The Church ushers in the holiest time of the year with Palm Sunday. From the joyful cries of Hosanna in the highest to the haunting shouts of Crucify Him, we are invited to reflect on the Paschal Mystery. Our King, Jesus, came to dwell among us, taking on human flesh so that He might become the perfect offering, the Lamb of God, to atone for our sins and transgressions.
It is easy to become lost in a torrent of guilt and remorse. Yet, we are not alone; we journey alongside our Lord Jesus on the road to Calvary. In many ways, we are like the tethered colt, uncertain of the way but called to carry Jesus to the place of supreme love, where He gave His very life for all of us. At times, we resemble Saint Peter, wanting to deny our Lord, only to bitterly weep when we realize we’ve fallen from grace and must rise again. Or, like Simon, we may find ourselves unexpectedly tasked with carrying a cross that wasn’t ours to bear—only to discover that sharing in another’s sacrifice reveals the depth of Agape love, a love that transcends all understanding.
The Paschal Mystery of the Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord transcends time and space. While these events occurred at a specific point in history, they are made present in a profound way during the Divine Liturgy. Each Holy Mass not only commemorates these events but also invokes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, inviting the faithful to take up the cross and go forth, reflecting the love of God the Father and the Son. As the Catechism (1085) explains: “The Paschal mystery of Christ, by contrast, cannot remain only in the past, because by his death he destroyed death. All that Christ is—everything he did and suffered for humanity—participates in the divine eternity, transcending all time while being made present in every moment. The event of the Cross and Resurrection abides, drawing all things toward life.”
The single liturgy of the Triduum, encompassing Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Mass, invites us to partake in the mysterious signs of love, sacrifice, and joy. As we journey with our Lord Jesus toward Calvary this Holy Week, we are called to reflect on the following questions:
Are we willing to die with Him, surrendering our faults, desires, and human frailties, so that we may rise to new life in Jesus?
Am I willing to transform my life and deepen my desire to draw closer to Jesus by seeking God’s will, rather than my own?
Am I willing to do penance, engage in the sacramental life of the Church, give alms, and fast, so that by giving of myself, I may grow closer to our Lord?
It is not too late—turn to Jesus and say, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Together, we will overcome death and sin and rise to new life with Christ our Lord. He calls us to enter this great mystery, which unites us from the moment our baptismal candle is lit and given to us as a sign that the eternal light of Christ shines brightly for all to see. As Saint John reminds us in the Gospel, the darkness will never overcome the light of Christ, which continues to shine upon us today and always.
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