Readings: Is. 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Mt. 26:14-27,66
The Journey of Salvation began on Palm Sunday
Today is Palm Sunday, or the passion of Christ and the beginning of Holy Week. Palm Sunday is a joyful and jubilant celebration but also a very difficult day for Christ. Today Jesus was given a red-carpet reception as he entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The use of palm branches to welcome royalties is an old tradition in olden days and even today in some cultures. “The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The palm was sacred in Mesopotamian regions, and in ancient Egypt represented immortality. A palm branch was awarded to victorious athletes in ancient Greece, and a palm frond or tree itself is one of the most common attributes of victory personified in Ancient Rome.” So, Christ was received this day, as a victorious king into Jerusalem. He did not ride a horse - a prestigious symbol of war, but a donkey, indicative of peace and humility – He is the king of peace.
This year, we will not witness this triumphant entry into Jerusalem with procession and palm branches. Mass of Chrism is postponed, the celebration of the Sacraments suspended, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter-vigil and Easter Sunday will only be live-streamed through Facebook and other social media platforms. Once again, the world is brought to a stand-still, because of a tiny virus that cannot even be seen by the naked eye. We have all run into the upper room, waiting for the intervention from above, for the Spirit to break our burdens, bring us a cure and set us free. Now more than ever, we must storm the heavens and plead for mercy, so that the solution to this virus may be found. We must stay indoors, like the children of Israel during the Passover, who sprinkled the lintel and the two door-posts of their houses with the blood of the lamb; so that the Lord will pass over their doors and not let the destroyer come into their houses to strike them down. (Ex. 12:23).
The passion narrative from Matthew’s Gospel today, displays many characters, playing different roles, in their relationship with Jesus. Judas Iscariot betrayed him; Peter denied him; the other apostles ran away, leaving him all alone. But Christ relied on His Father: “The Lord God is my help therefore I am not disgraced.” (Is. 50:7). Many discordant voices, reactions and insults trailed Jesus on the road to Calvary. False witnesses arose against him, the Scribes and the Pharisees wanted him dead. Pilate did not only condemn him to a painful torture and crucifixion, he humiliated him first by having him flogged. Women cried for him while men despised him. Soldiers ridiculed him, and bystanders mocked him. Palm branches were thrown away, and Hosanna to the Son of David was replaced with “away with him, crucify him”. Yet Jesus rides on to Jerusalem, with love in his heart and prayer for forgiveness on his lips for his murderers. Yes, “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:7-8).
“O Cross of Christ, immortal tree, on which our Savior died, the world is sheltered by your arms that bore the Crucified.” (Lenten Hymn). In all this we recall God’s love for humanity, through the obedience of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross. Oh! how much did he love us! “Greater love than this no man has, that a man should lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn. 15:13). The love of Jesus for mankind calls for love in return for love. This love is creative, understanding for humanity. Christ’s love is redemptive. It is salvific. It is sacrificial. It goes above and beyond emotions to the very heart of God, who “Gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16). Christ’s love culminated in his death on the cross. He reminds us, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mk. 8:34). It is in the understanding of this love that our current situation makes sense to us. We don’t have to be in Church to put His love into action.
This stay-home period to stop the spread of coronavirus, for our sake and that of our loved ones, calls for sober reflection and contemplation. It is a time to ponder Christ’s love for humanity. Do we remain calm in the face of pain, isolation, frustration, suffering or death, as this virus eats deep into the fabric of our lives? Do we pray for forgiveness and repentance for our sins and the sins of the world? Do we forgive others as we want God to forgive us? Do we seek God’s mercy and forgiveness for the times we have offended Him and others? What does Christ’s love remind us of when we tell lies to cover our iniquities? Are we faithful to our spouses or our significant others? Have we used this period to get closer to our families in prayer, in love and in charity? Have we used this time to bond with our children, friends or those we have separated ourselves from? Has this period created a spiritual fertile ground for us and our families? Do we pray together, read the bible together, say the rosary together and mediate on the passion of Christ as we recall His love?
We can do all these and more, while looking forward to being together again after coronavirus. Not going to Church should not be an excuse not to bond, to pray and to love. Christ did not die for a building we call church; He died for you and me. He died for us. We are the Church, not just the building, but as the children of God, we make up the body of Christ the Church. “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.” (1 Cor. 12:27). Let us listen again to the words of Jesus addressed to the Samaritan woman at the well, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand... But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed, the Father seeks such people to worship him.” (Jn. 4:21-23). Are we ready to worship the Father in Spirit and in truth and reciprocate his love by committing ourselves to this Holy week of grace and mercy? May we be grateful to Christ for loving us. As we celebrate Palm Sunday today, may we see in the coronavirus pandemic our own Good Friday believing that Easter Sunday is right-round the corner. “Let us give thanks to the Lord for everything, for “His anger lasts only a moment, his goodness for a lifetime. Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Ps. 30:5). Let us thank all those who are working round the clock to keep us safe. Let us also appreciate with love, our spiritual and temporal leaders, who provide us with guidelines that we so much rely on at this time. May we all live to see the end of this virus. And may God give eternal life to the dead and consolation to those who mourn them. Amen!
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