This is the week! The greatest week in the Church year, when we celebrate the essential events of the story of salvation: Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, His Last Supper, His Passion, Death and Resurrection. Yes, this is the biggest week of the year---and we’re all stuck at home!

We could allow ourselves to be overwhelmed with sadness, frustrated with all these restrictions, frightened by the thought of what may happen to us or our loved ones or we can resolve to walk this week with Jesus in our homes, in our hearts and with our fellow believers.

In a way, whenever we celebrate Holy Week we are entering into a celebration that transports us to that time and place when these events first unfolded. Not that we are play acting or pretending; in liturgy we are really there, or rather the meaning and effects of what happened, once in human history, are made present to us today. What Jesus accomplished once for all on the cross 2,000 years ago is applied to us here and now. In one sense, Liturgy is always a type of virtual reality; though it is so much more than that.

So, this year you might say we have to celebrate a virtual reality of the virtual reality! But it is still so much more than that. Your priests will be offering the Mass for you—bringing Christ’s sacrifice down to bless you and your needs here and now. The Masses and services of Holy Week will be broadcast and livestreamed on tv and the internet. Divine Redeemer’s website links you to Bishop Zubik’s livestreamed celebrations from St. Paul Seminary Chapel. Watch and pray and know that many others are out there joining you and doing the same. Take time yourself to pray quietly alone or with your family; read the readings for each day of the Triduum—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter—pray some of the prayers, have you own devotions to mark these holy days.

We could bemoan the fact that we can’t get together and celebrate as a Church family—or we could celebrate anyway, each in our own place, but with hearts united together.

Peace,
Father Howard