Anne O’Brien, our Director of Mission, reads from the Gospel of Matthew (26: 14-25) in which Judas Iscariot approaches the Chief Priests and agrees to betray Jesus, who foretells of this betrayal at supper with the Twelve.Anne notes, today is the last day of Lent, the day before the action of the Easter Triduum begins. A day to look back over the past five weeks before moving into these final trying days.The Easter Triduum begins with the Vigil of Holy Thursday. It marks the end of the forty days of Lent and the beginning of the three-day celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday.The Easter Triduum has extraordinary significance: ‘Christ redeemed us all and gave perfect glory to God principally through his paschal mystery: dying he destroyed our death and rising he restored our life.  Therefore, the Easter Triduum of the passion and resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year.Anne encourages us all to participate in, to be a part of, and to read and reflect on the special three days of this Easter Triduum. As she concludes, Anne invites us to join her in prayer:Lord God,May we come to realise fully the price of our salvationThe suffering and death of your beloved Son,May his love bear fruit in your livesMay we be obedient to your will as he wasAnd trustful to the end.Amen.
Please note:Our Gospel reflections will take a break from tomorrow (Thursday 14 April) and will return on Tuesday 19 April.As we walk the road to Calvary with Jesus over the next few days and experience the joy of new beginnings through his Resurrection, Fr Paul and the Gospel Reflection team wish you peace and every blessing at this special time.