The Master Has Need Of It

I had the good fortune to make a silent retreat at the Trappist Monastery in Genesee, NY two weeks ago.  It was wonderful to live the hours of the Divine Office with the monks punctuated throughout the night and day, and in the beautiful setting of their monastery on 1,200 acres of land, with spring in the air. I was surprised that when I returned home the first Mass I said (the Saturday vigil Mass in the parish) felt like my first Mass once again.  How God surprises us!

As we begin Holy Week on Palm Sunday I invite you to look for some time this week to be silent, to pray, to enter this holy week and walk with Jesus Christ.  The New York Times had an article about centers that have popped up to help people to meditate, to find some silence in their life, to not give in to the craziness of the world today.  It is true you need this time, every day, to ground yourself, and to speak to God.

I liked the phrase from the gospel at the start of the procession on Palm Sunday, when Jesus told the disciples to go and get the donkey that no one had ever used, and tell the owner, ‘The Master has need of it.’  Imagine going to take someone’s car and saying the Master needs it, and he says, ‘Go ahead.’  You can understand these words in a more personal way: The master has need of you! Yes, you! That you have a way with people, that you have a concern for the weak one, that you were also lost for many years, he needs all the experiences that you have to show Christ to others.  Don’t be afraid to use the gifts God gave you for his service.  Why do you think he gave them to you?

Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey that was never ridden before.  A donkey that was fit for a king.  He is a different kind of king.  Spend some time with him this week.  Go to the Easter Triduum, the three days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, and invite someone to go with you.  Enter these celebrations and you will find Jesus Christ.  He is there.  Do not miss him.

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