Passion Sunday: An invite to bear the cross with Jesus

On April 13th, Palm Sunday, the Christian Churches begin the celebration of the Holy Week. It is also called Passion Sunday, because, for the first time in the Liturgical Year, the Passion narrative is proclaimed.  The three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) take turn - the present Liturgical Year is Year B so we read the Passion Narrative according to St. Matthew.  The Passion Narrative according to St. John is read on Good Friday of each year.

The celebration of “Passion (or Palm) Sunday" begins with the commemoration of the entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem.  And according to ancient custom, the ritual starts with the blessing of the palm branches and the community goes to the Church in a solemn procession, in which the faithful in song and gesture imitate the Hebrew children who went to meet the Lord singing "Hosanna." (Mt. 21: 1-11)

The procession may take place only once, before the Mass which has the largest attendance, even if this should be in the evening either of Saturday or Sunday. The congregation should assemble in a secondary church or chapel or in some other suitable place (Church patio) distinct from the church to which the procession will move.
    
The Liturgical instruction tells us that the palms or branches are blessed so that they can be carried in the procession. The palms should be taken home where they will serve as a reminder of the victory of Christ which they celebrated in the procession.
    
It is called Passion Sunday also, because the passion narrative occupies a special place. Beyond that triumphal entry to Jerusalem where the Hebrew people acclaimed him with “Hosannas” as they welcomed him as the “anointed’ (Christ) is the passion and death of Jesus and the same people crying out: “Crucify him”.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem he was ready to face death that would be horrible, shameful and painful death.  It was a death akin to a costly ransom being paid for the sins of humanity. He wondered if he would endure the pain and the agony to the end. Yet, he was assured of the Father’s grace and love as he embraced the CROSS with courage and trust.  

In December 2013, I traced silently Christ’s journey - beginning with his entry to Jerusalem, his celebration of the Passover with his beloved in the Upper Room (Cenacle); his prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was tempted not to drink of the cup of suffering;  the  14 Stations of the Cross that ended in Holy Sepulcher.  The new realization that dawned on me this time of ‘personal pilgrimage’ is the fact that the real miracle that happened in Jerusalem was NOT the sparing of Jesus from the suffering, agony and the shameful death, but the inner strength given to Jesus to embrace all these with courage that others and the whole creation may have life and life to the full.

The celebration of Passion Sunday tells of the continuing ambiguity of men and women’s responses vis-à-vis the revelation of God’s redemptive love in Jesus.  It reveals our own dilemma and moral ambiguity. At one moment, we join the people in acclaiming him as King and Messiah. But when Jesus did NOT fulfill their expectations the people got tired of him and in their frustration, they shouted ‘crucify him’ on that morn of Good Friday forgetting their earlier profession.  

The Passion narrative tells us also of Pilate with all the power he held yet in the end allowed the condemnation of an innocent man and ‘ritualizing this lack of moral stance by wishing he had no part in it by washing his hands.

The reading of the Passion allows us to participate in that drama carrying of the cross, the crucifixion and death on the cross amid derision and insults.  He bears them with patient endurance telling each disciple then and now that there is NO other path to life but the cross. With complete trust in God, forward he went, determined to complete the mission knowing that his loving Father would see him through it all.

 The proclamation of the Passion of our Lord according the St. Matthew gives us the right motif as we enter the Holy Week.  The celebration of the Passion Sunday is our immediate preparation in the Paschal Celebration through the traditional Triduum - Holy Thursday (the celebration of the Lord’s Supper), Good Friday (the Proclamation of the Lord’s Passion and the Adoration of the Cross) and the Celebration of Easter beginning with the Easter Vigil on the evening of Saturday (the Celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection).

In this last Sunday of Lent, the invitation to us is to bear our crosses with courage and like Jesus, trusting that with Jesus at our side, he would see us through it all. Listen anew to his words: have NO fear, it is I!