PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION
10 APRIL 2022
“It
was the best of times: it was the worst
of times ….” So begins Charles Dickens
in his famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities. In a sense, those words capture the readings
which we just heard today. In Saint
Luke’s account of the first Palm Sunday, we heard echoes of that entrance as
the best of times for Jesus and his disciples.
After a long journey, they finally arrive in Jerusalem. Jesus is welcomed by his followers as king,
echoing the voices of the angels at his birth:
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” They lay down their cloaks on the road for
him to enter on the donkey, a symbol of peace.
In Saint Luke’s
account of the Passion, we just heared about the worst of times. Jesus is betrayed by one of his closest
friends. Out of fear, his disciples
abandon him. He is condemned to death,
even though he has done absolutely nothing wrong. He is buried in a borrowed tomb.
The Lord’s
passion has changed everything for us.
This week, the Lord invites us to reflect more deeply on the Paschal
Mystery, which is at the heart of everything we believe as Christians. The Lord wants us to understand more deeply
that our own suffering,
insufficiency, uncertainty, and weakness are invitations to knowing the heart
of God. They are at the heart of the Lord’s redemption. Our weakness reveals
God’s glory. Our sharing in his
dying opens us to share in his rising.
Be sure to
join us for the celebration of the Sacred Paschal Triduum. Lent ends when we enter into the Triduum by
celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. We reflect on his Passion and death on Good
Friday. We celebrate the absolute best
of times at the Easter Vigil and at the Masses on Easter Sunday.
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