Palm Sunday 28 March 2021

Holy Week begins. 

  Many have forgotten the importance of this Liturgical week. Many have not. Our Holy Week this year (so good to be back in community face to face) in timing also embraces the Jewish Memory and liturgical celebration of Passover or Pessach, as some call it. In all parts of the world, people will gather, recall and read again about the beginnings of God’s call to lead a new life. It will embrace the good, bad and ugly events of that long journey which leads to Jesus; and we will recall our failures, moments of repentance, and our resolutions to follow He who is the “Way, Truth, and Life”.

We read Mark’s account of the Passion. It begins with another disturbing plot; “The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by some trick and have him put to death.”

Some things have not changed.

The generals in Myanmar suggested that Aung San Suu Kyi be deposed and removed because she had several illegal walkie-talkies in her possession!

We pray she is still alive.

In our Liturgical life, today begins the deep reflection on the most pivotal events since Creation. Paul sums it up in the excerpt read this Sunday. For all people suffering, oppressed, burdened and desolate, not just nations but so many individuals post-Covid, today is a message of hope.

Jesus in his great love for us triumphed! We, too, in him and with him triumph. Getting that message out, allowing it to be received and embracing the strength of that example has never been easy. The yearly recall reminds us of the millions of people who have received and triumphed.

Today is our turn, not just to celebrate but to announce again to a wounded world that…

            “Every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Have an inspiring Holy Week!

Mons Frank