Faith

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“Your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever.” Psalms 16:11

Have you ever noticed people walking into a supermarket? On their entry, they bear joyful faces, happy at the prospect of purchasing all the things they intend to buy and spending time just walking around the aisles and pampering their senses. But on their exit, notice the looks on their faces! It is a heavy look after having paid the huge bills for giving in to their whims and fancies.

But, the exact reverse happens in Church. On their entry, we see people walk in with heavy hearts devoid of any smile as they bear the burdens of life, their hearts are sad and dejected. But, on their exit, they are all smiles and beaming, having heard the Word of God which transforms not just their physical appearance but their spiritual outlook as well.

Today, we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. The people cheered and lined the streets waving palms in their hands to mark this auspicious occasion. They could not contain their joy at His presence. Jesus had preached to them, worked miracles and performed many healing including raising the dead to life. They hailed Him as “King of the Jews” spreading a carpet in true royal style to welcome Him.

In fact, if we go back to the childhood of Jesus to another event in Jerusalem when He was twelve years old and presented in the Temple; we see how the Prophet Simeon and Prophetess Anna welcomed Him as the Messiah having believed that they would not see death until they had laid eyes on Him. Simeon also foretells the prophecy to Mary of the gruesome death which Jesus is going to bear.

Today, Passion Sunday marks the beginning of the events leading to this prophecy. Jesus knew that He was living the last days of His life. He also recognized that very soon, the same people who were uplifting Him were going to pull Him down. The same voices crying “Hosanna” was going to shout “Crucify Him”. This is the way it is in life. Sometimes, we hail Jesus as our Lord and master; our Supreme King and yet we continue to crucify Him in various ways.

The specialty of the Palm Frond is that it is a symbol of victory. Palm Sunday was a symbol of a Victory par excellence that Jesus was going to win over sin and death. Just as a king conquers the enemy and returns back victorious to his kingdom to a splendid welcome procession, Jesus was the mighty King who was going to overcome the enemy of darkness and lead His people into everlasting light and life. The Palm in present times also stands for an island paradise which can very well be epitomized to the eternal paradise as a reward for the victory won.

Let us join the whole world this day in singing the one true Hosanna song; may our voices reach up to the realms of Heaven as we exalt and worship. May the lamps of our souls be filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit to keep us burning, our hearts filled with joy to keep us loving and serving forever.

Let us also rejoice as we go up to the temple of the Lord. May we find ourselves worthy to stand at the Gates of heaven and wave the Heavenly branches in our hands exclaiming, “Hosanna to God in the highest. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”

Maria Franco

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