Holy Week

Our Lord made the journey to Mount Calvary to take on the sins committed by every human being in the past, present, and future. Tonight, as we journey with Him, is the night to recommit ourselves to live out our identity as Christians; to yearn for the Eucharist, the life-giving and eternal food; and to lay down our lives for one another in service, forgiving faults, and creating peace.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 52:13—53:12 | Heb 4:14–16; 5:7–9 | Jn 18:1—19:42

God wants to touch your life. To wash your feet. To change your heart. These days aren’t just about remembering what happened to Jesus 2000 years ago. In a very mysterious but real way, they’re about becoming present to Jesus, allowing him to draw us along the path of his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
 
Readings at this Mass: Ex 12:1–8, 11–14 | 1 Cor 11:23–26 | Jn 13:1–15

Jesus' ambiguous answer to the question of who He was should also be a challenge for us: do we call Him our King, our Savior, our God? Do we see Him in all moments of our lives? In whatever way we suffer, do we unite our suffering to that of His? Or do we glorify Him only in the good moments, and put the blame on Him when we are suffering, when we are alone and afraid, when we feel abandoned and rejected?
 
Readings at this Mass: Lk 19:28–40 | Is 50:4–7 | Phil 2:6–11 | Lk 22:14—23:56 

We proclaim "Christ is risen" not akin to a slogan like "Elvis Lives". No! It is the truth that this life has been broken into by eternity. Our destiny is not utter annihilation. It is a reality that is the complete fulfillment of all that is good here on earth.

Jesus was no helpless victim. The events of the Passion didn’t just happen to him. He chose freely, consciously, and deliberately to stand between us and the powers of Evil, undergoing torture and humiliation and an excruciating death in order to save us all. Good Friday is a day to remember his sacrifice and give our hearts once more to him who gave – and continues to give – everything for us.

Whatever it is you’re called to be, each of us is called to live as a servant leader, to be in charge of how we are carrying out and giving away yourselves in the service of others. To become like the Servant Christ is to give of ourselves for the good of the others. As Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us, in giving of ourselves we receive much more.

God is here with us not only in the good moments of our lives, but also when we are suffering, when we are afraid, when we are alone and feeling abandoned. And not only that, God is reaching out to us through his Son, through His death and resurrection.

No matter how deep your darkness gets, no matter how deep you feel buried by your sins, Jesus loves you and wants to dig you out. Jesus’ Resurrection proves that he is more than capable to rescue you. He desires that each one of us would be with him in heaven for eternity. That is not just good news - it’s the greatest news ever.
 
Watch the original footage of the tree well rescue that Fr. Bill talks about in his homily (contains occasional use of strong language).