DOCSLIB.ORG

St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church April 14, 2019 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord ST. GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH Stewardship Reflection on Readings IS 50:4-7; PS 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-34; PHIL 2:6-11; LK 22:14- 23:56 or LK 23:1-49 Two very different responses to our Lord’s passion are highlighted during the Gospel reading from Luke today: the response of Simon of Cyrene and the response of Jesus’ acquaintances. Of Simon we are told, “They took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.” Whether Simon entered willingly and compassionately into this service or whether he took up the Cross of Christ with a grudge, we don’t know. What we do know is this: Simon did his part faithfully. He stayed near to Christ, carrying the Cross until our Lord reached Golgotha, the site of His crucifixion. We also know that Simon’s family were among the first of the early Christians. Staying near to Christ, embracing the Cross (quite literally), transformed his life and the life of his family. In contrast, near the end of this Gospel account we are told of another reaction to Jesus’ passion and death, namely that “all His acquaintances stood at a distance.” They knew Jesus! They had heard him preaching and teaching, witnessed His signs and miracles, maybe even benefited personally from them. Perhaps they did not participate in mocking Him or calling for His crucifixion. But they chose to stay a safe distance from Him when the going got tough. Unlike Simon, they refused to go too near to Christ. Where will you place yourself this week? Keeping your distance from all the pain and suffering Christ endured? Or close by, staying near to Him like Simon did? It is when we go near to Christ that we can be transformed by Him. It is by embracing the crosses in our lives, stewarding them well rather than trying to run from them, that we become His true disciples. PARISH OFFICE 8755 Scarborough Drive MASS SCHEDULE Colorado Springs, CO 80920 Weekend: Saturday 5:00 pm; Sunday 8:30 am, www.saintgabriel.net 10:30 am, 12:30 pm (Spanish) & 4:30 pm Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 am-5:00 pm Weekdays: Tuesday-Friday 12:15 pm Phone: (719) 528-8407 Fax: (719) 598-1696 SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Email: [email protected] Tuesday-Friday: 11:50 am-12:10 pm, Saturday: 2:30- 3:30 pm. PARISH CLERGY Pastor, Fr. Kirk Slattery [email protected] Father Don Billiard , OFM [email protected] Deacon Mike McGrady [email protected] First Friday: 10am to noon. Deacon Dave Geislinger [email protected] Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday 10 am to 7 pm. BEACON OF FAITH CAMPAIGN UPDATE ADORATION OF THE BLESSED PHASE 1-PARISH HALL SACRAMENT – HOLY THURSDAY/ GOOD FRIDAY Total intentions to date: $2,068,616.84 Total amount collected to date: $1,249,968.23 At the end of the Holy Thursday liturgy, the Blessed Sacrament is transferred from the tabernacle to a There is still time to get your pledge in. Just go to Chapel of Repose, where we spend time in adoration. http://www.saintgabriel.net/commitment-form and fill Our parish period of Eucharistic Adoration will begin in the form. immediately after the Mass on Holy Thursday (April 18) and continue through the night, ending on Good Friday (April 19) at 2pm, immediately before the Friday Passion of the Lord. We need adorers to spend at least one hour with Our Lord. A sign-up sheet is located in the Narthex. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Thomas, 528-8407, or email [email protected]. HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM Parallel parking on both sides of Scarborough Dr. between Liberty High School and St Gabriel’s is allowed on weekends (and school days after 3 pm). Some may find this a better option during Easter Services. Please Join St. Gabriel parish! What does parish leave red-cushioned chairs in their original membership offer? location. Please do not move chairs from The Narthex Allows us to encounter Jesus by being part of into the Nave. the church community Reception of sacraments LAST SEVEN WORDS OF CHRIST Allows permission letters to be written to be godparents or sponsors MEDITATION Gives us a sense of belonging After Jesus was nailed to the cross, He spoke seven short We welcome the following families to the St. Gabriel expressions. These statements are now commonly family: Jeffry and Diana Barry, Phillip and Marjorie referred to as the "The Seven Last Words." These words Boulton, Veronica Corral, Daniel and Valerie Decker, are recounted in Sacred Scripture and are found Jessica Gavino, Eduardo and Carey Joseph, Vicente throughout the four Gospels. On Good Friday, Martinez and Aurora Gutierrez, Alyson Moreau, beginning at 6:00pm, Dcn Dave will lead us in a Glenn and Debra Nickerson, Gladys Pinon, Kim Van meditation on these words of Christ. This is a new Valkenburg, Kyle and Mariana Ziegler. meditation, and will be offered instead of Stations of the Cross that day. ST. GABRIEL’S EVENTS CALENDAR ONFESSIONS Do you know that you can check the dates and times C of St. Gabriel’s events at the on-line Events Calendar There will be no confessions on Saturday, April 20. on our website? Visit saintgabriel.net and click on “Events Calendar” on the horizontal menu just below the purple banner on the home page of the website. HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SCHEDULE Holy Thursday, April 18 Mass at 6:30pm. No Mass at 12:15pm. Good Friday, April 19 Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm. No 12:15pm Mass. Led Meditation on the Last Seven Words of Christ at 6pm. Easter Vigil, April, 20, Mass at 8:30pm. No 5pm Mass. Easter Sunday, April 21 Masses in English at 7am, 9am, and 11:30am. Mass in Spanish at 1:30pm. St. Gabriel the Archangel 2 Colorado Springs, CO CALENDAR THIS WEEKEND Sun RCIC 9:45-11:15am Sun YSF 9:45-11:15am. Sun RCIA 9:45-11:15am. Sun Faith Formation K-5 11:45am-1:15pm. Sun Faith Formation Grades 6-Confirmation 2:30-4pm. 2019 RETURNING Sun Financial Peace 6pm. GODS GIFTS UPDATE UPCOMING 2019 Parish Goal: $119,764 Mon, Apr 15 Faith Formation Grades K-7 4:30-6pm. Total Pledged: $89,219 Mon, Apr 15 Walking Toward Eternity Bible Study 7pm. Percentage Pledged: 74.5% Tues, Apr 16 ESL Class 9am. Total collected to date: $54,086 Tues, Apr 16 EPIC: A Journey through Church History Bible Study 9:30am. Percentage collected: 45.16% Wed, Apr 17 Eucharistic Adoration as scheduled. Pray the Rosary at 6:00pm. Evening Prayer and Benediction starts at 6:30pm. Wed, Apr 17 Children’s Choir 5:15pm. FINANCIAL BLESSINGS Thurs, Apr 18 ESL Class 9am. RECEIVED Thurs, Apr 18 Holy Thursday Mass at 6:30pm. Fiscal Start of year July 2018 – Fri, Apr 19 Office Closed for Good Friday. Good Friday Service at 3pm. Feb 2019 Fri, Apr 19 Meditation on the Last Seven Words of Christ 6pm. Sat, Apr 20 No Confessions today. Total Offertory & Other Income Sat, Apr 20 Easter Vigil Mass at 8:30pm. Received: $805,148 Sun, Apr 21 Easter Sunday Masses at 7am, 9am, 11:30am, and Total Operating Expense: 1:30pm in Spanish $832,680 SAVE THE DATE April 25 Shroud Seminar 6:30pm. April 27 First Communion Retreat. April 28 Divine Mercy Holy Hour 3-4pm. May 6 Health and Safety Team Meeting. All are Welcome. May 11 Faith Formation End of the Year Celebration. June 2 Blood Drive June 24-28 Vacation Bible School. July 17-19 Mission Possible. July 21-26 Totus Tuus. BULLETIN DEADLINE The bulletin deadline for the April 28th bulletin is Monday, April 22nd by 10am. Please send all announcements to [email protected]. MASS INTENTIONS The suggested donation for a Mass Intention is $10. Mass Intentions can be booked for either living or deceased persons; a Mass Intention can be booked for more than one person if both or all the people for whom the Mass is being celebrated are either all living or all deceased. When booking Mass Intentions, especially more than three or four at one time, we would greatly appreciate receiving the Mass Intention donations at the time you reserve the dates of the Masses. GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION Pope Francis has asked our parish to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps Christians in the Holy Land. Your support helps the church minister in parishes, provide Catholic schools, and offer religious education. The wars, unrest, and instability have been especially hard on Christians. In these times of crisis, the Pontifical Good Friday Collection provides humanitarian aid to refugees. When you contribute to