Palm Sunday of The Lord’s Passion

April 10, 2022

Luke 22:14 – 23:56

Every Palm Sunday, we listen to the Passion Narrative of Jesus Christ. Since we are in the liturgical year C, we hear from the Gospel of Luke, and it is notedly the longest among the four Gospel. If we try to compare the passion narratives of the four Gospels, we will discover basic similarities, but also some obvious nuances. What makes Luke’s account unique?

Surely, there are several unique stories in Luke, but one outstanding character of Jesus is that Luke consistently describes Jesus as someone who loves to pray. In short, Jesus always prays, especially in His important moments of His life. He prays when John is baptizing Him. He is praying while in the desert for forty days. He prays at the mountain when He is transfigured. He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. Even, Jesus prays when he is the cross.

Luke even gives us a window to what Jesus expresses to His Father. Jesus’ first prayer in the cross is ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing [Luk 23:34].’ We remember that His close friend denies Him, another betrays Him, and others are running away from Him. He is accused falsely and tortured brutally. He receives treatment worse than animals. He is even going to die like the worst criminals, in the most agonizing and humiliating way possible. Yet, despite all these, He prays for all of them, and gives His forgiveness. Jesus does not only teach ‘to love one’s enemies’ or ‘to pray for those who persecute you’. Jesus truly walks the talk.

Jesus does not stop there. When one of the thieves is asking for Jesus’ forgiveness. Jesus does not only forgive, but He also promises Him paradise. Despite the terrible situations, Jesus does not only pray, but also blesses a man who needs its most. Lastly, Jesus closes His earthly with another prayer, “Father into your hands I commends my spirit.” This time, Jesus recites Psalm 31:6. His entire life has been an obedience to God’s will, and it is proper that He ends it with giving His spirit peacefully to His Father.

Certainly, there are so much to learn and reflect from these three prayers of Jesus. Yet, one thing we can learn from here is Jesus teaches us how to face life full of sorrow and sufferings. Our lives may be difficult, but it does not mean we have to become bitter and vengeful. The first step is to pray. Instead, uttering curses and hatred, we bring our problems and sufferings into prayers. ‘Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you [1 Pet 5:7]’. The second step is to forgive and to seek forgiveness. One of the reasons why life is so bitter is because we refuse to forgive. To forgive is not about forgetting, but it is about to let go our hatred and resentment, and let God fills us with His peace. The third step is to be grateful. Is it possible to be grateful? When we offer our sufferings to God and to unite them with Christ’s suffering, our trials and sorrow even can become blessing for others. Then, we know we know that our sufferings are never useless. We have always a reason to be grateful.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP