Fr Colin's Desk
From Fr Colin:
Today we enter once again into the greatest week of the Church’s year—Holy Week. Throughout these next 7 days we are invited to reflect in a very special way on the mysteries which lie at the very heart of our faith—the Paschal Mystery, namely Our Lord’s life, teaching, crucifixion unto death and glorious resurrection after 3 days in the tomb.And we begin this great week of prayer and opportunity with Palm Sunday. Bundles of palm or olive, as well as representing new life, are also ancient symbols of victory and hope. We begin Mass today with a procession, which celebrates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, an entry which overflowed with praise and excitement as a great crowd welcomed Our Lord by waving palm branches and proclaiming blessings. As the liturgy unfolds, both today and throughout this coming week, we hear how the shouts of this same crowd will change from “Hosanna” to “Crucify Him.”
The crowd who initially welcomed Christ were expecting a liberating leader, a Messiah who would free them from Roman oppression. Instead, Jesus is God’s chosen one who shows us how to serve by taking up His cross—and He invites us to do the same.
The events we celebrate this week remind us that Jesus Christ truly is a liberator—the one who frees us from death and sin by opening up the way to the Father, the way to everlasting life in heaven. This is a promise made to the repentant thief in today’s Passion Narrative, which is unique to St. Luke’s Gospel. We hear how it is that, even when hanging on the cross, Christ thinks of others, forgiving those who crucified Him.
May we be ready to walk with Our Lord throughout these next 7 days by participating in the Church’s liturgy. A liturgy which speaks of love, hope and forgiveness and the promise of new life.