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Dear Sisters and Brothers in
the Lord:
This Sunday marks the
beginning of Holy Week. The two names for this day – ‘Palm Sunday’ and
‘Passion Sunday’ – indicate that two aspects of the Paschal Mystery -
the suffering (Passion) of Christ and his glory (Palms) – are embodied
in the one celebration. It also encapsulates the unity of the Paschal
Mystery; that is, the passion of Christ cannot be separated from the
resurrection. There is one passage from death to life and, for
Christians; the Passion should mean the single wondrous event of
Christ’s dying, rising and glorification at the right hand of his
Father.
Sometimes Palm/Passion Sunday
may seem to be just a preparation for the more important liturgies of
the Triduum. It does more, however, than simply set the stage for the
coming week; it announces the reason for, and the meaning of, these
celebrations. Palm/Passion Sunday is especially important for those
parishioners who do not attend the celebrations of the Lord’s Supper on
Holy Thursday and the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday and who will be at
Mass on Easter Sunday rather than at the Easter Vigil. For these
people, Palm/Passion Sunday may be their only opportunity to celebrate
the Paschal Mystery in its entirety.
The focus of Easter Sunday is
the triumph and joy of the resurrection. Since celebrating Easter
without celebrating the cross distorts the Christian message, Passion
Sunday becomes extremely important in revealing the Good News of
Christ’s Passion. The readings and prayers of the celebration clearly
proclaim that, just as there is no cross without the resurrection,
there is no resurrection without the cross.
On Palm/Passion Sunday the
occasion for our celebration is Christ’s triumphant entry into
Jerusalem. Interestingly, this is one of the few events of Christ’s
life that is mentioned in all four gospels. It is also the only time in
Jesus’ public life when He actually accepts public acclaim as Messiah.
In fact, He even takes the initiative in organizing His entrance by
sending the apostles off to find the donkey to carry Him. Christ enters
the holy city where the will of His Father is to be accomplished.
On Palm/Passion Sunday we do
not simply celebrate a past triumph, however, but a present and future
triumph also. As well as celebrating a victory already achieved, that
is, Christ’s dying and rising, we celebrate a victory which is being
achieved – our own participation in that saving mystery, and another yet
to be achieved – Christ’s return in glory.
By our participation in
Palm/Passion Sunday, we symbolize our commitment to complete the initial
victory that Christ has won. We joyfully join ourselves to Christ,
making His passion our own. We share in His suffering so that we may
share in His glory. Palm/Passion Sunday is a powerful symbol of the
pilgrim Church, a Church on its way. We are moving towards the heavenly
Jerusalem, yet we can only make the journey because it has already been
made by Christ in his Passion. And Christ has done even more than
making this journey for us; He now offers to make it with us.
The Palm Sunday procession is
not just a procession for Christ but one with Christ. When the people
join in the procession on Palm/Passion Sunday, we see the Church on the
move, acting as a single unit, acclaiming Christ with shouts of
‘Hosanna’.
Let’s give our minds and
hearts to the Lord this Lent!
Father Joe |