the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, you become an instrument of peace and join with Catholics around the world in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land. Please Be Generous! For more information about Christians in the Holy Land, visit www.myfrancisan.org/good-friday. St. Gabriel the Archangel 3 Colorado Springs, CO St. Gabriel the Archangel 4 Colorado Springs, CO SUIT DRIVE CALLING ALL CRAFTERS AND Local transitioning military need your help as they prepare for VENDORS civilian life. St. Dominic Catholic Church in Security will The Blue Star Mothers (a 501c3 non-profit organization) in be having their annual Feast Day Festival on partnership with the American Legion Post 209 is conducting a Aug 11 from 12:30-4:00 pm.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Berean Digest Walking Thru the Bible Tavares D. Mathews
    Berean Digest Walking Thru the Bible Tavares D. Mathews Length of Time # Book Chapters Listening / Reading 1 Matthew 28 2 hours 20 minutes 2 Mark 16 1 hour 25 minutes 3 Luke 24 2 hours 25 minutes 4 John 21 1 hour 55 minutes 5 Acts 28 2 hours 15 minutes 6 Romans 16 1 hour 5 minutes 7 1 Corinthians 16 1 hour 8 2 Corinthians 13 40 minutes 9 Galatians 6 21 minutes 10 Ephesians 6 19 minutes 11 Philippians 4 14 minutes 12 Colossians 4 13 minutes 13 1 Thessalonians 5 12 minutes 14 2 Thessalonians 3 7 minutes 15 1 Timothy 6 16 minutes 16 2 Timothy 4 12 minutes 17 Titus 3 7 minutes 18 Philemon 1 3 minutes 19 Hebrews 13 45 minutes 20 James 5 16 minutes 21 1 Peter 5 16 minutes 22 2 Peter 3 11 minutes 23 1 John 5 16 minutes 24 2 John 1 2 minutes 25 3 John 1 2 minutes 26 Jude 1 4 minutes 27 Revelation 22 1 hour 15 minutes Berean Digest Walking Thru the Bible Tavares D. Mathews Matthew Author: Matthew Date: AD 50-60 Audience: Jewish Christians in Palestine Chapters: 28 Theme: Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), King of the Jews People: Joseph, Mary (mother of Jesus), Wise men (magi), Herod the Great, John the Baptizer, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, Herod Antipas, Herodias, Caiaphas, Mary of Bethany, Pilate, Barabbas, Simon of Cyrene, Judas Iscariot, Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Arimathea Places: Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Egypt, Nazareth, Judean wilderness, Jordan River, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Decapolis, Gadarenes, Chorazin, Bethsaida, Tyre, Sidon, Caesarea Philippi, Jericho, Bethany, Bethphage, Gethsemane, Cyrene, Golgotha, Arimathea.
    [Show full text]
  • Point Introduction Understanding
    brentwood baptist BRENTWOOD SUMMER SERIES THE CHURCH SENT ACTS 13:1-4 8/2/2020 MAIN POINT As the church in Antioch grew and developed new leaders, God called those leaders out for new endeavors. INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to introduce the topic of discussion. Have someone share about a mission trip or local mission experience. Share photos if available. When you think about your walk with Christ, how have you experienced Him sending you out to new ministry endeavors? How would you explain what it means to be called of God for ministry? Who do you think that applies to? In your experience, how have you discerned if God was calling you to something? How big a role did the confirmation of other believers play in your discernment? Luke chronicled the circumstances surrounding the launch of Paul’s first missionary journey. The number of leaders with the ability to teach had increased considerably since Barnabas arrived in Antioch. With everything growing and developing in Antioch, one might think that the leadership should just keep doing what they were doing. To the contrary, in the midst of the healthy development in Antioch, God called out Saul and Barnabas to be sent to fulfill other works to which God had called them. UNDERSTANDING Unpack the biblical text to discover what the Scripture says or means about a particular topic. HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ ACTS 13:1. As the work in Antioch had progressed, so too had the mantle of leadership. At the time when Barnabas was originally dispatched by the leadership in Jerusalem to investigate the salvation phenomenon in Antioch, Barnabas was the only teacher and disciple- maker of new converts.
