Gospel: John 29:1–9
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb

‘We proclaim the resurrection of Christ’, says Pope Francis, ‘when His light illuminates the dark moment of our existence, and we are able to share it with others; when we know how to smile with those who smile, and weep with those who weep.’

Gospel: John 18:1—19:42
After Jesus had taken the wine he said, 'It is fulfilled'; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit.

The last words of Jesus, according to the writer of the last canonical Gospel, were the cryptic: "It is finished". What is finished? I think it depends on your perspective.

Gospel: John 13:1-5
Jesus … got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

Chapter 13 in John brings a major shift in this gospel. It closes the first part called “the Book of Signs”, the account of Jesus’ public ministry. Now we enter the second half of the gospel, called the Book of Glory (ch. 13-17). The word “love” is a key word in this section: Jesus will call his disciples to love and will show them the kind of love he has in mind by offering himself for them.

Gospel: Luke 22:14–23:56
Father, forgive them, they know not what they do

This week what is still sinful, incomplete, or weak in us is gathered up by Jesus at his cross. Jesus continues to show compassion even on the way to his execution as he acknowledges the grieving women. As he is dying he attends to the thief on the cross next to him and promises him paradise. Right up to the end Jesus highlights those who would benefit by his surrender to God’s will—the neglected and those rejected and cast out by society.

Remember that the principal actor is God. There are some key figures in the stories for meditation (Peter, Pilate, etc.), but in the Gospels this week Jesus absorbs our attention. Put aside all else, even the “moral lessons.” We see nothing but Jesus, and him crucified. What is God doing and saying to us this week?