In our faith journey as Catholic Christians, we have now arrived at the holiest week of our Church Year! We begin with the opening Hosannas for today, Palm/Passion Sunday: trading last years’ old palms for this years’ new ones as we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. We then turn toward the shadow of the cross and Calvary, the Triduum (Holy Thursday—the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and the Liturgy of Good Friday, the Lord’s Passion, The Way of the Cross, then the Great Easter Vigil)—containing all the important sacred symbols that express our faith and belief.
 
I look forward to the breaking of the bread and the foot washing on Holy Thursday; the veneration of the Cross that takes place on Good Friday, the Passion of the Lord! I love the fire and light of Christ brought into the Church, the return of Alleluias and the Gloria at the Easter Vigil. (Don’t forget to bring your bells!) Then on Easter Sunday we celebrate—“as members of the risen Christ, we have access to a new life, the very life of God” I know that my redeemer lives! (The Living Liturgy).
 
I am consoled by this holiest week of holy liturgies. The liturgies are literally a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I may not be able to afford the time, arrange the cessation of familial responsibilities, eke out the money, brave the danger, survive the impossibilities sometimes of travel—but, I will travel the Way of Jesus in this week ahead. By participating in all of the many liturgies I will have the opportunity to ‘relive’ the events that took place two thousand years ago: the time and place, the personal witness, the betrayals, the sacrifice and suffering, the joy in the Resurrection and the renewal of my baptismal vows.
 
Holy Week is our opportunity to make a pilgrimage, a journey of faith. Like the Muslims who must visit Mecca, we are called to visit all the events of the amazing grace and mercy of God—the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The cost is only time—no money, no tickets, no danger—and you can bring all the family along. Travel with us this week to Jerusalem, to Gethsemane, to Golgotha, to eternal salvation. Holy Week! We hope to see you.
Keep singing!

​Elizabeth Dyc

Today, this Fifth Sunday of Lent (Cycle A), we hear the Prophet Ezekiel speak for the Lord saying: “I will open your graves and have you rise from them…” St. Paul reminds us that we are promised resurrection; and the Gospel of John today tells the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead: bringing him out of the grave and loosening the bindings around him. Most of us probably grew up thinking that the Resurrection was a one-time miracle about Jesus, proving He was God (true), but I have always also believed that life’s natural pattern by God was “life, death and resurrection” in all things. Jesus reveals to us what is happening everywhere and always in God. Summed up in Jesus is the map, the blueprint, the promise, the pledge, the plan, the covenant and the guarantee: “Life is changed, not ended” is what we hear at every Catholic funeral.
 
The Responsorial Psalm (#130) today is: “With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption. From out of the depths I cry unto you, Lord…” Death is not just a physical dying. When we go to the full depth of things, when we hit the bottom, and when we are in events beyond our own control, we all may experience a kind of death. We are bound by our failings and sin. We all pass through many “deaths” in our lifetime and each “death” is an opportunity for transformation, for conversion, for growth and new life.
 
When we experience death (especially those of our very own sins and mistakes), we know that with the help of true reconciliation we will rise from these depths of our spiritual tombs and be freed from what binds us and be rescued. God will open the graves of our souls, release us from our bonds and put a new spirit within us, and we will be saved. Normally the very things that would destroy us—tragedy, sorrow, calamity, pain, prejudice, intolerance, injustice, grief—God will use to transform and enlighten us! We are unbound by Jesus from all that binds us—like after Lazarus left his grave.
 
The Psalm tells us that there is mercy and redemption for all. There is resurrection and life for those who believe that being saved means you have allowed and accepted the mystery of transformation and conversion, always a pure gift of God. Opening graves and being set free is what the season of Lent is all about…
Keep singing!

​Elizabeth Dyc