PALM SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 23

HOLY WEEK 2023: PALM SUNDAY (02 APRIL), MAUNDY THURSDAY (06 APRIL), GOOD FRIDAY (07 APRIL) ENTRY INTO THE HOLY WEEK 2023 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 2. But these few days are the last phase, and they should be more intense. 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, Palm Sunday, Holy or Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday before we enter upon the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday 3. 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 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 4. 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 person 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 Good Friday, not even lasting till Easter night! 5. 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 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. 02 APRIL 2023: PALM SUNDAY: ISAIAH 50. 4-7; PHIL 2. 6-11; MATTHEW 26.14 – 27.66 (REFLECTION 1) INDICATIVE: The life of following Jesus is like a procession. In this procession, we need to see what our motives are, whether this procession is out of loyalty or out of ulterior motives 1. Palm Sunday is one of the threesome of the Holy Week, which comprises Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. Today Jesus solemnly enters Jerusalem, the city of destiny. There he would be tried, persecuted, and killed on the cross. But he would rise from death victoriously and gloriously 2. His entry into the earthly Jerusalem signifies his entry into the heavenly Jerusalem, the heaven. But that heavenly entry must be preceded by trial and death, the moments of the way of the cross and crucifixion. There is no glory without suffering. There is no resurrection without passion and crucifixion 3. The crowd on the Palm Sunday represents the whole of humanity. This comprises different categories and different mentalities of people. There are people sincere and insincere, well-motivated and ill-motivated, trusting and stable, unbelieving and unstable, loyal and disloyal, spiritual and unspiritual 4. The occasion is solemn entry into Jerusalem and the kingly procession. But the readings are passion or suffering readings that focus on the aspect of suffering. This also shows the nature of our God, the nature of our salvation. Our God is a God who suffers for our sake. And our salvation entails necessarily suffering 5. The crowd on Palm Sunday turns into a crowd on Good Friday within a very few days. This shows how shallow was their faith in Jesus and their life of faith. It was a crowd that was largely non-committal toward Jesus. They had no deep loyalty to Jesus. Their faith was not deep. Their relationship with Jesus was not intimate or personal. Their faith was mostly based on favours and miracles. It was superficial and peripheral 6. Shallowness leads to unsteadiness and then wickedness. Being not deep-rooted and not committed, they were so wavering in their response and behaviour. They were expectant of something worldly and spectacular from Jesus. They were excited over their wrong expectations about Jesus. When Jesus upsets their political ambitions and earthly interests, they become frustrated and wicked. Thus, Palm Sunday turns into Passion Sunday. Direction: Am I also so unstable in my loyalty to the Lord? Do I also easily change the party from good to evil? Do I also have the same tendency of betraying my Lord from “Hosanna! Hosanna!” to “Crucify him! Crucify him!”? (REFLECTION 2) 1. Often I am fascinated by the whole scene of Palm Sunday, called also Passion Sunday. Why? I see a vivid connection and parallel between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. In both scenes, there is a procession; there is excitement; there is enthusiasm; there is a crowd; there is noise and commotion; there is Jesus the central figure; there is a big following and accompaniment 2. 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 3. On Palm Sunday, it is a royal procession; it is a rather favourable crowd, with positive slogans; Jesus is honoured 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 centre of the city 4. But on Good Friday, it is a “criminal” procession; it is a hostile crowd; with hateful slogans; Jesus is disgraced as a criminal, loaded with the 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 5. What is very interesting and strange is, that 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 Good Friday 6. 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 a cross; king into a criminal; sentiment into resentment; felicitation into persecution; kingly crown into the thorny crown; clothes of welcome and honour into stones and thistles of rejection; applause into abuse; smooth ride into bloody stumbling; coronation into crucifixion; glory into misery 7. 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 does he accept and bear all of that? It is the sharp contrast between the single and undivided nature, perspective, motive, and goal of Jesus on one hand, and on the other hand, the divided nature, divided and deviated perspectives, motives, and goals of the people. Jesus’ nature is divine and noble 8. 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-interest. Their goal is an earthly king and an earthly kingdom against the Roman empire 9. 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 10. This is the right and apt time to do a little self-checkup concerning our own nature, perspectives, motives, and goals. How often do 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-centred interests and gains, and cheap and low goals? IMPERATIVE: 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 behaviour and actions. 06 APRIL 2023: HOLY THURSDAY: EXODUS 12. 1-14; 1 COR 11. 23-26; JOHN 13. 1-15 INDICATIVE: Love is the sum and summary of everything. When love is there, anything and everything is possible. Maundy Thursday is a noble TASTE of love! 1. Maundy Thursday - a day of the Last Supper, Commemoration and celebration of 4 significant Events: Meals together, Washing of the apostles' feet, the institution of the Holy Eucharist, and the institution of the holy Priesthood. All these events are not isolated entities but are linked into one single optic of Love. They are threads of a single cloth of Love, branches of a single tree, and petals of a single flower of Love 2. The Meals together is a testimony and expression of love. In a meal, there is unity and care. These are expressed in sharing. This leads to nourishment and sustenance. Thus true love unites, cares, shares, nurtures, and strengthens. How is our love in our community? How much unity? Care? Sharing? Mutual support? 