Today we begin the holiest week of the Church year by hearing two gospel readings. The good news of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem is followed by the bad news of his death in Jerusalem. Of course, we know that even better news is coming on Easter when Jesus rises from the dead. But Jesus' disciples didnít know that. They must have been devastated to see Jesus suffer, die, and be put into the ground!

If we don't come back to church between now and Easter Sunday, this week won't be as holy as it could be. To understand more about Holy Week, my challenge to us is to stretch beyond our comfort zones and to participate in the triduum [tri-juum] -- the three days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil.

On Holy Thursday, we will celebrate the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper and see our clergy wash the feet of several parishioners, as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Extra Eucharist will be consecrated for communion on Good Friday when no Mass will be celebrated. After Holy Thursday Mass, the Eucharist is solemnly transferred to the chapel after which the altar is stripped bare.

After midnight, when Good Friday begins, the Eucharist is removed from the tabernacle, leaving it empty to represent Jesus' absence after his death. I was shocked the first time I came into a church on Good Friday and found the tabernacle empty. A friend who was there came up to me and asked, "What have they done with Jesus?" This must have been what the disciples asked one another.

Good Friday solemn liturgy takes place in the evening. We hear the Liturgy of the Word and participate in the passion account from St. John. Then the deacon sings the general intercessions, which could be your last penance for Lent. Next we venerate the cross, the wood on which our Savior died. We end by receiving Holy Communion using the extra Eucharist from Holy Thursday.

 Finally, on Saturday, we can truly participate in the risen Lord during Easter Vigil. We go beyond the burial that ends today's liturgy by proclaiming that "He's alive!" You will also be able to share with those in the RCIA program whom you have seen dismissed after the homily for many months. They join the church through baptism and/or confirmation, being anointed with the very oils that will be blessed by Archbishop Beltran during the Chrism Mass this coming Tuesday evening at the Cathedral.

Come to the Triduum and deepen your faith in Jesus by experiencing him in new ways. The Passion that we just read certainly should have affected your comfort zone. The Son of God underwent agony in the garden, betrayal, trial, sentencing, desertion by his disciples, mocking, crucifixion, and finally death.

Then, we will be able to profess our faith aloud, as did the centurion who stayed to the end, and say, "Truly, this man was the Son of God!"