I woke up at 4 a.m. today and suffered from certain unrest, apparently for reflecting on what happened in Jerusalem, in similar days to ours, nearly two thousand years ago.

At the time, Jerusalem witnessed eight types of behavior, particularly with regard to the suffering and death of Christ on the cross:

1) Christ weeping over Jerusalem (Luke, chapter 19, verses 41-44)

2) Peter cried after his denial of Christ (Luke, chapter 22 verse 62)

3) Judah cries after he betrayed Christ (Matthew, chapter 27, verses 3-5)

Our Lord’s submission to death and his subsequent resurrection, even if they do not explain fully or answer all our questions concerning the suffering of the innocent, do comfort and encourage us.

Without a doubt, Holy Week of 2020 is tragically historic in this time of COVID-19, a true global plague. Since the end of World War II, humanity has not been subjected to a situation so grave and mortal as this. However, in spite of this inescapable reality, the Christian Holy Week comes providentially to give us encouragement, strength and hope for our life and happiness.

The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan has published a special prayer for the healing of COVID-19 victims in Jordan and the world at large. This prayer was reported on Monday, April 6, since Easter celebrations approach according to the Gregorian and Julian calendars, as reported by CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader who wrote the prayer. Father Bader urged the believers to follow prayers on social media outlets so that they can participate in the Easter Church Services.

On a normal Palm Sunday, Christian communities hold Palm Sunday processions, waving palm crosses and listening to the year's longest Gospel! Internationally, families in Jerusalem's Christian quarter parade down the Mount of Olives carrying palm branches, Nigerian priests ride a real donkey into church, and communities in the Dominican Republic dress up as characters in the passion narrative, with 'Roman' soldiers marching down streets!

Do you have knots in your life that seem impossible to untie? Turn to Mary, Undoer of Knots!

The devotion to Mary, Undoer (or Untier) of Knots is about 300 years old, but became more widely known as Pope Francis spoke about and promoted it throughout his papacy, and while he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Pope Francis said:

Dear friends,

Palm Sunday, the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, marks the beginning of Holy Week, during which we celebrate one of the major feast days of our faith. As they made their way to Jerusalem, Jesus often spoke with His apostles about the suffering and cross that awaited Him. He wanted to prepare them for what was to come. The apostles, however, were afraid and found it difficult to understand that the world was to be delivered through the Passion and cross of Christ.

“Save us, Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.” (Psalm 106:47)

During the coronavirus pandemic, our Catholic faith lifts us up and takes us deeper into the heart of the Church while also reaching into a stricken world. We are affected by the stress and heartache, but not shocked. Scripture tells us of such things will happen when we turn away from God.

Fr. Antony Kadavil reflects and comments on the readings at Mass for the fifth Sunday in Lent. He says that today's readings on our ultimate desire to share in eternal life with the risen Lord.

Ez 37:12-14; Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45

The Bible opens with a song of jubilation, a hymn to the creation that is born from God's hand and Word: "And God saw that it was good."

This astonishing and luminous affirmation punctuates the first seven days of the story of Genesis. At the same time, it leaves us with questions.

If creation is good, then why is there evil in our world? Why does God allow suffering, disease, pandemics like COVID-19 and the death of the innocent?

Pope Francis meditated on the calming of the storm from the Gospel of Mark during the prayer service over which he presided on the steps of St Peter's Basilica on Friday evening.

Following is the full text: