Holy Week: "BECOME HUNGRY FOR GOD"

R. (2a) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All who see me scoff at me;
they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:
“He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, if he loves him.”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

They divide my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I will proclaim your name to my brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:
“You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?


1. READ the psalm, making sure to recite at least the refrain (in bold) aloud. Read it once or twice, simply allowing the words to sink in.
2. REFLECT on what words or phrases seem to capture your attention. Return to them and ask God to reveal why these words or phrases might be resonating with you.
3. RESPOND to God, sharing openly and vulnerably what might be on your heart.
4. REST in silence and listen for God to respond to you. 

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul emphasizes that Jesus freely chose to take on flesh and come to us in human likeness, a choice that he knew would result in his own suffering and death. What do you think of the idea that the Son of God freely chose to suffer for you?

Paul describes Jesus’ Incarnation as a self-emptying, or a “kenosis” in Greek. How has your experience of fasting led to any sense of self-emptying?

Jesus’ self-emptying led to being filled with the glory of the Father, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” What do you hope will fill your own self-emptied practice of fasting? What are you hungry for?

This Sunday's Gospel reading comes from the Passion narrative, as recorded by Mark. Take time to read through this account of the suffering, crucifixion, and death of Jesus. Use the prompts below to pray with this passage, placing yourself in the scene and allowing God to speak to you through an experience of imaginative prayer.

1. READ Mark’s Gospel account of the Passion. Ensure to read it slowly enough to absorb the details and let it start to come alive.
2. REFLECT on the story and place yourself in the scene. Notice where you are standing, what you are seeing, and how you are feeling. Return to these details and ask God to reveal why they might be sticking out to you.
3. RESPOND to God, sharing openly and vulnerably what might be on your heart.
4. REST in silence and listen for God to respond to you. 

4 MIN READ

. . . All this means that deeply understood, fasting is the only means by which man recovers his true spiritual nature. . . . Ultimately, to fast means only one thing: to be hungry—to go to the limit of that human condition which depends entirely on food and, being hungry, to discover that this dependence is not the whole truth about man, that hunger itself is first of all a spiritual state and that it is in its last reality hunger for God. . . .

CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING.
 

2 MIN READ

. . . Mary Magdalene (first century) was a witness of the Resurrection and is patron saint of repentant sinners, hairdressers, and the contemplative life. Known also as Mary of Magdala, she was, according to Luke 8:2, healed of seven demons by Jesus. She was also among the women who accompanied and supported Jesus and the twelve apostles and was present at the Crucifixion and burial. . . .

CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING.

St. Mary Magdalene,
who witnessed the Crucifixion and Resurrection
and is the Apostle to the Apostles,
pray for us.

St. Mary Magdalene,
who models for us a life
of humility, repentance, discipleship,
pray for us.

St. Mary Magdalene,
whose hunger for God led you to Christ,
pray for us.