"Dear friends in Christ, for five weeks we have been preparing, by works of charity and self-sacrifice, for the celebration of our Lord's paschal mystery. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the whole Church throughout the whole world. Christ entered in triumph into his own city, to complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again..." Yes, we have arrived at Holy Week. Palm Sunday begins with the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem and we sing, celebrate, and cry out, "Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel!" This excitement however, seems to be snatched from us as we find ourselves again reciting the Passion of our Lord, being among the ones who say, "Crucify Him!" What is with the flip flop? Well, I have come to look at Palm Sunday as being a great Gospel model of life. That is, when we really take a look at life, it really is a cycle of great celebrations and triumphs, only to be disrupted by real suffering and death, but, also, don't worry, by many resurrection moments.

-Father Sean