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April 6th - Monday of Holy Week

Fr. Michael MachacekNativity of Our LordApril 6, 2020
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 For the readings of today’s mass, please go to

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040620.cfm

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As we approach the celebration of the Holy Triduum this week, beginning with the mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening and concluding with Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday, the masses of today, tomorrow and Wednesday direct our attention to what we will soon celebrate.

For example, the 1st reading for each of these days will be the first, second and third Servant Songs of the Lord which we find in the 2nd part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (the 2nd part consisting of Chapters 40-55).  The 4th Servant Song of the Lord is the famous Suffering Servant of the Lord passage (Isaiah 52:13 – 53: 12) which is the 1st reading for the Good Friday service. 

Scripture scholars generally agree that the second part of Isaiah was composed in the 6th century B.C., while the Israelites were still in exile in Babylon. In each of these songs we read a prophecy of someone who will, in the future, truly be a servant both of God but also of God’s people. 

For today, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday I urge you to carefully read, reflect and pray with each of these Servant Songs.  In each one you will quickly see how each one is fulfilled in the person of Jesus.

Today’s gospel (John 12: 1 -11) is set in the town of Bethany, which is only about 3 km away from Jerusalem, in the home of the sisters Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus had just raised from the dead.  (see John 11).

While there is much that could be said about our gospel, there is one thing that really grabbed my attention when I first read this passage last evening – the fact that the Chief Priests in Jerusalem are not only plotting again Jesus, but also against Lazarus, as Lazarus was one of the reasons so many people were coming to believe in Jesus.

The term that came to my mind immediately last evening was collateral damage.  In other words, in the conspiracy against Jesus, Lazarus would be collateral damage.  Now St. John never does tell us later in his Gospel if Lazarus was also condemned to death as Jesus was.  But I cannot help but think of the fact that over the years how many people would also be collateral damage – so many have been martyred for our Christian faith, and sadly, in some parts of the world, continue to be martyred for our faith. 

My friends, as begin our journey into Holy Week, please remember that to be a follower of Christ, to a Catholic, is not always going to be a bed of roses.  Thankfully, here in Canada we really don’t have to worry about being martryed because we believe in Jesus. However, we can still suffer small martyrdoms - like when we speak out against current laws in our country which go against our beliefs, such as euthanasia and abortion; or when those who profess no use for the Church verbally taunt us knowing that we are devoted Catholics; or when we encounter issues that come up in our workplaces that contradict what we, as people of faith, consider to be right.  And you can add your own examples.

This Holy Week, let us offer up any of the small martyrdoms we suffer to the One who was the ultimate martyr, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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On Thursday I sent out an email which that is also posted on our parish website as Update #2 for Thursday, April 2nd.  Many of you might have received this email directly or indirectly from me.  In that email I mentioned that we were planning a “drive through” confession event on the morning of Holy Saturday, April 11th. I also knew of more than a few parishes were also planning on doing the same, but late Friday, April 3rd, a memo to all parishes was sent out by the Spiritual Chancellor of the Archdiocese.  In this memo the Chancellor stated that such “drive through” events were forbidden.  The reason shared is that such gatherings on church property would be not in line with provincial guidelines restricting gatherings to 5 people or less. If you had shared the news with orthers about the drive through even, please let them know about the cancellation.

In its place, on Holy Saturday, I will be doing a Youtube presentation which will be a reflection on the events of Holy Saturday. In that reflection I will be using a 16th century Russian icon entitled “The Resurrection of Christ”. The link to this Youtube video will be posted by Courtney Strom later this week. The link to this event, and all the events of our "Virtual" Holy Week, can be found on our website in the April 4th post entitled “Virtual” Holy Week at Nativity. 

God bless all of you this day.  Fr. Michael