"Making All Things New"

April 2014: Holy Week

In This Issue

Fr. Dan's Column

Holy Week Schedule

Nature's Corner

Spring has sprung at the Mountain! Flowers are beginning to dot our landscape with color and beauty.

- Br. Joe Kotula, ofm

Fr. Dan's Podcasts

* Palm Sunday

* Holy Monday/Tuesday

More Reflections to Come This Week

Holy Week on Twitter

Follow the Mountain Twitter feed, featuring live tweets and beautiful photos from Fr. Dan during Holy Week.

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Mass at the Mountain is regularly celebrated

Sundays at 11 a.m.

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Finding Our Way

Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, Offers a Holy Week Reflection

Walking on our paths this Holy Week.

With Holy Week "under our feet" and we now on our path to Easter, let your heart of hearts be free from the anger and fear that shakes our world. ... Read More.

Holy Week Schedule

Join Us!

Holy Thursday

April 17

* 6:30 p.m.: Dish to pass supper

* 8:00 p.m.: Liturgy of the Lord's Supper

Good Friday

April 18

* Noon: Simple lunch

* 1:00 p.m.: Meditative walk

* 3:00 p.m.: Liturgy of the Passion - followed by silence on the land and in the Chapel

Holy Saturday

April 19

* 11:00 a.m.: Morning Prayer by the pond

* 9:00 p.m: Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday

April 20

* Sunrise service on the Knoll

* 11:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Mass followed by dish to pass brunch

Whose Feet Do I Wash?

Br. Kevin Kriso, ofm, Reflects on Holy Thursday

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet."

Thus began a showdown of sorts between Jesus and St. Peter at the Last Supper. At that late date in Jesus' ministry, Peter still does understand that to be a disciple of Jesus means that you must follow his example of love in service. All Peter sees is that Jesus is taking on a degrading task done by slaves and Peter wants no part of it. Jesus is the Master. He should not be washing anyone's feet. But Jesus is turning that assumption upside down.

This Holy Thursday in churches all over the world people will be getting their feet washed. Jesus explains in this same passage, "I ... have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet." Fr. Dan likes to remember that in the ancient Syrian Church feet washing was considered a sacrament. That makes sense. A sacrament is often defined as an action that was instituted by Jesus to bring grace. Foot washing fits that bill.

If you are fortunate enough this week to attend a Holy Thursday Mass of the Last Supper, think about the strange ritual of foot washing. Ask yourself, whose feet do I wash and who washes my feet? What actions can I be taking to follow as a disciple of Jesus?

In the showdown above Jesus wins Peter over, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet but my hands and head as well."

This will be my prayer too, "Master, then not only my feet but my hands and head as well."

Fr. John Coughlin, ofm, washes the feet of a child on Holy Thursday.

Good Friday Prayer

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Now, Master, You let Your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled Your promise. My own eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles out of darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.