On the way to Easter

 

 

 

 

 

On the way to Easter

Here we are in Holy Week: a time of grace and a time above all of the "great love of God for us" (Paul to the Ephesians, 2,4). Too much love!

Last Saturday I went to Bayanga Didi, a village 80km south of Baoro. I spent the evening with the catechist and the community.

Sunday morning I celebrated confessions, and around 10 we found ourselves in the center of the village. Here we blessed the branches and palm trees (some even intertwined!).  We left in a procession towards the church. It was a moving moment, which took us back to 2000 years ago, when the inhabitants of Jerusalem acclaimed Jesus, just a few days before condemning him to death!

We entered the church, where the women  spread colored fabrics on the floor, just like 2000 years ago!

Today is Holy Thursday. Soon I will leave for Bawi, where I will celebrate the Mass commemorating the Last Supper, with Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles, before instituting the Eucharist, the Sacrament of His Presence, for love.

Tomorrow, Good Friday: memory of the Man, of Jesus, who offered himself in sacrifice on the Cross, for love.

Holy Saturday is the day of silence: everything seems suspended, and during the night creation bursts into joy because he is risen.

Last year I participated in the Easter Vigil in my parish of Cuneo (Immaculate Heart). Don Carlo gave a beautiful homily (https://youtu.be/Z2gE422Vfm8), in which he asked himself and asked us this question: "Why is he risen?". Many proposals, but the true answer is only one: he has risen because he is loved! Because God recognized himself in that man whom he loved to the last drop of his blood"!

 

Happy Easter!

Bayanga Didi, domenica delle Palme
Le dimanche des Rameaux à Byanga Didi