Reflection for Holy Week (Second of three parts)

Good Friday - Day 2

The Paschal Triduum:

The last three days of Holy Week are called the Sacred Paschal Triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday.

The Sacred Paschal Triduum is the three most solemn days of the liturgical year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. These most holy days celebrate the Paschal Mystery, first, the passion, suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, followed by his resurrection the triumph of the holy cross, and Christ's decisive victory over sin and death.

The Triduum is a single feast, the Paschal Mystery, although celebrated over three days and these are the three holiest days of the entire liturgical year.

Good Friday (March 30) -

Good Friday is the second day of the Paschal Triduum. The Liturgy for this day introduces us to the mystery of Christ's redemptive sacrifice on the cross, the very act of our Lord that brought salvation to all.

"It is accomplished," and bowing His head He gave up His spirit. (Jn 19:30)

The whole Church today, stripped of its ornaments, the altar bare with no cloths, candles nor cross, and the door of the empty tabernacle stands open, mourns the death of our Savior.

The Liturgy in the afternoon consists of three parts:

(a) The Liturgy of the Word

The priest and assisting ministers enter in complete silence, without any singing. They prostrate themselves for a few moments of silent prayer in front of the altar, signifying both the abasement of earthly man, and also the grief and sorrow of the Church.

The Passion account from the Gospel of John is read. (During the Holy Week, the Passion is read three

times: on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday.)

(b) Veneration of the Cross

A cross, either veiled or unveiled, is carried in procession through the Church, and then venerated by the congregation. We reverently venerate and kiss the wooden cross on which hung the Savior of the world in order to honor the great sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us.

Adoration or veneration of an image or representation of Christ's cross does not mean we are actually honoring the material image but rather what it represents. In kneeling before the crucifix and kissing it we are paying the highest honor to our Lord's cross as the instrument of our salvation. Because the cross is inseparable from His sacrifice; in reverencing His Cross we are, in effect, adoring Christ.

Thus, we affirm: We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

(c) Holy Communion

The altar is covered with cloth for the Holy Communion part and the ciboria containing the Blessed Sacrament consecrated on Holy Thursday are brought to the altar from the place of reposition.

The Our Father and the Ecce Agnus Dei (This is the Lamb of God) are recited before Holy Communion.

Then the congregation receives Holy Communion.

The Prayer after Communion is said, followed by the final Prayer over the People.

At the end of the rite, the priest and people depart in silence, and the altar cloth is removed, leaving the altar bare again except for the Cross and two or more candlesticks.

Seven Last Words:

In some Churches, the reflections on the Seven Last Words of Jesus are done prior to the afternoon liturgy.

Day of Fasting and Abstinence:

The Catholic Church treats Good Friday as a day of fast and abstinence. According to Church's rule, fasting is required for ages 18 to 60, and abstinence is from age 14.

The Church mourns in silence:

We keep our meditative silence the rest of the day to mourn the death of our Lord Jesus Christ who saved us from our sins, as we await with joyful expectation His resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Let us reflect on how much our Lord loves us. He accepts His cruel death on the cross so that He may bear our infirmities and endure our sufferings.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

The Suffering and Sorrowful Mary, Mater Dolorosa:

During the Holy Week, we reflect on the suffering, passion, crucifixion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ to redeem us from our sin.

But in the midst of our sorrow and contrition, let us not also forget the sorrowful journey with Jesus of His own mother Mary, the Mother of Sorrow or Mater Dolorosa.

For Mary is witness to suffering of her Son, with love and faith.

Emotionally, we may have felt more connected to Mary as the reality of how Mary suffered in witnessing the painful journey of her Son to Calvary speaks to our own lives in a more relevant and powerful way.

Because as humans we all experience sadness through our own suffering, and have witnessed the suffering of those close to us. We see how Mary witnessed the terrible ordeals of her own Son being humiliated before the church elders, dragged before Pilate for judgment, scourged nearly unto death, and finally nailed to the cross to die. We now realize the fullness of Mary's humanity as we saw the intensity of her shock, disbelief and intense sorrow as she remained with her Son into His death.

The ordeals of Jesus' persecution and death are so horrific that nearly all of His followers abandoned our

Lord. Yet Mary, His mother, and Mary of Magdala and His apostle John remained with Jesus. Mary's love for Jesus as His mother, and her hope and faith in His divinity enabled her to endure the path to His death in Calvary.

For Mary knew she could not stop the torture and death of her Son, yet her love for Jesus compelled her to remain with Him in the journey to Calvary despite the suffering this caused her own heart.

