PASSION SUNDAY (Palm Sunday)

Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem

I Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7: I did not cover my face against insult- I know I shall not be shamed.

II Reading: Philippians 2:6-11: He humbled himself, but God raised him high.

Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47: Passion and death of Jesus Christ

THE SON OF GOD’S PASSION MINISTRY:

JESUS’ SUPREME SACRIFICE-REJECTED & CRUCIFIED

A.   Jesus’ Death is Plotted:

A Picture of the Passover & Jesus’ Death, Mk 14:1-2

This passage begins the final stage of Jesus’ life before he was killed. In dramatic fashion, Mark sets the stage for what is coming. In two short verses, he mentions the Passover, and then he mentions the religionist’s plotting Jesus’ death-two scenes as opposite from one another as can be imagined.

It was a celebration of God’s glorious deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. Yet during the very days of this joyous celebration, Jesus’ murder was being plotted. And tragically it was being plotted by religionists, the very people who should have to take the lead in the Passover. On the other hand, there was the celebration of deliverance, the saving of life; on the other hand, there was the plotting of death, the taking of life. This passage deliberately sets the stage for what is to come.

1.    Picture 1: The Passover (v.1)

2.    Picture 2: The religionists’ plotted Jesus’ death (v.1-2)

a.    Plotted by all the leaders

b.    Plotted by deception: To arrest Jesus on false charges after the pilgrims had left the feast

 

B.   Jesus’ Anointing at Bethany: A Study of Love, Mk 14:3-9

John tells us that the woman was Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, who anointed Jesus (Jn 12:1f). The title of this passage could easily be, A Study of Sacrifice. The result is a strong lesson on sacrifice or sacrificial giving.

1.    The woman’s love was selfless and costly (v.3)

2.    The woman’s love was questioned and rebuked harshly (v.4-5)

3.    The woman’s love was a good and lovely thing (v.6)

4.    The woman’s love  grasped the opportune time (v.7)

5.    The woman’s love did all it could (v.8)

6.    The woman’s love was rewarded (v.9)

 

C.   Jesus’ Betrayal: Why a Disciple Failed, Mk 14:10-11

Judas Iscariot denied and betrayed Jesus- two terrible sins that doomed him eternally. This is most tragic, for Judas had known Jesus personally. He had walked with Jesus during the Lord’s earthly ministry, professing to be one of the close followers of the Lord. The fact that he could know Jesus so well and still end up failing and being doomed is a warning to all of us. All of us must heed why Judas failed so miserably.

1.    Judas was personally irresponsible (v.10-11)

a.    Was full of jealousy

b.    Was full of ambition

c.     Was full of greed

d.    Was devil-possessed

2.    Judas sought sin, to deceive and betray Jesus Christ (v.11)

 

D.   Jesus’ Last Chance to Judas: The Appeal to a sinner, Mk 14:12-21

 

Jesus was forced to make secret arrangements for keeping the Passover. Judas had just plotted with the authorities to betray Jesus (Mk 14:10-11). They wanted to arrest him in a quiet spot where the people would not be present and rise to his defence. Judas was just waiting for the right place and time. The Upper Room would be an ideal place and time. Jesus knew this, so he made secret arrangements.

The points of the present passage is to show that Jesus knew about Judas’ betrayal and to show how Jesus went about giving Judas a last chance to repent.

1.    The Passover was approaching (v.12)

a.    The disciples asked where they were to observe the Passover

b.    It was Jesus’ habit to worship

2.    Jesus knew about Judas’ denial and betrayal (v.13-17)

a.    He kept his plans and movement secret

b.    He shared only with his trusted disciples

1)    He had pre-planned the arrangements

2)    He sent trusted disciples to carry out the arrangements

c.     He kept his plans despite the betrayal

3.    Jesus gave Judas every chance to repent (v.18-20)

a.      The 1^st chance: He tried to stir conviction

1)    Stirred sorrow in the faithful

2)    Stirred self-examination in the faithful

b.      The 2^nd chance: Revealed monstrous deception

4.    Jesus gave Judas a last warning (v.21)

Thought: Jesus worshipped and kept the feasts of the Jews. He did not neglect the meeting together with others. The disciples knew this (Heb 10:25)

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ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD, 25^th March

I Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14, 8-10

II Reading: Hebrews 10:4-10

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Submission to God’s Will

 

Little information is given about Mary in the Bible. However, what is said is striking and sets before us a tremendous example of submissiveness to God’s will. Submissiveness to God is absolutely essential for every believer.

