Beloved in Christ,
Today, we recall the Messianic entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem to fulfill his paschal mystery. As Jesus approaches the slope of the Mount of Olives on a colt, a crowd of his disciples welcomes him in jubilation, praising God aloud in joy as they spread their cloaks and palms on the ground: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord" (Lk 19: 38). There were other responses, not welcoming, to Jesus's entrance. We must decide our response as Jesus walks into our lives in the solemn liturgy of the Holy Week.
How will you and I welcome Jesus? Will we receive and welcome the innocent, obedient and humble Lord in the spirit of joy? Or are we going to be indifferent? Or worse still, are we going to ignore and reject his coming? The choice is ours. We indicate that choice in how we attend to the mysteries of Christ's passion that unfolds in the days of Holy Week. Between the days of Palm Sunday of the Lord's passion and the Sacred Triduum, we have moments to meditate on Christ's passion. Opening ourselves to the grace of this sacred time will prepare us to experience the profound joy of his resurrection.
Meditating on Christ's suffering can strengthen and give us hope in our daily struggles and sufferings. Christ is our model; he is the one we need and must welcome in joyful praise: "Gloria, laus, et honor, tibi sit Rex Christe Redemptor" (All glory, laud and honor, to thee, Redeemer King). To aid our meditation, I'll draw our attention to the paragraphs of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, paragraphs 559-560:
"How will Jerusalem welcome her Messiah? Although Jesus has always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and prepares the details for his messianic entry into the city of 'his father David.' Acclaimed as son of David, as the one who brings salvation (Hosanna means 'save!' or 'Give salvation!'), the 'King of glory' enters his City 'riding on an ass.' Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth... Jesus' entry into Jerusalem manifested the coming of the kingdom that the King-Messiah was going to accomplish by the Passover of his Death and Resurrection. It is with the celebration of that entry on Palm Sunday that the Church's liturgy solemnly opens Holy Week."
I want to draw our attention to the importance of attending the Sacred Paschal Triduum with special devotions: Holy Thursday of the Lord's Supper (stay for a while to adore the Blessed Sacrament), Good Friday (remember to observe the paschal fast today and, if possible, on Holy Saturday, and participate in Divine Mercy Devotion and Novena and the Living Stations of the Cross), and Holy Saturday (the blessing of Easter meal before Easter vigil). We will also pray the Divine Office in the historic church each day of the Sacred Triduum. Please check the bulletin for details.
In His Passion,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
Today, we recall the Messianic entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem to fulfill his paschal mystery. As Jesus approaches the slope of the Mount of Olives on a colt, a crowd of his disciples welcomes him in jubilation, praising God aloud in joy as they spread their cloaks and palms on the ground: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord" (Lk 19: 38). There were other responses, not welcoming, to Jesus's entrance. We must decide our response as Jesus walks into our lives in the solemn liturgy of the Holy Week.
How will you and I welcome Jesus? Will we receive and welcome the innocent, obedient and humble Lord in the spirit of joy? Or are we going to be indifferent? Or worse still, are we going to ignore and reject his coming? The choice is ours. We indicate that choice in how we attend to the mysteries of Christ's passion that unfolds in the days of Holy Week. Between the days of Palm Sunday of the Lord's passion and the Sacred Triduum, we have moments to meditate on Christ's passion. Opening ourselves to the grace of this sacred time will prepare us to experience the profound joy of his resurrection.
Meditating on Christ's suffering can strengthen and give us hope in our daily struggles and sufferings. Christ is our model; he is the one we need and must welcome in joyful praise: "Gloria, laus, et honor, tibi sit Rex Christe Redemptor" (All glory, laud and honor, to thee, Redeemer King). To aid our meditation, I'll draw our attention to the paragraphs of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, paragraphs 559-560:
"How will Jerusalem welcome her Messiah? Although Jesus has always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and prepares the details for his messianic entry into the city of 'his father David.' Acclaimed as son of David, as the one who brings salvation (Hosanna means 'save!' or 'Give salvation!'), the 'King of glory' enters his City 'riding on an ass.' Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth... Jesus' entry into Jerusalem manifested the coming of the kingdom that the King-Messiah was going to accomplish by the Passover of his Death and Resurrection. It is with the celebration of that entry on Palm Sunday that the Church's liturgy solemnly opens Holy Week."
I want to draw our attention to the importance of attending the Sacred Paschal Triduum with special devotions: Holy Thursday of the Lord's Supper (stay for a while to adore the Blessed Sacrament), Good Friday (remember to observe the paschal fast today and, if possible, on Holy Saturday, and participate in Divine Mercy Devotion and Novena and the Living Stations of the Cross), and Holy Saturday (the blessing of Easter meal before Easter vigil). We will also pray the Divine Office in the historic church each day of the Sacred Triduum. Please check the bulletin for details.
In His Passion,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
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