I Take off the MASK!

Scripture Reading:
“Then the angel said to the women in reply, ‘Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’”
—Matthew 28:5-6 (NABRE)

The silence of Holy Saturday is broken by the glorious proclamation of Easter: “He is not here, for he has been raised!” The tomb is empty. Death has been conquered. Sin has lost its power. Christ has triumphed, and with Him, we have been given the hope of new life.

Easter is the greatest feast of our faith because it is the foundation of our salvation. Through His death, Jesus redeemed us; through His resurrection, He gave us the promise of eternal life. No longer do we need to fear sin and death, for Christ has overcome them both. His victory is our victory!

Like the women at the tomb, we are invited to encounter the Risen Lord. The angel tells them, “Do not be afraid.” How often do we live in fear—fear of failure, suffering, or the unknown? But Easter reminds us that God is always victorious. No matter what trials we face, His light will always shine through the darkness.

Today, we rejoice! We sing Alleluia! for Christ has risen, and His love has made all things new. Let us go forth with renewed faith and proclaim, like Mary Magdalene, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18). May His resurrection fill our hearts with joy, hope, and the certainty that He is always with us.

Prayer:
Risen Lord, You have conquered sin and death and have given me new life. Fill my heart with the joy of Your resurrection. Help me to trust in Your power, to leave behind all fear, and to live in the hope of eternal life. May my life be a witness to Your victory, so that others may come to know Your love. Alleluia! Amen.

Reflection Question:
How can I live in the joy of the Resurrection each day? In what areas of my life do I need to trust in Christ’s victory?

Scripture Reading:
“They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.”
—John 19:40-42 (NABRE)

Holy Saturday is a day of silence. The world seems to pause as Jesus lies in the tomb. After the agony of Good Friday, there is emptiness, grief, and waiting. The disciples, confused and afraid, hide in sorrow. Mary, full of faith, ponders everything in her heart, trusting in the promise of her Son.

We, too, experience Holy Saturday moments in our lives—times of waiting, uncertainty, and suffering. We pray, but God seems silent. We long for hope, yet we feel the weight of sorrow. But today reminds us that God is still at work, even in the silence. The tomb is not the end of the story. In the unseen, in the hidden, God is preparing the greatest victory.

This day invites us to rest in trust. Even when we do not see or feel His presence, He is near. Holy Saturday is a call to faith—to believe that the darkness will not last forever and that resurrection is coming. As we await the joy of Easter, let us enter into the silence with hope, knowing that Christ’s triumph over death is near.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in the silence of Holy Saturday, help me to trust in You. When I do not see the way forward, when my heart is heavy, let me remember that You are always working for my good. Teach me to wait with hope, knowing that Your resurrection is near. Strengthen my faith in times of darkness and prepare my heart to rejoice in the victory of Easter. Amen.

Reflection Question:
What are the areas of my life where I need to trust God’s timing? How can I wait in hope, knowing that God is working even in silence?

Scripture Reading:
“When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.”
—John 19:30 (NABRE)

Good Friday is the most solemn day of the liturgical year. It is the day we stand at the foot of the Cross, witnessing the suffering and death of our Lord. The world goes quiet as Jesus breathes His last. It is a day of sorrow, but also of overwhelming love—for this is the moment Christ fulfills His mission, offering Himself completely for our salvation.

Jesus’ final words, “It is finished,” are not words of defeat but of victory. He has accomplished the work the Father sent Him to do. Every wound He bore, every insult He endured, every drop of blood He shed was for love—love for you, love for me, love for all humanity. The Cross, once a symbol of shame, has become the greatest sign of God’s mercy.

Today, we are invited to kneel before the Cross and reflect on the price of our redemption. Do we truly understand the depth of Christ’s love? Do we take time to contemplate what He endured for us? Good Friday calls us to gratitude, repentance, and deeper trust. It calls us to surrender our sins, knowing that His sacrifice has already paid the price.

As we venerate the Cross today, let us not look away. Let us remain with Jesus in His suffering, just as Mary and John did. Let us bring to Him our burdens, our wounds, our sins, and place them at His feet. And as we await the joy of the Resurrection, let us remember that love has the final word.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You bore the weight of my sins upon the Cross, suffering and dying out of love for me. Help me never to take Your sacrifice for granted. Teach me to embrace my own crosses with faith and to love as You love. May I remain close to You in suffering, trusting that through Your Passion, new life will come. Amen.

Reflection Question:
How can I honor Christ’s sacrifice in my daily life? What sin or burden do I need to surrender at the foot of the Cross today?

Scripture Reading:
“So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, ‘Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me “teacher” and “master,” and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow so that as I have done for you, you should also do.’”
—John 13:12-15 (NABRE)

On Maundy Thursday, we enter into the most sacred hours of Holy Week, remembering the Last Supper, the institution of the Eucharist, and Jesus’ command to love and serve one another. The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning “commandment,” referring to Jesus’ instruction: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (John 13:34).

In the Upper Room, Jesus does something unexpected—He kneels before His disciples and washes their feet. The Master becomes the servant. He shows them that true greatness is found in humility, and true love expresses itself in service. In doing so, He calls us to imitate Him.

Maundy Thursday invites us to reflect on our own call to love and serve. How do we treat those around us? Do we put others before ourselves, or do we seek recognition and status? Jesus does not merely tell us to love—He shows us how. He gives us the Eucharist, His very Body and Blood, as a sign of His total self-gift. Every time we receive the Eucharist, we are reminded of this love and called to live it out in our daily lives.

Tonight, as the Church enters into the solemn hours of the Passion, let us stay with Jesus in prayer, just as He asked His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Remain here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38). May we not turn away, but instead, open our hearts to His love and follow His example of humble service.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, on this holy night, You showed us the depth of Your love through humble service and the gift of the Eucharist. Teach me to love as You love, to serve as You serve. Give me the grace to kneel before others in humility, to put their needs before my own, and to remain close to You in this sacred time. Strengthen my heart to stay with You in prayer and to follow You faithfully to the Cross. Amen.

Reflection Question:
How can I follow Jesus’ example of love and service in my daily life? What small act of humility and kindness can I do today?

Scripture Reading:
“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 him 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 (NABRE)

Holy Wednesday is often called “Spy Wednesday” because it marks the day when Judas Iscariot conspired to betray Jesus. For thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave—he was willing to hand over the Lord. This moment is one of deep sorrow, not just because of Judas’ betrayal, but because it reminds us of the ways we, too, have been unfaithful to Christ.

It is easy to condemn Judas, but Holy Wednesday calls us to honest reflection. Have we ever chosen something over Jesus? Have we ever betrayed Him through our sins, our silence, or our failure to love? Each time we sin, we, too, exchange our relationship with Christ for something fleeting and empty.

Yet, Jesus does not respond to betrayal with hatred. Even as He is abandoned, He remains steadfast in love. This is our great hope—that no matter how many times we have failed, Jesus still invites us to repentance, mercy, and restoration. Unlike Judas, who despaired, we are called to return to Christ, trusting that His love is greater than our sins.

As we prepare for the Sacred Triduum, let us renew our commitment to faithfulness. Let us surrender whatever separates us from Christ and ask for the grace to follow Him with unwavering hearts.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You remained faithful even as You were betrayed. Forgive me for the times I have turned away from You. Help me to recognize the false promises of sin and to choose You above all things. Strengthen my heart so that I may walk with You, in faith and love, through this Holy Week and always. Amen.

Reflection Question:
What are the “thirty pieces of silver” in my life—things I sometimes place above my relationship with Jesus? How can I choose faithfulness today?