Passion (Palm) Sunday

Passion (Palm) Sunday  March 29, 2026

Isaiah 50:4-7;  Philippians 2:6-11;   Matthew 26:14-27:66

(image courtesy: Google)

Constantine the Great was the first Christian Roman emperor. His father Constantius I, who succeeded Diocletian as emperor in AD 305, was a pagan with a soft heart for Christians. When he ascended the throne, he discovered that many Christians held important jobs in the government and in the court. So, he issued an executive order to all those Christians: “Either give up Christ or give up your jobs.” The great majority of Christians gave up their jobs rather than disowning Christ. Only a few cowards gave up their religion rather than lose their jobs. The emperor was pleased with the majority who showed the courage of their convictions and gave their jobs back to them saying: "If you will not be true to your God you will not be true to me either.”

Today’s readings place before us the same question in a deeper way: how faithful are we to God when it costs us something?

The first reading from Isaiah presents the image of the Suffering Servant. He says, “I have not rebelled, I have not turned back.” Even when he is insulted, beaten, and humiliated, he remains firm. There is no bitterness, no revenge, only trust in God. This is not weakness. This is strength. It is the strength of a person who listens to God and stands firm even in suffering. In our lives, we often want to avoid pain, rejection, and criticism. We prefer comfort and acceptance. But faithfulness to God sometimes leads us through difficult paths. It may mean standing alone, being misunderstood, or making sacrifices. Like the servant in Isaiah, we are called not to turn back.

The second reading from Philippians shows us the heart of Jesus. Though he was God, he did not cling to his power. He emptied himself. He became human. He humbled himself and accepted even death on a cross. This is the mystery of Jesus. True greatness is found in humility and obedience. In the world, greatness is often measured by power, success, and recognition. But Jesus teaches a different way. He shows that real greatness is in self-giving love. It is in serving others, in lowering oneself, in choosing obedience over pride.

When we follow Jesus, we are invited to let go of our ego, our need to be right, our desire to be praised. We are called to live with humility in our families, communities, and workplaces. This is not easy, but it is the path that leads to true life.

The Gospel presents the Passion of Jesus. It is long and painful. We see betrayal, denial, injustice, suffering, and death. The same crowd that welcomed Jesus with “Hosanna” now shouts “Crucify him.” Human hearts can change quickly.

In this Passion, we see different responses to Jesus. Judas betrays him. Peter denies him. The disciples run away. The leaders condemn him. The crowd rejects him. Yet, Jesus remains faithful. He does not fight back. He does not hate. He forgives. Even on the cross, he entrusts himself to the Father.

This is the deepest lesson of Palm Sunday. Faithfulness is not just in moments of joy and success, but especially in moments of suffering and trial. It is easy to follow Jesus when everything is going well. It is difficult when it costs us something.

From these readings, we can take three life messages.

First, remain faithful to God even when it is difficult. Faith is tested not in comfort, but in challenge. When we face pressure, temptation, or fear, we are called to stand firm. Like the servant in Isaiah and like Jesus, we must not turn back.

Second, choose humility over pride. Jesus shows us that true greatness is in humility. In our daily life, we are invited to serve rather than dominate, to listen rather than insist, to give rather than take. Humility brings us closer to God and to one another.

Third, trust God in times of suffering. The Passion reminds us that suffering is not the end. God is present even in pain. When we go through struggles, we are not alone. Like Jesus, we can entrust ourselves to the Father, believing that He will bring new life out of every cross.

As we begin this Holy Week, we are invited not just to listen to the story of Jesus, but to enter into it. We are called to examine our own hearts. Are we like the crowd that changes quickly? Are we like Peter who denies out of fear? Or are we ready to remain faithful, humble, and trusting?

At the end, we return to the story. Those who remained faithful to Christ, even at the cost of their jobs, were found worthy and trustworthy. Their courage revealed the truth of their hearts. In the same way, our faithfulness to Christ, especially in difficult moments, reveals who we truly are.

Palm Sunday is not only about waving palms. It is about carrying the cross with Jesus, with faith, humility, and trust.

