Past Reflections

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April 05, 2009 - Passion / Palm Sunday - Holy Week

by Father Edward L. Beck, C.P.

As we enter the most sacred week in the Church calendar I am aware of how much is packed into these important days. Almost too much to digest in one week. We begin on Passion / Palm Sunday with the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem with palms waving and shouts of Hosanna. The cries of jubilation soon turn to cries of horror and anguish as the “King” is scourged and beaten before being crucified, which we commemorate on Good Friday. In the interim on Holy Thursday we remember the great gift of the Eucharist that Jesus left as an everlasting remembrance. We will wash feet as a reminder of that humble act of service that Jesus performed for his disciples. The Master serves even the servants. And then on Holy Saturday we will stand vigil by the tomb hoping for new life to spring forth even in the midst of such emptiness, bringing us to next Sunday and our celebration of Easter. Although we do not televise Holy Week services, please be assured of our prayers for all of our television parishioners during this special week. The presiders of The Sunday Mass will be celebrating in parishes with various faith communities but remembering in prayer all of you who have asked for prayers...and even those of you who have not. The spiritual key to these days is to be able to reflect on our own lives in the context of the life and events of Jesus. How do the sufferings of our life lead to occasions of new life? In this way we participate in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus. May your Holy Week be a blessed and prayerful one!