The Way of Pain

Peter stood as He passed by— Not once, not twice, but three times he denies. When the cock crows he cries.

His Mother met Him and held Him tight; She knew very well His terrible plight; The way of pain was not yet done. Not knowing He was the One, A man named Simon helped the Son.

The soldiers whipped Him and spat on His face, But Jesus kept His place. The women wept as He passed them by, But one in particular caught His eye. She ran in haste to wipe His face— And on the cloth His image stayed.

The crowd, with fists raised high, in unison sang the same death song: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

It was finished, the work was done.

© Lynda Ciriza

Palm Sunday Reflection

Following in the footsteps of Jesus as He made His triumphant entry into the city, one can truly imagine the joy in the hearts of His followers. Experiencing this as a pilgrim, my eyes recorded this joyous event and stored them deep within my heart.

Why Jesus Rode on a Colt: Fulfilling Zechariah’s Prophecy

When Jesus asked His disciples to bring Him a colt, He was deliberately fulfilling the ancient prophecy of Zechariah 9:9:

Exult greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!
Behold: your king is coming to you,
a just savior is he,
Humble, and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The Symbolism of the Donkey

Riding on a lowly animal was a profound symbol of peace. In Jesus’ time, horses were plentiful but reserved for the Romans and for war. The donkey, by contrast, connected Jesus to the common people—the very ones suffering under Roman occupation and contempt. Jesus came not as a military conqueror on a war horse, but as a humble king whose mission was to serve and save the oppressed.

The significance deepened further: no one had ever sat on this particular colt before. It was the right of the King alone to ride an animal for the first time.

The People’s Response and Its Deeper Meaning

In Matthew 21:7-8, the crowds spread their cloaks upon the animals—an ancient Israelite tradition meant to reestablish the Davidic line of kingship. This was no casual gesture; it was a royal proclamation rooted in Israel’s deepest hopes.

Holy Week: Monday and Tuesday

Monday

On this day, Jesus cursed a fig tree for not bearing fruit. This act carries profound spiritual significance for all who follow Him: What good are we if we are not bearing fruit? What value do we possess if our fruit is tasteless?

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to always bear good fruit—fruit that reflects His love, His truth, and His redemptive grace in the world. A fig tree that appears healthy but produces nothing is like a Christian who professes faith but lives without charity, without witness, without the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The curse is not arbitrary cruelty; it is a living parable about the consequences of spiritual barrenness.

Tuesday

On this day the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees formed a coordinated attack against Jesus, organizing an ambush to trap Him in His words. But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom and authority, set them straight.

Yet His response to them was not merciful but severe. In Matthew 23:24-33, Jesus unleashed words of prophetic judgment—calling them whitewashed tombs, blind guides, serpents, and a brood of vipers. He condemned their hypocrisy with unflinching clarity:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! (Matthew 23:29)

Holy Week: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

Wednesday

The Bible does not explicitly record what Jesus did on Wednesday of Holy Week. However, biblical scholars believe He spent the day resting in Bethany, a small village near Jerusalem, in quiet preparation for the approaching Passover and the events that would define human history.

Holy Thursday: The First Day of the Triduum

The word Triduum comes from the Latin, meaning “three days”—a sacred period of preparation culminating in the greatest feast of the Christian year: the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection.

The Washing of Feet: Jesus as Servant

In the Upper Room, Jesus performed an act that shattered all expectation. He took on the role of a servant and washed the feet of His disciples—an act of profound humility from the King of Kings. This washing is deeply rooted in the Aaronic priesthood (Exodus 30:21), connecting Jesus’ priestly service to the ancient sacrificial tradition while simultaneously transcending it. He was not merely continuing the old priesthood; He was fulfilling it through an act of self-emptying love.

On Holy Thursday Jesus instituted the priesthood over his apostles at the Last Supper (Mt 26:26-29). This is commemorating the celebration of the first Mass. At every Mass we recall what great sacrifice Jesus did for us by dying on the Cross.

Good Friday, Second Day of Triduum

While Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas arrives with the chief priest, scribes and elders.  Judas has done his dirty deeds and received thirty pieces coins. We know that Judas hanged himself, but before that, he returned the money he received for the betrayal of Jesus to the high priest (Mt 27:3-10). This too was in fulfillment of the prophet Zechariah.

The chief priest requests that a guard be placed at the tomb of Jesus. The guarded tomb is secured and sealed. This was done so that Jesus’ body could not be stolen,  allowing His disciples to later claim that He had risen from the dead. These guards were assumed to be Roman soldiers because Jews had no authority to perform an executions (Mt 27:62-66).

Holy Saturday is the great Easter Vigil, this is always an evening service. The church will be in complete darkness – representing the tomb. Fire is lit from outside of the church followed by a procession. The Paschal candle is lit – representing the light and life of Christ. This candle is used throughout the year for celebrating baptisms , First Holy Communion, Confirmation and funerals.

Easter Sunday: The Resurrection

The Discovery of the Empty Tomb

As the women who loved our Lord came to anoint His body with spices—a final act of devotion and love—they discovered something that shattered all their expectations: an empty tomb.

The stone had been rolled away. The body was gone. And there, in that place of death, they encountered the living Christ or His messengers proclaiming the impossible truth: “He is not here; he has been raised” (Luke 24:6).

My Prayer

Dear Jesus, as we walk through Holy Week with You may our hearts be filled with sorrow and gratitude for what You have done for us. May we never deny Your existence. Teach us to carry our crosses as You did with great dignity. Lord reveal to us, in the spirit of Simon of Cyrene, to help those whose crosses are to hard to bear. May we come alongside them in prayer. Thank You, Lord, for Your glorious Resurrection! Amen.