This week, beginning of Holy Week, end of Lent, celebration of the Triduum and introduction to the Easter Season, brings into perspective everything we ever want and need to know about Jesus and God’s love for us.
We begin with Passion (Palm) Sunday following the miracle of Jesus raising his friend, Lazarus, from his death and burial in a tomb for four days. Those who witnessed it and heard about it are praising Him as the Messiah, singing: “Hosanna to the Son of David”! By Friday of this same week, the crowd will be yelling: “Let Him be crucified”! What changed?
Certainly not Jesus! He came into this world in obedience to the will of His Father. For His time on earth, Jesus taught us about God’s love, mercy and forgiveness. If that were not enough, He died on the cross for our sins, was raised from the dead to reopen the gates of heaven and ascended alive to welcome all those who believe in an eternal life of happiness.
The change then came from us. We missed the signs then and are still at times unable to connect the dots to a Trinity of Holy Spirits who throughout the history of humans has done everything possible to give us a life of peace, joy and happiness. How do we rectify this?
Our readings from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians give us a clear picture of what Jesus did and how we can better understand how to imprint them into our heart, mind, soul and strength.
Isaiah tells us how to share God’s message we receive daily in living our lives by being humble, accepting whatever happens and knowing God is with us throughout our life. In other words, we need to pattern our ways after His.
St. Paul relates that same idea by referring to Jesus’ life directly when He denied equality with God writing: “He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. We are called to imitate Jesus in humility and abasement as a model of conduct that should be found in all our decisions, faith based or otherwise, we make.
St. Matthew’s Gospel account of the Passion of the Lord, from the Last Supper up to His death on the cross and burial in a borrowed tomb, repeats Jesus demeanor in every encounter He faces. He was merciful with the Apostles, honest before the Sanhedrin, truthful at His judgment before Pontius Pilate and forgiving of all who harmed Him.
Passion (Palm) Sunday is an occasion for us to reflect on the final week of Jesus’ life following the six weeks we took to assess our life during Lent. Let us bring to light our baptismal promise of loving God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength so we can understand the wisdom of Jesus’ actions during this time.
In doing so, we hope to have the courage and strength to be the true disciple we espouse to be in thought, word and deed as we spread the Gospel message of Jesus in all our life decisions. Then, and only then, do we hope to receive the joy and peace of God’s promise as we keep faith in all Jesus taught, did and suffered out of love for His creation.
Reading 1: Isaiah 50: 4-7
Reading 2: Philippians 2: 6-11
Gospel 1 Prior: Matthew 21: 1-11
Gospel 2 @ Mass(Passion): Matthew 26: 14 – 27: 66
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