Holy Thursday at Work
For many years now, I've been able to attend Holy Thursday Mass and Good Friday services. I hope you can find or make the time for this as well. If you can't, I've been there too. Some jobs simply don't permit your leaving early or taking time off.
No matter how or when you observe Holy Week, especially these final days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, continuing your Lenten discipline right to the end is still within everyone's grasp. And no matter how well you performed those acts of prayer, penance, and almsgiving so far - better or worse - don't let them slip away now. If, perchance, your Lent has been less than stellar, now could be your chance to shine.
To help sustain our Lenten discipline at work, we continue our journey with Our Lord during Lent, posting the Stations of the Cross, one at a time, using St. Alphonsus Liguori as our guide. (Click HERE for a complete pdf of St. Alphonsus's version of the Stations of the Cross.)
Station 14: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
St. Alphonsus writes:
Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to bury it, accompanied by His holy Mother, who arranged it in the sepulchre with her own hands. They then closed the tomb, and all withdrew.
Oh, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses Thee. But Thou didst rise again the third day. I beseech Thee, by Thy resurrection, make me rise glorious with Thee at the last day, to be always united with Thee in heaven, to praise Thee and love Thee forever. I love Thee, and I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Relating this to our work day:
We - each of us - buried Jesus under a heavy mantle of our sins, each and every one of us. For His part, He accepted the most terrible suffering ever endured by anyone, even as He saw and experienced our repeated offenses. This He did because of His love for us. If we haven't yet learned of His love so far during Lent, we have this time, right now, to let it sink in: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Now is our time to die with Him, most especially by accepting, embracing, even loving, our own crosses. Whatever this day brings, we can turn to Him. We can see that lifeless Body, it's life spent for us.
When Easter arrives in a few days, we can resolve not to slip back into those careless, thoughtless, and sinful ways that make our lives unworthy of the Holy Sacrifice of this Lamb of God. And rather than seek relief from the prayer, penance, and charity of our Lenten discipline, we can take whatever strength we've gained and incorporate it into our daily lives throughout the glorious Easter Season and beyond. Pray for the grace of persistence, even during our busiest days at work and recall St. Alphonsus's petition:
I beseech Thee, by Thy resurrection, make me rise glorious with Thee at the last day, to be always united with Thee in heaven, to praise Thee and love Thee forever.
We conclude today's thoughts with the simple, moving exhortation with which St. Alphonsus Liguori approaches each Station of the Cross:
No matter how or when you observe Holy Week, especially these final days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, continuing your Lenten discipline right to the end is still within everyone's grasp. And no matter how well you performed those acts of prayer, penance, and almsgiving so far - better or worse - don't let them slip away now. If, perchance, your Lent has been less than stellar, now could be your chance to shine.
To help sustain our Lenten discipline at work, we continue our journey with Our Lord during Lent, posting the Stations of the Cross, one at a time, using St. Alphonsus Liguori as our guide. (Click HERE for a complete pdf of St. Alphonsus's version of the Stations of the Cross.)
Station 14: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
St. Alphonsus writes:
Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to bury it, accompanied by His holy Mother, who arranged it in the sepulchre with her own hands. They then closed the tomb, and all withdrew.
Oh, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses Thee. But Thou didst rise again the third day. I beseech Thee, by Thy resurrection, make me rise glorious with Thee at the last day, to be always united with Thee in heaven, to praise Thee and love Thee forever. I love Thee, and I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Relating this to our work day:
We - each of us - buried Jesus under a heavy mantle of our sins, each and every one of us. For His part, He accepted the most terrible suffering ever endured by anyone, even as He saw and experienced our repeated offenses. This He did because of His love for us. If we haven't yet learned of His love so far during Lent, we have this time, right now, to let it sink in: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Now is our time to die with Him, most especially by accepting, embracing, even loving, our own crosses. Whatever this day brings, we can turn to Him. We can see that lifeless Body, it's life spent for us.
When Easter arrives in a few days, we can resolve not to slip back into those careless, thoughtless, and sinful ways that make our lives unworthy of the Holy Sacrifice of this Lamb of God. And rather than seek relief from the prayer, penance, and charity of our Lenten discipline, we can take whatever strength we've gained and incorporate it into our daily lives throughout the glorious Easter Season and beyond. Pray for the grace of persistence, even during our busiest days at work and recall St. Alphonsus's petition:
I beseech Thee, by Thy resurrection, make me rise glorious with Thee at the last day, to be always united with Thee in heaven, to praise Thee and love Thee forever.
We conclude today's thoughts with the simple, moving exhortation with which St. Alphonsus Liguori approaches each Station of the Cross:
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world.
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