FROM THE HOSANNA TO THE CRUCIFY HIM, THE MYSTERIES OF LIFE.

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April 10, 2022
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.

Readings: 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.

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” (Lk 19:38) “Crucify him!  Crucify him!” (Lk 23:21)

A Russian proverb says: “After a storm fair weather, after sorrow joy.” And a Moroccan proverb adds: “Some will learn through pain and sorrow, others through joy and laughter, so it is written.”

Human life is a succession of mysteries, things we can hardly explain to ourselves, and harder, to others. We travel from joy to sadness, from glory to sorrows, from acclamations to rejections. And only God knows how we face those realities of life.

On this day our Mother Church invites us to recall the triumphant entrance of Jesus Christ our Lord into Jerusalem to accomplish his Paschal Mystery. According to memories and the record given by the Evangelists, this entrance of the Lord in the City of Peace was in a solemn procession and under the ovations of the people, a sign of triumph, signs of glory. Surprisingly, a few days after these acclamations, the same crowd, if not another assembly of people, led by their leaders and the priests, will be hailing at him to be crucified, to be put to death. From the Hosanna to the Crucify him, here are unfolded all the mysteries of every life and every being. People who acclaim you today can stone you tomorrow if the wheel changes its rotation.

And today's liturgy, through its two parts gives a clear picture of this fact. This Sunday is called Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. As strange as that could sound, it speaks of the glory that leads to the passion and about the glory that will spring from the passion. It is a journey from Hosanna to Hallelujah passing by the crucifixion.

The first Gospel passage which is given to us to meditate, the chapter 19 of Luke, speaks of Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. The people acclaimed him singing, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." With Palms and Olives, he is welcomed.

The one who enters in this triumphant way, however, has entered the city to fulfill the prophecies about him. Among these prophecies, are the Songs of the suffering servant of God. He will be led like a well-trained and voiceless Lamb to trials and he will not rebel nor shield his face from buffets and spitting.

In all humility, as says St. Paul to the Philippians, he will face all these. And God, the Father of ineffable love will reward his obedience and docility. His name, after the moment of trials, will be highly exalted. There is glory after the tribulations, here is a great lesson for me and you. You may suffer, be led to carry hardships, crosses, and any kinds of tribulations. Do not give up, nor lose hope: God has not forsaken you.

In the Gospel, the passion of the Lord speaks of our daily passions. Those who were close to him abandoned him. One betrayed him. Another one denied him. Others fled away from him to have their lives saved. Only the few who truly love him stayed with him until his last breath. Nevertheless, because of his great love, Jesus did not escape, nor did his retract. There is no turning back in life. The mysterious chalice of our daily existence is to be drunk. Our crosses are to be carried. God, will always be by our side.

May the mysteries we will celebrate the whole of this week remind us of our humanity, our realities of trials that must be faced courageously in order to lead us to glory. May we never forget that there is no Good Friday that does not open to an Easter Sunday, but also that there cannot be Easter Sunday without Passion Friday.


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