From our Pastor’s Desk

Dear Family:

“The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest’” (Matthew 21:8-9).

Today is Palm Sunday. On this Sunday, the Church celebrates the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem in order to accomplish his Paschal Mystery. Today, all the readings highlight the ordeal and humility of Christ. Today is the only day of the year when we have two Gospel readings. There is a dramatic contrast between the two of them. In the first Gospel reading that we heard proclaimed at the beginning of Mass, the crowd of people in Jerusalem welcomes Jesus in with shouts of “Hosanna!” They treat him almost as a king! Only five days later, the people of Jerusalem are shouting to Pilate, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Few of the twelve disciples who had followed him for nearly three years, were anywhere to be seen.

Today’s celebration is full of symbols. The green palm is a symbol of peace: “He shall be the prince, and king of peace” (Is 11: 1-9; 9:6). It also represents royalty and restoration. The crowd symbolizes both praise and denial. This is because, the same crowd singing “hosanna” today, soon will shout, “crucify him!” Finally, the donkey is symbolic of Christ’s humility: “…He is humble. He rides on a donkey, the foal of a beast of burden” (Zac 9: 9).

Today’s gospel is from the passion narrative of Christ. It could be divided into three scenes: the arrest of Christ, his arraignment before Roman authorities, and his suffering and death. It is a drama of both praise and betrayal. It started like a comedy but seems to end like a tragedy.

Hence, the journey that started with praises (Hosanna, Hosanna), eventually ended with castigation (crucify Him, crucify him). However, at both ends, God is still at work and in control because: “We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom 8, 28).

The humility that Christ demonstrated today is contrary to the arrogant display of wealth and power by today’s rulers and leaders. In spite of being God, Christ humbly rode on the lowliest of beasts. The passion narrative of Jesus Christ is very crucial to our understanding of the true nature of Christ. It presents us with the nature of Christ as a true man. He suffered and died like every other human being. Yet this did not diminish the fact that he is Lord and God. Through his passion, He has become our role model, while his cross has become our symbol of hope and salvation. So, before seeing Christ as the glorious Lord of Easter, first, we must think of him as the wounded, and crucified Christ.

One word that readily comes to mind at the beginning of the Passion Narrative is Betrayal. Have I betrayed people’s trust, told lies against them or leaked out certain secret information for the sake of money, fame, position or some privileges? Have I acted like Peter, bragging before people only to let them down in their absence?

Jesus took the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray but instead, they started sleeping. How deep and serious is my prayer life? Am I able to watch for one hour with Jesus every day? Do I command God to do my will in prayer instead of simply praying as Jesus prayed: “Let your will, not mine be done.”

Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, a symbol of love. Do I pretend to love people whereas I am killing them? Am I a friend by day and an enemy at night? Jesus told Peter not to fight with his sword. How do I treat my enemies? Eventually the disciples fled for their lives. Do I stick with my friends when things become rough or abandon them when it seems I can no longer benefit from them?

The Sanhedrin judged Jesus and convicted him of blasphemy. As an authority figure, how do I judge cases? Am I concerned about the truth or do I simply bow to the pressure of the crowd? Both Peter and Judas realized their sins but while Peter came back to ask forgiveness, Judas went off to hang himself. Do I feel that my sins are too much or that God cannot forgive me? What I have done about my guilty conscience? Before the Governor, Jesus was silent. When I am accused of something I am innocent of, do I rush too quickly to defend myself?

The Governor asked the people to choose between Barabbas and Jesus but they rejected Jesus forgetting all the good things they had received from him in the past. When faced with temptation, do I reject Jesus by choosing Barabbas (by consenting to sin)?

Then comes Simon of Cyrene who was forced to carry the Cross with Jesus. How often have I helped others to carry their crosses? Do I delight in making sacrifices for the benefit of others? Many joined in mocking Jesus. Do I respect God and holy things? Do I insult God when I do not get answers to my prayers? Even after the death of Jesus, the chief priests and Pharisees (knowing that Jesus had predicted his resurrection) gathered before Pilate to ask for soldiers to guard the tomb. Do I believe more in military power than in the power of God? Isaiah prophesied about Christ how he would not speak or attack his persecutors. Indeed, Jesus Christ humbled himself like a sheep being led to slaughter. As St. Paul tells the Philippians, let us learn to be humble, to empty ourselves and allow God’s will, so that it will prevail in our lives.

One question we should ourselves ask is: “What would I have done differently?” Better put; “How am I different from those who killed Jesus?” All of us love Jesus. But being honest with ourselves, we know that there have been times in our lives when we, too, have turned from Jesus when times have gotten difficult, just like most of the disciples did.

Today’s Gospel shows us, immediately after the death of Jesus, a splendid icon of amazement. It is the scene of the centurion who, upon seeing that Jesus had died, said: “Truly, this was the Son of God!” He was amazed by love. How did he see Jesus die? He saw him die in love, and this amazed him. Jesus suffered immensely, but he never stopped loving. This is what it is to be amazed before God, who can fill even death with love. In that gratuitous and unprecedented love, the pagan centurion found God. His words – Truly this man was the Son of God! – “seal” the Passion narrative. Remembering Pope Francis’ words: “The Gospels tell us that many others before him had admired Jesus for his miracles and prodigious works, and had acknowledged that he was the Son of God. Yet Christ silenced them, because they risked remaining purely on the level of worldly admiration at the idea of a God to be adored and feared for his power and might. Now it can no longer be so, for at the foot of the cross there can be no mistake: God has revealed himself and reigns only with the disarmed and disarming power of love.”

In His love, let us be One Body, One Spirit, One Family! Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Katharine Drexel, Saint Michael the Archangel, St. José Gregorio Hernández, Pope Saint Pius X, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Charbel, pray for us.

Yours in Christ!
Fr. Omar