DOMINGO DE RAMOS 2025

El Domingo de Ramos es la puerta de entrada a la Semana Santa, especialmente a celebrar el triduo pascual que es la pasión muerte y resurrección de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. La liturgia de estos días nos invita a ser partícipes de este misterio y no simplemente espectadores que contemplan esos acontecimientos en tiempos pasados. Es decir que contemplamos un hecho salvífico acontecido en el pasado y lo actualizamos en el aquí y ahora y especialmente en la celebración de la eucaristía donde Cristo se hace presente para nutrirnos con su palabra, partir el pan y celebrar con nosotros. Este domingo estamos invitados a recorrer el camino de Jesús que implica entrar con él para seguirlo hasta Jerusalén y acompañar al maestro que se sienta a la mesa y nos invita a sentarnos con él para participar de su banquete, de su pasión, de su muerte y también de su resurrección. Cómo sus discípulos nos invita asumir la cruz no como instrument de tortura y derrota sino como instrumento de purificación en el que se nos dio la vida nueva.

La pasión de Cristo que leemos este domingo sigue siendo actual en cada hombre y mujer que es pisoteado en sus derechos, en cada ser humano que es irrespetado o despojado de lo mínimo para su subsistencia, en cada ser humano que es violentado o injustamente tratado, en los miles de migrantes que mueren en las selvas del Darién colombiano, atravesando desiertos y ríos para llegar a Estados Unidos, en los mares de Europa, o en los desiertos de África y Europa. A su vez Cristo continua viviendo en cada persona que con coraje ama a los demás y lucha por la construcción de un mundo mejor donde sea posible la justicia y la paz y la inclusión para todos. Obviamente este mundo mejor empieza por mi casa, por los valores y principios que comparto con mi familia y con todas las personas que diariamente Jesús pone en mi camino. La semana Santa debe ser por lo tanto una ocasión para revisar mi vida, para preguntarme por el sufrimiento que padece el mundo, por mi reacción frente a él y también por el sufrimiento que con mis actitudes y comportamientos causo a los demás, especialmente a aquellos que Dios ha puesto cerca de mí. Cuaresma y Semana Santa son tiempos especiales para reflexionar, pensar, descubrir nuestros errores y pedirle a Dios que El con su Espíritu nos conceda la gracia de convertirnos, de dejar de ser pecadores y llegar a ser hombres y mujeres que aman y sirven a sus hermanos viviendo en la gracia de Dios. Pidámosle a Dios que al participar y vivir esta semana santa seamos transformados en hombres y mujeres nuevos a la luz de Jesucristo nuestro Señor.

P. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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PALM SUNDAY 2025

Palm Sunday is the gateway to Holy Week, especially to the celebration of the Easter Triduum, which is the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The liturgy of these days invites us to share in this mystery and not simply spectators contemplating those events of times past. That is, we contemplate a salvific event that occurred in the past and make it present in the here and now, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist, where Christ is present to nourish us with his word, break bread, and celebrate with us. This Sunday, we are invited to walk the path of Jesus, which involves entering with him to follow him to Jerusalem and accompanying the Master who sits at the table and invites us to sit with him to participate in his banquet, his passion, his death, and also his resurrection. As his disciples invite us to take up the cross not as an instrument of torture and defeat, but as an instrument of purification through which we are given new life.

The passion of Christ we read about this Sunday remains relevant in every man and woman whose rights are trampled upon, in every human being disrespected or deprived of the bare minimum necessary for subsistence, in every human being who is violated or unjustly treated, in the thousands of migrants who die in the jungles of the Colombian Darien, crossing deserts and rivers to reach the United States, in the seas of Europe, or in the deserts of Africa and Europe. At the same time, Christ continues to live in every person who courageously loves others and fights to build a better world where justice, peace, and inclusion for all are possible. Obviously, this better world begins at home, with the values ​​and principles I share with my family and with all the people Jesus places in my path every day. Holy Week should therefore be an opportunity to review my life, to ask myself about the suffering the world endures, my reaction to it, and also the suffering my attitudes and behaviors cause others, especially those God has placed close to me. Lent and Holy Week are special times to reflect, reflect, discover our mistakes, and ask God, through His Spirit, to grant us the grace to convert, to cease being sinners and become men and women who love and serve their brothers and sisters by living in God's grace. Let us ask God that by participating in and experiencing this Holy Week, we may be transformed into new men and women in the light of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Fr. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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Forgiveness, the Road to Real Peace…

On Calvary, two ways of thinking collided. In the Gospel, the words of the crucified Jesus are in sharp contrast with the words of those who crucified him. The latter keep saying: “Save yourself”. The leaders of the people said: “Let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One” (Lk 23:35). The soldiers said the same thing: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself” (v. 37). Finally, one of the criminals, echoing their words, said to him: “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself” (v. 39). Save your-self. Take care of yourself. Think of yourself. Not of others, but only of your own well-being, your own success, your own interests: your possessions, your power, your image. Save yourself. This is the con-stant refrain of the world that crucified the Lord. Let us think about it.

