Beloved Parishioners,

The Paschal Mystery reveals how Christ’s suffering and resurrection reconcile humanity to God. By His death, He destroys sin and death; by His resurrection, He restores life and offers eternal hope (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 654). Historically, the Paschal Mystery connects Old Testament events with their fulfillment in Christ.

For instance, the Passover sacrifice in Exodus foreshadows Jesus’ role as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

It is for the sake of our active participation in the Paschal mystery of Christ that the liturgical calendar is sequentially arranged to help immerse us in the liturgical events reenacting this salutary event. Hence in the liturgical calendar, we have seasons like Lent which prepare us through penance, charity, and abstinence for Easter’s celebration and the climax of the Lenten season is the Holy Week. The Holy Week is the most sacred period in the liturgical calendar, commemorating the final days of Jesus Christ’s earthly life, His Passion, death, and resurrection. The liturgical observances surrounding Holy Week evolved to commemorate these events as pivotal moments in our salvation history such that its solemnity disposes and immerses our hearts into the mystery of salvation history.

During the Holy Week, we reenact through the liturgy, the pivotal moments in Christ’s Paschal Mystery beginning with Palm Sunday when we recall Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with palm processions, reflecting His fulfillment of prophecy and foreshadowing His Passion. During the Sacred Triduum beginning with Holy Thursday, we revivify the Last Supper through Eucharistic celebrations and the washing of feet which symbolize service and love; the solemn service of Good Friday brings us to focus on Christ’s suffering and death. Through prayerful participation in the Stations of the Cross, we meditate on His journey to Calvary; on Holy Saturday night, the Easter Vigil, we mark a transition from mourning to joy. This glorious night features readings that recount salvation history from creation to resurrection, culminating in the proclamation of Christ’s victory over death.

Some tasks behoove us which are: since the Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 14), I invite us to follow up all the events that will feature in our parish program during the course of the Holy Week with attention, and devotion and utmost sense of solemnity. Since we have ardently prepared during Lent for this moment, I challenge us to try as much as possible to immerse ourselves completely in the mystery of Christ’s Passion and allow nothing to distract us. Always remember that our disposition during the Liturgy counts a lot in determining the extent to which God’s grace will perfect its work in us.

Second, the Paschal Mystery ushers us into our salvation history by offering a path from sin to freedom in Christ. Through its celebration, we are called to die to sin and rise to new life with Christ (Romans 6:4). We should ensure that during this period we avail ourselves of sacramental confession to adequately prepare our hearts for Easter. Because it is expressly the sacraments—especially the Eucharist—that serve as tangible means by which this mystery is communicated to us.

More so, in order to unfold fruitfully the meaning of the Paschal Mystery, let us not forget that the reason for Christ’s death on the cross is love and that love we must show to our ourselves, our neighbors, family members and fellow parishioners. Paul reminds us to always put on the attitude and mindset of Christ in our relationships with one another who never thought himself superior but remained humble even unto death (Phil. 2:5-11).

In essence, we ought to bear in mind always that the Paschal Mystery is not merely a liturgical outing in the Church, but an experiential and mystical source of grace. If we participate fully with our hearts and mind, the events commemorating the Paschal Mystery of Christ will transform our lives by drawing us into deeper communion with God’s saving plan. It is in this regard that I encourage everyone of you to endeavor to participate actively in this year’s Holy Week liturgy. It is important and it helps us understand very well the mystery we celebrate as Catholics.

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