“He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him” (Matthew 28:7). During his Holy Saturday homily several years ago, Pope Francis reflected on this passage by saying, Galilee is the place where they were first called, where everything began.

Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Psalm 31; Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9; John 18:1–19:42 Jesus, the Word of God, speaks three times from the cross. His words prepare us for venerating it. “I thirst” (John 19:28). Jesus thirsts for us, for, our wholeness, our fullness of life.

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15 Today we celebrate Jesus’ giving us the gift of the Holy Eucharist. What we call Sacred Liturgy is the highest form of prayer we have—the source and summit of the Christian life.

Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 69; Matthew 26:14-25 Judas had the opportunity to be one of the greatest apostles. It’s true that he was a thief and used to steal from the money bag (cf. Mark 12:6), but Jesus did not give up on him.

Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 71; John 13:21-33, 36-38 Judas and Peter both betrayed Jesus. One despaired, the other trusted; one could not love Jesus for who he was, the other loved him deeply; one could not imagine that he was loved enough to be forgiven, the other knew he was loved and forgiven.

Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27; John 12:1-11 As we enter into Holy Week, our Gospel brings us to the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. We are to understand Mary’s actions as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ imminent death.

Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14–27:66 How is it possible that on Palm Sunday we celebrate the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, with the people proclaiming him Lord and king—yet so soon afterward they will shout, “Crucify him”?

Ezekiel 37:21-28; Jeremiah 31:10-13; John 11:45-56 The thread running through all three readings today is one of gathering, unity, and joy. We are reassured that God is not indifferent to the world’s divisions, hatreds, and prejudices.

Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 18; John 10:31-42 The painting Ecce homo (“behold the man”) by Antonio Ciseri depicts Jesus and Pontius Pilate. As Catholics we accept that all of humanity sinned and bears responsibility for the death of Jesus on the cross.

Genesis 17:3-9; Psalm 105; John 8:51-59 During our seminary years confreres would sometimes visit us and be invited to speak to the student body. I remember one who had been a chaplain to paratroopers and who jumped with his men.