A JOURNEY OF SALVATION
REFLECTIONS ON JESUS’ PASSION AND RESURRECTION
IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE HOLY WEEK AND EASTER:
PALM SUNDAY
HOLY THURSDAY
GOOD FRIDAY
EASTER VIGIL
EASTER SUNDAY
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A SPECIAL WAY OF THE CROSS
ENTRY INTO THE HOLY WEEK, 28 MARCH 2021
1. We are set to enter the Holy Week. All the days in the Lenten season till now are one count, and the days in this holy week are another count. Not that we take away the importance of all these days. Certainly they have been moments and experiences of God’s closeness in increased prayer, penance and kindness. But these few days are the last phase, and they should be more intense and deeper. They should intensify our Lenten spirit, and also help us to recuperate and compensate for what has been lacking. We have three important days in this holy week, namely, the Palm Sunday, Holy or Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, before we enter upon the Easter Vigil and the Easter Sunday.
2. We can begin with an honest observation: Often in the conducting of the ceremonies and preaching during the holy week, there is a dominant tendency to dramatize or fantasize or to traumatize. That is, too much aura of a drama is created, a fertile imagination is cultivated and a deep feeling of sorrow and remorse is aroused. A certain extent of these may be okay and needed, in the sense that they may help to evoke deep sentiment, to touch the heart, and to involve the persons more personally. But if they are limited only to that level, the effect may be shallow and short-lived. That is why we see very often that all the changes and the spirit of sacrifice and kindness remain no longer than the Good Friday, not even lasting till the Easter night!
3. What is needed is not merely to dramatize or traumatize but to empathize and energize life thereafter. On one hand, our holy celebrations are intended to re-deepen within us a renewed empathy for the Lord, feeling one with him in authentic sensitivity and repentant solidarity, and an intimate communion with him. On the other hand, they should re-enthuse and re-energize our spirits for a changed and recharged living. We need then a real shift of emphasis, a shift of paradigm and priorities.
PASSION (LOVE) LEADS TO PASSION
(SUFFERING): JESUS LOVES US AND IS ORIENTED TO SUFFER FOR US
PALM SUNDAY, 28 MARCH 2021
1. Often I am fascinated by the whole scene of the Palm Sunday, called also Passion Sunday. Why? I see a vivid connection and parallel between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. In both the scenes, there is procession; there is excitement; there is enthusiasm; there is crowd; there is noise and commotion; there is Jesus the central figure; there is a big following and accompaniment. But there is also a vital difference: the mood is different; the ambience is different; the intentions are different; the presentation and the figure of Jesus is different; the type of slogans is different; the destination and the end of the procession is different.
2. On the Palm Sunday, it is a royal procession; it is a rather favorable crowd, with positive slogans; Jesus is honored as a king, seated on a donkey; the way is streets of Jerusalem, with clothes spread along; the purpose is to install Jesus as king; and the destination is the temple of Jerusalem, the center of the city. But on the Good Friday, it is a “criminal” procession; it is a hostile crowd; with hateful slogans; Jesus is disgraced as a criminal, loaded with cross; the way is the road to mount Calvary, marked with dust, stones and his blood; the purpose is to crucify Jesus as a blasphemer, as a rebel, as a heretic; the destination is Calvary, on the periphery of the city.
3. What is very interesting and strange is, it is the same crowd, and that too within a span of just four days. The whole scene changes. The whole “passion for” Jesus on Palm Sunday, ends up in the “passion of” Jesus on the Good Friday. Just to pick up some sudden contrast of details of scenes: palms in arms turn into arms to harm, into scourges; joyful cries of hosanna, hosanna turn into resentful shouts of ‘crucify him, crucify him’; donkey turns into cross; king into criminal; sentiment into resentment; felicitation into persecution; kingly crown into thorny crown; clothes of welcome and honor into stones and thistles of rejection; applause into abuse; smooth ride into bloody stumbling; coronation into crucifixion; glory into misery.
