Before passover people came to purify themselves - What about me?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Lenten Season - 5th Week : Saturday*

*Gospel :  Jn 11:45-56*

*First Reading : Ez 37:21-28*

*Before passover people came to purify themselves - What about me?*

*1) Great Feast of the Passover*

For Jews Passover was a great feast and which was celebrated in Jerusalem temple

So people were very conscious of this feast and the preparations needed for the same 

So all people came to Jerusalem before the passover feast to purify themselves so they could prepare well for the same 

*2) Easter is a great Passover for Christians*

Among all feasts Easter takes the first place in the celebration. Its a great feast 

Its a feast of Passover from death to life, from darkness to light and worldly life to heavenly life 

Such a great  feast needs a lot of preparation. That's why we have 40 days of Lent 

As the Passover or the Holy week is at hand what must be pur response? 

*3) Confess your sins at least once a year*

This is the 2nd important precept of the Catholic Church 

This is one of the best ways of purifying oneself and this is the best time for purifying oneself 

Confessing ones sins one a month is a good practice or confessing ones sins during the important feast like, Nativity of Mary, Christmas and Easter is very necessary

But if I am thinking of confessing of making my confession only once a year this is the best time and confession is the best way to purify oneself

*4) Holy Week to become Holy*

Holy week becomes Holy to me only if am able to purify myself 

Holy week is not a mechanical thing which makes me Holy 

By purifying ourselves we become Holy, and in this context the Holy Week becomes very meaningful to our life 

*5) Conscious of Purification*

Jews were very conscious about the self purification before the passover feast 

What about my consciousness about my own sinfulness and the purification? 

Holy week is the best time to make my confession and to purify myself and to begin a new Holy Life 

Without our purification and Holy Life, Holy week liturgy the passion, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus has no meaning for our life 

*6) Am I ready to purity myself? 

By purifying myself I lose nothing and nothing at all. But on the contrary I will many things 

By not purifying myself I will lose everything and nothing I will gain 

So it is beneficial for us to purify ourselves and trying to gain some spiritual favours from the Lord 

So what is my response?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*