On this Palm Sunday, we travel the road to Jerusalem in company with Jesus as the crowds cheer Him
Reflections on the readings for Palm Sunday (April 10, 2022): LK 19:28-40; IS 50:4-7; PS 22:8-9,17-18,19-20,23-24; PHIL 2:6-11; LK 22:14-23:56
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Jesus became human to offer Himself up for us. His is the one and eternal sacrifice that opens our way to heaven.
As we look forward into Holy Week in all its emotional and spiritual depths and heights, we begin our journey with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We know how fleeting the moment of support and adulation from the crowd will be. In the reading from Isaiah we are reminded of God’s suffering servant whom we see in Christ. He willingly accepts His time of trial and pain in obedience to God’s will. St. Paul says that Jesus, although divine, became not only human but also a slave in order to do everything that the Eternal Father asked of Him: complete sacrifice for our sake. “He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:8-11).
Jesus became human to offer Himself up for us. His is the one and eternal sacrifice that opens our way to heaven. St. Paul wants Christians to understand that we are called to do more than believe in Him. We need to emulate His life of generous compassion for others, to demonstrate our faith through word and deed. We need to imitate His obedience to Almighty God. This includes joining our own suffering with that of our Redeemer. Paul and a number of early Christians experienced martyrdom. While that may never be asked of us, we must understand that God expects us to stand firm in our loyalty to Him. No one, no thing must come between us, certainly not any preference for ourselves. All we are and all we do must be based on our loving relationship with Him. As we move toward Good Friday and Easter Sunday, we can make a sincere effort to appreciate the Passion of Christ in a more personal way. We can ask ourselves what we need to do, perhaps to change, in our daily life to be more truly His faithful disciples.
Suggested missionary action: As Christ’s followers, we are called to share the Good News of salvation both with all those we meet and with brothers and sisters around the world. Through prayer and example, as well as our support for missionaries through the Pontifical Mission Society, we allow our Lord to work through us for the welfare of people everywhere.
