3rd Sunday of Lent

 The Paschal Mystery

Lent is a time to prepare for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. 

So if I were to ask you “What is the Paschal Mystery?”

What would you say?

The word “Paschal” comes from the Hebrew “Pasch” which refers to the Passover. 

At the Passover, the Lamb was slain. 

His blood was put on the doorposts of the homes of the Israelites 

and the Angel of Death “Passed over” their houses sparing them from death. 

While inside they ate the Passover Lamb for their journey to the Promised Land. 

Jesus is the Paschal Lamb Who was slain. 

Whose Blood frees us from slavery to sin and death,

And Whose Body Strengthens us for our journey to the Promised Land. 

The Paschal Mystery  is our “Christian Passover.”

Whereby through the death and resurrection of Jesus Who is the Lamb of God

We experience our own Passover. 

Life is a continuous Passing. 

A Passing from childhood to adolescence, to middle age and old age. 

A passing from one love to another;

From one job to another;

A passing from what was to what will be. 

A passing from this life to the next. 

The Paschal Mystery is the ultimate Passing Over 

Where the death and resurrection of Jesus, enables;

Our Pasch, our Passing over from all that holds us down and holds us back;

From Sin and Death to Freedom and Eternal Life.