To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries from Logical Bible Study, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p

Note: There are two Masses on Holy Thursday, each which have different gospel readings. In this episode, we are looking at the reading from the Mass which is held later in the day, called 'The Mass of the Lord's Supper.'

John 13: 1-15 - 'Now he showed how perfect his love was.'

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:

- 609 (in 'Jesus freely embraced the Father's redeeming love') - By embracing in his human heart the Father's love for men, Jesus "loved them to the end", for "greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." In suffering and death his humanity became the free and perfect instrument of his divine love which desires the salvation of men. Indeed, out of love for his Father and for men, whom the Father wants to save, Jesus freely accepted his Passion and death: "No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord." Hence the sovereign freedom of God's Son as he went out to his death.

- 616 (in 'Jesus substitutes his obedience for our disobedience') - It is love "to the end" that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He knew and loved us all when he offered his life. Now "the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died." No man, not even the holiest, was ever able to take on himself the sins of all men and offer himself as a sacrifice for all. the existence in Christ of the divine person of the Son, who at once surpasses and embraces all human persons, and constitutes himself as the Head of all mankind, makes possible his redemptive sacrifice for all.

- 1380 (in 'The Presence of Christ by the power of his word and Holy Spirit') - It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way. Since Christ was about to take his departure from his own in his visible form, he wanted to give us his sacramental presence; since he was about to offer himself on the cross to save us, he wanted us to have the memorial of the love with which he loved us "to the end," even to the giving of his life. In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains under signs that express and communicate this love (abbreviated).

- 1524 (in 'Viaticum, the Last Sacrament of the Christian') - In addition to the Anointing of the Sick, the Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as viaticum. Communion in the body and blood of Christ, received at this moment of "passing over" to the Father, has a particular significance and importance. It is the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection, according to the words of the Lord: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." The sacrament of Christ once dead and now risen, the Eucharist is here the sacrament of passing over from death to life, from this world to the Father.

- 1823 (in 'Charity')

- 1694 (in 'Life in Christ')

- 1269 (in 'Incorporated in to the Church, the body of Christ')

- 520 (in 'Our Communion in the Mysteries of Jesus')

Got a Bible question? Send an email to [email protected], and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!

To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries from Logical Bible Study, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p

Matthew 26: 14-25 - 'The Son of Man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will.'

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:

- 610 (in 'At the Last Supper Jesus anticipated the free offering of his life') - Jesus gave the supreme expression of his free offering of himself at the meal shared with the twelve Apostles "on the night he was betrayed". On the eve of his Passion, while still free, Jesus transformed this Last Supper with the apostles into the memorial of his voluntary offering to the Father for the salvation of men: "This is my body which is given for you." "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Got a Bible question? Send an email to [email protected], and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!

To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries from Logical Bible Study, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p

John 13: 21-33, 36-38 - 'What you are going to do, do quickly.'

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:

- 782 (in 'The Characteristics of the People of God') - The People of God is marked by characteristics that clearly distinguish it from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found in history...Its law is the new commandment to love as Christ loved us. This is the new law of the Holy Spirit (abbreviated).

- 1823 (in 'Charity') - Jesus makes charity the new commandment. By loving his own "to the end," he makes manifest the Father's love which he receives. By loving one another, the disciples imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive. Whence Jesus says: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love." and again: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

- 2822 (in 'Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven') - Our Father "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." He "is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish." His commandment is "that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." This commandment summarizes all the others and expresses his entire will.

- 2842 (in 'as we forgive those who trespass against us') - This "as" is not unique in Jesus' teaching: "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect"; "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful"; "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. It is impossible to keep the Lord's commandment by imitating the divine model from outside; there has to be a vital participation, coming from the depths of the heart, in the holiness and the mercy and the love of our God. Only the Spirit by whom we live can make "ours" the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. Then the unity of forgiveness becomes possible and we find ourselves "forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave" us.

Got a Bible question? Send an email to [email protected], and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!

To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries from Logical Bible Study, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p

John 12: 1-11 - 'She had to keep this scent for the day of my burial.'

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:

- 2449 (in 'Love for the Poor') - Beginning with the Old Testament, all kinds of juridical measures (the jubilee year of forgiveness of debts, prohibition of loans at interest and the keeping of collateral, the obligation to tithe, the daily payment of the day-laborer, the right to glean vines and fields) answer the exhortation of Deuteronomy: "For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor in the land.'" Jesus makes these words his own: "The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." In so doing he does not soften the vehemence of former oracles against "buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals . . .," but invites us to recognize his own presence in the poor who are his brethren:
When her mother reproached her for caring for the poor and the sick at home, St. Rose of Lima said to her: "When we serve the poor and the sick, we serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus.

Got a Bible question? Send an email to [email protected], and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!

To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries from Logical Bible Study, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p

Note: At the Palm Sunday Mass, there are 2 different gospel readings - one 'Palm Sunday' gospel which is read as part of the entrance procession, and one 'Passion' gospel which is read at the normal gospel time. This episode will focus on the Palm Sunday gospel.

Matthew 21: 1-11 - 'Blessings on he who comes in the name of the Lord!'

