For the readings and prayers for today’s mass, go to
https://www.livingwithchrist.ca/images/article_images/pdf/April_4_Pages_from_LWC_April2020.pdf
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In the movie The Return of the King, which is the third part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy The Lord of the Rings, there is a poignant scene in which the wizard Gandalf and the hobbit Pippin, while standing in a balcony in Gondor, spot that there is something nasty is “brewing” in the evil kingdom of Mordor – it appears that Mordor’s forces are about to be unleased against Gondor. Gandalf speaks of this as “the deep breath before the storm”, and then says, “The board is set, the pieces are moving.”
“The board is set, the pieces are moving” perfectly describes what is outlined in today’s gospel, as we prepare to enter Holy Week, starting tomorrow. We read of how many people are coming to believe in Jesus, which raises a “red flag” for the chief priests and the Pharisees. They meet to consider their next steps. Their professed concern is that this will so upset the Romans that they would destroy the Temple and the nation (which, by the way, did happen after 40 years after Jesus’ death in 70 A.D.). But their real concern, while unstated, is the threat that Jesus poses to their positions of authority amongst the people.
What to do? We read of Caiaphas’ suggestion, which ends up being a prophecy in a way he could never possibly imagine. They decide to start planning how they can arrange Jesus’ death.
At that time Jesus is not in Jerusalem. However, the time of the sacred celebration of Passover is coming near and people are beginning their preparations to do so. The question that all have is, “What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?” As we shall see in tomorrow's opening gospel for Passion (Palm) Sunday, of course He does. And as a result, the world would never be the same.
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Let us pray: Lord our God, we your people prepare to enter Holy Week in a way we have never done before. Even though we cannot gather together, each one of us is part of the Body of Christ, the Church. Thus, we commit ourselves to participate fully in the events of your Passion, Death and Resurrection. We pray that our collective efforts, prayers and good works this Holy Week will glorify Your name. Amen.