4. It is here we need to focus, not so much on the exact and crude details of Jesus’ trial, cross and suffering. Rather what are the leading factors, and why and how he accepts and bears all of that. It is the sharp contrast between the single and undivided nature, perspective, motive and goal of Jesus, and the divided nature, divided and deviated perspectives, motives and goals of the people. Jesus’ nature is divine and noble. His perspective is spiritual and noble. His motive is inner renewal and transformation. And his goal is heaven and kingdom. But the nature of the people is human and fragile. Their perspective is totally material and unworthy. Their motive is worldly gains and self-interests. Their goal is an earthly king and earthly kingdom against the Roman empire. Thus there is a wide chasm between Jesus and the people. This leads them to such a shocking compromise, instability, infidelity and defection, in contrast to Jesus’ conviction, stability, fidelity and dedication, which really confront, challenge and frustrate them.
5. This is the right and apt time to do a little self-checkup concerning our own nature, perspectives, motives and goals. How often we fall to compromise, instability, infidelity and defection, failing in conviction and commitment to the Lord? Are we not among and like those people, whenever we are easily carried away by our own weaknesses, material and unspiritual perspectives, self-centered interests and gains and cheap and low goals?
Let us surely feel for the Lord who suffers so much by such disloyalty and betrayal. But let us also as much feel pain and repentance concerning our own selves, who hurt and torment him daily by our compromising attitudes, false values, ill-character and wrong-footed behavior and actions.
LOVE LIVES ON IN HUMILITY, SANCTITY AND FIDELITY
(REFLECTION ON HOLY THURSDAY AS A CELEBRATION OF LOVE, IN WASHING OF THE FEET AND LAST SUPPER, IN INSTITUTION OF EUCHARIST AND PRIESTHOOD)
HOLY THURSDAY, 01 April 2021
1. Today's specialty is the famous Last Supper. In that dinner scene, there are two central events: One is, Washing the feet of the disciples, and the other is, the Last dinner with his disciples. And in these two action episodes, there are two essential aspects: Witness and Institution – Witness to love, humility and service; Institution of holy Eucharist and holy Priesthood.
2. Taken as such, these two actions may not be so unique and extraordinary, because there are certainly some goodhearted people who serve others, who wash them and take care of them. And also to share a meal with friends or followers, is nothing out of the way. BUT it is the identity of Jesus, the purpose and the effect of these two events that make these historical and singular.
3. It is the IDENTITY OF JESUS that makes the washing of his disciples’ feet, a unique event. Jesus is their Master and Lord. He is the Son of God and Savior. He is the King and the Ruler. But here the Master washes his disciples’ feet. The Lord kneels before the servants. The Son of God bends before sons of men. The Saviour touches and kisses the feet of the sinners to be saved. The king attends in service of his subjects. As a climax and peak of this, he shares a meal with them. His guests are not any dignitaries but simple people. And this is the farewell meal. What a contrast experience!
4. This is clearly a supreme act of WITNESS, a teaching in practice, an example in concrete. He has always been teaching and exhorting to be loving, to be humble and to serve. But now he shows them in action. This is a tangible and powerful example of love, humility and service. These two actions also become the occasions to emphasize the indispensable duty to love, to be humble and to serve, binding on every follower of Christ. These alone are the identity marks of a true disciple.
5. A true disciple cannot be otherwise: he or she cannot be hateful and unloving, living in indifference, violence or selfishness; cannot be arrogant, living in false dignity and self-glory; cannot domineer and subjugate others, depriving others their due dignity and rights. These are only counter-signs! One who lives resentfully, aggressively and selfishly, one who is puffed up and puts on airs, and who manipulates and lords over others, on the basis of affinities like caste, colour, creed, region, language, culture, rite, or money or power or position or intelligence or competence, are a disgrace to discipleship.
