Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. It is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified.
Palm Sunday is known as such because we bless palms and wave them as the crowds did when Jesus entered Jerusalem. In the gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a young donkey, and to the lavish praise of the townspeople who threw clothes, or palms or olive branches, in front of him as a sign of homage. This was a customary practice in those days for people of great respect.
Palms and olive branches are widely recognized symbols of peace and victory, hence their preferred use on Palm Sunday. The use of a donkey instead of a horse is also symbolic; it represents the humble arrival of someone in peace, as opposed to arriving on a steed in war. A week later, Christ would rise from the dead on the first Easter.
During each of our Palm Sunday Masses, palms are distributed to parishioners and blessed. We will have our regular Mass schedule on Palm Sunday. (See below for the rest of the Holy Week schedule.)
Many people will fashion them into small crosses or other items of personal devotion. Some people have the custom of placing a small piece of blessed palm behind the crucifix in their homes. That reminds us of the victory of Jesus over the cross.
Because the palms are blessed, they should not be discarded as trash. It is not necessary to remove last year’s palms, but if you do, they should be burnt. Or save them for next year and bring them to the church prior to Ash Wednesday. We will burn them to create the ashes that will be used in next year's Ash Wednesday observance.
The color of the Mass on Palm Sunday is red, symbolizing the shedding of his blood that Jesus offered as a sacrifice for us. Our celebration on this day begins our solemn annual celebration of the Paschal Mystery: the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I invite you not only to join us on Palm Sunday but also at the beautiful liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil (Saturday night). We will welcome new members into the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. I hope to see you then.
A Catholic cardinal and close papal aide is driving an ambulance blessed and donated by Pope Francis to western Ukraine to serve the civilian population fleeing the Russian invasion.
It’s Almost Time for Summer Camp!
The Scouts of St. Patrick’s Troop 748 are ready to leave ZOOM meetings behind and get back to outdoor action and adventures! You can support the troop by joining us for our 64th Easter Pancake Breakfast at the Carlsbad Senior Center, Easter morning between 7:30am and 12:30pm. Breakfast includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, and delicious Carlsbad strawberries, plus coffee, tea, or milk.
The early bird ticket price saves you $2:00! Just $5.00 each and they’re available this weekend and next on the patio after all Masses! Help get these young men to summer camp, and back out on the trail for some great hiking and camping adventures. For more info, contact Scoutmaster Bob Dixon at catholicscouts@hotmail.com
Whispering Winds Women’s Auxiliary Spring Retreat in Julian
We invite you to come to join us on the mountain for a weekend of faith renewal and fellowship. What a fantastic opportunity for us to come together to encourage, support, laugh, and strengthen our faith! May 13 - 15th, 2022 - Cost is $195 - Financial Aid is Available - contact Chris Villalobos for more info 619-977-7403.
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Catholic Trivia
"Catholic Trivia”... not because they are trivial but because these might be things that not everyone knows. Test your knowledge by reading the five questions, remember your answers (or jot them down), then click the link below to find the answers.
I have been teaching an online course on ecumenism to seminarians in the Philippines. The following questions are a few of the things that we have covered in the course. – Fr. Ron
What is the meaning of the term ecumenism?
Name some other Christian denominations.
Are the Orthodox churches part of the Catholic Church?
Are the Eastern rite churches part of the Catholic Church?
Do Unitarians believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
If you have other members of your family or your friends who would like to be on our email list, just let me know or write to Mary McLain at mmclain@stpatrickcarlsbad.com We will be pleased to add them.
Paul says that he counts all things as lot and focuses on one goal, Christ.
Gospel Reading
John 8:1-11
Jesus does not condemn the woman caught in adultery.
Background on the Gospel Reading
The Gospel for the fifth Sunday of Lent continues to offer lessons about God's mercy and forgiveness. Last Sunday we heard the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Gospel of Luke. Today we hear not a parable, but the report from John's Gospel of an encounter among Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees, and a woman caught in adultery.
In John's Gospel, the conflict between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees occurs much earlier than in the Synoptic Gospels. Jesus' cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem is reported at the beginning of John's Gospel. Even after this event, Jesus continues to teach in the Temple. After returning to Galilee for a time, Jesus again enters Jerusalem and cures a man on the Sabbath. From this point forward in John's Gospel, the Pharisees are described as making plans for Jesus' arrest and seeking his death.
In the chapter preceding today's Gospel, Jesus was teaching in the Temple area. Feeling threatened by his teaching and his actions, the chief priests and the Pharisees are already sending guards to arrest Jesus. The guards return, however, without arresting Jesus because they have been impressed by his words. Even more than this, some among the crowds are considering the possibility that Jesus is the Messiah. The chief priests and the Pharisees change their plan. Before making an arrest, they seek to gather more evidence against Jesus by posing a question intended to trap Jesus.
