APRIL 4, 2017
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS (4TH GRADE)
We already know that Lent is 40 days. But if it's 6 weeks, 6 x 7 = 42, and if we add in Ash Wednesday, and then the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, that's 46 days. What's up with that?
Lent doesn't count the Sundays. They are considered "little Easters;" reflections or reminders that every Sunday commemorates Easter Sunday. So, subtracting out 6 Sundays, we have 46 - 6 = 40!
The 6 Sunday of Lent are mostly celebrated in Violet to remind us of the need for penance: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. But the 4th Sunday is Rose to remind us to hope for Easter and to not be too extreme in our penances. Palm Sunday is red because we read the Passion on Palm Sunday. And red reminds us of the Blood of Christ shed for us.
The past three weeks we had three long Gospels to read on Sunday Mass. These Gospels all point to Baptism. Living Water, the Enlightenment we receive in Christ, and the New Life that we receive from Jesus's Resurrection.
This 5th week is called "Passion Week." The readings become more and more intense, as we get closer and closer to Holy Week. Jesus argues more
Next Sunday begins Holy Week, with Palm Sunday. There are two Gospels read: one before Mass, and one during Mass. The one before Mass is short, and is about Jesus's entry into Jerusalem. The one during Mass is the entire Passion of Jesus read from one of the three Gospels of Matthew, Mark, or Luke.
Holy Week intensifies with the Triduum, or "Three Days." Holy Thursday, the only parish Mass is in the evening. Simulating the Last Supper. There is an optional washing of the feet, which has become almost universal. Good Friday, there is no Mass. Instead we read the Passion of St. John, pray for the needs of the world, venerate the Cross (not THE Cross, but A Cross), and then receive Holy Communion. Finally, on Holy Saturday, we wait until sunset, and then celebrate Easter at the first moments of the "new day."
