On Palm Sunday we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection. Palm Sunday, often referred to as Passion Sunday, marks the beginning of Holy Week, which concludes on Easter Sunday. The Bible reveals that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds greeted him by waving palm branches and covering his path with palm branches. Immediately following this great time of celebration in the ministry of Jesus, he begins his journey to the cross. The celebration of “Passion (or Palm) Sunday begins with the commemoration of the entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem. And according to ancient custom, the ritual starts with the blessing of the palm branches and the community goes to the Church in a solemn procession, in which the faithful in song and gesture imitate the Hebrew children who went to meet the Lord singing Hosanna. (Mt. 21: 1-11) The procession may take place only once, before the Mass which has the largest attendance, even if this should be in the evening either of Saturday or Sunday. The congregation should assemble in a secondary church or chapel or in some other suitable place (Church patio) distinct from the church to which the procession will move. The Liturgical instruction tells us that the palms or branches are blessed so that they can be carried in the procession. The palms should be taken home where they will serve as a reminder of the victory of Christ which they celebrated in the procession. It is called Passion Sunday also, because the passion narrative occupies a special place. Beyond that triumphal entry to Jerusalem where the Hebrew people acclaimed him with “Hosannas” as they welcomed him as the “anointed’ (Christ) is the passion and death of Jesus and the same people crying out: “Crucify him”. When Jesus entered Jerusalem he was ready to face death that would be horrible, shameful and painful death. It was a death akin to a costly ransom being paid for the sins of humanity. He wondered if he would endure the pain and the agony to the end. Yet, he was assured of the Father’s grace and love as he embraced the CROSS with courage and trust. The celebration of Passion Sunday tells of the continuing ambiguity of men and women’s responses vis-à-vis the revelation of God’s redemptive love in Jesus. It reveals our own dilemma and moral ambiguity. At one moment, we join the people in acclaiming him as King and Messiah. But when Jesus did NOT fulfill their expectations the people got tired of him and in their frustration, they shouted ‘crucify him’ on that morn of Good Friday forgetting their earlier profession. The Passion narrative tells us also of Pilate with all the power he held yet in the end allowed the condemnation of an innocent man and ‘ritualizing this lack of moral stance by wishing he had no part in it by washing his hands. The reading of the Passion allows us to participate in that drama carrying of the cross, the crucifixion and death on the cross amid derision and insults. He bears them with patient endurance telling each disciple then and now that there is NO other path to life but the cross. With complete trust in God, forward he went, determined to complete the mission knowing that his loving Father would see him through it all. In this last Sunday of Lent, the invitation to us is to bear our crosses with courage and like Jesus, trusting that with Jesus at our side, he would see us through it all. Listen anew to his words: have NO fear, it is I!
Posted on: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 15:00:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015