Parish Bulletin

PARISH NEWS

The Reason for the Season

Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week, the most sacred time of the Christian calendar, when we pause to reflect on the awesome nature of our God and his Son’s willing self-sacrifice. We narrate and read in parts Luke’s long, hauntingly familiar gospel (Luke 23:1-49) beginning with the trial of Jesus before Pilate, Pilate’s angst about Jesus’ innocence and his cowardice when confronted by the crowds, Jesus carrying his cross, his crucifixion, death and burial. This is the core of our faith, but there is more! Whilst we live with him his passion and death, we do so in the knowledge of his glorious Easter resurrection.

Without His passion, death and resurrection, the Good News is just a nice idea, like so many nice ideas before and since. His Passion teaches us the depth of God’s absolute love and concern for us. As we enter Holy Week, the world around us is frantically building up the hot cross bun, Easter egg and alcohol supplies and prepping the boat for a long weekend.

We Christians feel free to do those things too, but first and more importantly, starting today we remember the “reason for the season” during Holy Week with the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, the Passion at Holy Thursday Mass, the stark Good Friday service, commemorating the crucifixion and the celebration of His glorious resurrection, at Easter Masses. As well, there are Stations of the Cross and inter-church services.

Friends and family members who have drifted away from church need encouragement and support to re-engage. If this isn’t the time for re-charging our Catholicity, when is? See you and the family at services during Holy Week!

Deacon Mark Kelly