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Fr. Sam's Blog

Let us stay with our Suffering Lord Jesus

4/7/2020

 
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How We Can Grow in our Faith THIS Holy Week
 
On Sunday, we watched our Lord Jesus enter Jerusalem triumphantly to the elation and praise of the crowds.  How quickly the circumstances changes for our Lord, Who goes from the highest position in society to the lowest, from king to criminal, in a matter of just a few days!  Shortly, after this scene of jubilation, we now see how Jesus suffers terribly in the Garden. He is then betrayed by one of His own, Judas the Iscariot, abandoned by His closest friends, cruelly arrested, falsely accused and found guilty of blasphemy by the Jewish religious leaders, and then sent to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, to be sentenced to death by crucifixion.  Today, Wednesday of Holy Week, is traditionally known as “spy Wednesday” because we hear in the Gospel how Judas tragically betrays his Lord and King for a worthless 30 pieces of silver.
 
So, unlike His first disciples who fled and abandoned our Lord Jesus in His time of need, let us sincerely desire to stay with Him in these remaining few days of this Holy Week. We desire to see and experience what Jesus endured for us. It was not by His beautiful words of preaching or His amazing miracles Jesus saves us. Those were the “signs” of who He IS, God, and signs that the Kingdom of God is now “at hand.” We were saved only by His Cross, saved only by His total obedience to the Father’s will. Our Lord Jesus freely gave of Himself, suffering and dying for us, to show us that if we desire the joy of the resurrection and share in His eternal peace, we too must remain faithful and follow Him, carrying our cross with and for Him.
 
So, we continue to unite our present suffering with the horrible pain Jesus endured for each of us. Jesus suffered every possible of form of human suffering. He underwent every kind of suffering we can ever suffer. He knows what it is to be lonely, isolated, hunger and thirst, to be mocked, to be betrayed. Our Lord endured physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual suffering.  
 
I have created a special webpage for Holy Week and the Triduum on Parish Website to give you a guide how to better see God through all that is happening and how, I pray, to fruitfully participate in Holy Week. I know this is a little late, but it is the best I can do. I am still adding to the page, but I thought you could benefit from it what is already there. You access it here.
 
Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Patron St. Joseph, we pray for the grace to better see God in our present suffering as we now stay with our suffering Lord Jesus and remain with Him to then know the joy and peace of the Resurrection.

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    Author

    Fr.  Sam West
    Your grateful Pastor

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​A Stewardship Parish

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1813 Oakdale Road, Modesto, CA 95355
​Fax (209) 551-3213

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SOP
  • Our Parish
    • Mass Times
    • World Youth Day 2023
    • Sacraments >
      • Holy Eucharist
      • Reconciliation (Confession) >
        • Examination
      • Confirmation >
        • Confirmation (Adult)
      • Anointing of the Sick
      • Baptism >
        • Pre Baptism Class English
        • Pre-Bautismo Clase en Español
      • Marriage >
        • Marriage
      • Holy Orders
    • Consecration to St. Joseph
    • St. Joseph's Library
    • About Catholicism >
      • The Gospel
      • The Church
      • The Faith
      • Stewardship
      • Becoming Catholic/Returning to the Church
      • Defend the faith
      • More >
        • Novena for St. Joseph
        • Novena to blessed Carlo Acutis
        • Holy Spirit Novena
        • Mother of Perpetual Help Novena
        • Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena
        • 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
        • Beatitudes
        • Catechism of the Catholic Church
    • Live Stream
    • STJMOD APP
    • Share your story
    • Prayer Request
    • Scholarships
    • Parish History
    • Bishop Cotta
    • Child and Youth Protection
    • BMA 2022
  • Faith Formation
    • Sacrament Preparation
    • Family Faith Formation >
      • Circle of Grace
      • Program Information
      • Why Family Faith Formation
      • Online Resources
    • Adult Faith Formation >
      • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
      • STJMOD Daughters of the King (Women's Faith Study)
      • St. Joseph's Workshop (Men's Faith Study)
    • Teen Faith Formation >
      • Sacrament Preparation
      • Becoming Catholic
      • High School Youth (Grade 9-12)
      • Middle School Youth (Grade 6-8)
      • Retreats
    • Children's Faith Formation >
      • Sacrament Preparation >
        • First Holy Communion Guidelines
      • Becoming Catholic
      • Adoration for Children
      • Children's Liturgy of the Word
      • Vacation Bible Retreat
    • Homeschool Families
  • News
    • Funerals
    • Events
    • About Voting as Catholics
    • Fr. Sam's Blog
    • Publications >
      • Parish Bulletin
      • Live the Faith Magazine
      • Promote your event
      • Stewardship Resources
    • World Record Attempt
  • Get Involved
    • Stewardship Renewal!​ 2023
    • Traveling Chalice Family Sign-Ups
    • Ministry Pages >
      • Josephs Juniors
      • Men's Workshop
      • Daughters of the King
      • STJMOD Young Adult (Ages 18-25)
    • Eucharistic Adoration
    • Stewardship
    • Liturgical Ministries
    • Outreach Ministries
    • Community Life Stewardship
    • Youth Volunteers
    • Parish Leadership
    • Militia of the Immaculata
  • Contact Us
    • Staff Directory
    • Registration Inquiry
    • Homeschool Info
    • Job Opportunities
    • Survey
  • Donate Now