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:

- 559 (in 'Jesus' Messianic Entrance into Jerusalem') - How will Jerusalem welcome her Messiah? Although Jesus had always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and prepares the details for his messianic entry into the city of "his father David". Acclaimed as son of David, as the one who brings salvation (Hosanna means "Save!" or "Give salvation!"), the "King of glory" enters his City "riding on an ass". Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth. and so the subjects of his kingdom on that day are children and God's poor, who acclaim him as had the angels when they announced him to the shepherds. Their acclamation, "Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord", is taken up by the Church in the Sanctus of the Eucharistic liturgy that introduces the memorial of the Lord's Passover.

- 439 (in 'Christ') - Many Jews and even certain Gentiles who shared their hope recognized in Jesus the fundamental attributes of the messianic "Son of David", promised by God to Israel. Jesus accepted his rightful title of Messiah, though with some reserve because it was understood by some of his contemporaries in too human a sense, as essentially political.

Got a Bible question? Send an email to [email protected], and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!

To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to:⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries fromLogical Bible Study,go to:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p⁠

John 11: 45-56- 'Jesus was to die to gather together the scattered children of God.'

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:

-596 (in 'Divisions among the Jewish authorities concerning Jesus') - The religious authorities in Jerusalem were not unanimous about what stance to take towards Jesus. The Pharisees threatened to excommunicate his followers. To those who feared that "everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation", the high priest Caiaphas replied by prophesying: "It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish." (abbreviated)

-58 (in 'the Covenant with Noah') - The covenant with Noah remains in force during the times of the Gentiles, until the universal proclamation of the Gospel. The Bible venerates several great figures among the Gentiles: Abel the just, the king-priest Melchisedek - a figure of Christ - and the upright "Noah, Daniel, and Job". Scripture thus expresses the heights of sanctity that can be reached by those who live according to the covenant of Noah, waiting for Christ to "gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad".

- 60 (in 'God chooses Abraham') - The people descended from Abraham would be the trustee of the promise made to the patriarchs, the chosen people, called to prepare for that day when God would gather all his children into the unity of the Church. They would be the root on to which the Gentiles would be grafted, once they came to believe.

-706 (in 'The Spirit of the Promise') - Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit. In Abraham's progeny all the nations of the earth will be blessed. This progeny will be Christ himself, in whom the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will "gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad." (abbreviated)

-2793 (in 'Our Father') - The baptized cannot pray to "our" Father without bringing before him all those for whom he gave his beloved Son. God's love has no bounds, neither should our prayer. Praying "our" Father opens to us the dimensions of his love revealed in Christ: praying with and for all who do not yet know him, so that Christ may "gather into one the children of God." (abbreviated)

Got a Bible question? Send an email to [email protected], and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!

To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to:⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries fromLogical Bible Study,go to:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p

John 10: 31-42- 'They wanted to stone Jesus, but he eluded them.'

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:

- 548 (in 'The Signs of the Kingdom of God')- The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Father's works; they bear witness that he is the Son of God. But his miracles can also be occasions for "offence", they are not intended to satisfy people's curiosity or desire for magic. Despite his evident miracles some people reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons.

-574 (in 'Jesus and Israel')- He is accused of blasphemy and false prophecy, religious crimes which the Law punished with death by stoning (abbreviated).

-589 (in 'Jesus and Israel's faith in the One God and Saviour')- By forgiving sins Jesus either is blaspheming as a man who made himself God's equal, or is speaking the truth and his person really does make present and reveal God's name (abbreviated).

-591 (in 'Jesus and Israel's faith in the One God and Saviour')- Jesus asked the religious authorities of Jerusalem to believe in him because of the Father's works which he accomplished. But such an act of faith must go through a mysterious death to self, for a new "birth from above" under the influence of divine grace. Such a demand for conversion in the face of so surprising a fulfilment of the promises allows one to understand the Sanhedrin's tragic misunderstanding of Jesus: they judged that he deserved the death sentence as a blasphemer. The members of the Sanhedrin were thus acting at the same time out of "ignorance" and the "hardness" of their "unbelief".

-594 (in 'Jesus and Israel's faith in the One God and Saviour') - Jesus performed acts, such as pardoning sins, that manifested him to be the Saviour God himself (cf Jn 5:16-18). Certain Jews, who did not recognize God made man (cf Jn 1:14), saw in him only a man who made himself God (Jn 10:33), and judged him as a blasphemer.

-444 (in 'The Only Son of God')- Jesus calls himself the "only Son of God", and by this title affirms his eternal pre-existence. He asks for faith in "the name of the only Son of God". In the centurion's exclamation before the crucified Christ, "Truly this man was the Son of God", that Christian confession is already heard. Only in the Paschal mystery can the believer give the title "Son of God" its full meaning (abbreviated).

-1562 (in 'The ordination of priests - co-workers of the bishops')- "Christ, whom the Father hallowed and sent into the world, has, through his apostles, made their successors, the bishops namely, sharers in his consecration and mission; and these, in their turn, duly entrusted in varying degrees various members of the Church with the office of their ministry." "The function of the bishops' ministry was handed over in a subordinate degree to priests so that they might be appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the episcopal order for the proper fulfillment of the apostolic mission that had been entrusted to it by Christ."

