During this Holy Week, we enter into the Passion of Christ-his Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection.
As we celebrate these days let us remember the Lenten practices of fasting, prayer and almsgiving which are a good help, I invite you to gather in prayer at a Church to celebrate these days.
The Triduum starts on Holy Thursday when Jesus instituted the Last Supper by breaking bread and sharing a cup with his disciples. This showed his perfect love.
He is also fully present to us in the bread and wine in the Eucharist. Jesus offered his body and blood to his disciples by saying’,
‘This is my body’ and ‘this is my blood’. Jesus wants us to become one body and one spirit, united by the love of Christ. Then he said:
‘Do this in remembrance of me’. Luke 22:19.
Thank him for the gift of the Eucharist that sustains us every week. It is a gift that we receive that transforms us.
Then Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Feet have a great meaning for Jesus. While he was in the Holy land, he used his feet and walked to many towns with his disciples. By doing the washing of the feet, Jesus gives the example of how we are to serve and care for one another in a compassionate way. Washing of the feet is an act of solidarity, an expression of love. Let us ask Jesus to give us his grace to do like him.
‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ John 13:34
On Good Friday, we remember Christ’s crucifixion and death on the cross. It is a day of fasting and penance. Jesus sacrificed himself for all humanity.
‘Father let your will be done not as I will but as your will ‘Matt 26;42
During the liturgical celebration, we read from the Gospel of John, ‘the Passion of Christ,’ followed by the Veneration of the cross, we remember that Jesus died on the cross on Mount Cavalry for us. We take time to reflect on the mysteries of the Stations of the cross sometimes called the Way of the Cross, it is the 14 stations, Jesus walked through his Passion. Sit before the Lord, look at a cross and adore your King. Look at the crown of thorns, the scourging, see his outreached hands pierced with nails. Ask the holy spirit to help you grasp the immense love he has for you, by his holy cross he redeemed the world. The women who were standing near the cross when Jesus died, reminds us in time of suffering and hardship to keep vigil with those that suffer and are in pain. The women witnessed their faith, love and hope in times of suffering. Let us ask for strength to follow Jesus’ footsteps.
Easter Vigil, that is Holy Saturday, which is a day when we wait in silence, for Jesus to rise. After Jesus was laid in the tomb his disciples were waiting to see what would happen, they were afraid.
The liturgy starts with a procession while we hold candles that reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself and die for our sins, let us wait patiently for the resurrection of Jesus. it will be the beginning of a new life.
