PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY Yr A. March 24, 2024.
Readings
1st: Isaiah 50:5-7
2nd: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Mark 14:1- 15:47
Theme: Where Do I Fall Under, Where Do I Find Myself - Part I
My dear people of God, today is 6th Sunday of Lent, traditionallly called Passion (Palm) Sunday. Palm Sunday celebrates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and eventually to the Cross. Palm Sunday also marks the beginning of Holy Week leading to the Pascal Mysteries. Our reflections are done on series of sub-headings, selected and formulated from St Mark's (Yr B) version of the Passion Narratives, with specific messages. The main theme implies/suggests that I pray and meditate on each sub theme as it applies/speaks to me.
Before the arrest
Jesus celebrates (the first) Holy Mass with his disciples at which he (Jesus) is the main Celebrant (Priest) and the offertory Gift (Lamb). That single Gift (His real Body and Blood, the Holy Eucharist) remains the only Life-giving Food for the pilgrim Church on her communal march towards the heavenly Jerusalem. Therefore, the Holy Eucharist remains, for ALL ages, the summit of Christian life. Of what specific value/importance is the Holy Eucharist for me? What reason prevents me from directly participating in Holy Communion and what am I doing about it? How adequately do I usually prepare before coming to receive Holy Communion? It is shocking that at this historic Feast, while Jesus' main pre-occupation is to ensure and guarantee the safety of the future of his followers (the church) the future leaders of the Church, according to St. Luke's version, are busy fighting for positions and powers. Do I sometimes, consciously or unconsciously, betray similar inordinate ambitions and desires for positions and powers at where God calls me to serve his Church and humanity at large? Am I surprised that power struggle has become a silent killer infection both in the religious and civil worlds? Am I surprised and/or scandalized that people are prepared to defame, damage and destroy (kill) in order to either remain in or snash power?
The person and passion of Peter
Like you and I, none of the 12 disciples truly deserves sympathy more than Peter. Peter would always have something to say or do. "Lord, even if I will die with you, I will never desert/leave you". By these assuring words, he appears and sounds every bit a true Rock. In the earliest next moment, however, he would prove every bit the worst coward in human history. In one breadth he is hard like mud under "Sun", in another breadth, he melts like wax under same "Sun". At one time, he is Peter, Apostle of Christ, at another time he is Simon, son of Jonah. Sadly, this dual character represents the millions of followers of Christ who would always talk/act before thinking and weighing the full import of their words and actions. Thanks to the tending prayer of Jesus that God strengthen the faith of this future leader of the Church so that he (Peter) may in turn strengthen the faith of his brothers & sisters. This tells/reminds me that the power to strengthen (bless/sanctify) is directly from God but only through a human instrument - the priest.
The agony in the Garden
Jesus prays that if the Father could take away the bitter Cup (Cross) which frightening and scaring shadow is now closer than ever. God would not take away the bitter cup, he would give the Son a superior power to squrely face and conquer the cruelty of the bitter Cup. What position do I usually take when addressing God with my needs? Is prayer for me what I want from God or what God wills for me?
Judas hands over Jesus with a simple kiss, the first time true Value is exchanged for vile and violence.
This happens just after Jesus has finished praying. Yet another reminder, that prayer must not necessarily prevent troubles and challenges in life but prayer enables me to remain firm and persevere through them. "Mercful God, grant me grace to honestly admit and accept the "Judas' traits and spirit" (of habitual betrayal of close friends and relatives) in me and seek your unfailing mercy to purge them off before and beyond the Resurrection. Give me grace never to again seek cheep popularity and favors through deliberate and shameless assassination of the neighbour's character. Father, increase in me the power of your spirit to endure and peservere during moments of similar betrayals as is done to Jesus by a supposed closed friend.
The arrest of Jesus
It is very ridiculous at any attempt to picture the exaggerated crowd with sophisticated weapons that appears to execute a bloody plan orchestrated by people who think, and perhaps believe, that with their temporal powers they can alter or twist the salvivic plan of God for humanity. How, on earth, could a whole cohort be dispatched to arrest just one person who, in fact, is unarmed?
The strategic timing of the arrest
- in the night - presumably to avoid an inevitable popular uproar and riots by the ordinary masses who, by now, have believed in Jesus because of his mighty deeds. So the attack and arrest take place under the cover of darkness. Very funny but how nature can sometimes seem to co-operate with evil! Like many of us, Judas begins the plot with a fullest support and co-operation of nature - darkness. No one leaves the scene (Church) of the Eucharistic Banquet prematurely (before the end) and hopes to remain in the Light. What are those (more) pressing reasons that always inform or justify my habitual leaving the Church before the final blessing by the priest?
Violence for violence?
The still ignorant disciples want to fight back, slashing off the ear of an innocent servant. For Jesus, however, violence can never be a solution to any problem in human history. Love would do better. So he (Jesus) not only instructs that the sword be put back at its rightful place but also restores the wounded servant to full health. Nothing made of human hands can ever be a weapon for winning.
The Shepherd is struck and the sheep scattered
Peter, who represents all of us, follows Jesus but at a distance. He would soon find temporal comfort in the company of curious observers warming themselves by fire. It is precisely in that brief state of comfort, frightened by a miserable house girl, Peter would deny the Lord three times in the open. The very lips that tasted the Eucharistic Banquet just a while ago are the same lips to pronounce curses in public. Sometimes "Peter" dominates, other times, "Simon" dominates, but once called and named, "Simon" never ceases to be "Peter". After that miserable failure and fall, only St. Luke adds that Jesus turns and looks at Peter - not to say, "Didn't I tell you?" but as a timely act of dispatch of a passionate eye of mercy to search for an unfaithful and lost friend. This is hope for the sinner, that when we fail God and each other (as we do always) because of our frailty, it is rather grace that usually search for us and not by our own strength or merit that we return to mercy.
The real drama continues on Good Friday, with St. John's version of the Passion Narratives. "When we eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again". Continue to recite the Holy Rosary daily. God richly bless you and your family.
Rev. Fr. Thomas L. Debuo, Catholic Diocese of Damongo, Ghana (0244511306/0243711926)