Mary, as our Model for witnessing suffering:

As we reflect on the sorrowful events of Holy Week, each of us can resolve to imitate Mary in our own lives by reaching out in love and compassion to assist and comfort others whom are suffering. At times this can be relatively easy, such as simply spending time with a friend whom is suffering with a problem and may need someone to listen. At other times the witnessing of suffering may require much greater effort, such as when a loved one is dying from a painful illness.

During the times when our suffering is most intense, we can turn to Mary. Yes, it can be hard, and at times we may feel as Mary did -- that we can't go on any further. Yet Mary teaches us that through our love for others, rooted in our love for God, and faith in the resurrection and power of God's grace, we have the strength and courage to persevere through any suffering our world presents.

So let us pray: Lord, thank You for the gift of Mary, Your Mother, as our perfect Mother too and model for how we as Christians witness suffering in our fallen world. Help us to imitate Mary as our Model as she comforted others in need with loving compassion, and with faith in Your resurrection and grace. Amen.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Reflection on Holy Week (Third, and last, of three parts)

Holy Saturday - The Paschal Triduum

The last three days of Holy Week are called the Sacred Paschal Triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday.

The Sacred Paschal Triduum is the three most solemn days of the liturgical year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. These most holy days celebrate the Paschal Mystery, first, the passion, suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, followed by his resurrection the triumph of the holy cross, and Christ's decisive victory over sin and death.

The Triduum is a single feast, the Paschal Mystery, although celebrated over three days and these are the three holiest days of the entire liturgical year.

Let us reflect on the significance of Holy Saturday.

Holy Saturday (March 31) - Day 3

Holy Saturday, or Black Saturday is the last day of Holy Week, in which Christians prepare for Easter. It commemorates the day that Jesus Christ's body is laid in the tomb. The whole day we keep our spiritual silence, to reflect on God's redeeming love who gave up His only Son to save us from sins.

The sanctuary remains stripped completely bare (following the Mass on Holy Thursday). It reflects our deep sorrow and contrition for Jesus' death.

Liturgically speaking, Holy Saturday lasts until 6 PM or dusk, after which the Easter Vigil is celebrated, making the official start of the Easter season.

Easter Vigil:

The Easter Vigil service starts with the blessing of fire and water, and the lighting of a new Paschal Candle. In the Roman Catholic observance, during the "Gloria" of the Mass, which has been omitted during Lent, the Church statues and icons, in places where they are covered with purple veils during Passiontide, are dramatically unveiled.

The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil should take place at night time, that is, it should begin after

nightfall and end before the dawn of Sunday. Usually, nine readings are assigned to the Easter Vigil: seven from the Old Testament, and two from the New Testament. (If necessary, the number of readings may be reduced. But at least three selections from the Old Testament should be read before the Epistle and the Gospel.)

After the reading from the Old Testament, the candles at the altar are lit as the priest intones the Gloria. The bells are rung.

Those who participate at the Easter Vigil fulfill their Sunday obligation. But they may still attend regular Easter Sunday Mass and receive Holy Communion.

Finally, the entire Liturgy of the Easter Vigil speaks of our eager expectation of the Resurrection and of its exultant occurrence. The darkness of death has been overcome, the glorious light of Christ has appeared. Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

In sum, the Paschal Triduum is really just one great liturgy, which begins with the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, and ends with the final blessing of the Mass on. Easter Vigil. That is why, if you notice, the Mass on Holy Thursday begins with the usual "In the name of the Father...." and the priest's greetings but at the end of the Thursday ceremony the presiding priest just departs silently without any final blessing; it is the same "silent" departure for the ceremony on Good Friday. Also, there is no usual greeting by the priest at the beginning of the liturgy on Good Friday and Easter Vigil. The final blessing is given at the end of the Mass on Easter Vigil. The faithful are encouraged to walk with our Lord to his calvary from Holy Thursday to his final victory on Easter Vigil..... one great Paschal Triduum indeed!

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle B - Year II:  

1 April 2018: Easter Sunday 

(Liturgical Color: White)

Readings:

First Reading:        Acts 10;34, 37-43

Second Reading:  Colossians 3:1-4

Gospel:Please Read  John 20:1-9

The Lord is risen!

All Masses today in the entire universal Church start with the presiding priest joyfully greeting the congregation with this great news: The Lord is risen. Alleluia!

Indeed today is a great day of celebration as we proclaim the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead!