1.    The angel Gabriel (v.26)

a.    Was sent from God

b.    Was sent to the most obscure place

2.    Mary was pure, a virgin (v.27)

3.    Mary was highly favored by God (v.28)

4.    Mary was very human (v.29-30)

a.    Greatly troubled

b.    Fearful

5.    Mary was told she was to bear the Messiah (v.31-33)

a.    His name Jesus

b.    His great person

1)    Son of the Most High

2)    Son of David

c.     His eternal kingdom

6.    Mary was expected to believe the miraculous (v.34-35)

a.    Her perplexity

b.    Her conception: By the Holy Spirit and the Power of God

c.     Her child: The Son of God

7.    Mary was encouraged to believe: “For nothing is impossible with God” (v.36-37)

a.    God’s another miracle

b.    God’s great power

8.    Mary was submissive (v.38)

 

Thought: God expects us to believe in Him and His power, regardless of circumstances and our feelings of insignificance. Surrender to God is absolute essential both for salvation and service (Mt 12:50)

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FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-B

I Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34: I will make a new covenant and never call their sin to mind.

II Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9: He learnt to obey and became the source of eternal salvation.

Gospel: John 12: 20-30: If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest.

Jesus Approached as King: The Misunderstood Messiah, Jn 12:20-36

Jesus experienced suffering, anguish, rejection and death on the cross and saved the humankind. We have every reason to go through suffering courageously and joyfully.

Jesus prayed to his Father to give us the strength we need to endure suffering. Jesus associated us both with his suffering and with his glory.

An early Christian hymn started with the words: “If we have died with Christ, then we shall live with him.” (2Tim 2:12). With so many assurances on God’s part, we should not feel reluctant to suffer or even to die.

In the first reading, prophet Jeremiah sees the day of new life when God will make another covenant with his people, written not on the tablets of stone, but on their hearts. God will forgive; God will rebuild.

The second reading sets out some of the qualities of the High Priest. He learnt obedience through his suffering and this is a source of power to save.

The Gospel teaches that the Greeks want to see Jesus. Within a short time the Gospel would be received into the Greek world. Their language was to become the first medium of Christian expression. The death-life cycle of a grain of wheat becomes the basis of Our Lord’s teaching about the higher life. we note, too, the third occasion in his life when the voice was from heaven.

Now let us analyse the Gospel passage:

People misunderstand the Messiah. There are four misunderstandings in particular.

1.    Some Greeks representing the world, sought Jesus (v.20-22; cp.12:19)

a.    Jesus was accepted as king, 12:12f

b.    Some Greeks requested to see the king

2.    Misunderstanding one 1: His glory (23-26)

a.    His hour had come

1)    He had to die first

2)    He could then bear fruit or produce many seeds

b.    Man’s hour is come

1)    Man must lose his life to bear eternal life

2)    Man must serve and follow Jesus to be assured of Jesus’ presence and God’s honour

3.    Misunderstanding 2: His cause (27-30)

a.    His troubled heart

b.    His great cause

c.     His prayer

d.    The people’s conclusion

e.     God’s purpose: To His approval of Christ

4.    Misunderstanding 3: The world (31-33)

a.    It has to be judged

b.    It is ruled by an alien prince

c.     It is conquered by the cross

5.    Misunderstanding 4: The Messiah (the Light) 34-36)

a.    The people misunderstood the Messiah

b.    The claim: He is the Light (/the Messiah) the light is to be extinguished

c.     The need

1)    To walk in the light

2)    To believe in the light

Thought: The glory of Christ is the glory of the cross (Rom 14:9; Phil 2:8-11; Col 1:14, 18; Heb 1:8-9; 2:9; 1Pet 2:24-25; 3:18, 22; Is 53:12).

Suffering was for Jesus as painful as it is for us; the only way to endure it, is to put our trust in God our Father, as Jesus did.

