"But . . . we don't sing the Alleluia during Lent!"
True.
But now we can!
For we are now officially in Holy Week.
I hadn't really intended to go all religious all of a sudden.
Apart from a few posts documenting the important milestones of our Lenten season, I had no intention of dwelling on the pious.
Until a certain old man decided to resign...
And after that (almost) all my thoughts turned heavenward.
(Which is not a bad thing, of course).
Palm Sunday always brings about a sense of childish excitement for me.
Especially in the last few years (since the loss of someone special) it has become a bitter-sweet kind of day.
In some parts of the world, Easter is considered a more important celebration than Christmas. I might even postulate that the Universal Church agrees with this sentiment.
I always get a 'coming home' feeling at this time of year.
Even though I am often far from home on this day most years.
In some countries I am familiar with, Easter is synonymous with 'going to the mountains'.
As someone whose origin is precisely in 'the mountains', I know this sentiment all too well.
As we speak, relatives are preparing to leave whichever corner of the world they normally find themselves in, to descend upon a big mountain they call 'home'.
I shall be on a different mountain.
But strangely enough, that would also be 'home'.
Home might be where the heart is, but for some, home is very much where you go to die.
Our Lord may have had a triumphant 'home-coming' of sorts when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.
But shortly afterwards, he was to die...on a mountain (or at least in all the films depicting His Passion and crucifixation, Golgotha appears to be some sort of high altitude area).
I am inexplicably thrilled that we can legitimately say 'Alleluyah' again.
And I am particularly excited that we now have a leader to take us through Holy Week.
I had visions of no 'Ubi et Orbi' this Easter.
Why, that would be...scandalous!
Imagine that!
Perish the thought. :-)
Whatever mountain we all find ourselves on at the end of this week, I hope and pray that it is home.
After all the soul-searching, penance, and renewal rites of Lent, it is time to celebrate something accomplished.
Getting home.
In whatever sense we would like it to be.
Physically.
Spiritually.
Emotionally.
Mentally.
Psychologically.
Whateverly.
Peacefully.
Speaking of peace, Cristina Piccardi seems to exude it when she sings Mozart's 'Laudate Dominum' below.
And she has this uncanny ability to pass it on to her audience.
Her high notes particularly bring out my synaesthesia to unparalleled levels.
I really do see rainbows at the end of this one :-)
Enjoy.
And have a wonderful Palm Sunday.
Hm...it seems Mozart is the flavour of the month. :-)
Here is our dear Pope Emeritus Benedict enjoying Hilary Hahn's stellar performance of the third violin concerto.
We shall miss you, Papa Benedict.
Take good care of yourself, and enjoy your retirement!