From the Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, our joy shines forth when the very first Mass of Easter begins with the joyful singing of the Gloria and the triumphant ringing of bells.

The evangelist John brings us the Good News on Easter Sunday. The gist of the Gospel narratives:

When Mary of Magdala came to visit the tomb of Jesus early morning on the third day, she saw the stone cover already removed from the entrance of the tomb, and the tomb empty. Hurriedly she went back to the other disciples and reported what she saw. Simon Peter and John went with Mary again to the empty tomb. They saw the burial clothes there, and the cloth that covered Jesus' head neatly rolled up in a separate place. They believed that the Lord is risen, even when they did not yet fully understand what is written in the Scriptures that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

And so, the Resurrection of Jesus is the very cornerstone of our Christian faith. Because if Jesus did not rise to redeem us from sin, then everything we did during the Holy Week, and everything we do now. is going to be meaningless.

In the Catholic faith, Easter Sunday is the principal feast of the ecclesiastical year. That is why it is called the greatest feast (festum festorum). Our Lord's Resurrection is a concrete and historical event which is the strength and foundation of Christianity. It is a day of celebration, as it represents the fulfillment of our faith as Christians.

From the time of the first apostles to our generation, we too believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed risen. Alleluia! Alleluia! To this day, in every Eucharistic celebration at Mass we share in Jesus' Paschal Mystery, meaning to say, in our Lord's Passion, Death and Resurrection. Because we encounter the risen Christ again in the Holy Eucharist. Thus, Easter invites us to be witnesses to the whole world that our Lord Jesus Christ is truly risen from the dead!

What then is the significance of the Easter event to all of us today? Does everything end with the resurrection story?

Well, it does not and should not.  Because we do not close the story of Jesus' Resurrection. We continue to re-live this event whenever we do the acts of Jesus, meaning our Lord's acts of kindness, humility, self-sacrifice, and service to others. Because by these very Christian acts we continuously perpetuate  the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus in our lives today.

In other words, whenever we do good to others we also impart Jesus and we tell them that Jesus is truly alive today, that our Lord Jesus is ready to help them and lift them from their sickness, loneliness and weariness, and restore back our dignity as God's children.

So let us pray, that the power of the Lord's Resurrection transform us into liberated and joyful people through our authentic Christian living, repentant yet full of hope and happiness.

Happy Easter to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam! 

Cycle B - Year II:  

25 March 2018: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

(Liturgical Color: Red)

Readings during Mass:

Isaiah 50:4-7

Philippians: 2:6-11

Gospels:

Part 1: March 11:1-10

Part 2: Mark 15:1-39

A journey of love.... with our Lord!

Soon we will be there. That is, our Lenten pilgrimage is almost complete. And Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion is the day on which the Church enters upon the mystery of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of our Lord through the triumphal procession of Christ as King as the proclamation of His Passion.

In the Church liturgy, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion marks our entry into the holiest season of Holy Week, the days during which we journey with Jesus on His way of the cross and anticipate His Resurrection on Easter.

Red is the color of the altar cloth and the vestments of the Priest. The liturgy has two Gospel readings from Saint Mark. We are invited to reflect on both these Gospel proclamations.

Part 1: The commemoration of the Lord's Entrance into Jerusalem

At the start of the liturgy, the people gather in a suitable place outside the Church or chapel, for the blessing of the palms. After the blessing of the palms and before the Mass proper, the first Gospel is read about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Palm Sunday: (Mk 11:1-10)  Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem amidst the shouts of the

people. "Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they cut from the fields. Those preceding him as well as those following keep crying out: 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' "

Reflection on the first Gospel reading: Going to Jerusalem is a decisive step in completing Jesus' mission as He makes final preparation for His journey to Calvary. Amidst the shouts and welcome of the crowd, Jesus sees beyond their noise His suffering, torture and death on the cross of salvation. Yet our Lord submits Himself completely to the will of the Father.

In practical life, we, too, are called to enter into our own "Jerusalem" even as we are challenged to surrender ourselves completely to the will of the Father in own lives. Sometimes, or often times perhaps, we may not always understand; yet we cannot waiver in our faith. We must trust God as our loving Father who cannot, and will not, forsake us. This Palm Sunday, let us welcome Jesus, our King, into the "Jerusalem" of our hearts.

Part 2: Holy Mass

The second Gospel reading is during the Mass, which narrates the Passion and Death of Jesus.

