Church of the Home for Saturday, April 9

This weekend is Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. We celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It also marks the start of Holy Week, the final days of Jesus' earthly ministry.

There is great joy and terrible sorrow associated with Palm Sunday. We begin Mass by recalling how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as people laid down their cloaks and waved palm branches shouting "Hosanna!"

However, the Gospel reading for the weekend is the Passion of Christ. We will hear the people who applauded Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem turn on Jesus and cry out, “Crucify Him.” They will go from acclaiming Him as the new King of Israel to urging His life to be traded in favor of a convicted criminal; they will first praise Him and then mock Him.

Today begins the most sacred week of the entire year. It is an emotional path to walk but at the end of the journey, we will find the ultimate treasure. Resurrection encourages you to take time this week to meditate on the Passion, make an extra sacrifice, and remove distractions in order to find quietness so you can focus on your relationship with Christ and reflect on what this week means.

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Bring Holy Week to Your Church of the Home

(from reallifeathome.com)

1. . Follow directions to fold your palms from Palm Sunday into a cross or another decorative shape.

2. Attend at least one weekday or special Mass during Holy Week.

3. Make your own set of Resurrection Eggs to help children with the story of death and resurrection of Jesus.

4. Holy Thursday’s focus on cleansing is a reason that families often used to thoroughly clean their homes right before Easter. Pick some areas of your home (or your whole home) for your family to clean during Holy Week to be fresh and ready for Easter.

5. On Holy Thursday, do a foot washing with your family. Talk about ways each family member can serve others in the way that Jesus calls us to do.

6. Make hot cross buns together with your family. Find ways to have everyone join in on making them, even if it’s just by adding in some ingredients or helping to add the icing crosses.

7. Spend time on Good Friday (particularly between noon and 3 pm) a Good Friday service, in prayer, or in reflection. Consider making it a time with no television or Internet.

8. Make these special Easter Story Cookies on Holy Saturday to enjoy on Easter. If you prefer, you can try these Empty Tomb Rolls.

Hosanna (Praise is Rising) by Paul Baloche

Please join Resurrection this week as we celebrate the Easter Triduum

This Easter we invite you to donate for memorials and thanksgivings for Easter. Fill out the form found in the bulletin or online at www.gbres.org/easter no later than April 15, 2022.

Any amount will be gratefully accepted as a donation.

Acknowledgment of the memorials will appear in a special flyer in our Easter bulletin and the following weekend bulletin.