myself. I am blessed with a wonderful family and so many friends who help me celebrate this thing called life!

TROML Baby (an Exclamation of Joy and Gratitude)!!!

The Lenten Season is not yet over! We still have time to prepare; especially within our hearts, souls, and bodies for this solemn opportunity to grow closer to God, ourselves and each other.

The biblical references for the events of Holy Wednesday center around this preparedness. Are we ready to experience the Death, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus?

The Christian Holy Week continues tomorrow with Holy Thursday—wrapping up the last week of the Lenten Season—Palm Sunday (Jesus Enters Jerusalem apparently as a King)—Holy Monday (Cleansing of the Temple)—Holy Tuesday (Parables of the Talents and Ten Virgins)—Holy Wednesday (Betrayal by Judas)—Holy Thursday (Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper)—Good Friday (Passion, Crucifixion, and Death of Jesus on the Cross at Calvary)—Holy Saturday (Jesus Lays in the Tomb on the Sabbath)—and Easter Sunday (Resurrection of Jesus; The Empty Tomb and The Good News).

God Bless and see you on the other side!

“Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand Him over.”

—Matthew 26:14-16

“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand Jesus over to them. When they heard him they were pleased and promised to pay him money. Then he looked for an opportunity to hand Him over.”—Mark 14:10-11

“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 Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas, the one surnamed Iscariot, who was counted among the Twelve, and he went to the chief priests and temple guards to discuss a plan for handing Him over to them. They were pleased and agreed to pay him money. He accepted their offer and sought a favorable opportunity to hand Him over to them in the absence of a crowd.”

—Luke 22:1-6

“Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for Him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of His Disciples, and the one who would betray Him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of My Burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”—John 12:1-8

“Assist us mercifully with Thy Help, O Lord God our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts through which Thou hast given unto us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”—Methodist Collect for Holy Tuesday

Biblical Moment: The Events of Holy Tuesday during Holy Week Leading Up to Easter!

My childhood memory recalls Palm Sunday and then a skip to The Last Supper on Holy Thursday; with Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as being some kind of filler to make Holy Week a full week.

Nothing can be further from the truth as with Jesus the unexpected are expected and the common place seem to become miraculous!

Maybe we should look as Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday as a one-two-three-are we ready for the Passion of Our Lord and Savior; His Suffering which likely will be our suffering to some degree, hopefully minimal, as we age, decline and ultimately die with nobody other than Our Lord and Savior.

The Lenten Season is not over! We still have time to prepare; especially within our hearts, souls, and bodies.

The biblical references for the events of Holy Tuesday center around this preparedness. Are we ready to experience the Death, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus?

What sort of Virgin are we in the Parable of the Ten Virgins below? Is our bodily temple ready to finish the race strong? Do we do our spiritual exercises so as to always be in the right spiritual frame of mind? Are we gassed up like our cars all ready to go the distance of needed in an emergency?

What have we done with the gifts God has bestowed on each and every one of us? Have we given up trying to seek and find them? Are we still developing them and using them according to the Will of God or our own pride and ego-driven ways?

Are our talents buried in the ground like the one who received one talent in the Parable of the Talents? What are we missing out on in life as designed by God? True Love and deep and meaningful relationships with others? First with ourselves? We can only give away what we have.

The Christian Holy Week continues tomorrow with Holy Wednesday—wrapping up the last week of the Lenten Season—Palm Sunday (Jesus Enters Jerusalem apparently as a King)—Holy Monday (Cleansing of the Temple)—Holy Tuesday (Parables of the Talents and Ten Virgins)—Holy Wednesday (Betrayal by Judas)—Holy Thursday (Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper)—Good Friday (Passion, Crucifixion, and Death of Jesus on the Cross at Calvary)—Holy Saturday (Jesus Lays in the Tomb on the Sabbath)—and Easter Sunday (Resurrection of Jesus; The Empty Tomb and The Good News).

God Bless and see you on the other side!

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But He said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

—Matthew 25:1-13 (The Parable of the Ten Virgins)

“It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability.

Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?

Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”—Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Talents)

Other readings to ponder this Holy Tuesday:

“God said to me, You are My Servant, in you, Israel, I show My Glory… I will make you a light to the nations, that My Salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”—Isaiah 49:3,6

“In you, Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In Your Justice rescue and deliver me; listen to me and save me! Be my rock of refuge, my stronghold to give me safety; for You are my rock and fortress. My God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked, from the clutches of the evil and violent. You are my hope, Lord; my trust, God, from my youth. On You I have depended since birth; from my mother’s womb You are my strength; my hope in You never wavers.”

—Psalm 71

“My mouth shall proclaim your just deeds, day after day your acts of deliverance, though I cannot number them all.”—Psalm 71:15

“God, you have taught me from my youth; to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds.”—Psalm 71:17

“Then Job arose and tore his cloak and cut off his hair. He fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with wrong.”—Job 1:20-22

“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the Power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.”

Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the Wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the Will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the Power of God and he Wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”—1 Corinthians 1:18-25

“Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”—1 Corinthians 1:26-31

“Almighty, everlasting God, grant us so perfectly to follow the passion of our Lord, that we may obtain the help and pardon of His all-sufficient grace; through Him who lives and reigns with You, in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.”—Methodist Collect for Holy Tuesday

Biblical Moment: The Events of Holy Monday during Holy Week Leading Up to Easter!

All of the 40 days and 40 nights of the Lenten Season and the early part of Holy Week is a preparation for the events to come later in the week—namely the Passion. Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This preparation also occurs within us—within our hearts, souls, and bodies.

The events of Holy Monday come to us to serve that purpose, to get us ready for the opportunity that will present itself come the Holy Weekend—to believe in the Resurrection of Jesus and in so doing so receive the gift of Salvation, Spiritual Freedom, and Eternal Lifer right here, right now as we live out the rest of our lives on Planet Earth.

Jesus is safe from persecution during the Passover Festival out of fear of what his loyal disciples and followers with do if He is harmed. An odd sort of irony as the week unfolds. Jesus comes across a barren fig tree and withers it to death as a premonition as to what will happen to Israel in the days ahead. Then Jesus cleanses the Temple kicking out the business people from “God’s House of Prayer for All Peoples!” Jesus’ Authority is questioned by the chief priests but it is a question with an unspoken definitive answer—YES!

And finally on Holy Monday, Jesus’ Body is anointed with perfume as an antecedent to His Death and Burial.

The Christian Holy Week continues tomorrow with Holy Tuesday—the last week of the Lenten Season—Palm Sunday (Jesus Enters Jerusalem apparently as a King)—Holy Monday (Cleansing of the Temple)—Holy Tuesday (Parable of the Talents)—Holy Wednesday (Betrayal by Judas)—Holy Thursday (Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper)—Good Friday (Passion, Crucifixion, and Death of Jesus on the Cross at Calvary)—Holy Saturday (Jesus Lays in the Tomb on the Sabbath)—and Easter Sunday (Resurrection of Jesus; The Empty Tomb and The Good News).

God Bless and see you on the other side!

Jesus is Safe during the Passover Festival:

“When Jesus finished all these words, he said to His Disciples, “You know that in two days’ time it will be Passover, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they consulted together to arrest Jesus by treachery and put Him to death. But they said, “Not during the festival, that there may not be a riot among the people.”—Matthew 26:1-5

“The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were to take place in two days’ time. So the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to arrest Him by treachery and put Him to death. They said, “Not during the festival, for fear that there may be a riot among the people.”—Mark 14:1-2

In the Old Testament the symbol of the fig tree represents Israel. The message here from Jesus is that Israel has failed and will be destroyed, same as the fig tree withers and dies. In the Gospel of Luke the focus shifts to redemption, that the leaders and people of Israel who might still hear Jesus and repent to be ready for the coming Kingdom of God:

“When Jesus was going back to the city in the morning, He was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went over to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. And He said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again.” And immediately the fig tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed and said, “How was it that the fig tree withered immediately?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, if you have faith and do not waver, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”—Matthew 21:18-22

