GROW AS A DISCIPLE
More than any other time of year, we are able to follow the actual events of Jesus’ life this week according to the sequence in which they occurred. Today’s procession with palms honors his entry into Jerusalem, where he would prepare to celebrate the Passover with his disciples. We can imagine Jesus spending the subsequent days preaching in the Temple and the nights conversing with his Father in prayer. Then, on Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper will inaugurate the Triduum, the time which commemorates Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. The Church places these events before our eyes each year as an invitation to enter as fully as possible into Jesus’ mind and heart during Holy Week. Even if we regret not being more faithful to the goals we established at the beginning of Lent, we can still seize the opportunity of this week to accompany Jesus as he prepares to die for love of us.
GO EVANGELIZE
The crowds of followers who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem triumphantly today will be silent by Friday. Among his closest disciples, all will fall asleep during his prayer of agony on the Mount of Olives. Peter himself, who says on Holy Thursday, “I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you,” will deny three times that he knew Jesus. The chief priests and scribes (who, one would think, should have recognized the Messiah) will deliver him to Pilate to be crucified. In each of these examples, love for Jesus (or, in the case of the priests and scribes, fidelity to God) is tested and found wanting during Holy Week. Of course, we know that Jesus still proceeded to die so that salvation would be available to all of these people. He likewise made it possible for every future generation-including our own-to return to him in moments when we find our own love wanting. We do this by turning away from sin and seeking his forgiveness, especially in the sacrament of confession. Therefore, let us, who have acclaimed Jesus as king today, keep him as king of our hearts – not only this week, but every day of our lives.
WORSHIP
Rich in solemnity and symbolism, the Triduum liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday allow us to accompany Jesus during these difficult days and express to him our love. Try to attend as many of these liturgies as your schedule allows and enter fully into Jesus’ experience of Holy Week this year.
By The Faithful Disciple