Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem

 MkMk 11:1-10, Ish 50:4-7, Phil. 2:6-11, Mk 14:1-15:47. We begin the Holy week with the celebration of the Palm, as we recall the events of the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The readings are quite powerful in the presentation about the person of Christ and why He came to the earth. It reminds us of His mission and dedication to announcing the good news of God’s love for us. The first reading presents us with one of the “Suffering Servant Songs of Yahweh.” Isaiah speaks to those in exiles in Babylon, of one who will suffer for the sake of the people. In the second reading, Paul saw the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah, to say that: “His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave and became as men are.”

There is great hostility in the story of the passion narrative about Jesus. There is the hostility of the chief priests, Roman soldiers, passer-by who jeered as He hung on the Cross. Alongside the hostility of those who rejected Jesus, there is the failure of those who had been closest to Him. His disciples who deserted Him at the most crucial time; Judas betrayed Him and Peter denied Him publicly. Yet, there were a few people who responded to Jesus in that dark hour faithfully and nobly. There was the anonymous woman who in an extravagant gesture of love and respect anointed the head of Jesus. Then there was the Roman centurion, who looked on as Jesus died and exclaimed: “This man was son of God.” Joseph of Arimathea took the bold step of going to Pilate to ensure Jesus had a dignified burial. The women disciples who looked on from a distance noted where Jesus was buried and went away to prepare spices to anoint His body at the earliest opportunity. All of these people saw Jesus with eyes of faith and love. The passion story challenges us to identify with those who saw Jesus with the eyes of faith and love, who recognised the light of God in the darkness of Jesus’ passion and death. When we look upon the passion and death of Jesus with such eyes, we see a Divine love that is stronger than sin, a Divine light that shines in all our darkest moments, a Divine power that brings new life out of all our deaths, a Divine poverty that enriches us at the deepest level of our being. During this Holy Week, we are invited to enter into that journey with the eyes of the anointing woman, the centurion, Joseph of Arimathea and the group of faithful women. We look beneath the surface of what is happening, we listen deeply to all that is taking place, so as to recognise the good Shepherd who laid down His life for us, so that we might have life and have it to the full.

May the Lord strengthen our faith and help us in our journey of faith and life, especially as we embark on this most solemn journey this Holy week! Amen!! Have Palm Sunday!!!