Lenten
journey approaches its closure as we enter Jerusalem. Today Jerusalem finds
herself confronted with a very controversial man. There is something about
Jesus that creates this confusion in the city. He makes people take sides, and
even change sides; from praise to insults, from "Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord," to "Crucify him!" There is something
about Jesus that makes people confront their own deepest selves.
This
week we could ask ourselves some penetrating questions for meditation: How does
it feel to be a disciple of Jesus in Jerusalem; to walk side by side with Jesus
as he is proclaimed liberator? How does it feel as they are laying palms on the
ground in front of you because you are with him? How do we feel being a
confidant of Jesus at the Last Supper? And here's the big one: To identify with
and profess as master, a man arrested, mocked, beaten, and put to death?
There
is no right or wrong answer. A feeling of confidence does not mean one is
spiritually healthy. Remember Peter's confidence, only to deny Jesus that same
night. Sometimes confidence means we haven't taken the issue seriously. Being
ambivalent doesn't necessarily mean being in a bad spiritual space. It could
signify the grace of confronting the cost of discipleship. We may find that our
responses to these questions change daily. But we should stay with it.
Meditation:
Stay with Jesus now. Keep this provocative man near to your heart, and give him
the space to speak to you about the cost of discipleship.
Additional
Mass and Stations of the Cross every Friday evening during Lent beginning at 7
pm.
EASTER
SCHEDULE 2018
Palm
Sunday – March 24th/25th
Blessing
and distribution of Palms at all Masses
Masses
- Sat. 5pm, Sun. 9:30 and 11:30
Holy
Thursday – March 29th
Commemoration
of the Lord’s Supper and Washing of the Feet.
Mass
at 7:30 pm and church open for adoration at midnight.
Good
Friday – March 30th – Please Note – NO 8 am Mass on this day
Celebration
of the Lord’s Passion
Service
at 1pm - geared to children – Easter Story film, Adoration of the Cross, Holy
Communion
Service
at 3pm – Liturgy of the Word, Adoration of the Cross, Holy Communion
Stations
of the Cross at 7:30 pm – with our Folk choir - music by TaizĂ©
Holy
Saturday – March 31st - Please Note – NO
9:15 am or 5:00 pm Mass on this day
Blessing
of the Easter foods - 10:30 am
Easter
Vigil altar server rehearsal - 11:00 am
RCIA
Easter Vigil rehearsal- 12 noon
Easter
Vigil Mass – 8 pm
Easter
Sunday – April 1st
Mass
9:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm
Easter
Monday – April 2nd
Mass
at 8 am. Office Closed
Confirmation
Registration:
March
26th: 7:30 in the hall. Please bring a
baptismal certificate copy with you.
April
9th: 7 PM Confirmation Students
downstairs for classes. Parents upstairs
in the church for a speaker. Regular parishioners are invited to this talk
also.
Fr. Phil