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Home , EWTN, The Passion (TV serial)

OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD APRIL 5, 2020

So Much More! — by Dcn. Dennis Walters — he rock opera “ Christ Superstar” has been enjoying a T revival lately. First produced in 1970, it is currently touring around the world. The plot covers the last week of Jesus’ life, told from the viewpoint of , disillusioned with Jesus and his mission. Throughout the opera, the questions raised in the title song recur over and over: “Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Who are you? What have you sacrificed? Do you think you’re what they Holy Week say you are?” The storyline, particularly as it concerns the characters of PALM SUNDAY Jesus and Judas, has more in common with the 3rd-century Monday of Holy Week Gnostic “Gospel of Judas” than it does with the four canonical Tuesday of Holy Week gospels. All the characters, except only Jesus himself, are skeptical Wednesday of Holy of his claim to be the Son of God. Jesus is a self-absorbed Week showman; the eleven apostles are little more than groupies; the The Sacred Triduum Jewish authorities believe him a fake and want him out of the way; Holy Thursday and Judas kills himself feeling that God has manipulated him into Good Friday betraying Jesus. The questions asked in the play reflect a modern unwillingness to commit to the truth. According to the lyrics of the Holy Saturday song, his crucifixion is nothing more than the ultimate spectacle, The Resurrection “a record breaker.” of the Lord There’s no question that Jesus’ real contemporaries had trouble with his claims to divinity. Many people did view Jesus as VIGIL an entertainer; his miraculous healings drew large crowds, and did EASTER SUNDAY not always result in attracting serious disciples. But often they did. Within fifteen years after Jesus’ death, a major persecutor of Christians, the highly educated and ambitious Saul of Tarsus, became totally convinced that Jesus was who he said he was. And within the first thirty years, most of Paul’s letters and at least three of the four gospels had been written, churches were being formed, and the whole Roman empire was being drawn into a living and vibrant faith. — continued on p. 2

The Holy : Although we cannot gather for Mass, we can still enter into the “source & summit” of our Faith when the Sunday Mass is celebrated by Fr. Bosco and streamed on our website and Facebook page. Also, Sunday and weekday Masses can be found on EWTN (Dish 261 and Comcast 393 and at https://video.ewtn.com/daily-mass/). Barron streams Masses at www.wordonfire.org/daily-mass/ p. 2 • April 5, 2020 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord St. Mary Church, , MI