    [Show full text]
  • AFRICENTRIC: Lessons from Simon of Cyrene
    AFRICENTRIC: Lessons from Simon of Cyrene By Dr. Maurice C. Taylor Although little is written about him in the Bible, Simon of Cyrene has been on my mind quite a bit this Lenten season. In fact, the first three books of the New Testament provide only a very sketchy profile of a man from Cyrene, Simon by name, who was coming in from the country (Lk 23:26) and who was the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mk 15:21) whom Roman soldiers compelled to carry Jesus’ cross (Mt 27:32). Few other details about Simon exist beyond the fact that his home, Cyrene, was a Greek settlement in the province of Cyrenaica, which was in the eastern part of present-day Libya. It is easy to discount the story of Simon of Cyrene as contributing much to an understanding of the significance of the passion of Christ or of having any relevance in our daily lives. Indeed, every Lenten season, more sermons are preached about the cock crowing upon Peter’s third denial of knowing Jesus (Mt 26:74) and the two thieves crucified with Christ (Lk 39-43) than about Simon carrying Christ’s cross. Yet, for me, in many ways it is Simon’s story that most closely parallels the meaning of Christ’s journey to Golgotha bearing that cross on our behalf. First, Christ has no need to carry the cross for himself; after all, he has done nothing to warrant such a burden. Rather Christ is compelled to bear this cross for you and me.
    [Show full text]
  • The Transforming Power of the Cross and the Resurrection
    The Transforming Power of the Cross and the Resurrection Have you ever planned something special to do—something that you have really been looking forward to for a very long time—it could be a special trip or vacation—or maybe even something as simple as sitting down and reading a good book you’ve been waiting to read or watching a movie on DVD that you have been wanting to see. But, just when you get into doing it—something interrupts you. You have started out on your dream vacation—but the car has a flat tire. You are reading that book or watching the movie—and the phone rings. And you think, “Wow, why does this always happen to me?” I have to believe that that is the way that Simon must have felt on the day that Jesus was crucified. And I am not referring to Simon Peter, Jesus’ disciple. No, this is a different Simon—one who doesn’t receive quite as much attention in the Gospels. But this Simon has a story that bears telling, because in many ways he reflects the wonder and transforming power of the Cross and of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in a manner that is compelling for all of us. His story teaches us that sometimes an interruption is exactly what we may need. You see, from all indications, Simon had planned one of those special things that he has longed to do all of his life. He had scrimped and saved his money for a trip from his home town in Cyrene in order to go to the Holy City of Jerusalem.
    [Show full text]
  • Bit Part Players in the Passion
    Edinburgh Research Explorer Paragon of discipleship? Simon of Cyrene in the Markan Passion narrative Citation for published version: Bond, H 2016, Paragon of discipleship? Simon of Cyrene in the Markan Passion narrative. in KA Bendoraitis & NK Gupta (eds), Matthew and Mark Across Perspectives: Essays in Honour of Stephen C. Barton and William R. Telford. Library of New Testament Studies, vol. 538, Bloomsbury T & T Clark, London; New York, pp. 18-35. https://doi.org/10.5040/9780567662132.ch-002 Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.5040/9780567662132.ch-002 Link: Link to publication record in Edinburgh Research Explorer Document Version: Peer reviewed version Published In: Matthew and Mark Across Perspectives Publisher Rights Statement: This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Bloomsbury Academic in Matthew and Mark Across Perspectives: Essays in Honour of Stephen C. Barton and William, on 2 November 2016, available online: https://www.bloomsburycollections.com/book/matthew-and-mark-across-perspectives-essays-in-honour- of-stephen-c-barton-and-william-r-telford/ General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.
