Palm Sunday is the formal beginning of Holy Week. This Sunday we are called to recall the Passion of the Lord on the Sunday before we experience the Resurrection of the Lord. Let us enter in to what is about to happen.

Palm Sunday Mass readings can be found at: bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032821.cfm

In the Gospel for this 5th Sunday of Lent, Jesus says: “I am troubled now.  Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. (John 12:27)

As Fr. Mario unpacks John 12:23-28, we will see interesting comparisons made to the definition of a “Sting Operation” as found in the following text from Wikipedia:
“In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have an undercover law enforcement officer, detective, or co-operative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather evidence of the suspect's wrongdoing. “

On this Fourth Sunday of Lent, we hear in the Gospel that Jesus said to Nicodemus
“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15

The reference to the “serpent in the desert” is from the Old Testament Book of Number— “And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” Numbers 21:8

Let’s listen to Fr. Mario Arroyo as he takes us deeper into this week’s Gospel and the “Bronze Serpent”.

The Gospel readings for the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent this year, all speak of signs of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The “Cleansing” is a sign pointing to Jesus’ resurrection after the destruction of his body. In this Video Reflection, Fr. Mario Arroyo will take us beyond the cleansing as we look ahead in Lent.

Our Church and buildings were shrouded in ice and snow this week, like so many of you were. This past week has been trying and difficult for our entire parish community. Fr. Mario, Fr. Scott, Deacons Eduardo, Bob, Arturo and all of our staff are praying for you all. Pray for each other and pray for all throughout the state who are still without power or water or have lost food and shelter.