Please Pray for… THANK YOU to all who donated food items for the Easter Food Bags. • All affected • Aimee They will be given to the 10 families this coming Wed, April 8. Again, by COVID-19 Simpson thank you for your generosity. (suffering • Mary Ruth “GENESIS TO JESUS” is a Bible study series –twelve 30-min videos –for from, died of, Neely or caring for) people with a curiosity about, but never studied, the Bible. Viewers will • Ray Seghers • Barb Doyle Parish effortlessly get the big picture of what the best selling book of all time is and family • Virginia about. Right now, we all have the time to watch videos. Why not Genesis Strong • Dawn News to Jesus? Simply go to: 1drv.ms/u/s!Aku2ORF4gf9w_RV2PfkYoYpd3DyF? Gemler • Connie and e=PZaF2p If you aren’t sure this is for you, start with the 2-minute trailer. • Eddie Walz Frank Stancato • Leon Ball — Dcn. Dennis’ article continued on p. 2 • Wilma Lentz his disciples, he got plenty of that. But • Tom Burch Today’s liturgy provides two gospel Matthew sees the situation differently. He • Brian Ball • Bruce Sommers readings that juxtapose contrasting events. quotes the prophet Zechariah: “Look, your • Tom Kladzyk • Duane Beuerle In the first, Jesus enters Jerusalem, seated king comes to you. Triumphant and • Paula Saft on the colt of a donkey, in a procession of victorious is he, humble and riding on an (Need Prayer? Contact the disciples singing and waving palm branches ass, on a colt the foal of an ass.” He enters St. Mary Prayer Tree. Call the and shouting “Hosanna to the Son of Jerusalem not as a showman but as the Parish Office at 428-8811.) David.” The word “Hosanna,” used here as royal son of David. His riding on a donkey a jubilant chant, is actually a prayer recalls King David returning in triumph to While we are not able to beseeching God to “Grant [us] .” Jerusalem after Absalom’s coup attempt, attend HOLY MASS, receive The second reading, the story of Jesus’ mounted on the steed Israelite kings Holy COMMUNION, or passion according to Matthew, narrates how traditionally used, a white mule. receive sacramental God answered that prayer. In his volume Jesus of Nazareth: Holy CONFESSION, let us be To place Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in Week, Benedict XVI notes that, by his entry strong in our Faith, “drawing its immediate historical context, it occurs at into Jerusalem, “Jesus is indeed making a close to God so that He may the beginning of Passover week. from royal claim. He wants his path and his draw close to us” (Jas 4:8). all over the Roman empire were pouring action to be understood in terms of Old into the city on pilgrimage. They often Testament promises that are fulfilled in his Birthday Blessings! arrived in groups, celebrating their entry person. …His claim is based on obedience April 5… ...... Justin Walz after a long trip by chanting one or more of to the mission received from his Father.” St. …Patrick Walz the “songs of Ascent,” a group of psalms Paul emphasizes Jesus’ obedience “to the April 6… ...... Julie DeLucia for pilgrims going up to Jerusalem. Just point of death” — and he exclaims, “even April 7… ...... Timothy Cencer getting there was cause for celebration. death on a cross!” That anyone would …Caroline Lange What seems to have set Jesus’ entry apart willingly “empty himself” to undergo a April 10… .... Edward Sterling

April 11… .... Nancy Johnson from that of other groups was his riding a most agonizing and humiliating death by …Adler Line mount — most people walked — plus the being nailed to that instrument of torture excitement of his disciples laying cloaks on Paul considers astounding. St. Mary Roman the road, waving branches, and shouting To human eyes, Jesus’ “royal claim” 0 Jesus’ royal title “Son of David.” It was a ended in the tomb, leading some to ask, Steardship giddy time, but one that placed the Roman “What indeed have you sacrificed?” But in WEEKLY COLLECTION: authorities on high alert for trouble. God’s eyes, Jesus’ claim is validated by his Sunday, March 22, 2020 Writing to the Philippian church thirty resurrection. His death opens the heavenly Sunday Env (26) ...... $ 2,245.00 years later, St. Paul urges his audience to Jerusalem to all who wish to follow him Welcome&Loose ...... $ 10.00 have the attitude of “Christ Jesus, who, into that city. Therefore, “God greatly Easter decorations ...... $ 50.00 though he was in the form of God, did not exalted him and bestowed on him the name E-Giving General ...... $ 676.99 regard equality with God something to be above every other name, that at the name of Combined toward budget: $ 2,981.99 grasped.” Another possible translation of Jesus” — which means “Yahweh is Budget goal: ...... $5,300.00 Amt BELOW goal: ...... – $ 2,318.01 that verse reads, “he did not regard his salvation” — “every knee should bend” in equality with God something to be homage. Jesus Christ is no mere superstar, OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS: Catholic Relief Serv ...... $ 95.00 exploited.” A mere showman, a superstar if enjoying his three years of fame, having Black & Indian ...... $ 50.00 you will, would exploit this event for sacrificed nothing. Then and now, in heaven Poor Box ...... $ 103.00 publicity— and, judging from the response and on earth and under the earth, Jesus Votive Candles ...... $ 62.00 of the Pharisees who told Jesus to control Christ is King. Jesus Christ is Lord. h

