Preparing for Holy Week

Last Friday of Lent. How quickly time flies. Holy Week is upon us. Hope you spent this Lent meaningfully.

The Jewish Passover coincides with our Good Friday this year. It actually begins on the evening (sunset) of April 8th and goes on for 8 days ending on April 16th. Something for us especially here to reflect on this Jewish background when we celebrate the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday.

My shoulder still hurts very much and causing many sleepless nights. Compound that with the terrible cold in the nights, and you have the perfect ingredients for Holy Week here in Jerusalem. I wonder how the Christians in Gaza will be celebrating Easter. I know for sure the children in Musky, Cairo will have a full, warm meal at least for Easter Sunday as Fr Vincenzo and his community will do a big cook-out for the poor living around the monastery.

Try and join in your parish liturgy this Holy Week. Pay attention to the readings and see the symbols and gestures that try to bring out the indescribable message of suffering, death and resurrection of Christ.