Holy Week

Laura and Anna's spring break begins on Good Friday (well, Anna's does) and then we'll probably be digging in to rest - just enjoying our break rather than doing any extensive traveling. Maybe some gardening, some yard work, some light schooling.

Laura is being received into the Catholic Church on Easter Vigil; I will be confirmed. Laura and Sophie both had their first Reconciliation this past Saturday. We have practices to attend on top of the already busy, but blessed, Holy Triduum liturgies.

For the most part, I'm taking this week off from school so the kids can begin to view the liturgical calendar as the structure of their lives rather than something added on to it, or worked around it. Most families cannot do so because of their work and school commitments; therefore, my children's ability to more fully participate in the life of the Church during this time is a special blessing and privilege for them, even though they don't understand it at this age.

It would be nice to have family and friends around us during this time, but I know that's not the reality right now. It's a joyful time for us, certainly. But we are all so very tired also.

Do Not Be Afraid

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people, and hallelujah is our song."

My meditation this week is from Pope John Paul II. And I will not be changing it for a few days. My reasons are (1) the season we find ourselves in, and (2) the poetry of the meditation has gotten into my very soul. And I want to keep it there.

But I would like to begin to explore it.

Today is Palm/Passion Sunday. It begins Holy Week. And this week is the apex of the Church calendar, within it is the totality of our being. As Fr Stephen Freeman says: All is Pascha.

John Paul the Great often said, "Do not be afraid." And these words are the exposition and rising action of our lives, our two-act plays. O! The comfort these words bring. And they lead to the blessed climax and denouement: We are the Easter people. All is Pascha.

Our lives turn upon this week. They climax in the Triduum and resolve with a shout. And after, we live in the New Day, the day without an end - we live in Pascha.

So there is nothing to fear.

But, even still, I do.

I fear failure. I fear being dismissed and rejected. I fear the darkness within and without. I fear having to die that Christ might live in me. I fear that others will discover that I am a fraud. A hack. A poser. A sinner.

What is it you fear?

Do not be afraid. Do not abandon yourselves to despair.

We are the Community of Pardon. Our gospel is reconciliation. It is peace. We, each one of us, entered the kingdom through pardon. And each one of us remains in it by that same mercy so freely given.

We are loved. Therefore, brothers and sisters, do not abandon yourselves to despair.