Today's Gospel begins by reporting that Jesus is again teaching the crowds in the vicinity of the Temple. The scribes and the Pharisees approach Jesus, bringing a woman who has been caught in the act of adultery. They put to Jesus the question of what ought to be done in this case.
The Pharisees state clearly that according to the Law of Moses, those caught in the act of adultery were to be stoned to death. Under Roman occupation, however, the Jewish people did not have the authority to execute people; this is cited in John's passion narrative. To answer the Pharisees' question, Jesus must propose an action that will be either contrary to the Law of Moses or contrary to Roman law. The purpose of the question appears to be similar to the question about paying taxes found in Mark 12:13-17. Either answer, yes or no, will support the Pharisees' case against Jesus.
Jesus avoids the trap, however, by offering an answer that was not anticipated by those who posed the question. Jesus, after writing on the ground with his finger, addresses those who stand before him and suggests that the one without sin cast the first stone. Jesus then returns to his writing. This Scripture reading, by the way, is the only evidence we have of Jesus writing. Yet there are no specific details about what he wrote.
We can easily imagine the scene as the Pharisees and the elders disperse, one by one. Jesus has eluded the trap they had prepared. We might also give credit to the elders and the Pharisees who do not, in the end, claim to be sinless and worthy of passing judgment. These Pharisees are not as self-righteous as the portrait found in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (See Luke 18:9-14).
Left alone with the woman, Jesus asks where the accusers have gone. With no one remaining to condemn the woman, Jesus (the one who truly is without sin) sends the woman on her way, refusing to pass judgment on her and exhorting her to avoid future sin.
Jesus' response to those who accuse the woman is more than a caution to us about making judgment of others. It is a profound lesson in divine mercy and forgiveness. As sinners, we are all unworthy to judge the sins of others and we would stand convicted by God for our transgressions. Yet Jesus, the one without sin and thus our judge, offers us who are sinners his mercy and forgiveness. Redeemed by Jesus' compassion, we are sent to sin no more and to live in God's love and peace.
The ladies of the Altar Society will be having their Annual Easter Boutique and Bake Sale week-end April 9th & 10th. We will be open from 4:00pm - 6:00pm on Saturday and on Sunday from 7:00am to 2:00pm. Over 50 beautiful children’s Easter baskets will be for sale, along with delicious baked good items and other great finds.
Bake sale donations are very much appreciated and can be dropped off in the hall on your way to Mass on either Saturday or Sunday.
Last Weekend for Lenten
Food Drive
This weekend, the Saint Patrick Parish Knights of Columbus Council 15076 will be finishing their annual Lenten food drive to benefit the San Diego Food Bank North County Branch.
There will be Knights before and after each Mass to collect donations. We are also hoping for help from the Boy Scouts! Non-perishable food items (except for glass containers) will be accepted. We will also accept cash and/or checks made out to the San Diego Food Bank.
This food drive exemplifies giving to others in need as a way for us to show our gratefulness for our blessings that God has provided us! Just like last year, the donation station will be located at the back door of the Parish Hall. Stop by and donate from your car.
The food drive ends this weekend!
Un Saludo de parte del Diacono Miguel,
Jesús les dijo, “Aquel de ustedes que no tengan pecado, que le tire la primera piedra”. Entramos a la quinta semana de Cuaresma, caminando hacia la Pascua. Y todavía el Espíritu Santo intenta de sacudir nuestro corazón y mente a un lugar donde podemos mirar la gran misericordia de Jesús. Todos hemos tenido que establecer reglas de lo que es bueno y malo para sobrevivir. Y esas reglas son buenas hasta cierto punto porque de una manera nos mantienen en “el carril” para no perdernos y poder así caminar con Jesús. Pero esas reglas pueden esclavizarnos, toman prioridad en nuestra vida, y no nos dejan ver “más allá” de lo que Dios nos quiere enseñarnos. En el Evangelio de este fin de semana, le traen a Jesús una mujer sorprendida en adulterio. En la mente de los escribas y fariseos el destino para la mujer es fácil, por que “la ley de Moisés” mandaba que fuera apedreada. Y van con Jesús para ponerlo a prueba y poder acusarlo. Jesús les responde, “Aquel de ustedes que no tienen pecado, que tire la primera piedra”. Y nos dice el texto que uno por uno se va. Al final queda Jesús y la mujer, Jesús le pregunta a la mujer, “Mujer, ¿Dónde están los que acusaban? ¿Nadie te ha condenado? Tampoco yo te condeno, vete y no vuelvas a pecar”. Estas palabras de Jesús son bien importantes para nosotros y no permitamos de no escucharlas por nuestro egoísmo. Nos preocupamos tanto del pecado de los otros, pero, tú y yo tenemos bastante pecado en nuestra propia vida. Sin temor y con toda confianza en la misericordia de Dios respondamos a las palabras de Jesús.
Por favor escuchen a los enlaces proveídos, espero que les ayude en su meditación.
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