Lent is the time when people spend forty days meditating on the Passion of Our Lord, in order to turn away from the old man and, at Easter, rise again as a new man. After all, what the Church wants is not just our liberation from sin, but our sanctification and configuration to Christ; the Church therefore wants our deeper conversion – a kind of second take-off, so to speak – which removes the Christian from the logic of mundanity. The passage from Matthew 26:14-66 is a crucial moment in the accounts of Christ’s Passion, which takes place shortly before his crucifixion. To understand it in the light of Palm Sunday, it is important to consider the context of Holy Week and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which is celebrated on Palm Sunday.
On Palm Sunday, Christians celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, while the crowds cheered “Hosanna” and threw branches at him. This event is significant because it marks the beginning of Holy Week and Jesus’ journey towards his death and resurrection. The people welcome him as a king, but the Passion narrative that follows reveals the complexity of Jesus’ acceptance and rejection.
The Gospel (Matthew 26:14-66) begins with Judas Iscariot looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. This reflects human frailty in the face of promises and fidelity. Contrary to the people’s acclaim on Palm Sunday, Judas’ betrayal shows that acceptance of Jesus was not unanimous. We are often led to betray our principles or values in pursuit of personal interest.
The religious leaders unite to kill Jesus, ignoring the miracles and teachings they had witnessed. This leads us to reflect on the resistance we often encounter when embracing truth and justice. Even in the face of evidence, it’s easy to succumb to one’s own agenda or desire for power, and not only that, it’s also easy to create groups of people to do evil. So, throughout the passage, we see Jesus being judged, humiliated and falsely accused.
There is a contrast between the acclamation on Palm Sunday and the rejection faced by Jesus. He is the king who came to serve and give life, but he is treated like a criminal. This invites us to think about how we receive Jesus into our lives and whether we really recognize him as our King.
So, as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we are invited to reflect on the true nature of following Christ. Do we find our voice among the crowds acclaiming him, or do we silence ourselves in a posture of indifference? What does it mean to accept Jesus as our Savior in a world that often rejects him?
Although the passage deals with betrayal and condemnation, it is essential to remember that it also prepares us for the resurrection. Palm Sunday, although marked by joy, is deeply rooted in the awareness that Jesus’ journey will lead to the cross, but will culminate in the victory of the resurrection. This is the hope that we must carry throughout the week.
In summary, by reflecting on Matthew 26:14-66 in the context of Palm Sunday, we are challenged to understand the depth of Jesus’ acceptance and rejection. We have the opportunity to join those who acclaim him, but we must also be aware of the difficulties and challenges that come with that choice. May this reflection inspire us to live our faith with authenticity and courage throughout Holy Week.
In this Lenten season we are also called to examine our actions/attitudes and our behavior towards others, seeking reconciliation and repentance in search of forgiveness and understanding in our daily relationships. May we be able to draw closer to God more fully during this time of preparation for Easter.
Father Gailhac gives us some advice on how to live Lenten life by observing fasts, saying: “During Lent, everyone is to lead a life of continuous union with God and all the exercises of piety are to be carried out with redoubled fervor”
This passage from the founder has as its central message the need for a life dedicated to God at all times, practicing Almsgiving, Fasting and, above all, Prayer. By getting down on his knees before God, man recognizes his weakness and incapacity for every good thing, like a beggar on the threshold of God’s door. This opens our hearts to the gift of charity, to true hope, which resides in just God, without exception, until the end of our lives. However, this is not just a physical fast, but a constant spiritual fast, which is why a highly recommended practice for the Lenten season is to attend Holy Mass every day, with well-done Communions, and to go to Confession.
In this dynamic, our soul identifies more quickly with the will of the Divine Master, who touches our body and soul through the sacraments.
With this strength, we become more resistant to temptations, the lusts of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life. We mustn’t forget that Lent is also the time of Our Lady, the woman of the Apocalypse who withdrew into the desert in order to overcome the dragon, the evil serpent who wanted to devour her Son. Let us therefore ask for the help of the Divine Mother and live these forty days in expectation of new heavens and a new earth on the day of the resurrection.
By Sister Luísa Bernardo
Photo: Unsplash
