Readings: Isaiah 50:4-7  Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24 hilippians 2:6-11  Luke 22:14-23:56 (see also “Passover and Passion”)  Chants The Passion (detail), Hans Holbein the Younger, 1525 Passion of the Christ “What is written about Me is coming to fulfillment,” Jesus says in today’s Gospel (see Luke 22:37). Indeed, we have reached the climax of the liturgical year, the highest peak of salvation…

Readings:  Isaiah 43:16-21  Psalms 126:1-6  Philippians 3:8-14  John 8:1-11  Chants Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery Alessandro Turchi, c. 1620s Something New The Liturgy this Lent has shown us the God of the Exodus. He is a mighty and gracious God, who out of faithfulness to His covenant has done “great things” for His people, as today’s Psalm puts…

Readings: Joshua 5:9-12  Psalms 34:2-7  2 Corinthians 5:17-21  Luke 15:1-3, 11-32  Chants Christ on the Cross Unknown Master, c. 1070 (Schnütgen-Museum, Cologne) Scott Hahn with David Scott In today’s First Reading, God forgives “the reproach” of the generations who grumbled against Him after the Exodus. On the threshold of the promised land, Israel can with a clean heart celebrate the…

Readings:  Exodus 3:1-8,13-15  Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11  1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12  Luke 13:1-9  Chants Taking of Christ (detail) Unknown Master, 1325 (Museum Mayer van den Bergh, Antwerp) Fruits of the Fig In the Church, we are made children of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—the God who makes known His name and His ways to Moses in today’s First…

Readings: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18  Psalm 27:1,7-9, 13-14  Philippians 3:17-4:1  Luke 9:28-36 Chants The Transfiguration of Christ Gerard David, 1520 The Glory in Sight In today’s Gospel, we go up to the mountain with Peter, John and James. There we see Jesus “transfigured,” speaking with Moses and Elijah about His “exodus.” The Greek word “exodus” means “departure.” But the word is…

Readings: Deuteronomy 26:4-10  Psalms 91:1-2,10-15  Romans 10:8-13  Luke 4:1-13  Chants Three Temptations of Christ (detail) Sandro Botticelli, 1481-82 Forty Days In today’s epic Gospel scene, Jesus relives in His flesh the history of Israel. We’ve already seen that like Israel, Jesus has passed through water, been called God’s beloved Son (see Luke 3:22; Exodus 4:22). Now, as Israel was tested…