The faith of the first community of believers [in the Resurrection of the Jesus Christ] is based on the witness of concrete men known to the Christians and for the most part still living among them. Peter and the Twelve are the primary "witnesses to his Resurrection", but they are not the only ones - Paul speaks clearly of more than five hundred persons to whom Jesus appeared on a single occasion and also of James and of all the apostles (1 Cor 15:4-8; cf. Acts 1:22.).
Given all these testimonies, Christ's Resurrection cannot be interpreted as something outside the physical order, and it is impossible not to acknowledge it as an historical fact. It is clear from the facts that the disciples' faith was drastically put to the test by their master's Passion and death on the cross, which he had foretold (cf. Lk 22:31-32). The shock provoked by the Passion was so great that at least some of the disciples did not at once believe in the news of the Resurrection. Far from showing us a community seized by a mystical exaltation, the Gospels present us with disciples demoralized ("looking sad”, (Lk 24:17; cf. Jn 20:19) and frightened. For they had not believed the holy women returning from the tomb and had regarded their words as an "idle tale" (Lk 24:11; cf. Mk 16:11,13). When Jesus reveals himself to the Eleven on Easter evening, "he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen” (Mk 16:14).
Even when faced with the reality of the risen Jesus the disciples are still doubtful, so impossible did the thing seem: they thought they were seeing a ghost. "In their joy they were still disbelieving and still wondering” (Lk 24:38-41). Thomas will also experience the test of doubt and St. Matthew relates that during the risen Lord's last appearance in Galilee "some doubted” (Cf. Jn 20:24-27; Mt 28:17). Therefore, the hypothesis that the Resurrection was produced by the apostles' faith (or credulity) will not hold up. On the contrary their faith in the Resurrection was born, under the action of divine grace, from their direct experience of the reality of the risen Jesus.
 
Catechism of the Catholic Church, paras. 642 - 644

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
Palm Sunday tells us that
it is the Cross
that is the true tree of life

​Easter Ceremonies St Alphege
 
Tuesday of Holy Week (Reconciliation Service) ..19.00
Maundy Thursday ………………………………….19.00
Good Friday (Children’s Stations of the Cross) …10.30
Good Friday …….…………………………………..15.00
Easter Vigil ………………………………………….19.00
Easter Sunday …………………………………….. 11.00
This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.
The 11 o'clock Mass will start in the parish hall for the commemoration of the Lord's entrance into Jerusalem. The palms (provided) will be blessed and then we will process to the church.
The Passion of the Lord according to St Mark will be read in three parts.  
RECONCILIATION SERVICE at 7pm on Tuesday 26 March in preparation for the Easter Tridium. Everyone is encouraged to come.
Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil: Please do bring a bell with you which you are invited to ring during the Gloria.
There will be a Children's Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at 10.30am in the Church. All are welcome.
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Easter Ceremonies 2024
Palm Sunday                 24th        11.00       Mass & Blessing Palms
Tue of Holy Week         26th        10.00        Mass
Maundy Thursday         28th        19.00       Mass (watching at Altar of Repose until 10 pm)
Good Friday                   29th        15.00       
Easter Vigil                   30th        19.00
Easter Sunday              31st        11.00   (Remember the clocks go forward!)                       
                                                      No 6 pm Mass
Easter Monday              1st           No Mass
Tuesday                         2nd           10.00
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday,  the beginning of Holy Week.
The 11 o'clock Mass will start in the parish hall for the commemoration of the Lord's entrance into Jerusalem. The palms (provided) will be blessed and then we will process to the church.
The Passion of the Lord according to St Mark will be read in three parts. 
Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil: Please do bring a bell with you which you are invited to ring during the Gloria.

Christ and Nicodemus, Crijn Hendricksz Volmarijn, 1604–1645
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The Cleansing of the Temple
This is a very dramatic and startling episode in the Gospel narrative. The image of meek and mild Jesus is put into the shade by this driving out of the traders with a whip. Our Lord of course is totally justified. The commerce going on in the courtyard was supposed to be to enable people to buy animals for the ritual sacrifice commanded by God in the Law of Moses but the sellers had lost sight of the goal and turned it into a purely money-making enterprise.
As Temples of the Holy Spirit each one of us also has a duty to make sure that our own 'house is in order'. The season of Lent gives us a focused opportunity to cleanse the sanctuary of our souls. We can ask ourselves what things in our life stop us from being God's Temple? What things do we let block our hearts from God and his spirit? During this season we should all take stock and if needed clear out all that stops us from being flourishing member of the Church.
Father Alex McAllister
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