My dear Parishioners,

The liturgical year makes us, Roman Catholics, creatures of ritual and habit. Its ebb and flow make us aware that Christ’s earthly ministry occurred in real time, in real life. Advent points to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, whereas Lent commemorates His death. Of course, Ordinary Time rests in between and around those two great seasons recalling the everyday of the human condition. Two weeks ago, the clergy wore the rose vestments appropriate for Laetare Sunday, signifying how much nearer all of us are to the joy of the Empty Tomb. Now we turn our faces to the solemn observances of Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter.

Now allow me to address our upcoming ceremonies. At the heart of both Palm Sunday and Good Friday is the Passion Narrative. It’s reenactment year after year reminds us of the central tenet of our Catholic Christian faith: the eternal Son once suffered upon the Cross for sinners’ sake. The Savior of the world was nailed to its beams. He endured ridicule, scorn, pain, the price of our redemption. From Jesus’ side gushed forth blood and water, the absolute outpouring of divine love and mercy. As Catholic Christians, the one sacrifice of Calvary not only informs our daily living, but also our worship. What occurs at each and every Holy Mass is best conveyed by the Cross’ horizontal and vertical beams. The former, plunged into the rock of Calvary, is the encounter with the divine, the meeting of heaven and earth; whereas the latter, on which Christ’s arms were outstretched, is the encounter of humanity. Christ’s body, on that same Cross, is the meeting of those two realities. At Mass, whether here at St. Clare or any other parish, the faithful gather to offer up praise and worship to Almighty God. And they---we---do so, by participating in the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s sacrifice is not offered again, as there’s one sacrifice (Heb. 10: 12), but rather it is brought forward in time. Whenever a priest utters “this is My Body,” and “this is My Blood” he is not only changing the elements of bread and wine, but he also calls us back to the mysteries of our salvation. While, the intervening centuries separate us from the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, they are made present to us once again in the Mass; it is for this reason that a crucifix is situated on the main altar of our church.

Though Holy Mass ends with the recessional hymn, worship flows into our daily lives, perfect union with Christ the Lord is the ultimate goal, how do we make Him manifest in the world? The Cross, whether in the Church or in the world, teaches us about sacrifice. Do we, like Our Lord, will the good of others? And in doing so, would we go as far as to lay down our own goods, may they be comfort, success, well-being, and, dare I suggest, life? (Jn 15: 13) For anything less is not love in its fullest, Christian sense.

As it is the Cross, my brothers and sisters, that gives way to the greatest sign of love, the Resurrection.

Yours In Christ,
Fr. Daniel O. Kingsley, Pastor