RCIA March 20 th, 2013

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!“ (Lk 19:38) On Palm Sunday the Church celebrates Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish the Paschal Mystery of his death and resurrection.

On this joyful day He was surrounded by throngs of people singing His praises and marveling at all the miracles He had performed. The assembly gathers (9:00 and 11:30 am will being outside the church) to process into the sanctuary carrying palm branches. The Gospel reading of this day is the Passion narrative.

"Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord.“ (Ps 27:14) Monday of Holy Week is a day of waiting. As we have done during these past weeks of Lent, we must also prepare our hearts and minds for the sorrows of the Triduum.

Find a quiet place to sit and pray with Scripture or to read your favorite spiritual book. Gather your family to pray the Rosary. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As we reflect on today's readings, especially when Our Lord raises Lazarus from the dead, ask Jesus to raise us above any obstacles that prevent us from drawing nearer to Him.

"I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.“ (Isa 49:6) Today we continue our waiting and preparation as we approach Good Friday. Reserve quiet time to "Be still and know that (He) is God" (Ps 46:10). Make a Holy Hour to visit with Our Lord in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Attend the Chrism Mass.

If you don't have a lot of time, or if you find an hour is too long to stay focused, try praying for only minutes. Even this brief break in your day can refresh your soul. As we reflect on today's readings, especially Judas' betrayal of Jesus, let us search our own lives to identify weaknesses or temptations that may cause us to betray Our Lord if we are not careful.

“See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive!“ (Ps 69:33) you who seek God, may your hearts revive!“ (Ps 69:33) As we reach the middle of Holy Week, our waiting turns to anticipation. Spending time in prayer each day has helped us to identify our weakness and times we need to turn to Christ for help.

Pray the Liturgy of the Hours (also called the Divine Office or Breviary). The examination is a natural part of Night Prayer. Serve the homeless in a soup kitchen or visit the elderly in a nursing home. As we reflect on today's readings, especially Isaiah's words foretelling Our Lord's suffering, seek forgiveness for times we have caused others to suffer.

"Let us live Lent, then, as a 'Eucharistic' time in which, welcoming the love of Jesus, we learn to spread it around us with every word and deed." (Pope Benedict XVI's Message for Lent 2007) The three day “Triduum” (Holy Thurday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil) begins at sunset on Holy Thursday, or with the Last Supper meal. On Holy Thursday we celebrate the institution of the "source and summit" of our Catholic Faith – The Holy Eucharist.

On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples: "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.'" (Mt 26:26-28)

On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus also showed his disciples –and us -- how they (we) were to serve each other: “…he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” (Jn 13:4-9)

In our parish, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper begins at 7:00pm. At the end of Mass, the altar will be stripped bare. Mass has not ended… we are pausing until we gather together again the next evening, on Good Friday.

During His agony in the garden on Holy Thursday, Jesus asked His disciples to pray with Him. Take time on this day to also pray with him. Participate in Morning Prayer (9:00am) and Adoration Watch until midnight (following Mass of the Lord’s Supper).

As we reflect on today's readings, especially Paul's remembrance of the Last Supper, ask for the Graces needed to truly believe in Christ's presence in the Eucharist and to approach the altar with reverence and awe.

Remember also, our prayer after we receive Holy Communion: “O Sacrament, most Holy, O Sacrament divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. We believe that Jesus Christ is really, truly and substantially present in Holy Communion, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. O Sacrament, most Holy, O Sacrament divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

“But He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord laid upon Him the guilt of us all.“ (Isa 53:5-6)

On this day, Mass is not “celebrated.” The Lord’s Passion is remembered in three parts of the service: 1) Liturgy of the Word, 2) Adoration (or veneration) of the Cross, and 3) Holy Communion. One of the most beautiful and moving traditions of this day is the Veneration of the Cross.

Veneration of the Cross… “While we bend down in body before the cross, we bend down in spirit before God."

Since the altar was stripped bare and the Eucharist removed from the Tabernacle on Holy Thursday, the church will seem empty. And again, we feel a sense of anxious waiting...

If possible, attend today’s Stations of the Cross at 2:00 pm. When it ends, the hour will be about 3:00pm … the hour in which Our Lord died on the cross. Again, the service has not ended… We are pausing until we gather together again Saturday night for the Easter Vigil.

As we reflect on today's readings, especially John's account of Christ's Passion, try to keep an awareness of Our Lord's suffering in your hearts throughout the day.

"We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)

On Holy Saturday our sorrow and emptiness begin to be replaced with a growing joy and anticipation. The night is dedicated to the Candidates and Catechumen who will become full members of the Church.

The vigil starts in a dramatic way with the blessing of the new fire, the lighting candles and the paschal candle. The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil must take place at night, so that it begins after nightfall and ends before daybreak on Sunday.

The vigil is arranged in four parts: After a Service of Light and the Easter Proclamation, the Liturgy of the Word follows. Beginning with Genesis and ending with Christ’s Resurrection, the Church listens to and meditates on God’s love for his people and the wonderful things He has done for us.

As the day of Resurrection approaches, new members of the Church are reborn in Baptism and the whole Church is called to the table of the Lord prepared for his people through is Death and Resurrection. This is the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

As we reflect on all of the readings and responsorial psalms, we rejoice and give thanks to God for our wondrous Salvation History. Today, to prepare for the evening’s Vigil, continue to pray by attending Morning Prayer at 9:00am and the Blessing of the Easter Foods at Noon.

"Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.“ (Mt 28:5-6) Alleluia! He is risen! This is the most joyous feast of the year. Christ's death and resurrection is the foundation of the Christian Faith.

The church is now filled with the spirit of Jesus and with His Light. It is no longer silent as we join our songs of praise with the choirs in heaven. We are reminded of Christ's promise "I will give you a joy which no one will take from you." (Jn 16:22).

Easter is the beginning of our new life with Christ. Although our Lenten Journey is complete, remember to create times of prayer in your daily lives where you can spend time with our Risen Lord. As we reflect on today's readings, especially the Gospel, ask the Risen Christ for courage and strength we need to take His Light into the world, for as Jesus himself said…

(Then Jesus approached and said to them…) “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:18-20)