6. But these lessons and experience of love, humility and service, cannot be just limited only to those few moments, as it happens many times in our case: that a good number of our beautiful and inspiring experiences are so sadly limited only to some special occasions. Many unfortunately suffer from “short time memory”, “convenient forgetfulness”, and “selective practice”, especially with regard to God –and-good matters.
7. But Jesus wants these triple principles to continue forever, even after his physical separation. They will enliven and transmit his presence and action, for all times. In other words, Experience, Continuation and perpetuation of love, humility and service – this in simple is the prime purpose of the last supper. The result of this purpose is effected in the institution of the holy Eucharist and the holy Priesthood.
8. Both the Eucharist and the Priesthood are nothing but the sacred sacraments which contain this experience, and continue and foster that presence and action of the Lord in love, humility and service. Every time Eucharist and priesthood are celebrated, the Lord is present and active and we are drawn to him in love, humility and service. Thus on one hand, we are drawn to the Lord and bound with him, and also draw grace in light and strength from him. On the other hand, we are also drawn to one another and bound with each other, in one community and humanity, and are also charged to live and witness love, humility and service. Eucharist and priesthood are thus so sacred and noble, because they are the containers and transmitters of the “personal” presence of the Lord in the sacramental celebration, and the “testified /concretized” presence of the Lord in witnessing a life of love, humility and service.
9. In this context, a series of self-checking questions should be posed to us quite sincerely: How is our attitude and devotion toward the holy Eucharist? Why we see often so much indifference, tepidity, callousness and lack of reverence toward the holy Eucharist? How often we are unaware that the Lord himself enters into us, abides in us, nourishes us, heals and strengthens us? How little we feel his effect? How often we go away from the Eucharist, even without the least change and betterment, and continue to live worse? How can we continue so weak, so unclean, so deviated, so disunited, so hateful, so proud, so despising others, even celebrating and receiving the Eucharistic Lord?
10. What is our attitude and approach towards the holy Priesthood and the effect of it in our lives, both concerning those who have this vocation and those who receive the fruits of their ministry? How painful it is that at times the sanctity and the dignity of this holy priesthood is so degraded! At times what a disrespect, criticism and harmful behavior toward priests? How easily we forget the holiness of their vocation, the immense sacrifices of them, and selfless services from them? How uncharitably and ungratefully we become one-sided and prejudiced and ignore their goodness? How often we fail to encourage, support our priests, while we demand so much from them? How often we put too high demands on them, while we don’t bother even a little about our own quality of life? How often we exaggerate their small defects, instead of being empathetic toward them?
11. A balanced and healthy perspective towards priesthood is very much needed: it is holy, noble and dignified, even though there can be imperfections. Personal defects should not reduce the sanctity of it, should not lower its dignity to something cheap, should not discourage and diminish the faith of the people. Experience of the Lord’s presence and his action in concrete lives blooming in love, humility and service – these should be the distinguishing marks of holy Eucharist and priesthood.
JESUS CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS, IS THE EPITOME OF LOVE, AND CROSS, DEATH-BED IS THE SPRING OF LIFE
GOOD FRIDAY 02 APRIL 2021
1. Look at the cross, look at that Christ who humbly and miserably, with wounds, with blood, without strength, falling and raising, bears the cross, hangs on it and dies on it. Look at his suffering. What a pain! What a shame! What a disgrace! What a failure! What a defeat! One who did many a miracle, now hanging on the cross, as a despicable debacle! One who cured many wounds, now all bruised by wounds all over! One who defended the oppressed, now stands defenseless and oppressed by the weight of the cross! One who relieved many of their burdens, now reels under the burden of the cross! One who fed the hungry, now is left to starve! One who quenched the thirsty, now abandoned to cry, “I thirst!”, One who saved many, now stands damned, One who graced many, is exposed disgraced!
2. But also think - Why all this? What wrong? What crime? The answer is: Nothing. He is The Son of God, the Holy One, the Just One, with no sin, no guilt, no evil. He has always done good, and only good.
