It always amazes me in reading the Gospel at the Procession on Palm Sunday and in celebrating Holy Week how in the space of five days the people’s sentiment for Jesus goes from praise and joy to false accusations, a mock trial, physical torture and to death by crucifixion. Unfortunately, it does not surprise me. Man’s cruelty to humans seems to be an expectation accepted by most as to how one treats another based on frustration to selfishness being denied. I can hear people saying:
“Enough is enough. This itinerant preacher is preaching heresy to Moses’ Covenant with God. Let us turn him over to the Romans for torture and death. It is better to follow the Sanhedrin than this turmoil with a promise we cannot see fulfilled.”
St. Luke’s Passion Gospel for Palm Sunday brings us a caretaker’s vision of Jesus who is unafraid and resolute about the fate that lies before Him and remains steadfast until the end. It provides us with a perspective that somewhat contradicts how humans suffer from physical tortures, whether they are inflicted by someone or something else or it is a disease from within that slowly and deliberately destroys one’s body.
And yet, we can somewhat understand how Jesus gets through this because of His promise to His Father that he will face into untold difficulties to bring their creation (us) into a life of eternal peace and joy if we accept and believe. It is a great test of one’s courage and strength, even for the Son of God. Are we ready to test our resolve when we are called to repent for the sins in our lives so we can overcome whatever is blocking our path to the Kingdom of Heaven?
As I have admitted before in my blog and homilies, I am not perfect and am a sinner. It is not a boast, but a reality check when I look both at my life history as well as how I conduct my life today. One would think a personal journey improves with time. How many times does one need to repeat the same error over and over before realizing the direction needs a course correction for better results: 70 times 7?
These 40 days of Lent are supposed to help us transform, or at least make changes for the better. We are to take time to take a retrospective look or glance at our life and pick at least one item that can be bettered. Our faith reminds us at every liturgy and in each scripture of things we could do to improve our life so we could openly and quietly boast of something good we have done to improve our relationship with God. Did we attend Mass more often, pray several times each day and read Scriptures to better understand God and His ways? If so, I would think we could appreciate this as forward progress in our faith walk. If not, it was another failed resolution of an unkempt promise.
Jesus suffered, died on the Cross and was Risen from the dead so we can put aside our fear of death and be welcomed into an everlasting reward of eternal life with the Holy Trinity, angels and saints. St. Luke’s Palm Sunday Gospel Passion story reminds us of the depth of Jesus’ love for us. It is still not too late to start something that will improve our plight.
This Holy Week, if at all possible, attend at least one service of the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Easter Vigil). On Thursday we celebrate Christ’s Last Supper with His Apostles where He washes their feet to remind them we are in service to all of God’s creation. Good Friday offers services throughout the day reminding us of the sacrifice Jesus, our Lord and Savior, made for us so we can have everlasting life. And, on Saturday, the Easter Vigil is celebrated by the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation for those who openly declare their love of God in joining other Catholic members by their yes to the Holy Trinity.
Whichever you choose to visit, do it with an open mind and heart,
welcoming God as His followers did on Palm Sunday. You might come to realize that all His teaching,
preaching and miracles provides both hope for a better life and a focus of
God’s promise and love for the everlasting life we all seek in our journey.
Reading 1: Isaiah 50: 4-7
Reading 2: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Luke 22: 14 – 23: 56
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