He was teaching his disciples in this vein: “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men who will put him to death; three days after his death he will rise.”

 

Mark 9:31

 

 

Dear Community of Saint Joseph’s;

 

In our desire to celebrate the goodness of our lives each day we find that there are challenges and obstacles to be overcome.  There are confrontations with the evil of poverty, disease and greed that devastate us.  This has been a particularly arduous year.  Everywhere we turn we are informed of new levels of economic woe: family members losing work, houses foreclosed, banks in danger.  This is depressing and has the power to drive out our hope.  My wish is that when we come to Saint Joseph’s on Sunday we are refreshed and renewed by our faith and our celebrations.

 

Beginning this Passion Sunday, the Church enters into Holy Week and the greatest rituals of the entire year.  On Holy Thursday we begin the Triduum – three days of immense and powerful prayer.  The Triduum continues in venerating the cross of suffering on Good Friday and around a new fire in the night of the Easter Vigil.  This one celebration, which occurs on three separate days, remembers the vast moments in the life of Jesus.  Moments in which he washed the feet of his disciples and instituted ordinary bread and wine into the Eucharist.  Moments in which he was betrayed and destroyed and the glorious moment in which he rises from the dead!

 

In considering the biblical stories of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection it occurs to me that he is always raising us up.  Whenever Jesus interacts with people in the Gospels, he is consistently bringing enlightenment, healing and infinite possibility.  No matter how broken, despairing or cynical the encounter, Jesus is always attempting to raise up the body, mind and spirit.  I invite you to put aside all your most pressing responsibilities and join us as we reflect, remember, sing, wash, pray and rise on these three holy days.  These extraordinary celebrations and the readings, rituals and people within them, will change your life.  Holy Week has the power to lift us above and beyond the challenge of this time and raise us up to a new awareness of the God who lives amongst us and who is always offering us the opportunity to leave behind the anxieties of this life and to Rise~

 

 

 

 

 

Father Matt Pennington

Pastor