Growing up a cradle Catholic I always dreaded this week. We had to go to church “So many times!”, it was sad and scary, and some of the traditions I thought were strange. For instance, the priest washing the feet of a few members of the congregation or everyone going up to the front of the church to kiss the feet of Jesus on the cross for the Good Friday service, and all of the genuflecting. I understood why it happened I just didn’t understand the traditions. But once Easter Sunday came around, it was a joyous celebration with all of the rituals and family gathering on a beautiful spring day.

It wasn’t until I grew up into my late 20’s that I realized the importance of this week as Catholics. It is the week where it all started for us as Christians. I became fascinated by the time period, what actually happened during the crucifixion, and what was a woman’s role during that time. I started to look into and study the traditions of our faith and why we did what we did. The Internet, books, and the History channel became my school.

But all that learning didn’t help suffice my yearning to know WHY. How could a people who revered and followed and longed to be with Jesus five days earlier suddenly turn on Him? Why did God let this happen to His only Son?

Then our family started to grow and slowly my answers were starting to come to me. When we were protecting and teaching our sons when they were little and they didn’t like it and threw tantrums and yelled, “WHY?” we, as adults, can see ahead what would happen to them if they continued on the course they were on. They couldn’t understand it at the time, but Micky and I had to be diligent with our discipline for their own good so they could be safe and respectful men when they grew up.

God is the same way. We may not understand why Jesus had to go through all the pain and suffering of the crucifixion, but we can see why God had to let it happen. The doors of Heaven are open to us now! When we have done all we need to do here on Earth, there is a special place waiting for us with joy, peace, and love of the Father, Son, and our Mother.

This year, 2020, Holy Week is going to be difficult for me. There will be no building to go to, no Masses, no special services, no congregation and hugs from people you haven’t seen for a while. We probably cannot go and see our extended family members. All we can do is celebrate it with our family at home (Thank God for the Internet!), make it as special as I can, and know that when we have our own “Resurrection” after this virus is over, our families, neighbors, community, and nation will be more generous, caring and loving to one another. We just might see a slice of Heaven when this virus has subsided.