Palm Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: A call to be messengers of peace, hope, and victory in Christ

Readings: Is 50:4–7; Phil 2:6–11; Mt 26:14–27:66

Dearest brothers and sisters, Palm Sunday is a special day in the liturgical year. It opens the door to a great week for us — Holy Week. It ushers us into days rich with the remembrance of the events that saved us from sin, restored us to God’s friendship, and brought us back to life.

Today, carrying branches of palm or olive, we follow Jesus into our churches — our New Jerusalem — just as the people of Jerusalem cut branches and spread them along the road when Jesus triumphantly entered the city. These blessed branches have become sacramentals. Next year, they will be burned on Ash Wednesday, and their ashes will mark the beginning of another Lenten journey.

Palm and olive branches hold deep meaning in many cultures. They signify peace, victory, and hope. Their symbolism has roots in the ancient Mediterranean world — especially in Egypt and Greece — where olive branches represented peace or victory, particularly in acts of supplication to the gods or to people in authority.

Therefore, dearest friends, today we hold in our hands a symbol of peace. Our world needs peace more than ever because it is battered by problems and wars on every side. We see the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, America and Israel and Iran, among others. Acts of terrorism and banditry ravage many African nations. Many other regions suffer from unreported crises and unrest. It is clear that peace is the greatest gift we, as Christians, can offer our families, friends, and the world.

With these branches of palm and olive, let us become true messengers of peace — in our world, in our families, and among our friends. It would be a contradiction for the bearer of these branches not to be a promoter of peace in his or her own neighbourhood.

The olive or palm branch also signifies victory. Today we recalled Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where He showed Himself victorious over the forces of darkness and death. We also listened to the Passion, which reveals His journey toward that victory. We are witnesses to Christ’s power over evil and death. Therefore, as we carry these palm or olive branches — signs of victory — let us remind the world that our Saviour is a victorious King. Let us bear witness to His triumph over sin and death in our society.

Friends, we are children of victory. If anyone asks why you carry these branches today, tell them that our victorious King is passing by, entering our neighbourhood to fight our battles and to give us victory. Hence, it would be a contradiction if the children of victory were afraid to proclaim Christ to their friends.

The olive or palm branch also signifies hope. In the book of Genesis, the dove sent out by Noah returned with an olive branch — a sign of the hope of a new beginning. The difficulties in our world have caused many to lose hope in life and even in God. Many are searching for something solid on which to anchor their hope.

Dear friends, today we hold in our hands the sign of a new beginning — the branches of olive or palm. Let us go out and spread this message of hope. Let us tell the world that in Jesus there is the hope of a new beginning. The resurrection of Christ guarantees this new beginning; it is the fullness of hope. Let us be torchbearers of hope wherever we go, starting today.

Friends, we have the vocation to spread the message of peace, hope, and Christ’s victory in our world. As we do this, it is important to remember that Christ calls us to be true witnesses — people who remain with Him in good times and in difficult times, in moments of joy and in moments of sorrow. Our witness should not resemble that of the crowd who shouted Hosanna during Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem but failed to defend Him when He was unjustly tried and condemned. Many denied Him and chose Barabbas instead, as we heard in today’s Passion narrative. With the same intensity with which they cried “Hosanna, Son of David”, they later shouted, “Crucify Him.”

Dear friends, many concrete situations in our lives demand that we witness to the truth of the Gospel. We all see how our world has been penetrated by doctrines, ideologies, and lifestyles contrary to the Gospel. These harmful ideologies are promoted as fashionable by governments, celebrities, and culture industries. Some even attempt to impose their ungodly views on others.

We act like the crowd in the Passion narrative when we remain silent while our world is being battered by these forces. We deny Christ whenever we keep quiet in the face of such teachings and lifestyles. We deny Him whenever we choose indifference in the presence of evil. We choose Barabbas whenever we swim against the truth of the Gospel. May we not remain indifferent or unconcerned in the face of anti-life ideologies in our society. May we stop hiding behind political correctness when confronted with evil. Let us speak out for Christ.

