Holy Week

2023

Considerations for Prayer & Reflection

 1. Introductory Reflections
a. On Prayer
b. on our Relationships
2. The Context of Holy Week 2023
a. Emerging from the Pandemic
b. Synodality
3. Holy Week “Revisited”
 1. Introductory Reflections
a. on Prayer
b. on our Relationships
2. The Context of Holy Week 2023
a. Emerging from the Pandemic
b. Synodality
3. Holy Week “Revisited”
 Prayer
Lk 18:9-14
Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other
was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to
himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy,
dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay
tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to
heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts
himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
 PRAYER

self-righteousness & pride; narcissism

obstacles to grace

humility – as truth
allows grace to enter and flow
“grace is always available, but we must ask for it”

PRAYER
as the quality of our relationship with God
defines our identity and mission
 1. Introductory Reflections
a. On Prayer
b. on our Relationships
2. The Context of Holy Week 2023
a. Emerging from the Pandemic
b. Synodality
3. Holy Week “Revisited”
 Our Relationships
Mk 12:28-34

“One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, ‘Which is the first of all the
commandments?’ Jesus replied, ‘The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is
Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than
these.’ The scribe said to him, ‘Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and
there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your
understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth
more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ And when Jesus saw that he answered with
understanding, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’ And no
one dared to ask him any more questions.”
 OUR RELATIONSHIPS
LOVE
of God
“returning love for love"
of self
“He loved me. He gave himself up for me."
of others
“in all things to love and to serve the Lord and others"
 1. Introductory Reflections
a. On Prayer
b. on our Relationships
2. The Context of Holy Week 2023
a. Emerging from the Pandemic
b. Synodality
3. Holy Week “Revisited”
 Emerging from the Pandemic

Coming out of crisis: better or worse?

choices: see clearly, choose well, act right
DANGERS:
as if nothing happened
or
skipping a stage in the process
Emerging from the Pandemic
DANGERS:
as if nothing happened
or
skipping a stage in the process
 Emerging from the Pandemic
DANGERS: as if nothing happened
“Return to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12).
You are calling on us to seize this time of trial
as a time of choosing. It is not the time of your
judgement, but of our judgement: a time to
choose what matters and what passes away, a
time to separate what is necessary from what is
not. It is a time to get our lives back on track
27 March 2020 with regard to you, Lord, and to others.
Emerging from the Pandemic
DANGERS:
as if nothing happened
or
skipping a stage in the process
 Emerging from the Pandemic
DANGERS: skipping a stage in the process
 1. Introductory Reflections
a. On Prayer
b. on our Relationships
2. The Context of Holy Week 2023
a. Emerging from the Pandemic
b. Synodality
3. Holy Week “Revisited”
Synodality means “walking together (listening to
one another) along the same path."

It refers to the way of life with three dimensions:

communion,
participation, and
mission.
Communion
Participation
Mission
 COMMUNION
What is the source
of our union?
The Paschal Mystery

INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION

SYNODALITY IN THE LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_cti_20180302_sinodalita_en.html
First and foremost, synodality denotes the particular style that
qualifies the life and mission of the Church, expressing her
nature as the People of God journeying together and
gathering in assembly, summoned by the Lord Jesus in the
power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel. Synodality
ought to be expressed in the Church’s ordinary way of living
and working. This modus vivendi et operandi works through
the community listening to the Word and celebrating the
Eucharist, the brotherhood of communion and the co-
responsibility and participation of the whole People of God in
its life and mission, on all levels and distinguishing between
various ministries and roles.
First and foremost, synodality denotes the
particular style that qualifies the life and
mission of the Church, expressing her nature
as the People of God journeying together
and gathering in assembly, summoned by
the Lord Jesus in the power of the Holy
Spirit to proclaim the Gospel.
Synodality ought to be expressed in the Church’s
ordinary way of living and working. This modus
vivendi et operandi works through the
community listening to the Word and celebrating
the Eucharist, the brotherhood of communion
and the co-responsibility and participation of the
whole People of God in its life and mission, on
all levels and distinguishing between various
ministries and roles.
. . . listening to the Word and celebrating the
Eucharist, the brotherhood of communion and the
co-responsibility and participation of the whole
People of God in its life and mission, on all levels
and distinguishing between various ministries and
roles . . .

Communion
Collegial
Apostolic
“an inverted pyramid" which comprises the People of God and the
College of Bishops, one of whose members, the Successor of Peter,
has a specific ministry of unity. Here the summit is below the base.

Synodality, as a constitutive element of the Church, offers us the

most appropriate interpretative framework for understanding the
hierarchical ministry itself…. Jesus founded the Church by setting at
her head the College of Apostles, in which the Apostle Peter is the
'rock' (cf. Matthew 16,18), the one who must "confirm" his brethren
in the faith (cf. Luke 22,32). But in this Church, as in an inverted
pyramid, the top is located below the base. Consequently, those who
exercise authority are called ‘ministers', because, in the original
meaning of the word, they are the least of all"[68].
 1. Introductory Reflections
a. On Prayer
b. on our Relationships
2. The Context of Holy Week 2023
a. Emerging from the Pandemic
b. Synodality
3. Holy Week “Revisited”
Holy Week “Revisited"
The conflict between Jesus and
the religious authorities come
to a head

Violation of the Sabbath

Claim to Divinity
The Final Week
Condemnation of the unjust socio-
economic-political order
Sunday - Entry into Jerusalem
Monday - Cleansing of the Temple
Tuesday - Parable of Tenants, Coming
Tribulations
Wednesday - Anointing of Jesus
Thursday - Last Supper
Agony in the Garden
Betrayal, Arrest, Trial
Friday to Sunday - Passion, Death &
Resurrection
The Final Week of Jesus – He confronts the
DOMINATION SYSTEM
Romans’ Imperial Power – political,
military
Ruling/Religious Elite – economic,
cultural, “puppet government”
Religion/Temple – legitimized the
domination (divine right of kings)

Solidarity & Fraternity with the

victims
of domination
The Final Week

Entry into Jerusalem – Jesus addressed the political

domination
Cleansing of the Temple – Jesus addressed the
cultural/religious domination
Anointing – “sanctification” of the coming death
Last Supper – “do this in remembrance of me”
Agony in the Garden – “not my will, but your will be
done”

Jesus is ready for the Cross and Resurrection - by

CHOICE
Our Fraternity & Solidarity in the Cross & Resurrection

The Central Mystery & Grace of Our

Christian Identity & Mission

understanding Jesus' own journey towards

the Cross & Resurrection

understanding our own journey along the same

path
The Central Mystery & Grace of Our
Christian Identity & Mission

understanding Jesus' own journey towards

the Cross & Resurrection
understanding our own journey along the same
path - LEADING TO CHOICE

It is a radical journey, but an interior and transcendent

journey that addresses the here and now within the horizon of
eternity. It is
 Participation means coming from
diverse backgrounds and stories of life,
yet walking together in the same pace
—no one being left behind—and on the
same path—no one drifting towards
another path.
Participation
Listen to Word
of God
Celebrate the
Eucharist
Serve together
Mission means occupying
different places in society yet
walking together towards the
same goal—which is to become
a transforming presence, a
presence that makes a difference,
by letting the light of the gospel
shine in that place we occupy in
the world.
 Mission
Gospel
Worldview

All Mission is in
Jesus
Communion
Participation
Mission
 1. Introductory Reflections
a. On Prayer
b. on our Relationships
2. The Context of Holy Week 2023
a. Emerging from the Pandemic
b. Synodality
3. Holy Week “Revisited”