    [Show full text]
  • View Bulletin
    St. Stephen Parish SaintStephenSF.org | 451 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco CA 94132 | Church 415 681-2444 StStephenSchoolSF.org | 401 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco 94132 | School 415 664-8331 Weekday Mass: 8:00 a.m. Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30 p.m. or by appt. Vigil Mass Saturday 4:30p.m. Sunday Mass 8:00 & 9:30a.m. PRAYER FOR LENT Lord, Holy Father, show us what kind of man it is who is hanging for our sakes on the cross, whose suffering causes the rocks themselves to crack and crumble with compassion, whose death brings the dead back to life. Let my heart crack and crumble at the sight of him. Let my soul break apart with compassion for his suffering. Let it be shattered with grief at my sins for which he dies. And finally let it be softened with devoted love for him. Amen. (St. October Bonaventure) 4, 2020 Our Mission Statement We are a Catholic Community that is called by God to follow Jesus Christ. We believe that we are called to worship God together, to lead God's people along the path of hope laid down by Jesus, to share his mes- sage through preaching, through the educaƟon and formaƟon of our people, young and old, and through caring service and sensiƟve outreach to those in need. Rev. Tony P. LaTorre, Pastor Palm (Passion) Sunday This year, as we enter our holiest week, we read the account of the passion from the Gospel of Mark. In a few days, on Good Friday, we will read the account from John.
    [Show full text]
  • Stations of the Cross 8.5 X 11.Pub
    fàtà|ÉÇá Éy à{x VÜÉáá STABAT MATER Jesus, Lord, condemned, defiled, May we too be meek and mild As we tread your holy way. Opening Prayer May we feel no bier hatred, When we too are persecuted, Le alone to walk with you. First Staon: Jesus is condemned to death Pr.: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (genuflect) All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Now the cross as Jesus bore it, Has become for us who share it, The jeweled cross of victory. Second Staon: Jesus carries the cross Pr.: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (genuflect) All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Weakened, prodded, cursed, and fallen, His whole body bruised and swollen, Jesus tripped and lay in pain. Third Staon: Jesus falls the first me Pr.: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (genuflect) All: Because by holy cross you have redeemed the world. Jesus met his grieving mother, She who made the Lord our brother Now the sword her heart has pierced. Fourth Staon: Jesus meets his afflicted mother Pr.: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (genuflect) All: All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Simon stopped in hesitaon, Not foreseeing his proud staon, Called to bear the cross of Christ. Fih Staon: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his Cross Pr.: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. (genuflect) All: All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Simon of Cyrene
    Following in the Footsteps of the Crucified Lord Simon of Cyrene 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example [program], that you should follow in his steps. CCC 1095 For this reason the Church, especially during Advent and Lent and above all at the Easter Vigil, re-reads and re-lives the great events of salvation history in the “today” of her liturgy. But this also demands that catechesis help the faithful to open themselves to this spiritual understanding of the economy of salvation as the Church’s liturgy reveals it and enables us to live it. CCC 540 By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert. CCC 571 The Paschal mystery of Christ’s cross and Resurrection stands at the center of the Good News that the apostles, and the Church following them, are to proclaim to the world. God’s saving plan was accomplished “once for all” by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ. Luke 23:26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. Isaiah 53 [Part of 4th Suffering Servant Song] Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.
    [Show full text]
  • Simon of Cyrene
    Online Bible Study Via Crucis – The Cross Demands Simon of Cyrene This week we began a series called "Via Crucis" or "The Way of the Cross," and we looked at the story of Simon of Cyrene who was forced to carry the cross for Jesus on the way to Calvary. As we put ourselves in Simon's place, we encounter what the cross demands of us. There is no middle ground. There is no room to negotiate. Jesus is calling each of us to pick up the cross and follow Him—completely, sacrificially, selflessly, and willingly. Read the accounts of the crucifixion in each of the Gospels: Matthew 27:32-56, Mark 15:21-41, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:16-37 As you think about Christ carrying the cross, what words come to mind? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ We learn something about Simon of Cyrene from each Gospel’s account of the crucifixion: Matthew 27:32 As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry his cross. Mark 15:21 The soldiers forced a passerby to carry his cross, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country (he was the father of Alexander and Rufus). Luke 23:26 As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country. They placed the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus. Think about the moments as Simon is forced to carry Christ’s cross. Put yourself in Simon’s shoes and try to imagine what he was thinking.
