The road to Jerusalem was crowded with
cloaks, palms and throngs of jubilant people, but on the day commemorating
Jesus’ triumphant ride into the city some 2,000 years ago, churches around the
world were almost totally empty.
In front of vacant pews, priests
celebrated the Mass that begins Holy Week, while parishioners mustered up
whatever greenery they had on hand and set aside a place in their homes to
watch Mass online or pray reverently.
“We could never have imagined that the
faithful would participate in these liturgies via livestream,” said Bishop
Michael F. Burbidge, whose Palm Sunday celebration in the Cathedral of St.
Thomas More in Arlington was beamed to households around the area April 5. “But
that’s the key: you are participating. You are with the Lord and the Lord is
with you.”
In his homily, Bishop Burbidge
encouraged the faithful to tell Jesus in prayer all their feelings and
experiences during this time, be it fear, anger, sadness or frustration.
“Surrender them, entrust them to the Lord, unite them to his sufferings,” he
said. “Then reread the passion, slowly and prayerfully. You will realize that
there is nothing you are experiencing right now that the Lord has not already
endured for us.
“We know where this pilgrimage ends.
Jesus was not crushed or defeated — he triumphed,” said Bishop Burbidge. “He
promises that all those who are united to him will receive those same gifts
both now and forever.”
