Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Today’s most solemn celebration of Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion initiates the holiest week of our year by recalling the crowds welcoming Jesus to the city of Jerusalem. With palm branches and even their own cloaks spread on the road, Jesus is welcomed with shouts of, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.”
However, by the end of our readings, the shouts of acclamation are turned to shouts of derision as the crowd is persuaded by the enemies of Jesus to denounce him as they shout, “Let him be crucified!”
How fickle a people we are! At one time praising God, only to later reject him.
People are often like the Israelites of ancient Egypt who were happy to be led away by God from the place of slavery only to want to return to slavery when the desert turned harsh, with food and drink in short supply. Moses goes up the mountain for just a few days in order to receive the Ten Commandments from God only to return to a people who are now worshipping a golden calf.
Do we praise God in our churches and then curse the difficult people outside of our churches who, Jesus tells us, are also loved by him?
Do we praise God when we ask for a blessing, and then forget to return to God with thanksgiving after we have received it?
It is sad to say that we live in a world where many Christians fight with others — and each time a fist is raised, an act of prejudice committed, a word of defamation is spoken — we deny the Lord who asked us to show love as he has shown it to us.
Yes, we quickly go from “Hosanna” to “Crucify him” in ways that are obvious and sometimes not so obvious, but each time a betrayal of Jesus nonetheless.
Today, at Mass, let us sing Hosanna with the crowd that welcomed Jesus and let us ask the Lord to forgive us when we fail to love him as we should.
Let us hear the words of Jesus at his Last Supper, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.”
If we place our faith in the Lord’s love for us, if we accept the saving blood of Christ shed for us, we too will be forgiven and find peace with the Lord of life. There is no sin that we can commit that is stronger than the love of Jesus to forgive it.
Make this week holy. That is, set it apart to reflect on God’s great love for you. For while we were still apart from him, he came to save us. While we were still in sin, he died for us. When we were lost, he found us. When we were destined to die, he promised eternal life for us. “Hosanna in the highest!”
Have a blessed and holy week everyone.