Palm Sunday of the Passion of The Lord

Dear Parishioners,

    Today we begin the holiest week of the Church year.  Palm Sunday begins the liturgies that help us remember the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.  I would encourage everyone to make a commitment to attend the Holy Week liturgies.  We try to have them at convenient times so that everyone can come.  If you have never been to the Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday liturgies it is a touching, prayerful experience.  Invite a friend to come with you. Ask someone to take you.

Today, as we celebrate Passion Sunday, we remember the crucifixion of Jesus.  What does this event show us?  We say often, “Jesus died for our sins.” I think this is an interpretation that causes a disconnect for us.  With this Theology we admire something Jesus did., but his death on the cross represents something much more personal.

We all have been challenged in our life to stick up for what is right.  We have made sacrifices in the service of others.  We can step up at such moments or we can run away.  Usually, there are few ramifications for us if we do this.  To stay in a situation that causes self-sacrifice can cause us to feel very much alone.  We can become bitter or we can be resolved to hold on to our principles even if this is costly.

Jesus died protecting his friends.  He died witnessing against civil as well as religious injustice.  He died very much alone, betrayed by those close to him.  He also died forgiving those who were most abusive to him.  The normal course would have been to curse those who tortured him. The logical thing would be to pray that his enemies be punished.

Truly, when we think of his death as an example of how we are supposed to be we are challenged by difficulties in our lives it makes us think.  We also have a way to measure ourselves and those that we know.  Who are the people of principle and who are not?  Can we carry the cross? Or do we forget what it means to be a disciple of Jesus quickly and easily?

The Paschal Mystery is something we can admire or something we can participate in.  Which will it be?  Holy Week is a time to reflect on this deeply.

Blessings,

Fr. Mark

P.S.   Last week we contracted with the Bovard company to do the stained-glass window restoration for our church.  This is a $750,000 project and will begin at the end of July.  I would like to thank Don Lewis for negotiating this contract.  We are following through with the goals of the Today Tomorrow Together campaign. We would still like every window sponsored.   If you would like to pledge online go to www.catholictogeher.com. There is a list of windows that are still available for sponsorship.