The Passion and Death of Jesus: (Mk 15:1-39) In the second Gospel proclamation, we hear the same crowd who welcomed him in Jerusalem, this time shouting a different tune as Jesus is brought before Pilate: "Crucify him!" And so the road to Calvary is sealed for Jesus: He is crucified and died on the cross. His triumphal entry into Jerusalem ended in a journey of love to Calvary, as Jesus gives up His life to redeem us from sin.

Reflection on the second Gospel proclamation: During the Holy Week, let us meditate more intently on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, God so loves us to give up His only Son to die in order to save us from eternal punishment. There is no greater love than this: by His suffering, death and resurrection our Lord Jesus Christ has bridged the gap between God and man. Therefore, with all faith and devotion let us follow our Lord to Calvary, so that as we partake of the cross we may have a share also in His Resurrection and in His life eternal in heaven.

So let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, in Your tender love for the human race You sent Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon Him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of His great humility. Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of His suffering, and also share in His Resurrection. We ask this, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

A blessed Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle B - Year II:

18 March 2018: Fifth Sunday of Lent

(Liturgical Color: Violet)

Readings:

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9

Gospel:Please Read John 12:20-33

To die... in order to live!

We are now nearing the end of our Lenten pilgrimage. The readings for this Sunday's liturgy prepare us for the mystery of our Lord's passion and glorification.

In the Gospel narratives, Jesus took the opportunity to bring His disciples to a new and deeper understanding of their faith. He wanted to teach them who He really is and what His mission is about.

Thus, Jesus speaks to them about His "hour of glory", referring to His death and resurrection. "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." (Jn 12:23)

But before we go further in our reflection, let us first understand the style of writing by the evangelist John. Bible scholars say that, unlike the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel written by John does not carry parables. However, he uses similitudes, which function like parables.

Our Lord Jesus uses similitude-parable of the grain of wheat to reveal the mystery of His passion and glorification. He told His disciples: "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." (Jn 12:24)

So what do we understand by this teaching?

Well, the grain of wheat is Jesus. We can say that in His earthly life, He is naturally constrained by physical limitations. But in His death and resurrection, Jesus came to redeem the world from sin restore human beings to a proper relationship with their heavenly Father and open up the gates of heaven to all who come to know and love Him. Thus, Jesus' glory is revealed, not only in His resurrection but also in the very act of dying.

For Christians in our generation, Jesus tells us to follow in His path of suffering and resurrection. We must become the seed of grain that dies, the life that loses itself, and the servant who follows. Because our Lord Jesus Christ is our very guarantee that other seeds that fall on the ground and die in the name of love, our love for our Lord Jesus Christ, will produce abundant harvest.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle B - Year II:  

11 March 2018: Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)

(Liturgical Color: Rose or Violet)

Readings:

First Reading:        2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23

Second Reading:   Ephesians 2:4-10

Gospel:Please Read  John 3:14-21

Rejoice and be joyful!

Let us take a "time-out"......from our sorrowful Lenten journey, to anticipate the final victory, which is the glorified Christ.

The fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday, which literally means "rejoice".

Laetare Sunday is traditionally regarded as a day of celebration, on which the austerity character of Lent is briefly lessened. Thus, the usual purple vestments and altar cloth are set aside, and the color rose is used instead. The point is to provide us encouragement in our Lenten pilgrimage as we progress toward the end of our penitential season.

The center piece of the Gospel passage for the Fourth Sunday of Lent also reinforces the theme of rejoicing: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life." (Jn 3:16)

Belief in Jesus as our Lord and Savior sums up our Catholic faith. But how do we understand and live our faith?

Catholics believe that faith is necessary for salvation but also we believe in the indispensable value of exterior works that manifest interior faith. Because it is not faith or works, in isolation by themselves, that can save us. Rather, it is faith and works together that cooperate with God's free gift of salvation. Thus, Catholics hold the more balanced approach: faith is necessary for salvation and so are good works that demonstrate that faith, yet acknowledging that even our merits due to our good works are themselves God's gift of grace to us.

In sum, our understanding regarding the relationships between faith, works and merits should draw us into a deeper awe and reverence for exactly how much God really loves us. In the word of the evangelist John, God so loves us so much that he gave his only Son to die for us.

And so God continues to pour out His grace upon us that even the good that we do has God Himself as its source and ultimate end. Because without God's grace, our good works would have no reference point. But with God's grace, we participate in the very process of how we will be saved and come into the everlasting light and glory of heavenly bliss.

As we near the high point of our Lenten journey let us pray for God's grace so that we can bring and share Christ's light to our world, through our Catholic faith and good works.

A blessed Laetare Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!