GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE
March 29, 2026
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Matthew 26:14-27:66
Just prior to this week’s Passion narrative in St. Matthew’s Gospel, there is a small, striking story describing a woman’s scandalous action toward Jesus: “A woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of costly perfumed oil, and poured it on his head” (Matthew 26:7). The ointment was pure nard, worth more than 300 denarii. A year’s wages. Maybe a dowry, maybe a family inheritance. In any case, she breaks it. She does not measure or ration. She pours it all out, irreversibly, over Jesus. Why does this image begin Holy Week?
Because what she does with the jar, Jesus will soon do with his life. The jar must be broken so the fragrance can be released. Jesus’ body will be broken so his priceless divine and human love can be poured out. She gives everything, just as he is about to give everything. And He sees it: “She has done a good thing for me” (Matthew 26:10). Her act is lavish, impractical, scandalous in its apparent wastefulness. And he loves it. It is what Holy Week is all about.
What jar are you still holding onto? Your time? Your comfort? Your plan for how life should go? Don’t just wave palms today. Let yourself be broken open so your love, too, can be poured out.
Lenten Challenge: Offer something costly to Jesus this Holy Week — not out of guilt, but love. Your attention. Your forgiveness. Your time. Break the jar. Trust that nothing poured out for him is ever wasted.
— Father John Muir
PRAYER – FOR EVERYDAY AND EVERYBODY
Blessing for Holy Week
Be with us this week, Lord,
journeying closer and closer to Your pierced and Sacred Heart.
Immerse us in Your intense and undying love.
Help us to encounter Your passion in new ways that inform, surprise, and inspire us.
Amen.
(PRACTICING) CATHOLIC - RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS
By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman
The Humanity of Holy Week
We have all sold Jesus out, at one point or another. Some of us have done it more than once, and we’ve done it for a lot less than 30 pieces of silver.
We have all denied Christ, and we have done it more than three times and under much less pressure than Peter, who feared for his life when he shouted, “I do not know the man!”
We have all struck the face of God — out of anger? Fear? Confusion? All of the above? — screaming, in agony, “Prophesy for me!”
At one point or another, we have all looked at our Lord beaten and betrayed, and we have all said, as Pilate did: “What shall I do with Jesus called Christ?”
And we have all hung on the cross chosen for us, crying out in bewilderment: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Holy Week is a week where we see humanity, in all its vulnerability and ignorance. We see it in the “villains” of the piece, like Judas, and in the morally neutral characters like Pilate and the Jews who have been misled about Jesus. We even see it in the “good guys” like Peter.
In this, the holiest week of the year, we see ourselves at our very worst. The chasm between man and his Creator is an ancient one, and it is driven deep and wide — by the pridefulness of Adam and Eve, yes, but also by every poor choice you and I have ever made.
Every “I don’t know the man!”
Every “Prophesy!”
Every “What shall I do with Jesus?”
These cries echo forth from the depths of this chasm.
But this week — this Holy Week — a bridge is built across the chasm. And God reaches out His hand.
WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS PARISH
Our Mission Statement:
We, the North American Martyrs Parish, a strong community of faith, Nourished by the Holy Eucharist, Guided by the Holy Spirit and Trusting in the grace of God, Dedicate ourselves to live God’s Word and Let the light of Christ shine through our Community. We strive to provide sound religious formation for people of all ages; To care for the spiritual, social well-being of one another With particular attention to the stranger and the poor in our midst.
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ John 20:21
Upcoming Events
1 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
The month of April is designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the United States. The Diocese of Manchester provides child safety articles, parent guides, and other helpful information about child protection on its website. For more information, please visit www.catholicnh.org/safety during April and share this information with others.
