April 13, 2025 - Palm Sunday

Dear Parishioners,

“The Master has need of it.” We hear Jesus instruct his apostles to repeat these words to the owners of the colt that is being requisitioned. Here’s the fuller command from Jesus about making preparations for the Passover: “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, 'Why are you untying it?' you will answer, 'The Master has need of it'” (Luke 19:30-31).

It’s an interesting detail that St. Luke felt the need to mention prior to the Last Supper. The other Gospel writers don’t include it. Is this just Luke being a stickler for detail, or is there some message in this cryptic piece of information?

Scripture scholars say this detail was meant to indicate that the Last Supper took place in a house of Jesus’ friends, relatives, or disciples. When the owners of the colt are told “The Master has need of it,” they would have known immediately this was Jesus, and they would have permitted the colt’s use. So, Jesus was celebrating the Passover in friendly quarters. Which makes sense about why the apostles were able to camp out in the upper room for several more days. This is where they’ll be on Easter Sunday and the following Sunday when Jesus appears to Thomas. Only friends or disciples would let them stay that long.

But I like to draw a deeper message from this simple statement. Yes, that instruction was meant for the colt owners 2,000 years ago. But it is meant for us today. The Master has need of you. He has need of your heart. He wants you. He won’t ride into Jerusalem on his own. That’s how important you are to our Lord, how important you are to the mission. Untether the strings around your heart this week. 

A blessed Holy Week to you all. Please be sure to check the special times for the Triduum services. I will be praying for you all in a special way and may God draw you close to himself.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. James Wallace

Many of you have asked what repertoire we will be singing during Holy Week.
Below is a list of the pieces for each of the liturgies.
We hope you join us for all the liturgies in Holy Week at Our Lady of Ransom.

Palm Sunday
5:00
Missa Primitiva
Tomas Luis de Victoria - Hosanna Filio David
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina - Improperium
Claudio Monteverdi - Adoramus Te Christe

10:00 & 12:00
Franz - Schubert Hosanna Filio David
Orlando di Lasso - Improperium
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina - Adoramus Te Christe

Holy Thursday
Owen Alstott – Gloria (from Heritage Mass)
Missa Primitiva
Peter Latona - Mandatum
Ola Gjeilo - Ubi Caritas
William Byrd - Ave Verum Corpus

Good Friday
Tomas Luis de Victoria - Reproaches
Tomas Luis de Victoria - Caligaverunt Oculi Mei
Tomas Luis de Victoria - Ecce Quomodo Moritur

Holy Saturday
Owen Alstott – Heritage Mass
Josef Rheinberger - Dextera Domini
Jacob Handl – Alleluia! In Resurrectione Tua

Easter Sunday
Owen Alstott – Heritage Mass
Felice Anerio - Alleluia Christus Surrexit
Randall Thompson - Alleluia

We've gladly printed tips and tricks and times and locations for opportunities for Reconciliation right here for the last 7 weeks (that's right -- starting before Lent!). And we have seen a lot of sacramental fruit come from that -- it's clear there is an understanding that growing in intentionality of where our relationship with Jesus is -- is always something we can come to and work on :)

If you don't care for the long lines closer to Holy Week -- go earlier or prepare to be patient. And let's own our own behavior and decisions. All Sacraments are grace-filled gifts from God -- we don't earn them -- and we are not "entitled" to sacraments or "owed" access. These are precious gifts to be received. Not taken. Not demanded. Not transactional. 

We desire to receive the sacraments because they restore us, heal us, and bring us into deeper intimacy with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Seek after the mercy of God in this Jubilee Year of Hope in a new way this year when you celebrate this sacrament of love, mercy, and forgiveness by planning ahead and really preparing your heart.

If you celebrate Reconciliation at another parish -- be sure to double check their Holy Week offerings. If the parish you go to for confessions usually has Saturday times -- including here at OLR -- there are no confessions heard on Holy Saturday. 

Most parishes do not hear confessions during the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) -- because these Great Three Days are one liturgy in 3 parts.

Our Lady of Ransom's last opportunity for confessions during Lent will be Saturday, 12 April. There will be no confessions heard during Holy Week.

Here's what we know about "last chances" for confession before Easter -- but we strongly suggest you plan ahead of these times -- or be prepared to spend time in line -- which is also fine. Sometimes we need that time waiting in line to be able to really examine our conscience and prepare to be in Jesus' Presence.

Last chance before Easter at Our Lady of Hope -- Friday, 11 April at 11:30am

Last chance before Easter at Our Lady of Ransom -- Saturday, 12 April from 11am-12pm

Last chance before Easter at St. Juliana -- Sunday, 13 April following 9:30am Mass

Last chance before Easter at Mary, Seat of Wisdom -- Wednesday, 16 April from 6-7pm

Last chance before Easter at St. Paul of the Cross -- Good Friday, 18 April at 12pm

Connected to recognizing where we are in our relationship with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and our communion here at the parish -- let's remember there will be people here over the weekend and throughout next week who are visitors. curious. Strangers. Seekers. And whether they know it or not -- they are on a journey looking for Jesus.

We're not concerned with how often they are visitors. Something or Someone got them here -- to us -- so let's skip the judgmental comments we usually hear around Christmas and Easter. This is our opportunity to be intentional about seeing Jesus in others and also being Jesus to others -- by living out a radical welcome and spirit of accompaniment -- a work of mercy we see Jesus doing in just about every gospel story.

So please -- let's remember -- this is not "your" parish.

This is God's parish.

We are simply caretakers...stewards of who and what God has given us. 

That means we take good care of people and things. 

Everything we have...and every person we encounter...is on loan.

And this week -- just like most weeks -- God has loaned us people we don't know.