Palm Sunday (Year A)

Passion / Palm Sunday April 02, 2023

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

(image Courtesy: Google)

It is said that during the First World War, in American towns any household that had given a son to the war was entitled to place a star on the window pane.

A certain man was walking down a certain avenue in New York, accompanied by his little boy. The lad became very interested in the lighted windows of the houses, and clapped his hands whenever he saw a star at the window pane of the houses.

As they passed house after house, he would say: "Oh, look, daddy, there's another house that has given a son to the war!

And there's another! There's one with two stars! And look, there's a house with no star at all!"

After quite some time, they came to a some vacant places where there were no houses. However, in the vast expanse, the evening star was seen shining brightly in the sky.

The little fellow caught his breath and with an excited exclaim said: "Oh, look, Daddy," he cried, "God must have given His Son, for He has got a Star in His window."

“He has indeed!' said Daddy!

Today with the beginning of the Holy week, we focus intently on the heart of the mystery of Salvation. It is the mystery of dying and rising, the mystery of humiliation and exaltation.  Today’s liturgy prepares us specially for the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.  The Liturgy gives the picture of Joy and at the same time invites us to meditate on his sufferings. What Jesus experiences for us is a manifestation of God's overwhelming love for each one of us.  Further, by our identifying ourselves with the 'mystery' of Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection we ourselves experience a great liberation, a 'Passover' from various forms of sin and enslavement to a life of joy and freedom.  Hence today's liturgy combines both a sense of triumph and tragedy.  Very importantly, we are reminded at the beginning, that we are about to commemorate the triumph of Christ our King.  We do this through the blessing of palms, the procession and the joyful singing.

In this passion narrative, we see the unfathomable love of God for us human persons shown in his beloved son Jesus. When we see the crucifix we see the Son of God nailed hands and feet to that cross, slowly shedding his blood for us.

In particular, today’s liturgy combines two moments seen in contrast: one of glory, — the welcome of Jesus into Jerusalem — the other of suffering: the drama of his trial which ends in his condemnation, crucifixion, and death. Let us rejoice and sing as Jesus comes into our life today.

Today's readings tell us that Jesus suffered as a human person and he underwent pain that we associate with the more barbaric forms of torture in our own day.  But he must also have suffered psychologically and this pain may have been even more intense.  It seemed as if his entire mission collapsed all around him and all looked like a failure.  His disciples had all left him alone to suffer and ran away as soon as he was arrested.  During this time of sufferings, he experienced terrible loneliness.  His disciples fell asleep in the garden when he needed their support.  They ran off as soon as people came to arrest Jesus.  Even the Father seemed to be silent and apparently did nothing to reduce his pain.  There is the final poignant cry from the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Yet through it all Jesus' the dignity, power and authority kept on shining, making his captors and enemies to be the ones on the defensive.

Do I see such a reality around me today? The collapse of your business, the rejection of your close associates and friends, betrayal, loneliness and temptation to give up! Look at Jesus. His triumphant entry into Jerusalem was a glorious one. But, it was only a temporary event. He knew what was waiting for him. He is the star that must hang on our hearts and gain strength and light to live our lives. This week let us welcome Jesus into our lives and ask Him to allow us a share in His suffering, death, and Resurrection. This is the time of the year when we stop to remember and relive the events which brought about our redemption and salvation. The Holy Week liturgies present us with the actual events of the dying and rising of Jesus.

Wish you all a blessed Holy Week