Readings: After the blessing of Palms; Matthew 21 : 1 – 11
1st Reading; Isaiah 50 : 4 – 7.
Responsorial Psalm; Ps. 21 : 8 – 9, 17 – 20, 23. – 24.
2nd Reading; Philippians 2 : 6 – 11
Gospel; Matthew 26 : 14 – 27, 66.

I love parades, but these ones in the Gospels of today leave much to be desired. There are two contrasting parades; one leads Jesus triumphantly into Jerusalem with lots of joyous people while the other leads Him out of Jerusalem in disgrace, shame and abandonment. Imagine the triumph of a bridal train and just a few days, weeks, months or years later, the undesired moves of a divorce. If we have not lived it, we have seen it or heard about it. The two parades can only be likened to the duality of our human life. We accept one another today with joy and pride and push them out tomorrow in shame and disgrace. In the same way we welcome God in our hearts and push Him away the next time!!!

Jesus enters Jerusalem on an ass. The People hail Him as the Messianic King foretold in Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion, shout aloud O daughter of Jerusalem. Lo, your King comes to you; triumphant and victorious is He, and riding on an ass and upon a foal of an ass”. The colt at that time was a sign of peace. Jesus uses it to show that He brings Peace to the world. He knows fully well what awaits Him in Jerusalem – betrayal, rejection and crucifixion.

A great King after all the miracles He has performed, and the same people who witnessed these miracles, betray Him. The same people reject Him and put Him to death – a shameful death of crucifixion. Like one who has committed the most heinous crime. He could still perform miracles but chose to be obedient to death, even death on the cross! Jesus accepts His death with meekness and Humility.

The readings this week move from the triumph of the palm procession through the agony and death of Our Lord Jesus to His glorious resurrection from the dead. This is generally referred to as the Holy Week. We, Jesus’ followers take time to reflect and pray about what Jesus has done for us in His love. We should become more aware of the many ways in which we continue to live and experience the dying and the rising of Jesus in our daily lives.

This week, many Christians make their way to Jerusalem, if not in body, at least in mind. They stand at the foot of the cross, beating their breasts and staring with pity at Jesus of Nazareth. They listen with reverence to His voice as He prays for His killers: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. They make promises, even there or in their minds to abide by His teachings but when the week is over, they return to their homes to resume their deep-rooted spites and the burden of things that they can’t forgive. They return to meet the same neighbours they will not greet. They return to despise the same people they have cheated. They go on with the same collection of bribes. They prejudice against the stranger and the friend who proves better. Jesus tells them as He tells the women of Jerusalem, ‘Don’t cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children – your children will inherit your same fears, prejudices and hates’. What you do to the little of my brethren today, know you are doing it to me.

Jesus is asking His crucifiers what He has done wrong, where He aggrieved them. They should answer Him. It is He who stroke and killed the first-borns of Egypt to induce Pharaoh to free them. It is he who brought them out of the land of Egypt, freed them from slavery. It is He who led them through the desert in a cloudy pillar. It is He who gave them water from a rock when they were thirsty. It is He who gave them manna from Heaven when they were hungry. It is He who has given them all what they have. He is equally asking you today, what He has done wrong to you. It is He who gave you the good job you have. It is He who gives you good health Yet when He comes back through the least of His brothers, you ask for bribe. It is He who has given you your neighbour. Yet, when He comes back through the neighbour, you only want to cheat. It is He who gave you your husband/wife. Yet when he comes back through him/her, you want to dispose of him/her like toxic waste. It is He who gave the talent to your friend, yet you prejudice against him. It is He who gave you the colleague, your subordinate and the student. It is you who gave you the baby, why do you abort it? It is He who has ….;you may name the rest. Why do you ‘crucify Him’? Anything you do to the least of my brothers, you do it to me.

Jesus has done so much for you. I doubt if you can have a proper count of your blessings! Why do you lead Him to ‘Pilate’s palace to be ‘condemned’? Why do you ‘strip Him naked’ when He needs good clothing? Why do you give him ‘gall and vinegar’ when he needs a good drink? Why do you scotch Him along the streets, in your home and at the work place? Why do you ‘crucify Him’? Yet, He in His mercy is still praying for your forgiveness. As a true follower of Christ, you need to rethink and remap your way of behaviour, if you have not treated Him well. He is besides you, crying, begging and in pain. For whatever, you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me!

The people of Jerusalem took their best of clothing, palms, and branches to lay on the way for the King to ride on. As a follower of Christ, you are expected to lay down your best for Him to ride on, all the days of your life here on earth. This, you can do by recognising Him in those next to you. He is ready to receive your malice, pride, wickedness, laziness, sloth, prejudice, etc , and turn all into Love when He conquers darkness and brings light by His rising from the dead.

Whenever I think of Jesus, what leaps to my mind is Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, drinking the cup of loneliness, His soul torn with sorrow at His impending death. The death to which you put Him every day. I think about Him looking about for His friends, the same he has blessed with enormous gifts. He is seeking a warm and human closeness and there they are – sleeping. All these good people whom He has shared His gifts and thoughts with.

Now in this moment of unbearable agony, in which He is so deeply and wholly human, He turns to these companions, hoping to find comfort and support in any word or gesture on their part, but they are not with Him. They are sleeping. They are turning their backs to Him. They are condemning Him. They are crucifying Him. This dreadful moment, I know not how, impresses on my memory each time I find myself in inexplicable circumstances. I know you may understand what I mean. Sure you have had such moments. If Jesus abandoned you, you would not certainly be where you find yourself now. Why then do you abandon Him?

Let us not weep for Jesus. Rather, let us follow the example of Peter, who wept bitter tears for his own sins. Then we will be able to forgive others who sin against us. By so doing, Jesus will reward us with the favours He wins by His dying as He did to Peter.

A Little Prayer.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the sacrifice of yourself on the cross for my sins. Forgive me for the times I have wanted only comfort for myself, not thinking about you through my brother. Let me be humble in accepting afflictions for your sake. Amen.

Have a Graceful Holy Week!
Bobe Talla Toh.