Fr. Simon's Letter - March 28, 2021

At the Passover meal, the youngest asks ‘how is this night different from  all other nights? The head of the family then recounts the story of  the liberation of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt. On the night of the tenth plague that plunged the Egyptians into mourning, God delivered his people. Passover celebrates that first night of liberation, when courage overcame fear and a beleaguered people joined together in unity – a good thing to remember in a year when a pandemic forces social isolation. 

Last year we missed celebrating the central mysteries of our faith during Holy Week. This year we will be able to gather, still under the cloud of the pandemic, but with hope to celebrate these sacred days. 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 will 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.
        
When we then come to Good Friday and 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 as responders to the call to follow his way and imitators of his compassion, hospitality, love and concern for others, especially for the poor and marginalized.

Holy Week will culminate with the Easter Vigil Eucharist, when we will 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 are now 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. Come and be part of the Triduum liturgies. 
A special note: Please be mindful as we gather to celebrate on these sacred days in the life of the church, we are still very much limited by the protocols in place due to the pandemic. It is imperative that you make reservations and follow the instructions of the ushers as you plan to attend these services in the basilica. We are hoping that the weather cooperates so that we will be able to have 7am Mass in the parking lot on both Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.  Thank you for doing all you can to protect your fellow parishioners.

Blessings!!

Fr.  Simon