I believe that the foundation of Christianity and our Catholic faith is love. And I believe that the whole point of Christian life is for us to receive the unconditional and overwhelming love of Christ and share it with other people. So, as I reflected on today’s readings for Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Lord, I found myself asking “where is the love in these readings”? We begin Mass with a story of triumph that leads to death. We hear about betrayal, the miscarriage of justice, torture, indifference and execution. And today’s readings end with a sealed tomb. It is an emotional roller coaster.
In this dramatic
narrative, Jesus is a lonely figure.
Although he is surrounded by people he is very much alone. His friends failed him, one disciple
betrayed him, another disciple denied him and the rest of them abandoned
him. The chief priests, scribes and
elders spat on him and slapped him. The
Roman soldiers mocked and struck him.
The crowed reviled him. Jesus
endured all this humiliation, pain and suffering in obedience to his father and
out of his unconditional love for us. The story of the Crucifixion of Jesus is tragic, painful and shocking. Yet this is the greatest love story
ever told. Jesus on the cross is an
eternal reminder of the profound love God has for us. Jesus hanging on the cross is a story about
love.
During this Holy Week, we all have an opportunity to unite
our hearts, our suffering, our pain and our sadness with that of Jesus. We can gather with our community of faith to
renew our commitment to service in the washing of feet and celebrate the last
supper on Holy Thursday. We can walk
with Jesus towards his crucifixion and death by participating in the Station of
the Cross and the Good Friday Liturgy.
Finally, we can celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, renewing our baptismal promises,
restoring our faith and rekindling our spirits of love, hope and joy.
God our Father,
in the passion and death of Jesus, your Son,
you make us aware
of how deeply you love us.
Make us also conscious of how evil sin is
and help us to keep believing in your love
when we have to bear the cross of suffering.
For after the cross follows the resurrection,
for Jesus and for us.
Give us this firm faith
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
