With the Sunday that is officially called Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion we begin the holiest time of the church year: Holy Week.
During Lent, as one of the Prefaces at Mass have reminded us, we have been remotely preparing through prayer, abstinence and alms giving to prepare ourselves to celebrate the Paschal Mystery —the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.
And now as we approach Holy Week, the Preface reminds us: For the days of his saving Passion and glorious Resurrection are approaching, by which the pride of the ancient foe is vanquished and the mystery of our redemption in Christ is celebrated. More than pious words. An Incredible reality.
The celebrations of Holy week are more than reenactments of something that happened centuries ago, the liturgies re-present, make present in our midst, the realities we are celebrating. It is more than an historical remembrance. The reality of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection are made present to us over time and space.
You will remember the refrain: The liturgy is the handmaiden of spirituality. So…. at this the most sacred time of our church year, the participation the liturgies of the Triduum, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday should take precedence in our lives even when “inconvenient.” I would suggest that also the spirit of the day be kept at home. I remember that when I was growing up, there was no music on Good Friday and TV only if it was a religious program. That reflected the somber Good Friday Liturgy.
Rather than anticipating Easter activities, Holy Saturday is a day of quiet preparation as Jesus lays in the tomb. It is a day of preparation to celebrate the glorious victory of Jesus’ Resurrection. Anticipating the joy of the Resurrection on Holy Saturday really isn’t appropriate. If possible, the fast and abstinence of Good Friday are observed until after the Easter Vigil, the most important celebration of the Church Year. Technically, Easter Sunday Masses are only for those who just can’t attend the Vigil.
May our Holy Week be truly holy and bring us to closer to our Lord Jesus and make us a little more like him.
Saint James Catholic Church 