Readings: Is. 50:4-7; Phil. 2:6-11; Mk. 14:1-15:47
The
Covid-19 Palm Has Become the Palm of Jubilation
1. Last year’s Palms were not used on Palm Sunday because Mass was suspended on March 15, a month before the celebration of Palm Sunday. The old palms were preserved for obvious reasons. Covid-19 pandemic was so severe that the use of things like, palms, hymn books, and bulletins were suspended. The reception of the cup during communion is still suspended and the offering of the sign of peace can only be given by the wave of hands or the bowing of heads. We have learned to keep our hands to ourselves, except for family members. Attendance at Mass had dropped drastically, and those at Mass are separated six feet apart. These restrictions were to minimize the rate of infections in our parishes. Today we use the old palms to remind us of the new life slowly returning to our world as the number of those who have taken vaccines is on the rise. Today’s Palms will remind us of the new life, Christ is bringing to our world due to his death and resurrection. We who died with Him during this past year, hope to rise with Him to a new life as we banish covid-19 from our lives.
2. At this Mass, we gather to celebrate and to welcome Christ into Jerusalem to begin his passion, death and resurrection. We must follow Jesus all the way from the joyful celebration to his cross on Calvary and finally to the resurrection. The palms we carry today demonstrate fully the importance of the suffering of Christ. During this past year, many of our parishioners contacted the virus, been hospitalized and others in and around our parish and in the country lost their lives. We have experienced untold suffering, grieve, loss of property and loved ones. Through it all we have been able to hold on to our faith, believing that Christ, who suffered for us, will lift us up to a better life again. And so, Christ’s suffering is truly our hope. The letter to Hebrews tells us that Christ, the “Son of God learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” (Heb. 5:9).
3. Palm Sunday reminds us of the humility of Christ. The second reading expressed it thus: “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, 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. 2:6-8). The exultation of Jesus through his humility brings salvation to the world. Christ did not shy away from suffering. He knew that there will be no crown for the world without him passing through the pain, suffering and accepting the shameful death of the cross. St. Paul tells us “Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree.”” (Gal. 3:13). May we not be ashamed of the Cross of Christ for it is in that cross that we find our salvation. Christ reminds us, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” (Jn. 12:24-25) “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” (Jn. 12:32).
4. The first reading explains why Christ was able to obey his Father’s will. He learned to listen to God. “Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.” (Is. 50:4-6). Through prayer, Christ heard his father and followed his direction. His will was to do the will of his Father. According to the letter to the Hebrews: “For this reason, when he came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in. Behold, I come to do your will, O God.” (Heb. 10:5-7).
5. In our Christian life, we must accept suffering if we are to enjoy life with God. We must be humble in our service to God and humanity. The passion narrative we have just heard presented us with many personalities in the life of Jesus. It showed the courage of Christ. He knew that the chief priests and the scribes were out to get him. Yet his face was set on Jerusalem. There were many acts of kindness that followed Jesus during his journey to the cross. We must note that the key to everything was his prayer. Though it seemed that God had forsaken him, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me.” He was confident in God and knew that God was with him always. “I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly, I will praise you.” Let us take these words to heart today: “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angel, or principalities, nor present height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:35-38).
6. As we begin this journey with the Lord into his passion, death and resurrection, may we not allow anything to take us away from the love of Christ. Jesus is more than the collective will of the evil one to distract us from God’s way. The passion of Christ will surely lead to the glory of the resurrection. May God strengthen us now and always. Amen!
Rev.
Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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