Lights, camera, action
A few weeks ago, the stars came out in Los Angeles to celebrate the annual award show known as The Oscars. Dressed in the finest ball gowns and the latest fashions, this was a chance for the whose-its of Hollywood to have a party. Long before this day had come, screen stars, directors, producers and all the other behind-the-scenes workers had done their thing. Casting directors had to oversee the choice of the right characters. Script writers had to get the wording just right. Who knows how many takes and retakes had been done before each and every scene was just so, or how many of them had been edited, and left on the proverbial cutting room floor?
Today, the Church celebrates Palm Sunday. We began this liturgy with the reading of Mark’s account of the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and heard tell of the crowds who gathered to line the route that Jesus and his disciples took. We too held branches and repeated the praises sung that day: Hosanna to the Son of David. Then, once the procession had ended, the tone of the liturgy changed dramatically. The joy of the entrance procession was immediately sobered by the words of the readings from scripture which speak of ears being opened to listen and lessons that must be learned; about choices made by Jesus, and about rewards granted to him because of these choices.
Like the first scenes of a good movie, today’s liturgy allows us to identify the characters who played roles in the moments of joy and suffering that marked the final days of our Saviour’s life. As this week unfolds, we will have an opportunity to hear the story again, and to appreciate it for the epic that it is. On Holy Thursday evening, we will begin the Mass of the Lord’s Supper here in this place at 7:30pm. As the sun sets on that day, we will have an opportunity to open our ears and our eyes, to listen and to witness the lessons Jesus taught about the love he had for the disciples, his closest friends, and the special meal they shared on that final night of his earthly existence. Following the completion of that liturgy, there will be time for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament until 11:00pm. Like the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, this will be an opportunity for us to keep watch with Jesus.
On Good Friday, children and teenagers will lead a reflection on the Passion and death of Our Lord here in this place beginning at 11:00am. If you can’t be here for that gathering, please join us at our Burton Street Site for the liturgy of Commemoration that will take place there at 3:00pm. This year, we have a very special opportunity to pray the Stations of the Cross here in this location on Good Friday evening beginning at 6:00pm. Parishioners from all the downtown churches will be here to lead this prayer which will conclude the liturgical observances of this day.
On Holy Saturday, the Church is silent, recalling the time spent by Our Lord in the tomb. This year, Holy Saturday is also the first day of Passover for the Jewish community. As they gather to begin the Seder meal, we too will meet on the steps outside this church at 8:30pm, just as the sun is setting, to begin the Pascal Vigil. Led by the light of a newly blessed candle into the church, we will listen to the story of our salvation. We will bless water to be used for Baptism in this church, and we will celebrate the Good News of Christ’s triumph over death. Masses will also be celebrated next Sunday at the regular times, allowing us to truly rejoice in the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise.
The cast and crew have been chosen, the script writers have completed their tasks. All that remains is for the director to give the word. Once the film starts rolling, will you come and join us? Will you even bring a few friends? Or will this beautiful epic end up on the cutting room floor?
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