Palm Sunday Still the 2nd Sunday in Passiontide - But Without the Palms

Building on last Sunday's post about Passiontide, it makes sense to remind ourselves that it's 2nd Sunday of Passiontide (at least that's the case in the traditional calendar). Of course, most of us will refer to today as "Palm Sunday." Nothing wrong with that. It's just that there won't be any palms.

No palms? Well, it depends on where you live. Some parishes may distribute these. Others will consider that old tradition as somehow "dangerous," a potential spreader of the dreaded COVID virus.

Thus continues our C-Virus Mess, as we've called it. At least we have Mass here, as opposed to last year when churches were closed. (Then again, maybe churches remain closed where you live, or have been recently closed yet again.) So we can go to Mass, dutifully masked and carefully distanced. It's something.

What about Holy Week. Before today, our parish - never mind the Archdiocese - has communicated little about planned liturgies. That's been the case since this whole Mess began. Our shepherds' "Conspiracy of Silence" has been one of the constants since everything fell apart last year. 

Then again, I doubt I'll attend either of Holy Thursday or Good Friday's liturgies even if they're offered. Frankly, being in a closed space wearing a mask for the hour and a half these liturgies typically take is a bit much. Sunday Mass pretty much marks my mask limit. Breathing my own CO2 can't be all that healthy; plus, I typically feel like I need real air to breathe after a half hour or so.

But let's put all the stuff the Mess has brought behind us. Instead, we can recall saner times and do our best to emulate what's important about Holy Week observances despite the dysfunction we've been living with for so long.

So a few reminders to re-set our hearts and minds:

Even if we don't or can't attend the Liturgies, we can - indeed we must - turn our hearts and minds towards Our Savior. Recall that those days leading up to the glory of Easter He did what He had to do to assure the possibility of eternal happiness for each of us. And, of course, the what-He-had-to-do was to suffer and die on the Cross in the most horrendous manner imaginable. 

We've mentioned it before, but if you've never read bout what that suffering was like, read what's been researched and written about crucifixion. Even better, search for and read what's been written specifically about Our Lord's torture and death, including the sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, the scourging, the crowning with thorns, carrying of the cross - all of it.

Notice we're not providing links to any of this. Frankly, it's important enough - if you've never been exposed to it - for you to take the initiative. And it's not all that hard to use a search engine and find plenty of sources that will provide you with the stunning and overwhelming descriptions of the the Passion of the Christ (which, of course, is a movie famously created by Mel Gibson a while back which, by itself, will give you a deeper understanding of Jesus' suffering and death).

Immersing your self in the Passion and Death of Our Lord and Savior will provide enough during this Holy Week to last a lifetime - although you may want to return from time to time to not only refresh your understanding, but also revivify its impact on your mind and heart and soul.

Now, the purpose of all this isn't to minimize the loss of, or a decision not to attend, Holy Week Liturgies due to the dysfunction our current Mess has created. It's simply to help us not to become subject what which remains beyond our control. We don't want to be bereft of the opportunity to walk behind Our Lord as He journeys to Jerusalem on the donkey, the crowds' adoring calls and shouts ringing in our ears. Even without attending the special Liturgies created to help us, we can still witness His Passion with deep sorrow and compassion. And, of course, any of us can mark noontime on Good Friday and sequester ourselves in some fashion to stand beneath the Cross as Jesus' Sacred Body drains itself of its last drop of blood to His final breath, as His Soul is separated from His Body - as ours will be some day when we take our final breath.

Whether we receive palms or not today, Palm Sunday, the 2nd Sunday in Passiontide, begins Holy Week. Whether we can attend the special Holy Week Liturgies, we can keep our minds and hearts focused on and filled with Our Lord's Passion and Death. If we can do this, our current Mess will not deflect the graces of Holy Week. We will be fully prepared to sing "Alleluia!" as His Resurrection blazes forth from the tomb and shines its light on - with His grace - the eternal happiness He has made possible for each of us. 

We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee. Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.