Palm Sunday

My Dear Parishioners,
 
As we gather to celebrate the Lord’s Day we begin Holy Week with the commemoration of Palm Sunday, which marks the joyous entry of the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem. The Gospels recount this day which began the events leading to the Lord Jesus’ suffering, death and Holy Resurrection. The reading of the Passion Gospel from the Evangelist Mark in today’s liturgy will remind us once again of all that the Lord endured for our salvation.
 
I firmly believe that the cruelty shown in the Mel Gibson movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” is indeed authentic. Graphic as they are, the scenes from this movie bring further commentary to what is found in the Gospels which testify that Jesus suffered greatly for our sins. Many times we may find ourselves unmoved by looking at a crucifix yet this terror was real and its suffering unbearable.
 
We can see to what great lengths our Lord Jesus went through for love of us. He experienced all this pain for the remission of our sins and that one day we might live forever with Him in Paradise. From all this sorrow came the joy of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Many of us would rather skip the suffering associated with Holy Week and jump right to the joy of Easter. Such an attitude testifies to ignorance as well as a selfish spirit. The Sacred Scriptures tell us that in order to have part with Christ we must also share in His sufferings. There must be the daily dying to ourselves, our desires, so that we may put on Christ.
 
No one should excuse themselves from participating in the liturgies which will be celebrated this week in our parish to commemorate the Lord’s Passion and Death. This is the most sacred and solemn time of the Christian year. This is the week in which all of us should “inconvenience” ourselves by changing our weekly routine, our schedules, and MAKE CHURCH A PRIORITY THIS WEEK! All of us are called to be in church HOLY THURSDAY, GOOD FRIDAY and EASTER. This obligation seems so small compared to the horror the Lord Jesus endured so that you might have eternal life!
 
As your father I beg you not to ignore the rigors of Holy Week, the time of prayer, fasting, works of charity and participation in the liturgies of this week. Parents: bring your children to church during this week and model for them the devotion which should be shown. All of us must encourage one another in testifying to our faith in Christ Jesus who gave Himself up to death so that we might have life.
 
I look forward to seeing you in church throughout this Holy Week. I know that the Lord will look kindly upon those who accompanied Him during the commemoration of the events which we call the Paschal Mystery.
 
God bless you!
Father Zig