My Dearly Beloved in Christ;

We are very near now to that time which is for us a new beginning, the commencement of the Blessed Passover in which the Lord was sacrificed. Starting from this day on which we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, the Church recalls the entrance of Christ the Lord into Jerusalem to accomplish His Paschal Mystery. This event of the Triumphant Entry of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, serves as the gateway to the High points of the Liturgical year which we celebrate in the Holy week.

As we read in the Gospel before the procession, the crowd that accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem spread their cloaks/branches from the trees on the road while crying out and saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David..." (Mathew 21:1-11). The word 'Hosanna' has its roots from the Hebrew phrase "hõsha'nā," meaning "save us" or "please save. This joyful praise from the crowd is a cry/plea for salvation. It is also a prophecy which will be fulfilled in Christ's salvific death on the Cross at Calvary on Good Friday.

During the upcoming week known as Holy Week, we will celebrate the central mysteries of our Catholic faith. This week includes the Sacred Triduum, which consists of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Throughout the Sacred Triduum, the Church solemnly celebrates the greatest mysteries of our redemption, keeping by means of special celebrations the memorial of her Lord, crucified, buried, and risen.

On Holy Monday the Church Commemorates the event of Jesus' cleansing of the temple, which is a reminder for us all to endeavor to get rid of sin from the temple of our souls by going to confession and doing penance. Holy Tuesday finds Jesus leaving the temple after some confrontations with the religious leaders who challenged His teachings. He consequently proceeds towards Mount Olives where He foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and His second coming. Spy Wednesday gets its name from the spies who were lurking around trying to know Jesus' whereabouts. It also finds Judas plotting with the religious leaders to betray Jesus in exchange for 30 silver coins. Judas' betrayal is in fulfilment of a prophecy from Zachariah 11:12-13 and represents themes of treachery. The Paschal Triduum begins after Spy Wednesday and shines forth as the high point of the entire liturgical year.

The Sacred Paschal Triduum officially begins on Holy Thursday, on which the Church celebrates the Mass of the Lord's Supper and the institution of the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and the Catholic Priesthood. Also, on this event, Jesus demonstrates servant leadership by washing the feet of His disciples and subsequently giving them a new mandate - "Mandatum" - from which the day gets its other name as "Maundy Thursday." As the celebration concludes, the Blessed Sacrament is processed to the repository for a period of Adoration, which is symbolic of the garden of Gethsemane from where Jesus is betrayed and arrested in the night leading to Good Friday.

Good Friday is the most solemn day of the Holy week in which we commemorate the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. The day focuses on Jesus who entrusted His life to the Father, bore our infirmities, was obedient unto death and won eternal salvation for all. It is a day of reflection, penance, and a deep contemplation on the depths of Divine love and on the ultimate sacrifice made by Christ for the redemption of humanity. The Sacred Triduum ends on Holy Saturday before the Easter Vigil and It is a day in which the Church commemorates Jesus' time in the tomb as she looks forward to His resurrection. It's a day of vigil and a period of waiting in anticipation.

Therefore, dearly beloved, as we commemorate Our Lord's Triumphant entry into Jerusalem this Sunday, let us also, like Thomas the Apostle, go with Him, that we may die with Him (John 11:16). But that's not all, if we die with Him, we will also rise and live with him (2 Timothy 2:11).

Wishing you all a Grace-filled Holy week!
In Christ;

Fr. Samuel Aliba

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