St. Mary's Catholic Church of Tomahawk, WI

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We are in the sixth week of Lent, entering into Holy Week, beginning with this Palm Sunday. During these days of Lent we heard about God’s salvific plan for us including Abraham, Moses and David. The call to repent, reconcile and return to God was our focus during this Lent. Jesus’ final entrance into Jerusalem as king and savior, humbly riding on a donkey, culminated in the apocalyptic day of the Lord. Let us be fully present and participate in all the liturgies during this Holy Week, without missing any.

The first reading is about the suffering Servant of God. In this Holy Week we hear suffering servant songs from Isaiah which were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The early Christian hymn popular among Philippians tells us that our Lord humbled himself becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. This is the humility, obedience and love that Jesus manifested. How do we try to learn from our Lord to obtain these virtues and live?

The Gospels on Palm Sunday and Good Friday are the Passion narratives of our Lord. Let us keenly listen, carefully reflect and closely follow our Lord in every small or big way possible during this Holy Week. Let every liturgical event we remember, recall and celebrate during this Passion Week draw us closer to our Lord who suffered and died for us. Let us not take it for granted or participate habitually, but profoundly experience more of a internal and personal relationship with the Lord. Let us express our love and gratitude for the Holy Sacrifice and Eternal Salvation of our Savior, Lord and God. Have a prayerful, blessed and fruitful Holy Week.

Fr. Aloysius Royan Anthony