Homilies

PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY: CHRIST IS THETRUE KING IN OUR HEARTS AND FAMILIES

THE PALSM SUNDAY or Passion Sunday celebration marks the beginning of the solemn commemoration of the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (or the Paschal Mystery of Christ). It is popularly called “Holy Week” or “Semana Santa.” Here in the Philippines, this is one of the few special Sunday liturgies that is extraordinarily well-attended by the Christian faithful. Thanks to the early missionaries who brought the faith to this island and opened the minds of the faithful in giving religious attention to the great importance of this event up to the glorious feast of the resurrection. Perhaps this is the main reason why in all Sunday Liturgies throng of people  magnificently filled up all the churches on Palm Sunday and on the feast of Christ’s Resurrection, as compared to the ordinary Sundays of the year.

Admittedly, since I was ordained priest 21 years ago, I always feel emotional every time I officiate the Passion Sunday liturgy. It actually reminds me of two vicarious experiences that I feel I have to share with Jesus. 

First, my ordination became an experience of mystical religious ecstasy when I was surrounded by friends and family who rejoiced at this great gift of the priesthood. Though unworthy I am, the praises, affirmation, and admiration of these people made me feel like a king sitting at my throne. When Jesus entered Jerusalem by a procession from Mount Olives, He was accorded with a royal reception by his admirers and followers. Two and a half million people were normally present to celebrate the Jewish feast of Passover. And he permitted such a royal procession to reveal to the general public that he was the promised Messiah and to fulfill the prophecies of Zechariah (9:9) and Zephaniah (3: 16-19): “Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion…see now your king comes to you; he is victorious, triumphant, humble, and riding on a donkey…” It is also my conviction that after intensive training and preparation, with the grace of God I allowed myself to be conferred with the highest honor of the priesthood. It was an enormous temptation of self-aggrandizement and gratification.

Second, I have experienced the so-called “cloud nine” experiences, but most of the time these were fleeting and transitory. The experience doesn’t stay that long. Thus, I have to go down to the plain and live the realities of priestly life. When human reality sinks in, I suddenly realize that I’m no king, but just an ordinary person having propensity to commit mistakes, and is susceptible to the attractions and cares of the world. I have my fair share of suffering, of humiliation due to human weakness and imperfection, though not at par with the suffering of Jesus for it is grossly unfair to compare with his own experience of suffering. He was mocked by his own people who used to praise and support him and hail him as king. He was denied three times by his trusted leader. He was betrayed by Judas, his disciple. He was ridiculed by Herod and by the leaders of the people who preserved their position by getting rid of him. All these and many other forms of excruciating pain he endured inflicted not by his own self, but because of his great love for the human race. And that is the big difference of these vicarious experiences; mine is self-inflicted, but Jesus’ is not. I only find deeper meaning in it as I draw strength from Jesus himself. Indeed, it will only have new meaning and perspective in relation to and in sharing with Jesus own suffering.

As we enter into this Holy Week, let us welcome Jesus deep into our hearts so that our participation of the solemn celebration becomes more meaningful and not just a hallow observance of religious rituals. Let us try to see and find Jesus present in the midst of festivities which we often missed out. Let me share with you the story of little Johnny who was sick on Palm Sunday and stayed home with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch. The little boy was curious and asked, “Why do you have that palm branch, Dad?” “You see, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to honor him; so we got palm branches today.” “Aw, shucks,” grumbled little Johnny. “The one Sunday I couldn’t go to Church, and Jesus shows up!”  We might get so engrossed with details of the Week’s divine celebrations to the point that we miss out the real reason why we are here… Let these palm branches remind us that Christ, the REASON,  is the King in our hearts and of our families and that He is the only true answer to our quest for meaning and happiness in our lives.


                                                                                              [Fr Alfie Africa MSP
                                                                                                                                  Makati City]

« Back to Homilies Index