Grace and peace to you!
Palm Sunday begins Holy Week. It is called Holy Week because through the scriptures this week, we are brought into the historical account of Jesus’ sacrifice and love for us that won our salvation. The liturgies this week take on a special character too. This is partly due to the focus on the passion of Jesus in the readings but also because we engage our physical senses through doing things out of the ordinary like, the reception of the holy oils, the washing of the feet, the empty tabernacle, the use of incense, the veneration of the cross, the light of fire and candles and special seasonal hymns. As we incorporate these things, it is important to realize that we are not re-enacting the historical events upon which our faith is grounded, but rather we are remembering and enabling ourselves, through the use of our senses, to enter more deeply into the Paschal Mystery: Jesus’ life of service, his suffering, death and resurrection.
The mystery we enter calls us to reflect upon the events of the past and to ponder what is now happening among us as God’s people called to conversion. We should remember how God led the people out of slavery and oppression by Pharaoh in Egypt through the Sea of Reeds. The Sea of Reeds was the abode of the dead and the desert was a new life experience where they were taught the Ten Commandments. They also experienced God providing for them with manna and God gave them water to drink. The old passage through the Red Sea foreshadowed the passage of Jesus through his death to his resurrection and eternal life. Jesus opened the way for all to follow him through death to life. Our hope is to share in it! This “anamnesis” or remembering-in-a-special-way truly bolsters our hope and confidence in God’s loving plan of salvation for our future. As we reflect on the great biblical events, it is very important for all of us to realize that through Lent we have been on a journey of listening to God’s Word, turning away from sin and rising to a new and better life with Christ. My prayer is that we all grow in gratitude, love and holiness as we enter this special week in an ever new and deeper way. God bless you all! +++ Fr. Peter