April 13

1 Peter: But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.

The day after tomorrow is Good Friday, which means Easter is just four days away. During Lent, we become ever more connected with Christ's suffering. He carried all of our sins and showed us how to forgive so that we could have a closer connection to God through Him.

Remember Father Frank from yesterday's thoughts? Father Frank carried parishioners' sins and prayers across Spain and laid them at the foot of the Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross) after performing a small Mass. The Cruz de Ferro is where Pilgrims are encouraged to leave behind something that no longer serves them. The Pilgrim places their intention, the thing they wish to leave behind, onto a rock and leaves it behind. Notice in the photo all the rocks that have been left at the foot of the cross.

By going through Lent, we are laying down those things that no longer serve us. We lay them down for good on Good Friday, at the foot of Christ. Jesus will carry all our hurt, sufferings, sins, and fear. We will rise with Jesus at Easter, lighter, stronger in our faith, and shouting for joy at the risen Christ.

April 13

Matthew: He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Mark: And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?

Luke: When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

John: Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,

Acts: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.

Romans: For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

1 Corinthians: when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.

2 Corinthians: But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—“I believed, and so I spoke”—we also believe, and so we speak,

Galatians: You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you;

Ephesians: until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

Philippians: I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Colossians: For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

1 Thessalonians: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

1 Timothy: Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching.

2 Timothy: When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.

Hebrews: And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

James: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.”

1 Peter: But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.

1 John: By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.