3. If so, then why this pain of the cross? Only one reason: It is love (John 3.16): God loved us so much, and for this reason gives his only Son as the ransom for the remission of our sins. True love does everything everywhere and always for the loved one. True love faces everything, endures everything, sacrifices everything, for the sake of the beloved.
4. If not for that love why must he forsake all the glory and dignity of the heaven and embrace our human misery? Yes. Only for love for us, he shares our difficulties, sheds tears for us, wipes away the tears of so many. Only in love and for love, he accepts everything and lowers his head in patience and abandonment, accepts unjust condemnation.
5. Even if received spits from those whom he gave a new dignity, Even if covered with wounds by those whom he healed of their wounds, Even if despised by those whom he has always treated with respect, Even if led on the path of Calvary, by those whom he has made walk on the way of salvation, Even if thrown down, by those whom he has lifted when fallen, Even if drained away of his strength, by those whom he has strengthened when weak, Even if abandoned as an orphan, by those whom he has transformed into heirs for grace, Even if hung on the cross like a criminal, the one who is the Most Holy, Even if subjected to death, the one who is the source and giver of life, by those who received life – even then, He does not react, does not attack, does not incriminate them.
6. All in love, and for love. He carries all our burdens on himself, on our behalf, in the place of us, he becomes the victim, he has immolates himself. Like the grain of wheat, He allows himself to fall and die, so that In his death - we have life, In his poverty - we have the enrichment, in his misery - we have glory, in his blood - we have cleansing, in his isolation - we have our return, in his crucifixion – we have our resurrection, in his disfiguration – we have our transfiguration, in his deterioration – we have our restoration, in his annihilation – we have our regeneration!
7. This is the beauty and the greatness of the cross. It is not so much the fact of the cross, not so much the cruelty of suffering, but the sign of it, the significance of it, the reasons for it, and the effects of it, that are more important. It is not so much “what is seen”, but “what is behind” and “what is ahead” that glorifies and exalts the cross. God’s love and mercy are behind the cross, and forgiveness of sins, reconciliation and with God and salvation for eternity are ahead of the cross.
8. Thus, in the cross, what is exalted is not the piece of cross, which is actually a means of a heinous penalisation for criminals. What is glorified is not hapless suffering. What is eternalised is not the helpless defeat of a just man at the hands of injustice and corruption of values. Cross is not a dead-end of misery, but the threshold of glory. Cross is the greatest challenge and battle against human fragility and falsity.
9. Cross is a clearest testimony of God’s love, which shoulders our burden so as to relieve us, which empties itself so as to fill us with God’s abundant grace, and which dies so as to give us new life. Cross is that Breath of love: It is in love, God breathed His own life into us, He continued to breathe His love upon us all throughout his life, and in love, He breathed his last. He loved us to the end of His breath. Cross shows the heights to which true love, and that is God’s love in Jesus can reach up to. Cross testifies to what depths, the deepest love of God can stoop into.
10. Cross bearing the crucified, symbolises the conviction and commitment, courage and perseverance, love and sacrifice of Jesus to the end and without end. Cross is not a dark defeat, but a bright feat of immense love. Cross is not a sign of misery, but a reign of glory. Cross is not a mere ignominy or agony wreathed in suffering, but a symphony and epiphany of salvation, clothed in self-offering. Cross is a greatest testimony of God’s solidarity with the human predicament – God’s caring, sharing and bearing to the extent of daring even death.
11. Cross with the crucified, is an Ignition of inspiration and urge, instilling courage and energy, to numberless souls who offer their life to God and suffer for God and good. Cross is also an ever-flowing spring of comfort and hope to all those simple and innocent hearts who seem to undergo unjust and undue suffering, so as to accept, bear and move ahead in surrender and renewed strength
12. Today then, what does cross mean to us? What does it tell us and call us for? It is not enough that we venerate the cross, kiss it, wear it or keep the crosses everywhere. Cross means much more than that. Cross means taking a stand for Christ, for his values, for the Gospel. Cross means standing for a cause. But the cross cannot be isolated from the Crucifix. Therefore Cross calls for a relationship, for passion, for intimacy, for loyalty and commitment for the Crucifix. It is about defending a cause, representing a person, a question of perseverance and loyalty. Cross means facing the consequences, enduring suffering for the sake of Christ and his values.
