|
Let us enter deeply into the events of Holy Week |
|
|
|
By Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
|
|
Thursday, 25 March 2010 |
It is difficult to question the popularity of reality TV in today’s society. Whether it is “Dancing with the Stars” or “Survivor,” “The Apprentice” or “American Idol,” viewers are being drawn into the lived experiences of each show’s contestants.
 That They May All
Be One
Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
|
Something very similar should occur as Catholics participate in the Holy Week ceremonies. We are not just passive spectators, but rather active participants in the drama of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection.
We enter into these events with the intention that we, too, must die to
self in order to rise to the new life. Our prayer is that by reliving
the Way of the Cross, we will be moved toward greater conversion and
transformation.
Deepening our commitment
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. Palms are blessed before Mass, then
carried in procession imitating the enthusiastic crowds that welcomed
Jesus into Jerusalem. Both as individuals and as a community, we are
called to deepen our commitment to the person of Christ.
The same palms will be held during the proclamation of the Gospel at
Mass. This year’s passage will be taken from the Gospel of St. Luke.
The main concern of his writing is to set the events of the Passion
within a context of mercy and love.
The narrative becomes a revelation of the Father’s love for his Son and
for all mankind. In it, the cross becomes the great sacrament of Divine
Mercy. Rather than portraying Jesus crying out in despair, Luke
presents Jesus exclaiming, “Father, forgive them. . .” Unlike the other
synoptic writers, the content of Jesus’ prayers reveal a more intimate
and deeply personal tone.
On Holy Thursday night, parishes will gather to celebrate the Mass of
the Lord’s Supper — the only liturgy permitted that day (except, of
course, in a diocese that schedules the Chrism Mass that day).
Herein we commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist and that of
the ministerial priesthood.
The 20th chapter of St. John’s Gospel is proclaimed in which Jesus
washes the feet of his apostles. Special emphasis is given to this
gesture as the presider, acting in Christ’s person, washes the feet of
selected members of the congregation. The meaning is unavoidably clear:
as the Master has done, so we must do.
At the end of Mass, another procession is formed to transport the Holy
Eucharist to an Altar of Repose. There we find ourselves, like Peter,
James and John, spending an hour with Jesus as he prays, “Father, let
this cup pass by me. Still, let it be as you would have it, not as I.”
A powerful gesture
On Good Friday, we find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross with
our Blessed Lady and the holy women.
We once again hear the Passion of St. John proclaimed, which, from start
to finish, is the story of Christ’s glorious victory, shining through
his broken and crucified humanity.
At one point in the service, the congregation moves one by one to kiss
the feet of our crucified Lord. This is a powerful gesture of affirming
our personal sorrow for whatever way our own sins necessitated such
suffering.
It is also a way of pledging a renewed commitment to love our neighbor,
especially the least of our brothers and sisters. (Hence, the reason a
collection is taken up to support the church in the Holy Land.)
The Easter Vigil is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful liturgies
of the church year, but definitely not for the faint of heart.
The ceremony begins in darkness and moves to the lighting of the Paschal
Candle. The exsultet, or hymn of Easter joy, is sung, setting the stage
for the reading of a series of Scriptures recalling the highlights of
all salvation history.
After the homily, the sacraments of initiation are celebrated for our
catechumens and candidates for full admission into the church. Their
eager excitement is contagious as their new profession of faith evokes a
renewal of our own.
The full meaning of the Paschal Mystery comes to fulfillment in our
reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood. This is the meal of our
redemption and a foretaste of the eternal Passover banquet in heaven.
Easter Sunday begins a liturgical season of 50 days as the church
members, both new and old, are called to reflect and ponder anew the
meaning of Christ’s dying and rising in our own lives and that of our
community of faith.
Drama of salvation
I urge as many as possible to take part as participants in these
enriching celebrations.
These liturgies offer each of us more than reality TV could ever afford,
for Holy Week is truly the drama of our salvation unfolding before our
very eyes as we join our dying to self and rising to new life with that
of the Lord’s.
God bless you!
|
|