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Friends, today’s Gospel is John’s wonderful narrative of Christ’s Passion.

On the cross, Jesus entered into close quarters with sin (because that’s where we sinners are found) and allowed the heat and fury of sin to destroy him, even as he protected us.

We can see, with special clarity, why the first Christians associated the crucified Jesus with the suffering servant of Isaiah. By enduring the pain of the cross, Jesus did indeed bear our sins; by his stripes we were indeed healed.

And this is why the sacrificial death of Jesus is pleasing to the Father. The Father sent his Son into godforsakenness, into the morass of sin and death—not because he delighted in seeing his Son suffer, but rather because he wanted his Son to bring the divine light to the darkest place.

It is not the agony of the Son in itself that pleases his Father, but rather the Son’s willing obedience in offering his body in sacrifice in order to take away the sin of the world. St. Anselm said that the death of the Son reestablished the right relationship between divinity and humanity.

Lent Reflections

Daily Lent Reflections from Bishop Barron

Holy Week

Friday

March 29

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Good Friday

Thursday

March 28

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Holy Thursday

Wednesday

March 27

Read

Tuesday

March 26

Read

Monday

March 25

Read

Sunday

March 24

Read

Palm Sunday

5th week of Lent

Saturday

March 23

Read

Friday

March 22

Read

Thursday

March 21

Read

Wednesday

March 20

Read

Tuesday

March 19

Read

St. Joseph

Monday

March 18

Read

Sunday

March 17

Read

4th week of Lent

Saturday

March 16

Read

Friday

March 15

Read

Thursday

March 14

Read

Wednesday

March 13

Read

Tuesday

March 12

Read

Monday

March 11

Read

Sunday

March 10

Read

3rd week of Lent

Saturday

March 9

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Thursday

March 7

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Thursday

March 7

Read

Wednesday

March 6

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Tuesday

March 5

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Monday

March 4

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Sunday

March 3

Read

2nd week of Lent

Saturday

March 2

Read

Friday

March 1

Read

Thursday

February 29

Read

Wednesday

February 28

Read

Tuesday

February 27

Read

Monday

February 26

Read

Sunday

February 25

Read

1st week of Lent

Saturday

February 24

Read

Friday

February 23

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Thursday

February 22

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Wednesday

February 21

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Tuesday

February 20

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Monday

February 19

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Sunday

February 18

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Week of Ash Wednesday

Saturday

February 17

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Friday

February 16

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Thursday

February 15

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Wednesday

February 14

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