PASTORAL
LETTER
(To
be read at all Masses on the 5th
Sunday of Lent, 16th/17th
March)
CELEBRATI0N
HOLY WEEK
My
Dear People,
The
first Gospel
for the season of Lent opens with these words: “Filled with the
Holy Spirit Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through
the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days”.
These words are a powerful reminder that Lent is a journey in which
the Spirit guides us and we are asked to be open to the promptings of
the Spirit. The purpose of this Lenten journey is to prepare our
hearts and minds to celebrate the life-giving events of Holy Week.
The
last Gospel
for the season of Lent ends with these words:
“The Jewish Passover drew near, and many of the people who had gone
up to Jerusalem to purify themselves looked out for Jesus, saying to
one another as they stood about in the Temple, ‘What do you think?
Will he come to the festival or not?” One thing will be certain –
Jesus will be there. What about you?
Holy
Week isn’t like an anniversary or re-enactment. In the liturgy the
once and for all Saving events of our redemption and especially the
death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated and in the power of
the Spirit are made present in every time and place. But, we
ourselves have to be open to this.
The
‘Great Week’ begins with PALM
SUNDAY.
Jesus comes in humility, on a donkey – and so the procession with
palms followed by the reading of the Passion.
On
Wednesday evening we have the MASS
OF CHRISM
in the Cathedral. The presence of Jesus is now highlighted under the
form of Oil to be blessed and used for the sacraments in the coming
year. On this day the Lord ordained His first priests and so, at
this service, all the clergy renew their commitment. It is a most
moving ceremony and I warmly invite you to join us.
HOLY
THURSDAY begins
the three days when Jesus journeys through suffering and death into
the life of the Resurrection. We recall the institution and real
presence of Jesus in the Eucharist as we celebrate the Mass of the
Lord’s Supper. It is also an evening of prayer when we spend time
in the presence of the Lord so that we may accompany him in his
journey.
On
GOOD
FRIDAY
Jesus appears as the ‘suffering servant’ portrayed by Isaiah.
This
liturgy is also a reminder that the Cross, although apparently an
image of defeat, is actually a sign of victory – God’s selfless
love triumphs over human sin and selfishness.
The
EASTER VIGIL
is the high point and the very heart of our celebration. We
celebrate Jesus risen and glorious. The liturgy begins with a
festival centred around light, word, water and culminates in the
celebration of the Eucharist. We renew our baptismal promises
whereby we commit ourselves to ‘pass over’ from sin to a new life
in Christ. The joy of Easter night has been heightened by the fact
that over 300 people around the diocese will be baptised or received
into full Communion. The joy of this most holy night flows into
Easter Sunday – known as the ‘Great Day’ or the ‘Great
Easter’.
We
commemorate all these events not merely that we might remember them,
but by being present to the reality of Jesus’ death and
resurrection. He indeed will be at the Festival What about you?
+Thomas
McMahon
Bishop
of Brentwood
