PALM SUNDAY (B) 25th March 2018

The reflections for Sundays and Solemnities is an activity of Society of St Paul, India
A Reflection by:
FR SAVIO DE SALES
ST ANTHONY'S CHURCH,
VAKOLA, MUMBAI
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I wonder why Palm Sunday is also called Passion Sunday. Generally, we associate the word passion with strong emotions of fear, love, hatred and anger. Passion is also unlimited zeal and enthusiasm and this enthusiasm can be negative or positive. In the expression of emotions, we hear stories of passionate lovers such as Romeo and Juliet and in the expression of enthusiasm we recall stories of passionate leaders like Nelson Mandela. We also read stories of leaders who had destructive passions such as Rudolf Hitler, Idi Amin, etc. Scriptures warn against negative passions such as anger, lust and hatred and encourages crucifying passions of the flesh (Galatians 5:24).
So, if passion is about emotion and enthusiasm, then what has passion got to do with the suffering and death of Jesus? The entire life of Jesus was full of passion. He carried out his mission with passion and zeal for his work consumed him (John 2:17). Nevertheless, the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus is specifically called passion because no part of the life of Jesus evokes so much emotion, passion and compassion.
The Sorrowful mysteries of the Holy Rosary provide a good summary the Passion narrative. These five mysteries: the agony in the garden; the flogging (scourge); crowning with thorns; carrying of the cross and crucifixion were all moments of intense struggle and emotion. Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ, in 2004 attracted millions of viewers because of the graphic presentation of the passion of Christ. The movie demonstrates the intensity of the suffering and anguish of Jesus.
The Passion of Jesus is also an eloquent story of betrayal by a trusted friend and confidant. His passion tells us that suffering is not reserved for sinners but that the innocent also suffers. John Piper, author of the Book, “The Passion of Jesus Christ says: “Christ did not die to make good works merely possible or to produce a half-hearted pursuit. He died to produce in us a passion for good deeds.” Therefore, ultimate lesson of the passion story is positive: the tree of death (the cross) is transformed into the tree of life.
Two brothers lived together in the same apartment. The elder brother was an honest, hard-working and God-fearing man and the younger a dishonest, gun-totting, substance-abusing rogue. Many a night the younger man would come back into the apartment late, drunk and with a lot of cash and the elder brother would spend hours plead ing with him to mend his ways and live a decent life. But the young man would have none of it. One night the junior brother runs into the house with a smoking gun and blood-stained clothes. “I killed a man,” he announced. In a few minutes the house was surrounded by police and the two brothers knew there was no escape. “I did not mean to kill him,” stammered the young brother, “I don’t want to die.” By now the police were knocking at the door. The senior brother had an idea. He exchanged his clothes with the blood-stained clothes of his killer brother. The police arrested him, tried him and condemned him to death for murder. He was killed and his junior brother lived. He died for his brother.
Can we see that this story of crime and death is basically a story of love? Similarly the story of the suffering and death of Jesus which we heard in the Passion is basically a story of love - God’s love for us. How should we respond to it? Well, how would you expect the junior brother to respond to the death of the senior brother? We would expect him to respond with GRATITUDE. Gratitude to his generous brother should make him turn a new leaf and never go back to a life of crime. He would be a most ungrateful idiot if he should continue living the sort of life that made his brother die. Gratitude should make him keep the memory of his brother alive. No day should pass that he should not remember his brother who died for him. Finally, if the dead brother has got a wife and children we should expect the saved brother, out of gratitude, to love and care for them. What God expects from us today is gratitude - gratitude strong enough to make us hate sin of every shade and colour; strong enough to make us translate our love of God into love of all of God’s people.

[@marybritto7260]

Thank you Fr. Savio for the beautiful message with story i love it

[@nanimkenya1015]

Amen I feel sorrowful for his elder brother how much love he heard for his young brother. that is how Christ's love is for me, I feel crying because of too much love Jesus hard on me, for forgiving my sins, my heart says where my soul well be end of earth journey. Lord Jesus you are the truth, right and the way to heaven show Marcy on me to enter to your salvation.

[@Wilson1981100]

Thank you Fr Savio for the beautiful message. I love it

[@pilomenacrasta5667]

Thank you Fr. Savio for The beautiful message with story

[@vincentcarmel2278]

Fr Savio, Thank you for the wonderful message with good references and the story of the two brothers and the beautiful application of it to what Jesus did for us. Congrats!

[@illonafernandes7259]

Thank you Fr Savio