Finally, today ushers us into Holy Week. The desire of Christ and His Church is that all who participate in the liturgies of this week may also strive to be holy. Let us set aside sin and focus on the Paschal Mysteries. Jesus invites us to open our hearts and be washed clean by His Precious Blood through the sacrament of Reconciliation. Let us carry our cross and walk with Christ to Calvary, so that we may rise with Him in glory.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 PALM SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: PASSION FOR LIFE

(MATTHEW 26:14-27:66)

We today commemorate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. He has been hiding for sometimes now. He has been in isolation. He had avoided the Jews and the virus of hatred and conspiracy they circulated. Today He enters Jerusalem, the place of death, He marches majestically upon the forces of darkness, He rode kingly into the city. He is greeted with the waving of palms and singing of psalms.

This journey spelt a lot for Jesus. But He did not give up because He had a drive. He had a motivation. He was driven by passion, He was moved into action. He wished to bring about a better form of life other than the sick, weak, sinful life. He was driven by a desire to deliver His people from bondage. He was inspired to give, to offer, to donate and also to take. He offers His life, He gives holiness, He sacrifices His Divinity on the altar of Humanity that humanity may receive dignity and respect. Jesus takes up passionately, from the depth of His heart our shame, our sin, our diseases, our sorrows, our fears and tears.

With this in mind, He launches us into the Holy Week. Let us see the various drives in today's Gospel Reading, known liturgically, as the passion narrative.

 

The passion for death

Passion is motivated by love. What one loves means a lot. For Jesus' love for life, He was moved to save it. For the scribe's and Pharisees' love for death they were out to terminate the life giver, they sat and took counsel, deadly ones indeed. Such a passion was very strong that it drew other passions along with it: Judas, Peter, Pilate, Barabas and the crowd.

 

Passion for Money

Money and what money can buy have been very strong force down through the ages. Money can be used to save life, but it has often been used to destroy life. Judas allowed himself due to the inclination in him and the love he had for money to be roped in by agents of death. He sold life to death. He traded the author of life for money. Until today, are we not suffering in the hands of our people, our leaders both religious and political as a result of greed and love for money? Are people not losing their lives on daily basis for loving money more than their parents, friends and life partners?

Judas took money and sold his master with a deadly kiss. He kissed to kill just to keep money. At last he saw that he only succeeded in plunging himself into despair and perpetual agony. Have you caused any death? Repent and replace your evil passions with holy ones.

 

Passion for self preservation

Peter who earlier on promised to stand by Jesus gave him more than a social distance when trials came. He loved his own life that he did not care whose life would be lost for him to preserve it. He no longer cared about his beliefs, he forgot his covenants, he abandoned his earlier stands, he told a good number of lies, and he denied Jesus. How many times have we denied Jesus on in the bid to preserve our lives and those of our family members? How many times have we told lies when questioned about our faith? How often do people get involved in a number of evils for protection? The passion for life makes you think not only of your life but also of the other person. Peter should have felt for his master who is being condemned based on lies, and who is receiving whips. Yet for fear and love for his own life, he did not feel for his master but denied him before a slave girl.

 

Passion for Power

Pilate realized so well that Jesus was innocent and yet because of his quest for power he asked: are you the king of the Jews? Another selfishness in action. Even when his wife made known to him her dreams he was not strong enough to stand for life. When he thought he was not threatened, he became neutral. When he thought the people might revolt, he washed his hands. What a craftiness! Intoxication of power has really done us more harm than good. The desire to remain on top by the world powers has really made them take decisions that sacrificed people's life. May God reveal to them that all power belongs to Him.

 

Passion for false freedom

The people wanted someone to be freed but it was the wrong person. Barabbas was desired while Jesus was denied. This is sad. How often do we passionately desire evil than good? May God save us. Barabbas did not demonstrate like the thief on the cross that he did not deserve

 

Passion for crowd

Some people find it difficult to stand out, to be themselves. They blindly and passionately follow the crowd. They move without knowing why, they shout without reasoning, they make noise and sing choruses they do not know. They may sing Hosannah in the morning and sing crucify him in the afternoon. They are a body of compromised beings. They allow themselves to be manipulated. Are you following Jesus as a crowd or as a convinced person who have had a personal touch by him?

Are you busy building factions instead of watering your passion for good actions?

It is indeed time to be passionate for life. For our spiritual well-being, for the life of those we are better than.

