By Zoe Cannon, Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8).
God created us to know, love and serve him, yet the Bible is filled with stories of broken covenants and people’s failure to avoid the power of sin. The first Christians in Antioch recognized that following the teachings of Jesus would be difficult. The baptized were not expecting a peaceful life on earth but yearned for the promise of eternal life in heaven.
We experience God’s love each time we participate in holy Mass. When heaven comes down to earth at the table of our Lord, the paschal mystery is celebrated with the dying and rising of our Savior. The Eucharist gives us the strength to go forth and spread the good news! If you do not understand the parts of the Mass and have yet to fall in love with this sacred mystery, ask for the grace to know God, and you will intimately feel his love in the Eucharistic celebration.
On Palm Sunday, March 29, as we begin the holiest week of the year, prayerfully consider extending an invitation to a family member or friend who may need to fall in love again with the Church. A personal invitation may be a Holy Spirit prompting and an answer to someone’s prayer. Your encouragement and the willingness to accept this invitation are for the glory of God, and his timing is always perfect. Pray with expectation and let God do the rest.
The rituals, traditions and liturgical colors in the services of Holy Week are very intentional and sacred. It is helpful to review everything that takes place and the significance of each service before you enter into the experience.
On Palm Sunday, we begin Holy Week with the Passion narrative. On Tuesday, the anointing of sacred oils distributed for each parish in the diocese is celebrated by the Bishop in the Cathedral with the Chrism Mass and the renewal of priestly promises. The Holy Thursday service with the institution of the priesthood and the institution of the Eucharist, the washing of the feet, and adoration at the altar of repose, prepares us for the suffering of Jesus on Good Friday, when we venerate the Cross and receive Holy Communion.
The Easter Triduum concludes on Saturday night with the Easter Vigil fire and the lighting of the Paschal (Easter) Candle, as we welcome new members entering the Church. It is a solemn moment as we process into the dark church with lit candles to bring light into the Resurrection of Easter morning. The grace we receive every day in each of our sacraments would not be possible without the priesthood. Thank your priest for giving you the grace and ability to love God so deeply.
Embracing the mystery of our faith unlocks a love for Jesus that is hard to put into words. If you do not know him, you may miss the perfect love he wants to share with you! In fellowship, we learn and grow in faith together, and this experience reveals the love of God within us! May the Easter season bring peace into your life, and may God’s mercy endure forever! Amen!