What's Most Important?

Holy Week begins today with the observance of Palm Sunday and continues until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper this Thursday, April 2. The Mass of the Lord’s Supper begins the Sacred Triduum, a seventy-two hour period when the Church’s liturgy invites us to be with the Lord from the observance of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, through our remembrance of the Lord’s passion and death on Good Friday, culminating with our celebration of his resurrection at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening and at the Easter Sunday Masses. The Sacred Triduum is the most important event of the Church year, even more important than Christmas. It makes present the Lord’s saving work on our behalf. For us who believe, nothing more important has ever happened.

I hope we all make an effort to participate in the Triduum liturgy. Our participation underscores our appreciation of all God has done for us in and through his Son, Jesus Christ, who suffered and died and then rose from the dead for our salvation.

Do we not make time for those things we value most? Some of us would never miss our favorite television show, our daily workout, or a game if our favorite sports team is playing. For example, I am sure many of us were among the scores of fans watching Michigan State’s victory over Oklahoma this past Friday night even though the game started so late not finishing until early Saturday morning. I am likewise sure that as many or more of us will be watching MSU’s game against Louisville this afternoon as the Spartans compete to be back in the final four of the NCAA basketball tournament.

Surely there is nothing wrong with watching television, taking care of our health, or getting excited about our favorite team. On the other hand, would we not agree that what Jesus accomplished for us through his passion, death and resurrection is ultimately of far greater significance?

The liturgies of Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum are not just about remembering past events. Rather, they are intended to move us to internalize and make personal the salvation the Lord Jesus has accomplished for us. Through the liturgy timeless events of our faith are made present and move us to a deeper appreciation of all God has done for us in Christ Jesus.

As we join Christians around the world in entering the holiest and most significant week of the Church year, let us with whole heart, soul, mind and strength walk with the Lord and make personal the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection. Of all the things we make time for, none can match the importance of what God has done for us in Christ.

In Mark’s passion account we find Jesus in the midst of terrible agony as he anticipates his passion and death. Remember how he finds his disciples? Asleep! Jesus says to them: “Could you not keep watch for one hour?” There is both sadness and frustration in his voice as he observes his disciples, inattentive and asleep, at such a critical moment in his life and theirs.

Let us not sleep through holy week. Let us be awake, attentive and alert to the importance of the events we recall and make present. They are so central to who we are and what we believe. May our participation in these saving mysteries reflect the profound appreciation we have for all God has done for us in his Son, Jesus Christ.

Fr. John P. Klein, Pastor