It is time to have human feelings. It is time for us to love like Christ. It is time for us to develop special love for things of God. It is time for us to take our mission on earth as children of God seriously. May we not be blindfolded by the wrong passions. May the passion of Christ strengthen us in all our endeavours. May God help us to make our world a better place. May He who overcame the weakness of his body to achieve the desire of the spirit help us to follow the directives of the Holy Spirit and be more sanctified this Holy Week and beyond. Amen

Be sanctified

Be made whole

Happy Palm Sunday (Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Palm Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: A call to be messengers of peace, hope and victory in Christ

Readings: Is 50:4-7; 2 Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23:56

Dearest brothers and sisters, Palm Sunday is a special Sunday in the liturgical year. It is a Sunday that opens the door to a great week – the Holy Week – for us. It ushers us into a week that is rich with the reminiscence of the events that saved us from sin, the events that restored us to God’s friendship, and the events that restored us to life.

Today, we carry branches of Palms or olives and follow Jesus into our churches, the New Jerusalem, the same way the people of Jerusalem cut branches of trees and spread them on the way as Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. These branches of olive or palm that have been blessed have become sacramentals. They will be burnt on Ash Wednesday next year, and ashes from them will be used to usher us into another period of Lent.

Branches of olive or palm have wonderful significances in our world. They signify peace, victory and hope. These significances have their root in the culture of the Mediterranean basin, especially from the culture/customs of ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, where olive branches represented peace or victory, particularly regarding supplication to both the gods and persons in power.

Therefore, dearest friends, today, we have the symbol of peace in our hands – the branches of palm or olive. These days, our world needs peace more than any other thing because she has been battered by problems and wars from all her quarters. We have seen the situation between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Palestine. Acts of terrorism and banditry are engulfing many countries of Africa. Many other parts of the world have also been engulfed by unreported crises and unrest. It is also known to everyone that peace is the greatest gift we, as Christians, can give to our families and friends. With these branches of olive/palm, let us become messengers of peace to our world, our families, and friends. Indeed, it will be a contradiction if the bearer of olive/palm branches is not a promoter of peace in his/her neighbourhood.

The olive/palm branch also signifies victory. Today, we have recalled Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where he became victorious over the forces of darkness and death. We have also read the Passion of Christ, which showed us Christ’s journey to victory. We are witnesses to this victorious power of Christ over evil and death. Hence, as we carry these branches of palm/olive, a sign of victory, let us remind the world that our Saviour is a victorious king; let us be witnesses to the victorious power of Christ over sin and death in our society. Friends, we are children of victory. In fact, if anybody asks you why you have the branches of olive/palm in your hands today, tell that person that our victorious King is passing by today, and he has victoriously entered our neighbourhood to fight our battles of life and to give us victory. Hence, it will be a contradiction if children of victory are afraid to proclaim Christ to their friends.

The olive/palm branch also signifies hope. This is evident in the book of Genesis when the dove that was sent out by Noah returned with an olive branch, a sign of the hope of a new beginning. The difficulties we have seen in our world have made many people lose hope in life and in God. Many people are searching for where to anchor their hope.

Dear friends, today, we have the sign of the hope of a new beginning in our hands, which is the branches of olive/palm. Let us go out and spread this message of hope. Let us tell the world that in Jesus, there is the hope of a new beginning. The resurrection of Christ is a guarantee of a new beginning; it is an ensemble of hope. Let us be torchbearers of hope wherever we enter, starting from today.

Friends, we have the vocation to spread the message of peace, hope and Christ’s victory in our world. As we do this, it is good to remember that Christ wants us to be true witnesses. Jesus needs those who will stay with Him both in good times and in bad times, those who will stay with Him when it is joyful and when it is sorrowful. Our witness to Christ should not be like that of the crowd who shouted Hosanna at the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem but did not come out to defend Him when He was unjustly tried and condemned to death. Many of them denied him and chose Barabbas in his place, as we read in the Passion narrative of today. Many of them shouted ‘Crucify him, crucify him’ with the same intensity with which they shouted ‘Hosanna, Son of David’.

Dear friends, many concrete situations of our lives demand us to witness to the truths of the Gospel. We have all noticed that our world has been penetrated by many doctrines, ideologies and lifestyles that are contrary to the truth of the Gospel. These evil lifestyles and ideologies are promoted and advertised as fashionable models by many governments of the world and, especially, by our so-called celebrities and our culture industries. It is unfortunate that some of them go to the extent of forcing their ungodly views on others. Dear friends, we would be acting like the crowd in the Passion Narrative if we continue to keep quiet and watch our world being battered by these people. We deny Christ and our faith whenever we keep quiet in the presence of such teachings and lifestyles. We deny Christ any time we decide to play the card of indifference in the face of evil. We choose Barabbas any time we swim against the truth of the gospel. May we not remain indifferent and unconcerned in the face of the anti-life ideologies that have entered our societies. May we stop being politically correct in the face of evil. Let us speak out for Christ.

