JOURNEY THROUGH LENT (2)

JOURNEY THROUGH LENT (2)

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

Take a moment. Bless your day. Let your day Bless you……Take another moment. Bless your world. Let your world bless you……

Prayerfully, reflectively read the following……Dwell on the thoughts that speak to you in this moment……

We are now coming to the close of the season of Lent. Last week we meditated on some of the most significant insights from the Scripture readings of the past five Sundays. We met Jesus in different situations during our journey through lent. We heard his word and saw the way he interacted with the world around him.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday and we will remember Jesus entering Jerusalem to face rejection and eventual death. He moved, with courage, into hostile territory. He entered a city which killed its prophets and did not know how to receive the things that are for its own good, a city that did not know how to receive blessings and gifts and grace…………..

They greeted him as they would greet a pilgrim: “Blessed is he who enters in the name of the Lord” (Ps. 118:26). And they shouted “Hosanna!”. “Hosanna” means “Save now”. It was a cry for help, which a people in distress addressed to their king or their god. “Save us, we beseech thee, O Lord” (Ps.118:25).

Hosanna in the highest means, let even the angels in the highest of heavens cry unto God, “save now”. It is essentially an oppressed people’s cry to their savior and king for deliverance. These hosannas of Palm Sunday will become the cries of “crucify him, crucify him!”

We will remember Jesus being betrayed, tried, judged, condemned and crucified. We will remember him dying on a cross. We will remember Jesus giving himself totally in life and in death.

We will remember the cross, sign of shame and punishment, becoming the symbol of sacrifice, healing, unconditional love, total giving, redemption and salvation.

We will remember and relive the passion, the cross and the death of Jesus. Reflect on how you share in the passion and cross of Jesus.

Pray for courage and wisdom to face difficult situations.

Remember those who have heavy burden to carry.

Remember the innocent, especially children and the helpless who have to suffer without support. Pray for those who have to live in hostile situations.

What do you need to do to move into and face difficult situations?

Palm Sunday is also called “Passion Sunday”. We often think of the passion of Jesus as the suffering of Jesus. But, the real passion of Jesus was the “will of His Father”, to fulfill the mission for which he came. He came for us, for our redemption. So, His passion was us…His passion was you and me, our redemption.

What does the “passion” of Jesus mean to you? How do you share in that Passion? And do you have a passion? What are you passionate about? Is there anything you are passionate about? Is your passion integrated with the passion of Jesus?

Our Lenten journey will bring us to Easter – to new life, to new beginnings, to new presence. We will celebrate our call to be an Easter People, a People of the Resurrection, a people transformed by the death and resurrection of Jesus, a people who must continue to journey in faith, in hope and in love……….We must move on and meet Jesus, alive, where we are, now, at this point in our history………

The journey that we began in ashes on Ash Wednesday brings us to the fire of Easter. Unlike the fire of terror, we encounter a purifying, life-creating fire that gives light to a dark and despairing world. It is the fire that lights the Paschal candle which proclaims: “the light of Christ”. It is the fire that brings us into the light of Christ and lights up our own path……….

In the letter to the Ephesians, we read about Paul (Ephesians: 5:8-14) challenging the Ephesians to live as children of light because they are light in the Lord. Those who were in darkness once have come into the light of Christ. Paul says, light produces truth, benevolence and righteousness. Children of light must cultivate generosity of spirit, work for justice for all and live in peace and harmony.

Reflect on what it means for you to be children of light, to be light for others…Each of us must become a witness to the mystery of God’s presence in the world: God’s Light, Justice, Truth, Life, Love…..

Let us make this week a truly HOLY WEEK – a week of Holiness – of Truth, of Justice, of Peace and of Integrity.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs