Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. As we celebrate these final weeks of Lent we must ask ourselves, "What fears keep me from giving myself to God?" For many of us it is scary to think of surrendering ourselves into the arms of God. “What might happen?” is the secret question that pummels our thoughts. We do not yet fully believe that God is always -- yes, always -- desiring our good and our happiness. We do not yet fully realize that God will be with us as a guiding power to love and to sustain us through whatever hardships and heartaches life may bring. To surrender is to live with a mind and a heart that is open to the future and to trust that all shall be well. When we let go and when we surrender, we are most surely on the pathway to healing.
This year, the church celebrates the Annunciation one day late because the actual date, March 25, falls on a Sunday. March 25 has an interesting history. Early mathematicians calculated and thought this to be the day on which Jesus died. They believed the creation of the world started on this day as well, which made it a natural date for the first day of the New Year. Thus for several hundred years, March 25 was New Year's Day. Mary’s willingness to bear the son of God also ushered in a new year, a new era. Every “yes” does that. Celebrate Mary’s “yes” with one of your own today. Before you say an automatic “no” to your child, your spouse, your co-worker or your neighbor, take a deep breath and reconsider whether you might say “yes.”
This week begins the Regional Penance Services. The schedule is posted on the front cover of today’s bulletin and on our parish web site. Create clean hearts as we prepare to enter Holy Week.
Weather permitting, we will begin the 10:00 AM Mass on Palm Sunday on the sidewalk in from of the school building and process into the church. If you are physically able, please gather in front of the school building at 10:00 AM for the blessing of palms and procession.
Our Responsorial Psalm this weekend, "Create a clean heart in me, O Lord," urges us to ask God to purify our hearts so that we can better serve our Lord.
