John 19:17-30

Let us all remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel: John 19:17-30
“So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.  There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.  Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews’.  Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.  The chief priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, The King of the Jews’, but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews’.  Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written’. When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic.  But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be’ this was to fulfill the scripture. “They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots”.  So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’  Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’  And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.  After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), ‘I thirst’.  A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth.  When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Reflection
“By the cross we too are crucified with Christ, but alive in Christ. We are no more rebels but servants, no more servants, but sons.” (Frederick William Farrar) This Good Friday quote reminds us the reality of life. We experience pain but in the end there is joy. We experience suffering but glory waits. Years ago, it also happened to our Lord Jesus Christ. He suffered and died on the cross for us to see his resurrection. May we be filled with hope for the glory of Jesus’ rising to new life. May we also live in the joy and freedom of Jesus’ victory over sin and death.

Lasallian Guiding Principle
LGP states that, zeal for service is a whole hearted giving of oneself to the service of others, in gratuity and generosity, in creativity and fortitude, in compassion and commitment. Our founder St. John Baptist De La Salle coincidently died on a Good Friday. In his lifetime, he left marks of love, hope, and joy in the hearts of the poor children. Like Jesus, he experienced hunger, pain, and betrayal. He shared the cross of Christ but looked forward to the glory of his resurrection. As lasallians, may we feel the suffering of our needy brothers and sisters. May we also be instruments of their rising to new life.

Prayer for the Tercentenary of the Founder’s passing to Eternal Life (adapted)
God, our Father and Mother, You love us with endless mercy. You call us to be your sons and daughters.
Give us a generous heart. A heart of flesh that “burns within us.” A heart always willing to love. A compassionate heart for those who suffer. A heart where there is a place for all Lasallians around the world. Lord Jesus, You call us to follow you. Give us the courage to live our commitment. Teach us to go beyond our borders. Teach us to discover you in the lowliest. Teach us to look with the eyes of faith. Teach us to share our mission with all Lasallians of the whole world. Holy Spirit, You call us to live with joy. Fill us with your grace to live the values of the Gospel. Fill us with your grace to be active members in your Church. Fill us with your grace so that we may be credible witnesses, together with the entire Lasallian Family, in the midst of our world. Together and by association, we wish to renew our Lasallian commitment, and, in an attitude of thanksgiving, celebrate these 300 years of life. We ask this through Mary’s intercession, Queen and Mother of the Christian Schools. And through the intercession of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, Universal Patron of Christian Educators. Amen.
Let us pray with one Lasallian Heart whose Commitment is to nurture Life. Now, in a very special way, we pray for the complete healing of our Brother Superior General, Br. Bob Schieler FSC.
We entrust Him to Your power. Touch him oh Divine Physician with Your healing hands. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Then say 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be.
Our Lady of the Star, pray for us.
St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.
St. Miguel Febres Cordero, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Value: Zeal for Service (Nurturing Service)
Culture Theme: We give selflessly and receive graciously.
Productivity Theme: Going to the extra mile
ICV WEEK 3: We are willing to make personal sacrifices.
C. (n.d.). Daily Gospel. Retrieved April 12, 2019, from https://dailygospel.org/M/AM/
DLSU ITS, DLSU STRATCOM, DLSU IRPA. (n.d.). Guiding Principles of the Philippine Lasallian Family.
Retrieved April 1, 2019, from http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/inside/lasallian-guiding-principles/default.asp

Prepared: Neil Stephen G. Benter, DLSMHSI – LFSAO
through the DLSMHSI Lasallian Mission and Linkages, Lasallian Formation and Social Action

Our Daily Lasallian Reflection and Prayer is DLSMHSI gift to the Lasallian family for the 2019 Celebration of the Year of Vocation and Tercentenary celebration of the death of our founder SJBDLS.