Happy Palm Sunday! As we join more closely together to 'Reclaim Sunday' let this day be a particular invitation to journey more closely to Christ.... Pope Francis provides the clarity on the significance of Christ's entry into Jerusalem
in his homily for Palm Sunday from Luke's Passion:
"Why does Jesus enter Jerusalem?
Or better: how does Jesus enter Jerusalem?
The crowds acclaim him as King. And he does not deny it, he does not
tell them to be silent (cf. Lk 19:39-40). But what kind of a King is Jesus? Let us take a look at him: he is riding on a donkey, he is not accompanied by a court, he is not surrounded by an army as a symbol of power. He is received by humble people,
simple folk who have the sense to see something more in Jesus; they have that sense of the faith which says: here is the Saviour. Jesus does not enter the Holy City to receive the honours reserved to earthly kings, to the powerful, to rulers; he enters to
be scourged, insulted and abused, as Isaiah foretold in the First Reading (cf. Is 50:6). He enters to receive a crown of thorns, a staff, a purple robe: his kingship becomes an object of derision. He enters to climb Calvary, carrying his burden of
wood. And this brings us to the second word: Cross. Jesus enters Jerusalem in order to die on the Cross."
So we too through grace are conformed to the cross. In the coming Holy Week may the Holy Spirit move us to a deeper understanding
of what this means. If you can, read Pope Francis' Palm Sunday homily (www.vatican.va) and the place of 'joy' in our lives! Our love for the faith is a beacon reflecting the light of Christ's forgiveness and
call.
In the close of today's Passion from Luke we too are encouraged to Reclaim Sunday as we enter Holy Week:
'Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.'
Today we hear the rustle of the palms and hear the shouts
of joy as we behold our king, Jesus Christ. May the joy of this Sunday instill in us an unending desire to carry the message of hope to each person we meet and in our prayers those who we remember in our intentions. As we enter Holy Week, 'Courage!'
as we walk in the footsteps of the Risen Christ.
Will you help us to spread the message to Reclaim Sunday and forward to friends and those who may benefit: www.reclaimsunday.net?
Peace!