Pastor's Column 3-24-2024
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March 24, 2024Dear Parishioners,
Five weeks ago, we stood in the church and received ashes. We were reminded of our mortality, our sinfulness, and our need for penance and prayer. Those ashes were the remnant of Palm Sunday branches from last year. This year we once again receive new palm branches. This symbolizes new growth and rebirth. This begs the question: have we experienced new spiritual growth and rebirth these days of Lent, or are the only things new in our lives the palms in our hands?
It is also interesting to note that on Palm Sunday we combine two things: the glorious welcome with palms of Jesus into Jerusalem, and (while holding those same palms) the crying out of “crucify him! Crucify him!” during the Gospel. The palms symbolize our human weakness and how easily we can be drawn from faithfulness to faithlessness. During Palm Sunday Mass we take up our role as the mob that condemns Jesus to death. We are not just actors in this, however, since Jesus was crucified for all sins throughout all time, including our own.
Lent has been a period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving as a way of burning away the old attachments of sin, so that the new growth of virtue and holiness may take place. What if our Lent has not been particularly rejuvenating this year? Even now there is still time, since we have Holy Week ahead of us. As St. Teresa of Avila tells us: God can make up for lost time. The palms are not just something to stick on our crucifixes at home, or in our cars. I encourage everyone to see in these palm branches the tangible reminders of the call to holiness.
This week we celebrate the most important events of salvation history. This Thursday at 7:00PM we celebrate our Lord’s Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. This Friday at 3:00PM I invite everyone to join our Lord carrying the Cross at the Stations of the Cross. Then that same evening at 7:00PM we once again hear the Passion Narrative at our Good Friday liturgy. Finally on Saturday beginning at 7:30PM we light the Easter fire and begin the celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection from the dead. I encourage everyone to attend as many of these liturgies as possible.
Additionally, it is time to turn in our Rice Bowls for the Lenten Season. Please return them in the collection baskets. The donations support Catholic Relief Services which is an international organization supporting millions of people in over one hundred countries.
With prayers for a blessed and fruitful Holy Week.
God bless,
Fr. Barrow
