Praise be to Jesus Christ

 

How was your week?  I hope God’s blessings are with each and every one of you who have been observing Lent dutifully.  

 

Today is the Lord’s Passion Sunday that marks the beginning of holy week.  Holy week is the essence of the Catholic faith and the most divine period.  In addition, we celebrate the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem to complete mystery of Paschal.  

 

We bless the palm leaves and place them on the cross for a year.  This symbolizes our journey into passion with Jesus and through it we believe in resurrection as we profess to follow.  Theses leaves are then burned before next Lent and place ashes on parishioners’ heads during Ash Wednesday.  

 

Next we recite the gospel (Mark 14 through 15).  As we read the gospel there are words and phrases that resonate within us but sometimes we lose focus given the length.  How was it for you?

 

In order to properly contemplate Jesus’ passion, you should read today’s gospel thoroughly on your own.  You need to understand how and what 20+ characters are saying then you will better appreciate the circumstance Jesus was in.  He becomes a target of the certain people; betrayed by the people close to him.  Those who he did not know also insult him.  Some characters show up in support of him in the passage but Jesus’ pain and suffering escalates and peaks.  It could be similar to our own suffering or we could drive others to a corner so they may suffer.  

 

Despite the lengthy hour of confusion and darkness as well as our deficiencies and sin, God prepared resurrection for us.  Hence, Easter continues to be our hope that supports and give us confidence.  

 

We need to celebrate the holy week.  We need to contemplate Jesus’ passion and devote our own sacrifices to Jesus’ passion as we celebrate joyful Easter with hope.  

 

Let us meditate for a moment.