Lk. 19: 28-40; Is. 50: 4-7; Ps. 22: 8, 9, 17-20, 23-34; Phil. 2: 6-11; Lk 22: 14 – 23: 56
It has begun the source and summit of “Christendom”. Palm Sunday is the complete narrative of our faith as Christians. The preparation of Lent is to receive Christ as Lord and King and to be welcomed into his kingdom for all eternity. Palm Sunday is the beginning of the final journey into eternal life in Christ. It is a celebration of joy and sorrow, the joy of our salvation in Christ and the sorrow of our sins which persecute Christ even to this day. “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest”. For this we must never be silenced in the public square. Even as the Pharisees tried to silence the people Jesus responds, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”
Our times are filled with threats to those who speak in the public square their religious beliefs. It goes as far to the extreme as to call it “Hate speech”. It is condemned because it does not show tolerance or inclusive language. Today gender neutral belief seeks to deny God’s creation of humanity as male and female by natural law. The freedom to choose personal gender identity, the right to give life or end life, now extends to the demand that others comply with these social norms or lose their rights to exist in the public square. In times of darkness comes the light. Jesus is the light and he comes as a disruptive force to the Pharisees despite all their attempts to silence him.
The words of Jesus, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” is a reminder of his deep sorrow and suffering in his humanity. He is a God who joined us in all our human suffering and in agony feels the separation from God as we often wonder and question where God is when we suffer. His supplication “But you, O Lord be not far from me” is followed by a commitment “I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.” In joy praise comes naturally but in suffering do we remain committed to praise the Lord?
Poor Peter, “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day you will deny three times that you know me.” Peter’s weakness is our weakness yet Jesus turns to Peter to be the rock “Simon…once you turn back you must strengthen your brothers.” This is our joy we must turn back to the Lord from our sins and be the rock of strength for our family, friends, and a sign of hope to the stranger. We are to serve the Lord as the light in the darkness with fortitude, justice, prudence, and temperance. The light is received in our baptism through the Holy Spirit to be kept burning brightly with love in action willing to go forth into the darkness. It cannot be kept hidden beneath church ceilings or within the soul of a believer.
The sign of hope is a servant’s love to lift others by our testimony in word and act of charity with all humility. Jesus offers us his cup and his bread that is his body and blood to strengthen us in this our personal crosses we bear in this life. Our hope is the end of death by sin, the redemption of the sinner we are, and the resurrection into new life in the covenant of love. Lent is our preparation time for a new beginning just as the world celebrates the New Year with a new resolution we celebrate our conversion. Each day brings its joys and sorrows, trials and triumphs, beginning and end. Each day is an offering of us to God and Easter is our springtime to be new once again in our faith, hope, and love.
Let us invite Jesus into our lives and see the miracle of transformation beyond all understanding. Let us now live our “Passover” from death into eternal life in the joy of the Eucharistic celebration, the sacrifice of the Mass and the going forth to love and serve the Lord. “Jesus wept” is the shortest sentence in scripture. Now Jesus waits. How will you and I respond? We belong to Christ!
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