13. In line with the holy bishop Fulton J. Sheen, the cross is a call to be vertical-oriented, heaven-oriented people. A cross is created when a horizontal bar is placed against a vertical bar. In other words, whenever our will is placed against the will of God, a cross is formed. Therefore, cross constantly invokes us to put the will of God above and against self-will and self-interest.
14. In the light of the affirmation of Saint Paul, "Christ the Crucified is an obstacle for the Jews and a folly for the Gentiles, but for us, the believers, Christ is the Power and the Wisdom of God", cross becomes a call to be a "contrast" "people. We live in a world that is too permissive, where every false thing is allowed, justified and even promoted, in the guise of modernity, change and fashion and reading the signs of the times.
15. What is wrong has a free hand, a pervasive sway, and is exalted as a matter of intelligence and power. And what is right is labelled as a blockade, like weakness and foolishness. In fact this is the real impotence and stupidity, because without true inner power, spiritual power, and moral power, what can be strong and sane? In this society, we as bearers of the Cross and followers of the Crucifix, are called to be positive jolts and folly. This means being resistant and contrasting with evil.
16. We are called to be the power and wisdom of God, in a weak and insane world. Let us pray that we may be dead to sin, and alive to grace! Today let us impress this love within us. Let's focus on this fire of passion and burn with the same.
LIGHT THAT IS RADIANT AND REFULGENT, DISPELS DARKNESS THAT IS STAGNANT AND REPUGNANT
EASTER VIGIL, 03 APRIL 2021
1. The Easter Vigil, is a night by contrast. It is no more a night of darkness, but a night where true and full light penetrates. Easter night is a night where the faith-people and faithful people “pass over” from slavery to freedom, from fear to assurance, from sorrow to joy, and from death to life. Easter Night celebrates Christ as our Light. Jesus dispelled the dark shadows of sin, because he is the “Light of the world”.
2. The greatest message and confirmation of Easter is that Jesus our Lord is a living God. He lives. He lives on. He is alive. The Lord who was crucified and died on the cross and was buried, was not finished in the tomb, he had not disappeared into the layers of earth, he was not lost in the past, he was not confined to history as a memory. He conquered death, he rose from the grave, he broke the chains of death, he defeated the forces of Satan and evil. He reigns forever in heaven with power, glory, as God without end, as eternal God.
3. While the Easter night celebrates Christ as our Light, it also confirms our vocation as the children of Light. With The Resurrection of Christ, darkness no longer has a hold on us. We are lit, we are enlightened. We walk firmly in the road of Light. We live in light, we do the works of light. So, We are called to always keep the light on – the light of energy against weakness, the light of courage against discouragement, the light of trust against despair, the light of sincerity against falsehood, the light of integrity against hypocrisy, the light of sensitivity against indifference, the light of humility against pride, the light of optimism against pessimism, the light of forgiveness against resentment, the light of reconciliation against retaliation, the light of generosity against avarice, the light of goodness against evil, the light of grace against sin.
4. This is what the Word of God in Colossians 5.8-11 reminds and exhorts us: “You were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Behave as children of light; the fruits of light are kindness, justice and truth in every form. You yourselves search out what pleases the Lord, and take no part in works of darkness that are no benefit; expose them instead”. Very clearly we are told to keep away from all evil, which is darkness. We are to please the Lord, behaving as worthy children of God and light. Especially we must bear witness as Easter people by bearing abundant fruits of light in living a kind, just and truthful life.
That will be the real and excellent Easter. The risen Lord will give us new strength.
