Today we begin the holiest week of the year, and it will be such if we truly appreciate and enter into its meaning.
There is no other Sunday in the liturgical year that reflects such dramatic contrast as today. What begins with songs of triumph and a lively parade, quickly shifts into remembrance of the Lord's Passion. (In case you were not aware, the Passion is the events of his death). Here in KC area, we are very well aware of how something meant to be joyful can turn into tragedy.
Yet in our Christian tradition, this death actually leads into triumph and not tragedy. Today we celebrate His entrance into Jerusalem, and then we will mourn with his mother and others as he dies on the cross which we kiss in reverence, and then we celebrate again as he rises from the dead. All of those things within one week.
Our Lenten observance ends this Thursday evening as we enter into the Sacred Paschal Triduum. We tell the stories of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our brother, friend, and Savior. The themes of welcome, hospitality, service, sacrifice, fear, triumph, and salvation reverberate through our churches. The events of these most sacred three days: the Mass of the Lords Supper including the washing of the feet and the removal of the Blessed Sacrament from all churches on Holy Thursday, to the day of mourning of Good Friday, into the day of waiting of Holy Saturday, ends with the joy of the Resurrection beginning in the night and flowing into Easter Sunday.
There could be so many connections to these days with what is happening in our world if we would simply take the time to enter into these sacred days with our time and sacrifices. We might remember workers who are serving those who are unhoused and underfed. And how they persevere in their ministries, inspired by the stories of Jesus washing the feet of his friends. Mothers of children who are incarcerated, disappeared, and lost to the ravages of war, remember them in the light of Mary standing at the foot of her son's cross, holding his lifeless body. The stories of Jesus Christ have called people to resolutely face potentially deadly conflicts with courage as they trust in the sure hope of the resurrection. We hold these people in our communities close as we once again walk the pilgrim journey through these days of awe.
I would encourage all of us to make these days special by not making them ordinary. Plan to participate in the Holy Thursday event in the evening and stay until or return at 11:00 pm that evening as we pray in the night. Fast from food and work and play on Good Friday, and abstain from a normal day so that you may attend the noon Stations of the Cross and the Traditional Service of the Veneration of the Cross at the 3:00 hour of His death. Pray in quiet silence on Holy Saturday as our Catechumens and Candidates prepare that morning to receive the graces of the Sacraments of Initiation, and THEN, after all of that: REJOICE and sing “ALLELUIA!” He is risen!
What a beautiful, exhausting, profound, and laborious three days! A bit of a retreat within our year which I hope you can enjoy in full or in parts. Only one man can take a week of intrigue, betrayal, and murder, and turn it into the most Holy Week of the year!
God Bless,