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SAINT JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF MARY, March 19, Solemnity

I Reading: 2 Sam 7:4-5.12-14.16

II Reading: Rom 4:13.16-18.22

Gospel: Matthew 1:16.18-21.24

 

We celebrate today the feast of Saint Joseph under the title “husband of Mary”. It is a recent feast; though extended to the whole Church some five hundred years ago, it was only during the last hundred and fifty years that it gradually acquired importance it has today. On this feast we praise God for having led Joseph to the totally faithful to Jesus and Mary, thus contributing wonderfully to God’s plans in saving the world. The Gospel speaks so little about Joseph when narrating the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. His name appears twice in the Gospel of John, but only to identify Jesus as “son of Joseph” (Jn 1:45; 6:42).

The readings of today discover where the true greatness of Saint Joseph lies:

1.    A prophecy of Natan about a descendant from David.

2.    Faith in God, expressed n humble obedience, made Joseph truly great.

a.    He was a just man, an upright, straight forward person, honest with God and with his neighbour.

b.    He accepted Mary and loved her and took care of her as God’s command.

c.     Whereas people thought he was an ordinary worker or carpenter but in the eyes of God he was a humble and obedient and a just person.

d.    He obeyed always God’s plan and listened to God’s commands.

3.    The Matthew Gospel narrates two sentences worth remarking:

I.               First the words of the angel: “Do not be afraid...”

II.            Secondly, the concluding words of today’s Gospel: “Joseph did as the angel had told him to do; he took his wife to his home (Mt 1:24).

Thought: Because of this humble submission to God’s plans, he was chosen from among all Israelites. The lesson of Joseph should not be lost to us: neither education, nor wealth, power nor position makes a person really great but we are great when we strive to discover God’s plans for us and try to realize them inspite of human weakness.

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FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-B

I Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23: The wrath and mercy of God are revealed in the exile and in the release of his people.

The first reading is the last chapter in the Chronicles, explains why the Jews were deported and how Babylon was in time overwhelmed by the Persian Cyrus who saw to it that the Jews returned home and their Temple was rebuilt.

II Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10: You who were dead through your sins have been saved through grace.

The theme is God’s plan to bring everything together in Christ, to redeem Jew and pagan in him.

Gospel: John 3:14-21: God saved his Son so that through him the world might be saved.

Revelation: God’s Great Love, 3:16-17

The fourth Sunday in Lent has been given the name “Rejoice-Sunday!” the name taken from the entrance-antiphon which starts with the words: “Rejoice, Jerusalem…!”

Through today’s readings, the church invites all her children ‘to rejoice; her complete message to us is as follows: “Rejoice, since God definitely loves you all!” God loved the people of Israel.

Jesus came into the world to reveal God’s love for everyone. The testimony of Paul was the Spirit gave Paul to understand and experience God’s love and mercy in an extraordinary way. Paul tells us that each one of us can consider himself “a show piece” of God’s love (Eph 2:10). Paul calls God “infinitely rich” in love. Not just “rich,” but “infinitely rich” in mercy. 

This is the world’s most well-known Scripture. Brief and to the point, Jesus revealed God’s great love.

1.    The fact: God so loved (v.16)

2.    The evidence: God gave (v.16)

3.    The purpose: To save (v.16)

a.    From perishing

b.    To eternal life

c.     By believing

4.    The proof: God sent His Son (the Incarnation) (v.17)

5.    Not to condemn

6.    But to save

Revelation: Man’s condemnation, Jn 3:18-21

God sent His Son into the world to save the world, but this does not mean the everyone is automatically saved. In fact, some are condemned and doomed. Jesus revealed man’s condemnation.

1.    Who is condemned: not the believer, but the unbeliever (v.18)

2.    When he is condemned: already (v.18)

3.    Why is he condemned (v.18-20)

a.    He has not believed

b.    Light has come into world

c.     He loves darkness; love his evil, his sin

d.    He does not come to the light

4.    Who escapes condemnation (v.21)

a.    He who practices truth

b.    He who comes to light

c.     He whose works are done through God

Thought: God loves every person, not just the religious and the good. God wants man/woman to know His love. He wants to reach everyone in the world with His love.

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