Martin Jumbam

Catholic Meditation - Easter Sunday - Year C

 Martin Jumbam

The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, March 27, 2016, as Easter Sunday – Year C. In the entrance antiphon we pray: “I have risen: I am with you once more; you placed your hand on me to keep me safe. How great is the depth of your wisdom, alleluia!”  “This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad, Alleluia!” This refrain gives us the true spirit of Easter. It is a spirit of hope and abiding joy, as the Church continues to give witness to the central fact of the early preaching of the Apostles: “Jesus is risen. He is the Lord.” For our part we must lift up our minds and our hearts to the Lord in thanksgiving. As Paul says, “You must look for the things that are in heaven where Christ is.”

Catholic Meditation - Palm Sunday - Year C

Martin Jumbam

The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, March 20, 2016 as Palm Sunday. It is also known as Passion Sunday because the theme of Jesus’ suffering and death begins with the reading of the passion. In the entrance antiphon we pray: Six days before the solemn Passover the Lord came to Jerusalem, and children waving palm branches ran out to welcome him. They loudly praised the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. Blessed are you who have come to us so rich in love and mercy. Amen.

Catholic Meditation - Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year C

 Martin Jumbam

Mother Church invites us to celebrate Sunday, March 13, 2016 as the fifth and last Sunday of Lent – Year C. Next Sunday will be Palm Sunday, which will mark the beginning of Holy Week. In the entrance antiphon we pray: “Give me justice, O God, and defend my cause against the wicked; rescue me from deceitful and unjust men. You, O God, are my refuge. Amen.”  Our first reading comes from Second Isaiah, which is generally called the “Book of the Consolation of Israel”. It looks forward to the promises of God’s redemption and restoration of Israel through a new exodus. The Jews are still held captive in Babylon but their deliverance is announced thanks to the power of the Lord, who rules the world and determines the course of human history. He delivered his people from Egypt and is now about to re-enact those wonders in a new exodus, which would be an even greater pledge of God’s love for his people. God would gather them anew to make them forever his people of choice as he leads them back to Zion from Babylon.

Catholic Meditation – Fourth Sunday of Lent – Year C

Martin Jumbam

Mother Church celebrates Sunday, March 06, 2016, as the fourth Sunday of Lent – Year C. In the Entrance Antiphon we pray: “Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment at her consoling breasts. Amen.” This Sunday is traditionally called Laetare Sunday because it interrupts the general feeling of sadness that is associated with Lent to speak to us of joy, as we hear in the words of the Entrance Antiphon above. As we approach the end of the Lenten season, we meditate on the joy of the cross. We share Saint Paul’s cheerfulness when he exclaims: “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4).