The Paradox of Passion Sunday

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MY daily reflection and prayer:
Sunday, March 20, 2016
The Palm Sunday

Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Luke 19:28-40

And when he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here. If any one asks you, `Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this, `The Lord has need of it.'” So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it. And as he rode along, they spread their garments on the road. As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

***

TODAY is the Palm Sunday. We comemorate Jesus Christ who enters Jerusalem and throngs of people rejoice him, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

That’s what Jesus Christ taught, and that’s what he did in his passion, to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that his love for us has no limits. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the angels sang “Glory to God in the Highest”. Now as Jesus enters Jerusalem, the people sing, “Hosanna in the Highest” .

The Passion Sunday is marked by several paradoxes. First, the promised Savior has finally come! The Messiah is here! Redemption is at hand! The multitude people believed in him. But, some of the Pharisees reject him. They did not believe in him.

The second paradox is in Jesus the King. He is the King but the King enters Jerusalem riding on an donkey and upon a colt the foal of a donkey. Yes, the colt was a sign of peace. So, Jesus Christ enters Jerusalem in meekness and humility, as the Messianic King who offers victory and peace to his people. And that victory and peace would be secured in his death on the cross and his resurrection.

The third paradox is, on the one hand, we are filled with joy to welcome Jesus Christ our Redeemer. But then, on the other hand, we turn towards the sorrowful narrative of our Lord’s rejection, suffering, and death with his passion.

How can a day of triumph be filled with both joy and sorrow? This is the mistery of our faith in Christ. What seems to be Christ’s defeat is actually his victory, the victory of everlasting love and mercy.

In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, we worship Jesus Christ who has said that a man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). There we welcome him as our King of mercy.

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, we realize that the source of our sorrow is our sins, the cause of your suffering. But we believe that the source of our joy is your love, the very reason you were willing to suffer, and the very power that, through your sacrifice on the cross, conquers our sins now and forever. Amen.

Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)

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