Title: Meditation: Sunday, March 24, 2002
The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, March 24, 2002
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Matthew 21:1-11
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22:8-9,17-20,23-24
Philippians 2:6-11
Matthew 26:14--27:66
A reflection on today's Scripture:
Can't see the forest for the trees (or the palm branches)?
Sometimes I think it is with glazed-over eyes that we attend the
pageantry and ritual of the Palms on this Sunday every year.
Actually, it should jolt us out of our everyday perspective, to
remind us of Jesus' entry into the walled city of Jerusalem so many
hundred's of years ago. It should bring us to a particular
heart-wrenching realization about ourselves.
How can that triumphal procession of the Christ, turn into such a
debacle as arrest, interrogation, beating and death by crucifixion?
The simple, shocking answer is: because of our sins. The
whole array of events had already been foretold by the ancient
prophets of God. The Jews, already well-versed in scripture, knew it
well; and indeed the early Synoptic Writers of the Gospels frequently
referred to the events prophesied -- and then fulfilled.
We acknowledge that we live in an unbelieving age, hardened even more
by reliance upon scientific fact and a penchant for proof of practically everything
within our purview. For those who have lost their Faith, faith to
believe there is a God the Father who sent His Son to die for the
remission of our sins, is all pure absurdity. For those who have
nurtured faith within their souls, scripture will continue to
enlighten and prepare the way for the Holy Spirit to grow within.
Today, then, let us learn anew and listen intently to the holy
passion and death of Jesus - that we may learn to share in His
suffering, His resurrection, and someday - eternal life.
Jesus humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even to death on the cross. (Philippians 2:8)
- Joachim, ocds
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All scripture quotes are from the Douay-Rheims edition of the Catholic Bible.
Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
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