Happy Sunday 

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent March 22, 2026

Ezekiel 37:12-14;   Romans 8:8-11;  John 11:1-45

(image courtesy: Google)

After the Earthquake had subsided, when the rescuers reached the ruins of a young woman’s house, they saw her dead body through the cracks. But her pose was somehow strange that she knelt on her knees like a person was worshiping; her body was leaning forward and her two hands were supporting an object. The collapsed house had crashed her back and her head. With many difficulties, the leader of the rescuer team put his hand through a narrow gap on the wall to reach the woman’s body. He was hoping that this woman could still be alive but not really. He and the rest of the team left this house and went to search the next collapsed building. For some reasons, the team leader was driven by a compelling force to go back to the ruin house of the dead woman. Again, he knelt down and used his hand through the narrow cracks to search the little space under the dead body. Suddenly, he screamed, “A child! There is a child!”  The whole team worked together; carefully they removed the piles of ruined objects around the dead woman. There was a 3 month old little boy wrapped in a flowery blanket under his mother’s dead body. Obviously, the woman had made an ultimate sacrifice by using her body to make a cover to protect her son. They opened the blanket and saw a cell phone inside. There was a text message on the screen, it said: “Dear baby, if you can live, always remember that I love you.”

The message speaks of a love that is stronger than death.

Today’s Gospel presents us with another scene of sorrow and hope. Jesus comes to the house of Martha and Mary. Their brother Lazarus has died. There is grief, confusion, and pain. It seems that everything is over. Martha even says to Jesus that if He had been there, her brother would not have died. There is faith, but it is mixed with disappointment.

Jesus responds in a powerful way. He says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” This is not just a statement. It is a promise. It is a revelation of who He is. Jesus is not only someone who gives life. He is life itself. Wherever He is present, death does not have the final word. Before performing the miracle, Jesus is deeply moved. He weeps. This shows us that God is not distant from our suffering. He enters into our pain. He feels our sorrow. He stands with us in our moments of loss. But He does not stop there. He goes to the tomb and calls Lazarus out. And Lazarus comes out alive.

This Gospel invites us to see that even when situations look final, they are not final for God. What seems dead can be brought back to life. What seems lost can be restored. Jesus has power over death, not only physical death but also the many forms of death we experience in life.

There are moments when we feel like we are inside a tomb. It may be because of sin, failure, fear, or sadness. Sometimes we feel trapped, like there is no way out. But Jesus stands before us and calls us by name. He says, “Come out.” He invites us to step out of darkness into light, from death into life.

The first reading from Ezekiel speaks the same message. The people felt like dry bones, without hope. But God promises to open their graves and fill them with His Spirit. This shows that God is always working to restore life. Even when we feel empty, God can renew us.

St Paul, in the second reading, reminds us that the Spirit of God gives life. When we live with God, we are alive in a deeper sense. Even if our bodies are weak, our spirit is alive because God lives in us. This is the life that Jesus offers.

From these readings, we can take three simple life messages.

The first message is that God brings hope in hopeless situations. When everything seems lost, God is still present. Like Lazarus in the tomb, we may feel that nothing can change. But Jesus calls us out. We must trust that God can do something new in our lives.

The second message is that we are called to listen to Jesus' voice. Lazarus came out because he heard the voice of the Lord. In the same way, we need to listen to God in our daily life. Through prayer, through His word, and through people around us, God speaks. When we listen and respond, we move from darkness to light.

The third message is that true love gives life. Real love is not about taking. It is about giving. It is about caring for others, even when it is difficult. When we love in this way, we become instruments of life for others. Our kindness, our forgiveness, and our sacrifices can bring hope to someone who is struggling.

Now we return to the story we heard at the beginning. That mother gave her life so that her child could live. Her love did not end with her death. It continued in the life of her child. Her final message was a reminder of love that remains. In a deeper way, this is what Jesus does for us. He will soon go to the cross. He will give His life for us. His love becomes our protection. His sacrifice becomes our life. And through His resurrection, He gives us hope that death is not the end.

As we continue this journey of Lent, we are invited to remember this message. We are loved with a love that does not end. We are called to come out of whatever holds us back. And we are called to share that love with others.

May we hear the voice of Jesus calling us to life. May we trust in His power over every form of death. And may we live in such a way that our love brings life to others, just as we have received life through Him.

Happy Sunday