Got a Bible question? Send an email to [email protected], and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!

This is a bonus episode, where we respond to some recent listener questions.

To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries from Logical Bible Study, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p⁠⁠⁠

To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to:⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries fromLogical Bible Study,go to:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p

John 8: 51-59- 'Your father Abraham saw my day and was glad.'

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:

- 473 (in 'Christ's Soul and his human knowledge')- But at the same time, this truly human knowledge of God's Son expressed the divine life of his person. "The human nature of God's Son, not by itself but by its union with the Word, knew and showed forth in itself everything that pertains to God." Such is first of all the case with the intimate and immediate knowledge that the Son of God made man has of his Father (abbreviated).

-590 (in 'Jesus and Israel's faith in the one God and Saviour')- Only the divine identity of Jesus' person can justify so absolute a claim as "He who is not with me is against me"; and his saying that there was in him "something greater than Jonah,. . . greater than Solomon", something "greater than the Temple"; his reminder that David had called the Messiah his Lord, and his affirmations, "Before Abraham was, I AM", and even "I and the Father are one."

-574 (in 'Jesus and Israel')- From the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, certain Pharisees and partisans of Herod together with priests and scribes agreed together to destroy him. Because of certain acts of his expelling demons, forgiving sins, healing on the sabbath day, his novel interpretation of the precepts of the Law regarding purity, and his familiarity with tax collectors and public sinners --some ill-intentioned persons suspected Jesus of demonic possession. He is accused of blasphemy and false prophecy, religious crimes which the Law punished with death by stoning.

Got a Bible question? Send an email to [email protected], and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!

To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries from Logical Bible Study, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p

Luke 1: 26-38 - 'I am the handmaid of the Lord.'

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:

- 64 (in 'God forms his people Israel')

- 148 (in 'Blessed is she who believed')

- 269 (in 'He does whatever he pleases')

- 273 (in 'The Mystery of God's apparent powerlessness')

- 276 (in 'The Almighty')

- 332 (in 'Christ with all his angels')

- 430 (in 'Jesus')

- 437 (in 'Christ')

- 484 (in 'Who was Conceived by the Holy Spirit')

- 486 (in 'Who was Conceived by the Holy Spirit')

- 488 (in 'Mary's Predestination')

- 490-491 (in 'The Immaculate Conception')

- 494 (in 'Let it be done to me according to your word')

- 497 (in 'Mary's Virginity')

- 505 (Mary's virginal motherhood in God's plan)

- 510 (in 'Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary')

- 559 (in 'Jesus' Messianic Entrance into Jerusalem')

- 697 (in 'Symbols of the Holy Spirit')

- 706 (in 'The Spirit of the Promise')

- 709 (in 'The Kingdom in the Exile')

- 723 (in 'Rejoice, you who are full of Grace')

- 2571 (in 'God's Promise & the Prayer of Faith')

- 2617 (in 'The Prayer of the Virgin Mary')

- 2677 (in 'Communion with the Holy Mother of God')

- 2812 (in 'Hallowed be thy name')

- 2827 (in 'Thy Will be Done on earth as it is in Heaven')

- 2856 (in 'The Final Doxology')

Got a Bible question? Send an email to [email protected], and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!

To support the ministry and access exclusive content, go to:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For complete verse-by-verse audio commentaries fromLogical Bible Study,go to:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mysoundwise.com/publishers/1677296682850p

John 8: 21-30- 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man then you will know what I am He.'

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:

- 211 (in 'a God merciful and gracious')- By giving his life to free us from sin, Jesus reveals that he himself bears the divine name: "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will realize that "I AM"." (abbreviated)

-653 (in 'The Meaning and Saving Significance of the Resurrection')- The truth of Jesus' divinity is confirmed by his Resurrection. He had said: "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he." The Resurrection of the crucified one shows that he was truly "I AM", the Son of God and God himself (abbreviated).

-1693 (in 'Life in Christ')- Christ Jesus always did what was pleasing to the Father, and always lived in perfect communion with him. Likewise Christ's disciples are invited to live in the sight of the Father "who sees in secret," in order to become "perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."

-2824 (in 'Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven')- In Christ, and through his human will, the will of the Father has been perfectly fulfilled once for all. Jesus said on entering into this world: "Lo, I have come to do your will, O God." Only Jesus can say: "I always do what is pleasing to him." In the prayer of his agony, he consents totally to this will: "not my will, but yours be done" (abbreviated).

-2825 (in 'Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven')- Although he was a Son, [Jesus] learned obedience through what he suffered." How much more reason have we sinful creatures to learn obedience - we who in him have become children of adoption. We ask our Father to unite our will to his Son's, in order to fulfill his will, his plan of salvation for the life of the world. We are radically incapable of this, but united with Jesus and with the power of his Holy Spirit, we can surrender our will to him and decide to choose what his Son has always chosen: to do what is pleasing to the Father.

Got a Bible question? Send an email to [email protected], and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!