We hold parades for many reasons. There are Homecoming parades to welcome the team and prepare for a big game. There are the holiday parades to celebrate the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, or the start of the Christmas shopping season. Sometimes parades honor special people, like war heroes, astronauts or sports figures. There is something exciting about people coming together and marching in the same direction toward a common destination. A parade reminds us of our solidarity.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time he arranged small parade in his own honor. Luke makes it clear that Jesus was the one who had made all the preparations. “Go into the village... and you will find a colt... bring it here.” His disciples did just as he told them. They were to find a colt, an animal upon which no one else had ridden. They laid their cloaks over the animal and Jesus mounted his steed. He entered Jerusalem not as the conquering hero on a mighty war horse, but as the humble teacher who came in peace.
On that first day of the week there was plenty of traffic heading into the city. Pilgrims arriving for the Passover preparations joined along the way, and of course there were children. They always loved to be with the Lord. They began to sing and to cry out praises to God. What a strange sight it must have been as the multitude entered the holy city. By this time there was a crowd cutting palm branches and placing them along the way. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Not everyone enjoys a parade. In this case the authorities were not amused. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to rebuke his disciples and quiet the children. Jesus told them, “If they keep silent, the stones will cry out!” Fools and children were the only ones to recognize the Messiah when he came! Are things any different now?
This Sunday we enter Holy Week and the days of the Paschal Triduum. Lent ends on Holy Thursday night as the church celebrates the Mass of the Lord's Supper. On the night before he died Jesus gave us an example of unselfish love when he washed the feet of his disciples. His command of loving service prepares us to celebrate the gift of his Body and Blood in the Eucharist. The celebration ends with a time of peace, prayer and vigil. Our Catholic community here in Chicago Heights will continue our tradition of pilgrimage to the local churches in honor of the Lord's vigil in the garden.
The celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday calls us to witness the mystery of God's love for us. We venerate the cross on which hung the savior of the world. We reverently receive the Body and Blood of Christ, the promise of a heavenly banquet.
Holy Saturday night we celebrate the Easter Vigil. On this holy night we bless the new fire and light the paschal candle, the symbol of the Risen Christ with us. In the liturgy of the Word we hear the story of our salvation, the history of God's people - our ancestors in the faith. Our candidates come forward for full acceptance into the church. In them we have an opportunity to die and rise again with Christ who saves us. We witness the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. We joyfully celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with our newest members in full communion with the Body of Christ throughout the world.
Please don’t miss these powerful expressions of our faith.