People remember the last days of their loved ones. Whether their mother or father, son or daughter, husband or wife, had been sick for a long time, or whether they died suddenly in an accident, those who remain can tell you in detail whatever happened in the days and hours leading to the death of someone they loved dearly. In the same way, the Passion of the Lord was chiseled into the minds of the disciples, the apostles, and the primitive Church.
Every step along the way was remembered in precise detail. The early Christians committed the events to memory. They would read them or even recite them before the Breaking of the Bread. It was the first Liturgy of the Word. The Passion was not memorized out of a hatred for those who demanded the death of the Lord, or a hatred for those who so sadistically brought it about, it was remembered out of love.
Our God loved us so much that He became one of us so His love could destroy the power of hatred in the world. He died so that we could join Him in dying to the world. He rose, so we could join Him in sharing eternal life.
This is what we commemorate during this, the holiest week of the Church year. We call Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday the Paschal Triduum, the three days of remembering the gift of the Lamb. Come and celebrate the Sacrifice of the Lamb, this week. Celebrate the Paschal Sacrifice.
Join your parish on Holy Thursday evening as we offer the sacrifice of the Lord in Bread and
Wine. Join us as we renew our determination to be a Eucharistic People, a people who wash the feet of others. Join your parish on Good Friday and remember the death that makes life possible. Come and realize that the Love of God is infinitely more powerful than anything that evil, or the world, can do to us. Join your parish on Easter Sunday and celebrate with joy the Victory of Jesus Christ.
Fr. John Kavcak, MSC