Saint Edmund Parish Echoes - St. Edmund Parish

Palm Sunday of the 3 Lord’s PassionHoly WeekWe seem to have domesticated the cross. It is a fixture inour churches and so the sight of it does not startle us.2,000 years ago it more than shocked the Romans andGreeks; it revolted and repelled them. They viewed thecross much as we do the hangman’s noose or the electricchair- the brutal instrument of a violent death.Paul named the paradox of the cross, “a stumbling blockto the Jews and foolishness to the gentiles. Christians seeit as the power and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor 1:10)The cross is a sign of contradiction, especially to“Conventional Wisdom”. C.W. tells us: Blessed are thewealthy for they shall be joyful. Blessed are the ruthlessfor they shall be successful. Blessed are the proud andpowerful for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are thevengeful for they shall destroy their enemies.The cross bears a different message: Blessed are the poor.Blessed are those who mourn the uncounted millions ofaborted infants. Blessed are those who weep for the swollenbellies of the hungry children of the world. Blessedare those who struggle to bring peace to vengeful peopleand justice to those who have been denied it. Blessed arethose who forgive their enemies “because they know notwhat they do.” Blessed are those who are not embarrassedby the cross and the message it bears.The cross is the sign of a love that sets no conditions andknows no limits. A symbol of death, it reminds us that joynot death, will have the final word in our lives.This paradox can be seen all through the Lenten liturgy.On the Second Sunday of Lent, the Church gave us anEaster gospel - the story of the Transfiguration. Just beforesetting out for Jerusalem and his date with death, Jesusgave his apostles a glimpse of the risen, glorifiedChrist. We will see more of this paradox on Good Fridaywhen the cantors sing: “Through the cross you broughtjoy to the world.”Lent is not a period of mourning. It is a period of joy. Theparadox of the cross is that death has been swallowed upin victory, one we will share with the risen Christ. Weproclaim this faith of our each time we make the Sign ofthe Cross.Rev. George DyerFr. Dyer is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago,a theologian and acclaimed author.hosannaHoly Week and Easter LiturgiesWe will soon be entering into one of the holiest weeks ofour year. This week cannot be business as usual, for itrequires us to be more watchful, more attentive and morealert. The Paschal Mystery is a sign of the interruptivepower of God’s grace in our lives. We are invited to journeydeeper into that mystery.Please make every effort to attend these sacred liturgicalceremonies. A list of all our services follows below:Spy Wednesday, March 277:30pm: Tenebrae: A Service of DarknessThis is a beautiful and hauntingchoral meditation on darkness andlight, death and new life.Holy Thursday, March 287:30pm: Mass of the Lord’s Supperafter mass until 12am: adoration ofBlessed Sacrament11:45pm: Night PrayerGood Friday, March 299:00am: Morning Prayer7:30pm: The Passion of our LordHoly Saturday, March 309:00am: Morning Prayer11:00am: Blessing of Easter Food, Murphy Hall7:30pm: Easter Vigil - the first Easter mass!Easter Sunday masses:The Resurrection of our Lord8:00am, 9:30am and 11:30amThere is no Easter Sunday 6:00pm liturgy.GOD BLESSPOPE FRANCISHoly Thursday and Good Friday CollectionsAlthough the envelope in your packet states, “For a SpecialCharity”, the Holy Thursday collection this year willsupport the Oak Park/River Forest Food Pantry.The Good Friday collection will be for the Holy Land.These Christians depend on this special collection fortheir daily lives.Please be as generous as your abundance allows.