Palms, Passion and Promise: The Week That Can Change Your World!

The Triumphant Entry: A Week Begins in Glory

Holy Mother the Church initiates Holy Week with Palm Sunday by showing Jesus' victorious entrance into Jerusalem. People waved palm branches as He travelled into Jerusalem on a humble donkey. Jesus fulfils the Old Testament prophecy by demonstrating His role as the awaited Messiah. The scene burst with happiness and optimism because people exclaimed “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9). However, what started with palms and cheers, would lead to pains and the Cross! That’s how often life is, isn’t it? Humiliation may follow applauses of life. Let us be strong always!

The Passion: From Glory to Glory

Through His redemptive suffering, Jesus shows us the way to salvation by following the Father's Will and giving His life as a sacrifice. The light of God's Love became brightest it had ever been, during the darkest moments of His Passion. The Passion of our Blessed Lord is not the end, but the beginning of the new covenant between God and humanity.

The Most Holy Eucharist, instituted on Maundy Thursday, becomes the promise of eternal life (Jn 6:53-58). While Good Friday marks the death of Jesus, it’s also the day of His greatest promise. The Church’s Liturgy on Easter Sunday celebrates that promise: Christ is risen, and so are we. The Resurrection is the ultimate victory over sin and death - this is the promise of Easter that we live each day. The Passion ends, but the Promise lives forever. Jesus’ death was not defeat, but the gateway to eternal life.

Practical Life Application: Living the Week that can change our life!

As we enter into one of the most important weeks of the Liturgical year - The Holy Week - we are reminded that the Holy Week isn’t just a series of liturgical events; it’s an invitation to make the transformation real in our lives.

Let us truly make this week, a “Holy Week"

a. By making a confession of our sins, and making suitable amendments

b. By deciding to read the Bible every day, without fail

c. By spending time with Jesus, in personal prayer, every day and deepening our personal bond with Him

d. By repairing some 'toxic' relationships - asking the “gift of forgiveness and healing of these relationships" from the Lord

e. By re-committing our lives to the Church, and making a “Christian Difference” in our society.

Conclusion: The Week that Transforms Us

Holy Week isn’t merely a historical event; it’s the defining story of humanity’s journey with God. Palms, Passion, and Promise are intertwined, calling us to enter into this mystery, to suffer with Christ, and to live in the hope of His resurrection.

a. Look at the “Palms” in your life - moments of joy and blessing.

b. Reflect on the “Passion” - the times you’ve experienced suffering or sacrifice and bring them to the foot of the cross.

c. Embrace the “Promise” - no matter what you're going through, know that God’s hope is never far.

The Week that changed the world is the week that can change our world too, if we live it with Christ. Because Holy Week without surrender is just "history,” but when we allow the Lord to work on our lives, it becomes "HIStory!"

Wish you Glorious Holy Week!

Let us be intimate with the Passion of the Lord and experience His tremendous love, so that we may honestly shout on Easter Sunday, "Alleluia! He is risen!"

God Bless! Live Jesus!

By Fr. Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS