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Dear Sister and Brothers in the Lord:
Today marks the beginning of
Holy Week. The two names for this day – ‘Palm Sunday’ and ‘Passion
Sunday’ – indicate that two aspects of the Paschal Mystery — the
suffering (Passion) of Christ and his glory (Palms) – are embodied in
the one celebration. It also encapsulates the unity of the Paschal
Mystery; that is, the passion of Christ cannot be separated from the
resurrection. There is one passage from death to life and, for
Christians; the Passion should mean the single wondrous event of
Christ’s dying, rising and glorification at the right hand of his
Father. Sometimes Palm/Passion Sunday may seem to be just a preparation
for the more important liturgies of the Triduum. It does more, however,
than simply set the stage for the coming week; it announces the reason
for, and the meaning of, these celebrations.
Palm/Passion Sunday is especially important for those
parishioners who do not attend the celebrations of the Lord’s Supper on
Holy Thursday and the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday and who will be at
Mass on Easter Sunday rather than at the Easter Vigil. For these
people, Palm/Passion Sunday may be their only opportunity to celebrate
the Paschal Mystery in its entirety. The focus of Easter Sunday is the
triumph and joy of the resurrection. Since celebrating Easter without
celebrating the cross distorts the Christian message, Passion Sunday
becomes extremely important in revealing the Good News of Christ’s
Passion. The readings and prayers of the celebration clearly proclaim
that, just as there is no cross without the resurrection, there is no
resurrection without the cross.
On Palm/Passion Sunday the occasion for our celebration
is Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Interestingly, this is one
of the few events of Christ’s life that is mentioned in all four
gospels. It is also the only time in Jesus’ public life when he
actually accepts public acclaim as Messiah. In fact, he even takes the
initiative in organizing his entrance by sending the apostles off to
find the donkey to carry him. Christ enters the holy city where the
will of his Father is to be accomplished. On Palm/Passion Sunday we do
not simply celebrate a past triumph, however, but a present and future
triumph also. As well as celebrating a victory already achieved — that
is, Christ’s dying and rising — we celebrate a victory which is
presently being achieved – our own participation in that saving mystery,
and another yet to be achieved – Christ’s return in glory.
By our participation in Palm/Passion Sunday, we
symbolize our commitment to complete the initial victory that Christ has
won. We joyfully join ourselves to Christ, making his passion our own.
We share in his suffering so that we may share in his glory.
Palm/Passion Sunday is a powerful symbol of the pilgrim Church, a Church
on its way. We are moving towards the heavenly Jerusalem, yet we can
only make the journey because it has already been made by Christ in his
Passion. Christ has done even more than making this journey for us; He
now offers to make it with us. The Palm Sunday procession is not just a
procession for Christ but one with Christ. When the people join in the
procession on Palm/Passion Sunday, we see the Church on the move, acting
as a single unit, acclaiming Christ with shouts of ‘Hosanna’.
Let’s give our minds and hearts to the Lord!
Father Joe |