Against this self-centered mindset is God’s way of thinking. The mantra “save yourself” collides with the words of the Savior who offers his self. Like his adversaries, Jesus speaks three times in today’s Gospel (cf. vv. 34.43.46). Yet he did not claim anything for himself; indeed, he did not even defend or justify himself. He prayed to the Father and offered mercy to the good thief. One of his words, in particular, marked the difference with regard to the mantra “save yourself”. He said: “Father, forgive them” (v. 34).

Let us reflect on the Lord’s words. When did he say them? At a very specific moment: while he was being crucified, as he felt the nails piercing his wrists and feet. Let us try to imagine the excruciating pain he suffered. At that moment, amid the most searing physical pain of his Passion, Christ asked forgiveness for those who were piercing him. At times like that, we would scream out and give vent to all our anger and suffering. But Jesus said: Father, forgive them.

God does the same thing with us. When we cause suffering by our actions, God suffers yet has only one desire: to forgive us. In order to appreciate this, let us gaze upon the crucified Lord. It is from his painful wounds, from the streams of blood caused by the nails of our sinfulness that forgiveness gushes forth. Let us look to Jesus on the cross and realize that greater words were never spoken: Father, forgive. Let us look to Jesus on the cross and realize that we have never been looked upon with a more gentle and compassionate gaze. Let us look to Jesus on the cross and understand that we have never received a more loving embrace. Let us look to the crucified Lord and say: “Thank you, Jesus: you love me and always forgive me, even at those times when I find it hard to love and forgive myself”.

In the course of this week, let us cling to the certainty that God can forgive every sin. He forgives everyone. He can bridge every distance, and turn all mourning into dancing (cf. Ps 30:12). The certainty that with Jesus there is always a place for everyone. That with Christ things are never over. That with him, it is never too late. With God, we can always come back to life. [Synthesized from Pope Francis Homilies, 10 IV 22]

Rev. Jos Rajesh Peter M.S.C.

Palm Sunday 2025

So, my friends – today we begin Holy Week…

Our Church liturgically memorializes Holy Week in many ways:

• Today, Palm Sunday, we have blessed palms as a reminder of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.  We also read the Passion of Christ, according to Luke.

• On Tuesday – we have the Chrism Mass with Bishop Rojas at 3:00 PM at  Sacred Heart Parish, Rancho Cucamonga.  Everyone is invited.  Bishop Rojas will bless the Oil of the Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick – and he will consecrate the Sacred Chrism.  These  oils will be used throughout the year for the Sacraments of Baptisms and Confirmations and Anointing of the sick.  The Sacred Chrism is used in the Sacrament of Holy Orders when priests are ordained. The Sacred Chrism is also used to anoint the Altar and walls of new church buildings.

• Also at the Chrism Mass, the priests will renew their priestly vows.

• On Thursday – Holy Thursday – we celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper – when Jesus gave us his body and blood in the Holy Eucharist.  Do this in memory of me….  Also, at the Mass of the Last Supper,  Jesus washed his disciples’ feet – instructing them – and us –  to do likewise and serve one another.  

• On Good Friday – we remember his trial; his scourging – his death on the Cross – and his burial.

• A Holy Week, indeed…..

My friends, we just read and to some extent, experienced the Passion of Jesus the Christ.  The word, “passion” – as defined by the dictionary – means, fervor, zeal, commitment, and dedication.

We remember and commemorate the passion Jesus had to teach us the way of God.  We begin with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem – and we end with Jesus emptying himself on the cross.

He emptied himself – in that – he had no more to say – no more to give – no more to teach...  He taught us everything he possibly could.

“………..I have taught you everything I have heard from my Father.” (John 15:15)

His teaching was really quite simple:

·      Love God with all your heart, soul – and mind.

·      And – Love your neighbor as yourself.

·      …That’s it!

He came in love.  His message was love.  And, he died for the love of us – so that we may know what love means… Namely, love is the total giving of oneself for the good of others.

Amar es Entregarse…….