Finally, today ushers us into Holy Week. The wish of Christ and his Church is that all of us who will participate in the programmes of this Holy Week should be holy too. Hence, let us set sin aside and focus on the Paschal Mysteries. Jesus invites us to open ourselves to be washed clean by His Precious Blood through the sacrament of reconciliation. Let us carry our cross and march with Christ to Calvary so that we will rise with him in glory.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 PALM SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE AMAZING SHARP SHIFTS OF THE PASSION NARRATIVE

(Luke 22:14-23:56)

Today is Palm Sunday, a name it derived from the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. An entry that was greeted with waving of palm fronds, an entry that took place in history. An entry that spelt unspeakable suffering for our Lord Jesus. Hence, the turnaround or better put the sharp shift, which is one among the many shifts within the passion narrative. Hence, today is also called the Passion Sunday, giving the fact that narrating the passion of Christ occupies a better place in the Liturgy of today. In a very special way today marks the beginning of the Holy Week. Today is the last Sunday before Easter. We are called to make Jesus' experiences ours.

Let us reflect upon the shifts evidence in the Gospel of today. Viz:

THE SHIFT FROM JUBILATING CROWD TO PERSECUTING MOB 

We can also call this the shift from 'Hosanna' to 'crucify him'. The crowd was the same. How they changed from the hosanna they were singing to crucify him is what no one can totally explain. How did the few evil men who were insignificant succeed in winning the entire crowd over to their side? Evil has a strong power that if time is not taken one realizes himself when he is already in its ocean. We are invited to be careful with the crowd and be conscious of a turnaround that might possibly come from them. In your journey with the Lord, follow as a convinced individual and never be moved by any influence.

THE SHIFT OF PETER: FROM 'I WILL FOLLOW' TO 'I DO NOT KNOW HIM'

Peter assured Jesus of his loyalty. He reassured him of his determination to follow him to the end. Jesus knew how strong the wind was going to be upon him and prophesied to him what would become of him in no distant time. Peter failed woefully when the time came. What was the reason behind this? Did he quickly forget his pledge to Jesus? What a quick shift! What a disappointment! What a betrayal! Even before a young girl, Peter denied Jesus. Let us pray and be on guard against broken vows and breaking of our promises and decisions to follow Jesus Christ to the end. We've started Lent with the Lord, let us follow him in holiness this Holy Week so as to rise with Him at Easter.

 JUDAS' SHIFT FROM KISS OF LOVE TO KISS OF BETRAYAL

Jesus was so disappointed at the self-donation of Judas to the devil that he called him by name and asked:

Judas, are you betraying the Son   of Man with a kiss? Be careful when the Holy Kiss translates to a betrayal kiss. Beware of the shift of the trusted and know when he has gone over to the rebels.

SHIFT FROM JESUS TO BARABAS

This one is a very surprising shift. When time came for making a choice between Jesus and Barabas, who to release, the Jews unanimously cried out: 'we want Barabas not Jesus'. What a heart-troubling choice! Do we blame the Jews? Are we better than them? How many good people have we denied leadership positions? How many good people are languishing in our prisons unjustly? May God save us from shifts to evil.

PILATE AND HEROD: SHIFT FROM WORST OF ENEMIES TO BEST OF FRIENDS

Pilate and Herod used Jesus to settle their differences. Jesus became a common enemy. Most of the time, the mighty settle their matters with common good people whose existence pose threat to their evil deeds. The righteous are always victims in the hands of the unrighteous. But evil can never undo the good for long. We can also make out something positive from this by being means of reconciliation to warring parties.

THE POSITIVE SHIFTS

There's something good we can draw from the shifts. They were not all negative. The godly people know how to make out something good from situations that look unfortunate. Let's learn from the following figures.

PETER: FROM DENIAL TO REPENTANCE

When the cock crew Peter turned his gaze and beheld the sorrowful Jesus and he wept bitterly. You may have denied Jesus as many times as possible. Turn, weep for your sins. He will forgive you.

