Friends, today we are celebrating the entry of Christ into Jerusalem to accomplish his paschal mystery. This Sunday is called Palm or Passion Sunday. While Palm Sunday signifies royalty and triumph, and Passion Sunday signifies both suffering and love. By freely going to Jerusalem, Christ demonstrates his humility and willingness to save us. Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday, marks the start of Holy Week, a time to reflect on the journey of Jesus to the cross. It is a moment to welcome Jesus as our king and savior and to remember His sacrifice for us. The readings of today help us understand the significance of this day and the events leading up to His crucifixion. Lord Jesus, as we remember your journey to the cross today, help us to welcome you into our lives with open hearts. Grant us the strength to follow your teachings and trust in your plan for us.
Friends, the reading for the procession on Palm Sunday, reminds us to recognize Jesus as our king and savior. In the passage, Jesus enters Jerusalem, greeted with joy by the people. They shout, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord” and lay their cloaks and palm branches on the ground before him. In the first place, this event symbolizes Jesus’ authority and leadership. The people of Jerusalem saw Jesus as their king and welcomed him. We are also called to recognize his authority and welcome him into our lives. Brothers and sisters, following Jesus, requires faith and obedience. We need to submit our will to his and trust in his plan. Just as the people laid down their cloaks and palm branches, we must be willing to surrender everything to him. Recognizing Jesus as our king also means acknowledging his power to save us. As our savior, he offers salvation and eternal life. Trusting in him and following his teachings brings us closer to his love and guidance. Let’s recommit ourselves to accepting Jesus as our king and savior.
Friends, today’s celebration also reminds us of the dual nature of our Christian lives and journey. We are celebrated today and persecuted tomorrow. Today we are loved, while the next day, we are hated. Today we are praised and castigated the next day. A vital lesson we must learn from all these is that, as life unfolds, it presents us with its different dimensions. The same people who sing our praise in good times might be the same people to criticize us in the future. Today, the same people applauding Christ by singing; “Hosanna to the son of David” might equally be the same people to shout: “Crucify him!” This is the mystery and dialectics of life. It is a mystery because, at times, understanding it is beyond our imagination. It is dialectical because these two aspects of life help us know who we are and what we mean to people.
Friends, a look at today’s readings portrays the humility with which Christ approached these situations. Our first reading is from one of the suffering servants of Yahweh’s songs. This song prefigures Christ as the suffering servant of God. Christ humbly endured his suffering without any resistance. Also, in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we see humility at its apex. This is the self-emptying of Christ, “Though he was in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God.” And, our gospel today is on the Last Supper of Christ with his disciples. At the Last Supper, Christ humbled himself by serving his disciples and eating at the same table as the one who was to betray him. “…And yet behold the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table.” Despite all these, he taught his disciples to humble themselves just as he humbled himself before Pilate and the chief priests even till death. In all of these, the lesson for us today is that humility is essential in all life circumstances. This includes both good and bad times. Christ was strong, but he humbly became weak for our salvation. He taught us that true power lies in service. He also taught us that humility is one of the most important virtues we need for our service and mission.
Friends, despite the challenges, Jesus remained faithful to God’s plan. He willingly faced death in Jerusalem and trusted his Father completely. Through his death, Jesus offers us a path to eternal life with God, overcoming the power of death. Brothers and sisters, as we carry our palms today, we should remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. This day calls us to trust in God, even when we are afraid or uncertain. We are encouraged to follow Jesus’ example of obedience and faithfulness. Let us hold on to the hope of eternal life that Jesus provides through his death and resurrection. This hope is a source of strength for us as we navigate our challenges and fears. Let us be grateful for the love and sacrifice that Jesus showed, and strive to live in a way that honors his teachings. The Lord be with you …. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Have a Blessed Palm Sunday and a Prayerful Holy Week
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By: Fr. Ben Chola mccj