He raises our strength that is often dull and reduced.
OUR GOD RISEN IS THE LORD OF LIFE
DEATH AND EVIL HAVE NO SWAY OVER HIM
EASTER SUNDAY, 04 APRIL 2021
1. Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Christ is the greatest testimony of Life. God is life, and our God is a “living” God, the Emmanuel, God-with-us. No power of Satan, no fetters of death, no forces of evil, no closure of tomb, can restrain him from rising, or separate him from living with us. He lives with us for ever, because he is Life and ever alive. His rising assures and comforts us that sin and death have no power over him. Evil seems to have a loud and mocking laugh over good, but that is only short-lived. The Final smile is of God and of good.
2. Thus the Easter Feast is truly a Victory Day. It is not something peripheral or superficial. It is not just God’s victory over Satan, not just Saviour’s victory over the Evil one, not just the Holy Spirit’s over the evil spirit. It is not a “personal score” that is settled between God and the Evil. But something fundamental and foundational, crucial and essential. It involves the whole creation, the whole humanity. It touches upon the whole life, the whole person, the whole destiny. It is a comprehensive and holistic victory. It is the victory of all of us. It is the victory of our faith. It is victory of good over evil, of love over hate, of mercy over violence, of benevolence over condemnation, of humility over arrogance, of patience over fury, of altruism over egoism, of generosity over greed, of sharing over accumulation, of giving over grabbing, of detachment over clinging, of nobility over fragility, of forgiveness over revenge, of loyalty over disloyalty, of stability over instability, of conviction over compromise, of authenticity over duplicity, of integrity over guile, of truth over falsity, of the spiritual over the unspiritual, of the above over the below, of light over darkness, of life over death,
3. Thus, in this victory of God’s life over the death imposed by evil, first of all we have the greatest comfort and encouragement that God never leaves us. God who rose to life, will not allow any forces, any pressures that stifle and choke life, that diminish and destroy life. It is true that many times, in our society, in our times, in our lives, evil seems stronger than good. Wickedness and insincerity seem more advantageous, while the goodness and honesty seem to be boring, tiring and useless. In those situations, one can easily feel that entrusting oneself to God and dedicating oneself to good, is useless. One feels that it is better, safe and advantageous to follow the world, to walk according to the wind, to compromise with the evil and false values.
4. Precisely in those moments, we must turn our gaze on to the cross, and to the crucified Lord. The battle he made to the end, in confidence, courage and perseverance, is never useless. Trust in good, trust in God, is never wasteful. The struggle of the good, the challenges of those entrusted to God, are only temporary. There is no defeat, there is no fall, there is no loss, for those who trust in God and walk in good. The last victory is always of God, and of good. Clouds will not be permanent in the sky, but only for a while. The darkness will not be long forever, but the light of the Lord shines. Good Friday, darkness and pain are only for a few hours. But the glory, the joy of the resurrection is forever.
5. Jesus asks Mary Magdalene weeping at his tomb, “Woman, why do you weep?” (Jn. 20.15). Yes, the same question is posed to each one of us, especially to those who feel down and let down, those who despair: “My brother, my sister, why do you weep? Why do you lose your heart? Am I not with you? Have I not walked the way of the cross before you and for you? Will I not walk with you now? Will I not wipe away your tears? I died for you and rose for you, to be with you for ever. Trust me and live with me. Peace and joy shall be yours.”
6. Let the risen Jesus constantly raise our fallen spirits toward heaven, toward what is high and lofty. Therefore we pray that the risen Christ constantly resurrects us, raises our lowered spirits towards heaven, towards what is high and noble.
5. Let us become “living temples” and not “empty tombs”! Let the resurrection experience remove all fears, restore joy and lead to surrender. Let us constantly die to sin and rise up from our fallen state, rise up from our dissipation, and live to grace. Let our daily life be a daily resurrection giving us a foretaste of that final resurrection.
