Holy Week reminders and guidance

Reminders for the coming services:

Father Riley reminds us that Good Friday is a day of fasting. The guidance for fasting is to not eat after sundown Thursday until after sundown Friday.  Of course, drinking water is permitted.

We will begin our Good Friday with “Stations of the Cross” at 11:30am in the church.  Father Riley would like to have 14 volunteers from the congregation available to read portions of that service as we follow to each station.  If you can volunteer, please call or email Sam Corson at 318-766-0998 or corsonsam@gmail.com

Our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, has asked that our Good Friday offering be given as support for the ministries of the four dioceses of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.  From Bishop Curry:  “I believe our partnership with those who keep the faith of Jesus alive in the region where our Lord walked and began his movement is a significant aspect of our work as part of the church catholic.”

From the Forward Day by Day:

MONDAY, March 26     Monday in Holy Week

Luke 23:10-11 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing [Jesus]. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.

Indeed, the powers of darkness are conspiring. The ruling council in Jerusalem is not satisfied with Jesus’ answers, and they bring him to Pilate. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod. Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate, who then asks the crowd to decide Jesus’ fate. As is custom on the Passover, Pilate could commute the death sentence of a prisoner. Instead of choosing Jesus, the crowd calls for Barabbas, a notorious prisoner, to be freed—and Jesus’ fate is sealed.

Voices from almost all quarters, religious and secular, send Jesus to the cross. Knowing what we know today, where do we see ourselves in this process? Interrogating Jesus? Shouting for Barabbas? Trying to make eye contact with Jesus? Praying for him? Weeping for him? There is nothing we can do to make this right…or is there?

Today let us throw our lot in with those whom Jesus particularly loved—the poor, the hungry, the downtrodden, the sick, and those in emotional and physical prisons. Jesus will see. He will hear. He will know.

MOVING FORWARD: Bring flowers to a nursing home today.