THE CENTURION'S SHIFT

The centurion declared: This was a great and good man. May God open your eyes to acknowledge his goodness and greatness. May your shortsightedness be healed. Many among the crowd also repented.

THE GREATEST SHIFT

Christ made the greatest and most unimaginable shift on the cross. A shift from the ordinary to the extraordinary. This shift was made on the cross, shortly before breathing His last, when everyone expected him to rain curses on his unjust condemners. He prayed instead: Father forgive them.

May we accept the forgiveness of Christ and also forgive others.

May the passion of Christ strengthen you to make positive shifts that will shape you up spiritually.

May we always keep in mind all that Jesus endured in love for us and endeavour not to break His Heart that has loved us so tenderly.

I wish you a passionate Passion Sunday and a fulfilled Holy Week.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Palm Sunday, Year B: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: A Call to be messengers of peace, hope and victory of Christ

Readings: Is 50:4-7; 2 Phil 2:6-11; Mk 14:1-15:47

Dearest brothers and sisters, Palm Sunday is a special Sunday in the liturgical year. It is a Sunday that opens the door to a great week – the Holy week – for us. It ushers us into a week that is rich with the reminiscence of the events that saved us from sin, the events that restored us to God’s friendship, and the events that restored us to life.

Today, we carry branches of Palms or olives and follow Jesus into our Churches, the New Jerusalem, the same way the people of Jerusalem cut branches of trees and spread them on the way as Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. These branches of olive or palm that have been blessed have become sacramentals. They will be burnt on Ash Wednesday next year, and ashes from them will be used to usher us into another period of Lent.

Branches of olive or palm have wonderful significances in our world. They signify peace, victory and hope. These significances have their root from the culture of the Mediterranean basin, especially from the culture/customs of the ancient Egypt and ancient Greek, where olive branches represented peace or victory, particularly regarding supplication to both the gods and persons in power.

Therefore, dearest friends, today, we have the symbol of peace in our hands – the branches of palm or olive. These days, our world needs peace more than any other thing because she has been battered by problems and wars from all her quarters. We have seen the situation between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Palestine. Acts of terrorism are engulfing many countries of Africa. Many other parts of the world have also been engulfed by unreported crises and unrests. It is also known to everyone that Peace is the greatest gift we, as Christians, can give to our families and friends. With these branches of olive/palm, let us become messengers of peace to our world, our families, and friends. Indeed, it will be a contradiction if the bearer of olive/palm branches is not a promoter of peace in his/her neighbourhood.

The olive/palm branch also signifies victory. Today, we have recalled Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where he became victorious over the forces of darkness and death. We have also read the Passion of Christ which showed us Christ’s journey to victory. We are witnesses to this victorious power of Christ over evil and death. Hence, as we carry these branches of palm/olive, a sign of victory, let us remind the world that our Saviour is a victorious king; let us be witnesses to the victorious power of Christ over sin and death in our society. Friends, we are children of victory. In fact, if anybody asks you why you have the branches of olive/palm in your hands today, tell that person that our victorious King is passing by today, and he has victoriously entered our neighbourhood to fight our battles of life and to give us victory. Thus, it will be a contradiction if children of victory are afraid to proclaim Christ to their friends. 

The olive/palm branch also signifies hope. This is evident in the book of Genesis when the dove that was sent out by Noah returned with an olive branch, a sign of the hope of a new beginning. The difficulties we have seen in our world have made many people to lose hope in life and in God. Many people are searching for where to anchor their hope.

Dear friends, today, we have the sign of the hope of a new beginning in our hands, which is the branches of olive/palm. Let us go out and spread this message of hope. Let us tell the world that in Jesus, there is the hope of a new beginning. The resurrection of Christ is a guarantee of a new beginning, it is an ensemble of hope. Let us be torch bearers of hope wherever we enter, starting from today.

Friends, we have the vocation to spread the message of peace and hope and of Christ’s victory in our world. As we do this, it is good to remember that Christ wants us to be true witnesses. Jesus needs those who will stay with Him both in good times and in bad times, those who will stay with Him when it is joyful and when it is sorrowful. Our witness to Christ should not be like that of the crowd who shouted Hosanna at the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem but did not come out to defend Him when he was unjustly tried and condemned to death. Many of them denied him and chose Barabbas in his place, as we read in the Passion narrative of today. Many of them shouted ‘crucify him, crucify him’ with the same intensity with which they shouted ‘Hosanna, Son of David’.

