NOTE: THE PASSION IS PROCLAIMED WITHOUT CANDLES, INCENSE, PRELIMINARY GREETINGS like, “A reading from the Holy Gospel according to …..” AND SIGNING OF THE BOOK, NOR KISSING OF THE BOOK AT THE END.
COLLECT: “ALMIGHTY EVER-LIVING GOD, WHO AS AN EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY FOR THE HUMAN RACE TO FOLLOW CAUSED OUR SAVIOUR TO TAKE FLESH AND SUBMIT TO THE CROSS, GRACIOUSLY GRANT THAT WE MAY HEED HIS LESSON OF PATIENT SUFFERING AND SO MERIT A SHARE IN HIS RESURRECTION. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Is 50:4-7; Ps 21:8-9,17-20,23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mk 14:1-15:47 or 15:1-39.
“CHRIST DIED FOR US”.
Palm or Passion Sunday signifies the suffering and death of Jesus leading to victory and glorification.
According to St. Thomas Aquinas, “Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us?.... His Passion is a remedy (for sin), for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue. If you seek the example of love: ‘Greater love than this no one has, than to lay down his life for his friends’. Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake” (Cf. St. Paul Daily Missal, Holy Week).
A brief examination of the Characters involved in the crucifixion of Jesus can help us appreciate this celebration better.
1. THE CROWD:
The fickle-mindedness of the crowd that shouts “Hosanna” today and “crucify him” on Good Friday. This portrays the hypocrisy of the crowd. What about you and me?
2. JUDAS:
the self-seeker, and money lover. “How much will you give me if I hand him over to you”? Very often this attitude leads us to dubious things and actions. How is my attitude towards money and worldly things?
3. THE REST OF JESUS’ DISCIPLES:
Peter denied Jesus three times though he repented later by weeping bitterly. The rest ran away, abandoning Jesus. As a disciple or a follower of Jesus, how is my attitude towards him, especially in times of trouble?
4. CAIAPHAS THE HIGH PRIEST:
He was driven by power (power drunk) and therefore was blindly eager to please the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate; therefore, he condemned Jesus. In our time, we have fierce power-drunk leaders in our societies and the world at large. Caiaphas had the power to protect Jesus from death but because he wanted to stay in power for a long time, he gave Jesus up. Do we have such leaders in our midst?
5. THE SANHEDRIN:
The Supreme Judicial Body. What is happening in some of our law courts?
Because of envy and jealousy, the Sanhedrin’s actual charge levelled against Jesus was blasphemy (Mt.26:65ff) but they saw that this charge would be meaningless to the Roman Court under Pilate. As a result, they had to coin and trumped-up three political charges:
a. That Jesus was a revolutionary
b. That Jesus urged the people not to pay taxes
c. He claimed to be a king
Was this true? Envy and Jealousy sometimes make us twist the truth and eventually become liars.
6. PONTIUS PILATE:
He accommodated himself to a Jewish custom by washing his hands as a futile gesture of unloading personal responsibility. This is a gesture many of us indulge in: “I’m not my brother’s keeper”; washing our hands of responsibility will not cleanse our guilt.
8. PILATE’S WIFE:
She advised the husband but he only made a mockery of everything by washing his hands and handing Jesus over to be crucified. As Christians, when we see someone landing into trouble, do we advise him/her? What sort of advice do we give? And when we are advised, do we accept the piece(s) of advice from others?
9. SIMON OF CYRENE: He offered help to carry Jesus’ cross. Are we ready to share in other people’s burdens by offering them a helping hand?
10. THE ROMAN CENTURION: He demonstrated the spirit and virtue of humility as well as acceptance of guilt. Also, the truth can never be hidden. Am I ready to humbly accept my guilt?
What do we learn from this celebration? A lot: This celebration is a sign of God’s love and mercy for humanity. It presents Jesus as King who comes, not to dominate and lord it over us, but to serve and give his life on the cross as ransom for the lost human race. Let us acclaim, honour and praise Him as our King and welcome Him into our hearts, homes, workplaces and the society at large, and allow Him to rule and govern our lives. We pray for the grace to cultivate the virtues of humility, sacrifice, the fear of God, perseverance, faithfulness, honesty, justice and forgiveness. May we learn to forgive one another as God the Father did through his Son Jesus Christ. We pray for peace in our homes, workplaces, societies and in the world at large.
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ for accepting to be the Suffering Servant and Saviour of sinful and fallen humanity. Help us to emulate and live some of your virtues, especially the virtues of Sacrifice, Humility, Patient endurance, Love, Obedience and Forgiveness in our homes, work places, communities, societies and the world at large. May we be "suffering servants" and "saviours" of our neighbours wherever we find ourselves. God bless you all and may you have a blessed and fruitful Passion Sunday.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SUNDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORONATION’. (WE PRAY FOR FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “NOURISHED WITH THESE SACRED GIFTS, WE HUMBLY BESEECH YOU, O LORD, THAT, JUST AS THROUGH THE DEATH OF YOUR SON YOU HAVE BROUGHT US TO HOPE FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE, SO BY HIS RESURRECTION YOU MAY LEAD US TO WHERE YOU CALL. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!