Fr. Simon's Letter - April 10, 2022

Pilgrims to the Holy Land commemorate the events of Palm Sunday with a procession that begins at the Mount of Olives.  It is a place not far from what marks the spot of Jesus’ ascension after Easter and the Church of Pater Noster which marks the event of Jesus teaching his disciples to pray the ‘Pater Noster,’ the ‘Our Father.’ 

As you are about to begin the walk, there is invariably a man waiting there to offer the pilgrims an opportunity to pose for a picture with a donkey. The walk begins accompanied by prayers and song. It continues and then proceeds down a steep slope to arrive at the church aptly named ‘Dominus Flevit’ (‘The Lord Wept,’ Luke 19:37-41) from which you are greeted by a panoramic view of the part of Jerusalem known as the Old City, the Temple Mount and the Kidron Valley. After a period of rest and appreciation of the beautiful church that is shaped like a ‘tear drop,’ the pilgrims continue on their journey. Later, after some lunch, most tour guides lead everyone into the Old City of Jerusalem to walk the ‘way of the cross.’  It is here that the joyful exhilaration of Palm Sunday quickly gives way to the painful realization of Jesus’ steps taken on Good Friday.

So too with our celebrations today. With Palm Sunday we enter the most sacred week in the Church’s liturgical calendar. We celebrate the mystery of a divinely extravagant love that lies at the heart of our faith - Jesus’ death and resurrection. In the liturgy of Palm Sunday, we gather together and reenact the scene of his entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, to the cheers of the crowd.

Today, we, the people, will shout “hosanna” in the liturgy of the palms, and “crucify him” in the reading of the passion. What is interesting in this Palm Sunday liturgy, as we listen to the story of Jesus’ last hours, is that we, the congregation, operate in the role of observers of Jesus’ actions, and indeed are somewhat torn as the mood of the liturgy shifts from joyful ‘hosannas’ to a condemning ‘crucify him.’

Our stance will change radically as we progress through the liturgies that take place later in Holy Week. On Holy Thursday, our attention will focus on Jesus’ last meal with the disciples, immediately prior to his betrayal and arrest. We will hear the story of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Subtly but surely, we will be invited to move from being mere observers to identifying with Jesus and then to imitating him. As Jesus explains, “I have washed your feet, so you also ought to wash one another’s feet. I have set before you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” Jesus’ message is clear.  Our sharing in the Eucharist, in the Holy Thursday liturgy and in every celebration of the Eucharist, is a participation in this ministry of service to each other and to the world.
        
Then, when on Good Friday we listen again to the account of his passion and death, we will come not as mere observers, somewhat detached from the events before us, but responding to the call to follow his way and imitate his compassion, hospitality, love and concern for others, especially for the poor and marginalized.

Holy Week culminates in the Easter Vigil Eucharist, when we celebrate Jesus’ paschal mystery of new life through suffering and death and our entry into this great mystery of life and love. We are no longer mere observers, nor even just imitators, but become deeply immersed in Jesus’ paschal mystery. As such, we are incorporated into the life and love of God, the author of this great story of love. 

Please see our schedule of the Holy Week services on the following page. I invite you to come and take part in these most special liturgies during these most holy and sacred days.

Blessings!!