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Come to think of it, no one actually saw Jesus rise from the dead. No one was there when he rose triumphantly from the grave. The women went early on Sunday morning to anoint his body but found an empty tomb with the huge stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb.

Holy because during this week we come to the climax of our Lenten observances. It is the week toward which our Lenten preparations looked. Holy because during this week our Lord enters into the city of his ancestor, David, to fulfill the purpose for which he became man. He no longer hides, neither does he avoid arrest. In fact, he goes to it, of his own accord.

We are drawing closer to the Feast of our redemption. But in order to meaningfully celebrate Easter, we must first accompany the Lord in his passion and death. Lent affords us the opportunity to intentionally take on certain disciplines of prayer, charity and self-mortification as we seek to draw closer to the Lord. By our fasting and abstinence we train our bodies not to desire inordinate comfort and pleasure that are threats to discipleship. We must never forget the one summons that the Lord addresses to us - “Come, follow me.”

Hope Lent is going well for you? Last week I challenged you to learn at least one traditional Catholic prayer this Lent. I proposed the Anima Christi (Soul of Christ). The purpose is not just so you memorize the prayer, but so that it adds to your repertoire and helps you form your own words when you pray to God from your heart.

Prayer is one of the three pillars of Lent. The other two being Fasting and Almsgiving. Prayer is essential to the Christian life, and Lent offers us the opportunity to deepen our prayer. I have heard it said, “show me a Christian who does not pray and I will show you a powerless Christian.” We cannot be in relationship with God if we do not speak with God. This is why prayer is important.

Our 40 days of Lent have begun with our public act of penance symbolized by the imposition of ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday. This journey is one we make with Jesus as he goes through his temptation in the wilderness, his passion and death, so that we might rejoice with him in his resurrection at Easter.

Although treatable today by modern medicine, leprosy is still considered a serious skin condition. People with leprosy were excluded from the community and were treated as outcasts. One can only imagine what painful existence would be for the many people who had the misfortune of contracting this disease. If they did not die as a result of the disease, they would have died due to loneliness.

The healing power of Jesus is available to everyone. Although sickness and suffering could be opportunities to glorify God, as was the case with Job in the First reading, God does not take delight in our suffering. This is why Jesus healed those who were sick and possessed by demons, to demonstrate his concern for their bodily integrity as he was of their spiritual health.

Last week I invited you all to reflect with me on a theme from the readings/responses for the weekend. I asked that you share your reflections, and what the Lord lays on your heart as you prayed with the readings for the weekend’s liturgy. I once again extend this invitation: Please send me a short email of your reflection, what you heard the Lord speaking to you through the readings.

I hope you are making steady progress, by God’s grace, in your faith walk with the Lord. I feel the call to do something new for this segment of the New Year. Whenever there is not much to update about happenings at the parish I will take a theme from the weekend's readings and give a brief reflection. Whenever there is not much to update about happenings at the parish I will take a theme from the weekend's readings and give a brief reflection. I request that you spend some time reflecting and praying with this theme throughout the week, in the same way as I am.