Passion Sunday/Palm Sunday: March 24, 2024
Readings: Mk 11:1-10; Isaiah 50:4–7; Psalm 22:8–9, 17–20, 23–24; Philippians 2:6–11; Mark 14:1–15:47
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/qhlWZvDPNfI
The passion of our Lord is the passion for the world and its humanity. We are at the threshold of the Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. We begin a very intense spiritual journey with the celebration of this Palm Sunday. We are also commemorating a very historical event that took place in the life of Jesus. By recalling and re-enacting this event which is so powerful and poignant, we are invited to walk with Jesus in this moment of great expectation of salvation. The ultimate sacrifice of our Lord happens on Good Friday, where everything that was planned by God gets accomplished and fulfilled. The liturgical readings of today, take us to that memory of which is still preserved by the Church.
1. Attentiveness to God's voice
On this Palm Sunday, the theo-drama (drama of God) begins and gets enacted in Jerusalem and Jesus is the protagonist. The entire event revolves around the God-Man, Jesus. The passage from Isaiah 50:4–7 offers profound insights into obedience, suffering, and steadfastness in the face of adversity. Hundreds of years ago, Prophet Isaiah spoke about Jesus and how his end is going to be. Isaiah speaks, "The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary." This verse is a beautiful reminder that spiritual wisdom and the ability to comfort others are gifts from God. It challenges us to ask ourselves how we are using our words. Are we using the right words? Are we speaking life into others, offering comfort and wisdom when they are weary? This verse calls us to be mindful of our speech, recognizing that the ability to uplift others is a divine gift that should be nurtured and cherished.
God calls us to obedience and attentiveness to His voice. It's a call to spiritual discipline, to start each day with an openness to learn and a readiness to follow God's guidance. It suggests that a significant part of our spiritual journey involves listening—truly listening—to what God is saying to us, through His word, through prayer, and through the circumstances of our lives. Isaiah speaks of facing opposition and suffering without turning back. Often following God's path may lead to suffering and persecution. Prophet Isaiah does not turn away in fear but stands firm, a testament to his trust in God's sovereignty and goodness. We could ask ourselves: Are we prepared to stand firm in our faith, even when it leads to suffering or when we face opposition?
2. Exaltation Through Humility: The Paradox of the Gospel
Philippians 2:6–11, often referred to as the Christological Hymn or kenosis/emptying explicates Christ's humility, obedience, sacrifice, and exaltation. It depicts a powerful narrative of Jesus Christ's journey from divine preexistence to human existence, His humble submission even to death, and His ultimate exaltation by God. "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage." Despite His divine status, Christ did not cling to His privileges but emptied Himself, taking the nature of a servant. How often do we cling to our status, privileges, or rights at the expense of serving others? Christ's example invites us to embody humility, putting the needs and well-being of others before our own desires and comforts.
Jesus chooses the path of salvation which is not an easy one. It's not only complicated but also predetermined with suffering and death. As a lesson to humanity, Jesus embraces the Cross out of sheer obedience to the Father. It contained love and commitment. The cost of true obedience entails a path of sacrifice. Are we willing to follow God's calling, even when it leads us into difficult, painful, or sacrificial places? The story of the Cross does not end with Christ's death; it culminates in His exaltation. The exaltation comes through humility, and life is found through death. It challenges the worldly logic of power and success, inviting us into a life where true greatness is found in service and sacrifice.
3. The paradox of suffering and death
The narrative spanning Mark 14:1–15:47 encompasses the profound and pivotal events of Jesus' betrayal, Last Supper, prayer in Gethsemane, arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death. This segment of Scripture invites deep reflection on themes such as sacrifice, betrayal, suffering, forgiveness, and the nature of Jesus' kingship. Judas Iscariot’s betrayal agreed upon for thirty pieces of silver, sets a stark backdrop of contrast against the backdrop of Jesus’ unwavering commitment to humanity. This betrayal, occurring immediately after the intimate setting of the Last Supper, where Jesus establishes the covenant through His body and blood, invites reflection on the nature of betrayal in our own lives. How do we betray Jesus in daily decisions, small denials, or failing to stand for justice and love?
The narrative of Jesus' embrace of the Cross starts with the Last Supper where he breaks bread and shares wine, symbols of His impending sacrifice. Jesus embraces the Cross with courage and love and not with anger or frustration. He takes up the ultimate journey of his life on earth with a sense of freedom and focus on salvation of the humanity. Jesus' agony in Gethsemane, challenges us to consider our own Gethsemane moments—times when God's path for us is fraught with personal pain or sacrifice. Jesus challenges the world's understanding of power, authority, and victory. As we reflect on these events, we are invited to embrace a deeper, more sacrificial love, steadfast obedience, and a renewed commitment to living out the kingdom of God here and now, reflecting Jesus' love, service, and sacrifice in our daily lives.
Questions for self-reflection
- Do we believe, truly believe, that God is with us, that He is our helper in times of trouble?
- How can I be more attentive to God's voice in my daily life, and how can I use my words to uplift and sustain the weary around me?
- How does the humility of Christ challenge my own attitudes toward power, privilege, and service? Are there areas in my life where I need to adopt a more servant-hearted approach?
- Have I experienced a "Gethsemane moment" where I struggled to submit to God's will? What did I learn from this experience about trust and obedience?
Prayer based on Psalm 22
Heavenly Father,
In our moments of deepest despair, we cling to the truth that You have been with us from our beginning, our constant protector and guide. Though we may feel forsaken, we trust in Your unfailing love and strength. In our moments of vulnerability and exposure, when we feel as though every part of our being is laid bare to the world’s cruelty, remind us that You are closer than our breath. Be our strength, our shield, and our swift rescue.
Help us to remember that You hear the cries of the afflicted and are close to the brokenhearted. Teach us to praise You in all circumstances, knowing You never despise our suffering. Lord, Your grace knows no limits, and Your presence knows no barriers. May we rest in the assurance that, even in our deepest distress, we are never forgotten, never forsaken. We make this prayer, in Jesus' Holy name, Amen.
- Olvin Veigas, SJ
22 March 2024
3 comments:
Thank you, dear Fr. Olvin Veigas, SJ, for your insightful reflections on Palm Sunday. They are truly helping me to introspect and strive for renewal. I am particularly inspired by the points you shared.
Spiritual wisdom and the ability to comfort others are indeed gifts from God. He calls us to obey and listen attentively to His voice. Just as Christ did not cling to Himself but emptied Himself, we are called to embrace selflessness. Jesus exemplified courage and love in embracing the cross.
May God bless you, Father, abundantly with His manifold blessings. 👏🌹
Thank you for sending the reflection. It helped me to have a meaningful experience of Jesus' passion and death.
Thank you Fr olvin for helping me to begin the Holy Week with beautiful reflection and to listen more from you
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