Gospel Reflection

Luke 19:28-40

“If these keep silent, the very stones will cry out.” This answer of Our Lord to the complaints of bigoted persons resentful of Jesus’ influence and following strikes deep into our hearts. On Palm Sunday, the Church wants to shout out, like those first disciples, “Hosanna to the Son of David…. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” We rebel against that attitude of scepticism, of selfish self-interest, of arrogance and fear of God’s rightful demands that appears to be in the heart of Jesus’ detractors. We reject that pride of the intellect and attachment to status, that self justification of greed and sinful sensuality that sets up a front to the light and grace of the Holy Spirit.

Palm Sunday begins with a symbolic re-enactment of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. His return to the Holy City after a period away was a brief moment of truth and sincerity, joy and celebration that was to be followed by an increasingly sombre time ending in His    Passion and Death. So also the liturgy starts with the blessing and carrying of palm or olive
branches—the kind of triumphant gesture that the disciples were inspired to offer. Soon, however it moves to the reading of a long account of Jesus’ last hours, leading to the Sacrifice of Calvary. Red vestments speak of the shedding of blood, the blood of the Son of God made man. The Feast combines joy and hopefulness with the sorrow of love, of
contrition. We wish to repent of our sins in this sacred time, to begin again to live a more Christian life, an interior life of friendship with Christ. We also want to proclaim Him our King—to submit to His authority and to recognize His love and goodness.

While the demands of penance are relaxed on this day, it nevertheless remains a day of purification. We are set more firmly on the path to Easter. We are ready to accompany  Jesus in his sufferings. We will do this by not complaining about small inconveniences, by doing our duties with attention and generosity, by offering up sickness, putting more order in our day, and resolving to pray more for others—family members, workmates and friends —and even those who might not want to count us as friends. We will learn to live a spiritual plan of life that ensures that God is not pushed out of our minds and hearts, and therefore, out of our works.

How helpful it is to start the day with a morning offering, and to get into the habit of    praying short aspirations as we get dressed, attend to the family chores, set off for work, and face the different demands of the day. How much good can come out of finding at least fifteen minutes a day to spend quietly with Our Lord, meditating on his life, his teachings, the advice of saintly men or women, or speaking to Him about our own challenges, joys and sorrows. What a great boost can come to us if we make the effort to attend a Mass during the course of the week, apart from fulfilling our weekend obligation.

Let’s pray for all the closed minds of men and women, who ignore Christ or actively seek to deny Him. Let’s pray for all those that are misled by others into serious errors of    judgement, into prejudice, hatred and violence against the innocent. Let’s pray for those who project the wrongs done by individuals upon the whole of the Church, and close their eyes to what is able to save them from spiritual death. Let us pray for ourselves that we may not be hardened against the inspirations of God.