Palm Sunday Year A - 2/4/2023 - Gospel: Mt 26:11-54
Hosanna - Crucifixion - Alleluia
Public opinion is always in action. It swings like a pendulum, moving forward and backward, depending on the mood of the crowd. Today they are supporters; but they may become protesters tomorrow, and then the next day becomes judges. This certainly is the case in Jesus' last week of his public ministry. At the beginning of the week, the spontaneous crowds, who happened to meet Him on his way to Jerusalem, chanted Hosanna, Hosanna to welcome Jesus. On Friday of that same week, incited by the authorities, the crowds were shouting on the top of their voice, crucifying Him, crucifying him. Three days later, by Sunday morning, hearing the great news of His resurrection from death, they were singing Alleluia, Alleluia, to celebrate His risen.
We celebrate Palm Sunday and the Holy Week, not affected by majority opinion; but by having faith and love for Jesus. We are relating to Jesus' crucifixion and our daily hope and joy, pain, suffering, and struggle in life. This connectedness makes us realize that every single life has moments of the joy of hosanna, the moments of carrying the heavy burden of one's cross; and the moments of heavenly happiness of alleluia. They come and go. We, the followers of Christ, pray to value them all. Hosanna inspires us to move on in doing good work. Our personal cross humbles us to accept our own failures and the boundary of humanity. The Alleluia helps us to celebrate the moments when our lives are guided by the teaching of Jesus.
Our society loves to celebrate hosanna and alleluia but not the cross, because earthly hosanna and alleluia relate to short joy, and happiness and praise; while crosses are associated to suffering, pain and agony. The celebration enables us to experience in our lives that life is a journey. This journey is known as a pilgrimage for Christians. A pilgrimage has many hidden and unexpected hosanna, crosses and alleluia. The Holy Week tells us that the human life of Jesus had sweat and tears, tiredness and struggles; and so too will our lives. It also tells us that the true and everlasting Hosanna and Alleluia happen last. Our earthly journey has a destination; for our physical body, its destination is returning to soil because from the soil we were created. Our spiritual life, its destination is in God's hands because the breath of God was given to us; and we return to the One who made and gave us life. Jesus' final words on the cross confirm our spiritual destination:
Father, into your hands I commend My Spirit. After saying this He breathed His last.
God's house is a holy place, and only the holy things are allowed to be there. Lent is the time for us to make change; change not the outer but the inner life. We change our hearts and mind, through God's grace, to be holy.
In Jesus' time, the Romans condemned a criminal to death by nailing them on the cross. By dying on the cross, Jesus changed his horrible death to be the fountain of life. Jesus destroyed death forever; because three days after the crucifixion, the same Jesus rose and appeared to his disciples. He brought them a new life and endless joy. They saw Him, touched the holes they made in His hands, and the wound on His side. The disciples dined with Him at the same table. This table fellowship we are allowed to share with the new name: The Eucharist. Jesus' Last Supper becomes our daily nourishment. The washing of the feet becomes our banner of service and works of charity.
Holy week is the combination of the two words: Holy and Week. The two must go together to complete their meaning. It is a 'Holy Week' because our Lord, Jesus makes it holy. We, His followers, learn to make our inner life holy as much as possible by acts of fasting, charity, and penance. Surprisingly, these simple acts have the power to combat sin; and overshadow death. These acts are the ingredients for the final and everlasting Hosanna and Alleluia.
We celebrate Palm Sunday and the Holy Week, not affected by majority opinion; but by having faith and love for Jesus. We are relating to Jesus' crucifixion and our daily hope and joy, pain, suffering, and struggle in life. This connectedness makes us realize that every single life has moments of the joy of hosanna, the moments of carrying the heavy burden of one's cross; and the moments of heavenly happiness of alleluia. They come and go. We, the followers of Christ, pray to value them all. Hosanna inspires us to move on in doing good work. Our personal cross humbles us to accept our own failures and the boundary of humanity. The Alleluia helps us to celebrate the moments when our lives are guided by the teaching of Jesus.
Our society loves to celebrate hosanna and alleluia but not the cross, because earthly hosanna and alleluia relate to short joy, and happiness and praise; while crosses are associated to suffering, pain and agony. The celebration enables us to experience in our lives that life is a journey. This journey is known as a pilgrimage for Christians. A pilgrimage has many hidden and unexpected hosanna, crosses and alleluia. The Holy Week tells us that the human life of Jesus had sweat and tears, tiredness and struggles; and so too will our lives. It also tells us that the true and everlasting Hosanna and Alleluia happen last. Our earthly journey has a destination; for our physical body, its destination is returning to soil because from the soil we were created. Our spiritual life, its destination is in God's hands because the breath of God was given to us; and we return to the One who made and gave us life. Jesus' final words on the cross confirm our spiritual destination:
Father, into your hands I commend My Spirit. After saying this He breathed His last.
God's house is a holy place, and only the holy things are allowed to be there. Lent is the time for us to make change; change not the outer but the inner life. We change our hearts and mind, through God's grace, to be holy.
In Jesus' time, the Romans condemned a criminal to death by nailing them on the cross. By dying on the cross, Jesus changed his horrible death to be the fountain of life. Jesus destroyed death forever; because three days after the crucifixion, the same Jesus rose and appeared to his disciples. He brought them a new life and endless joy. They saw Him, touched the holes they made in His hands, and the wound on His side. The disciples dined with Him at the same table. This table fellowship we are allowed to share with the new name: The Eucharist. Jesus' Last Supper becomes our daily nourishment. The washing of the feet becomes our banner of service and works of charity.
Holy week is the combination of the two words: Holy and Week. The two must go together to complete their meaning. It is a 'Holy Week' because our Lord, Jesus makes it holy. We, His followers, learn to make our inner life holy as much as possible by acts of fasting, charity, and penance. Surprisingly, these simple acts have the power to combat sin; and overshadow death. These acts are the ingredients for the final and everlasting Hosanna and Alleluia.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
