April 14: Holy Week / Semana Santa
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On Sunday, we began the best week in the whole liturgical year. Centuries ago it was called the “Great Week.” Now we call it “Holy Week.” It is a week which allows us to follow Jesus every step of the way.
We started with His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. There He was greeted by a big crowd of followers; they welcomed, applauded, and acclaimed Him.
On Thursday we will join Him at table and receive the gift of Himself in bread and wine. After dining with Him, we will walk with Him along the path that leads to the Garden of Olives. There we will see Him falling to the ground in fear and anxiety ... for a cruel death awaits Him.
Friday will find us standing beside His mother at the foot of the Cross. Will we feel compassion for Him in both His physical agony and His mental torment? Can we heed His call to stay awake this week and ponder both what He is doing for us and who He is calling us to be?
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Ponder throughout this week what it means to follow Jesus every step of the way?
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La Semana Santa es para nosotros el tiempo en que meditamos sobre la muerte salvadora de nuestro Señor. Los días de su sufrimiento se acercan.
El profeta Isaías (4, 1-7) nos ofrece el primero de sus famosos “cánticos” sobre el Siervo de Dios. La liturgia de la Semana Santa caracteriza a Jesús como el Siervo de Dios. Este primer cántico habla, quizás directamente, sobre la actitud y la misión del pueblo de Dios, pero encontramos esas actitudes plenamente ejemplificadas en Jesús, el perfecto Siervo de Dios y siervo del pueblo.
Isaías se nos muestra cómo el Siervo de Dios vino a servir a los pobres y a los que sufren, trayéndoles justicia, libertad, y luz en la oscuridad para todos. Él será la Alianza viviente para nosotros, el pueblo, uniéndonos con Dios y los unos con los otros. Todo esto lo hizo por nosotros por medio de su muerte salvadora.
Sabemos que en estos días de Semana Santa, Jesús el Señor nos conducirá de la muerte a la vida, aun a costa de sacrificio. Que el Señor nos dé valor para ello.