NEED HELP? Need Help? PROJECT RACHEL NEED HELP? “COURAGE” is a Catholic NEED HELP? “AA” group (endorsed by Diocese) spiritual support group ALTERNATIVES TO ABORTION: (post-abortion reconciliation for those struggling with same sex attraction. meets Tuesdays at 7:00pm at Call (734) 994-8863 or the 24-hour and healing) Call the confidential “ENCOURAGE” is a separate support group Manchester United Methodist Hotline 800-712-HELP phone line: 517-993-0291, or email for families & friends. Call 810-231-9199 ext. Or visit arborwoman.com/abortion/ [email protected] 202 or email [email protected] Church, 501 Ann Arbor St. St. Mary Catholic Church, Manchester, MI Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord April 5, 2020 • p. 3

A letter to the people of St. Mary from our bishop: To my sisters and brothers, the , our wonderful Consecrated Men and Women, and our and Priests, “Why are you afraid?” These are tough times. As we all know, Our Holy Father Francis gave an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi tough times can either tempt us towards (to the city and the world) address and blessing on March 27, sadness and surrender or impel us towards greater fortitude occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic. His address is and faith. Let me put that in a broader context. rooted in the gospel story (Mark 4:35-41) of the disciples and Jesus in a boat when a storm begins to rage. They awaken God does no evil; he is goodness itself and thus can be Jesus, saying, “Master, do you not care that we are only a source of goodness. So, the question many may have perishing?” Listen or read it full at: is why does God allow evil to take place? Why this www.vaticannews.va/en//news/2020-03/urbi-et-orbi-pope- pandemic? Why all this isolation? Why this death? The only coronavirus-prayer-blessing.html reason that God allows evil is because he knows he can Here are a few excerpts to ponder in your heart: draw good from it. I only have to look at the Crucifix before me on my desk Jesus asked, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” to be convinced of that. The Father in Heaven allowed this The storm exposes our vulnerability and uncovers those painful and shameful death of his Son on the Cross because false and superfluous certainties around which we have he was going to draw the great good of the Resurrection from constructed our daily schedules, our projects, our habits and that death, not just for his Son but for all of us, “And the light priorities. It shows us how we have allowed to become dull shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome and feeble the very things that nourish, sustain and it,” (cf. John 1:5). strengthen our lives and our communities…We deprive And he knew that, as Jesus said, once the Son was lifted ourselves of the antibodies we need to confront adversity… up, all would be drawn to him. The very life of the Holy “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” Spirit given to us is the fruit of that death and resurrection. The Lord asks us and, in the midst of our tempest, invites So, God is allowing these evils in our time in order to draw us to reawaken…and revive our Easter faith. We have an good from them. And the greatest good is our salvation. anchor: by his cross we have been saved. We have a rudder: If these times lead us to repent of sin, to turn to prayer, to by his cross we have been redeemed. We have a hope: by invoke the Holy Spirit, to show charity toward one another, his cross we have been healed and embraced so that nothing to be good examples to our family members and neighbors, and no one can separate us from his redeeming love… to allow the faith in us to grow, to open our hearts to the hope “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” which God desires to give us, then great good will be drawn Lord, you are calling to us, calling us to faith…It is a time from these times. to get our lives back on track with regard to you, Lord, and It is then pretty clear that we must desire the same to others…Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But goodness that God desires for us in order for that goodness to you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell take root in and be fruitful in our lives. We know what God us again: “Do not be afraid” (Mt 28:5). And we, together wants to come of all of this. with Peter, “cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care Are we ready to work with God, to desire what he about us” (cf. 1 Pet 5:7)… h desires, to open our hearts and lives to the grace he is continuously pouring out upon us, and to be the daughters and sons he has called us to be? If so, then there will be great Spiritual Communion fruit from this time. Instead of a time of darkness, it will be y Jesus, I believe that You are present seen as the time in the tomb of Jesus on Holy Saturday, “M in the Most Holy Sacrament of the awaiting the bright light of Easter altar. I love You above all things, and I desire Resurrection. God bless all of you. to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at Assuring you of my prayers, I am this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least sincerely yours in Christ, spiritually into my heart ... I embrace You as if You were + Earl already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit Bishop of Lansing me to be separated from You. Amen.”

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