This past Sunday we entered into the most Holy Week of the year, seven days leading up to the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Let’s begin with Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday is a happy joyful day when we relive Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. It is recorded in all four of the Gospels. On this day, Christ is hailed as King, riding on a donkey, cheered and hailed as the people lay down cloaks and palm branches shouting “Hosanna” Messiah as He enters Jerusalem. It is the first step on His journey to Calvary, where He will suffer, be crucified and die, all for us.

There are many ways to celebrate this Holy Week and one of the most important is to really take time to reflect on how the events of Palm Sunday, the rest of the events leading to Calvary and ultimately the crucifixion impact our lives today. Two thousand years later, how do we react to what the Son of God did for us? What do we believe this means in our life? What does it mean for our salvation?

We move on through the Week to Holy Thursday which commemorates the Last Supper, the washing of the apostle’s feet, the establishing of the Eucharist, and the institution of priesthood. This marks the first day of the Paschal Triduum. This is one of my favorite liturgies in that it is a reminder that we are all called to wash our brother’s feet, to be a humble servant, serving others as best we can. We are blessed to be given the sacrament of Holy Communion/Eucharist that we may have eternal life.

The next blog will be about Good Friday. Until then, may you have a quiet, reflective and prayerful week.

PJP