PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
20 MARCH 2016
When
Jesus prepares to enter into Jerusalem, he sends two of his disciples on a
mission. They are to untie a colt and
bring it to him. If asked why they are
untying this colt, Jesus tells them to respond, “The Master has need of
it.” When they do what he tells them and
are questioned about the donkey theft, they repeat his words, “The Master has
need of it.”
These words
are curious, because God does not need anything. God did not create the world because he
needed us. God created the world out of
pure love for us. Jesus took on human
flesh, not because of his need, but because of ours. Unlike Adam, who was not content to be an
image of God, Jesus did not grasp at being like God. He is God.
And yet, he needs a donkey to carry him into Jerusalem. He needs this colt to convey the message that
he is the promised Messiah; that he is the king who has come to proclaim peace
in heaven and glory in the highest; that he is the Suffering Servant who will give
his life to reconcile us with the Father.
Just as he
needs a donkey to carry him into Jerusalem, he needs us to live the Paschal
Mystery and carry it into our world.
Pope Francis has declared this year as a Jubilee Year of mercy. We heave about this mercy repeatedly in Luke’s
Passion. Just as Jesus continues to give
Judas a chance to change his mind at the Last Supper and as he kisses him, so
he wants us to keep open the path of mercy to those who have hurt us. Just as he heals the ear of the high priest’s
servant, he invites us to search for nonviolent solutions to aggression and
hatred. Just as he looks at Peter to
invite him to repent, he looks lovingly at us to admit our denials of him and
return to his mercy. Just as his very
presence reconciles Pilate with Herod, he wants us to see the power of this
Mass to draw enemies together. Just as
he promises paradise to the repentant thief, he offers us the gift of salvation
until the moment we take our last breath.
This
Paschal Mystery is at the heart of everything we believe. That is why the Lord needs us to participate
in the Liturgies of the Triduum. Lent
ends when we begin the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at 7:30. Join us for the Passion of the Lord at 1:00
on Good Friday. Come to the Easter Vigil
at 8:30 on Holy Saturday evening, or to any of the Easter Sunday Masses. Check the bulletin for times of other
liturgies. Come to watch and pray.
The Lord
needs us to deepen our faith in the Paschal Mystery by coming together as a
community during this year’s Triduum.
With faith renewed, he can be instruments of his other need: to send us to proclaim the Good News of God’s
salvation to the ends of the earth (or at least to the boundaries of Saint
Joseph County).
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