Loving us to distraction!

Apr 12, 2025

Palm Sunday (C)
Readings: Isaiah 50:4-7;
Philippians 2:6-11;
Gospel: Luke 22:14—23:56

Palm Sunday begins the most sacred and profound week in the Christian calendar — Holy Week — ushering us into a period of deep reflection, prayer, and transformation. As we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we are reminded of the depth of God's love for us, a love that defies our understanding. St Catherine of Siena beautifully captures the essence of God's love, saying, “He fell in love with the beauty of His creature.” This love culminates in the Passion of Christ, which speaks not only of what Jesus has done for us but also what we, through our sin, have done to Him.

The Passion narrative is a powerful invitation for us to reflect on our own roles in the story of Christ’s suffering. The liturgy of Palm Sunday invites us to engage with the emotions of the moment and to ask ourselves how we would have stood in relation to Christ’s trial, suffering, and crucifixion.

Identifying with the characters of the Passion
As we listen to the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, we might feel the initial excitement of the crowd, shouting “Hosanna!” and welcoming Jesus with joy. It’s easy to think we would have been among the jubilant crowd, hailing Him as the Saviour. However, as we journey deeper into the Passion story, the joy quickly turns to sorrow, and we are faced with the stark reality of Jesus' suffering and death. When we hear the account of His crucifixion, and Jesus’ final words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” we are invited to pause in silence and reflect. Would we have remained faithful, or would we have abandoned Him like the disciples did, fleeing in fear?

Would we have denied Him like Peter, or betrayed Him like Judas? Or, like Pilate, would we have washed our hands, avoiding difficult decisions between good and evil? Perhaps, in moments of our own lives, we have even stood among the Pharisees or religious leaders who opposed Jesus, holding tightly to traditions and beliefs that were not aligned with His truth.

In reflecting on these possibilities, we must consider whether, in our own hearts, we too may sometimes oppose the message of Christ in our attachment to human traditions, opinions, and comforts. If Jesus were to appear today, would we recognise His call for renewal, or would we resist His challenge to transform our lives?

Throughout Holy Week, we are reminded that Jesus did not have to suffer and die. At any moment, He could have exercised His divine power and rejected the Cross. But He didn’t. Jesus willingly embraced the suffering and rejection, knowing that it was through His Passion and death that He would bring redemption to the world. The key question is: why would He choose to suffer? The answer lies in God’s perfect plan for our salvation.

In the wisdom of the Father, this act of suffering became the greatest good — the ultimate act of love. Through the Cross, God confounded the wisdom of the world and transformed the greatest evil into the greatest good. This truth is evident in the centrality of the crucifix in our churches and homes today — a constant reminder that no evil, no suffering, no death can overcome the love and power of God.

As we reflect on the Passion of Christ this Holy Week, let it be a time of deep spiritual renewal. We may face trials, hardships, and crosses in our own lives, but nothing can conquer us unless we allow it. No burden is too heavy, and no sorrow too great if we remain steadfast in Christ. The Lord calls us to embrace the Cross, just as He embraced it, with faith that He can bring good out of every situation.

Consider the contrast of emotions from Palm Sunday to Good Friday. The same people who hailed Jesus as King on Sunday were calling for His crucifixion by Friday. This dramatic shift challenges us to consider how easily our own hearts can shift from joy to despair. Yet, even in the depths of despair, the Resurrection on Easter morning brings hope. Christ’s victory over death gives us the assurance that no darkness, no suffering, no evil can ultimately triumph over God’s love.

Holy Week is a call to reconciliation — reconciliation with God, with others, and with ourselves. We are reminded of the importance of forgiveness, both receiving it from God and offering it to others. Just as Jesus forgave those who crucified Him, we too are called to forgive those who have wronged us. As St. Paul writes in Romans 12:2, we are invited to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation begins with repentance and forgiveness, washing away guilt and sin. It is in this process of reconciliation that we experience the fullness of God’s grace.

Holy Week is a time to reflect on our own actions, to examine our relationships, and to ask ourselves how we might better embody the love, forgiveness, and reconciliation that Christ demonstrated for us. We are called to not just reflect on Christ’s Passion, but to allow it to transform our lives.

This is the ultimate grace of Holy Week: the opportunity to be transformed by the love and sacrifice of Christ. We are invited to take up our own crosses and walk with Christ through His Passion, knowing that, in doing so, we participate in His redemptive work. The suffering we face in our lives can be united with Christ’s suffering, and through this union, we can experience the joy of His Resurrection.

This Holy Week, let us make time for deep reflection and prayer. Let us examine our hearts, seek reconciliation through confession, and offer forgiveness where it is needed. May we be renewed by the power of Christ’s love and the promise of His Resurrection.

As we journey through Holy Week, let us preach and witness “Christ and Him crucified.”

Blessed Holy Week!