Welcome
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
WEDNESDAY of HOLY WEEK
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
(Mt 26:14-16)
Traditionally, the Wednesday of Holy Week is called Spy Wednesday. It is noteworthy that all four gospels record that it was one of the Twelve, one of the leadership, who betrayed Jesus. Perhaps that’s why the church was reluctant to canonize its leaders. In the past, there weren’t that many canonized popes. One reason, there was a 50 year wait-period before beginning the process of canonization. Today it’s different. But there are still good reasons why we shouldn’t shout “Súbito Santo!” too quickly.
TUESDAY of HOLY WEEK
Reclining at table with his disciples,
Jesus was deeply troubled and testified,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
one of you will betray me.”
The disciples looked at one another,
at a loss as to whom he meant.
One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved,
was reclining at Jesus’ side.
So Simon Peter nodded to him
to find out whom he meant.
He leaned back against Jesus’ chest
and said to him,
“Master, who is it?”
Jesus answered,
“It is the one to whom I hand the morsel
after I have dipped it.”
So he dipped the morsel and took it
and handed it to Judas,
son of Simon the Iscariot.
(Jn 13:21-16)
Receive me now, O Son of God,
as a participant in your mystical supper,
for I will not betray your mystery
to your enemies
nor give you a kiss like Judas,
but like the thief I confess you:
Remember me, Lord,
when you come into your kingdom.
—Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
MONDAY of HOLY WEEK
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised
from the dead.
They gave a dinner for him there,
and Martha served,
while Lazarus was one of those
reclining at table with him.
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil
made from genuine aromatic nard
and anointed the feet of Jesus
and dried them with her hair;
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
(Jn 12:1-3)
I remember the dedication of the new altar at Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in Winston-Salem when it belonged to Saint Benedict the Moor Parish. The bishop dumped the whole container of the Oil of Chrism on the surface of the altar and began to rub it in to the wood of the altar. Everyone was astounded at the extravagance of the gesture as the fragrance of the Chrism filled the whole Chapel.
PALM SUNDAY, 2021
So they brought the colt to Jesus
and put their cloaks over it.
And he sat on it.
Many people spread their cloaks on the road,
and others spread leafy branches
that they had cut from the fields.
Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out:
“Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
(Mk 11:1-10)
Knowing us better than we know ourselves, knowing all the crummy things we do to one another, he still comes to give himself for love of us.
SATURDAY, WEEK V, LENT
I will make with them a covenant of peace;
it shall be an everlasting covenant with them,
and I will multiply them, and put my sanctuary among them forever.
My dwelling shall be with them;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(Ez 37:21-28)
The everlasting covenant of peace that God promises is fulfilled in Jesus, who “pitches his tent among us,” who “makes his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). As we enter into this Holy Week, let us invite all our brothers and sisters to join us in being the sanctuary where God dwells with us. The photo today is of the monolith in Vigeland Park in Oslo, Norway.
FRIDAY, WEEK V, LENT
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 18)
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
In my distress I called upon the LORD
and cried out to my God;
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
I guess we all know to call on the Lord when we are in trouble, and it’s not a bad prayer. And as the Psalmist reminds us, even then God hears our voice, our cry reaches God’s ears.
SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD, March 25
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
(Lk 1:26-38)
Mary’s YES has inspired believers through the ages. As we prepare to recall and relive the great events of our salvation, may we say YES to God’s plan for us.
