Next weekend we begin the celebration of the Paschal Mystery with Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. I must admit that..................
Next weekend we begin the celebration of the Paschal Mystery with Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. I must admit that it is somewhat disheartening to see the low numbers who attend the Holy Week services between the crowds we witness on both Palm Sunday and Easter. It would be my hope that we might correct this reality by appreciating the significance of each juncture of the salvation secured by the sacrifice of Christ and each service which recalls its graces.
As we hear the proclamation of the Gospel which the Lord is hailed as the Son of David by the crowd we are invited to join the procession and cry out: “Hosanna!” Unfortunately, as the liturgy continues and the Passion of Our Lord is heard, we recognize not only the inconstancy of the people but also our own. We pray to the Lord when we have needs for we acknowledge that He is the giver all gifts and “if we knock, it shall be opened to us.” We sing His praises in the company of friends and co-religionists. But all too often when we are called to witness to our Savior in the public square, we demur. We do not want to be “the odd man out.” Many of the pilgrims who were in Jerusalem for the Passover were not aware of the controversy concerning Jesus; they heard rumors of political arguments between the Romans, traditional Jewish believers, and the followers of the Rabbi who invited all to repentance and renewal; and they listened to stories of miracles: cures of lepers, raising the dead, and healing the maladies of blindness and deafness. But in the crush of the mob, their voices chimed in with the unruly mob: “Crucify Him.”
Each of the readings of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday dramatize the rising temperature of hatred and violence. In the liturgy of the Lord’s Supper we have a respite from the voices of opposition. Seeking refuge in the Upper Room the Master and his disciples celebrated the Passover. We recall these events which mark the gift of the Lord Himself in the Eucharist and the mandate of ministry to serve the community. In our parish the liturgy begins with the procession of oils and chrism. Having been consecrated by Archbishop Dolan they are brought into the sanctuary that the soon to be baptized will be anointed, the sick comforted, and the confirmed to be fully initiated. Following the Gospel reading and homily, here at Saint Stanislaus Kostka, we priests recommit ourselves to Christ and His Church as we renew our promises of obedience and priestly celibacy. As a concrete representation of the service pledged and the nature of Christian life as pastor I will wash the feet of twelve parishioners, representing the whole Church. As the Lord prepared His disciples for the events soon to unfold by nourishing them with the Eucharist, so we receive the “gift of finest wheat.” And as the Jewish Community experienced the Pillar of Fire leading them to the Promised Land, so we follow the Lord to the Repository until the time of adoration comes to an end at midnight.
Good Friday demonstrates how empty our lives would be without the Christ. No Mass can be said. No sacraments can be celebrated. The Eucharist can only be distributed at the Solemn Liturgy or in danger of death. As we did last year we will recall the Seven Last Words at the three hour service preceding the solemn Liturgy. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ final utterances, their Old Testament antecedents, and their meaning for us who are on the path to the Father. In the liturgical ceremony which follows we hear Isaiah’ description of the Lord as the “suffering servant” John’s Gospel account of the Passion demonstrates conclusively that Jesus is Lord of time and eternity. Following the homily is a series of prayers in which we remember not only our Church and civil leaders but also the followers of other religious traditions. At this time tradition calls for a collection which will benefit the Holy Land. For centuries the Franciscan Friars have cared for the places sacred to the memory of the early Church: from Bethlehem to Nazareth, from Bethany to Jerusalem, from Tiberius to Cana. Visited by so many pilgrims, these shrines need constant upkeep and also their surroundings deserve to be excavated in order to find even more treasures. But this annual appeal is not only taken up to guard the past, it is an effort to look after the needs of present day Christians and their children. Our co-religionists require food, medicine, and their shelter and their children’s institutions of learning which will provide a promising future in their native land. As the service continues we are called to venerate the Cross which as Saint Paul tells us was deemed foolishness by some, punishment by others, but for us the sign of victory: life over death, grace over sin, God’s power over Satan’s designs. As a sign and promise we then receive Holy Communion. We conclude with prayer and depart in silence meditating on the mystery of the depth of God’s love.
The Vigil Service is one in which we wait as we do each day for Christ to reveal Himself to us fully as we follow His path from death to life. We begin in the darkness of the night symbolizing our awkwardness in a world without the hope Christ offers. The new fire is blessed; a fire that lays waste to the past and refines what remains. From the fire the Paschal Candle is lit. One light from which all the other candles held by the community are lit. The Christ brightens the world through the participation of all believers. We sing a song of rejoicing in God’s recreation born of Adam, reborn in Christ. The Word of God is then opened to us so that in this the “fullness of time” we can look back to the very beginning of God’s walk with us, our inconstancy, and His fidelity. From Torah to the Prophets we see the Plan unfold. We sing praise to God for the fullness of revelation in Jesus Christ. We respond to His call to be renewed in the water and the Spirit. We recommit ourselves to reject evil and join ourselves to Him. We promise our prayers for those who begin their spiritual journey, with us this night. Together we receive The Eucharist, the foretaste and promise of eternal life. We go forth proclaiming “He is risen, He is risen, indeed.”
Next week, we will continue this reflection with the hope that all of us will be present to each other at these sacred times.
Vivat Jesus,
Fr. Brian