How the Virus Stole Easter
By Kristi B (with a nod to Dr. Seuss) ‘Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began, Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land. People were sick, hospitals full, Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school. As winter gave way to the promise of spring, The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.
PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION (Year A)
We begin on Sunday the week that we appropriately call Holy Week, when our Lord Jesus, the Holy Son of God, comes to Jerusalem where he is first hailed as the Son of David, and the Prophet and then is tried as a criminal in a sham trial orchestrated by the Jewish leaders, only to be scourged and crucified. For the Jewish leaders of his time, it was just to get rid of a trouble maker. But, as I hope you have come to learn, this was all part of [...]
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion and Holy Week
“Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” (Mt 21:9). On Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we are called to join with our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and then suffers derision and mockery, scourging and finally crucifixion because he comes to offer a new way of life and claims to be who he truly is – the Son of God. This week is, indeed, what we Christians call it: [...]
Fifth Sunday of Lent and COVID-19 during these unusal times
The Season of Lent is given to use every year to recognize and admit how we have drifted away from God and then to turn back to him as we prepare to accompany his son through his suffering, death and Resurrection. It is a time to focus again on the eternal life God promises us rather than remain caught up in pursuing momentary pleasures here on earth. Lent always falls during spring – after all, that’s what the word “lent” means – and this is, for most of us, [...]
FIFTH SUNDAY LENT (Year A)
Welcome to my annotated commentary of Sunday’s readings. The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that the Sunday readings provide us. As we race toward Easter – Holy Week is only a week-and-a-half away – we hear all three readings speak of the dead being raised to new life. How exciting it is to live in hope of the Resurrection, especially now as we are bombarded with so much news of suffering and [...]
New Directives and Guidelines in Response to COVID-19
On Tuesday, 17 March, all parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received the following two announcements: ARCHBISHOP NELSON J. PÉREZ ANNOUNCES THE SUSPENSION OF ALL PUBLIC MASSES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA EFFECTIVE AT NOON TOMORROW Today, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced that Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez has suspended all public Masses in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia effective at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18th and until further notice. Last week, the Archbishop dispensed the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Both decisions were made in response [...]