The Pastor's Pen

 March 26, 2023, Fifth Sunday of Lent

Making Time Holy: In accord with the ancient understanding of the word, to make something holy is “to set it apart for God” . So then, we are always asked to set some of the good gifts that God provides apart to be dedicated to Him, and prime among these many gifts is time itself. Indeed, one day per week, the Lord’ s Day, and one week each year, Holy Week, we are asked to set apart for God who is sovereign of all time and eternity. In accord with the manner in which time was reckoned among the Jews in the days of Jesus, sunset on next Saturday evening begins the first day of the week and the seven days that will follow until sunset on April 9th comprise the one week of the year that is to be set apart as holy to God. Why? As a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving in remembrance of all that Jesus as God’s only son would endure to accomplish our eternal salvation. So to make that one week truly holy, we must use it’s time not primarily for ourselves or for business as usual, but rather as dedicated to God by participation in prayer, both communal and private, ,as well as fasting, meditation, and scripture reading. These activities are in keeping with the sacred character of the week and most appropriate as preparation for its culmination in the three holiest days of the year which we call the Sacred Triduum. This annual Paschal Triduum from Holy Thursday evening to Easter Sunday evening is the solemn annual commemoration of the Passover of the Lord who through suffering, death and resurrection has won victory over death. This victory will also be shared with those who incorporate themselves into Christ by baptism and remain a part of him through faith and participation in the sacraments he has provided for that purpose, most especially the repeatable sacraments of penance and the Eucharist. So this is the cause of our thanksgiving, yes, that Christ has died and risen, but that we have also been given the means by which we may die and rise in union with Christ. In light of the good news of a promised victory over death and the price paid by Christ to accomplish it, where else should we be during Holy Week but united with one another in praise and thanksgiving to God?. So let us plan now to do all we can do this coming week to complete our “ to do” lists so that the following week can truly be set apart to prayerfully and gratefully remember the events of our redemption through Christ’s saving passion, death and resurrection as celebrated in the liturgies of Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum.

Almsgiving: The money we have saved during Lent by denying ourselves indulgences in meals out, or attendance at sports events, or other costly entertainments and treats is to be gathered and given to the collection taken up on Holy Thursday during the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper as Lent officially ends and the Paschal Triduum begins. The charities to benefit from this collection are the Matthew 25 Fund, the Village of El Tablon in Guatemala, and Catholic Relief Services.

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion: Holy Week begins next weekend with the traditional blessing and distribution of palms at all Masses as we remember Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, and then listen to St Matthew’s account of The Passion. As new palms are blessed and received, old ones should be disposed of in a manner proper to blessed objects, which is only by burial or burning. Each year a new fire is kindled and blessed at the Vigil of Easter, which is certainly one very appropriate way to dispose of dried palms. A basket will be available at the entrances of the church during this coming week through next Sunday to receive old palms which will then be burned in our new Easter fire.

Stations and a Simple Supper; Friday, March 31st: Stations will be prayed in the main church at 5PM and will be followed by a simple meatless supper of soup, salad and Jell-o for which a free will offering will be accepted both to cover the cost of food and an additional amount given as alms for the poor. This provides a fitting final opportunity to join together to pray, fast, and give alms embracing all the disciplines of Lent in solidarity as a community before this penitential season soon comes to an end.

Boys Echo: Candidates are being invited to experience this well-known and respected youth retreat program here on Cape Cod. All young men of the parish of high school age who have been confirmed are encouraged to participate. The boy’s ECHO under the guidance of David Ryan of Christ the King parish will begin on this Friday evening, March 31st, at 5:30 at the Craigville Conference Center and the closing will be held on Sunday, April 2nd at 1PM at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville. Further information is found on the ECHO of Cape Cod Facebook and Web Pages; the cost of the program is $175 and will be covered by the parish for any of our members who wish to attend.
Taizé Prayer Service: On Palm Sunday Evening, April2nd, at 7PM at St. John Neumann Church in Freetown there will be a prayer service using the meditative music of the Ecumenical Community in Taizé, France. The spirituality of the Taizé Community has become known around the world through their use of simple chant like melodies and biblically based lyrics (e.g., Jesus, Remember Me, When You Come Into Your Kingdom). This is sure to a very inspirational way to begin Holy Week for all who participate.