Dear friends in Christ

At Mass this Sunday—the beginning of Passiontide—we listen to the miracle of the Raising of Lazarus. By His miracles, Jesus shows us He is the Messiah and by His own rising from the dead, manifests His divinity beyond doubt. For those preparing to receive the Sacraments for the first time at Easter, these Gospels we have been listening to in Lent remind us that Christ has come into the world to redeem sin and bring us new life. Whether with the Woman at the Well, the Cure of the Blind Man or Lazarus, each of these episodes opens our eyes to the reality of Jesus, who has come into the world to bring redemption to every human being who accepts Him. Our pilgrimage through Lent—a microcosm of our pilgrimage through life—is drawing us more deeply into the divine life, into God's way of being. As we begin the final two weeks of Lent, the spiritual intensity of these mysteries deepens as we consider the forthcoming events of the Passion. We could be reading the Gospel accounts of the last hours of Jesus’ life so as to gain better insights into what He suffered and how we can live our lives better centred on His. Praying the Way of the Cross is an excellent devotion which helps us relive with Jesus what He suffered for love of us. As St Paul Says: He loves us and gave His life for us. This is motive enough for us to participate as fully as we can in Holy Week and Easter.

May Mary--Mater Dolorosa, Mother of Sorrows—help us by her maternal heart to be with Her Son all along the way of the Cross and so reach Easter renewed.

With every blessing!

Msgr Kevin Hale