    [Show full text]
  • A Spirited People: Stephen
    Saint John United Methodist Church Message for March 29, 2020 12700 W. Hwy. 42, Prospect, KY 40059 “Cross Bearing” stjohnky.com Speaker: Pastor Tom Grieb Scripture: Luke 23:26-31 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (Luke 23:26-31) Lay Down Your Plans If anything, the Covid-19 Pandemic has compelled us to adjust. These past couple of weeks we have had to do things differently. We have had to do life differently and, in some instances, we had to do it drastically. If you are anything like me, you like everything all nice, neat, and planned out. Surprises aren’t always easy. Adjustment takes a tremendous amount of energy. Having to shift gears can be pretty tough. Dropping back and punting isn’t as easy as it sounds. You and I are all about making plans and sticking to them and the last couple of weeks have taught us that those plans can change with the passing of each news cycle.
    [Show full text]
  • "Faces at the Cross-Simon of Cyrene" (3-10-19)
    “Faces at the Cross: Simon of Cyrene” Luke 23:26 The Rev. Dr. William E. W. Robinson Salem Presbyterian Church The First Sunday in Lent March 10, 2019 This Lent, our sermon series is called: “Faces at the Cross.” Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal, so in this series we will plumb the lives of people with Christ at the cross to learn lessons their lives teach us. Today, the face at the cross is that of Simon of Cyrene. Let us pray. Who was Simon of Cyrene? Like some in the Bible (e.g., possibly Mary Magdalen), he’s identified by his home city. Cyrene was the capital of the Roman province of Cyrenaica in northern Africa (in present-day Libya). In Jesus’ day, there was a Jewish community there. In fact, by the first century, Cyrene had been home to Jews for at least three centuries. I provide this Jewish background of the city because scholars speculate that Simon was Jewish. Simon of Cyrene only appears three times in the entire New Testament: in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. (He’s not mentioned in the Gospel of John.) In each of those first three Gospels, he’s the person who carries Jesus’ cross to Golgotha, where Jesus is crucified. In today’s text, we read that Simon “was coming from the country.” That could mean that he lived or worked somewhere outside the city of Jerusalem. It’s also possible that he was in Palestine for Passover. That would mean he’d traveled from Cyrene (a journey of several weeks in the first century).
    [Show full text]
  • Sorrowful Mysteries
    Sorrowful Mysteries A sequence of dramas and meditations drawn from the Catholic Rosary and The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Passion of Christ. by Les & Julie Ellison © Les Ellison 2012 (dramas) © Julie Ellison 2012 (meditations) Category: Radius Typescript 2013 Editor: Nickie Cox All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved. Permission for this play to be copied for purposes of public reading or performance has been given but with the stipulation that the copies be destroyed after use. A licence to perform or give a reading of this play, either in its entirety or in the form of excerpts, is required by professionals or amateurs for production in church or elsewhere, whether for charity or gain, regardless of whether admission is charged or not. A scale of fees is linked to such a licence and is subject to contract and subject to variation at the sole discretion of Radius. Applications for a licence should be made to Radius in advance of rehearsals. Radius The Religious Drama Society of Great Britain e-mail: [email protected] web: www.radiusdrama.org.uk 2 Sorrowful Mysteries Cast List Gabriel – a messenger of God Mary – the mother of Jesus Judas – the disciple who betrayed Jesus Barabbas – the terrorist released in Jesus’s stead Mother of Barabbas Pilate – the governor and judge Claudia – the wife of Pilate Simon of Cyrene – a foreigner, traveller and visitor Alexander (or Alexandra) - Simon’s teenage son (or daughter) Rachel – Alexander/Alexandra’s travelling governess Reader(s) – to read the meditations Scene 1:
    [Show full text]