April 01, 2012
PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION
The Beginning of the Holy Week
Alay-Kapwa Sunday
World Youth Day
Blessing of Palms
Mk 11,1-10 or Jn 12,12-16
Mass
Is 50,4-7 . Phil 2,6-11
Mk 14,1-15,47 or 15,1-39
=====
And so let me proclaim with all reflection bloggers out there: TODAY WE BEGIN THE HOLY WEEK! With Palm Branches on our hands and songs of praise on our lips, we once again enter the Holy City with Jesus as we commemorate his saving act for us: his passion, death and resurrection. We dwell again on our acts of piety on one hand and come with the church community for the liturgical rites on the other. The supposed end: a renewed person in us as we celebrate Easter next week.
Last year, we reflected on our response as the people saved by Christ's death on the Cross: Hosanna or Crucifige? We looked at ourselves and asked if we lived a life of praise for the blessings granted upon us, or a life of remorse and bitterness because of so much negativities. We hope that the reflections provided helped all of the readers in the rightful observance of the Week that changed History.
Let us go fast track to the moment when Jesus breathed his last. In total submission to his Father's will, he dies on the cross in the sight of the cruel mob and a few people who stayed with him until the end (PS: John doesn't show his presence in today's Gospel, but let's presume.). He shouts a heavy cry, a cry that encompasses time and place and gave his spirit back to His Father.
While everyone enjoys the view of watching the 'blasphemer' die of his own sins against their religion, a gentile discovers his salvation. As Jesus dies on the Cross, the Roman Centurion who is in-charge of the battalion witnesses the events which unfolded, and on-the-spot, he declares, Truly, this man is the Son of God!
This great Roman Official, who doesn't know Jesus at all, except for what he had heard from hearsay, is among the people who made Christ experience the most cruel execution man can ever give his God. Being the head of the execution team, he spearheaded the death of Our Lord, thinking that he is just a crazy guy which is wanted dead by the Jews.
But upon the death of the Lord, his ideas changed on-the-spot! As he witnesses the darkness of the skies, and the quaking of the Earth, he fell unto his knees, and, looking at the guy he considered as insane at the onset which is now dead, he declares, Truly, this man is the Son of God!
Dear friends, we once again enter the Holy Week with our superficial attitudes. Admit it, some of us practice our popular acts of piety using our mouths and not our hearts. We do penitential acts - some of which are not recommended by the Local Church - and believe in superstitions - still not recommended by the Church - and yet we do not know Christ deep in our hearts. We perform our 'obligations' and it's all over. Like wearing a uniform, we enjoy doing our practices this week only to take it away next week and perform it again this time next year. How convenient!
But when we are stricken with problems, we often hear ourselves shout, Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachtani? The belief is lost, and what's remained is anger and dissatisfaction over a God who 'did not listened' to our prayers. Is this what we call faith? We depend on our 'acts' and thinks that God is contented with that he is receiving, without seeing the empty space deep in our hearts. We usually replace authentic faith with what we do, that we forget to do the real thing.
And yet, to someone who is in a middle of the sharks the sea of chaos, yet sees himself miraculously saved return to shore safe and sound, God is really there. To someone who thinks that it is the end, yet sees ways to overcome the trials, God is really there. To anybody who is stricken by disease of terminal status, yet miraculously healed, God is really there. To someone who welcomes another day with a smile on his lips despite the troubles of work and school, and ends it with a simple prayer of thanksgiving, God is really there.
In other words, to somebody who believes that God will take care of his life no matter what, God is really there. He does wonders, and we are amazed to the point of declaring, Truly, God is here with us! And he is more worthy to carry Palm Branches and shout out, HOSANNA!!! as Jesus passes by.
Indeed, we bear Palm Branches and declare our praises to the Son of David; and so we know and see God in the midst of the chaos of our life. Sometimes he is hard to find because of our human frailties, but guess what, HE IS THERE! He knows us, he sees us, he loves us until death. And so who are we to forget this love, and share it with others?
Holy Week is here again, dear friends. Let us not waste this period of our lives in doing senseless things. Rather, let us reflect more on the love of God for us frail beings. Let us once again glace on the Cross and discover how big is his love for all of us! With this, like the Roman Centurion, we may shout out, Truly, this is the Son of God!!!
===
God bless and have a meaningful Holy Week ahead! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment