Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

Tonight, all over the world the Mother Church will lead us into the most solemn of days called HOLY TRIDUUM. Right after the Holy Thursday Mass, the Mass servers will intone the bells ushering us into silent meditation and prayer. We will reenact the event that took place over two thousand years ago in the Garden called Gethsemane.

Whatever was unfolding wasn’t that clear to the disciples of Jesus and yet they had been told by their master and teacher to prepare for it. A request was made for an upper room dinner hall for the Master to have a table fellowship with his disciples. The dinner came with great symbolism: The master introduced himself as the bread of life meant to be broken and shared. One of the greatest examples of  that ministry of brokenness and sharing was when he reduced his status from that of divine master to a common slave who waits at table to wash visitors’ feet. The mystery of him being the broken bread meant to be shared was confusing to the disciples though they partook of it; but his change of status from a divine master to a common slave wasn’t accepted without resistance from the head-disciple Peter. In life note that no matter one’s resistance, God will always have his way. Until God’s Will prevails, St Augustine testifies that one will always have a restless heart.

By showing them the two-fold character of his priestly ministry, he instituted the Catholic priesthood that night. In a way he made it so clear that anyone who wishes to be his priest was to accept to “break his life and share it” to save many. The priest is told by Jesus to lead as a servant and not as a master. Jesus by washing his disciples’ feet told them of the inseparable union between servant leadership and the priesthood. Whenever I reflect on the action of Jesus on Holy Thursday, I remember the life and pastoral leadership of Pope Gregory the Great. He became a pope when his predecessors carried different kingly titles but he would not have any of those. He preferred to be called servus servorum Dei (the servant of the servants of God). In his famous book, the Pastoral Rule, he stated the qualification of a priest as a servant leader: “The active life of the leader ought to transcend that of the people in proportion to how the life of a shepherd outshines that of his flock. Necessarily, then, the one who is so highly regarded that the people are called his flock is bound to consider how important it is that he retain a life of righteousness. It is necessary, therefore, that he should be pure in thought, exemplary in conduct, discerning in silence, profitable in speech, a compassionate neighbour to everyone, superior to all in contemplation, a humble companion to the good, and firm in the zeal of

righteousness against the vices of sinners. He must not relax his care for the internal life while he is occupied by external matters so as to focus on things internal.”

With these wise words of Pope St. Gregory, I invite all priests into the Holy Triduum and may they continue to serve God’s people. Holy Mother Mary, pray for your sons so that they may imitate your Beloved Son Jesus Christ.

To imitate Christ, we are all called to imitate him in his death and resurrection. Good Friday Liturgy should remind one and all of our dying to sin so that on Easter Sunday we will rise with our Lord in righteousness. The beauty and sublimeness of the Easter Vigil’s Liturgy is when Christ is introduced to us as the Light. We like Christ are called to shine in this darkened world. Let us allow Christ to reign supreme in us this Triduum. Wishing you all a Holy Triduum. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PRAY FOR US.