APRIL 15  Monday of Holy Week

Is 42:1-7/Jn 12:1-11 (257) Pss II

16 Tuesday of Holy Week

Is 49:1-6/Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 (258)

17 Wednesday of Holy Week

Is 50:4-9a/Mt 26:14-25 (259)

18 Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday)

Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9/Rv 1:5-8/Lk 4:16-21 (260)

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14/1 Cor 11:23-26/Jn 13:1-15 (39) Pss Prop

19 Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday)

Is 52:13—53:12/Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9/Jn 18:1—19:42 (40) Pss Prop

20  Holy Saturday

Vigil: Gn 1:1—2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a/Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18/

Ex 14:15—15:1/Is 54:5-14/Is 55:1-11/Bar 3:9-15, 32—4:4/Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28/ Rom 6:3-11/Lk 24:1-12 (41)

21 EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

Solemnity

Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8/Jn 20:1-9 (42) or Lk 24:1-12 (41) or, at an afternoon or evening Mass, Lk 24:13-35 (46) Pss Prop

Most of us are home, no place to go. Why not celebrate Holy Week? There are no church services, but we have the church readings each day. How about celebrating Holy Week looking at them? .

The gospel readings for Holy Week are mostly from the Gospel of John, the gospel least like Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of the Christ.” We may want to know exactly what happened to Jesus on the days of Holy Week, but the evangelists, who knew the basic facts, wanted to know more. What was behind it all? Why did Jesus, the Son of God, suffer and die. They turned to the Jewish scriptures, the Old Testament, because that was how Jesus explained what happened after he rose from the dead.

On Monday we’re in Bethany. where Martha, Mary and Lazarus who was raised from the dead.

Tuesday and Wednesday, his betrayal by Judas is recalled but, as our readings indicate, all his disciples abandon him. 

On Thursday, Jesus brings his disciples to the table and as a servant washes their feet. We continue reading from this part of John’s Gospel, which explores the mystery of our union with Jesus Christ, throughout the Easter season.  Our second reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, recalls that on this night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and wine and gave them to his disciples as his body and blood. The Eucharist is an enduring gift by which Jesus remains with his church.

The Good Friday readings from Isaiah tell of the Suffering Servant who gives his life for others, and Psalm 22 which recalls his suffering. Jesus is our High Priest in Jesus who always intercedes for us, the Epistle to the Hebrews says. The Gospel of John sees Jesus as a King who conquers as he suffers and dies. For a commentary on the Passion Narrative of John by Fr. Donald Senior, see here.

On Holy Saturday evening parts of the scripture are read, from Genesis on, that speak of Jesus and his mission to save us. On Easter the various gospels, beginning with John announce his resurrection. He has risen! And the waters of baptism are honored as a sign that we shall rise too.