PASSION FOR CHRIST
(Mark 14:1-15:47)
The celebration of today is one
that launches us liturgically into the Holy Week. The Holy week is so called
because of the important events in the life of Christ that is re-enacted from
this Sunday to Holy Saturday.
In a special way, today is called
the Palm Sunday or the Passion Sunday. It is the Sunday that precedes the
Easter Sunday. It is called Palm Sunday because of the Blessing and
distribution of palm branches representing the Palm branches the crowd waved as
Jesus entered Jerusalem. These branches after the blessings become Sacramentals
and are to be preserved to serve as ash for next Ash Wednesday. On the other
hand, today is called the Passion Sunday because of the Passion Narratives that
become the Gospel of today. Here, we hear about the story of Christ's
condemnation, suffering and death. We listen to it, not just as a story but
contemplate on it as a reality in the life of Christ.
THE DIVISION OF TODAY'S
CELEBRATION
Today's celebration is divided
into two parts: THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY OR THE PALM PART, THE HOSANNA PART and THE
PASSION PART, THE THORN CROWN PART or THE 'CRUCIFY HIM' PART.
In the first session we saw the
myriads of people singing and following Christ along, hailing Him as it were
with their palms. We saw Jesus on the donkey riding in majesty as the Messiah
that is to come. The people chanted: Hosanna filio David. We do the same
procession today, as we look up to Jesus as the only Messiah that comes in the
name of the Lord for our salvation.
We are brought to a deeper
reflection on the Passion of Christ so as to appreciate all He went through to
set us free. We are not just to hear it and get entertained but put ourselves
in the number of the people who witnessed these great events and ask ourselves
where we belong. Are we among the Hosanna people or the Crucify Him people?
That's the question.
MESSAGE OF TODAY
The story of the Passion is the
longest narration in the gospel we can think of in the Catholic Liturgy. We
must stand to hear it all. It is worth it. We must give it our attention. That
was the reason why Jesus came into the world. That was why Jesus emptied
Himself and took up the human nature. Let us go home with the message of this
celebration so as to ever live in appreciation to Christ for His Holy Passion
for our salvation.
ZEAL FOR CHRIST
In the passion narrative we saw
man in His crude, corrupt nature and God in His zeal to save man which made Him
become silent over all His Son endured for Man's redemption.
The passion is a story of
betrayal, of denial, of disappointment, of humiliation, of abandonment, of
false judgment, of eclipse of godliness, of shame, of capital punishment, of
man's inhumanity.
Jesus saw all these. He knew it
even as the Hosanna chants were going on. In the Gospel today He nearly prayed
that it should pass away. But He insisted on allowing not His Human will but
the Divine will to take place.
His passion for the souls of men
urged Him on. His love for our freedom encouraged Him to ride on to die.
Let us confront life with passion
for God and the love for God. Let us not allow the changes and chances of this
life to weigh us down. Let us not allow our desires, sinful passions, lust,
greed and emotions to steal our attraction for God and the will of God for us.
Do we really have the zeal to actualize our mission of knowing God and
inheriting His kingdom at last?
BE TRUE
Falsehood reigned in the story of
the Passion of Christ. The Chief priests and the pharisees cooked up their
accusations against Jesus because they wanted Him dead. Pilate knew the truth
and was not courageous to stand for it. The crowd knew that Barrabas was an
evil man but chose to free Him and crucify Jesus. They used their passions
wrongly. They were dishonest with the powers invested on them by God.
Are you a true Christian? Do you
shout Hosanna in the noon and crucify Him in the night? Do you like Peter declare before Church
members, where you are known to follow Jesus till death and when you think no
one sees you or knows your identity you deny Christ? Be true and tell yourself
that truth on this.
Only Passion for Christ can make
you stand up for Jesus in season and out of season.
BE HOLY AS YOU ENTER THE HOLY
WEEK
With Christ's entry into His
passion, the mood of His close pals changed. While the crowd rejected Christ
His mother and the women were thrown into mournful prayers, they were drawn
more to Him. The beloved disciples kept following. They remained steadfast. Few
bystanders repented. Some confessed their sins. Some declared that Jesus Christ
is the Lord. All these took place within the context of the passion. People
entered into communion with God.
Let us be among the few who
brought consolation to Jesus as He endured His passion. Let us be among those
who will prove to Jesus that His suffering and death on the Cross is not in
vain. We can only do this by living a holy life, by emptying ourselves for God
to feel us with His grace, by removing from our lives everything that will
crucify Jesus the second time.
Let us like Christ accept whatever
cross that will come our way with perfect resignation and total abandonment.
Let's look up to God knowing that He will not allow us to be put to shame. May
we move away from the noise in the world and embrace silence and in the silence
of our hearts hear the voice that speaks of peace reconciling us to God whose
heart we have often wounded by sin. Let us not give up nor lose faith in the
face of the many trials that come our way. Let's not be overwhelmed by the
difficult times. They will all pass away. There's no crown without cross. We
shall overcome by the grace of God. God can never abandon us. Let's appreciate
all the celebrations of this holy week and come out of it triumphantly
victorious.
LET US PRAY
We thank and worship You Lord for
keeping us alive to celebrate this year's Passion. We thank You for this Holy
Week which the Corona virus pandemic didn't allow us to observe so well last
year. As You continue to bless us oh Lord, give us the grace to appreciate the
great price Your Son paid to set us free. Give us the zeal to continue living
according to Your holy will for us. May the passion of Christ strengthen us now
and for ever. Amen
Happy Passion Sunday (Yr B)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
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