Dear friends, many concrete situations of our lives demand us to witness to the truths of the Gospel. We have all noticed that our world has been penetrated by many doctrines, ideologies and lifestyles that are contrary to the truth of the Gospel. These evil lifestyles and ideologies are promoted and advertised as fashionable models by many governments of the world and, especially, by our so-called celebrities and our culture industries. It is unfortunate that some of them go to the extent of forcing their ungodly views on others. Dear friends, we would be acting like the crowd in the Passion Narrative if we continue to keep quiet and watch our world being battered by these people. We deny Christ and our faith whenever we keep quiet in the presence of such teachings and lifestyles. We deny Christ any time we decide to play the card of indifference in the face of evil. We choose Barabbas any time we swim against the truth of the gospel. May we not remain indifferent and unconcerned in the face of the anti-life ideologies that have entered our societies. May we stop being politically correct in the face of evil. Let us speak out for Christ.

Finally, today ushers us into the Holy week. The wish of Christ and his Church is that all of us who will participate in the programmes of this Holy week should be holy too. Hence, let us set sin aside and focus on the Paschal Mysteries. Jesus invites us to open ourselves to be washed clean by His Precious Blood through the sacrament of reconciliation. Let us carry our cross and march with Christ to Calvary so that we will rise with him in glory.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 PALM SUNDAY, YEAR B: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: 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 are 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 to contemplate 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 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 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 enough to stand for it. The crowd knew that Barabbas 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, and 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 accept like Christ, 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 a 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 triumphantly victorious.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

We thank and worship You, Lord, for keeping us alive to celebrate this year's passion. 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 forever. Amen

Happy Passion Sunday (Yr B)

Rev FR Julian O Ekeh

 PALM SUNDAY, YEAR B; HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: "DYING FOR THE LOVE OF MEN"

INTRODUCTION

During the liturgy of matrimony, during the exchange of marital vows, the couples vow “for better for worse…, till death do us part”. Christ the head and husband of the Church demonstrated his love for his bride the Church today; for better for worst. He was determined to give his life for his bride; not even in the face of death would he back down from his saving mission for his bride. Even death could not do us part nor separate us from His love; for he rose again.

 

THE FIRST READING (IS. 50: 4 – 7)

The first reading pointed to Jesus as the suffering servant of God who voluntarily gave into the suffering, spittle and shame of the Cross. He never took the option of running away from the burden of love of God his Father and the burden of love of the people. Initially, Jesus had tried walking privately, disappearing from danger, and slipping away from the Jewish authorities because his hour has not yet come. But today, he publicly embraced the hour of his passion for love of men.

 

THE SECOND READING (PHIL 2: 6 – 11)

The second reading presented a more radical testimony of Christ’s sacrificial love. For the love of men, Jesus emptied himself, humbled himself, and was born in the form/likeness of mortal men. He was not ashamed to share in our lowly human state/nature, in order to bring us to share in his divine/glorious nature. Driven by love for us and obedience to the father, he became obedient unto death, even death on a Cross. For doing this, he was exalted above all else; teaching us to also live and die in love and obedience to the Father and be also exalted in glory.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 14: 1 – 15: 47)

The passion narrative revealed to us in mystery and in reality, the burden Jesus bore for love of us and the price He paid for our salvation. Jesus our loving savior, after laboring to do/make all things well for us in the physical world; enters the spiritual domain by paying the ultimate price with his life, to also make all things well for us in the spirit world. After lavishing his love/compassion for us; healing us, teaching us, delivering us, feeding us, shepherding us, and comforting us; he still had to die for us. What else has he not done for us, and what else/more can he not do for us! In return for his love for us, let us never deny him, betray him, abuse him, or profane his name and his love by the type of life we live.

 

CONCLUSION

As we mark the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem today to die for us, let us vow for better for worst, to love and serve God more sincerely and genuinely. Let us cease to be indifferent to his love, his gospel and his righteous laws. Let us emulate Jesus by emptying ourselves (giving up our pride, position, comfort, and talents) for the love and good of others. Let us reciprocate Jesus’ undying love for us by living and dying for love of Him. Let us develop unwavering passion for holiness and righteousness of Christ. And we shall never live and die in vain like Jesus.

Happy Holy Week!

Rev. Fr. Justin.