Dear parents and guardians,
Congratulations to Marilee, Charlee and Will who made the Spelling Bee winner list that printed in the Denver Post on Sunday, 3/21/21. You can view it
HERE.
On Palm Sunday, we celebrated the first joy of the season, as we celebrated Our Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem where He was welcomed by crowds worshiping Him and laying down palm leaves before Him. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week, with the greatest tragedy and sorrow of the year.
Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when He established the sacrament of Holy Communion prior to His arrest and crucifixion. It also commemorates His institution of the priesthood. Jesus celebrated the dinner as a Passover feast. Christ would fulfill His role as the Christian victim of the Passover for all to be saved by His final sacrifice. The Last Supper was the final meal Jesus shared with His disciples in Jerusalem. During the meal, Jesus predicts his betrayal.
Good Friday is the day on which Catholics commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Catholics are joined by almost all other Christians in solemn commemoration on this day. According to scriptures, Pontius Pilate reluctantly agreed to execute Jesus and sentenced Him to crucifixion. Jesus was convicted of proclaiming Himself to be the King of the Jews.
Before His execution, Jesus was flogged, which was a customary practice intended to weaken a victim before crucifixion. Crucifixion was an especially painful method of execution and was perfected by the Romans as such. During His flogging, the soldiers tormented Jesus, crowning Him with thorns and ridicule.
Following His flogging, Jesus was compelled to carry His cross to the place of His execution, at Calvary. During His walk to the site of His execution, Jesus fell three times and the Roman guards randomly selected Simon, a Cyrene, to help Jesus.
After arrival at Calvary, Jesus was nailed to the cross and crucified between two thieves. One of the thieves repented of his sins and accepted Christ while on the cross beside Him. A titulus, or sign, was posted above Christ to indicate His supposed crime. The titulus read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." It is commonly abbreviated in Latin as "INRI" (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum).
During Christ's last few hours on the cross, darkness fell over the whole land. Jesus was given a sponge with sour wine mixed with gall, a weak, bitter painkiller often given to crucified victims.
Prior to death, Jesus spoke His last words, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This line is the opening of Psalm 22, and it may have been common practice to recite lines of songs to deliver a greater message. Properly understood, the last words of Christ were triumphant. Guards then lanced Jesus' side to ensure He was dead.
At the moment of Christ's death, an earthquake occurred, powerful enough to open tombs. The long, thick curtain at the Temple was said to have torn from top to bottom.
Following the incredible events of the day, the body of Christ was removed from the cross and laid in a donated tomb, buried according to custom.
Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead. As we know from the Gospels, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day following His crucifixion, which would be Sunday. His resurrection marks the triumph of good over evil, sin and death. It is the singular event which proves that those who trust in God and accept Christ will be raised from the dead. Since Easter represents the fulfillment of God's promises to mankind, it is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar.
