From the Desk of Father Nathan

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people who are all close to my heart! Prayers and blessings to you.

Passion or Holy Week

Holy Week is also called “Passion Week” begins on Palm Sunday and continues to Easter Sunday. Holy Week provided an opportunity for all the faithful to reflect on their personal sinfulness and their need for Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf.

These historic events are commemorated each year during Holy Week. As the official beginning of Holy Week, Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’s “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12) sitting on the back of a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is called the first day of Holy Week because it commemorates how Jesus’s followers strewed His path with palm branches (Matthew21:8, Mark 11:8, John 12:13.) Therefore Palm Sunday rituals remind Christians that, while there may be many political leaders during their lifetimes, the true Christian allows Christ to be the King of their lives, the one who must rule every aspect of their mortal existence.

Maundy Thursday

The fifth day of Holy Week is known as Maundy Thursday from the Latin term for “command”, “commandment” or “mandate”. He said to his disciples,

“A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, as I have loved you.”

He gave us this commandment of love. So on Holy Thursday – we commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. It is when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion.

This all occurred prior to the events of His arrest and crucifixion. It also commemorates His institution of the priesthood.

Good Friday

The sixth day of Holy Week has the most unexpected of names “Good Friday”. This day commemorates the incomprehensibly violent death of Jesus.

On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. Each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won redemption. In the solemn ceremonies of Good Friday, in the Adoration of the Cross, in the chanting of the “Reproaches”, the reading of the Passion, in the receiving of the pre-consecrated Host, we unite with our Savior, and we contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord.

Easter Sunday

“Easter” – Easter Sunday, is the greatest celebration of and in the Catholic Church because it is the completion of the Holy Week which ends with the resurrection of Jesus.

Easter celebrated the beginning and the foundation of Christianity. Jesus was raised from the dead, and it goes to show that He conquered sin and death.

Easter is not only the greatest Christian feast, Easter Sunday symbolizes the fulfillment of our faith as Christians.

Through His Death, Christ destroyed our bondage to sin, through His Resurrection, He bought us the promise of new life, both in Heaven and on earth.

His own prayer “Thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven” begins to be fulfilled on Easter Sunday.

May you have wonderful and meaningful celebrations during the Holy Week.

Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,

With love and blessings,

—Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan