March 27, 2015

Palm Sunday

The last Sunday in the Lenten season which Signifies the beginning of the Holy Week. The Holy week is the week which comes before the Easter and it indicates the days where Jesus spent his days in Jerusalem before his resurrection. It promptly tells the ” Entry of Jesus Christ into the city of Jerusalem”. The Saturday before the Palm Sunday people or believers prepare palm fronds by knotting them into crosses in preparation for the procession on Sunday. The hangings and vestments in the church are changed to a festive colour mostly in golden colour. On the Palm Sunday , believers from the church hold the Cross which were prepared from the palm fronds and sing the songs and read , readings from the Bible and walk through the streets of the city , which reminds others the beginning of the Holy week.

Jesus made a miracle of giving life to a dead named Lazarus , while he stayed in the home of Mary (Don’t confuse with the Holy mother Mary ).

How does it relates with the HOLY BIBLE ?

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ entry into the city Jerusalem. As he rode into the city on a donkey, his followers spread palm branches at his feet and called him “Hosanna” or “Saviour.” The branches of Palm where considered a symbol of victory , glory and triumph at that time and even now.

Some days after the people who welcomed the King , turned against him and asked the Roman king to crucify Him.

The Holy Week told the world that Jesus was here to redeem the world through his crucification.

Lent days – The days for God

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ – his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.

Easter celebration in India – a common scenario

This ritual is popular in India too, where Christian families give up meat and other special foods during Lent. Some even give up their recreational activities. The money saved from giving up these luxuries is put aside in a little box or earthen pot to be offered on Easter Day at the local church. The day of Easter , brings joy and relief to the people and tells a message that The king is risen.

It reminds of the Questions which the Pope quoted in the last Palm Sunday

The Holy week is a remembering entry of Jesus and people singing and chanting the choruses about JesusAlso this is the week when Jesus was crucified and do we get questions during the week?The questions which will intrude into the minds are

Who am I?

Who am I before the Lord who enters Jerusalem and into me?

Whether I am able to receive him with pure heart?

Whether I am worth to seek his blessings?

Am I like the many people who hated the King “Jesus”?

Whether I am like Judas who betrayed Jesus?

Whether I was like the sleeping Disciples while Jesus was suffering?

Am I like the soldiers who strike the Lord, spit on him, insult him, who find entertainment in humiliating him?

Am I like the Cyrenean, who was returning from work, weary, yet was good enough to help the Lord carry his cross?

Am I like those who walked by the cross and mocked Jesus: “He was so courageous! Let him come down from the cross and then we will believe in him!”. Mocking Jesus….

Am I like those fearless women, and like the mother of Jesus, who were there, and who suffered in silence?

Am I like Joseph, the hidden disciple, who lovingly carries the body of Jesus to give it burial?

Am I like the two Marys, who remained at the Tomb, weeping and praying?

Am I like those leaders who went the next day to Pilate and said, “Look, this man said that he was going to rise again. We cannot let another fraud take place!”, and who block life, who block the tomb, in order to maintain doctrine, lest life come forth?

Where is my heart? Which of these persons am I like?

Let the questions be in your mind and heart and you decide and find the answers for these questions , whether a yes for all these or a no. Let us all prepare our mind to speak of the words what our Lord mentioned and follow the footsteps of Him and the guidance he gave to us and rejoice on the day of Easter and to think of the agony faced by the Lord on Good Friday. Let this Holy week bring the changes we need n the spiritual path.