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany Jesus was hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went over to see if He could find anything on it. When He reached it He found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And He said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And His Disciples heard it.”—Mark 11:12-14

“Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that You cursed has withered.” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your Heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”—Mark 11:20-25

“And Jesus told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’””—Luke 13:6-9

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who Comes in the Name of the Lord.’”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple:

“Then Jesus entered the Temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My House shall be called a House of Prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”

The blind and the lame came to Jesus in the Temple, and He cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that He did, and heard the children crying out in the Temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry and said to Him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared Praise for Yourself?’” He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.”—Matthew 21:12-17

“They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the Temple area Jesus began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. Then He taught them saying, “Is it not written: ‘My House shall be called a House of Prayer for All Peoples’? But you have made it a den of thieves.” The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put Him to death, yet they feared Him because the whole crowd was astonished at His Teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city.”—Mark 11:15-19

“Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and He said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a House of Prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.”

Every day Jesus was teaching in the Temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill Him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.”—Luke 19:45-48

“The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the Temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, He drove all of them out of the Temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s House a marketplace!””—John 2:13-16

Jesus’ Authority is Questioned:

“When Jesus had come into the Temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached Him as He was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a Prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

—Matthew 21:23-27

Jesus’ Body is Anointed with Perfume as an Antecedent to His Death and Burial:

“Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of costly perfumed oil, and poured it on His Head while He was reclining at table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, “Why this waste? It could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor.” Since Jesus knew this, He said to them, “Why do you make trouble for the woman? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you; but you will not always have Me. In pouring this perfumed oil upon My Body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be spoken of, in memory of her.”—Matthew 26:6-13

“When He was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on His Head. There were some who were indignant. “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold for more than three hundred days’ wages and the money given to the poor.” They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for Me. The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have Me. She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing My Body for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”—Mark 14:3-9

“Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for Him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of His Disciples, and the one who would betray Him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of My Burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”—John 12:1-8

Biblical Moment: Jesus Entering Jerusalem on Pam Sunday!

Here are the biblical accounts of Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday–from the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. His disciples and followers thinking that he was about to become the king of the ancient secular world at the time they proclaimed: “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!”

Thus starts the Christian Holy Week—the last week of the Lenten Season—Palm Sunday—Holy Monday (Cleansing of the Temple)—Holy Tuesday (Parable of the Talents)—Holy Wednesday (Betrayal by Judas)—Holy Thursday (Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper)—Good Friday (Passion, Crucifixion, and Death of Jesus on the Cross at Calvary)—Holy Saturday (Jesus Lays in the Tomb on the Sabbath)—and Easter Sunday (Resurrection of Jesus; The Empty Tomb and The Good News).

God Bless and see you on the other side!

“When they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The Master has need of them.’ Then he will send them at once.” This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: “Say to daughter Zion, ‘Behold, your King comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and He sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding Him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the Highest.” And when He entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus The Prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”—Matthew 21:1-11

“When they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His Disciples and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately on entering it, you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone should say to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ reply, ‘The Master has need of it and will send it back here at once.’” So they went off and found a colt tethered at a gate outside on the street, and they untied it. Some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They answered them just as Jesus had told them to, and they permitted them to do it. So they brought the colt to Jesus and put their cloaks over it. And He sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Those preceding Him as well as those following kept crying out: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the Highest!”

He entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the Twelve.”—Mark 11:1-11

“As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His Disciples. He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’” So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying this colt?” They answered, “The Master has need of it.” So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As He rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as He was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of His Disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your Disciples.” He said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”

As He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”—Luke 19:29-44

“On the next day, when the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet Him, and cried out: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the king of Israel.”

Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written: “Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your King comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.”

His Disciples did not understand this at first, but when Jesus had been glorified they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done this for Him. So the crowd that was with Him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from death continued to testify. This was also why the crowd went to meet Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the whole world has gone after Him.”—John 12:12-19