It’s Palm Sunday this weekend, the day that marks the end of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week.
You will notice in the Palm Sunday gospel that people are shouting in praise of Jesus and laying palm branches as a carpet of welcome for him as he enters Jerusalem.
Have you ever considered that it was this same crowd of people who a few days later on Good Friday shouted “crucify him, crucify him.”
I can relate to this. Some days I do enthusiastically welcome Christ, then on other days I may by my words and actions call “crucify him.”
An Invitation
Take a few momenta to savour this paragraph from Pope Francis’ homily for Palm Sunday 2013:
“Do not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement! Ours is not a joy that comes from having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person: Jesus, from knowing that with him we are never alone, even at difficult moments, even when our life’s journey comes up against problems and obstacles that seem insurmountable, and there are so many of them! We accompany, we follow Jesus, but above all we know that he accompanies us and carries us on his shoulders. This is our joy, this is the hope that we must bring to this world of ours. Let us bring the joy of the faith to everyone!” Pope Francis 2013
Thank you Fr John for sharing the words of Pope Francis. A very timely reminder that Christ is in the midst of the challenge and decision making. Blessings and health to you for Holy Week.
Grazie John, son contento che giochiamo per il medesimo team.
Il problema è solo quando anche senza un vero e proprio atto di volontà, perdo l’orientamento e mi trovo a giocare nel campo avversario. Per fortuna che ci sono Meg e gli amici della comunità che mi scuotono altrimenti…..Lui dovrebbe inventarsi qualcosa d’altro di veramente potente.
Jesus often noticed a person in need….and took time to respond to that person….. It was His personal encounters that were soooo important!!!
i have this homily framed on my wall ,my cousin in uk sent it to my when she went to rome ,i love it , mavis