Pastoral Ponderings For Holy Wednesday

The Bible doesn't say what the Lord did on the Wednesday of Passion Week. Scholars speculate that after two exhausting days in Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples spent this day resting in Bethany in anticipation of Passover.

Just a short time previously, Jesus had revealed to the disciples, and the world, that he had power over death by raising Lazarus from the grave. After seeing this incredible miracle, many people in Bethany believed that Jesus was the Son of God and put their faith in him. 

During This Morning's Bridegroom Matins service  the Holy Fathers of the Church determined that  anointing of Christ with sweet smelling myrrh by the woman in the house of Simon, the leper, in Bethany be remembered. Repentance was the mission of the prophets. It would be an appropriate one-word title for the Bible, because "repentance" was the mission of our Lord. This woman who demonstrated her repentance and her warm faith toward our Lord to this day still presents to us the "aroma" of her virtue for imitation today.

At this service the beautiful "Hymn of Cassiane," probably a work of Patriarch Photius is sung. It begins: "The woman who had fallen into many sins recognized Your Godhead, O Lord; Woe to me, says she; receive the sources of my tears, O You who gathers into clouds the water of the sea. Who can trace out the multitude of my sins and the abysses of my misdeeds? "O You whose mercy is unbounded."

Tonight we will celebrate the Service of Holy Unction I strongly encourage you to attend with your family. Holy Unction is given for the cleansing sins and the healing the body and soul. Holy Unction is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church.

If you have not come to Confession yet (I estimate about about 125 people including children who have already received First Confession who still need to come) I am available from 5:30 pm on tonight and after the service for as long as it takes.

Have a wonderful day!  Stay Strong and keep focused on the Lord.. you can do it!

Love in Christ,

Fr. Peter

P.S.  You can listen to today's reflection by Fr. Miloro ( on PC or droid phone) as read by Pani Carol by  going to this link:  Pani Carol at http://holyghostphoenixville.org/lent