We are entering the Fifth Sunday of Lent, already prepared by prayer, fasting and penance. We have prepared our hearts to glorify the Son of Man as described to us by the evangelist John (Jn 12: 20-30), "We would like to see Jesus" (Jn 12:21). Many of us would like to see Jesus, but we are blind; our sight is set on our needs, our problems and situations that do not let us see Him. We do not realize that He has been at our side, but we do not see Him because the mountain of problems and situations is so high that we cannot see Him.
Do not tell God how big the problem is; instead tell the problem how big God is.
On Palm Sunday we remember the triumphal entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem. For Christians, this represents the joy of the Savior; and for Jesus, it represents the entrance to sacrifice, to surrender, to his Passion to redeem our sins. The moment prepared by God is near.
We are entering what is called the High Week, Holy Week, where we start the Pascal Triduum that leads us down the path that Jesus trod to save us — from the Last Supper on Holy Thursday that represents the institution of the Eucharist to his triumphal resurrection.
On this week we go next to Jesus with full hearts and there on Calvary we surrender everything to be liberated. Jesus surrendered his body, soul, and divinity for each one of us in order for us to have life, and to have it abundantly. And in each celebration of the Eucharist we remember His love and mercy.
Good Friday represents a day of spiritual retreat, we recall the last seven words of Jesus despondent, sore, tired, but with His sight set on God. At three in the afternoon, the hour of His death, we meditate in silence on His death when Jesus gave all and when blood and water flowed from Him as a spring of mercy for our salvation.
On Saturday we wait in contemplation and yearning for His glorious resurrection that conquered death and also all the sins of the world, there on the Cross where all suffering and pain are over and where the Word of God and His new Covenant are fulfilled.
On Easter Sunday, "Jesus is ALIVE," "Alleluia," He conquered death, as the evangelist John describes (Jn 20:1-9), they found that the tomb was empty; He resurrected from the death, what a joy! We joyfully celebrate that we have been saved.
On the second Sunday of Easter we celebrate the day of "His Divine Mercy". The Gospel of John (Jn 20;19-31) presents Jesus showing himself in body to His disciples who are frightened and said, "peace be with you", letting them see and feel his infinite mercy, He really let us know that we will be able to see Him and to say, "My Lord, my God."
May the divine Mercy touch each heart during this time and may all feel His infinite mercy, so that we can look at Him and say, "Merciful Lord, I trust in you."
May God bless you in Jesus Christ.
Roche leads the young-adult ministry at Holy Apostles Church.
