Readings: Is. 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Mt. 26:14-27,66
By His Wounds, We Have Been Healed
1. Today is Palm Sunday, or the passion of Christ, and the beginning of Holy Week. Palm Sunday is a joyful and triumphant celebration for Christ as he was given a red-carpet reception into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The use of palm branches to welcome royalties is an old tradition in the olden days and even today in some cultures. “The palm branch symbolizes victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The palm was sacred in Mesopotamian regions and, in ancient Egypt, representing 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 in 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.
2. 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 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, and the Scribes and the Pharisees wanted him dead. Before Pilate condemned Christ to painful torture and crucifixion, he humiliated him by having him flogged. Women cried for him, while some men despised him. Soldiers ridiculed him, and bystanders mocked him. Those with Palm branches threw them away, and Hosanna to the Son of David was replaced with “Away with him, crucify him.” Yet Jesus rides on to Jerusalem with love and forgiveness 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).
3. “O Cross of Christ, immortal tree, on which our Savior died, the world is sheltered by your arms that bore the Crucified.” (Lenten Hymn). As we begin this Holy Week, we call to mind God’s love for humanity through the death of Christ on the cross. “Greater love than this no man has, that a man should lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn. 15:13). God’s love for us calls us to love Him in return. This love is creative and understanding for humanity. Christ’s love is redemptive. It is salvific. It is sacrificial. It goes above and beyond mere 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 was so strong that He died the most shameful and excruciating death on the cross for our salvation. He reminds us, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mk. 8:34).
4. On this Palm Sunday, we are encouraged to reciprocate Christ’s love for humanity. Do we pray for forgiveness and repentance for our sins and the sins of others, especially our presumed enemies? Do we forgive others as we want God to forgive us? Do we seek God’s mercy for the times we have hurt others? What does Christ’s love tell us when we lie to cover our iniquities? Are we faithful to our spouses or significant others? Do we get closer to our families in prayer, love, and charity? Was the Lenten period a good time to bond with our children, friends, or others? Did this season of grace create a spiritually fertile ground for us as families? Did we pray, read the bible, say the rosary together, and meditate on the passion of Christ as we recall His love?
5. We can do all these and more while we look forward to celebrating the paschal mystery of Christ on Easter Sunday. We can reciprocate God’s love even more by committing ourselves to this Holy week of grace and mercy. As we celebrate Palm Sunday today, “Let us give thanks to the Lord for everything, for “His anger lasts only a moment, his goodness for a lifetime. Tears may flow at night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Ps. 30:5). Amen!
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
No comments:
Post a Comment