Many of us would have read the following, with a picture of Jesus Christ crucified…

It goes like this…

” I asked Jesus, how much do you love me?”

And Jesus answered, “This much”

And He extended His arms on the cross…

But there’s a sequel to this, which perhaps is not known much, but is worth reflecting..

Jesus then asked me, “How much do you love me”

I picked up the hammer and the nails….

saying, “This is how much I love You!”

… and began to crucify Him!

• The Passion of the Lord is a result of our sins…

• The Crucifixion of the Lord is a consequence of our disobedience…

As Isaiah would say, ” It was our infirmities that He bore and it was our sufferings that He endured” (Is 53:4)

We are entering into one of the Most important weeks of the Liturgical year… The Holy Week!

>> And we commemorate the start of this Holy Week, with the Passion Sunday, also known as the Palm Sunday.

There is a cute story of Little Johnny who was sick on a Palm Sunday.

>> This prevented him from going to Church that day and stayed home with his mother.

His father returned from church holding a palm branch.

The little boy was curious and asked, “Why do you have that palm branch, dad?”

With joy, Daddy replied, “You see, Johny… When Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to welcome and honour him; so we got palm branches today”

“Aw, Good Lord!” grumbled little Johnny. “The one Sunday I can’t go to church, and Jesus shows up!”

The innocence of Li’l Johny made him to feel that He had missed the Lord when He come to town.

But when we think a little deeper, we also realise, that sometimes we are similar…

>> We miss the Lord so often!

>> We fail to take notice of the Lord very many times!

• Every day at Holy Mass, the Lord, really, substantially and truly comes to us in the Holy Eucharist.

>> Do I miss to see and be nourished by Him?

• Every moment, we have His Holy Word in the Bible, through which the Lord reveals and teaches more about Himself.

>> Do I miss the chance to read and experience Him?

• Every now and then, we encounter the Lord through different situations and in many people in need, in despair, in absolute trouble.

>> Do I miss the opportunity to serve Him and to learn from Him?

The Lord today enters the town, riding on a donkey. (Mk 11:7)

The donkey has a specific symbolism..

>> In the olden day, military officers engaged in war and battles would ride on the most efficient animals: the fast and furious warhorses.

But after the victory in the war, the victorious officers would parade into the city riding on…. yes, a donkey.

>> That was the reason why the people shouted out when they saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.

In the First book of the Kings 1: 38-4, we read of how Prince Solomon used the royal donkey of his father David, for the ceremonial procession on the day of his coronation.

The new Solomon, Jesus, the True Prince of Peace and the King of Kings today enters His city, Jerusalem on a donkey as well!

• A new reign of peace was being signaled.

• A new kingdom of love was being ushered.

Are we ready to welcome the King of Kings and the Prince of Peace into our lives?

• He is not the glorious King of might and wealth…

>> But He is the Spectacular King who will reign on His throne of the Cross.

• He is not the proud Emperor who parades much show and pomp…

>> But He is the Wonderful Lord who displays His compassion and love by His wounds!

Are we ready to welcome this King into…

Our lives?

Our homes?

Our hearts?

The Passion of the Lord is about to begin…

Are we going to be part of the people who crucify Him?

>> Or are we going to be people who repent of sins and seek to live a life worthy of the King?

He Died for love of us.

He suffered to save each of us.

Are we going to remain stubborn and adamant and continue to be a people who shout, “Crucify Him”…

… Or shall we repent, fall on our knees, seek a transformation, and, with palm branches in our hands, truly exclaim and acclaim Jesus as the Lord, shouting, ” Hosanna to the King of Kings! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Wish you a Blessed Palm Sunday…

… and a Glorious Holy Week!

Let us try to make this week, a “holy week” indeed…

… maybe by making our Confession

… maybe be taking a decision to read the Bible every day, without fil

… maybe by spending time with Jesus, in personal prayer, every day

… maybe by repairing some relationships from which we keep away

Let us be intimate with the Passion of the Lord and experience His tremendous love…

… so that we too may worthily and honestly shout, on Easter Sunday, “Alleluia! He is risen!”

God Bless! Live Jesus