Is
50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23:56
Today
is “Palm Sunday”. We bless palms before the Mass to remember the people of
Jerusalem who carried palms as they welcomed excitedly Jesus into their city.
However, this day is also called “Passion Sunday” because during the Mass we
relive the brutal rejection and condemnation that our Lord experienced in
Jerusalem. It is quite ironic that many of the people who welcomed Jesus were
also the ones who abandoned him.
The
liturgy of the palms and the liturgy of the passion somehow illustrate the
inconsistency of human responses to Christ throughout history. Sometimes people
welcome Jesus into their lives; other times they deny him or drive him away.
And we ask: What could be some reasons of people’s inconsistency in following
Christ?
One
possible reason is self-centeredness. The people of Jerusalem had selfish
motivations in receiving Jesus. They got interested in him because they learned
about the wonderful miracles he performed. They welcomed him thinking that he
also would do something good for them. Many thought he could be the king who
would deliver them from the bondage of the Roman occupiers. However, when they
realized that Jesus would not do what they wanted him to do, they abandoned
him. In fact, the crowd was no longer there when Jesus needed them most.
We are
not totally different from the selfish people of Jerusalem. Sometimes we treat
the Lord as if he is an agent of rescue 911. We only call on him in times of
need, in times of crisis. But during happy and prosperous days, we could barely
find time for Christ and his Church. When the Lord calls us to help the poor
and the unwanted or when the Church needs us to enliven the Christian
community, we are not always responsive.
Another
possible cause of people’s halfhearted discipleship is fear of discomfort and
suffering. The people of Jerusalem changed their attitude towards Jesus upon
learning that religious authorities were planning to have him arrested or
killed. In the midst of persecution, they no longer wished to be known as his
followers. For fear of his life, even Peter denied any association with Jesus.
Sometimes
we also are like Peter and the Jerusalem crowd. We try to avoid trials,
challenges, or conflicts while following the Lord. We participate in Church
related activities if they help maintain our security. But not when they
disturb our comfort zones or when they lead us to struggle for the poor and
needy. A “trouble-free” type of discipleship is not good because genuine
Christian life includes not only devotional practices and liturgical
celebrations but also actions in behalf of social justice and peace.
Still
another possible reason why people waver in following Christ is lack of trust.
Many of those who welcomed the Lord in Jerusalem believed in his miracles, but
they didn’t have enough faith in him. They changed loyalties because Jesus was
running directly against the strongest opposition. How could he defeat the
military might of the Romans and the religious leaders of the Jews? They didn’t
trust that Jesus had the power over all things and that he can save them from
darkness and sin.
How
often also do we lack faith in the saving power of Christ? We pray whenever we
need something, but when our prayers are not granted we begin to doubt if the
Lord really exists. In times of serious accidents or great calamities, we also
begin to question if Jesus really cares. Our insecurities often lead us to
believe in superstitions and to consult the opinions of quack doctors who serve
other gods. How little is our faith! If we really accept Jesus as the Son of
God or as Lord of the universe, why do we question his will? If we really
believe that he is the Compassionate God or the Good Shepherd, why do we feel
insecure in life?
During
this Holy Week, the Church would like us to reflect prayerfully on the person
of Jesus and his salvific act, and to thank the Lord sincerely for showing us
what it means to be a true child of God. We need to highlight at least three
important points:
First,
a true child of God is one who is others-oriented, not selfish. Even during his
darkest hour, Jesus continued to think of the good of others: he encouraged the
disciples (Lk 22:28-30), comforted the women of Jerusalem (23:27-31), forgave
his persecutors (23:34), and promised salvation to the repentant thief
(23:42-43).
Second,
a true child of God is willing to suffer for the well-being of others. Jesus
was fully aware that his going to Jerusalem was like marching to his passion,
one that would cost him his life. But Jesus was not deterred from entering the
city of David because he felt the need to raise his ultimate challenge to the
people to accept the good news of the kingdom of God.
Finally,
a true child of God puts his trust completely in God. Jesus remained steadfast
while undergoing the most serious trial of his life. At the garden of
Gethsemane, Jesus in anguish sweated blood while praying so fervently: “Father,
if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will, but yours
be done” (Lk 22:42). Then, after hours of agonizing pain on the cross, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands
I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46). Here was a child who remained faithful to his
Heavenly Father up to the end.
