Here is the article I wrote for the cover of today’s (Passion Sunday) Bulletin<\/p>\n
The Most Important Time of the Year<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Today is Passion Sunday, aka Palm Sunday.\u00a0 These two names identify what we do today.\u00a0 We begin Mass with the Blessing of the Palms.\u00a0 We read the gospel story of Jesus\u2019 entry into Jerusalem for his hour where he is greeted with praise by people waving \u201cleafy branches.\u201d\u00a0 Then, our gospel of the Mass is the story of Jesus\u2019 Passion where he celebrates the Eucharist with his disciples, is arrested, and crucified.\u00a0 He gives up his life not because he has done something wrong but for the forgiveness of our sins.<\/p>\n Next Sunday we will celebrate Easter Sunday and the Resurrection but we do not view the Resurrection as a singular event.\u00a0 Rather, it is part of one event spread over three days known as the Easter Triduum.<\/p>\n The Easter Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord\u2019s Supper on Holy Thursday.\u00a0 It is the night when Jesus celebrated the first Eucharist with his disciples and washed their feet.\u00a0 He did this at the time of the Jewish Passover.\u00a0 The Passover was no ordinary meal.\u00a0 It was the celebration of God freeing the Israelites from the Egyptians.\u00a0 There was nothing more important to the Jews than the Passover and there is nothing more important than the Eucharist for us as Catholics.<\/p>\n Then, on Good Friday, we again recall Jesus\u2019 Passion.\u00a0 On Passion Sunday, we read from Mark\u2019s Gospel and on Good Friday we read from John\u2019s Gospel.\u00a0 We hear the Passion on Sunday as we begin Holy Week to bring into focus what this week is all about.\u00a0 We hear the Passion again on Good Friday as the day when Jesus actually gave up his life for us.<\/p>\n His Crucifixion is not an isolated event.\u00a0 When he celebrated the Eucharist with his disciples he declared the bread to be his Body, \u2018which will be given up for you\u2019 and the wine to be his Blood \u2018which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.\u201d\u00a0 In this Jesus, unites the sacrifice of his Crucifixion to the Eucharist.\u00a0 That is why we call the Eucharist a sacrifice.<\/p>\n The Crucifixion is followed by the Resurrection.\u00a0 The Resurrection shows us the give of eternal life.\u00a0 The Resurrection is also crucial to understanding the Crucifixion.\u00a0 Through the Resurrection, we come to understand that the Crucifixion is not a defeat of Jesus but a triumph over sin and death.\u00a0 So, we see the Lord\u2019s Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection as one central event.<\/p>\n Because of all this Easter, not Christmas, is the most important time of the year.\u00a0 Our Easter Vigil is the most important liturgy of the year.\u00a0 We begin at 8 p.m. with the Blessing of the Easter Fire where we are reminded of how Jesus is the Light of the World.\u00a0 Then the singing of the Exsultet and readings remind us of how God always watched over his people throughout the ages.\u00a0 Easter marks a new beginning for us as Christians.<\/p>\n This year, at the Vigil, we will baptize two people, receive one into the church, and have to others completing\u00a0their initiation in our Catholic Faith.<\/p>\n I encourage you to join us for as much of the Easter Triduum as you can.\u00a0 Words cannot do these liturgies justice for they truly are grace-filled celebrations.<\/p>\n Peace,<\/p>\n Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here is the article I wrote for the cover of today’s (Passion Sunday) Bulletin The Most Important Time of the Year Today is Passion Sunday, aka Palm Sunday.\u00a0 These two names identify what we do today.\u00a0 We begin Mass with the Blessing of the Palms.\u00a0 We read the gospel story of Jesus\u2019 entry into Jerusalem …<\/p>\n