REFLECTION FOR PALM SUNDAY (YEAR C), Week beginning 10 APRIL 2022
Palm Sunday opens HOLY WEEK. The first half of the week is very “quiet” in terms of Liturgy. The second half opens with Holy Thursday when Mass is always in the evening only – the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
That is the 1st part of the SACRED TRIDUUM.
“Triduum” is a singular Latin noun or word – not a plural. It basically means ‘3 days’. The fact that it is singular is indeed significant. It signifies that the 3 days are to be seen as one long unbroken Liturgy.
Part 2 of the Sacred Triduum is the Service of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm on Good Friday. Part 3 is the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. The Sacred Triduum represents the holiest part of the Church’s calendar.
At “The Good Shepherd”, 2022’s timings are as follows: Triduum (Part 1) Holy Thursday (April 14th) 8pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Triduum (Part 2) Good Friday (April 15th) 3pm Service of the Lord’s Passion. Triduum (Part 3) Holy Saturday (April 16th) 8.30pm Easter Vigil.
This one Liturgy, in its 3-day parts, paves the way for the awesome Empty Tomb of Easter Sunday – the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus from the dead. Let us make every effort to remember these timings, spread across these 3 days. Let us attend on Holy Thursday evening, to offer profound thanks to Jesus for his having instituted the Holy Eucharist, the Mass and the priesthood. Let us determine to be present at the particularly poignant time of 3pm on Good Friday, acknowledging that Jesus made the ultimate self-sacrifice for our salvation and redemption. (Holy Saturday is very quiet liturgically, for Jesus lies in the tomb – so no morning Mass). The Easter Vigil at 8.30pm is the greatest ceremony of the Catholic Year. Let us endeavour to attend the Vigil, giving profound thanks to God the Father for the glory of the Resurrection of Jesus His Son.
Good Shepherd Catholic Church 