Out of fifty-two weeks each year, we call this week holy. Holy Week. Why? Because we commemorate during this week that which is at the heart of the story of our faith… the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We especially remember how much the Son of God loved us. We can say: He loved us to death and to His Resurrection that gives us hope.
You know the story of this week. It begins with a triumphal entry – like that of kings and conquering heroes returning victorious from battle. The people run out from the city. They spread their outer garments and palm branches along the road. They shout, “Hosanna!” “Hosanna” is the Greek word meaning, “Save, we beseech thee.” The name Jesus means “God saves”.
Jerusalem, has been waiting a long time for her savior to come. She has dreamed for generations of another King David. Israel wanted a Messiah-King, and Jesus came talking about his kingdom. The people saw both divinity and royalty in Jesus, the miracle worker.
All the characters in this drama, so to speak, suddenly discovered that they all have different understanding and different intentions compared to what Jesus had in mind and what was in His heart.
Not only Herod. Not only Pilate. Not only the high priest and members of the Sanhedrin, the religious leaders of the Jews. But even Jesus’ friends, as well. And not only Judas, among his followers. Peter denied him three different times. Ultimately all the disciples forsook him and fled. Every one in this drama misunderstood who Jesus is and what He is about. That is also our story.
When it became apparent that Jesus was not whom they expected, all the “Hosannas” died and the multitude became a scornful mob yelling for blood. So, how do you explain such a week? How does a triumphal entry lead so quickly to a public execution?
Have you ever thought, “If I had been there, I would have done something or said something”? Don’t miss the point. You and I were there. I am a face in that crowd that went from exclaiming, “Hosanna!” to shouting, “Crucify him!” We belong to those same religious-political establishments and the crowd - so preoccupied with their prejudiced ideas – or concepts of who or what God is – how the Messiah will come and how he works in our lives.
We are among the followers who betrayed him, denied him, and forsook him.
Pope Francis in a homily for Palm Sunday challenged us to ask the question:
Who am I?
Who am I before the Lord as He entered Jerusalem?
Who am I before the suffering Jesus?
Am I like Judas, or Pilate or Peter?
Am I like the sleeping apostles or the soldiers who struck the Lord?
Am I like Simon, the Cyrenian who helped Jesus carry His cross?
Am I like those who walked by Jesus on the cross and mocked Him?
Am I like the fearless women and Mary, His mother who were there and suffered in silence?
Which of these people am I like?
Where is my heart?
Or, maybe, you can relate to Jesus’ words: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Maybe, you are at this point in your life when it seems God has forsaken you. He seems to be absent and yet, you are here and you continue to believe that God loves you.
I encourage you this coming week – to make time, spend time – reflecting – examining your conscience; your life, how your life has been; the meaning of your life and to enter into the Story of the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection… and maybe you can find your place in the drama, so to speak, of Holy Week… Get into the story of the Holy Week.
On this Palm Sunday and coming Holy Week, let us ask ourselves – Will this be just another Palm Sunday? Another Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday.
Same priests and same ministers. Same old liturgy. Could I be among those who see, feel, and think nothing? … that this coming Holy Week will just come and then be gone? Please be not like that.
You see - This week can become really holy for us in ways we do not expect. Sometimes we experience something new in the old story that forces us to a new level of understanding…. Understanding ourselves, understanding of God and others, understanding of reality. We may not want to do this, and it may be painful, but it is always important.
Since the first day of Lent, we have been challenged to change and give up our self-centered habits – by praying, fasting and alms-giving.
During Lent, actually during our life – but particularly during Lent - we are called to follow Jesus on the way to the cross. Admittedly, we do not want to suffer. On the cross, Jesus reveals to us both his infinite love and his complete self-renunciation or dying to self – complete surrender to the will of God – complete trust in God the Father.
As we get closer to the end of our Lenten journey, we are asked:
Are we a better person, a better Christian now than we were last Ash Wednesday?
Have our old self-centered selves died?
Have we reached out to those in need, just as Jesus did?
Have we died to ourselves in order to serve our neighbor?
And therefore - Have we produced more fruit.”
Or are we the same old self-centered, self-absorbed, self-pre-occupied selves that we were when our Lenten journey started?
May these questions remain with us throughout the entire week.
Have a Blessed Holy Week.
God bless..
