Passion Sunday
(Short Homily – due to long Passion Narrative during Mass)
We have finally begun the period of Holy Week, a day of glory and impending tragedy. The scene is set for us, as Jesus makes his triumphal journey from Bethany to Jerusalem, his final movement to bring everything together through his death and glorious Passion.
Imagine the sight of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey with people waving palm branches and shouting, ‘Hosanna in the highest’, acclaiming him King, must have made the visiting crowds who were gathered for the Passover festival, stop in amazement. Little did the people know that the rejoicing would quickly be swept aside. Before long, the triumphal shouting turned to tragedy, those palm branches changing into the wood of the cross, the hosannas, became jeers and calls for his death.
This Holy Week is a most sacred time, it highlights the peak moments of Christ’s love for us, gives us an opportunity to look at our lives and accept responsibility for our failings. Jesus was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter and abandoned by all. If we are honest with ourselves, we can see shades in our hearts, that shadow, those who put Jesus to death. Peter and Judas, Pilate and the soldiers. This should cause us to reflect on our own sins and failings inside each one of us.
Every Christian becomes aware that in their own life they need to meet the same fate as Jesus. We should join in Christ’s suffering and death, in order to share his eternal glory. Our victory, like Christ’s, comes only through the cross.
Let us during these final days of Lent offer ourselves the opportunity to harmonise our minds and hearts with Christ, allowing the truth of Jesus’ ultimate, finest ‘Hour’ of Exultation and Glorification to dawn deeply in our hearts.
The truth is that: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but have eternal life.”
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