Today we begin the most sacred week of the church year. It is Holy Week. All during Lent we have been journeying with Christ to Jerusalem. We have listened to the message that we are sinners in need of repentance and that we are able to receive forgiveness because we have a merciful and loving Father who waits for our return to Him. Christ’s final acts on this journey will bring about our redemption. Today we hear the stories of two journeys, the entrance of a King in triumph and the journey to Calvary and the ultimate triumph over sin and death. Jesus enters the city to shouts of Hosanna, cries of joy that will soon turn to shouts of rage that call for His crucifixion. We will follow Him on this journey through the liturgies of Holy Week. We will process with Palms and raise our voices in praise today. We will join Him at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. We will keep watch with Him in the garden on Thursday night. We will join Him on the steps to Golgotha on Friday. Keep vigil with Him on Saturday and rejoice once again as He triumphantly rises on Easter. It is a great time for all of us to gather together and proclaim who we are and how our lives were saved by the Death and Resurrection of the Lord. I hope that you will join us in all of these beautiful liturgies it is a time that the family of Our Lady of Hope should spend together.
This is also a special week for our RCIA elect. They have been preparing all year to receive the Easter sacraments and during the beautiful Vigil service of Holy Saturday they will achieve their goal. It would be wonderful to have a full church there to greet them as they are received into full communion with the church. We will have a reception following the service to allow as many as possible to welcome all of them to our parish family and community.
Check the schedule of services and plan on joining us this week.
The words of today’s blessing seem like a fitting message for this week.
“The Father of mercies has given us an example of unselfish love in the sufferings of His only Son.
Through your service of God and neighbor may you receive His countless blessings.
You believe that by His dying Christ destroyed death forever. May He give you everlasting life.
He humbled Himself for our sakes. May you follow His example and share in His Resurrection...”
Christ has made this week holy by His journey. How you make it holy is your choice. May you have a blessed and spirit filled week.
Remember you are loved and live that love.
Fr. Clem