3. The Washing of the feet of the disciples by Jesus is a testimony and expression of love. In that gesture and act, there is humility, service, and also symbolic purification. What a sign of humility! - Jesus the Master washes his disciples' feet, the Lord washes the servants, the Holy washes the sinful, and the Perfect washes the imperfect 4. What a spirit of service! - bending before others on knees signifies the whole life of Jesus, bent to serve others. What a symbol of purification! - Jesus washing the disciples' feet symbolises the washing of our sins with His own blood 5. True love is humble and not arrogant; serves and not dominates or demands to be served; purifies and heals, and does not contaminate or infect. How much humility? Service? Healing and cleansing? 6. The institution of the Holy Eucharist - a testimony and expression of love. True love desires to be present with loved ones forever. Jesus who loves us passionately wants to continue his presence with us forever 7. In the Eucharist, we see the perpetual presence and company of the Lord. In the Eucharist, we are nourished by the eternal food. In the Eucharist, we are united as one mystical Body. If so, how much - reverence? Awareness? Spiritual Intimacy? Fraternal communion? Interior force? Growth in sanctity and fidelity? 8. The institution of the Holy Priesthood is a testimony and expression of love. True love extends its mission to the end. Jesus in the institution of holy priesthood extends his mission - of preaching God's Word, of grace through sacraments, of doing good, through his ministers, the priests. The priesthood is an immense gift of God offered to us, very concrete and authentic, of the spiritual and fraternal. 9. It is also a generous response, docile and loyal, active and committed, from the human part, to collaborate with God's designs and to partake in His mission. Thus in the priesthood, there is dignity, sanctity, and divinity. The holiness and the divine action go beyond the imperfection of man. The greatness of Christ surpasses the weakness of the individual priest. Then, how much - respect? The vision of the sacrality of the sacrament? Collaboration and support to our priests? (REFLECTION 2) 1. Today's speciality 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 sharing 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 Saviour. 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 the 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 contrasting experience! 4. This is clearly a supreme act of WITNESS, teaching in practice, an example in concrete. 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 of their due dignity and rights. 6. 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, is a disgrace to discipleship 7. But these lessons and experiences of love, humility, and service cannot be just limited only to those few moments, as it happens many times in our case: 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 8. But Jesus wants these triple principles to continue forever, even after his physical separation. They will enliven and transmit his presence and action, at 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 9. 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 10. 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 11. 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 a witnessing life of love, humility, and service 12. 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 do 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? 13. How little do we feel his effect? How often do 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? 14. 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! 15. At times what disrespect, criticism, and harmful behaviour toward priests? How easily do we forget the holiness of their vocation, their immense sacrifices, and their selfless services? How uncharitably and ungratefully do we become one-sided and prejudiced and ignore their goodness? 16. How often do we fail to encourage, and support our priests, while we demand so much from them? How often do we put too high demands on them, while we don’t bother even a little about our own quality of life? How often do we exaggerate their small defects, instead of being empathetic toward them? 17. 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 its sanctity, should not lower its dignity to something cheap, and should not discourage and diminish the faith of the people 18. 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. GOOD FRIDAY, 07 APRIL 2023 INDICATIVE: Jesus crucified on the Cross is the Epitome of Love. Cross, the Death-bed is the Spring of Life 1. If Maundy Thursday is the “Taste” of Love, Good Friday is the “Test” of love. Look at the cross, look at that Christ 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! 2. 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 defenceless 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! 3. But also think - Why all this? What wrong? What crime? What did he do to deserve such a heinous death penalty? The answer is Nothing. He is The Son of God, the Holy One, the Just One, with no sin, no guilt, and no evil. He has always done good, and only good 4. 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, and sacrifices everything, for the sake of the beloved 5. If not for that love why must he forsake all the glory and dignity of heaven and embrace our human misery? Yes. Only for love for us, he shares our difficulties, sheds tears for us, and wipes away the tears of so many. Only in love and for love, does he accept everything and lowers his head in patience and abandonment, accepting unjust condemnation 6. 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 7. 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, and he 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 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! 8. 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 with God, and salvation for eternity are ahead of the cross 9. Thus, in the cross, what is exalted is not the piece of the 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. The 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 10. Cross is the 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 11. 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 the greatest testimony of God’s solidarity with the human predicament – God’s caring, sharing, and bearing to the extent of daring even death 12. 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 13. Today then, what does the 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, passion, intimacy, loyalty, and commitment to the Crucifix. It is about defending a cause, representing a person, a question of perseverance and loyalty. Cross means facing the consequences, and enduring suffering for the sake of Christ and his values 14. 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, the cross constantly invokes us to put the will of God above and against self-will and self-interest 15. 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", the 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. 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.