Holy Week. Within the Christian liturgical calendar this is the most sacred week of the year,
commemorating the Passion, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Tracing its roots back to the third century, this week we enter draws us into Christ Jesus’ penultimate obedience to God the Father, the expression of unbounded mercy, and the promise of life everlasting.Palm Sunday, Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem. Palms for the Jewish community symbolized
triumph and powerful deeds; for the Romans who ruled, they signified imperial authority. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, with palms laid before him, it signified his kingship as the heir of David, but not an earthly kingship. Today is an invitation for us to reflect upon Christ’s humility and his ‘empowering’ kingship. His power did not rely on force or might; rather, it was characterized by servanthood and meekness. A profound example of what it means to lead with grace and compassion. We are invited to participate in Holy Thursday Mass, commemorating Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples (our calling as humble servants), the Last Supper (our Eucharist), and Jesus’ arrest (with the procession of the Blessed Sacrament and stripping of the altar). We are invited to participate in the Good Friday Service, commemorating Jesus death and ‘burial’ in the tomb (with the Passion reading, the procession of the cross and our reverence, and the sharing of Communion without the Eucharist). We are invited to participate in the Easter Vigil Mass within the darkness of the church, bringing to light God’s plan of salvation as recorded in Sacred Scripture, enshrining all creation with The Light that has come into the world, never to be diminished.
We are invited to participate in Easter Sunday Mass, the triumph of God’s imminence with the Resurrection of His Son, our Savior, Christ Jesus.“Holiness” is the heart of scripture. It is the core of God’s being, encompassing all other attributes, and the central calling of ‘God’s people.’ Our understanding of God and his presence within all creation is wholly summarized in the command: “You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2; 1Peter 1:15). Thus, a few thoughts on ‘holiness’ as we enter the hope and possibilities of Holy Week: “Holiness does not consist in doing extraordinary things. It consists in accepting, with a
smile, what Jesus sends us. It consists in accepting and following the will of God.” (Mother Teresa) “The world calls for, and expects from us, simplicity of life, the spirit of prayer, charity towards all, especially towards the lowly and the poor, obedience and humility, detachment, and self- sacrifice. Without this mark of holiness, our word will have difficulty in touching the heart of modern man.” ( Pope Paul VI ). “Holiness of life is not the privilege of a chosen few - it is the obligation, the call, and the will of God for every Christian.” ( Mother Angelica ). “In our era, the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action.” ( Dag Hammarskjold ). “We are 100 percent responsible for the pursuit of holiness, but at the same time we are 100 percent dependent upon the Holy Spirit to enable us in that pursuit. The pursuit of holiness is not a pull- yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps approach to the Christian life.” (Jerry Bridges, author)
"Holiness does not consist in one exercise or another, but is a disposition of the heart, which renders us humble and little in the hands of God, conscious of our weakness, and confident, even daringly confident, in His fatherly goodness." (St. Therese of Lisieux) "Holiness does not demand anything great, beyond the ability of the person. It depends on God's Love; every daily act can be transformed into an act of love.” (St. Ursula Julia Ledochowska) "God’s invitation to become saints is for all, not just a few. Holiness therefore must be accessible to all. In what does it consist? In a lot of activity? No. In doing extraordinary things? No, this could not be for everybody and at all times. Therefore, holiness consists in doing good, and in doing this good in whatever condition and place God has placed us. Nothing more, nothing outside of this."
(Blessed Louis Tezza). "Great’ holiness consists in carrying out the ‘little duties’ of each
moment." (St. Josemaria). “All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be.” (St. Francis de Sales)
God Bless, Fr. Tim