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Great people were often controversial figures during their lifetime. It is history, which can look on from a distance and see things in proper prospective, that rectifies the often-limited judgment of contemporaries. Something like this has happened to the Lord Jesus. His contemporaries, even his closets co-workers, did not understand him, especially not his strange ideas on suffering and death as a necessary passage to a better life. Only later did all of this become clear to them,
Today Christians celebrate Palm Sunday. "Christ entered in triumph into his own city, to complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again." The triumphal entry, celebrated at the beginning of the passion-week, emphasizes that the three elements: suffering, death, and resurrection, belong together. Jesus' death was not a defeat. It was a victory.
It is the genuine insight of Christianity that the events of Jesus' earthly life were the execution of God's saving purpose. This genuine insight should be ours also concerning our own lives when suffering strikes us.
A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Is 50:4-7
This reading is taken from the third song of the Sevant of Yahweh. As mentioned at the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, it is not clear whom the inspired writer had in mind when he composed these four songs describing the ideal Servant (Son) of God. Is he a collective person: Israel, God's people? Is he a king of the past or the Messiah (anointed king) to come?
In any case, the Christian community applied these hymns very early to Jesus and they are used throughout Holy Week as a beautiful commentary on the passion narratives. Indeed, "the Son of Man[Jesus] did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
The Responsorial Psalm is that that we put our trust in Jesus because of his love and kindness and that he has done great things for us, so we should be filled with joy and love for him and to be like him.
in your self-giving. He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The Lord hears the cry of the poor!
A Reading, From the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians
Phil 2:6-11
This text is actually a Christ hymn, sung in church. It beautifully describes our Lord's utmost humiliation, which he suffered on the cross. By being obedient, he made up for our sinful disobedience. But this hymn also sings of Christ's exaltation by the Father.
Meditating on the Lord's suffering and death, as Christians do during Holy Week, we should keep both sides of the Christ event in mind. It is suffering and death that actually constitutes a passage to exaltation. Good Friday and Easter belong together even in our lives!
In the Gospel of Matthew
Mt 21:1-11
Like King David and all kings in his culture, Jesus enters the capital riding on the traditional animal. In the midst of the people, he is the Son of David, a Messiah sent by God to give freedom and self-determination of his country. But Jesus is a humble and peaceful king, not in favor of worldly display. He enters Jerusalem, "meek and riding on an ass."
All four of the evangelists relate this tradition as an introduction to Jesus' passion and cruel death. Why? To teach us that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, though on a higher level than the people thought. Jesus is sent by God to establish his reign(kingdom) on earth. His impending suffering and death will not thwart this divine plan, but must be seen as the means to fulfill it, as will be clearly understood after the resurrection. "Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?
Participating in the Liturgy of the Holy Week, we should keep in mind that suffering, pain, and death are also mysteriously part of our passage to a glorious life with our Lord.
Newsy Notes
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Deacon Bob Brazier, CRE
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REMEMBER
"CONFIRMATION"
"Remember"
Our next 7th Grade Confirmation Class will be held in the Faith Formation Room at 11:15 on Sunday April 23rd. We will be going over what we will be doing for our summer projects and working on our Decision Point Chapters.
Address future PSR and Sacramental Preparation Questions to:
Deacon Bob Brazier at bbrazier@sttm.org
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